Повелитель мух
Beast from Air
Forafewmomentsthetwinswatchedthefireinsilence.ThenEricsniggered.
"Wasn’thewaxy?"
"Aboutthe—"
"Fireandthepig."
"LuckyhewentforJack,’steadofus."
"Huh.RememberoldWaxyatschool?"
"’Boy—you-are-driving-me-slowly-insane!’"
Thetwinssharedtheiridenticallaughter,thenrememberedthedarknessandotherthingsandglancedrounduneasily.Theflames,busyaboutthetent,drewtheireyesbackagain.Ericwatchedthescurryingwoodlicethatweresofranticallyunabletoavoidtheflames,andthoughtofthefirstfire—justdownthere,onthesteepersideofthemountain,wherenowwascompletedarkness.Hedidnotliketorememberit,andlookedawayatthemountain-top.
Warmthradiatednow,andbeatpleasantlyonthem.Samamusedhimselfbyfittingbranchesintothefireascloselyaspossible.Ericspreadouthishands,searchingforthedistanceatwhichtheheatwasjustbearable.Idlylookingbeyondthefire,heresettledthescatteredrocksfromtheirflatshadowsintodaylightcontours.Justtherewasthebigrock,andthethreestonesthere,thatsplitrock,andtherebeyondwasagap—justthere—
"Sam."
