Повелитель мух
A View to a Death
"_Killthebeast!Cuthisthroat!Spillhisblood!Dohimin!_"
Thesticksfellandthemouthofthenewcirclecrunchedandscreamed.Thebeastwasonitskneesinthecenter,itsarmsfoldedoveritsface.Itwascryingoutagainsttheabominablenoisesomethingaboutabodyonthehill.Thebeaststruggledforward,broketheringandfelloverthesteepedgeoftherocktothesandbythewater.Atoncethecrowdsurgedafterit,poureddowntherock,leaptontothebeast,screamed,struck,bit,tore.Therewerenowords,andnomovementsbutthetearingofteethandclaws.
Thenthecloudsopenedandletdowntherainlikeawaterfall.Thewaterboundedfromthemountain-top,toreleavesandbranchesfromthetrees,pouredlikeacoldshoweroverthestrugglingheaponthesand.Presentlytheheapbrokeupandfiguresstaggeredaway.Onlythebeastlaystill,afewyardsfromthesea.Evenintheraintheycouldseehowsmallabeastitwas;andalreadyitsbloodwasstainingthesand.
Nowagreatwindblewtherainsideways,cascadingthewaterfromtheforesttrees.Onthemountain-toptheparachutefilledandmoved;thefigureslid,rosetoitsfeet,spun,swayeddownthroughavastnessofwetairandtrodwithungainlyfeetthetopsofthehightrees;falling,stillfalling,itsanktowardthebeachandtheboysrushedscreamingintothedarkness.Theparachutetookthefigureforward,furrowingthelagoon,andbumpeditoverthereefandouttosea.
Towardmidnighttherainceasedandthecloudsdriftedaway,sothattheskywasscatteredoncemorewiththeincrediblelampsofstars.Thenthebreezediedtooandtherewasnonoisesavethedripandtrickleofwaterthatranoutofcleftsandspilleddown,leafbyleaf,tothebrownearthoftheisland.
