Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Ralphfumbledtoholdhisspearsothatitwaspointforemost;andnowhesawthatthestickwassharpenedatbothends.
Thesavagestoppedfifteenyardsawayandutteredhiscry.
Perhapshecanhearmyheartoverthenoisesofthefire.Don’tscream.Getready.
Thesavagemovedforwardsothatyoucouldonlyseehimfromthewaistdown.Thatwasthebuttofhisspear.Nowyoucouldseehimfromthekneedown.Don’tscream.
Aherdofpigscamesquealingoutofthegreenerybehindthesavageandrushedawayintotheforest.Birdswerescreaming,miceshrieking,andalittlehoppingthingcameunderthematandcowered.
Fiveyardsawaythesavagestopped,standingrightbythethicket,andcriedout.Ralphdrewhisfeetupandcrouched.Thestakewasinhishands,thestakesharpenedatbothends,thestakethatvibratedsowildly,thatgrewlong,short,light,heavy,lightagain.
Theululationspreadfromshoretoshore.Thesavagekneltdownbytheedgeofthethicket,andtherewerelightsflickeringintheforestbehindhim.Youcouldseeakneedisturbthemold.Nowtheother.Twohands.Aspear.
Aface.
Thesavagepeeredintotheobscuritybeneaththethicket.Youcouldtellthathesawlightonthissideandonthat,butnotinthemiddle—there.Inthemiddlewasablobofdarkandthesavagewrinkleduphisface,tryingtodecipherthedarkness.
