Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Scouring of the Shire
"
"Verygood,"saidFrodo."Youmakethearrangements."
Justthensomehobbits,whohadbeensentouttowardsHobbiton,camerunningin."They’recoming!"theysaid."Ascoreormore.Buttwohavegoneoffwestacrosscountry."
"ToWaymeet,that’llbe,"saidCotton,"tofetchmoreofthegang.Well,it’sfifteenmileeachway.Weneedn’ttroubleaboutthemjustyet."
Merryhurriedofftogiveorders.FarmerCottonclearedthestreet,sendingeveryoneindoors,excepttheolderhobbitswhohadweaponsofsomesort.Theyhadnotlongtowait.Soontheycouldhearloudvoices,andthenthetrampingofheavyfeet.Presentlyawholesquadoftheruffianscamedowntheroad.Theysawthebarrierandlaughed.Theydidnotimaginethattherewasanythinginthislittlelandthatwouldstanduptotwentyoftheirkindtogether.
Thehobbitsopenedthebarrierandstoodaside."Thankyou!"theMenjeered."Nowrunhometobedbeforeyou’rewhipped."Thentheymarchedalongthestreetshouting:"Putthoselightsout!Getindoorsandstaythere!Orwe’lltakefiftyofyoutotheLockholesforayear.Getin!TheBossislosinghistemper."
Noonepaidanyheedtotheirorders;butastheruffianspassed,theyclosedinquietlybehindandfollowedthem.WhentheMenreachedthefiretherewasFarmerCottonstandingallalonewarminghishands.
"Whoareyou,andwhatd’youthinkyou’redoing?"saidtheruffian-leader.
