Хоббит
Riddles in the Dark
"Giveusachance;letitgiveusachance,mypreciouss-ss-ss.""Well,"saidBilbo,aftergivinghimalongchance,"whataboutyourguess?"
ButsuddenlyGollumrememberedthievingfromnestslongago,andsittingundertheriverbankteachinghisgrandmother,teachinghisgrandmothertosuck-"Eggses!"hehissed."Eggsesitis!"Thenheasked:
"Alivewithoutbreath,
Ascoldasdeath;
Neverthirsty,everdrinking,
Allinmailneverclinking."
Healsoinhisturnthoughtthiswasadreadfullyeasyone,becausehewasalwaysthinkingoftheanswer.Buthecouldnotrememberanythingbetteratthemoment,hewassoflusteredbytheegg-question.AllthesameitwasaposerforpoorBilbo,whoneverhadanythingtodowiththewaterifhecouldhelpit.Iimagineyouknowtheanswer,ofcourse,orcanguessitaseasyaswinking,sinceyouaresittingcomfortablyathomeandhavenotthedangerofbeingeatentodisturbyourthinking.Bilbosatandclearedhisthroatonceortwice,butnoanswercame.
AfterawhileGollumbegantohisswithpleasuretohimself:"Isitnice,mypreciousss?Isitjuicy?Isitscrumptiouslycrunchable?"HebegantopeeratBilbooutofthedarkness.
"Halfamoment,"saidthehobbitshivering."Igaveyouagoodlongchancejustnow."
"Itmustmakehaste,haste!"saidGollum,beginningtoclimboutofhisboatontotheshoretogetatBilbo.
