Повелитель мух
Gift for the Darkness
Samnericpeeredtogetherroundapalmtreeattheedgeoftheforest.Alittlunhowled,creasedandcrimson,bythebathingpoolandPiggystoodontheplatform,thewhiteconchgrippedinhishands.
"Tonightwe’rehavingafeast.We’vekilledapigandwe’vegotmeat.Youcancomeandeatwithusifyoulike."
Upinthecloudcanyonsthethunderboomedagain.Jackandthetwoanonymoussavageswithhimswayed,lookingup,andthenrecovered.Thelittlunwentonhowling.Jackwaswaitingforsomething.Hewhisperedurgentlytotheothers.
"Goon—now!"
Thetwosavagesmurmured.Jackspokesharply.
"Goon!"
Thetwosavageslookedateachother,raisedtheirspearstogetherandspokeintime.
"TheChiefhasspoken."
Thenthethreeofthemturnedandtrottedaway.PresentlyRalphrosetohisfeet,lookingattheplacewherethesavageshadvanished.Samnericcame,talkinginanawedwhisper.
"Ithoughtitwas—"
"—andIwas—"
"—scared."
