Повелитель мух
Beast from Air
"Icanhearthe—"
"Quietthen.Liestill."
Theylaytherelistening,atfirstwithdoubtbutthenwithterrortothedescriptionthetwinsbreathedatthembetweenboutsofextremesilence.Soonthedarknesswasfullofclaws,fulloftheawfulunknownandmenace.Aninterminabledawnfadedthestarsout,andatlastlight,sadandgrey,filteredintotheshelter.Theybegantostirthoughstilltheworldoutsidetheshelterwasimpossiblydangerous.Themazeofthedarknesssortedintonearandfar,andatthehighpointoftheskythecloudletswerewarmedwithcolor.Asingleseabirdflappedupwardswithahoarsecrythatwasechoedpresently,andsomethingsquawkedintheforest.Nowstreaksofcloudnearthehorizonbegantoglowrosily,andthefeatherytopsofthepalmsweregreen.
Ralphkneltintheentrancetotheshelterandpeeredcautiouslyroundhim.
"Sam’nEric.Callthemtoanassembly.Quietly.Goon."
Thetwins,holdingtremulouslytoeachother,daredthefewyardstothenextshelterandspreadthedreadfulnews.Ralphstoodupandwalkedforthesakeofdignity,thoughwithhisbackpricking,totheplatform.PiggyandSimonfollowedhimandtheotherboyscamesneakingafter.
Ralphtooktheconchfromwhereitlayonthepolishedseatandheldittohislips;butthenhehesitatedanddidnotblow.Heheldtheshellupinsteadandshowedittothemandtheyunderstood.
Theraysofthesunthatwerefanningupwardsfrombelowthehorizonswungdownwardstoeye-level.
