Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
Jackshookhishead.
"Animals."
Ralphpeeredintothedarknessunderthetrees.Theforestminutelyvibrated.
"Comeon."
Thedifficultywasnotthesteepascentroundtheshouldersofrock,buttheoccasionalplungesthroughtheundergrowthtogettothenextpath.Heretherootsandstemsofcreeperswereinsuchtanglesthattheboyshadtothreadthroughthemlikepliantneedles.Theironlyguide,apartfromthebrowngroundandoccasionalflashesoflightthroughthefoliage,wasthetendencyofslope:whetherthishole,lacedasitwaswiththecablesofcreeper,stoodhigherthanthat.
Somehow,theymovedup.
Immuredinthesetangles,atperhapstheirmostdifficultmoment,Ralphturnedwithshiningeyestotheothers.
"Wacco."
"Wizard."
"Smashing."
Thecauseoftheirpleasurewasnotobvious.Allthreewerehot,dirtyandexhausted.Ralphwasbadlyscratched.Thecreeperswereasthickastheirthighsandleftlittlebuttunnelsforfurtherpenetration.Ralphshoutedexperimentallyandtheylistenedtothemutedechoes.
