Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
ButtherewasastillnessaboutRalphashesatthatmarkedhimout:therewashissize,andattractiveappearance;andmostobscurely,yetmostpowerfully,therewastheconch.Thebeingthathadblownthat,hadsatwaitingforthemontheplatformwiththedelicatethingbalancedonhisknees,wassetapart.
"Himwiththeshell."
"Ralph!Ralph!"
"Lethimbechiefwiththetrumpet-thing."
Ralphraisedahandforsilence.
"Allright.WhowantsJackforchief?"
Withdrearyobediencethechoirraisedtheirhands.
"Whowantsme?"
EveryhandoutsidethechoirexceptPiggy’swasraisedimmediately.ThenPiggy,too,raisedhishandgrudginglyintotheair.
Ralphcounted.
"I’mchiefthen."
Thecircleofboysbrokeintoapplause.Eventhechoirapplauded;andthefrecklesonJack’sfacedisappearedunderablushofmortification.Hestartedup,thenchangedhismindandsatdownagainwhiletheairrang.
Ralphlookedathim,eagertooffersomething.
