Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Ride of the Rohirrim
‘Forthoughweleaveahostoffoesbehind,whatmatter?IftheStone-cityfalls,thenweshallhavenoreturning.Ifitissaved,thentheorc-hostitselfwillbecutoff.Ifyouarefaithful,Ghân-buri-Ghân,thenwewillgiveyourichreward,andyoushallhavethefriendshipoftheMarkforever.’
‘Deadmenarenotfriendstolivingmen,andgivethemnogifts,’saidtheWildMan.‘ButifyouliveaftertheDarkness,thenleaveWildMenaloneinthewoodsanddonothuntthemlikebeastsanymore.Ghân-buri-Ghânwillnotleadyouintotrap.HewillgohimselfwithfatherofHorse-men,andifheleadsyouwrong,youwillkillhim.’
‘Sobeit!’saidThéoden.
‘Howlongwillittaketopassbytheenemyandcomebacktotheroad?’askedÉomer.‘Wemustgoatfoot-pace,ifyouguideus;andIdoubtnotthewayisnarrow.’
‘WildMengoquickonfeet,’saidGhân.‘WayiswideforfourhorsesinStonewainValleyyonder,’hewavedhishandsouthwards;‘butnarrowatbeginningandatend.WildMancouldwalkfromheretoDînbetweensunriseandnoon.’
‘Thenwemustallowatleastsevenhoursfortheleaders,’saidÉomer;‘butwemustreckonratheronsometenhoursforall.Thingsunforeseenmayhinderus,andifourhostisallstrungout,itwillbelongereitcanbesetinorderwhenweissuefromthehills.Whatisthehournow?’
‘Whoknows?’saidThéoden.‘Allisnightnow.’
‘Itisalldark,butitisnotallnight.’saidGhân.‘WhenSuncomeswefeelher,evenwhensheishidden.
