Повелитель мух
Beast from Air
Therockmakesasortofbridge.There’sonlyonewayup."
"Andthethingmightlivethere."
Alltheassemblytalkedatonce.
"Quite!Allright.That’swherewe’lllook.Ifthebeastisn’ttherewe’llgoupthemountainandlook;andlightthefire."
"Let’sgo."
"We’lleatfirst.Thengo."Ralphpaused."We’dbettertakespears."
Aftertheyhadeaten,Ralphandthebigunssetoutalongthebeach.TheyleftPiggyproppedupontheplatform.Thisdaypromised,liketheothers,tobeasunbathunderabluedome.Thebeachstretchedawaybeforetheminagentlecurvetillperspectivedrewitintoonewiththeforest;forthedaywasnotadvancedenoughtobeobscuredbytheshiftingveilsofmirage.UnderRalph’sdirection,theypickedupacarefulwayalongthepalmterrace,ratherthandarethehotsanddownbythewater.HeletJackleadtheway;andJacktrodwiththeatricalcautionthoughtheycouldhaveseenanenemytwentyyardsaway.Ralphwalkedintherear,thankfultohaveescapedresponsibilityforatime.
Simon,walkinginfrontofRalph,feltaflickerofincredulity—abeastwithclawsthatscratched,thatsatonamountain-top,thatleftnotracksandyetwasnotfastenoughtocatchSamneric.HoweverSimonthoughtofthebeast,thererosebeforehisinwardsightthepictureofahumanatonceheroicandsick.
