Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Flight to the Ford
Nohorsemanhadpassedsincethen,asfarashecouldsee.
Theyhurriedalongwithallthespeedtheycouldmake,andafteramileortwotheysawtheLastBridgeahead,atthebottomofashortsteepslope.Theydreadedtoseeblackfigureswaitingthere,buttheysawnone.StridermadethemtakecoverinathicketatthesideoftheRoad,whilehewentforwardtoexplore.
Beforelonghecamehurryingback.‘Icanseenosignoftheenemy,’hesaid,‘andIwonderverymuchwhatthatmeans.ButIhavefoundsomethingverystrange.’
Heheldouthishand,andshowedasinglepale-greenjewel.‘IfounditinthemudinthemiddleoftheBridge,’hesaid.‘Itisaberyl,anelf-stone.Whetheritwassetthere,orletfallbychance,Icannotsay;butitbringshopetome.IwilltakeitasasignthatwemaypasstheBridge;butbeyondthatIdarenotkeeptotheRoad,withoutsomeclearertoken.’
Atoncetheywentonagain.TheycrossedtheBridgeinsafety,hearingnosoundbutthewaterswirlingagainstitsthreegreatarches.AmilefurtherontheycametoanarrowravinethatledawaynorthwardsthroughthesteeplandsontheleftoftheRoad.HereStriderturnedaside,andsoontheywerelostinasombrecountryofdarktreeswindingamongthefeetofsullenhills.
ThehobbitsweregladtoleavethecheerlesslandsandtheperilousRoadbehindthem;butthisnewcountryseemedthreateningandunfriendly.Astheywentforwardthehillsaboutthemsteadilyrose.
