Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
However,inthemeanwhile,walkingwasnotunpleasant.
Indeed,ifithadnotbeenforthedisturbingeventsofthenightbefore,theywouldhaveenjoyedthispartofthejourneybetterthananyuptothattime.Thesunwasshining,clearbutnottoohot.Thewoodsinthevalleywerestillleafyandfullofcolour,andseemedpeacefulandwholesome.Striderguidedthemconfidentlyamongthemanycrossingpaths,althoughlefttothemselvestheywouldsoonhavebeenataloss.Hewastakingawanderingcoursewithmanyturnsanddoublings,toputoffanypursuit.
‘BillFernywillhavewatchedwherewelefttheRoad,forcertain,’hesaid;‘thoughIdon’tthinkhewillfollowushimself.Heknowsthelandroundherewellenough,butheknowsheisnotamatchformeinawood.ItiswhathemaytellothersthatIamafraidof.Idon’tsupposetheyarefaraway.IftheythinkwehavemadeforArchet,somuchthebetter.’
WhetherbecauseofStrider’sskillorforsomeotherreason,theysawnosignandheardnosoundofanyotherlivingthingallthatday:neithertwo-footed,exceptbirds;norfour-footed,exceptonefoxandafewsquirrels.Thenextdaytheybegantosteerasteadycourseeastwards;andstillallwasquietandpeaceful.OnthethirddayoutfromBreetheycameoutoftheChetwood.Thelandhadbeenfallingsteadily,eversincetheyturnedasidefromtheRoad,andtheynowenteredawideflatexpanseofcountry,muchmoredifficulttomanage.
