Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
Thewizard’sfaceremainedgraveandattentive,andonlyaflickerinhisdeepeyesshowedthathewasstartledandindeedalarmed.’Ithasbeencalledthatbefore,’hesaid,’butnotbyyou.’
’ButIsayitnow.Andwhynot?EvenifGollumsaidthesameonce.It’snothisnow,butmine.AndIshallkeepit,Isay.’
Gandalfstoodup.Hespokesternly.’Youwillbeafoolifyoudo.Bilbo,’hesaid.’Youmakethatclearerwitheverywordyousay.Ithasgotfartoomuchholdonyou.Letitgo!Andthenyoucangoyourself,andbefree.’
’I’lldoasIchooseandgoasIplease,’saidBilboobstinately.
’Now,now,mydearhobbit!’saidGandalf.’Allyourlonglifewehavebeenfriends,andyouowemesomething.Come!Doasyoupromised:giveitup!’
’Well,ifyouwantmyringyourself,sayso!’criedBilbo.’Butyouwon’tgetit.Iwon’tgivemypreciousaway,Itellyou.’Hishandstrayedtothehiltofhissmallsword.
Gandalf’seyesflashed.’Itwillbemyturntogetangrysoon,’hesaid.Ifyousaythatagain,Ishall.ThenyouwillseeGandalftheGreyuncloaked.’Hetookasteptowardsthehobbit,andheseemedtogrowtallandmenacing;hisshadowfilledthelittleroom.
Bilbobackedawaytothewall,breathinghard,hishandclutchingathispocket.Theystoodforawhilefacingoneanother,andtheairoftheroomtingled.Gandalf’seyesremainedbentonthehobbit.Slowlyhishandsrelaxed,andhebegantotremble.
’Idon’tknowwhathascomeoveryou,Gandalf,’hesaid.
