Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Old Forest
AtanyrateIdon’tbelievethem.ButtheForestisqueer.Everythinginitisverymuchmorealive,moreawareofwhatisgoingon,sotospeak,thanthingsareintheShire.Andthetreesdonotlikestrangers.Theywatchyou.Theyareusualycontentmerelytowatchyou,aslongasdaylightlasts,anddon’tdomuch.Occasionalythemostunfriendlyonesmaydropabranch,orstickarootout,orgraspatyouwithalongtrailer.Butatnightthingscanbemostalarming,orsoIamtold.Ihaveonlyonceortwicebeeninhereafterdark,andthenonlynearthehedge.Ithoughtallthetreeswerewhisperingtoeachother,passingnewsandplotsalonginanuninteligiblelanguage;andthebranchesswayedandgropedwithoutanywind.Theydosaythetreesdoactualymove,andcansurroundstrangersandhemthemin.InfactlongagotheyattackedtheHedge:theycameandplantedthemselvesrightbyit,andleanedoverit.Butthehobbitscameandcutdownhundredsoftrees,andmadeagreatbonfireintheForest,andburnedallthegroundinalongstripeastoftheHedge.Afterthatthetreesgaveuptheattack,buttheybecameveryunfriendly.Thereisstillawidebarespacenotfarinsidewherethebonfirewasmade."
"Isitonlythetreesthataredangerous?"askedPippin.
"TherearevariousqueerthingslivingdeepintheForest,andonthefarside,"saidMerry,’oratleastIhaveheardso;butIhaveneverseenanyofthem.Butsomethingmakespaths.
Wheneveronecomesinsideonefindsopentracks;buttheyseemtoshiftandchangefromtimetotimeinaqueerfashion.Notfarfromthistunnelthereis,orwasforalongtime,thebeginningofquiteabroadpathleadingtotheBonfireGlade,andthenonmoreorlessinourdirection,eastandalittlenorth.ThatisthepathIamgoingtotryandfind."
