Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
‘Theyare–atfirstsightatanyrate,’laughedPippinwithsuddenreliefafterreadingGandalf’sletter.‘Buthandsomeisashandsomedoes,aswesayintheShire;andIdaresayweshallalllookmuchthesameafterlyingfordaysinhedgesandditches.’
‘Itwouldtakemorethanafewdays,orweeks,oryears,ofwanderingintheWildtomakeyoulooklikeStrider,’heanswered.‘Andyouwoulddiefirst,unlessyouaremadeofsternerstuffthanyoulooktobe.’
Pippinsubsided;butSamwasnotdaunted,andhestilleyedStriderdubiously.‘HowdoweknowyouaretheStriderthatGandalfspeaksabout?’hedemanded.‘YounevermentionedGandalf,tillthislettercameout.Youmightbeaplay-actingspy,forallIcansee,tryingtogetustogowithyou.YoumighthavedoneintherealStriderandtookhisclothes.Whathaveyoutosaytothat?’
‘Thatyouareastoutfellow,’answeredStrider;‘butIamafraidmyonlyanswertoyou,SamGamgee,isthis.IfIhadkilledtherealStrider,Icouldkillyou.AndIshouldhavekilledyoualreadywithoutsomuchtalk.IfIwasaftertheRing,Icouldhaveit–now!’
Hestoodup,andseemedsuddenlytogrowtaller.Inhiseyesgleamedalight,keenandcommanding.Throwingbackhiscloak,helaidhishandonthehiltofaswordthathadhungconcealedbyhisside.Theydidnotdaretomove.Samsatwide-mouthedstaringathimdumbly.
‘ButIamtherealStrider,fortunately,’hesaid,lookingdownatthemwithhisfacesoftenedbyasuddensmile.
