Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
Atlasthesawoneandlaughed,lookingforthefriendwhowasteasinghim.ButRogerhadwhippedbehindthepalmagain,wasleaningagainstitbreathingquickly,hiseyelidsfluttering.ThenHenrylostinterestinstonesandwanderedoff.
"Roger."
Jackwasstandingunderatreeabouttenyardsaway.WhenRogeropenedhiseyesandsawhim,adarkershadowcreptbeneaththeswarthinessofhisskin;butJacknoticednothing.Hewaseager,impatient,beckoning,sothatRogerwenttohim.
Therewasasmallpoolattheendoftheriver,dammedbackbysandandfullofwhitewater-liliesandneedle-likereeds.HereSamandEricwerewaiting,andBill.Jack,concealedfromthesun,kneltbythepoolandopenedthetwolargeleavesthathecarried.Oneofthemcontainedwhiteclay,andtheotherred.Bythemlayastickofcharcoalbroughtdownfromthefire.
JackexplainedtoRogerasheworked.
"Theydon’tsmellme.Theyseeme,Ithink.Somethingpink,underthetrees."
Hesmearedontheclay.
"IfonlyI’dsomegreen!"
Heturnedahalf-concealedfaceuptoRogerandansweredtheincomprehensionofhisgaze.
"Forhunting.Likeinthewar.Youknow—dazzlepaint.Likethingstryingtolooklikesomethingelse—"
