Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
Notknowingwhatelsetodo,hecrawledawayunderthetablestothedarkcornerbyStrider,whosatunmoved,givingnosignofhisthoughts.FrodoleanedbackagainstthewallandtookofftheRing.Howitcametobeonhisfingerhecouldnottell.Hecouldonlysupposethathehadbeenhandlingitinhispocketwhilehesang,andthatsomehowithadslippedonwhenhestuckouthishandwithajerktosavehisfall.ForamomenthewonderediftheRingitselfhadnotplayedhimatrick;perhapsithadtriedtorevealitselfinresponsetosomewishorcommandthatwasfeltintheroom.Hedidnotlikethelooksofthementhathadgoneout.
‘Well?’saidStrider,whenhereappeared.‘Whydidyoudothat?Worsethananythingyourfriendscouldhavesaid!Youhaveputyourfootinit!OrshouldIsayyourfinger?’
‘Idon’tknowwhatyoumean,’saidFrodo,annoyedandalarmed.
‘Ohyes,youdo,’answeredStrider;‘butwehadbetterwaituntiltheuproarhasdieddown.Then,ifyouplease,Mr.Baggins,Ishouldlikeaquietwordwithyou.’
‘Whatabout?’askedFrodo,ignoringthesuddenuseofhispropername.
‘Amatterofsomeimportance–tousboth,’answered
Strider,lookingFrodointheeye.‘Youmayhearsomethingtoyouradvantage.’
‘Verywell,’saidFrodo,tryingtoappearunconcerned.‘I’lltalktoyoulater.’
Meanwhileanargumentwasgoingonbythefireplace.Mr.Butterburhadcometrottingin,andhewasnowtryingtolistentoseveralconflictingaccountsoftheeventatthesametime.
‘Isawhim,Mr.
