Повелитель мух
Shadows and Tall Trees
Mauricespoke,hesitating,notwantingtoseemafunk.
"Supposingthebeast’supthere?"
Jackbrandishedhisspear.
"We’llkillit."
Thesunseemedalittlecooler.Heslashedwiththespear.
"Whatarewewaitingfor?"
"Isuppose,"saidRalph,"ifwekeeponbytheseathisway,we’llcomeoutbelowtheburntbitandthenwecanclimbthemountain.
OncemoreJackledthemalongbythesuckandheaveoftheblindingsea.
OncemoreRalphdreamed,lettinghisskillfulfeetdealwiththedifficultiesofthepath.Yetherehisfeetseemedlessskillfulthanbefore.Formostofthewaytheywereforcedrightdowntothebarerockbythewaterandhadtoedgealongbetweenthatandthedarkluxurianceoftheforest.Therewerelittlecliffstobescaled,sometobeusedaspaths,lengthytraverseswhereoneusedhandsaswellasfeet.Hereandtheretheycouldclamberoverwave-wetrock,leapingacrossclearpoolsthatthetidehadleft.Theycametoagullythatsplitthenarrowforeshorelikeadefense.Thisseemedtohavenobottomandtheypeeredawe-strickenintothegloomycrackwherewatergurgled.Thenthewavecameback,thegullyboiledbeforethemandspraydasheduptotheverycreepersothattheboyswerewetandshrieking.Theytriedtheforestbutitwasthickandwovenlikeabird’snest.Intheendtheyhadtojumponebyone,waitingtillthewatersank;andevenso,someofthemgotaseconddrenching.
