Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Scouring of the Shire
Theruffianshadclubsintheirhandsandhornsbytheirbelts,buttheyhadnootherweapons,asfarascouldbeseen.Asthetravellersrodeuptheyleftthewallandwalkedintotheroad,blockingtheway.
"Whered’youthinkyou’regoing?"saidone,thelargestandmostevil-lookingofthecrew."There’snoroadforyouanyfurther.AndwherearethosepreciousShirriffs?"
"Comingalongnicely,"saidMerry."Alittlefootsore,perhaps.Wepromisedtowaitforthemhere."
"Garn,whatdidIsay?"saidtheruffiantohismates."ItoldSharkeyitwasnogoodtrustingthoselittlefools.Someofourchapsoughttohavebeensent."
"Andwhatdifferencewouldthathavemade,pray?"saidMerry."Wearenotusedtofootpadsinthiscountry,butweknowhowtodealwiththem."
"Footpads,eh?"saidtheman."Sothat’syourtone,isit?Changeit,orwe’llchangeitforyou.Youlittlefolkaregettingtoouppish.Don’tyoutrusttoomuchintheBoss’skindheart.Sharkey’scomenowandhe’lldowhatSharkeysays."
"Andwhatmaythatbe?"saidFrodoquietly.
"Thiscountrywantswakingupandsettingtorights,"saidtheruffian,"andSharkey’sgoingtodoit;andmakeithard,ifyoudrivehimtoit.YouneedabiggerBoss.Andyou’llgetonebeforetheyearisout,ifthere’sanymoretrouble.Thenyou’lllearnathingortwo,youlittlerat-folk."
"Indeed.
