Повелитель мух
Castle Rock
"Itwaslikethatatfirst,"saidRalph,"beforethings—"
Hestopped.
"Weweretogetherthen—"
Theofficernoddedhelpfully.
"Iknow.Jollygoodshow.LiketheCoralIsland."
Ralphlookedathimdumbly.Foramomenthehadafleetingpictureofthestrangeglamourthathadonceinvestedthebeaches.Buttheislandwasscorcheduplikedeadwood—Simonwasdead—andJackhad....Thetearsbegantoflowandsobsshookhim.Hegavehimselfuptothemnowforthefirsttimeontheisland;great,shudderingspasmsofgriefthatseemedtowrenchhiswholebody.Hisvoiceroseundertheblacksmokebeforetheburningwreckageoftheisland;andinfectedbythatemotion,theotherlittleboysbegantoshakeandsobtoo.Andinthemiddleofthem,withfilthybody,mattedhair,andunwipednose,Ralphweptfortheendofinnocence,thedarknessofman’sheart,andthefallthroughtheairofthetrue,wisefriendcalledPiggy.
Theofficer,surroundedbythesenoises,wasmovedandalittleembarrassed.Heturnedawaytogivethemtimetopullthemselvestogether;andwaited,allowinghiseyestorestonthetrimcruiserinthedistance.
