Повелитель мух
Fire on the Mountain
"Butthereisn’tabeastie!"
"Hesaysinthemorningitturnedintothemthingslikeropesinthetreesandhunginthebranches.Hesayswillitcomebacktonight?"
"Butthereisn’tabeastie!"
Therewasnolaughteratallnowandmoregravewatching.Ralphpushedbothhandsthroughhishairandlookedatthelittleboyinmixedamusementandexasperation.
Jackseizedtheconch.
"Ralph’srightofcourse.Thereisn’tasnake-thing.Butiftherewasasnakewe’dhuntitandkillit.We’regoingtohuntpigstogetmeatforeverybody.Andwe’lllookforthesnaketoo—"
"Butthereisn’tasnake!"
"We’llmakesurewhenwegohunting."
Ralphwasannoyedand,forthemoment,defeated.Hefelthimselffacingsomethingungraspable.Theeyesthatlookedsointentlyathimwerewithouthumor.
"Butthereisn’tabeast!"
Somethinghehadnotknownwasthereroseinhimandcompelledhimtomakethepoint,loudlyandagain.
"ButItellyouthereisn’tabeast!"
Theassemblywassilent.
