Повелитель мух
Fire on the Mountain
Theygazedintentlyatthedenseblueofthehorizon,asifalittlesilhouettemightappearthereatanymoment.
Thesuninthewestwasadropofburninggoldthatslidnearerandnearerthesilloftheworld.Allatoncetheywereawareoftheeveningastheendoflightandwarmth.
Rogertooktheconchandlookedroundatthemgloomily.
"I’vebeenwatchingthesea.Therehasn’tbeenthetraceofaship.Perhapswe’llneverberescued."
Amurmurroseandsweptaway.Ralphtookbacktheconch.
"Isaidbeforewe’llberescuedsometime.We’vejustgottowait,that’sall."
Daring,indignant,Piggytooktheconch.
"That’swhatIsaid!Isaidaboutourmeetingsandthingsandthenyousaidshutup—"
Hisvoiceliftedintothewhineofvirtuousrecrimination.Theystirredandbegantoshouthimdown.
"Yousaidyouwantedasmallfireandyoubeenandbuiltapilelikeahayrick.IfIsayanything,"criedPiggy,withbitterrealism,"yousayshutup;butifJackorMauriceorSimon—"
Hepausedinthetumult,standing,lookingbeyondthemanddowntheunfriendlysideofthemountaintothegreatpatchwheretheyhadfounddeadwood.Thenhelaughedsostrangelythattheywerehushed,lookingattheflashofhisspectaclesinastonishment.Theyfollowedhisgazetofindthesourjoke.
