Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Ring Goes South
ThecountrywasmuchrougherandmorebarrenthaninthegreenvaleoftheGreatRiverinWilderlandontheothersideoftherange,andtheirgoingwouldbeslow;buttheyhopedinthiswaytoescapethenoticeofunfriendlyeyes.ThespiesofSauronhadhithertoseldombeenseeninthisemptycountry,andthepathswerelittleknownexcepttothepeopleofRivendell.
Gandalfwalkedinfront,andwithhimwentAragorn,whoknewthislandeveninthedark.Theotherswereinfilebehind,andLegolaswhoseeyeswerekeenwastherearguard.Thefirstpartoftheirjourneywashardanddreary,andFrodorememberedlittleofit,savethewind.FormanysunlessdaysanicyblastcamefromtheMountainsintheeast,andnogarmentseemedabletokeepoutitssearchingfingers.ThoughtheCompanywaswellclad,theyseldomfeltwarm,eithermovingoratrest.Theysleptuneasilyduringthemiddleoftheday,insomehollowoftheland,orhiddenunderthetangledthorn-bushesthatgrewinthicketsinmanyplaces.Inthelateafternoontheywererousedbythewatch,andtooktheirchiefmeal:coldandcheerlessasarule,fortheycouldseldomriskthelightingofafire.Intheeveningtheywentonagain,alwaysasnearlysouthwardastheycouldfindaway.
Atfirstitseemedtothehobbitsthatalthoughtheywalkedandstumbleduntiltheywereweary,theywerecreepingforwardlikesnails,andgettingnowhere.Eachdaythelandlookedmuchthesameasithadthedaybefore.Yetsteadilythemountainsweredrawingnearer.
