Повелитель мух
Gift for the Darkness
Thenhesaidnothingforatimebutbreathedfiercelysothattheywereawedbyhimandlookedateachotherinuneasyadmiration.Presentlyhestabbeddownatthegroundwithhisfinger.
"There—"
Beforetheotherscouldexaminethedropofblood,Jackhadswervedoff,judgingatrace,touchingaboughthatgave.Sohefollowed,mysteriouslyrightandassured,andthehunterstrodbehindhim.
Hestoppedbeforeacovert.
"Inthere."
Theysurroundedthecovertbutthesowgotawaywiththestingofanotherspearinherflank.Thetrailingbuttshinderedherandthesharp,cross-cutpointswereatorment.Sheblunderedintoatree,forcingaspearstilldeeper;andafterthatanyofthehunterscouldfollowhereasilybythedropsofvividblood.Theafternoonworeon,hazyanddreadfulwithdampheat;thesowstaggeredherwayaheadofthem,bleedingandmad,andthehuntersfollowed,weddedtoherinlust,excitedbythelongchaseandthedroppedblood.Theycouldseehernow,nearlygotupwithher,butshespurtedwithherlaststrengthandheldaheadofthemagain.Theywerejustbehindherwhenshestaggeredintoanopenspacewherebrightflowersgrewandbutterfliesdancedroundeachotherandtheairwashotandstill.
Here,struckdownbytheheat,thesowfellandthehuntershurledthemselvesather.Thisdreadfuleruptionfromanunknownworldmadeherfrantic;shesquealedandbuckedandtheairwasfullofsweatandnoiseandbloodandterror.
