Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Sotheyknew.
Ralphpickeduphisstickandpreparedforbattle.Butwhatcouldtheydo?Itwouldtakethemaweektobreakapaththroughthethicket;andanyonewhowormedhiswayinwouldbehelpless.Hefeltthepointofhisspearwithhisthumbandgrinnedwithoutamusement.Whoevertriedthatwouldbestuck,squealinglikeapig.
Theyweregoingaway,backtothetowerrock.Hecouldhearfeetmovingandthensomeonesniggered.Therecameagainthathigh,bird-likecrythatsweptalongtheline.Sosomewerestillwatchingforhim;butsome—?
Therewasalong,breathlesssilence.Ralphfoundthathehadbarkinhismouthfromthegnawedspear.HestoodandpeeredupwardstotheCastleRock.
Ashedidso,heheardJack’svoicefromthetop.
"Heave!Heave!Heave!"
Theredrockthathecouldseeatthetopofthecliffvanishedlikeacurtain,andhecouldseefiguresandbluesky.Amomentlatertheearthjolted,therewasarushingsoundintheair,andthetopofthethicketwascuffedaswithagigantichand.Therockboundedon,thumpingandsmashingtowardthebeach,whileashowerofbrokentwigsandleavesfellonhim.Beyondthethicket,thetribewascheering.
Silenceagain.
Ralphputhisfingersinhismouthandbitthem.Therewasonlyoneotherrockuptherethattheymightconceivablymove;butthatwashalfasbigasacottage,bigasacar,atank.
