Гарри Поттер и философский камень
The Forbidden Forest
"HarryPotter,doyouknowwhatunicornbloodisusedfor?"
"No,"saidHarry,startledbytheoddquestion. "We’veonlyusedthehornandtailhairinPotions."
"Thatisbecauseitisamonstrousthing,toslayaunicorn,"saidFirenze. "Onlyonewhohasnothingtolose,andeverythingtogain,wouldcommitsuchacrime. Thebloodofaunicornwillkeepyoualive,evenifyouareaninchfromdeath,butataterribleprice. Youhaveslainsomethingpureanddefenselesstosaveyourself,andyouwillhavebutahalf-life,acursedlife,fromthemomentthebloodtouchesyourlips."
HarrystaredatthebackofFirenze’shead,whichwasdappledsilverinthemoonlight.
"Butwho’dbethatdesperate? "hewonderedaloud. "Ifyou’regoingtobecursedforever,death’sbetter,isn’tit?"
"Itis,"Firenzeagreed,"unlessallyouneedistostayalivelongenoughtodrinksomethingelse—somethingthatwillbringyoubacktofullstrengthandpower—somethingthatwillmeanyoucanneverdie. Mr.Potter,doyouknowwhatishiddenintheschoolatthisverymoment?"
"TheSorcerer’sStone! Ofcourse—theElixirofLife! ButIdon’tunderstandwho—"
"Canyouthinkofnobodywhohaswaitedmanyyearstoreturntopower,whohasclungtolife,awaitingtheirchance?"
ItwasasthoughanironfisthadclenchedsuddenlyaroundHarry’sheart. Overtherustlingofthetrees,heseemedtohearoncemorewhatHagridhadtoldhimonthenighttheyhadmet: "Somesayhedied. Codswallop,inmyopinion. Dunnoifhehadenoughhumanleftinhimtodie."
