Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Flight to the Ford
ThereseemednochanceofreachingtheFordbeforehewascutoffbytheothersthathadlaininambush.Hecouldseethemclearlynow:theyappearedtohavecastasidetheirhoodsandblackcloaks,andtheywererobedinwhiteandgrey.Swordswerenakedintheirpalehands;helmswereontheirheads.Theircoldeyesglittered,andtheycalledtohimwithfellvoices.
FearnowfilledallFrodo’smind.Hethoughtnolongerofhissword.Nocrycamefromhim.Heshuthiseyesandclungtothehorse’smane.Thewindwhistledinhisears,andthebellsupontheharnessrangwildandshrill.Abreathofdeadlycoldpiercedhimlikeaspear,aswithalastspurt,likeaflashofwhitefire,theelf-horsespeedingasifonwings,passedrightbeforethefaceoftheforemostRider.
Frodoheardthesplashofwater.Itfoamedabouthisfeet.Hefeltthequickheaveandsurgeasthehorselefttheriverandstruggledupthestonypath.Hewasclimbingthesteepbank.HewasacrosstheFord.
Butthepursuerswereclosebehind.Atthetopofthebankthehorsehaltedandturnedaboutneighingfiercely.TherewereNineRidersatthewater’sedgebelow,andFrodo’sspiritquailedbeforethethreatoftheirupliftedfaces.Heknewofnothingthatwouldpreventthemfromcrossingaseasilyashehaddone;andhefeltthatitwasuselesstotrytoescapeoverthelonguncertainpathfromtheFordtotheedgeofRivendell,ifoncetheRiderscrossed.Inanycasehefeltthathewascommandedurgentlytohalt.Hatredagainstirredinhim,buthehadnolongerthestrengthtorefuse.
