Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
Whathesawofthefair-hairedboywiththecreamyshellonhiskneesdidnotseemtosatisfyhim.Heturnedquickly,hisblackcloakcircling.
"Isn’tthereaship,then?"
Insidethefloatingcloakhewastall,thin,andbony;andhishairwasredbeneaththeblackcap.Hisfacewascrumpledandfreckled,anduglywithoutsilliness.Outofthisfacestaredtwolightblueeyes,frustratednow,andturning,orreadytoturn,toanger.
"Isn’tthereamanhere?"
Ralphspoketohisback.
"No.We’rehavingameeting.Comeandjoinin."
Thegroupofcloakedboysbegantoscatterfromcloseline.Thetallboyshoutedatthem.
"Choir!Standstill!"
Wearilyobedient,thechoirhuddledintolineandstoodthereswayinginthesun.Nonetheless,somebegantoprotestfaintly.
"But,Merridew.Please,Merridew...can’twe?"
Thenoneoftheboysfloppedonhisfaceinthesandandthelinebrokeup.Theyheavedthefallenboytotheplatformandlethimlie.Merridew,hiseyesstaring,madethebestofabadjob.
"Allrightthen.Sitdown.Lethimalone."
