Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
’He’softenawayfromhome.Andlookattheoutlandishfolkthatvisithim:dwarvescomingatnight,andthatoldwanderingconjuror,Gandalf,andall.Youcansaywhatyoulike,Gaffer,butBagEnd’saqueerplace,anditsfolkarequeerer.’
’Andyoucansaywhatyoulike,aboutwhatyouknownomoreofthanyoudoofboating,Mr.Sandyman,’retortedtheGaffer,dislikingthemillerevenmorethanusual.Ifthat’sbeingqueer,thenwecoulddowithabitmorequeernessintheseparts.There’ssomenotfarawaythatwouldn’tofferapintofbeertoafriend,iftheylivedinaholewithgoldenwalls.ButtheydothingsproperatBagEnd.OurSamsaysthateveryone’sgoingtobeinvitedtotheparty,andthere’sgoingtobepresents,markyou,presentsforall—thisverymonthasis.’
ThatverymonthwasSeptember,andasfineasyoucouldask.Adayortwolaterarumour(probablystartedbytheknowledgeableSam)wasspreadaboutthatthereweregoingtobefireworks—fireworks,whatismore,suchashadnotbeenseenintheShirefornighonacentury,notindeedsincetheOldTookdied.
DayspassedandTheDaydrewnearer.Anodd-lookingwaggonladenwithodd-lookingpackagesrolledintoHobbitononeeveningandtoileduptheHilltoBagEnd.Thestartledhobbitspeeredoutoflamplitdoorstogapeatit.Itwasdrivenbyoutlandishfolk,singingstrangesongs:dwarveswithlongbeardsanddeephoods.AfewofthemremainedatBagEnd.AttheendofthesecondweekinSeptemberacartcameinthroughBywaterfromthedirectionoftheBrandywineBridgeinbroaddaylight.Anoldmanwasdrivingitallalone.Heworeatallpointedbluehat,alonggreycloak,andasilverscarf.
