Повелитель мух
Beast from Water
"Maybehemeansit’ssomesortofghost."
Ralphliftedtheconchandpeeredintothegloom.Thelightestthingwasthepalebeach.Surelythelittlunswerenearer?Yes—therewasnodoubtaboutit,theywerehuddledintoatightknotofbodiesinthecentralgrass.Aflurryofwindmadethepalmstalkandthenoiseseemedveryloudnowthatdarknessandsilencemadeitsonoticeable.Twogreytrunksrubbedeachotherwithanevilspeakingthatnoonehadnoticedbyday.
Piggytooktheconchoutofhishands.Hisvoicewasindignant.
"Idon’tbelieveinnoghosts—ever!"
Jackwasuptoo,unaccountablyangry.
"Whocareswhatyoubelieve—Fatty!"
"Igottheconch!"
Therewasthesoundofabrieftussleandtheconchmovedtoandfro.
"Yougimmetheconchback!"
Ralphpushedbetweenthemandgotathumponthechest.Hewrestledtheconchfromsomeoneandsatdownbreathlessly.
"There’stoomuchtalkaboutghosts.Weoughttohaveleftallthisfordaylight."
Ahushedandanonymousvoicebrokein.
"Perhapsthat’swhatthebeastis—aghost."
