Повелитель мух

           "Andanotherthing.Youcan’thaveanordinaryhuntbecausethebeastdoesn’tleavetracks.Ifitdidyou’dhaveseenthem.Forallweknow,thebeastmayswingthroughthetreeslikewhat’sitsname."

           Theynodded.

           "Sowe’vegottothink."

           Piggytookoffhisdamagedglassesandcleanedtheremaininglens.

           "Howaboutus,Ralph?"

           "Youhaven’tgottheconch.Here."

           "Imean—howaboutus?Supposethebeastcomeswhenyou’reallaway.Ican’tseeproper,andifIgetscared—"

           Jackbrokein,contemptuously.

           "You’realwaysscared."

           "Igottheconch—"

           "Conch!Conch!"shoutedJack."Wedon’tneedtheconchanymore.Weknowwhooughttosaythings.WhatgooddidSimondospeaking,orBill,orWalter?It’stimesomepeopleknewthey’vegottokeepquietandleavedecidingthingstotherestofus."

           Ralphcouldnolongerignorehisspeech.Thebloodwashotinhischeeks.

           "Youhaven’tgottheconch,"hesaid."Sitdown."

           Jack’sfacewentsowhitethatthefrecklesshowedasclear,brownflecks.Helickedhislipsandremainedstanding.