Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Scouring of the Shire
FarmerCottonlookedathimslowly."Iwasjustgoingtoaskyouthat,"hesaid."Thisisn’tyourcountry,andyou’renotwanted."
"Well,you’rewantedanyhow,"saidtheleader."Wewantyou.Takehimlads!Lockholesforhim,andgivehimsomethingtokeephimquiet!"
TheMentookonestepforwardandstoppedshort.Thererosearoarofvoicesallroundthem,andsuddenlytheywereawarethatFarmerCottonwasnotallalone.Theyweresurrounded.Inthedarkontheedgeofthefirelightstoodaringofhobbitsthathadcreptupoutoftheshadows.Therewasnearlytwohundredofthem,allholdingsomeweapon.
Merrysteppedforward."Wehavemetbefore,"hesaidtotheleader,"andIwarnedyounottocomebackhere.Iwarnyouagain:youarestandinginthelightandyouarecoveredbyarchers.Ifyoulayafingeronthisfarmer,oronanyoneelse,youwillbeshotatonce.Laydownanyweaponsthatyouhave!"
Theleaderlookedround.Hewastrapped.Buthewasnotscared,notnowwithascoreofhisfellowstobackhim.Heknewtoolittleofhobbitstounderstandhisperil.Foolishlyhedecidedtofight.Itwouldbeeasytobreakout.
"At"emlads!"hecried."Let"emhaveit!"
Withalongknifeinhislefthandandaclubintheotherhemadearushatthering,tryingtoburstoutbacktowardsHobbiton.HeaimedasavageblowatMerrywhostoodinhisway.
