Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
’Revenge?’saidFrodo.’Revengeforwhat?Istilldon’tunderstandwhatallthishastodowithBilboandmyself,andourring.’
’Ithaseverythingtodowithit,’saidGandalf.’Youdonotknowtherealperilyet;butyoushall.IwasnotsureofitmyselfwhenIwaslasthere;butthetimehascometospeak.Givemetheringforamoment.’
Frodotookitfromhisbreeches-pocket,whereitwasclaspedtoachainthathungfromhisbelt.Heunfasteneditandhandeditslowlytothewizard.Itfeltsuddenlyveryheavy,asifeitheritorFrodohimselfwasinsomewayreluctantforGandalftotouchit.
Gandalfhelditup.Itlookedtobemadeofpureandsolidgold.’Canyouseeanymarkingsonit?’heasked.
’No,’saidFrodo.’Therearenone.Itisquiteplain,anditnevershowsascratchorsignofwear.’
’Wellthen,look!’ToFrodo’sastonishmentanddistressthewizardthrewitsuddenlyintothemiddleofaglowingcornerofthefire.Frodogaveacryandgropedforthetongs;butGandalfheldhimback.
’Wait!’hesaidinacommandingvoice,givingFrodoaquicklookfromunderhisbristlingbrows.
Noapparentchangecameoverthering.AfterawhileGandalfgotup,closedtheshuttersoutsidethewindow,anddrewthecurtains.Theroombecamedarkandsilent,thoughtheclackofSam’sshears,nownearertothewindows,couldstillbeheardfaintlyfromthegarden.Foramomentthewizardstoodlookingatthefire;thenhestoopedandremovedtheringtothehearthwiththetongs,andatoncepickeditup.Frodogasped.
