Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
ThisrepetitionmadeJackuneasy.HelookedatthetwinsandthenbackatRalph.
"Wehadtohavetheminthehunt,"hesaid,"ortherewouldn’thavebeenenoughforaring."
Heflushed,consciousofafault.
"Thefire’sonlybeenoutanhourortwo.Wecanlightupagain—"
HenoticedRalph’sscarrednakedness,andthesombresilenceofallfourofthem.Hesought,charitableinhishappiness,toincludetheminthethingthathadhappened.Hismindwascrowdedwithmemories;memoriesoftheknowledgethathadcometothemwhentheyclosedinonthestrugglingpig,knowledgethattheyhadoutwittedalivingthing,imposedtheirwilluponit,takenawayitslifelikealongsatisfyingdrink.
Hespreadhisarmswide.
"Youshouldhaveseentheblood!"
Thehuntersweremoresilentnow,butatthistheybuzzedagain.Ralphflungbackhishair.Onearmpointedattheemptyhorizon.Hisvoicewasloudandsavage,andstruckthemintosilence.
"Therewasaship."
Jack,facedatoncewithtoomanyawfulimplications,duckedawayfromthem.Helaidahandonthepiganddrewhisknife.Ralphbroughthisarmdown,fistclenched,andhisvoiceshook.
"Therewasaship.Outthere.Yousaidyou’dkeepthefiregoingandyouletitout!"HetookasteptowardJack,whoturnedandfacedhim.
