Повелитель мух
Fire on the Mountain
"Yougotyoursmallfireallright."
Smokewasrisinghereandthereamongthecreepersthatfestoonedthedeadordyingtrees.Astheywatched,aflashoffireappearedattherootofonewisp,andthenthesmokethickened.Smallflamesstirredatthetrunkofatreeandcrawledawaythroughleavesandbrushwood,dividingandincreasing.Onepatchtouchedatreetrunkandscrambleduplikeabrightsquirrel.Thesmokeincreased,sifted,rolledoutwards.Thesquirrelleaptonthewingsofthewindandclungtoanotherstandingtree,eatingdownwards.Beneaththedarkcanopyofleavesandsmokethefirelaidholdontheforestandbegantognaw.Acresofblackandyellowsmokerolledsteadilytowardthesea.Atthesightoftheflamesandtheirresistiblecourseofthefire,theboysbrokeintoshrill,excitedcheering.Theflames,asthoughtheywereakindofwildlife,creptasajaguarcreepsonitsbellytowardalineofbirch-likesaplingsthatfledgedanoutcropofthepinkrock.Theyflappedatthefirstofthetrees,andthebranchesgrewabrieffoliageoffire.Theheartofflameleaptnimblyacrossthegapbetweenthetreesandthenwentswingingandflaringalongthewholerowofthem.Beneaththecaperingboysaquarterofamilesquareofforestwassavagewithsmokeandflame.Theseparatenoisesofthefiremergedintoadrum-rollthatseemedtoshakethemountain.
"Yougotyoursmallfireallright."
Startled,Ralphrealizedthattheboyswerefallingstillandsilent,feelingthebeginningsofaweatthepowersetfreebelowthem.Theknowledgeandtheawemadehimsavage.
"Oh,shutup!"
"Igottheconch,"saidPiggy,inahurtvoice."Igotarighttospeak."
