Chapter 10 STRIDER Frodo, Pippin, and Sam made their way back to the parlour. There was no light. Merry was not there, and the fire had burned low. It was not until they had puffed up the embers into a blaze and thrown on a couple of faggots that they discovered Strider had come with them. There he was calmly sitting in a chair by the door! ‘Hallo!’ said Pippin. ‘Who are you, and what do you want?’ ‘I am called Strider,’ he answered; ‘and though he may have forgotten it, your friend promised to have a quiet talk with me.’ “You said I might hear something to my advantage, I believe,’ said Frodo. ‘What have you to say?’ ‘Several things,’ answered Strider. ‘But, of course, I have my price.’ ‘What do you mean?’ asked Frodo sharply. ‘Don’t be alarmed! I mean just this: I will tell you what I know, and give you some good advice — but I shall want a reward.’ ‘And what will that be, pray?’ said Frodo. He suspected now that he had fallen in with a rascal, and he thought uncomfortably that he had brought only a little money with him. All of it would hardly satisfy a rogue, and he could not spare any of it. ‘No more than you can afford,’ answered Strider with a slow smile, as if he guessed Frodo’s thoughts. ‘Just this: you must take me along with you, until I wish to leave you.’ ‘Oh, indeed!’ replied Frodo, surprised, but not much relieved. ‘Even if I wanted another companion, I should not agree to any such thing, until I knew a good deal more about you, and your business.’ ‘Excellent!’ exclaimed Strider, crossing his legs and sitting back comfortably. “You seem to be coming to your senses again, and that is all to the good. You have been much too careless so far. Very well! I will tell you what I know, and leave the reward to you. You may be glad to grant it, when you have heard me.’ ‘Go on then!’ said Frodo. ‘What do you know?’ “Too much; too many dark things,’ said Strider grimly. ‘But as for your business > He got up and went to the door, opened it quickly and looked out. Then he shut it quietly and sat down again. ‘I have quick ears,’ he went on, lowering his voice, ‘and though I cannot disappear, I have hunted many wild and wary things and I can usually avoid being seen, if I wish. Now, I was behind the hedge this evening on the Road west of Bree, when four hobbits came out of the Downlands. I need not repeat all that they said to old Bombadil
第十章 亞拉岡 佛羅多、皮聘和山姆回到客廳。裡面沒有燈光。梅里不在，爐火也快熄滅了。直到他們把餘燼吹旺成火焰，並添上幾捆柴火後，才發現亞拉岡也跟著他們來了。他正平靜地坐在門邊的椅子上！「哈囉！」皮聘說。「你是誰？想做什麼？」「我叫亞拉岡。」他回答道，「雖然他可能忘了，但你的朋友答應要跟我好好談談。」「我相信你說過我可能會聽到一些對我有益的事情。」佛羅多說，「你想說什麼？」「好幾件事。」亞拉岡回答，「不過，當然，我有我的條件。」「你什麼意思？」佛羅多尖銳地問。「別驚慌！我的意思就是：我會告訴你我所知道的，並給你一些好建議——但我會要求報酬。」「那會是什麼呢，請問？」佛羅多說。他現在懷疑自己是遇到了一個惡棍，他不舒服地想著自己只帶了一點錢。所有的錢恐怕都無法滿足一個惡棍，而且他一點也捨不得。「不會超過你所能負擔的。」亞拉岡帶著一絲慢悠悠的微笑回答，彷彿他猜到了佛羅多的心思。「就這樣：你必須帶我一起走，直到我希望離開你為止。」「喔，真的嗎！」佛羅多驚訝地回答，但並沒有因此感到輕鬆多少。「即使我想要另一個同伴，在對你和你的事情了解更多之前，我也不會同意這種事。」「太好了！」亞拉岡交叉雙腿，舒服地往後一靠，驚呼道。「你似乎又清醒過來了，這完全是好事。你到目前為止都太粗心了。很好！我會告訴你我所知道的，報酬就由你來決定。當你聽完我的話後，你可能會很高興地答應。」「那就說吧！」佛羅多說，「你知道什麼？」「太多了；太多黑暗的事情。」亞拉岡嚴肅地說，「但至於你的事情——」他站起來走到門邊，迅速打開門向外看了一眼。然後他輕輕關上門，又坐了下來。「我耳朵很靈。」他壓低聲音繼續說，「雖然我不能消失，但我獵捕過許多野性而警惕的生物，如果我願意，我通常可以避免被看見。現在，今天傍晚我躲在布理以西的路上籬笆後面，當時有四個哈比人從丘陵地出來。我不需要重複他們對老邦巴迪爾說的所有話。
164 THE LORD OF THE RINGS or to one another; but one thing interested me. Please remember, said one of them, that the name Baggins must not be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given. That interested me so much that I followed them here. I slipped over the gate just behind them. Maybe Mr. Baggins has an honest reason for leaving his name behind; but if so, I should advise him and his friends to be more careful.’ ‘I don’t see what interest my name has for anyone in Bree,’ said Frodo angrily, ‘and I have still to learn why it interests you. Mr. Strider may have an honest reason for spying and eavesdropping; but if so, I should advise him to explain it.’ ‘Well answered!’ said Strider laughing. ‘But the explanation is simple: I was looking for a Hobbit called Frodo Baggins. I wanted to find him quickly. I had learned that he was carrying out of the Shire, well, a secret that concerned me and my friends. ‘Now, don’t mistake me!’ he cried, as Frodo rose from his seat, and Sam jumped up with a scowl. ‘I shall take more care of the secret than you do. And care is needed!’ He leaned forward and looked at them. ‘Watch every shadow!’ he said in a low voice. ‘Black horsemen have passed through Bree. On Monday one came down the Greenway, they say; and another appeared later, coming up the Greenway from the south.’ There was a silence. At last Frodo spoke to Pippin and Sam: ‘I ought to have guessed it from the way the gatekeeper greeted us,’ he said. ‘And the landlord seems to have heard something. Why did he press us to join the company? And why on earth did we behave so foolishly: we ought to have stayed quiet in here.’ ‘It would have been better,’ said Strider. ‘I would have stopped your going into the common-room, if I could; but the innkeeper would not let me in to see you, or take a message.’ ‘Do you think he > began Frodo. ‘No, I don’t think any harm of old Butterbur. Only he does not altogether like mysterious vagabonds of my sort.’ Frodo gave him a puzzled look. ‘Well, I have rather a rascally look, have I not?’ said Strider with a curl of his lip and a queer gleam in his eye. ‘But I hope we shall get to know one another better. When we do, I hope you will explain what happened at the end of your song. For that little prank——’ ‘It was sheer accident!’ interrupted Frodo. ‘I wonder,’ said Strider. ‘Accident, then. That accident has made your position dangerous.’ ‘Hardly more than it was already,’ said Frodo. ‘I knew these horsemen were pursuing me; but now at any rate they seem to have missed me and to have gone away.’
164 《魔戒》或彼此交談；但有一件事引起了我的興趣。「請記住，」其中一人說，「巴金斯這個名字絕不能被提及。如果非要報上名字，我就是安德希爾先生。」這件事讓我非常感興趣，所以我跟著他們來到了這裡。我緊隨其後，從大門溜了進來。也許巴金斯先生有充分的理由隱瞞自己的名字；但如果是這樣，我會建議他和他的朋友們更加小心。」「我不明白我的名字對布理的任何人有什麼興趣，」佛羅多生氣地說，「而且我還想知道為什麼你會對它感興趣。亞拉岡先生可能也有充分的理由進行監視和竊聽；但如果是這樣，我會建議他解釋清楚。」「回答得好！」亞拉岡笑著說。「但解釋很簡單：我一直在尋找一個名叫佛羅多·巴金斯的哈比人。我想快點找到他。我得知他正從夏爾帶走一個秘密，一個與我和我的朋友們有關的秘密。」「現在，別誤會我！」他喊道，佛羅多從座位上站起來，山姆也皺著眉頭跳了起來。「我會比你們更小心地保守這個秘密。而且，小心是必要的！」他向前傾身，看著他們。「注意每一個陰影！」他低聲說。「黑騎士已經穿過了布理。他們說，星期一有一個從綠徑下來；另一個後來出現，從南方沿著綠徑上來。」一片寂靜。佛羅多終於對皮聘和山姆說：「我早該從守門人迎接我們的方式猜到了。」他說，「而且旅館老闆似乎也聽說了什麼。他為什麼要催促我們加入人群？我們到底為什麼表現得如此愚蠢：我們本該安靜地待在這裡。」「那樣會更好，」亞拉岡說，「如果可以的話，我會阻止你們進入公共休息室；但旅館老闆不讓我進去見你們，也不讓我傳話。」「你覺得他——」佛羅多開始說。「不，我不覺得老巴力曼有什麼壞心。只是他不太喜歡我這種神秘的流浪漢。」佛羅多困惑地看著他。「嗯，我確實長得有點流氓相，不是嗎？」亞拉岡說，他嘴角帶著一絲嘲諷，眼中閃爍著奇異的光芒。「但我希望我們能更好地了解彼此。當我們了解後，我希望你能解釋一下你唱歌結束時發生了什麼事。至於那個小惡作劇——」「那純粹是意外！」佛羅多打斷道。「我懷疑，」亞拉岡說，「那麼，是意外。那個意外讓你的處境變得危險了。」「危險程度不比以前更甚，」佛羅多說，「我知道這些騎士在追捕我；但現在他們似乎已經錯過了我，並且已經離開了。」
STRIDER 165 “You must not count on that!’ said Strider sharply. “They will return. And more are coming. There are others. I know their number. I know these Riders.’ He paused, and his eyes were cold and hard. ‘And there are some folk in Bree who are not to be trusted,’ he went on. ‘Bill Ferny, for instance. He has an evil name in the Bree-land, and queer folk call at his house. You must have noticed him among the company: a swarthy sneering fellow. He was very close with one of the Southern strangers, and they slipped out together just after your ‘‘accident’”’. Not all of those Southerners mean well; and as for Ferny, he would sell anything to anybody; or make mischief for amusement.’ ‘What will Ferny sell, and what has my accident got to do with him?’ said Frodo, still determined not to understand Strider’s hints. ‘News of you, of course,’ answered Strider. ‘An account of your performance would be very interesting to certain people. After that they would hardly need to be told your real name. It seems to me only too likely that they will hear of it before this night is over. Is that enough? You can do as you like about my reward: take me as a guide or not. But I may say that I know all the lands between the Shire and the Misty Mountains, for I have wandered over them for many years. I am older than I look. I might prove useful. You will have to leave the open road after tonight; for the horsemen will watch it night and day. You may escape from Bree, and be allowed to go forward while the Sun is up; but you won’t go far. They will come on you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no help. Do you wish them to find you? They are terrible!’ The hobbits looked at him, and saw with surprise that his face was drawn as if with pain, and his hands clenched the arms of his chair. The room was very quiet and still, and the light seemed to have grown dim. For a while he sat with unseeing eyes as if walking in distant memory or listening to sounds in the Night far away. ‘There!’ he cried after a moment, drawing his hand across his brow. ‘Perhaps I know more about these pursuers than you do. You fear them, but you do not fear them enough, yet. Tomorrow you will have to escape, if you can. Strider can take you by paths that are seldom trodden. Will you have him?’ There was a heavy silence. Frodo made no answer; his mind was confused with doubt and fear. Sam frowned, and looked at his master; and at last he broke out: ‘With your leave, Mr. Frodo, I’d say no! This Strider here, he warns and he says take care; and I say yes to that, and let’s begin with him. He comes out of the Wild, and I never heard no good of such folk. He knows something, that’s plain, and more than I like;
STRIDER 165 「你可不能指望那樣！」亞拉岡尖銳地說。「他們會回來的。而且還會有更多人來。還有其他人。我知道他們的數量。我認識這些騎士。」他停頓了一下，眼神冰冷而堅硬。「而且布理有些居民是不可信任的，」他繼續說道，「比爾．佛尼就是個例子。他在布理地區名聲很差，而且有些怪異的人會去他家拜訪。你一定在人群中注意到他了：一個皮膚黝黑、面帶嘲諷的傢伙。他跟其中一個南方來的陌生人走得很近，他們就在你的『意外』發生後一起溜走了。那些南方人並非全都心懷善意；至於佛尼，他什麼都肯賣給任何人；或者為了取樂而製造麻煩。」「佛尼會賣什麼？我的意外又跟他有什麼關係？」佛羅多說，他仍然堅持不理解亞拉岡的暗示。「當然是你的消息，」亞拉岡回答，「一份關於你表現的報告，對某些人來說會非常有趣。之後他們幾乎不需要知道你的真名。在我看來，今晚結束前他們很可能就會聽到這些消息。這樣夠了嗎？你可以隨意決定我的報酬：要不要讓我當嚮導。但我可以說，我熟悉夏爾和迷霧山脈之間的所有土地，因為我已經在那裡遊蕩多年了。我比我看起來的要老。我或許會很有用。今晚之後你們就必須離開大路了；因為那些騎馬的人會日夜監視著它。你們或許能逃離布理，在太陽升起時被允許前進；但你們走不遠。他們會在荒野中，在某個無人幫助的黑暗地方找到你們。你們希望他們找到你們嗎？他們很可怕！」哈比人看著他，驚訝地發現他的臉因痛苦而扭曲，雙手緊握著椅子的扶手。房間裡非常安靜，光線似乎也變得昏暗。他坐了一會兒，眼神茫然，彷彿沉浸在遙遠的回憶中，或是在傾聽遠方夜色中的聲音。「有了！」過了一會兒，他喊道，用手抹了抹額頭。「或許我比你們更了解這些追捕者。你們害怕他們，但你們還不夠害怕。如果可以的話，明天你們就必須逃走。亞拉岡可以帶你們走那些人跡罕至的小徑。你們要他嗎？」現場一片沉寂。佛羅多沒有回答；他的思緒被疑慮和恐懼所困擾。山姆皺起眉頭，看著他的主人；最後他脫口而出：「恕我直言，佛羅多先生，我會說不！這個亞拉岡，他警告我們，他說要小心；我同意這一點，讓我們從他開始吧。他來自荒野，我從沒聽說過這種人有什麼好處。他知道些什麼，這很明顯，而且比我喜歡的還要多；
166 THE LORD OF THE RINGS but it’s no reason why we should let him go leading us out into some dark place far from help, as he puts it.’ Pippin fidgeted and looked uncomfortable. Strider did not reply to Sam, but turned his keen eyes on Frodo. Frodo caught his glance and looked away. ‘No,’ he said slowly. ‘I don’t agree. I think, I think you are not really as you choose to look. You began to talk to me like the Bree-folk, but your voice has changed. Still Sam seems right in this: I don’t see why you should warn us to take care, and yet ask us to take you on trust. Why the disguise? Who are you? What do you really know about — about my business; and how do you know it?’ “The lesson in caution has been well learned,’ said Strider with a grim smile. ‘But caution is one thing and wavering is another. You will never get to Rivendell now on your own, and to trust me is your only chance. You must make up your mind. I will answer some of your questions, if that will help you to do so. But why should you believe my story, if you do not trust me already? Still here it is 4 At that moment there came a knock at the door. Mr. Butterbur had arrived with candles, and behind him was Nob with cans of hot water. Strider withdrew into a dark corner. ‘I’ve come to bid you good night,’ said the landlord, putting the candles on the table. ‘Nob! Take the water to the rooms!’ He came in and shut the door. ‘It’s like this,’ he began, hesitating and looking troubled. ‘If I’ve done any harm, I’m sorry indeed. But one thing drives out another, as you'll admit; and I’m a busy man. But first one thing and then another this week have jogged my memory, as the saying goes; and not too late I hope. You see, I was asked to look out for hobbits of the Shire, and for one by the name of Baggins in particular.’ ‘And what has that got to do with me?’ asked Frodo. ‘Ah! you know best,’ said the landlord, knowingly. ‘I won’t give you away; but I was told that this Baggins would be going by the name of Underhill, and I was given a description that fits you well enough, if I may say so.’ ‘Indeed! Let’s have it then!’ said Frodo, unwisely interrupting. ‘A stout little fellow with red cheeks,’ said Mr. Butterbur solemnly. Pippin chuckled, but Sam looked indignant. ‘That won’t help you much; it goes for most hobbits, Barley, he says to me,’ continued Mr. Butterbur with a glance at Pippin. ‘But this one 1s taller than some and fairer than most, and he has a cleft in his chin: perky chap with a bright eye. Begging your pardon, but he said it, not me.’ ‘He said it? And who was he?’ asked Frodo eagerly.
166 魔戒 但這不是我們應該讓他把我們帶到一個遠離幫助的黑暗之地的理由，就像他自己說的。」皮聘坐立不安，看起來很不自在。亞拉岡沒有回答山姆，而是將他銳利的目光轉向佛羅多。佛羅多捕捉到他的視線，然後移開了目光。「不，」他緩緩地說，「我不同意。我想，我想你並不像你選擇表現出來的那樣。你一開始跟我說話像布理人，但你的聲音變了。不過山姆在這點上似乎是對的：我不明白你為什麼要警告我們小心，卻又要我們信任你。為什麼要偽裝？你是誰？你對——我的事情——到底知道些什麼？你又是怎麼知道的？」 「你已經把謹慎這門課學得很好。」亞拉岡帶著一抹嚴峻的笑容說，「但謹慎是一回事，猶豫不決又是另一回事。你現在不可能獨自抵達瑞文戴爾，而信任我是你唯一的機會。你必須下定決心。如果你願意，我可以回答你一些問題。但如果你已經不信任我了，你又為什麼要相信我的故事呢？不過，事情是這樣的——」就在這時，門上傳來了敲門聲。巴力曼先生帶著蠟燭來了，他身後是諾伯，提著幾罐熱水。亞拉岡退到一個黑暗的角落。「我來向你們道晚安。」店主說著，把蠟燭放在桌上。「諾伯！把水送到房間去！」他走進來，關上了門。「事情是這樣的，」他開始說，語氣猶豫，神情不安，「如果我做了什麼錯事，我真的很抱歉。但一件事會取代另一件事，你也會承認；而且我是一個大忙人。不過這週先是這件事，然後又是那件事，讓我想起了些什麼，就像俗話說的；希望還不算太晚。你看，我被要求留意夏爾的哈比人，特別是一個名叫巴金斯的。」 「那這跟我有什麼關係？」佛羅多問。「啊！你最清楚了。」店主心知肚明地說，「我不會出賣你；但我被告知這個巴金斯會用『山下』這個名字，而且我得到了一個描述，如果我可以這麼說的話，那描述跟你很吻合。」「真的嗎！那快說吧！」佛羅多不智地打斷道。「一個矮胖的小傢伙，臉頰紅潤。」巴力曼先生鄭重地說。皮聘咯咯地笑了，但山姆看起來很憤慨。「那對你幫助不大；這適用於大多數哈比人，巴利，他是這麼跟我說的。」巴力曼先生瞥了一眼皮聘，繼續說道，「但這個人比一些人高，比大多數人白皙，而且他下巴有個酒窩：一個活潑開朗、眼睛明亮的傢伙。恕我直言，但他就是這麼說的，不是我說的。」「他這麼說？他是誰？」佛羅多急切地問。
STRIDER 167 ‘Ah! That was Gandalf, if you know who I mean. A wizard they say he is, but he’s a good friend of mine, whether or no. But now I don’t know what he’ll have to say to me, if I see him again: turn all my ale sour or me into a block of wood, I shouldn’t wonder. He’s a bit hasty. Still what’s done can’t be undone.’ ‘Well, what have you done?’ said Frodo, getting impatient with the slow unravelling of Butterbur’s thoughts. ‘Where was I?’ said the landlord, pausing and snapping his fingers. ‘Ah, yes! Old Gandalf. Three months back he walked right into my room without a knock. Barley, he says, I’m off in the morning. Will you do something for me? You’ve only to name it, I said. I’m in a hurry, said he, and I’ve no time myself, but I want a message took to the Shire. Have you anyone you can send, and trust to go? I can find someone, I said, tomorrow, maybe, or the day after. Make it tomorrow, he says, and then he gave me a letter. ‘It’s addressed plain enough,’ said Mr. Butterbur, producing a letter from his pocket, and reading out the address slowly and proudly (he valued his reputation as a lettered man): Mr. FRODO BAGGINS, BAG END, HOBBITON in the SHIRE. ‘A letter for me from Gandalf!’ cried Frodo. ‘Ah!’ said Mr. Butterbur. “Then your right name is Baggins?’ ‘It is,’ said Frodo, ‘and you had better give me that letter at once, and explain why you never sent it. That’s what you came to tell me, I suppose, though you’ve taken a long time to come to the point.’ Poor Mr. Butterbur looked troubled. ‘You’re right, master,’ he said, ‘and I beg your pardon. And I’m mortal afraid of what Gandalf will say, if harm comes of it. But I didn’t keep it back a-purpose. I put it by safe. Then I couldn’t find nobody willing to go to the Shire next day, nor the day after, and none of my own folk were to spare; and then one thing after another drove it out of my mind. I’m a busy man. I'll do what I can to set matters right, and if there’s any help I can give, you’ve only to name it. ‘Leaving the letter aside, I promised Gandalf no less. Barley, he says to me, this friend of mine from the Shire, he may be coming out this way before long, him and another. He'll be calling himself Underhill. Mind that! But you need ask no questions. And if I’m not with him, he may be in trouble, and he may need help. Do whatever you can for him, and Ill be grateful, he says. And here you are, and trouble is not far off, seemingly.’ ‘What do you mean?’ asked Frodo. “These black men,’ said the landlord lowering his voice. “They’re
亞拉岡 167 「啊！那個人是甘道夫，如果你知道我說的是誰的話。他們說他是個巫師，但他可是我的好朋友，不管怎麼說。不過現在我不知道如果再見到他，他會對我說什麼：把我的麥酒都變酸，或者把我變成一塊木頭，我一點也不會感到驚訝。他有點急躁。不過，木已成舟，無法挽回了。」 「那麼，你做了什麼？」佛羅多說，對巴特巴緩慢的思緒展開感到不耐煩。「我說到哪兒了？」店主停下來，彈了彈手指說。「啊，對了！老甘道夫。三個月前，他沒敲門就直接走進我的房間。巴利，他說，我早上要走了。你能幫我個忙嗎？我說，你儘管開口。他說，我很趕時間，我自己也沒空，但我需要把一封信送到夏爾。你有沒有可以派去，而且值得信任的人？我說，我可以找人，也許明天，或者後天。他說，就明天吧，然後他給了我一封信。「地址寫得很清楚。」巴特巴先生說，他從口袋裡掏出一封信，緩慢而自豪地讀出地址（他很看重自己作為一個識字人的名聲）：佛羅多·巴金斯先生，袋底洞，夏爾的哈比屯。「甘道夫給我的信！」佛羅多喊道。「啊！」巴特巴先生說。「那麼你的真名是巴金斯？」 「是的。」佛羅多說，「你最好立刻把那封信給我，並解釋你為什麼從來沒有寄出去。我想你就是來告訴我這件事的，儘管你花了很長時間才切入正題。」 可憐的巴特巴先生看起來很困擾。「您說得對，主人。」他說，「我向您道歉。我非常害怕如果這件事出了什麼差錯，甘道夫會說什麼。但我不是故意扣留它的。我把它安全地收起來了。然後我找不到任何願意第二天或後天去夏爾的人，而且我自己的夥計也沒有人手可以騰出來；然後一件事接著一件事，就把這件事從我腦海裡擠出去了。我是一個大忙人。我會盡力把事情辦妥，如果我能提供任何幫助，你儘管開口。「撇開那封信不談，我對甘道夫的承諾可不只這些。巴利，他對我說，我這個來自夏爾的朋友，他可能很快就會經過這裡，他和另一個人。他會自稱安德希爾。記住這點！但你不需要問任何問題。如果我不在他身邊，他可能會遇到麻煩，他可能需要幫助。盡你所能幫助他，我會很感激的，他說。而你就在這裡了，麻煩看來也不遠了。」 「你這是什麼意思？」佛羅多問道。「這些黑衣人，」店主壓低聲音說，「他們是」
168 THE LORD OF THE RINGS looking for Baggins, and if they mean well, then ’'m a hobbit. It was on Monday, and all the dogs were yammering and the geese screaming. Uncanny, I called it. Nob, he came and told me that two black men were at the door asking for a hobbit called Baggins. Nob’s hair was all stood on end. I bid the black fellows be off, and slammed the door on them; but they’ve been asking the same question all the way to Archet, I hear. And that Ranger, Strider, he’s been asking questions, too. Tried to get in here to see you, before you’d had bite or sup, he did.’ ‘He did!’ said Strider suddenly, coming forward into the light. ‘And much trouble would have been saved, if you had let him in, Barliman.’ The landlord jumped with surprise. ‘You!’ he cried. “You’re always popping up. What do you want now?’ ‘He’s here with my leave,’ said Frodo. ‘He came to offer me his help.’ ‘Well, you know your own business, maybe,’ said Mr. Butterbur, looking suspiciously at Strider. ‘But if I was in your plight, I wouldn’t take up with a Ranger.’ “Then who would you take up with?’ asked Strider. ‘A fat innkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him all day? They cannot stay in The Pony for ever, and they cannot go home. They have a long road before them. Will you go with them and keep the black men off?’ ‘Me? Leave Bree! I wouldn’t do that for any money,’ said Mr. Butterbur, looking really scared. ‘But why can’t you stay here quiet for a bit, Mr. Underhill? What are all these queer goings on? What are these black men after, and where do they come from, I’d like to know?’ ‘I’m sorry I can’t explain it all,’ answered Frodo. ‘I am tired and very worried, and it’s a long tale. But if you mean to help me, I ought to warn you that you will be in danger as long as I am in your house. These Black Riders: I am not sure, but I think, I fear they come from——’ “They come from Mordor,’ said Strider in a low voice. ‘From Mordor, Barliman, if that means anything to you.’ ‘Save us!’ cried Mr. Butterbur turning pale; the name evidently was known to him. “That is the worst news that has come to Bree in my time.’ ‘It is,’ said Frodo. ‘Are you still willing to help me?’ ‘Iam,’ said Mr. Butterbur. ‘More than ever. Though I don’t know what the likes of me can do against, against > he faltered. ‘Against the Shadow in the East,’ said Strider quietly. ‘Not much, Barliman, but every little helps. You can let Mr. Underhill stay here
找巴金斯，如果他們是好意，那我就是個哈比人。那是星期一的事，所有的狗都在狂吠，鵝也嘎嘎亂叫。我說，那真是怪異。諾伯跑來告訴我，有兩個黑衣人在門口，打聽一個叫巴金斯的哈比人。諾伯的頭髮都豎起來了。我叫那些黑衣人滾開，然後把門甩上；但我聽說，他們一路問到了亞切特。而那個遊俠，史崔德，他也在打聽。他想進來見你，在你還沒吃喝之前，他就想進來了。’「他確實想！」史崔德突然說道，走上前來，來到光線下。「如果你當時讓他進來，巴力曼，就能省下很多麻煩了。」店主嚇了一跳。「你！」他喊道。「你總是突然冒出來。你現在又想幹什麼？」’「他是在我允許下才來的，」佛羅多說。「他來是想幫我。」’「嗯，也許你清楚自己的事，」巴特伯先生懷疑地看著史崔德說。「但如果我處在你的困境，我不會跟一個遊俠混在一起。」’「那你會跟誰混在一起？」史崔德問道。「一個只因為人們整天對他大喊大叫才記得自己名字的胖店主嗎？他們不能永遠待在小馬駒旅館，他們也不能回家。他們前面還有漫漫長路。你會跟他們一起去，並把那些黑衣人擋開嗎？」’「我？離開布理！我才不會為了任何錢這麼做呢，」巴特伯先生說，他看起來真的嚇壞了。「但是，安德希爾先生，你為什麼不能在這裡安靜待一會兒呢？這些奇怪的事情是怎麼回事？這些黑衣人到底在追什麼，他們從哪裡來，我很想知道？」’「很抱歉我無法解釋所有事情，」佛羅多回答。「我很累，也很擔心，而且這是一個漫長的故事。但如果你想幫我，我必須警告你，只要我待在你家，你就會有危險。這些黑騎士：我不確定，但我認為，我擔心他們來自——」’「他們來自魔多，」史崔德低聲說。「來自魔多，巴力曼，如果這對你來說有任何意義的話。」’「天啊！」巴特伯先生嚇得臉色發白地喊道；顯然他知道這個名字。「這是我這輩子在布理聽過最糟糕的消息了。」’「確實如此，」佛羅多說。「你還願意幫我嗎？」’「我願意，」巴特伯先生說。「比以往任何時候都更願意。雖然我不知道像我這樣的人能做些什麼來對抗，對抗——」他猶豫了。「對抗東方的陰影，」史崔德輕聲說。「不多，巴力曼，但積少成多。你可以讓安德希爾先生待在這裡
STRIDER 169 tonight, as Mr. Underhill; and you can forget the name of Baggins, till he is far away.’ ‘T'll do that,’ said Butterbur. ‘But they'll find out he’s here without help from me, I’m afraid. It’s a pity Mr. Baggins drew attention to himself this evening, to say no more. The story of that Mr. Bilbo’s going off has been heard before tonight in Bree. Even our Nob has been doing some guessing in his slow pate; and there are others in Bree quicker in the uptake than he is.’ ‘Well, we can only hope the Riders won’t come back yet,’ said Frodo. ‘I hope not, indeed,’ said Butterbur. ‘But spooks or no spooks, they won’t get in The Pony so easy. Don’t you worry till the morning. Nob’ll say no word. No black man shall pass my doors, while I can stand on my legs. Me and my folk’ll keep watch tonight; but you had best get some sleep, if you can.’ ‘In any case we must be called at dawn,’ said Frodo. ‘We must get off as early as possible. Breakfast at six-thirty, please.’ ‘Right! Pll see to the orders,’ said the landlord. ‘Good night, Mr. Baggins — Underhill, I should say! Good night — now, bless me! Where’s your Mr. Brandybuck?’ ‘I don’t know,’ said Frodo with sudden anxiety. They had forgotten all about Merry, and it was getting late. ‘I am afraid he is out. He said something about going for a breath of air.’ ‘Well, you do want looking after and no mistake: your party might be on a holiday!’ said Butterbur. ‘I must go and bar the doors quick, but Pll see your friend is let in when he comes. I’d better send Nob to look for him. Good night to you all!’ At last Mr. Butterbur went out, with another doubtful look at Strider and a shake of his head. His footsteps retreated down the passage. ‘Well?’ said Strider. ‘When are you going to open that letter?’ Frodo looked carefully at the seal before he broke it. It seemed certainly to be Gandalf’s. Inside, written in the wizard’s strong but graceful script, was the following message: THE PRANCING PONY, BREE. Midyear’s Day, Shire Year, 1418. Dear Frodo, Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of fuly at latest. I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you, tf I find that you are gone. Leave a message for me here, if you pass through Bree. You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the Road: a Man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our
「今晚，『神行客』一百六十九號，就是安德丘先生；你可以忘記巴金斯這個名字，直到他遠離此地。」「我會照辦的。」巴力曼說。「但我恐怕，他們不需要我的幫助，也會發現他就在這裡。很可惜巴金斯先生今晚引人注目，說得好聽一點。比爾博先生離家的故事，今晚之前在布理就已經傳開了。連我們的諾布都在他遲鈍的腦袋裡猜測了些什麼；布理還有其他人比他更機靈呢。」「嗯，我們只能希望那些戒靈還不會回來。」佛羅多說。「我確實不希望他們回來。」巴力曼說。「但不管有沒有幽靈，他們都沒那麼容易闖進『躍馬客棧』。你別擔心，直到天亮為止。諾布不會說半個字。只要我還能站著，就沒有黑衣人能踏進我的門。我和我的人今晚會守夜；但如果你能睡覺，最好還是去睡吧。」「無論如何，我們必須在黎明時被叫醒。」佛羅多說。「我們必須盡可能早點出發。請六點半準備早餐。」「好！我會去安排的。」旅館老闆說。「晚安，巴金斯先生——我是說安德丘！晚安——天哪！你的白蘭地鹿先生在哪裡？」 「我不知道。」佛羅多突然焦急地說。他們完全忘記了梅里，而且時間已經不早了。「恐怕他出去了。他說要去透透氣。」「嗯，你確實需要人照顧，毫無疑問：你們這群人可能是在度假！」巴力曼說。「我必須趕快去把門閂上，但我會確保你的朋友回來時能進來。我最好派諾布去找他。各位晚安！」巴力曼先生終於出去了，又懷疑地看了神行客一眼，搖了搖頭。他的腳步聲沿著走廊遠去。「怎麼樣？」神行客說。「你什麼時候要打開那封信？」佛羅多仔細看了看封蠟才拆開。那看起來確實是甘道夫的。裡面，用巫師那有力而優雅的筆跡寫著以下訊息：躍馬客棧，布理。年中日，夏爾曆1418年。親愛的佛羅多，我在此地收到了壞消息。我必須立刻離開。你最好盡快離開袋底洞，並在七月底前離開夏爾。我會盡快回來；如果我發現你已經離開，我會跟隨你。如果你經過布理，請在這裡給我留個口信。你可以信任旅館老闆（巴力曼）。你可能會在路上遇到我的一個朋友：一個男人，瘦削、黝黑、高大，有些人稱他為神行客。他知道我們的
I70 THE LORD OF THE RINGS business and will help you. Make for Rivendell. There I hope we may meet again. If I do not come, Elrond will advise you. Yours in haste GANDALF. P PS. Do NOT use It again, not for any reason whatever! Do not travel by night! P PPS. Make sure that tt is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is Aragorn.P All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that 1s strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king. PPPS. I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber-room: thing wanted always = buried. If he forgets, I shall roast him. 14 Fare Well! Frodo read the letter to himself, and then passed it to Pippin and Sam. ‘Really old Butterbur has made a mess of things!’ he said. ‘He deserves roasting. If I had got this at once, we might all have been safe in Rivendell by now. But what can have happened to Gandalf? He writes as if he was going into great danger.’ ‘He has been doing that for many years,’ said Strider. Frodo turned and looked at him thoughtfully, wondering about Gandalf’s second postscript. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were Gandalf’s friend at once?’ he asked. ‘It would have saved time.’ ‘Would it? Would any of you have believed me till now?’ said Strider. ‘I knew nothing of this letter. For all I knew I had to persuade you to trust me without proofs, if I was to help you. In any case, I did not intend to tell you all about myself at once. I had to study you first, and make sure of you. The Enemy has set traps for me before now. As soon as I had made up my mind, I was ready to tell you whatever you asked. But I must admit,’ he added with a queer laugh, ‘that I hoped you would take to me for my own sake. A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship. But there, I believe my looks are against me.’ “They are — at first sight at any rate,’ laughed Pippin with sudden
I70 魔戒聖戰事務，並會幫助你。前往瑞文戴爾。我希望我們能在那裡再次相見。如果我沒來，愛隆會給你建議。匆匆寫就的甘道夫敬上。附啟：絕不能再使用「它」，無論任何理由！不要在夜間趕路！再附啟：務必確認「他」是真正的亞拉岡。路上有許多陌生人。他的真名是亞拉岡。金子未必都閃光，流浪者未必都迷失；老而彌堅者不會枯萎，深根不為霜雪所侵。灰燼中將燃起火焰，陰影中將迸發光明；斷裂的刀刃將會重鑄，無冕者將再次為王。又再附啟：我希望巴力曼能及時送達這封信。他是個好人，但他的記憶力就像個儲藏室：想要的東西總是埋在最深處。如果他忘了，我會把他烤了。14 珍重！佛羅多讀完信後，將它遞給皮聘和山姆。「老巴力曼真是把事情搞砸了！」他說。「他活該被烤。如果我早點收到這封信，我們現在可能都已經安全抵達瑞文戴爾了。但甘道夫究竟發生了什麼事？他寫得好像正身處巨大危險之中。」「他多年來一直都是這樣。」亞拉岡說。佛羅多轉過身，若有所思地看著他，心裡琢磨著甘道夫的第二個附啟。「你為什麼不早點告訴我你是甘道夫的朋友？」他問道。「那樣會省下很多時間。」「是嗎？你們之中有人會相信我嗎，直到現在？」亞拉岡說。「我對這封信一無所知。據我所知，如果我要幫助你們，我就必須說服你們在沒有證據的情況下信任我。無論如何，我本來就不打算立刻把我的所有事情都告訴你們。我必須先觀察你們，並確認你們。敵人以前也曾為我設下陷阱。一旦我下定決心，我就準備好告訴你們任何你們想問的事了。但我必須承認，」他帶著一絲奇特的笑聲補充道，「我希望你們會因為我這個人而喜歡我。一個被追捕的人有時會厭倦不信任，渴望友誼。但我想，我的外表對我不利。」「確實如此——至少乍看之下是這樣。」皮聘突然笑了起來。
STRIDER I7I relief after reading Gandalf’s letter. ‘But handsome is as handsome does, as we say in the Shire; and I daresay we shall all look much the same after lying for days in hedges and ditches.’ ‘It would take more than a few days, or weeks, or years, of wandering in the Wild to make you look like Strider,’ he answered. ‘And you would die first, unless you are made of sterner stuff than you look to be.’ Pippin subsided; but Sam was not daunted, and he still eyed Strider dubiously. ‘How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?’ he demanded. ‘You never mentioned Gandalf, till this letter came out. You might be a play-acting spy, for all I can see, trying to get us to go with you. You might have done in the real Strider and took his clothes. What have you to say to that?’ ‘That you are a stout fellow,’ answered Strider; ‘but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it - Now!’ He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly. ‘But I am the real Strider, fortunately,’ he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. ‘I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.’ There was a long silence. At last Frodo spoke with hesitation. ‘I believed that you were a friend before the letter came,’ he said, ‘or at least I wished to. You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way that servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would — well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand.’ ‘I see,’ laughed Strider. ‘I look foul and feel fair. Is that it? Al that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.’ ‘Did the verses apply to you then?’ asked Frodo. ‘I could not make out what they were about. But how did you know that they were in Gandalf’s letter, if you have never seen it?’ ‘I did not know,’ he answered. ‘But Iam Aragorn, and those verses go with that name.’ He drew out his sword, and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt. ‘Not much use is it, Sam?’ said Strider. ‘But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.’ Sam said nothing. ‘Well,’ said Strider, ‘with Sam’s permission we will call that settled.
史崔德在讀完甘道夫的信後鬆了一口氣。「但人不可貌相，正如我們在夏爾所說的；我想我們在樹籬和溝渠裡躺了幾天之後，看起來都會差不多。」「要讓你變得像史崔德一樣，可不是在荒野中遊蕩幾天、幾週或幾年就能辦到的，」他回答道。「而且你也會先死，除非你比看起來更堅韌。」皮聘安靜下來；但山姆並沒有被嚇倒，他仍然懷疑地盯著史崔德。「我們怎麼知道你就是甘道夫說的那個史崔德？」他質問道。「你從來沒提過甘道夫，直到這封信出現。在我看來，你可能是一個假扮的間諜，想誘騙我們跟你走。你可能已經殺了真正的史崔德，然後穿了他的衣服。對此你有什麼話要說？」「你真是個勇敢的傢伙，」史崔德回答道；「但我恐怕我對你，山姆·詹吉，唯一的回答就是這個。如果我殺了真正的史崔德，我也能殺了你。而且我早就殺了你，用不著這麼多廢話。如果我想要那枚魔戒，我現在就能拿到！」他站了起來，似乎突然高大了許多。他的眼中閃爍著銳利而威嚴的光芒。他甩開斗篷，將手放在一把一直藏在他身側的劍柄上。他們不敢動彈。山姆張大嘴巴，呆呆地看著他。「但幸好，我就是真正的史崔德，」他看著他們，臉上因突如其來的微笑而柔和下來，說道。「我是亞拉岡，亞拉松之子；如果無論生死我能拯救你們，我會的。」一片長久的沉默。最後，佛羅多猶豫地開口了。「在信來之前，我就相信你是個朋友了，」他說，「或者至少我希望如此。今晚你嚇了我好幾次，但從來不像敵人的僕從那樣，至少我是這麼想的。我想他的一個間諜會——嗯，看起來更友善，感覺卻更邪惡，如果你明白我的意思。」「我明白了，」史崔德笑了。「我看起來邪惡，感覺卻友善。是這樣嗎？並非所有閃光的都是金子，也不是所有流浪者都迷失了方向。」「那麼這些詩句是說你的嗎？」佛羅多問道。「我搞不懂它們是什麼意思。但如果你從未見過甘道夫的信，你怎麼知道它們在信裡？」「我不知道，」他回答。「但我就是亞拉岡，而那些詩句與這個名字相配。」他拔出劍，他們看到劍刃確實從劍柄下方一英尺處斷裂了。「沒什麼用，是吧，山姆？」史崔德說。「但它將被重新鍛造的時刻近了。」山姆什麼也沒說。「好吧，」史崔德說，「在山姆的允許下，我們就這麼說定了。
172 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Strider shall be your guide. And now I think it is time you went to bed and took what rest you can. We shall have a rough road tomorrow. Even if we are allowed to leave Bree unhindered, we can hardly hope now to leave it unnoticed. But I shall try to get lost as soon as possible. I know one or two ways out of Bree-land other than the main road. If once we shake off the pursuit, I shall make for Weathertop.’ ‘Weathertop?’ said Sam. ‘What’s that?’ ‘It is a hill, just to the north of the Road, about half way from here to Rivendell. It commands a wide view all round; and there we shall have a chance to look about us. Gandalf will make for that point, if he follows us. After Weathertop our journey will become more difficult, and we shall have to choose between various dangers.’ ‘When did you last see Gandalf?’ asked Frodo. ‘Do you know where he is, or what he is doing?’ Strider looked grave. ‘I do not know,’ he said. ‘I came west with him in the spring. I have often kept watch on the borders of the Shire in the last few years, when he was busy elsewhere. He seldom left it unguarded. We last met on the first of May: at Sarn Ford down the Brandywine. He told me that his business with you had gone well, and that you would be starting for Rivendell in the last week of September. As I knew he was at your side, I went away on a journey of my own. And that has proved ill; for plainly some news reached him, and I was not at hand to help. ‘I am troubled, for the first time since I have known him. We should have had messages, even if he could not come himself. When I returned, many days ago, I heard the ill news. The tidings had gone far and wide that Gandalf was missing and the horsemen had been seen. It was the Elven-folk of Gildor that told me this; and later they told me that you had left your home; but there was no news of your leaving Buckland. I have been watching the East Road anxiously.’ ‘Do you think the Black Riders have anything to do with it — with Gandalf’s absence, I mean?’ asked Frodo. ‘I do not know of anything else that could have hindered him, except the Enemy himself,’ said Strider. ‘But do not give up hope! Gandalf is greater than you Shire-folk know — as a rule you can only see his jokes and toys. But this business of ours will be his greatest task.’ Pippin yawned. ‘I am sorry,’ he said, ‘but I am dead tired. In spite of all the danger and worry I must go to bed, or sleep where I sit. Where is that silly fellow, Merry? It would be the last straw, if we had to go out in the dark to look for him.’
172 魔戒之王 亞拉岡會是你們的嚮導。我想現在是你們該上床休息的時候了，能休息多少就休息多少吧。明天我們將會有一段崎嶇的路程。即使我們能毫無阻礙地離開布理，現在也很難指望能不被察覺地離開。但我會盡快設法擺脫追蹤。除了主要道路，我知道一兩條離開布理地區的路線。一旦我們擺脫了追兵，我就會前往風雲頂。’ ‘風雲頂？’山姆說。 ‘那是什麼？’ ‘那是一座山，就在大路的北邊，大約是從這裡到瑞文戴爾的一半路程。它能俯瞰四周廣闊的景色；在那裡我們將有機會環顧四周。如果甘道夫跟著我們，他也會前往那個地點。過了風雲頂之後，我們的旅程會變得更加艱難，我們將不得不在各種危險之間做出選擇。’ ‘你上次見到甘道夫是什麼時候？’佛羅多問。 ‘你知道他在哪裡，或者他在做什麼嗎？’ 亞拉岡神色凝重。 ‘我不知道，’他說。 ‘我春天時和他一起往西走。過去幾年，當他忙於其他地方時，我經常在夏爾邊境巡邏。他很少讓那裡無人看守。我們上次見面是在五月一日：在白蘭地河下游的薩恩渡口。他告訴我，他與你的事情進展順利，你將在九月的最後一週啟程前往瑞文戴爾。由於我知道他會在你身邊，我就去進行我自己的旅程了。而這被證明是個錯誤；因為顯然有些消息傳到了他那裡，而我卻不在身邊提供幫助。 ‘我很不安，這是我認識他以來第一次感到不安。即使他不能親自前來，我們也應該收到消息。當我多日前回來時，我聽到了壞消息。消息已經傳得沸沸揚揚，說甘道夫失蹤了，而且有人看到了騎馬的人。是吉爾多手下的精靈告訴我這些的；後來他們又告訴我你已經離開了家，但沒有你離開巴克蘭的消息。我一直焦急地監視著東路。’ ‘你認為黑騎士與此有關嗎——我是說，與甘道夫的失蹤有關嗎？’佛羅多問。 ‘除了敵人本身，我不知道還有什麼能阻礙他，’亞拉岡說。 ‘但不要放棄希望！甘道夫比你們夏爾人所知的更偉大——通常你們只看到他的玩笑和把戲。但我們這件事將是他最偉大的任務。’ 皮聘打了個哈欠。 ‘我很抱歉，’他說， ‘但我已經累壞了。儘管有所有的危險和擔憂，我還是必須上床睡覺，不然我就會坐在這裡睡著。那個傻瓜梅利在哪裡？如果我們還得在黑暗中出去找他，那可真是壓垮駱駝的最後一根稻草了。’
STRIDER 173 At that moment they heard a door slam; then feet came running along the passage. Merry came in with a rush followed by Nob. He shut the door hastily, and leaned against it. He was out of breath. They stared at him in alarm for a moment before he gasped: ‘I have seen them, Frodo! I have seen them! Black Riders!’ ‘Black Riders!’ cried Frodo. ‘Where?’ ‘Here. In the village. I stayed indoors for an hour. Then as you did not come back, I went out for a stroll. I had come back again and was standing just outside the light of the lamp looking at the stars. Suddenly I shivered and felt that something horrible was creeping near: there was a sort of deeper shade among the shadows across the road, just beyond the edge of the lamplight. It slid away at once into the dark without a sound. There was no horse.’ ‘Which way did it go?’ asked Strider, suddenly and sharply. Merry started, noticing the stranger for the first time. ‘Go onl’ said Frodo. ‘This is a friend of Gandalf’s. I will explain later.’ ‘It seemed to make off up the Road, eastward,’ continued Merry. ‘I tried to follow. Of course, it vanished almost at once; but I went round the corner and on as far as the last house on the Road.’ Strider looked at Merry with wonder. ‘You have a stout heart,’ he said; ‘but it was foolish.’ ‘I don’t know,’ said Merry. ‘Neither brave nor silly, I think. I could hardly help myself. I seemed to be drawn somehow. Anyway, I went, and suddenly I heard voices by the hedge. One was muttering; and the other was whispering, or hissing. I couldn’t hear a word that was said. I did not creep any closer, because I began to tremble all over. Then I felt terrified, and I turned back, and was just going to bolt home, when something came behind me and I...I fell over.’ ‘I found him, sir,’ put in Nob. ‘Mr. Butterbur sent me out with a lantern. I went down to West-gate, and then back up towards South-gate. Just nigh Bill Ferny’s house I thought I could see something in the Road. I couldn’t swear to it, but it looked to me as if two men was stooping over something, lifting it. I gave a shout, but when I got up to the spot there was no signs of them, and only Mr. Brandybuck lying by the roadside. He seemed to be asleep. “‘I thought Thad fallen into deep water,”’ he says to me, when I shook him. Very queer he was, and as soon as I had roused him, he got up and ran back here like a hare.’ ‘I am afraid that’s true,’ said Merry, ‘though I don’t know what I said. I had an ugly dream, which I can’t remember. I went to pieces. I don’t know what came over me.’ ‘I do,’ said Strider. ‘The Black Breath. The Riders must have left their horses outside, and passed back through the South-gate in secret. They will know all the news now, for they have visited Bill
就在那時，他們聽到一聲關門巨響；接著，腳步聲沿著通道跑來。梅里衝了進來，諾布緊隨其後。他匆忙關上門，靠在門上。他氣喘吁吁。他們驚恐地盯著他看了一會兒，然後他喘著氣說：「我看到他們了，佛羅多！我看到他們了！黑騎士！」 「黑騎士！」佛羅多喊道。「在哪裡？」 「在這裡。在村子裡。我在屋裡待了一個小時。然後，因為你沒有回來，我就出去散步了。我回來後，正站在燈光之外看星星。突然我打了個寒顫，感覺有什麼可怕的東西正在靠近：馬路對面的陰影中，就在燈光邊緣之外，有一種更深的陰影。它立刻無聲地滑入了黑暗。沒有馬。」 「它往哪邊走了？」史崔德突然而尖銳地問道。梅里嚇了一跳，第一次注意到這個陌生人。「繼續說！」佛羅多說。「這是甘道夫的朋友。我稍後會解釋。」 「它似乎沿著路往東邊走了，」梅里繼續說。「我試圖跟隨。當然，它幾乎立刻就消失了；但我轉過街角，一直走到路上最後一棟房子。」史崔德驚訝地看著梅里。「你有一顆勇敢的心，」他說；「但那很愚蠢。」 「我不知道，」梅里說。「我想，既不勇敢也不傻。我幾乎無法控制自己。我似乎被某種東西吸引了。總之，我去了，突然我聽到樹籬旁有聲音。一個在低聲咕噥；另一個在耳語，或者發出嘶嘶聲。我一個字也聽不清。我沒有再靠近，因為我開始全身發抖。然後我感到害怕，轉身正要衝回家，這時有東西從我身後過來，我……我摔倒了。」 「我找到他了，先生，」諾布插話說。「奶油伯先生派我提著燈籠出去。我去了西門，然後又往南門方向走。就在比爾·費爾尼家附近，我以為我看到路上有什麼東西。我不敢肯定，但我看來好像有兩個人彎腰在抬什麼東西。我大喊一聲，但當我走到那個地方時，沒有他們的蹤影，只有白蘭地鹿先生躺在路邊。他似乎睡著了。」 「『我以為我掉進了深水裡，』」他對我說，當時我搖醒了他。他很奇怪，我一把他叫醒，他就站起來像兔子一樣跑回來了。」 「恐怕是真的，」梅里說，「儘管我不知道我說了什麼。我做了一個可怕的夢，但我記不起來了。我崩潰了。我不知道我怎麼了。」 「我知道，」史崔德說。「那是黑之氣息。那些騎士一定把他們的馬留在外面，秘密地穿過南門回來了。他們現在會知道所有消息了，因為他們已經拜訪了比爾
174 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Ferny; and probably that Southerner was a spy as well. Something may happen in the night, before we leave Bree.’ ‘What will happen?’ said Merry. ‘Will they attack the inn?’ ‘No, I think not,’ said Strider. “They are not all here yet. And in any case that is not their way. In dark and loneliness they are strongest; they will not openly attack a house where there are lights and many people — not until they are desperate, not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us. But their power is in terror, and already some in Bree are in their clutch. They will drive these wretches to some evil work: Ferny, and some of the strangers, and, maybe, the gatekeeper too. They had words with Harry at West-gate on Monday. I was watching them. He was white and shaking when they left him.’ ‘We seem to have enemies all round,’ said Frodo. ‘What are we to do?’ ‘Stay here, and do not go to your rooms! They are sure to have found out which those are. The hobbit-rooms have windows looking north and close to the ground. We will all remain together and bar this window and the door. But first Nob and I will fetch your luggage.’ While Strider was gone, Frodo gave Merry a rapid account of all that had happened since supper. Merry was still reading and pondering Gandalf’s letter when Strider and Nob returned. ‘Well Masters,’ said Nob, ‘I’ve ruffled up the clothes and put in a bolster down the middle of each bed. And I made a nice imitation of your head with a brown woollen mat, Mr. Bag — Underhill, sir,’ he added with a grin. Pippin laughed. ‘Very life-like!’ he said. ‘But what will happen when they have penetrated the disguise?’ ‘We shall see,’ said Strider. ‘Let us hope to hold the fort till morning.’ ‘Good night to you,’ said Nob, and went off to take his part in the watch on the doors. Their bags and gear they piled on the parlour-floor. They pushed a low chair against the door and shut the window. Peering out, Frodo saw that the night was still clear. The Sickle* was swinging bright above the shoulders of Bree-hill. He then closed and barred the heavy inside shutters and drew the curtains together. Strider built up the fire and blew out all the candles. The hobbits lay down on their blankets with their feet towards the hearth; but Strider settled himself in the chair against the door. They talked for a little, for Merry still had several questions to ask. ‘Jumped over the Moon!’ chuckled Merry as he rolled himself in * The Hobbits’ name for the Plough or Great Bear.
174 魔戒 費尼；而且那個南方人很可能也是個間諜。在我們離開布理之前，今晚可能會發生什麼事。』「會發生什麼事？」梅里問道。「他們會攻擊旅館嗎？」『不，我想不會，』亞拉岡說。「他們還沒全部到齊。而且無論如何，那也不是他們的作風。在黑暗和孤獨中他們最強大；他們不會公開攻擊一間有燈光和許多人的房子——除非他們走投無路，只要伊利亞德漫長的旅程還在我們面前，他們就不會。但他們的力量在於恐懼，而且布理已經有些人落入他們手中。他們會驅使這些可憐蟲去做一些邪惡的工作：費尼，還有一些陌生人，或許還有守門人。他們星期一在西門和哈利說過話。我當時正在觀察他們。他們離開他時，他臉色蒼白，全身發抖。」「我們似乎四面楚歌。」佛羅多說。「我們該怎麼辦？」『待在這裡，不要回你們的房間！他們肯定已經查出是哪些房間了。哈比人的房間窗戶朝北，而且靠近地面。我們會待在一起，把這扇窗戶和門都閂上。但首先，諾布和我會去拿你們的行李。』亞拉岡離開後，佛羅多迅速向梅里講述了晚餐後發生的一切。亞拉岡和諾布回來時，梅里仍在閱讀和思考甘道夫的信。「好了，各位主人，」諾布說，「我把衣服弄亂了，並在每張床的中間放了一個枕頭。我還用一塊棕色羊毛墊做了一個很像你們頭的東西，巴金斯先生——安德希爾，先生。」他咧嘴一笑補充道。皮聘笑了。「維妙維肖！」他說。「但當他們識破偽裝後會發生什麼事呢？」『我們拭目以待，』亞拉岡說。『我們希望能堅守到天亮。』「晚安，」諾布說，然後去門口值班了。他們把袋子和裝備堆在客廳地板上。他們把一張矮椅子推到門邊，關上窗戶。佛羅多向外窺視，看到夜晚依然晴朗。「鐮刀星」在布理山肩上閃耀。然後他關上並閂上厚重的內百葉窗，拉上窗簾。亞拉岡把火堆燒旺，吹熄了所有蠟燭。哈比人躺在毯子上，腳朝向爐火；但亞拉岡則坐在門邊的椅子上。他們聊了一會兒，因為梅里還有幾個問題要問。「跳過月亮！」梅里一邊把自己裹起來一邊咯咯地笑著。*哈比人對犁星或大熊座的稱呼。
STRIDER 175 his blanket. ‘Very ridiculous of you, Frodo! But I wish I had been there to see. The worthies of Bree will be discussing it a hundred years hence.’ ‘I hope so,’ said Strider. Then they all fell silent, and one by one the hobbits dropped off to sleep.
亞拉岡調整了一下他的毯子。「你真是太荒謬了，佛羅多！但我真希望當時能在場親眼看看。布理的賢達們一百年後還會談論這件事呢。」「我希望如此。」亞拉岡說。然後他們都沉默了下來，哈比人一個接一個地睡著了。