Повелитель мух
The Sound of the Shell
Herethebeachwasinterruptedabruptlybythesquaremotifofthelandscape; agreatplatformofpinkgranitethrustupuncompromisinglythroughforest andterraceandsandandlagoontomakearaisedjettyfourfeethigh. Thetopofthiswascoveredwithathinlayerofsoilandcoarsegrassandshadedwithyoungpalmtrees. Therewasnotenoughsoilforthemtogrowtoanyheight andwhentheyreachedperhapstwentyfeettheyfellanddried, formingacriss-crosspatternoftrunks, veryconvenienttositon. Thepalmsthatstillstoodmadeagreenroof, coveredontheundersidewithaquiveringtangleofreflectionsfromthelagoon. Ralphhauledhimselfontothisplatform, notedthecoolnessandshade,shutoneeye, anddecidedthattheshadowsonhisbodywerereallygreen. Hepickedhiswaytotheseawardedgeoftheplatformandstoodlookingdownintothewater. Itwascleartothebottomandbrightwiththeefflorescenceoftropicalweedandcoral. Aschooloftiny,glitteringfishflickedhitherandthither. Ralphspoketohimself,soundingthebassstringsofdelight.
"Whizzoh!"
Beyondtheplatformtherewasmoreenchantment. SomeactofGod—atyphoonperhaps,orthestormthathadaccompaniedhisownarrival —hadbankedsandinsidethelagoonso thattherewasalong,deeppoolinthebeachwithahighledgeofpinkgraniteatthefurtherend. Ralphhadbeendeceivedbeforenowbythespeciousappearanceofdepthinabeachpoolandheapproachedthisonepreparingtobedisappointed. Buttheislandrantruetoformandtheincrediblepool, whichclearlywasonlyinvadedbytheseaathightide, wassodeepatoneendastobedarkgreen. Ralphinspectedthewholethirtyyardscarefullyandthenplungedin. Thewaterwaswarmerthanhisblood andhemighthavebeenswimminginahugebath.
