Хоббит

           Bilboalmoststoppedbreathing,andwentstiffhimself.Hewasdesperate.Hemustgetaway,outofthishorribledarkness,whilehehadanystrengthleft.Hemustfight.Hemuststabthefoulthing,putitseyesout,killit.Itmeanttokillhim.No,notafairfight.Hewasinvisiblenow.Gollumhadnosword.Gollumhadnotactuallythreatenedtokillhim,ortriedtoyet.Andhewasmiserable,alone,lost.Asuddenunderstanding,apitymixedwithhorror,welledupinBilbo’sheart:aglimpseofendlessunmarkeddayswithoutlightorhopeofbetterment,hardstone,coldfish,sneakingandwhispering.Allthesethoughtspassedinaflashofasecond.Hetrembled.Andthenquitesuddenlyinanotherflash,asifliftedbyanewstrengthandresolve,heleaped.

           Nogreatleapforaman,butaleapinthedark.StraightoverGollum’sheadhejumped,sevenfeetforwardandthreeintheair;indeed,hadheknownit,heonlyjustmissedcrackinghisskullonthelowarchofthepassage.

           Gollumthrewhimselfbackwards,andgrabbedasthehobbitflewoverhim,buttoolate:hishandssnappedonthinair,andBilbo,fallingfaironhissturdyfeet,spedoffdownthenewtunnel.HedidnotturntoseewhatGollumwasdoing.Therewasahissingandcursingalmostathisheelsatfirst,thenitstopped.Allatoncetherecameabloodcurdlingshriek,filledwithhatredanddespair.Gollumwasdefeated.Hedaredgonofurther.Hehadlost:losthisprey,andlost,too,theonlythinghehadevercaredfor,hisprecious.ThecrybroughtBilbo’shearttohismouth,butstillheheldon.Nowfaintasanecho,butmenacing,thevoicecamebehind:

           "Thief,thief,thief!Baggins!Wehatesit,wehatesit,wehatesitforever!"

           Thentherewasasilence.ButthattooseemedmenacingtoBilbo."Ifgoblinsaresonearthathesmeltthem,"hethought,"thenthey’llhaveheardhisshriekingandcursing.Carefulnow,orthiswaywillleadyoutoworsethings."