Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Ring Goes South
IthinkLegolas’sbitofnewsaboutGollumcaughtevenhimonthehop,thoughhepasseditoff."
"Youwerewrong,"saidGandalf."Youwereinattentive.IhadalreadyheardofitfromGwaihir.Ifyouwanttoknow,theonlyrealeye-openers,asyouputit,wereyouandFrodo;andIwastheonlyonethatwasnotsurprised."
"Well,anyway,"saidBilbo,"nothingwasdecidedbeyondchoosingpoorFrodoandSam.Iwasafraidallthetimethatitmightcometothat,ifIwasletoff.Butifyouaskme,Elrondwillsendoutafairnumber,whenthereportscomein.Havetheystartedyet,Gandalf?"
"Yes,"saidthewizard."Someofthescoutshavebeensentoutalready.Morewillgotomorrow.ElrondissendingElves,andtheywillgetintouchwiththeRangers,andmaybewithThranduil’sfolkinMirkwood.AndAragornhasgonewithElrond’ssons.Weshallhavetoscourthelandsallroundformanylongleaguesbeforeanymoveismade.Socheerup,Frodo!Youwillprobablymakequitealongstayhere."
"Ah!"saidSamgloomily."We’lljustwaitlongenoughforwintertocome."
"Thatcan’tbehelped,"saidBilbo."It’syourfaultpartly,Frodomylad:insistingonwaitingformybirthday.Afunnywayofhonouringit,Ican’thelpthinking.NotthedayIshouldhavechosenforlettingtheS.-B.sintoBagEnd.Butthereitis:youcan’twaitnowfillspring;andyoucan’tgotillthereportscomeback.
