Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Ring Goes South
ItwasSamwhohadinsistedonchoosinghim,declaringthatBill(ashecalledhim)wouldpine,ifhedidnotcome.
"Thatanimalcannearlytalk,"hesaid,"andwouldtalk,ifhestayedheremuchlonger.HegavemealookasplainasMr.Pippincouldspeakit:ifyoudon’tletmegowithyou,Sam,I’llfollowonmyown."SoBillwasgoingasthebeastofburden,yethewastheonlymemberoftheCompanythatdidnotseemdepressed.
Theirfarewellshadbeensaidinthegreathallbythefire,andtheywereonlywaitingnowforGandalf,whohadnotyetcomeoutofthehouse.Agleamoffirelightcamefromtheopendoors,andsoftlightswereglowinginmanywindows.BilbohuddledinacloakstoodsilentonthedoorstepbesideFrodo.Aragornsatwithhisheadbowedtohisknees;onlyElrondknewfullywhatthishourmeanttohim.Theotherscouldbeseenasgreyshapesinthedarkness.
Samwasstandingbythepony,suckinghisteeth,andstaringmoodilyintothegloomwheretheriverroaredstonilybelow;hisdesireforadventurewasatitslowestebb.
"Bill,mylad,"hesaid,"yououghtn’ttohavetookupwithus.Youcouldhavestayedhereandetthebesthaytillthenewgrasscomes."Billswishedhistailandsaidnothing.
