Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Houses of Healing
‘No,indeed!’saidPippin,tryingtosoundcheerful,thoughhisheartwaswrungwithfearandpity.‘No,wearegoingtotheHousesofHealing.’
Theyturnedoutofthelanethatranbetweentallhousesandtheouterwallofthefourthcircle,andtheyregainedthemainstreetclimbinguptotheCitadel.Stepbysteptheywent,whileMerryswayedandmurmuredasoneinsleep.
‘I’llnevergethimthere,’thoughtPippin.‘Istherenoonetohelpme?Ican’tleavehimhere.’Justthentohissurpriseaboycamerunningupbehind,andashepassedherecognizedBergilBeregond’sson.
‘Hullo,Bergil!’hecalled.‘Whereareyougoing?Gladtoseeyouagain,andstillalive!’
‘IamrunningerrandsfortheHealers,’saidBergil.‘Icannotstay.’
‘Don’t!’saidPippin.‘ButtellthemuptherethatIhaveasickhobbit,aperianmindyou,comefromthebattle-field.Idon’tthinkhecanwalksofar.IfMithrandiristhere,hewillbegladofthemessage.’Bergilranon.
‘I’dbetterwaithere,’thoughtPippin.SoheletMerrysinkgentlydownontothepavementinapatchofsunlight,andthenhesatdownbesidehim,layingMerry’sheadinhislap.Hefelthisbodyandlimbsgently,andtookhisfriend’shandsinhisown.Therighthandfelticytothetouch.
ItwasnotlongbeforeGandalfhimselfcameinsearchofthem.HestoopedoverMerryandcaressedhisbrow;thenheliftedhimcarefully.‘Heshouldhavebeenborneinhonourintothiscity,’hesaid.
