Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
IntheearlynightFrodowokefromdeepsleep,suddenly,asifsomesoundorpresencehaddisturbedhim.HesawthatStriderwassittingalertinhischair:hiseyesgleamedinthelightofthefire,whichhadbeentendedandwasburningbrightly;buthemadenosignormovement.
Frodosoonwenttosleepagain;buthisdreamswereagaintroubledwiththenoiseofwindandofgallopinghoofs.Thewindseemedtobecurlingroundthehouseandshakingit;andfaroffheheardahornblowingwildly.Heopenedhiseyes,andheardacockcrowinglustilyintheinn-yard.Striderhaddrawnthecurtainsandpushedbacktheshutterswithaclang.Thefirstgreylightofdaywasintheroom,andacoldairwascomingthroughtheopenwindow.
AssoonasStriderhadrousedthemall,heledthewaytotheirbedrooms.Whentheysawthemtheyweregladthattheyhadtakenhisadvice:thewindowshadbeenforcedopenandwereswinging,andthecurtainswereflapping;thebedsweretossedabout,andthebolstersslashedandflunguponthefloor;thebrownmatwastorntopieces.
Striderimmediatelywenttofetchthelandlord.PoorMr.Butterburlookedsleepyandfrightened.Hehadhardlyclosedhiseyesallnight(sohesaid),buthehadneverheardasound.
‘Neverhassuchathinghappenedinmytime!’hecried,raisinghishandsinhorror.‘Guestsunabletosleepintheirbeds,andgoodbolstersruinedandall!Whatarewecomingto?’
‘Darktimes,’saidStrider.‘Butforthepresentyoumaybeleftinpeace,whenyouhavegotridofus.Wewillleaveatonce.
