Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
MostoftheinhabitantsofBreeandStaddle,andmanyevenfromCombeandArchet,werecrowdedintheroadtoseethetravellersstart.Theotherguestsintheinnwereatthedoorsorhangingoutofthewindows.
Striderhadchangedhismind,andhaddecidedtoleaveBreebythemainroad.Anyattempttosetoffacrosscountryatoncewouldonlymakemattersworse:halftheinhabitantswouldfollowthem,toseewhattheywereupto,andtopreventthemfromtrespassing.
TheysaidfarewelltoNobandBob,andtookleaveofMr.Butterburwithmanythanks.‘Ihopeweshallmeetagainsomeday,whenthingsaremerryoncemore,’saidFrodo.‘Ishouldlikenothingbetterthantostayinyourhouseinpeaceforawhile.’
Theytrampedoff,anxiousanddownhearted,undertheeyesofthecrowd.Notallthefaceswerefriendly,norallthewordsthatwereshouted.ButStriderseemedtobeheldinawebymostoftheBree-landers,andthosethathestaredatshuttheirmouthsanddrewaway.HewalkedinfrontwithFrodo;nextcameMerryandPippin;andlastcameSamleadingthepony,whichwasladenwithasmuchoftheirbaggageastheyhadthehearttogiveit;butalreadyitlookedlessdejected,asifitapprovedofthechangeinitsfortunes.Samwaschewinganapplethoughtfully.Hehadapocketfullofthem:apartingpresentfromNobandBob.‘Applesforwalking,andapipeforsitting,’hesaid.‘ButIreckonI’llmissthembothbeforelong.’
