The Hobbit Page #4

I've begun to trust my luck

more than in the old days.

Now, you're in for it at last, Bilbo Baggins.

Why are you here? You've no use

for dragon treasures.

Feel the worm's heat, Mr. Baggins?

A few more steps and you shall see...

... the old dragon Smaug at last.

You can still turn back, you know.

But to go on, to take those steps...

... that would be the bravest

of all moments.

Whatever happens afterwards is nothing.

Yes, here is where...

... you fight your real battle,

Mr. Bilbo Baggins.

Do you go back?

Well, thief...

... I smell you, feel your air.

I hear your breath.

Come on!

Help yourself. There is plenty and to spare.

Oh, thank you, oh, Smaug the Magnificent.

I did not come for presents.

I only wish to have a look at you...

... and see if you are truly

as great as tales say.

I did not believe them.

Do you, now?

They fall utterly short of the reality...

... oh Smaug, the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities!

You have nice manners for a thief...

... and a liar.

You know me...

... but I don't remember smelling you before.

Who are you and where do you come from?

I come from under the hill.

And under the hill and over the hills my paths led.

And through the air.

I am he that walks unseen.

You make riddles?

What is your name?

I am the lucky number,

the web-cutter, the spider sting...

Lovely titles.

I am he that drowns his friends

and draws them alive again from the water.

I am the guest of eagles,

the Ringwinner, and the Luckwearer.

... the clue-finder and the Barrel-rider.

Barrel-rider, eh?

Then I have guessed your riddle!

You are one of those miserable...

... tub-trading lakemen!

You and your town shall pay

dearly for this intrusion!

So the lakemen would steal my treasure?

Wait! You don't know everything.

Not gold alone brought me hither.

Be done with your riddles!

What else got you, Lakeman?

Revenge!

Revenge?

Surely you must realized

that your success...

... has made you some bitter enemies.

Revenge? You? Ha!

I am Smaug!

I kill what I wish!

I am strong...

... strong...

... strong!

My armor is like tenfold shields...

... my teeth are like swords...

... my claws, spears...

... the shock of my tail...

... a thunderbolt!

My wings...

... a hurricane!

And my breath...

... death!

Well?

Well?

Where are your riddles now?

Very, very impressive.

However...

... I have always understood

that dragons...

... were soft underneath. Vulnerable.

Especially, in the region of the chest.

You have heard wrong!

I am armoured above and below

Well, I don't know about that.

"You don't know about that."

I shall show you!

Look!

What do you say to this?

Rare and wonderful, eh?

Dazzling!

Marvellous!

Perfect!

Flawless!

Staggering! Mag...

Old fool!

There is a patch in the hollow

of your left breast...

... as bare as a snail out of its shell.

What's that?

More riddles?

No, my riddling is done.

I really must not detain

Your Magnificence any longer.

Sorry you could not find me.

But a fine burglar takes expert catching.

Burgler?

Burgler!

Thief! Fire! Murder!

- We should have gone with him.

- To be roasted alive?

It's the burglar!

Three cheers for good old Bilbo!

Thank you! But I'd appreciate

a more pragmatic salute.

In other words...

... extinguish me!

There we go! There we go!

Always glad to help a friend.

I can' tell you how grateful I am.

Oh, never mind that. What did you burgle?

This.

What's that?

Earthquake?

Into the secret passage! Our only chance!

Barrel-rider!

Thief Lakemen!

Your people shall see my vengeance!

The lake people are doomed, unless...

Yes, you! You are a mere trush,

and yet, so much more.

You have seen Smaug.

You know his vulnerable spot!

Go now! To Lake-town!

There's a guardsman, Bard. Tell him!

This breeze is strangely warm for autumn.

Bard! What's that?

The dragon is coming, or I'm a fool!

Cut the bridges! To arms! To arms!

The dragon! Old Smaug!

Awake after all these years!

The dragon is coming!

Ready? As he passes over...

Arrows!

--- Rearm!

Away, you fool bird! Away!

You speak?

Bilbo Baggins?

He found what?

Yes! I'll look!

You speak the truth, old thrush!

Black arrow, you've never failed me.

And I've always recovered you.

I had you from my father and he from of old.

If ever you came from the forges of

the true King under the Mountain...

... go now and speed well!

Now I am king!

Stop!

There is only one King under

the Mountain, and I am he...

... Thorin!

Hail Thorin!

Hip hip hurrah! Hip hip hurrah!

Now, now...

... much have be done.

We must cataloge our wealth.

Dear me! And pack it for shipment.

Join the fun, burgler! Part of this is yours!

Might be mine! What if Smaug returns?

Oh, he've gone for a week now!

Found greener pastures, no doubt.

Has this wealth made you mad?

We must find our way

out of this mountain...

... and see for ourselves

if he's gone, and quickly!

According to this map, the main gate

lies in this direction.

Follow me, gentlemen!

Bless my soul!

What are they?

Is the entire valley flowed?

Populated by giant fireflies?

Not fireflies! Fires! Campfires!

Nonsense! Not an army would need

that many fires.

No, my friend. Two armies!

Bard of Lake-town? What did you say?

Two armies!

Smaug is dead. I have slein him.

The thrush delivered your message.

Really? Splendid news, our fellow!I hoped he would!

My people have made me king.

King? Really? Congratulations!

Couldn't happen to a nicer chap. Really!

I don't know how to thank you.

Our town is destroyed and must be rebuilt.

You can thank us by sharing your fortune.

Why of course, of course.

There's plenty for all.

Wait! The fortune is ours!

And belongs to dwarves alone!

It wouldn't be yours if Smaug do lived.

A technicality.

- So you brought two armies to take it?

- I brought one army.

The other is mine!

You, who threw us into the dungeon?

My people have suffered greatly

from the worm through the years.

We demand retribution.

Never!

But why not? There's enough

for all in this mountain.

It's a matter of principle, of honour!

Then, tomorrow we take it!

We will meet at sunrise on the field of battle.

You realize you're hopelessly outnumbered.

This is ridiculous!

Quiet! What does a burgler

know of these matters?

Then tomorrow, it is!

This is deucedly uncomfortable.

I'm certain to get a rash.

That armor was forged

in the foundries of my grandfather.

Wear it proudly and it will

carry you to victory!

--- and be bothered victory!

My only hope is to be taken prisoner

as quickly as possible.

Those are the words of a covard.

The covard who flushed out Smaug?

The covard who saved you

time and time again?

The covard who always went forward

while you cringed behind?

You don't see us cringing now, do you?

This is madness!

Fourteen against ten thousand...

... and yet to march off

to certain destruction...

... as if you were on your way

for another tea-party.

Your kind will never understand war, hobbit.

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