Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Whenhehadeatenhewenttowardthebeach.Thesunlightwasslantingnowintothepalmsbythewreckedshelter.Therewastheplatformandthepool.Thebestthingtodowastoignorethisleadenfeelingabouttheheartandrelyontheircommonsense,theirdaylightsanity.Nowthatthetribehadeaten,thethingtodowastotryagain.Andanyway,hecouldn’tstayhereallnightinanemptyshelterbythedesertedplatform.Hisfleshcreptandheshiveredintheeveningsun.Nofire;nosmoke;norescue.HeturnedandlimpedawaythroughtheforesttowardJack’sendoftheisland.
Theslantingsticksofsunlightwerelostamongthebranches.Atlengthhecametoaclearingintheforestwhererockpreventedvegetationfromgrowing.NowitwasapoolofshadowsandRalphnearlyflunghimselfbehindatreewhenhesawsomethingstandinginthecenter;butthenhesawthatthewhitefacewasboneandthatthepig’sskullgrinnedathimfromthetopofastick.Hewalkedslowlyintothemiddleoftheclearingandlookedsteadilyattheskullthatgleamedaswhiteasevertheconchhaddoneandseemedtojeerathimcynically.Aninquisitiveantwasbusyinoneoftheeyesocketsbutotherwisethethingwaslifeless.
Orwasit?
Littlepricklesofsensationranupanddownhisback.Hestood,theskullaboutonalevelwithhisface,andhelduphishairwithtwohands.Theteethgrinned,theemptysocketsseemedtoholdhisgazemasterfullyandwithouteffort.
Whatwasit?
TheskullregardedRalphlikeonewhoknowsalltheanswersandwon’ttell.Asickfearandrageswepthim.
