Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Hevisualizeditsprobableprogresswithagonizingclearness—thatonewouldstartslowly,dropfromledgetoledge,trundleacrossthenecklikeanoutsizesteamroller.
"Heave!Heave!Heave!"
Ralphputdownhisspear,thenpickeditupagain.Hepushedhishairbackirritably,tooktwohastystepsacrossthelittlespaceandthencameback.Hestoodlookingatthebrokenendsofbranches.
Stillsilence.
Hecaughtsightoftheriseandfallofhisdiaphragmandwassurprisedtoseehowquicklyhewasbreathing.Justleftofcenterhisheart-beatswerevisible.Heputthespeardownagain.
"Heave!Heave!Heave!"
Ashrill,prolongedcheer.
Somethingboomedupontheredrock,thentheearthjumpedandbegantoshakesteadily,whilethenoiseassteadilyincreased.Ralphwasshotintotheair,throwndown,dashedagainstbranches.Athisrighthand,andonlyafewfeetaway,thewholethicketbentandtherootsscreamedastheycameoutoftheearthtogether.Hesawsomethingredthatturnedoverslowlyasamillwheel.Thentheredthingwaspastandtheelephantineprogressdiminishedtowardthesea.
Ralphkneltontheplowed-upsoil,andwaitedfortheearthtocomeback.Presentlythewhite,brokenstumps,thesplitsticksandthetangleofthethicketrefocused.Therewasakindofheavyfeelinginhisbodywherehehadwatchedhisownpulse.
