Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
ThereweresoundscomingfrombehindtheCastleRock.Listeningcarefully,detachinghismindfromtheswingofthesea,Ralphcouldmakeoutafamiliarrhythm.
"_Killthebeast!Cuthisthroat!Spillhisblood!_"
Thetribewasdancing.Somewhereontheothersideofthisrockywalltherewouldbeadarkcircle,aglowingfire,andmeat.Theywouldbesavoringfoodandthecomfortofsafety.
Anoisenearerathandmadehimquiver.SavageswereclamberinguptheCastleRock,rightuptothetop,andhecouldhearvoices.Hesneakedforwardafewyardsandsawtheshapeatthetopoftherockchangeandenlarge.Therewereonlytwoboysontheislandwhomovedortalkedlikethat.
Ralphputhisheaddownonhisforearmsandacceptedthisnewfactlikeawound.Samnericwerepartofthetribenow.TheywereguardingtheCastleRockagainsthim.Therewasnochanceofrescuingthemandbuildingupanoutlawtribeattheotherendoftheisland.Samnericweresavagesliketherest;Piggywasdead,andtheconchsmashedtopowder.
Atlengththeguardclimbeddown.Thetwothatremainedseemednothingmorethanadarkextensionoftherock.Astarappearedbehindthemandwasmomentarilyeclipsedbysomemovement.
Ralphedgedforward,feelinghiswayovertheunevensurfaceasthoughhewereblind.Thereweremilesofvaguewaterathisrightandtherestlessoceanlayunderhislefthand,asawfulastheshaftofapit.
