Повелитель мух
Fire on the Mountain
"Ralph!Hey!Whereyougoing?"
Ralphwasalreadyclamberingoverthefirstsmashedswathesofthescar.Alongwayaheadofhimwascrashingandlaughter.
Piggywatchedhimindisgust.
"Likeacrowdofkids—"
Hesighed,bent,andlaceduphisshoes.Thenoiseoftheerrantassemblyfadedupthemountain.Then,withthemartyredexpressionofaparentwhohastokeepupwiththesenselessebullienceofthechildren,hepickeduptheconch,turnedtowardtheforest,andbegantopickhiswayoverthetumbledscar.
Belowtheothersideofthemountaintopwasaplatformofforest.OncemoreRalphfoundhimselfmakingthecuppinggesture.
"Downtherewecouldgetasmuchwoodaswewant."
Jacknoddedandpulledathisunderlip.Startingperhapsahundredfeetbelowthemonthesteepersideofthemountain,thepatchmighthavebeendesignedexpresslyforfuel.Trees,forcedbythedampheat,foundtoolittlesoilforfullgrowth,fellearlyanddecayed:creeperscradledthem,andnewsaplingssearchedawayup.
Jackturnedtothechoir,whostoodready.Theirblackcapsofmaintenancewereslidoveroneearlikeberets.
"We’llbuildapile.Comeon."
