Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Ifonlyonehadtimetothink!
Anotherdoublecryatthesamedistancegavehimacluetotheirplan.Anysavagebalkedintheforestwouldutterthedoubleshoutandholdupthelinetillhewasfreeagain.Thatwaytheymighthopetokeepthecordonunbrokenrightacrosstheisland.Ralphthoughtoftheboarthathadbrokenthroughthemwithsuchease.Ifnecessary,whenthechasecametooclose,hecouldchargethecordonwhileitwasstillthin,burstthrough,andrunback.Butrunbackwhere?Thecordonwouldturnandsweepagain.Soonerorlaterhewouldhavetosleeporeat—andthenhewouldawakenwithhandsclawingathim;andthehuntwouldbecomearunningdown.
Whatwastobedone,then?Thetree?Burstthelinelikeaboar?Eitherwaythechoicewasterrible.
Asinglecryquickenedhisheart-beatand,leapingup,hedashedawaytowardtheoceansideandthethickjungletillhewashungupamongcreepers;hestayedthereforamomentwithhiscalvesquivering.Ifonlyonecouldhavequiet,alongpause,atimetothink!
Andthereagain,shrillandinevitable,wastheululationsweepingacrosstheisland.Atthatsoundheshiedlikeahorseamongthecreepersandranoncemoretillhewaspanting.Heflunghimselfdownbysomeferns.Thetree,orthecharge?Hemasteredhisbreathingforamoment,wipedhismouth,andtoldhimselftobecalm.Samnericweresomewhereinthatline,andhatingit.Orwerethey?Andsupposing,insteadofthem,hemetthechief,orRogerwhocarrieddeathinhishands?
Ralphpushedbackhistangledhairandwipedthesweatoutofhisbesteye.Hespokealoud.
