Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Three is Company
AsuddenunreasoningfearofdiscoverylaidholdofFrodo,andhethoughtofhisRing.Hehardlydaredtobreathe,andyetthedesiretogetitoutofhispocketbecamesostrongthathebeganslowlytomovehishand.Hefeltthathehadonlytoslipiton,andthenhewouldbesafe.TheadviceofGandalfseemedabsurd.BilbohadusedtheRing."AndIamstillintheShire,"hethought,ashishandtouchedthechainonwhichithung.Atthatmomenttheridersatup,andshookthereins.Thehorsesteppedforward,walkingslowlyatfirst,andthenbreakingintoaquicktrot.
Frodocrawledtotheedgeoftheroadandwatchedtherider,untilhedwindledintothedistance.Hecouldnotbequitesure,butitseemedtohimthatsuddenly,beforeitpassedoutofsight,thehorseturnedasideandwentintothetreesontheright.
"Wel,Icallthatveryqueer,andindeeddisturbing,"saidFrodotohimself,ashewalkedtowardshiscompanions.PippinandSamhadremainedflatinthegrass,andhadseennothing;soFrododescribedtheriderandhisstrangebehaviour.
"Ican’tsaywhy,butIfeltcertainhewaslookingorsmelingforme;andalsoIfeltcertainthatIdidnotwanthimtodiscoverme.I’veneverseenorfellanythinglikeitintheShirebefore."
"ButwhathasoneoftheBigPeoplegottodowithus?"saidPippin."Andwhatishedoinginthispartoftheworld?"
"TherearesomeMenabout,"saidFrodo."DownintheSouthfarthingtheyhavehadtroublewithBigPeople,Ibelieve.ButIhaveneverheardofanythinglikethisrider.Iwonderwherehecomesfrom."
