Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
"What’syourname?"
Tormentedbythesilenceandtherefusaltheassemblybrokeintoachant.
"What’syourname?What’syourname?"
"Quiet!"
Ralphpeeredatthechildinthetwilight.
"Nowtellus.What’syourname?"
"PercivalWemysMadison.TheVicarage,HarcourtSt.Anthony,Hants,telephone,telephone,tele—"
Asifthisinformationwasrootedfardowninthespringsofsorrow,thelittlunwept.Hisfacepuckered,thetearsleaptfromhiseyes,hismouthopenedtilltheycouldseeasquareblackhole.Atfirsthewasasilenteffigyofsorrow;butthenthelamentationroseoutofhim,loudandsustainedastheconch.
"Shutup,you!Shutup!"
PercivalWemysMadisonwouldnotshutup.Aspringhadbeentapped,farbeyondthereachofauthorityorevenphysicalintimidation.Thecryingwenton,breathafterbreath,andseemedtosustainhimuprightasifhewerenailedtoit.
"Shutup!Shutup!"
Fornowthelittlunswerenolongersilent.Theywereremindedoftheirpersonalsorrows;andperhapsfeltthemselvestoshareinasorrowthatwasuniversal.Theybegantocryinsympathy,twoofthemalmostasloudasPercival.
