Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
’Don’tbeafool!Whathaveyouheard,andwhydidyoulisten?’Gandalf’seyesflashedandhisbrowsstuckoutlikebristles.
’Mr.Frodo,sir!’criedSamquaking.’Don’tlethimhurtme,sir!Don’tlethimturnmeintoanythingunnatural!Myolddadwouldtakeonso.Imeantnoharm,onmyhonour,sir!’
’Hewon’thurtyou,’saidFrodo,hardlyabletokeepfromlaughing,althoughhewashimselfstartledandratherpuzzled.’Heknows,aswellasIdo,thatyoumeannoharm.Butjustyouupandanswerhisquestionsstraightaway!’
’Well,sir,’saidSamditheringalittle.’IheardadealthatIdidn’trightlyunderstand,aboutanenemy,andrings,andMr.Bilbo,sir,anddragons,andafierymountain,and—andElves,sir.IlistenedbecauseIcouldn’thelpmyself,ifyouknowwhatImean.Lorblessme,sir,butIdolovetalesofthatsort.AndIbelievethemtoo,whateverTedmaysay.Elves,sir!Iwoulddearlylovetoseethem.Couldn’tyoutakemetoseeElves,sir,whenyougo?’
SuddenlyGandalflaughed.’Comeinside!’heshouted,andputtingoutbothhisarmsheliftedtheastonishedSam,shears,grass-clippingsandall,rightthroughthewindowandstoodhimonthefloor.’TakeyoutoseeElves,eh?’hesaid,eyeingSamclosely,butwithasmileflickeringonhisface.’SoyouheardthatMr.Frodoisgoingaway?’
’Idid,sir.Andthat’swhyIchoked:whichyouheardseemingly.Itriednotto,sir,butitburstoutofme:Iwassoupset.’
’Itcan’tbehelped,Sam,’saidFrodosadly.HehadsuddenlyrealizedthatflyingfromtheShirewouldmeanmorepainfulpartingsthanmerelysayingfarewelltothefamiliarcomfortsofBagEnd.
