Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
AtlastRalphceasedtoblowandsatthere,theconchtrailingfromonehand,hisheadbowedonhisknees.Astheechoesdiedawaysodidthelaughter,andtherewassilence.
Withinthediamondhazeofthebeachsomethingdarkwasfumblingalong.Ralphsawitfirst,andwatchedtilltheintentnessofhisgazedrewalleyesthatway.Thenthecreaturesteppedfrommirageontoclearsand,andtheysawthatthedarknesswasnotallshadowbutmostlyclothing.Thecreaturewasapartyofboys,marchingapproximatelyinstepintwoparallellinesanddressedinstrangelyeccentricclothing.Shorts,shirts,anddifferentgarmentstheycarriedintheirhands;buteachboyworeasquareblackcapwithasilverbadgeonit.Theirbodies,fromthroattoankle,werehiddenbyblackcloakswhichborealongsilvercrossontheleftbreastandeachneckwasfinishedoffwithaham-bonefrill.Theheatofthetropics,thedescent,thesearchforfood,andnowthissweatymarchalongtheblazingbeachhadgiventhemthecomplexionsofnewlywashedplums.Theboywhocontrolledthemwasdressedinthesamewaythoughhiscapbadgewasgolden.Whenhispartywasabouttenyardsfromtheplatformheshoutedanorderandtheyhalted,gasping,sweating,swayinginthefiercelight.Theboyhimselfcameforward,vaultedontotheplatformwithhiscloakflying,andpeeredintowhattohimwasalmostcompletedarkness.
"Where’sthemanwiththetrumpet?"
Ralph,sensinghissun-blindness,answeredhim.
"There’snomanwithatrumpet.Onlyme."
TheboycamecloseandpeereddownatRalph,screwinguphisfaceashedidso.
