Хоббит

           ButBilbowasannoyedatthedelay.Afterall,hehadwonthegame,prettyfairly,atahorriblerisk."Answersweretobeguessednotgiven,"hesaid.

           "Butitwasn’tafairquestion,"saidGollum."Notariddle,precious,no."

           "Ohwell,ifit’samatterofordinaryquestions,"Bilboreplied,"thenIaskedonefirst.Whathaveyoulost?Tellmethat!"

           "Whathasitgotinitspocketses?"Thesoundcamehissinglouderandsharper,andashelookedtowardsit,tohisalarmBilbonowsawtwosmallpointsoflightpeeringathim.AssuspiciongrewinGollum’smind,thelightofhiseyesburnedwithapaleflame.

           "Whathaveyoulost?"Bilbopersisted.ButnowthelightinGollum’seyeshadbecomeagreenfire,anditwascomingswiftlynearer.Gollumwasinhisboatagain,paddlingwildlybacktothedarkshore;andsucharageoflossandsuspicionwasinhisheartthatnoswordhadanymoreterrorforhim.Bilbocouldnotguesswhathadmaddenedthewretchedcreature,buthesawthatallwasup,andthatGollummeanttomurderhimatanyrate.Justintimeheturnedandranblindlybackupthedarkpassagedownwhichhehadcome,keepingclosetothewallandfeelingitwithhislefthand."Whathasitgotinitspocketses?"heheardthehissloudbehindhim,andthesplashasGollumleaptfromhisboat.

           "WhathaveI,Iwonder?"hesaidtohimself,ashepantedandstumbledalong.Heputhislefthandinhispocket.Theringfeltverycoldasitquietlyslippedontohisgropingforefinger.

           Thehisswasclosebehindhim.HeturnednowandsawGollum’seyeslikesmallgreenlampscominguptheslope.Terrifiedhetriedtorunfaster,butsuddenlyhestruckhistoesonasnaginthefloor,andfellflatwithhislittleswordunderhim.