jrt.the hobbit-第12章

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ans；　it　does。〃
　But　these　ordinary　aboveground　everyday　sort　of　riddles　were　tiring　for　him。　Also　they　reminded　him　of　days　when　he　had　been　less　lonely　and　sneaky　and　nasty；　and　that　put　him　out　of　temper。　What　is　more　they　made　him　hungry；　so　this　time　he　tried　something　a　bit　more　difficult　and　more　unpleasant：
　〃It　cannot　be　seen；　cannot　be　felt；
　Cannot　be　heard；　cannot　be　smelt。
　It　lies　behind　stars　and　under　hills；
　And　empty　holes　it　fills。
　It　es　first　and　follows　after；
　Ends　life；　kills　laughter。〃
　Unfortunately　for　Gollum　Bilbo　had　heard　that　sort　of　thing　before；　and　the　answer　was　all　round　him　anyway。　〃Dark！〃　he　said　without　even　scratching　his　head　or　putting　on　his　thinking　cap。
　〃A　box　without　hinges；　key；　or　lid；
　Yet　golden　treasure　inside　is　hid；〃
　he　asked　to　gain　time；　until　he　could　think　of　a　really　hard　one。　This　he　thought　a　dreadfully　easy　chestnut；　though　he　had　not　asked　it　in　the　usual　words。　But　it　proved　a　nasty　poser　for　Gollum。　He　hissed　to　himself；　and　still　he　did　not　answer；　he　whispered　and　spluttered。
　After　some　while　Bilbo　became　impatient。　〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　he　said。　　〃The　answer's　not　a　kettle　boiling　over；　as　you　seem　to　think　from　the　noise　you　are　making。〃
　〃Give　us　a　chance；　let　it　give　us　a　chance；　my　preciouss…ss…ss。〃　〃Well；〃　said　Bilbo；　after　giving　him　a　long　chance；　〃what　about　your　guess？〃
　But　suddenly　Gollum　remembered　thieving　from　nests　long　ago；　and　sitting　under　the　river　bank　teaching　his　grandmother；　teaching　his　grandmother　to　suck…〃Eggses！〃　he　hissed。　〃Eggses　it　is！〃　Then　he　asked：
　　〃A　live　without　breath；
　As　cold　as　death；
　Never　thirsty；　ever　drinking；
　All　in　mail　never　clinking。〃
　He　also　in　his　turn　thought　this　was　a　dreadfully　easy　one；　because　he　was　always　thinking　of　the　answer。　But　he　could　not　remember　anything　better　at　the　moment；　he　was　so　flustered　by　the　egg…question。　All　the　same　it　was　a　poser　for　poor　Bilbo；　who　never　had　anything　to　do　with　the　water　if　he　could　help　it。　I　imagine　you　know　the　answer；　of　course；　or　can　guess　it　as　easy　as　winking；　since　you　are　sitting　fortably　at　home　and　have　not　the　danger　of　being　eaten　to　disturb　your　thinking。　Bilbo　sat　and　cleared　his　throat　once　or　twice；　but　no　answer　came。
　After　a　while　Gollum　began　to　hiss　with　pleasure　to　himself：　〃Is　it　nice；　my　preciousss？　Is　it　juicy？　Is　it　scrumptiously　crunchable？〃　He　began　to　peer　at　Bilbo　out　of　the　darkness。
　〃Half　a　moment；〃　said　the　hobbit　shivering。　〃I　gave　you　a　good　long　chance　just　now。〃
　〃It　must　make　haste；　haste！〃　said　Gollum；　beginning　to　climb　out　of　his　boat　on　to　the　shore　to　get　at　Bilbo。　But　when　he　put　his　long　webby　foot　in　the　water；　a　fish　jumped　out　in　a　fright　and　fell　on　Bilbo's　toes。　　〃Ugh！〃　he　said；　〃it　is　cold　and　clammy！〃…and　so　he　guessed。　〃Fish！　Fish！〃　he　cried。　〃It　is　fish！〃
　Gollum　was　dreadfully　disappointed；　but　Bilbo　asked　another　riddle　as　quick　as　ever　be　could；　so　that　Gollum　had　to　get　back　into　his　boat　and　think。
　〃No…legs　lay　on　one…leg；　two…legs　sat　near　on　three…legs；　four…legs　got　some。〃
　It　was　not　really　the　right　time　for　this　riddle；　but　Bilbo　was　in　a　hurry。　Gollum　might　have　had　some　trouble　guessing　it；　if　he　had　asked　it　at　another　time。　As　it　was；　talking　of　fish；　〃no…legs〃　was　not　so　very　difficult；　and　after　that　the　rest　was　easy。　〃Fish　on　a　little　table；　man　at　table　sitting　on　a　stool；　the　cat　has　the　bones〃…that　of　course　is　the　answer；　and　Gollum　soon　gave　it。　Then　he　thought　the　time　had　e　to　ask　something　hard　and　horrible。　This　is　what　he　said：
　〃This　thing　all　things　devours：
　Birds；　beasts；　trees；　flowers；
　Gnaws　iron；　bites　steel；
　Grinds　hard　stones　to　meal；
　Slays　king；　ruins　town；
　And　beats　high　mountain　down。〃
　Poor　Bilbo　sat　in　the　dark　thinking　of　all　the　horrible　names　of　all　the　giants　and　ogres　he　had　ever　heard　told　of　in　tales；　but　not　one　of　them　had　done　all　these　things。　He　had　a　feeling　that　the　answer　was　quite　different　and　that　he　ought　to　know　it；　but　he　could　not　think　of　it。　He　began　to　get　frightened；　and　that　is　bad　for　thinking。　Gollum　began　to　get　out　of　his　boat。　　He　flapped　into　the　water　and　paddled　to　the　bank；　Bilbo　could　see　his　eyes　ing　towards　him。　His　tongue　seemed　to　stick　in　his　mouth；　he　wanted　to　shout　out：　〃Give　me　more　time！　Give　me　time！〃　But　all　that　came　out　with　a　sudden　squeal　was：
　〃Time！　Time！〃
　Bilbo　was　saved　by　pure　luck。　For　that　of　course　was　the　answer。
　Gollum　was　disappointed　once　more；　and　now　he　was　getting　angry；　and　also
　tired　of　the　game。　It　had　made　him　very　hungry　indeed。　This　time　he　did　not　go　back　to　the　boat。　He　sat　down　in　the　dark　by　Bilbo。　That　made　the　hobbit　most　dreadfully　unfortable　and　scattered　his　wits。
　〃It's　got　to　ask　uss　a　quesstion；　my　preciouss；　yes；　yess；　yesss。　Jusst　one　more　quesstion　to　guess；　yes；　yess；〃　said　Gollum。　　But　Bilbo　simply　could　not　think　of　any　question　with　that　nasty　wet　cold　thing　sitting　next　to　him；　and　pawing　and　poking　him。　He　scratched　himself；　he　pinched　himself；　still　he　could　not　think　of　anything。
　〃Ask　us！　ask　us！〃　said　Gollum。
　Bilbo　pinched　himself　and　slapped　himself；　he　gripped　on　his　little　sword；　he　even　felt　in　his　pocket　with　his　other　hand。　There　he　found　the　ring　he　had　picked　up　in　the　passage　and　forgotten　about。　　〃What　have　I　got　in　my　pocket？〃　he　said　aloud。　He　was　talking　to　himself；　but　Gollum　thought　it　was　a　riddle；　and　he　was　frightfully　upset。　　〃Not　fair！　not　fair！〃　he　hissed。　〃It　isn't　fair；　my　precious；　is　it；　to　ask　us　what　it's　got　in　its　nassty　little　pocketses？〃
　Bilbo　seeing　what　had　happened　and　having　nothing　better　to　ask　stuck　to　his　question。　〃What　have　I　got　in　my　pocket？〃　he　said　louder。　　〃S…s…s…s…s；〃　hissed　Gollum。　〃It　must　give　us　three　guesseses；　my　preciouss；　three　guesseses。〃
　〃Very　well！　Guess　away！〃　said　Bilbo。
　〃Handses！〃　said　Gollum。
　〃Wrong；〃　said　Bilbo；　who　had　luckily　just　taken　his　hand　out　again。　〃Guess　again！〃
　〃S…s…s…s…s；〃　said　Gollum　more　upset　than　ever。　He　thought　of　all　the　things　he　kept　in　his　own　pockets：　fishbones；　goblins'　teeth；　wet　shells；　a　bit　of　bat…wing；　a　sharp　stone　to　sharpen　his　fangs　on；　and　other　nasty　things。　He　tried　to　think　what　other　people　kept　in　their　pockets。　　〃Knife！〃　he　said　at　last。
　〃Wrong！〃　said　Bilbo；　who　had　lost　his　some　time　ago。　〃Last　guess！〃　Now　Gollum　was　in　a　much　worse　state　than　when　Bilbo　had　asked　him　the　egg…question。　He　hissed　and　spluttered　and　rocked　himself　backwards　and　forwards；　and　slapped　his　feet　on　the　floor；　and　wriggled　and　squirmed；　but　still　he　did　not　dare　to　waste　his　last　guess。
　〃e　on！〃　said　Bilbo。　〃I　am　waiting！〃　He　tried　to　sound　bold　and　cheerful；　but　he　did　not　feel　at　all　sure　how　the　game　was　going　to　end；　whether　Gollum　guessed　right　or　not。
　〃Time's　up！〃　he　said。
　〃String；　or　nothing！〃　shrieked　Gollum；　which　was　not　quite　fair…working　in　two　guesses　at　once。
　〃Both　wrong；〃　cried　Bilbo　very　much　relieved；　and　he　jumped　at　once　to　his　feet；　put　his　back　to　the　nearest　wall；　and　held　out　his　little　sword。　He　knew；　of　course；　that　the　riddle…game　was　sacred　and　of　immense　antiquity；　and　even　wicked　creatures　were　afraid　to　cheat　when　they　played　at　it。　But　he　felt　he　could　not　trust　this　slimy　thing　to　keep　any　promise　at　a　pinch。　Any　excuse　would　do　for　him　to　slide　out　of　it。　And　after　all　that　last　question　had　not　been　a　genuine　riddle　according　to　the　ancient　laws。
　But　at　any　rate　Gollum　did　not　at　once　attack　him。　He　could　see　the　sword　in　Bilbo's　hand。　He　sat　still；　shivering　and　whispering。　At　last　Bilbo　could　wait　no　longer。
　〃Well？〃　he　said。　〃What　about　your　promise？　I　want　to　go。　You　must　show　me　the　way。〃
　〃Did　we　say　so；　precious？　Show　the　nassty　little　Baggins　the　way　out；　yes；　yes。　But　what　has　it　got　in　its　pocketses；　eh？　Not　string；　precious；　but　not　nothing。　Oh　no！　gollum！〃
　〃Never　you　mind；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃A　promise　is　a　promise。〃　〃Cross　it　is；　impatient；　precious；〃　hissed　Gollum。　〃But　it　must　wait；　yes　it　must。　We　can't　go　up　the　tunnels　so　hasty。　We　must　go　and　get　some　things　first；　yes；　things　to　help　us。〃
　〃Well；　hurry　up！〃　said　Bilbo；　relieved　to　think　of　Gollum　going　away。　He
　thought　he　was　just　making　an　excuse　and　did　not　mean　to　e　back。　What　was　Gollum　talking　about？　What　useful　thing　could　he　keep　out　on　the　dark　lake？
　But　he　was　wrong。　Gollum　did　mean　to　e　back。　He　was　angry　now　and　hungry。
　And　he　was　a　miserable　wicked　creature；　and　already　he　had　a　plan。　　Not　far　away　was　his　island；　of　which　Bilbo　knew　nothing；　and　there　in　his　hiding…place　he　kept　a　few　wretched　oddments；　and　one　very　beautiful　thing；　very　beautiful；　very　wonderful。　He　had　a　ring；　a　golden　ring；　a　precious　ring。
　〃My　birthday…present！〃　he　whispered　to　himself；　as　he　had　often　done　in　the　endless　dark　days。　〃That's　what　we　wants　now；　yes；　we　wants　it！〃　He　wanted　it　because　it　was　a　ring　of　power；　and　if　you　slipped　that　ring　on　your　finger；　you　were　invisible；　only　in　the　full　sunlight　could　you　be　seen；　and　then　only　by　your　shadow；　and　that　would　be　shaky　and　faint。　　〃My　birthday…present！　It　came　to　me　on　my　birthday；　my　precious；〃　So　he　had　always　said　to　himself。　But　who　knows　how　Gollum　came　by　that　present；　ages　ago　in　the　old　days　when　such　rings　were　still　at　large　in　the　world？　　Perhaps　even　the　Master　who　ruled　them　could　not　have　said。　Gollum　used　to　wear　it　at　first；　till　it　tired　him；　and　then　he　kept　it　in　a　pouch　next　his　skin；　till　it　galled　him；　and　now　usually　he　hid　it　in　a　hole　in　the　rock　on　his　island；　and　was　always　going　back　to　look　at　it。　And　still　sometimes　he　put　it　on；　when　he　could　not　bear　to　be　parted　from　it　any　longer；　or　when　he　was　very；　very；　hungry；　and　tired　of　fish。　Then　he　would　creep　along　dark　passages　looking　for　stray　goblins。　He　might　even　venture　into　places　where　the　torches　were　lit　and　made　his　eyes　blink　and　smart；　for　he　would　be　safe。　　Oh　yes；　quite　safe。　No　one　would　see　him；　no　one　would　notice　him；　till　he　had　his　fingers　on　their　throat。　Only　a　few　hours　ago　he　had　worn　it；　and　caught　a　small　goblin…imp。　How　it　squeaked！　He　still　had　a　bone　or　two　left　to　gnaw；　but　he　wanted　something　softer。
　〃Quite　safe；　yes；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃It　won't　see　us；　will　it；　my　precious？　No。　It　won't　see　us；　and　its　nassty　little　sword　will　be　useless；　yes　quite。〃
　That　is　what　was　in　his　wicked　little　mind；　as　he　slipped　suddenly　from　Bilbo's　side；　and　flapped　back　to　his　boat；　and　went　off　into　the　dark。　Bilbo　thought　he　had　heard　the　last　of　him。　Still　he　waited　a　while；　for　he　had　no　idea　how　to　find　his　way　out　alone。
　Suddenly　he　heard　a　screech。　It　sent　a　shiver　down　his　back。　Gollum　was　cursing　and　wailing　away　in　the　gloom；　not　very　far　off　by　the　sound　of　it。　He　was　on　his　island；　scrabbling　here　and　there；　searching　and　seeking　in　vain。　　〃Where　is　it？　Where　iss　it？〃　Bilbo　heard　him　crying。　〃Losst　it　is；　my　precious；　lost；　lost！　Curse　us　and　crush　us；　my　precious　is　lost！〃　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Bilbo　called。　〃What　have　you　lost？〃　〃It　mustn't　ask　us；〃　shrieked　Gollum。　〃Not　its　business；　no；　gollum！　It's　losst；　gollum；　gollum；　gollum。〃
　〃Well；　so　am　I；〃　cried　Bilbo；　〃and　I　want　to　get　unlost。　And　I　won　the　game；　and　you　promised。　So　e　along！　e　and　let　me　out；　and　then　go　on　with　your　looking！〃
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