Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
Nevermindaboutbreakfast:adrinkandabitestandingwillhavetodo.Weshallbepackedinafewminutes.’
Mr.Butterburhurriedofftoseethattheirponiesweregotready,andtofetchthema‘bite’.Butverysoonhecamebackindismay.Theponieshadvanished!Thestable-doorshadallbeenopenedinthenight,andtheyweregone:notonlyMerry’sponies,buteveryotherhorseandbeastintheplace.
Frodowascrushedbythenews.HowcouldtheyhopetoreachRivendellonfoot,pursuedbymountedenemies?TheymightaswellsetoutfortheMoon.Stridersatsilentforawhile,lookingatthehobbits,asifhewasweighinguptheirstrengthandcourage.
‘Ponieswouldnothelpustoescapehorsemen,’hesaidatlast,thoughtfully,asifheguessedwhatFrodohadinmind.‘Weshouldnotgomuchsloweronfoot,notontheroadsthatImeantotake.Iwasgoingtowalkinanycase.Itisthefoodandstoresthattroubleme.WecannotcountongettinganythingtoeatbetweenhereandRivendell,exceptwhatwetakewithus;andweoughttotakeplentytospare;forwemaybedelayed,orforcedtogoround-about,faroutofthedirectway.Howmuchareyoupreparedtocarryonyourbacks?’
‘Asmuchaswemust,’saidPippinwithasinkingheart,buttryingtoshowthathewastougherthanhelooked(orfelt).
‘Icancarryenoughfortwo,’saidSamdefiantly.
‘Can’tanythingbedone,Mr.Butterbur?’askedFrodo.
