Повелитель мух
Beast from Air
Jackmuttered.
"I’vebeenallover.Itmustbehere."
"Isee."
Simonmumbledconfusedly:"Idon’tbelieveinthebeast."
Ralphansweredhimpolitely,asifagreeingabouttheweather.
"No.Isupposenot."
Hismouthwastightandpale.Heputbackhishairveryslowly.
"Well.Solong."
Heforcedhisfeettomoveuntiltheyhadcarriedhimoutontotheneckofland.
Hewassurroundedonallsidesbychasmsofemptyair.Therewasnowheretohide,evenifonedidnothavetogoon.Hepausedonthenarrowneckandlookeddown.Soon,inamatterofcenturies,theseawouldmakeanislandofthecastle.Ontherighthandwasthelagoon,troubledbytheopensea;andontheleft—Ralphshuddered.ThelagoonhadprotectedthemfromthePacific:andforsomereasononlyJackhadgonerightdowntothewaterontheotherside.Nowhesawthelandsman’sviewoftheswellanditseemedlikethebreathingofsomestupendouscreature.Slowlythewaterssankamongtherocks,revealingpinktablesofgranite,strangegrowthsofcoral,polyp,andweed.Down,down,thewaterswent,whisperinglikethewindamongtheheadsoftheforest.
