Повелитель мух
Shadows and Tall Trees
Afterthattherocksseemedtobegrowingimpassablesotheysatforatime,lettingtheirragsdryandwatchingtheclippedoutlinesoftherollersthatmovedsoslowlypasttheisland.Theyfoundfruitinahauntofbrightlittlebirdsthathoveredlikeinsects.ThenRalphsaidtheyweregoingtooslowly.Hehimselfclimbedatreeandpartedthecanopy,andsawthesquareheadofthemountainseemingstillagreatwayoff.ThentheytriedtohurryalongtherocksandRobertcuthiskneequitebadlyandtheyhadtorecognizethatthispathmustbetakenslowlyiftheyweretobesafe.Sotheyproceededafterthatasiftheywereclimbingadangerousmountain,untiltherocksbecameanuncompromisingcliff,overhungwithimpossiblejungleandfallingsheerintothesea.
Ralphlookedatthesuncritically.
"Earlyevening.Aftertea-time,atanyrate."
"Idon’trememberthiscliff,"saidJack,crestfallen,"sothismustbethebitofthecoastImissed."
Ralphnodded.
"Letmethink."
Bynow,Ralphhadnoself-consciousnessinpublicthinkingbutwouldtreattheday’sdecisionsasthoughhewereplayingchess.Theonlytroublewasthathewouldneverbeaverygoodchessplayer.HethoughtofthelittlunsandPiggy.VividlyheimaginedPiggybyhimself,huddledinashelterthatwassilentexceptforthesoundsofnightmare.
"Wecan’tleavethelittlunsalonewithPiggy.Notallnight."
