Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’Youhaveneverbeenlikethisbefore.Whatisitallabout?Itismineisn’tit?Ifoundit,andGollumwouldhavekilledme,ifIhadn’tkeptit.I’mnotathief,whateverhesaid.’
’Ihavenevercalledyouone,’Gandalfanswered.’AndIamnotoneeither.Iamnottryingtorobyou,buttohelpyou.Iwishyouwouldtrustme,asyouused.’Heturnedaway,andtheshadowpassed.Heseemedtodwindleagaintoanoldgreyman,bentandtroubled.
Bilbodrewhishandoverhiseyes.’Iamsorry,’hesaid.’ButIfeltsoqueer.Andyetitwouldbeareliefinawaynottobebotheredwithitanymore.Ithasbeensogrowingonmymindlately.SometimesIhavefeltitwaslikeaneyelookingatme.AndIamalwayswantingtoputitonanddisappear,don’tyouknow;orwonderingifitissafe,andpullingitouttomakesure.Itriedlockingitup,butIfoundIcouldn’trestwithoutitinmypocket.Idon’tknowwhy.AndIdon’tseemabletomakeupmymind.’
’Thentrustmine,’saidGandalf.’Itisquitemadeup.Goawayandleaveitbehind.Stoppossessingit.GiveittoFrodo,andIwilllookafterhim.’
Bilbostoodforamomenttenseandundecided.Presentlyhesighed.’Allright,’hesaidwithaneffort.Iwill.’Thenheshruggedhisshoulders,andsmiledratherruefully.’Afterallthat’swhatthispartybusinesswasallabout,really:togiveawaylotsofbirthdaypresents,andsomehowmakeiteasiertogiveitawayatthesametime.Ithasn’tmadeitanyeasierintheend,butitwouldbeapitytowasteallmypreparations.Itwouldquitespoilthejoke.’
’IndeeditwouldtakeawaytheonlypointIeversawintheaffair,’saidGandalf.
