Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
Dumbly,Ralphshookhishead.Heturnedahalfpaceonthesand.Asemicircleoflittleboys,theirbodiesstreakedwithcoloredclay,sharpsticksintheirhands,werestandingonthebeachmakingnonoiseatall.
"Funandgames,"saidtheofficer.
Thefirereachedthecoconutpalmsbythebeachandswallowedthemnoisily.Aflame,seeminglydetached,swunglikeanacrobatandlickedupthepalmheadsontheplatform.Theskywasblack.
TheofficergrinnedcheerfullyatRalph.
"Wesawyoursmoke.Whathaveyoubeendoing?Havingawarorsomething?"
Ralphnodded.
Theofficerinspectedthelittlescarecrowinfrontofhim.Thekidneededabath,ahaircut,anose-wipeandagooddealofointment.
"Nobodykilled,Ihope?Anydeadbodies?"
"Onlytwo.Andthey’vegone."
TheofficerleaneddownandlookedcloselyatRalph.
"Two?Killed?"
Ralphnoddedagain.Behindhim,thewholeislandwasshudderingwithflame.Theofficerknew,asarule,whenpeopleweretellingthetruth.Hewhistledsoftly.
