Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Short Cut to Mushrooms
"Halothere!"caledFarmerMaggot.Theadvancinghoofsstoppedshort.Theythoughttheycoulddimlyguessadarkcloakedshapeinthemist,ayardortwoahead."Nowthen!"saidthefarmer,throwingthereinstoSamandstridingforward."Don’tyoucomeastepnearer!Whatdoyouwant,andwhereareyougoing?"
"IwantMr.Baggins.Haveyouseenhim?"saidamuffledvoice-butthevoicewasthevoiceofMerryBrandybuck.Adarklanternwasuncovered,anditslightfellontheastonishedfaceofthefarmer.
"Mr.Merry!"hecried.
"Yes,ofcourse!Whodidyouthinkitwas?"saidMerrycomingforward.Ashecameoutofthemistandtheirfearssubsided,heseemedsuddenlytodiminishtoordinaryhobbit-size.
Hewasridingapony,andascarfwasswathedroundhisneckandoverhischintokeepoutthefog.
Frodosprangoutofthewaggontogreethim."Sothereyouareatlast!"saidMerry."Iwasbeginningtowonderifyouwouldturnupatalltoday,andIwasjustgoingbacktosupper.WhenitgrewfoggyIcameacrossandrodeuptowardsStocktoseeifyouhadfaleninanyditches.ButI’mblestifIknowwhichwayyouhavecome.Wheredidyoufindthem,Mr.Maggot?Inyourduck-pond?"
"No,Icaught’emtrespassing,"saidthefarmer,’andnearlysetmydogson’em;butthey’lltellyouallthestory,I’venodoubt.Now,ifyou’llexcuseme,Mr.MerryandMr.Frodoandal,I’dbestbeturningforhome.Mrs.Maggotwillbeworritingwiththenightgettingthick."
