Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
Rogerwaitedtoo.Atfirsthehadhiddenbehindagreatpalm;butHenry’sabsorptionwiththetransparencieswassoobviousthatatlasthestoodoutinfullview.Helookedalongthebeach.Percivalhadgoneoff,crying,andJohnnywasleftintriumphantpossessionofthecastles,Hesatthere,crooningtohimselfandthrowingsandatanimaginaryPercival.Beyondhim,RogercouldseetheplatformandtheglintsofspraywhereRalphandSimonandPiggyandMauriceweredivinginthepool.Helistenedcarefullybutcouldonlyjusthearthem.
Asuddenbreezeshookthefringeofpalmtrees,sothatthefrondstossedandfluttered.SixtyfeetaboveRoger,severalnuts,fibrouslumpsasbigasrugbyballs,wereloosedfromtheirstems.Theyfellabouthimwithaseriesofhardthumpsandhewasnottouched.Rogerdidnotconsiderhisescape,butlookedfromthenutstoHenryandbackagain.
Thesubsoilbeneaththepalmtreeswasaraisedbeach,andgenerationsofpalmshadworkedlooseinthisthestonesthathadlainonthesandsofanothershore.Rogerstooped,pickedupastone,aimed,andthrewitatHenry—threwittomiss.Thestone,thattokenofpreposteroustime,bouncedfiveyardstoHenry’srightandfellinthewater.Rogergatheredahandfulofstonesandbegantothrowthem.YettherewasaspaceroundHenry,perhapssixyardsindiameter,intowhichhedarenotthrow.Here,invisibleyetstrong,wasthetaboooftheoldlife.Roundthesquattingchildwastheprotectionofparentsandschoolandpolicemenandthelaw.Roger’sarmwasconditionedbyacivilizationthatknewnothingofhimandwasinruins.
Henrywassurprisedbytheploppingsoundsinthewater.Heabandonedthenoiselesstransparenciesandpointedatthecenterofthespreadingringslikeasetter.Thissideandthatthestonesfell,andHenryturnedobedientlybutalwaystoolatetoseethestonesintheair.
