Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
Heknowssomething,that’splain,andmorethanIlike;butit’snoreasonwhyweshouldlethimgoleadingusoutintosomedarkplacefarfromhelp,asheputsit.’
Pippinfidgetedandlookeduncomfortable.StriderdidnotreplytoSam,butturnedhiskeeneyesonFrodo.Frodocaughthisglanceandlookedaway.‘No,’hesaidslowly.‘Idon’tagree.Ithink,Ithinkyouarenotreallyasyouchoosetolook.YoubegantotalktomeliketheBree-folk,butyourvoicehaschanged.StillSamseemsrightinthis:Idon’tseewhyyoushouldwarnustotakecare,andyetaskustotakeyouontrust.Whythedisguise?Whoareyou?Whatdoyoureallyknowabout–aboutmybusiness;andhowdoyouknowit?’
‘Thelessonincautionhasbeenwelllearned,’saidStriderwithagrimsmile.‘Butcautionisonethingandwaveringisanother.YouwillnevergettoRivendellnowonyourown,andtotrustmeisyouronlychance.Youmustmakeupyourmind.Iwillanswersomeofyourquestions,ifthatwillhelpyoutodoso.Butwhyshouldyoubelievemystory,ifyoudonottrustmealready?Stillhereitis——’
Atthatmomenttherecameaknockatthedoor.Mr.Butterburhadarrivedwithcandles,andbehindhimwasNobwithcansofhotwater.Striderwithdrewintoadarkcorner.
‘I’vecometobidyougoodnight,’saidthelandlord,puttingthecandlesonthetable.‘Nob!Takethewatertotherooms!’Hecameinandshutthedoor.
‘It’slikethis,’hebegan,hesitatingandlookingtroubled.‘IfI’vedoneanyharm,I’msorryindeed.
