Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Flight to the Ford
Inanycaseweareingreatperilhereafterdark,sincetheattackoflastnight,andwecanhardlymeetgreaterdangerwhereverwego.’
Assoonasthedaylightwasfull,theyhadsomehurriedfoodandpacked.ItwasimpossibleforFrodotowalk,sotheydividedthegreaterpartoftheirbaggageamongthefourofthem,andputFrodoonthepony.Inthelastfewdaysthepoorbeasthadimprovedwonderfully;italreadyseemedfatterandstronger,andhadbeguntoshowanaffectionforitsnewmasters,especiallyforSam.BillFerny’streatmentmusthavebeenveryhardforthejourneyinthewildtoseemsomuchbetterthanitsformerlife.
Theystartedoffinasoutherlydirection.ThiswouldmeancrossingtheRoad,butitwasthequickestwaytomorewoodedcountry.Andtheyneededfuel;forStridersaidthatFrodomustbekeptwarm,especiallyatnight,whilefirewouldbesomeprotectionforthemall.ItwasalsohisplantoshortentheirjourneybycuttingacrossanothergreatloopoftheRoad:eastbeyondWeathertopitchangeditscourseandtookawidebendnorthwards.
Theymadetheirwayslowlyandcautiouslyroundthesouth-westernslopesofthehill,andcameinalittlewhiletotheedgeoftheRoad.TherewasnosignoftheRiders.Butevenastheywerehurryingacrosstheyheardfarawaytwocries:acoldvoicecallingandacoldvoiceanswering.Tremblingtheysprangforward,andmadeforthethicketsthatlayahead.
