Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
Fromtherethepowerwasspreadingfarandwide,andawayfareastandsouththerewerewarsandgrowingfear.Orcsweremultiplyingagaininthemountains.Trollswereabroad,nolongerdull-witted,butcunningandarmedwithdreadfulweapons.Andthereweremurmuredhintsofcreaturesmoreterriblethanallthese,buttheyhadnoname.
Littleofallthis,ofcourse,reachedtheearsofordinaryhobbits.Buteventhedeafestandmoststay-at-homebegantohearqueertales;andthosewhosebusinesstookthemtotheborderssawstrangethings.TheconversationinTheGreenDragonatBywater,oneeveninginthespringofFrodo’sfiftiethyear,showedthateveninthecomfortableheartoftheShirerumourshadbeenheard,thoughmosthobbitsstilllaughedatthem.
SamGamgeewassittinginonecornernearthefire,andoppositehimwasTedSandyman,themiller’sson;andtherewerevariousotherrustichobbitslisteningtotheirtalk.
’Queerthingsyoudohearthesedays,tobesure,’saidSam.
’Ah,’saidTed,’youdo,ifyoulisten.ButIcanhearfireside-talesandchildren’sstoriesathome,ifIwantto.’
’Nodoubtyoucan,’retortedSam,’andIdaresaythere’smoretruthinsomeofthemthanyoureckon.Whoinventedthestoriesanyway?Takedragonsnow.’
’Nothank’ee,’saidTed,’Iwon’t.IheardtellofthemwhenIwasayoungster,butthere’snocalltobelieveinthemnow.There’sonlyoneDragoninBywater,andthat’sGreen,’hesaid,gettingagenerallaugh.
