Повелитель мух
Painted Faces and Long Hair
Thebuzzfromthehunterswasoneofadmirationatthishandsomebehavior.ClearlytheywereoftheopinionthatJackhaddonethedecentthing,hadputhimselfintherightbyhisgenerousapologyandRalph,obscurely,inthewrong.Theywaitedforanappropriatelydecentanswer.
YetRalph’sthroatrefusedtopassone.Heresented,asanadditiontoJack’smisbehavior,thisverbaltrick.Thefirewasdead,theshipwasgone.Couldtheynotsee?Angerinsteadofdecencypassedhisthroat.
"Thatwasadirtytrick."
Theyweresilentonthemountain-topwhiletheopaquelookappearedinJack’seyesandpassedaway.
Ralph’sfinalwordwasaningraciousmutter.
"Allright.Lightthefire."
Withsomepositiveactionbeforethem,alittleofthetensiondied.Ralphsaidnomore,didnothing,stoodlookingdownattheashesroundhisfeet.Jackwasloudandactive.Hegaveorders,sang,whistled,threwremarksatthesilentRalph—remarksthatdidnotneedananswer,andthereforecouldnotinviteasnub;andstillRalphwassilent.Noone,notevenJack,wouldaskhimtomoveandintheendtheyhadtobuildthefirethreeyardsawayandinaplacenotreallyasconvenient.
SoRalphassertedhischieftainshipandcouldnothavechosenabetterwayifhehadthoughtfordays.Againstthisweapon,soindefinableandsoeffective,Jackwaspowerlessandragedwithoutknowingwhy.Bythetimethepilewasbuilt,theywereondifferentsidesofahighbarrier.
