Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
Behindthefourboys,thesmokemovedgentlyalongthehorizon;andonthebeach,HenryandJohnnywerethrowingsandatPercivalwhowascryingquietlyagain;andallthreewereincompleteignoranceoftheexcitement.
BythetimeRalphhadreachedthelandwardendofthescarhewasusingpreciousbreathtoswear.Hediddesperateviolencetohisnakedbodyamongtheraspingcreeperssothatbloodwasslidingoverhim.Justwherethesteepascentofthemountainbegan,hestopped.Mauricewasonlyafewyardsbehindhim.
"Piggy’sspecs!"shoutedRalph."Ifthefire’sallout,we’llneedthem—"
Hestoppedshoutingandswayedonhisfeet.Piggywasonlyjustvisible,bumblingupfromthebeach.Ralphlookedatthehorizon,thenuptothemountain.WasitbettertofetchPiggy’sglasses,orwouldtheshiphavegone?Oriftheyclimbedon,supposingthefirewasallout,andtheyhadtowatchPiggycrawlingnearerandtheshipsinkingunderthehorizon?Balancedonahighpeakofneed,agonizedbyindecision,Ralphcriedout:
"OhGod,ohGod!"
Simon,strugglingwiththebushes,caughthisbreath.Hisfacewastwisted.Ralphblunderedon,savaginghimself,asthewispofsmokemovedon.
Thefirewasdead.Theysawthatstraightaway;sawwhattheyhadreallyknowndownonthebeachwhenthesmokeofhomehadbeckoned.Thefirewasout,smokelessanddead;thewatchersweregone.Apileofunusedfuellayready.
Ralphturnedtothesea.Thehorizonstretched,impersonaloncemore,barrenofallbutthefaintesttraceofsmoke.
