"J.R.R. Tolkien - Farmer Giles of Ham" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

`Then we meet by good luck,' said the dragon. `The pleasure is
mine. Those are your holiday clothes, I suppose. A new fashion,
perhaps?' Farmer Giles's felt hat had fallen off and his grey cloak
had slipped open; but he brazened it out.

`Aye,' said he, `brand-new. But I must be after that dog of mine.
He's gone after rabbits, I fancy.'

`I fancy not,' said Chrysophylax, licking his lips (a sign of
amusement). `He will get home a long time before you do, I
expect. But pray proceed on your way, Master - let me see, I don't
think I know your name?'

`Nor I yours,' said Giles; `and we'll leave it at that.'

`As you like,' said Chrysophylax, licking his lips again, but
pretending to close his eyes. He had a wicked heart (as dragons
all have), but not a very bold one (as is not unusual). He
preferred a meal that he did not have to fight for; but appetite had
returned after a good long sleep. The parson of Oakley had been
stringy, and it was years since he had tasted a large fat man. He
had now made up his mind to try this easy meat, and he was only
waiting until the old fool was off his guard.

But the old fool was not as foolish as he looked, and he kept his
eye on the dragon, even while he was trying to mount. The mare,
however, had other ideas, and she kicked and shied when Giles
tried to get up. The dragon became impatient and made ready to
spring.

`Excuse me l' said he. `Haven't you dropped something?'

An ancient trick, but it succeeded; for Giles had indeed dropped
something. When he fell he had dropped Caudimordax (or
vulgarly Tailbiter), and there it lay by the wayside. He stooped to
pick it up; and the dragon sprang. But not as quick as Tailbiter.
As soon as it was in the farmer's hand, it leaped forward with a
flash, straight at the dragon's eyes.

`Hey!' said the dragon, and stopped very short. `What have you
got there?'

`Only Tailbiter, that was given to men by the Ring'' said Giles.

`My mistake!' said the dragon. ░I beg your pardon.' He lay and
grovelled, and Farmer Giles began to feel more comfortable. `I
don't think you have treated me fair:

`How not?' said Giles. `And anyway why should I?F