Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Scouring of the Shire
Insideitwasdampandcheerless,andsupperwasservedonalongbaretablethathadnotbeenscrubbedforweeks.Thefooddeservednobettersetting.Thetravellersweregladtoleavetheplace.ItwasabouteighteenmilestoBywater,andtheysetoffatteno’clockinthemorning.Theywouldhavestartedearlier,onlythedelaysoplainlyannoyedtheShirriff-leader.Thewestwindhadshiftednorthwardanditwasturningcolder,buttherainwasgone.
Itwasratheracomiccavalcadethatleftthevillage,thoughthefewfolkthatcameouttostareatthe"get-up"ofthetravellersdidnotseemquitesurewhetherlaughingwasallowed.AdozenShirriffshadbeentoldoffasescorttothe"prisoners’;butMerrymadethemmarchinfront,whileFrodoandhisfriendsrodebehind.Merry,Pippin,andSamsatattheireaselaughingandtalkingandsinging,whiletheShirriffsstumpedalongtryingtolooksternandimportant.Frodo,however,wassilentandlookedrathersadandthoughtful.
Thelastpersontheypassedwasasturdyoldgafferclippingahedge."Hullo,hullo!"hejeered."Nowwho’sarrestedwho?"
TwooftheShirriffsimmediatelyleftthepartyandwenttowardshim."Leader!"saidMerry."Orderyourfellowsbacktotheirplacesatonce,ifyoudon’twantmetodealwiththem!"
Thetwohobbitsatasharpwordfromtheleadercamebacksulkily.
