Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
Aboutthemtheturfwasburnedtotherootsandallwithintheringthegrasswasscorchedandshrivelled,asifflameshadsweptthehilltop;buttherewasnosignofanylivingthing.
Standingupontherimoftheruinedcircle,theysawallroundbelowthemawideprospect,forthemostpartoflandsemptyandfeatureless,exceptforpatchesofwoodlandawaytothesouth,beyondwhichtheycaughthereandtheretheglintofdistantwater.BeneaththemonthissouthernsidethereranlikearibbontheOldRoad,comingoutoftheWestandwindingupanddown,untilitfadedbehindaridgeofdarklandtotheeast.Nothingwasmovingonit.FollowingitslineeastwardwiththeireyestheysawtheMountains:thenearerfoothillswerebrownandsombre;behindthemstoodtallershapesofgrey,andbehindthoseagainwerehighwhitepeaksglimmeringamongtheclouds.
‘Well,hereweare!’saidMerry.‘Andverycheerlessanduninvitingitlooks!Thereisnowaterandnoshelter.AndnosignofGandalf.ButIdon’tblamehimfornotwaiting–ifheevercamehere.’
‘Iwonder,’saidStrider,lookingroundthoughtfully.‘EvenifhewasadayortwobehindusatBree,hecouldhavearrivedherefirst.Hecanrideveryswiftlywhenneedpresses.’Suddenlyhestoopedandlookedatthestoneonthetopofthecairn;itwasflatterthantheothers,andwhiter,asifithadescapedthefire.Hepickeditupandexaminedit,turningitinhisfingers.‘Thishasbeenhandledrecently,’hesaid.
