Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
Thehobbitslayinacornerbythemselvesuponapileofoldbracken.Merrywassleepy,butPippinnowseemedcuriouslyrestless.Thebrackencrackedandrustled,ashetwistedandturned.
’What’sthematter?’askedMerry.’Areyoulyingonanant-hill?’
’No,’saidPippin,’butI’mnotcomfortable.IwonderhowlongitissinceIsleptinabed?’
Merryyawned.’Workitoutonyourfingers!’hesaid.’ButyoumustknowhowlongitissinceweleftLórien.’
’Oh,that!’saidPippin.’Imeanarealbedinabedroom.’
’Well,Rivendellthen,’saidMerry.’ButIcouldsleepanywheretonight.’
’Youhadtheluck,Merry,’saidPippinsoftly,afteralongpause.’YouwereridingwithGandalf.’
’Well,whatofit?’
’Didyougetanynews,anyinformationoutofhim?’
’Yes,agooddeal.Morethanusual.Butyouhearditallormostofit:youwerecloseby,andweweretalkingnosecrets.Butyoucangowithhimtomorrow,ifyouthinkyoucangetmoreoutofhim-andifhe’llhaveyou.’
’CanI?Good!Buthe’sclose,isn’the?Notchangedatall.’
’Ohyes,heis!’saidMerry,wakingupalittle,andbeginningtowonderwhatwasbotheringhiscompanion.’Hehasgrown,orsomething.Hecanbebothkinderandmorealarming,merrierandmoresolemnthanbefore,Ithink.Hehaschanged;butwehavenothadachancetoseehowmuch,yet.ButthinkofthelastpartofthatbusinesswithSaruman!RememberSarumanwasonceGandalf’ssuperior:headoftheCouncil,whateverthatmaybeexactly.
