Повелитель мух / Lord of the Flies

”

The boy came close and peered down at Ralph, screwing up his face as he did so. What he saw of the fair-haired boy with the creamy shell on his knees did not seem to satisfy him.

He turned quickly, his black cloak circling.

“Isn’t there a ship, then?”

Inside the floating cloak he was tall, thin, and bony; and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger.

“Isn’t there a man here?”

Ralph spoke to his back.

“No. We’re having a meeting. Come and join in.”

The group of cloaked boys began to scatter from close line. The tall boy shouted at them.

“Choir! Stand still!”

Wearily obedient, the choir huddled into line and stood there swaying in the sun. None the less, some began to protest faintly.

“But, Merridew. Please, Merridew… can’t we?”

Then one of the boys flopped on his face in the sand and the line broke up.

They heaved the fallen boy to the platform and let him lie. Merridew, his eyes staring, made the best of a bad job.

“All right then. Sit down. Let him alone.”

“But Merridew.”

“He’s always throwing a faint[6 - throwing a faint – жалуется],” said Merridew. “He did in Gib.; and Addis; and at matins over the precentor.”

This last piece of shop brought sniggers from the choir, who perched like black birds on the criss-cross trunks and examined Ralph with interest.

Piggy asked no names. He was intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the offhand authority in Merridew’s voice. He shrank to the other side of Ralph and busied himself with his glasses.

Merridew turned to Ralph.

“Aren’t there any grownups?”

“No.”

Merridew sat down on a trunk and looked round the circle.

“Then we’ll have to look after ourselves.”

Secure on the other side of Ralph, Piggy spoke timidly.

“That’s why Ralph made a meeting.

So as we can decide what to do. We’ve heard names. That’s Johnny. Those two—they’re twins, Sam ’n Eric. Which is Eric—? You? No— you’re Sam—”

“I’m Sam—”

“’n I’m Eric.”

“We’d better all have names,” said Ralph, “so I’m Ralph.”

“We got most names,” said Piggy. “Got ’em just now.”

“Kids’ names,” said Merridew. “Why should I be Jack? I’m Merridew.