Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Fiercelyhehitoutatthefilthythinginfrontofhimthatbobbedlikeatoyandcameback,stillgrinningintohisface,sothathelashedandcriedoutinloathing.Thenhewaslickinghisbruisedknucklesandlookingatthebarestick,whiletheskulllayintwopieces,itsgrinnowsixfeetacross.Hewrenchedthequiveringstickfromthecrackandhelditasaspearbetweenhimandthewhitepieces.Thenhebackedaway,keepinghisfacetotheskullthatlaygrinningatthesky.
Whenthegreenglowhadgonefromthehorizonandnightwasfullyaccomplished,RalphcameagaintothethicketinfrontoftheCastleRock.Peepingthrough,hecouldseethattheheightwasstilloccupied,andwhoeveritwasuptherehadaspearattheready.
Hekneltamongtheshadowsandfelthisisolationbitterly.Theyweresavagesitwastrue;buttheywerehuman,andtheambushingfearsofthedeepnightwerecomingon.
Ralphmoanedfaintly.Tiredthoughhewas,hecouldnotrelaxandfallintoawellofsleepforfearofthetribe.Mightitnotbepossibletowalkboldlyintothefort,say—"I’vegotpax,"laughlightlyandsleepamongtheothers?Pretendtheywerestillboys,schoolboyswhohadsaid,"Sir,yes,Sir"—andworncaps?Daylightmighthaveansweredyes;butdarknessandthehorrorsofdeathsaidno.Lyingthereinthedarkness,heknewhewasanoutcast.
"’CosIhadsomesense."
Herubbedhischeekalonghisforearm,smellingtheacridscentofsaltandsweatandthestalenessofdirt.Overtotheleft,thewavesofoceanwerebreathing,suckingdown,thenboilingbackovertherock.
