THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Chapter 6
A SHORTCUT TO MUSHROOMS
In the morning, Frodo wakes up feeling rested. He is lying under a tree. Its branches make a green shelter around him. His bed is soft grass. The morning sun shinesos through the leaves above. He jumps up and walks into the sunlight.
Sam is sitting near the edge of the trees. Pippin is standing nearby, looking at the sky. The Elves are gone. “They have left us fruit, bread, and drink,” says Pippin. “Come and eat. The bread is almost as good as it was last night. I wanted to finish it myself, but Sam would not let me.”
Frodo sits beside Sam and begins to eat. “What is the plan today?” asks Pippin. “I want to reach Bucklebury as quickly as possible,” says Frodo. “Do you think we will see those Riders again?” asks Pippin. The bright morning makes the idea seem less scary. “Yes,” says Frodo. “Probably. But I hope we can cross the river before they see us.”
“Did Gildor tell you anything about them?” Pippin asks. “Not much,” says Frodo. “He did not give me any clear details.” “Did you ask about the sniffing sound?” “We didn't talk about it.” “You should have. It sounds important.” “In that case,” says Frodo sharply, “Gildor probably would not have answered. Now let me eat in peace. I want to think.” “Think?” says Pippin. “At breakfast?” He laughs and walks away.
Frodo watches him go. The sunlight is bright, but it does not remove his fear. Gildor's warning stays in his mind. Pippin is running across the grass and singing. Frodo looks at Sam. Sam is watching him. “Well, Sam,” says Frodo. “I have decided something. I am leaving the Shire as soon as I can. I do not even want to spend a day at Crickhollow if I can avoid it.”
“Very good, sir.” “You still want to come with me?” “I do.” “It will be dangerous.” “I know.” “We may never come back.” Sam nods. “If you don't come back, sir, then I won't either,” Sam says. Frodo looks at him quietly. Sam continues. “The Elves spoke to me last night. They knew you were leaving.” “The Elves?” “Yes, sir.” “What did they say?”
“They said, ‘Don't you leave him.’ And I said, ‘Leave him? I never mean to.’” Frodo smiles. “I am going with you, sir. Even if you climb to the Moon.” “And if the Black Riders come?” “Then they will have Sam Gamgee to deal with.” “The Elves laughed at that?” “Yes, sir. They laughed at that, they did.” Frodo shakes his head.
“They are wonderful people,” says Frodo “Yes, sir,” says Sam softly. “Wonderful.” “Do you still like them now that you have met them?” Sam thinks for a moment. “I don't know if liking them matters.” Frodo looks surprised. “They are different from what I expected. They seem old and young at the same time. Happy and sad at the same time.” Frodo studies Sam. He sounds different today. “Do you still want to leave the Shire, Sam?” Frodo asks.
“Yes,” answers Sam. “Why?” Sam looks away for a moment. “I don't really know.” Then he speaks slowly. “Before last night, I wanted to see Elves. I wanted to hear stories about dragons and mountains.” He pauses. “Now it feels different.” “How?” “I feel like we are going on a long road, Mr. Frodo.” He looks into the distance. “I think there will be danger ahead. Maybe dark places too.” Frodo listens carefully. “But I know I cannot turn back.”
Sam shrugs his shoulders. “I feel that I have something important to do. I don't know what it is yet. But I know it is ahead of us, not behind us.” Frodo is silent for a moment. Then he smiles. “Gandalf chose me a good companion.” Sam grins. “We will go together.”
A little later Frodo stands. “Ready?” he asks Pippin. “At last,” says Pippin. “I have only been waiting for you to finish eating and thinking.” “I have finished both,” says Frodo. “Good.” “I am not going back to the road,” says Frodo. “I am taking a shortcut.” “A shortcut?” says Pippin. “Yes.” “Shortcuts make long delays,” Pippin warns.
“The Ferry across the river is straight east from here,” says Frodo. “The road goes the long way around.” Pippin sighs. “Frodo, this country is full of swamps, streams, and trouble.” “We will still save time,” says Frodo. “All right,” says Pippin. “I will follow you.” Then he groans. “I was hoping to stop at the Golden Perch.” “The inn?” “The best beer in the Eastfarthing.” “That settles it,” says Frodo. “We are definitely taking the shortcut.” Even Sam laughs. The three Hobbits leave the hill and enter the woods. The trees are thicker than they expected. There are no paths. Progress is slow. Soon they reach a stream with steep banks covered in thick bushes. The water cuts directly across their path.
“Well,” says Pippin grimly. “What are we going to do now?” They stand wondering what to do. Then Sam suddenly grabs Frodo's arm. “Look!” Frodo and Pippin turn. High above them, on the hill they have just climbed down, stands a horse. Beside it is a black figure. The figure is very still. It seems to be looking down at them. Nobody speaks.
For a moment all three stare. Then Frodo quickly moves into the bushes. “Come on!” None of them wants to stay there. They force their way through thick bushes beside the stream. After a while Frodo stops. “You were right, Pippin,” he says. “The shortcut has already gone wrong.”
“And you were right too,” says Pippin. “About what?” “Getting off the road.” They all know what he means. The Black Rider is behind them.
The journey becomes harder. Bushes scratch their arms. Branches catch their packs. The air is hot and still. At last they find more open ground. Soon Pippin recognizes a small river. “This is the Stock-brook.” They cross it and continue. Rain begins to fall. Then the rain becomes heavy.
The Hobbits walk on through wet woods and dripping leaves. Nobody talks much. Everyone keeps looking behind them. By midday they stop for lunch beneath a large elm tree. The Elves have filled their bottles with a pale golden drink. It smells like flowers and honey. After drinking it, they feel refreshed.
Soon they are laughing again. For a little while they forget about Black Riders, rain, and long roads. Sam and Pippin begin singing a cheerful walking song. Suddenly the song stops. Frodo jumps to his feet. A long cry comes through the air. It rises and falls. It sounds lonely and terrible. Then it ends. A second cry answers it from far away.
The three Hobbits stand perfectly still. Nobody speaks. At last Pippin swallows. “What was that?” Frodo shakes his head. “It was not a bird.” “Then what?” “A signal.” The wind moves through the trees. No one says anything more. But they are all thinking about the Riders.
Soon they leave the woods. There are wide fields in front of them. The village of Bucklebury is ahead of them near the river. As they walk, the land becomes more familiar. There are gates. Fields. Hedges. Farms. Everything looks peaceful. Their spirits rise.
The Black Riders begin to feel far away. Then Pippin stops. “I know this place,” says Pippen. Frodo looks around. “This is Farmer Maggot's land.” Frodo immediately looks worried. Pippin laughs. “You are not still afraid of Farmer Maggot, are you?” “I am.” “After all these years?” “Yes.” “And his dogs?” “Especially his dogs.” Pippin laughs harder.
Frodo shakes his head. “When I was young, I used to steal mushrooms from his fields.” “Used to?” “Several times.” Sam smiles. “The farmer caught me more than once.” “And?” “The last time he showed me to his dogs and he told them they could eat me if I came back.” Pippin laughs so hard he nearly falls over.
“I am serious,” says Frodo. “You still believe the dogs would eat you?” Pippen asks. “I have never forgotten how scared I was.” They walk toward the farm. Suddenly loud barking explodes from behind a farm wall. Frodo stops immediately. Three huge dogs run through the gate. Sam jumps back. The largest dog stops directly in front of Frodo. Its teeth are showing. It growls. An old, strong hobbit with a red face appears.
“You there? Who are you?” he calls. “Good afternoon, Mr. Maggot!” says Pippin. The farmer looks at them. Then he smiles. “Master Pippin!”
The dogs calm down. Farmer Maggot invites them inside his farmhouse. As they enter, Frodo looks at the dogs with a worried look on his face. They sit in the kitchen. Mrs. Maggot brings beer. Soon Farmer Maggot begins telling a story. A strange rider came earlier that day. A black rider. On a black horse. “He rode right up to my door,” says the farmer.
“What did he want?” asks Pippin. “He asked about Baggins.” Frodo freezes. Farmer Maggot continues. “I didn't like him.” The farmer leans forward. “He asked me, ‘Have you seen Baggins?’” “What did you say?” asks Pippin. “I told him there were no Bagginses here.”
“And then?” “He said, ‘Baggins is coming. He is near.’” The room is silent. “He offered me gold.” “For what?” “For information.” “What did you do?” Farmer Maggot smiles. “I told him to leave.” Pippin laughs. “You told a Black Rider to leave?” “I certainly did.”
“What happened then?” asks Pippen. “He rode away.” The farmer shrugs. “I didn't trust him.” Frodo studies him. For years he has feared Farmer Maggot. Now he realizes he has been wrong. The farmer is brave. Very brave.
When the story is finished, Farmer Maggot looks at Frodo. “You are in trouble.” Frodo says nothing. “You don't have to tell me why.” The farmer pauses. “But I think you’re worried about reaching the Ferry.” “I am,” says Frodo. “Then stay for dinner.” “We should leave,” Frodo says. “Stay anyway.” The farmer smiles. “After supper, I will drive you there myself.”
That evening they eat a delicious meal. There is beer, bacon, mushrooms, and many other good things. When supper is over, Farmer Maggot brings out a wagon. The night is cool and quiet. Fog begins to rise. They travel slowly toward the Ferry. Nobody speaks much. Everyone listens.
At last they reach the Ferry road. Suddenly they hear hoofbeats. Clip-clop. Clip-clop. The sound comes closer. Nobody moves. Sam steps beside the wagon. Farmer Maggot walks into the road. Frodo holds his breath. The rider is almost next to them. The fog is very thick. They cannot see anything. “Who goes there?” shouts Farmer Maggot.
The rider stops. “I am looking for Mr. Baggins.” Frodo feels cold. Then a lantern opens. Light shines through the fog. “Mr. Merry!” cries Farmer Maggot. “Merry!” shouts Frodo. The danger disappears at once. Everyone laughs with relief.
Farmer Maggot prepares to leave. Before he goes, he gives Frodo a basket. “My wife prepared this for you.” Frodo thanks him. The wagon moves away into the fog. The lantern lights grow smaller and smaller. Then they disappear. For a moment Frodo stands quietly. Then he laughs. A wonderful smell is coming from the basket. It is full of mushrooms.
