Повелитель мух
Gift for the Darkness
Hestartedtolaugh,thenstoppedandbecamefluentinstead.
"Thefire’sthemostimportantthing.Withoutthefirewecan’tberescued.I’dliketoputonwar-paintandbeasavage.Butwemustkeepthefireburning.Thefire’sthemostimportantthingontheisland,because,because—"
Hepausedagainandthesilencebecamefullofdoubtandwonder.
Piggywhisperedurgently."Rescue."
"Ohyes.Withoutthefirewecan’tberescued.Sowemuststaybythefireandmakesmoke."
Whenhestoppednoonesaidanything.AfterthemanybrilliantspeechesthathadbeenmadeonthisveryspotRalph’sremarksseemedlame,eventothelittluns.
AtlastBillheldouthishandsfortheconch.
"Nowwecan’thavethefireupthere—becausewecan’thavethefireupthere—weneedmorepeopletokeepitgoing.Let’sgotothisfeastandtellthemthefire’shardontherestofus.Andthehuntingandallthat,beingsavagesImean—itmustbejollygoodfun."
Samnerictooktheconch.
"ThatmustbefunlikeBillsays—andashe’sinvitedus—"
"—toafeast—"
"—meat—"
