Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Thesecondslengthened.Ralphwaslookingstraightintothesavage’seyes.
Don’tscream.
You’llgetback.
Nowhe’sseenyou.He’smakingsure.Asticksharpened.
Ralphscreamed,ascreamoffrightandangeranddesperation.Hislegsstraightened,thescreamsbecamecontinuousandfoaming.Heshotforward,burstthethicket,wasintheopen,screaming,snarling,bloody.Heswungthestakeandthesavagetumbledover;buttherewereotherscomingtowardhim,cryingout.Heswervedasaspearflewpastandthenwassilent,running.Allatoncethelightsflickeringaheadofhimmergedtogether,theroaroftheforestrosetothunderandatallbushdirectlyinhispathburstintoagreatfan-shapedflame.Heswungtotheright,runningdesperatelyfast,withtheheatbeatingonhisleftsideandthefireracingforwardlikeatide.Theululationrosebehindhimandspreadalong,aseriesofshortsharpcries,thesightingcall.Abrownfigureshowedupathisrightandfellaway.Theywereallrunning,allcryingoutmadly.Hecouldhearthemcrashingintheundergrowthandontheleftwasthehot,brightthunderofthefire.Heforgothiswounds,hishungerandthirst,andbecamefear;hopelessfearonflyingfeet,rushingthroughtheforesttowardtheopenbeach.Spotsjumpedbeforehiseyesandturnedintoredcirclesthatexpandedquicklytilltheypassedoutofsight.Belowhimsomeone’slegsweregettingtiredandthedesperateululationadvancedlikeajaggedfringeofmenaceandwasalmostoverhead.
