Повелитель мух
Huts on the Beach
Thecoarsemopofblackhairwaslongandswungdown,almostconcealingalow,broadforehead.HeworetheremainsofshortsandhisfeetwerebarelikeJack’s.Alwaysdarkishincolor,Simonwasburnedbythesuntoadeeptanthatglistenedwithsweat.
Hepickedhiswayupthescar,passedthegreatrockwhereRalphhadclimbedonthefirstmorning,thenturnedofftohisrightamongthetrees.Hewalkedwithanaccustomedtreadthroughtheacresoffruittrees,wheretheleastenergeticcouldfindaneasyifunsatisfyingmeal.Flowerandfruitgrewtogetheronthesametreeandeverywherewasthescentofripenessandtheboomingofamillionbeesatpasture.Herethelittlunswhohadrunafterhimcaughtupwithhim.Theytalked,criedoutunintelligibly,luggedhimtowardthetrees.Then,amidtheroarofbeesintheafternoonsunlight,Simonfoundforthemthefruittheycouldnotreach,pulledoffthechoicestfromupinthefoliage,passedthembackdowntotheendless,outstretchedhands.Whenhehadsatisfiedthemhepausedandlookedround.Thelittlunswatchedhiminscrutablyoverdoublehandfulsofripefruit.
Simonturnedawayfromthemandwentwherethejustperceptiblepathledhim.Soonhighjungleclosedin.Talltrunksboreunexpectedpaleflowersallthewayuptothedarkcanopywherelifewentonclamorously.Theairherewasdarktoo,andthecreepersdroppedtheirropesliketheriggingoffounderedships.Hisfeetleftprintsinthesoftsoilandthecreepersshiveredthroughouttheirlengthswhenhebumpedthem.
Hecameatlasttoaplacewheremoresunshinefell.Sincetheyhadnotsofartogoforlightthecreepershadwovenagreatmatthathungatthesideofanopenspaceinthejungle;forhereapatchofrockcameclosetothesurfaceandwouldnotallowmorethanlittleplantsandfernstogrow.
