Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Short Cut to Mushrooms
Theirspiritsrosewitheverystep.ThelineoftheRivergrewnearer;andtheBlackRidersbegantoseemlikephantomsofthewoodsnowleftfarbehind.
Theypassedalongtheedgeofahugeturnip-field,andcametoastoutgate.Beyonditaruttedlaneranbetweenlowwel-laidhedgestowardsadistantclumpoftrees.Pippinstopped.
"Iknowthesefieldsandthisgate!"hesaid."ThisisBamfurlong,oldFarmerMaggot’sland.That’shisfarmawaythereinthetrees."
"Onetroubleafteranother!"saidFrodo,lookingnearlyasmuchalarmedasifPippinhaddeclaredthelanewastheslotleadingtoadragon’sden.Theotherslookedathiminsurprise.
"What’swrongwitholdMaggot?"askedPippin."He’sagoodfriendtoalltheBrandybucks.Ofcoursehe’saterrortotrespassers,andkeepsferociousdogs-butafteral,folkdownhereareneartheborderandhavetobemoreontheirguard."
"Iknow,"saidFrodo."Butallthesame,"headdedwithashamefacedlaugh,"Iamterrifiedofhimandhisdogs.Ihaveavoidedhisfarmforyearsandyears.Hecaughtmeseveraltimestrespassingaftermushrooms,whenIwasayoungsteratBrandyHal.Onthelastoccasionhebeatme,andthentookmeandshowedmetohisdogs."See,lads,"hesaid,"nexttimethisyoungvarmintsetsfootonmyland,youcaneathim.Nowseehimoff!"TheychasedmeallthewaytotheFerry.Ihavenevergotoverthefright-thoughIdaresaythebeastsknewtheirbusinessandwouldnotrealyhavetouchedme."
Pippinlaughed."Wel,it’stimeyoumadeitup.EspecialyifyouarecomingbacktoliveinBuckland.OldMaggotisrealyastoutfelow-ifyouleavehismushroomsalone.
