Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Ride of the Rohirrim
TheresatThéodenandÉomer,andbeforethemonthegroundsatastrangesquatshapeofaman,gnarledasanoldstone,andthehairsofhisscantybeardstraggledonhislumpychinlikedrymoss.Hewasshort-leggedandfat-armed,thickandstumpy,andcladonlywithgrassabouthiswaist.Merryfeltthathehadseenhimbeforesomewhere,andsuddenlyherememberedthePúkel-menofDunharrow.Herewasoneofthoseoldimagesbroughttolife,ormaybeacreaturedescendedintruelinethroughendlessyearsfromthemodelsusedbytheforgottencraftsmenlongago.
TherewasasilenceasMerrycreptnearer,andthentheWildManbegantospeak,inanswertosomequestion,itseemed.Hisvoicewasdeepandguttural,yettoMerry’ssurprisehespoketheCommonSpeech,thoughinahaltingfashion,anduncouthwordsweremingledwithit.
‘No,fatherofHorse-men,’hesaid,‘wefightnot.Huntonly.Killgorgûninwoods,hateorc-folk.Youhategorgûntoo.Wehelpaswecan.WildMenhavelongearsandlongeyes;knowallpaths.WildMenliveherebeforeStone-houses;beforeTallMencomeupoutofWater.’
‘Butourneedisforaidinbattle,’saidÉomer.‘Howwillyouandyourfolkhelpus?’
‘Bringnews,’saidtheWildMan.‘Welookoutfromhills.Weclimbbigmountainandlookdown.Stone-cityisshut.Fireburnsthereoutside;nowinsidetoo.Youwishtocomethere?Thenyoumustbequick.Butgorgûnandmenoutoffar-away,’hewavedashortgnarledarmeastward,‘sitonhorse-road.Verymany,morethanHorse-men.’
