Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Therehewouldsit,andthesearchwouldpasshimby,andthecordonwaveron,ululatingalongtheisland,andhewouldbefree.
Hepulledhimselfbetweentheferns,tunnelingin.Helaidthestickbesidehim,andhuddledhimselfdownintheblackness.Onemustremembertowakeatfirstlight,inordertodiddlethesavages—andhedidnotknowhowquicklysleepcameandhurledhimdownadarkinteriorslope.
Hewasawakebeforehiseyeswereopen,listeningtoanoisethatwasnear.Heopenedaneye,foundthemoldaninchorsofromhisfaceandhisfingersgrippedintoit,lightfilteringbetweenthefrondsoffern.Hehadjusttimetorealizethattheage-longnightmaresoffallinganddeathwerepastandthatthemorningwascome,whenheheardthesoundagain.Itwasanululationoverbytheseashore—andnowthenextsavageansweredandthenext.Thecrysweptbyhimacrossthenarrowendoftheislandfromseatolagoon,likethecryofaflyingbird.Hetooknotimetoconsiderbutgrabbedhissharpstickandwriggledbackamongtheferns.Withinsecondshewasworminghiswayintothethicket;butnotbeforehehadglimpsedthelegsofasavagecomingtowardhim.Thefernswerethumpedandbeatenandheheardlegsmovinginthelonggrass.Thesavage,whoeverhewas,ululatedtwice;andthecrywasrepeatedinbothdirections,thendiedaway.Ralphcrouchedstill,tangledintheferns,andforatimeheheardnothing.
Atlastheexaminedthethicketitself.Certainlynoonecouldattackhimhere—andmoreoverhehadastrokeofluck.ThegreatrockthathadkilledPiggyhadboundedintothisthicketandbouncedthere,rightinthecenter,makingasmashedspaceafewfeetinextenteachway.WhenRalphhadwriggledintothishefeltsecure,andclever.
