jrt.fellowshipofring-µÚ32½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡'That£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry£»¡¡pointing¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡'that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Withywindle¡£¡¡It¡¡es¡¡down¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Downs¡¡and¡¡flows¡¡south¡west¡¡through¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡¡below¡¡Haysend¡£¡¡We¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡that¡¡way£¡¡¡The¡¡Withywindle¡¡valley¡¡is¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡queerest¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡wood¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡from¡¡which¡¡all¡¡the¡¡queerness¡¡es£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡that¡¡Merry¡¡pointed¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡little¡¡but¡¡mists¡¡over¡¡the¡¡damp¡¡and¡¡deep¡cut¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡beyond¡¡it¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡faded¡¡from¡¡view¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hill¡top¡¡was¡¡now¡¡getting¡¡hot¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡about¡¡eleven¡¡o'clock£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡autumn¡¡haze¡¡still¡¡prevented¡¡them¡¡from¡¡seeing¡¡much¡¡in¡¡other¡¡directions¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡west¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡out¡¡either¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hedge¡¡or¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡¡beyond¡¡it¡£¡¡Northward£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡most¡¡hopefully£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡nothing¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡East¡¡Road£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡making¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡on¡¡an¡¡island¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡was¡¡veiled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡south¡eastern¡¡side¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡fell¡¡very¡¡steeply£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡were¡¡continued¡¡far¡¡down¡¡under¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡like¡¡island¡shores¡¡that¡¡really¡¡are¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡rising¡¡out¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡waters¡£¡¡They¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡green¡¡edge¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡below¡¡them£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡ate¡¡their¡¡mid¡day¡¡meal¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡noon¡¡they¡¡glimpsed¡¡far¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡east¡¡the¡¡grey¡green¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Downs¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Forest¡¡on¡¡that¡¡side¡£¡¡That¡¡cheered¡¡them¡¡greatly£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡wood's¡¡borders£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡go¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡could¡¡help¡¡it£º¡¡the¡¡Barrow¡downs¡¡had¡¡as¡¡sinister¡¡a¡¡reputation¡¡in¡¡hobbit¡legend¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡itself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡they¡¡made¡¡up¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡path¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡reappeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡northward¡¡side£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡followed¡¡it¡¡far¡¡before¡¡they¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡bending¡¡steadily¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡£¡¡Soon¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡rapidly¡¡and¡¡they¡¡guessed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡must¡¡actually¡¡be¡¡heading¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Withywindle¡¡valley£º¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡they¡¡wished¡¡lo¡¡take¡£¡¡After¡¡some¡¡discussion¡¡they¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡misleading¡¡path¡¡and¡¡strike¡¡northward£»¡¡for¡¡although¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hill¡top£»¡¡the¡¡Road¡¡must¡¡lie¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡off¡£¡¡Also¡¡northward£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡path£»¡¡the¡¡land¡¡seemed¡¡lo¡¡be¡¡drier¡¡and¡¡more¡¡open£»¡¡climbing¡¡up¡¡to¡¡slopes¡¡where¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡were¡¡thinner£»¡¡and¡¡pines¡¡and¡¡firs¡¡replaced¡¡the¡¡oaks¡¡and¡¡ashes¡¡and¡¡other¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡nameless¡¡trees¡¡of¡¡the¡¡denser¡¡wood¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡their¡¡choice¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡good£º¡¡they¡¡got¡¡along¡¡at¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡speed£»¡¡though¡¡whenever¡¡they¡¡got¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡in¡¡an¡¡open¡¡glade¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡unaccountably¡¡to¡¡have¡¡veered¡¡eastwards¡£¡¡But¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡began¡¡to¡¡close¡¡in¡¡again£»¡¡just¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thinner¡¡and¡¡less¡¡tangled¡£¡¡Then¡¡deep¡¡folds¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡were¡¡discovered¡¡unexpectedly£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡ruts¡¡of¡¡great¡¡giant¡wheels¡¡or¡¡wide¡¡moats¡¡and¡¡sunken¡¡roads¡¡long¡¡disused¡¡and¡¡choked¡¡with¡¡brambles¡£¡¡These¡¡lay¡¡usually¡¡right¡¡across¡¡their¡¡line¡¡of¡¡march£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡by¡¡scrambling¡¡down¡¡and¡¡out¡¡again£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡troublesome¡¡and¡¡difficult¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ponies¡£¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡they¡¡climbed¡¡down¡¡they¡¡found¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡thick¡¡bushes¡¡and¡¡matted¡¡undergrowth£»¡¡which¡¡somehow¡¡would¡¡not¡¡yield¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡gave¡¡way¡¡when¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡go¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡along¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡up¡¡the¡¡further¡¡bank¡£¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡they¡¡clambered¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡seemed¡¡deeper¡¡and¡¡darker£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡and¡¡upwards¡¡it¡¡was¡¡most¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡and¡¡downwards¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡two¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡clear¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡direction£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡long¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡go¡¡northward¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡being¡¡headed¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡simply¡¡following¡¡a¡¡course¡¡chosen¡¡for¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡eastwards¡¡and¡¡southwards£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡and¡¡not¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡afternoon¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡away¡¡when¡¡they¡¡scrambled¡¡and¡¡stumbled¡¡into¡¡a¡¡fold¡¡that¡¡was¡¡wider¡¡and¡¡deeper¡¡than¡¡any¡¡they¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡met¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡so¡¡sleep¡¡and¡¡overhung¡¡that¡¡it¡¡proved¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again£»¡¡either¡¡forwards¡¡or¡¡backwards£»¡¡without¡¡leaving¡¡their¡¡ponies¡¡and¡¡their¡¡baggage¡¡behind¡£¡¡All¡¡they¡¡could¡¡do¡¡was¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡fold¡¡¡¡¡downwards¡£¡¡The¡¡ground¡¡grew¡¡soft£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡places¡¡boggy£»¡¡springs¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡banks£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡following¡¡a¡¡brook¡¡that¡¡trickled¡¡and¡¡babbled¡¡through¡¡a¡¡weedy¡¡bed¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡rapidly£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡brook¡¡growing¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡noisy£»¡¡flowed¡¡and¡¡leaped¡¡swiftly¡¡downhill¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡dim¡lit¡¡gully¡¡over¡arched¡¡by¡¡trees¡¡high¡¡above¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡stumbling¡¡along¡¡for¡¡some¡¡way¡¡along¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡they¡¡came¡¡quite¡¡suddenly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gloom¡£¡¡As¡¡if¡¡through¡¡a¡¡gate¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡they¡¡found¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡made¡¡their¡¡way¡¡down¡¡through¡¡a¡¡cleft¡¡in¡¡a¡¡high¡¡sleep¡¡bank£»¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡cliff¡£¡¡At¡¡its¡¡feet¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡space¡¡of¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡reeds£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡could¡¡be¡¡glimpsed¡¡another¡¡bank¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡steep¡£¡¡A¡¡golden¡¡afternoon¡¡of¡¡late¡¡sunshine¡¡lay¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡drowsy¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡hidden¡¡land¡¡between¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡it¡¡there¡¡wound¡¡lazily¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡river¡¡of¡¡brown¡¡water£»¡¡bordered¡¡with¡¡ancient¡¡willows£»¡¡arched¡¡over¡¡with¡¡willows£»¡¡blocked¡¡with¡¡fallen¡¡willows£»¡¡and¡¡flecked¡¡with¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡faded¡¡willow¡leaves¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡fluttering¡¡yellow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡branches£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡gentle¡¡breeze¡¡blowing¡¡softly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reeds¡¡were¡¡rustling£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡willow¡boughs¡¡were¡¡creaking¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡'Well£»¡¡now¡¡I¡¡have¡¡at¡¡least¡¡some¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are£¡'¡¡said¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'We¡¡have¡¡e¡¡almost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡¡to¡¡which¡¡we¡¡intended¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡River¡¡Withywindle£¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡on¡¡and¡¡explore¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡long¡¡grasses¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡while¡¡he¡¡reappeared£»¡¡and¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡fairly¡¡solid¡¡ground¡¡between¡¡the¡¡cliff¡foot¡¡and¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡in¡¡some¡¡places¡¡firm¡¡turf¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡water's¡¡edge¡£¡¡'What's¡¡more£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'there¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡something¡¡like¡¡a¡¡footpath¡¡winding¡¡along¡¡on¡¡this¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡turn¡¡left¡¡and¡¡follow¡¡it£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡e¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡eventually¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡dare¡¡say£¡'¡¡said¡¡Pippin¡£¡¡'That¡¡is£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡track¡¡goes¡¡on¡¡so¡¡far£»¡¡and¡¡does¡¡not¡¡simply¡¡lead¡¡us¡¡into¡¡a¡¡bog¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡us¡¡there¡£¡¡Who¡¡made¡¡the¡¡track£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡suppose£»¡¡and¡¡why£¿¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡for¡¡our¡¡benefit¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡getting¡¡very¡¡suspicious¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Forest¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡all¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡have¡¡you¡¡any¡¡idea¡¡how¡¡far¡¡eastward¡¡we¡¡should¡¡have¡¡to¡¡go£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡'No£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry£»¡¡'I¡¡haven't¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡how¡¡far¡¡down¡¡the¡¡Withywindle¡¡we¡¡are£»¡¡or¡¡who¡¡could¡¡possibly¡¡e¡¡here¡¡often¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡path¡¡along¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡other¡¡way¡¡out¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡or¡¡think¡¡of¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡being¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡they¡¡filed¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡Merry¡¡led¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡path¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡discovered¡£¡¡Everywhere¡¡the¡¡reeds¡¡and¡¡grasses¡¡were¡¡lush¡¡and¡¡tall£»¡¡in¡¡places¡¡far¡¡above¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡but¡¡once¡¡found£»¡¡the¡¡path¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡follow£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡twisted£»¡¡picking¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sounder¡¡ground¡¡among¡¡the¡¡bogs¡¡and¡¡pools¡£¡¡Here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡it¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡other¡¡rills£»¡¡running¡¡down¡¡gullies¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Withywindle¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡forest¡lands£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡these¡¡points¡¡there¡¡were¡¡tree¡trunks¡¡or¡¡bundles¡¡of¡¡brushwood¡¡laid¡¡carefully¡¡across¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡hobbits¡¡began¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡very¡¡hot¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡armies¡¡of¡¡flies¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡buzzing¡¡round¡¡their¡¡ears£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡burning¡¡on¡¡their¡¡backs¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡they¡¡came¡¡suddenly¡¡into¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡shade£»¡¡great¡¡grey¡¡branches¡¡reached¡¡across¡¡the¡¡path¡£¡¡Each¡¡step¡¡forward¡¡became¡¡more¡¡reluctant¡¡than¡¡the¡¡last¡£¡¡Sleepiness¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡creeping¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡up¡¡their¡¡legs£»¡¡and¡¡falling¡¡softly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡and¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Frodo¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡go¡¡down¡¡and¡¡his¡¡head¡¡nod¡£¡¡Just¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡¡Pippin¡¡fell¡¡forward¡¡on¡¡to¡¡his¡¡knees¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡halted¡£¡¡'It's¡¡no¡¡good£»'¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡Merry¡¡saying¡£¡¡'Can't¡¡go¡¡another¡¡step¡¡without¡¡rest¡£¡¡Must¡¡have¡¡nap¡£¡¡It's¡¡cool¡¡under¡¡the¡¡willows¡£¡¡Less¡¡flies£¡'
¡¡¡¡¡¡Frodo¡¡did¡¡not¡¡like¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡'e¡¡on£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡'We¡¡can't¡¡have¡¡a¡¡nap¡¡yet¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡get¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡first¡£'¡¡But¡¡the¡¡others¡¡were¡¡too¡¡far¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡care¡£¡¡Beside¡¡them¡¡Sam¡¡stood¡¡yawning¡¡and¡¡blinking¡¡stupidly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡Frodo¡¡himself¡¡felt¡¡sleep¡¡overwhelming¡¡him¡£¡¡His¡¡head¡¡swam¡£¡¡There¡¡now¡¡seemed¡¡hardly¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡The¡¡flies¡¡had¡¡stopped¡¡buzzing¡£¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡noise¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡hearing£»¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡fluttering¡¡as¡¡of¡¡a¡¡song¡¡half¡¡whispered£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡stir¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boughs¡¡above¡£¡¡He¡¡lifted¡¡his¡¡heavy¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡leaning¡¡over¡¡him¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡willow¡tree£»¡¡old¡¡and¡¡hoary¡£¡¡Enormous¡¡it¡¡looked£»¡¡its¡¡sprawling¡¡branches¡¡going¡¡up¡¡like¡¡reaching¡¡arms¡¡with¡¡many¡¡long¡fingered¡¡hands£»¡¡its¡¡knotted¡¡and¡¡twisted¡¡trunk¡¡gaping¡¡in¡¡wide¡¡fissures¡¡that¡¡creaked¡¡faintly¡¡as¡¡the¡¡boughs¡¡moved¡£¡¡The¡¡leaves¡¡fluttering¡¡against¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡sky¡¡dazzled¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡toppled¡¡over£»¡¡lying¡¡where¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Merry¡¡and¡¡Pippin¡¡dragged¡¡themselves¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡with¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡willow¡trunk¡£¡¡Behind¡¡them¡¡the¡¡great¡¡cracks¡¡gaped¡¡wide¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡them¡¡as¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡swayed¡¡and¡¡creaked¡£¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡and¡¡yellow¡¡leaves£»¡¡moving¡¡softly¡¡against¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡and¡¡singing¡£¡¡They¡¡shut¡¡their¡¡e