Властелин колец: Две башни
The Road to Isengard
Butitseemsthatmorecouldbesaid.’
’Itcouldindeed,lord,’saidMerry.
’Foronething,’saidThéoden,’Ihadnotheardthattheyspoutedsmokefromtheirmouths.’
’Thatisnotsurprising,’answeredMerry;’foritisanartwhichwehavenotpractisedformorethanafewgenerations.ItwasToboldHornblower,ofLongbottomintheSouthfarthing,whofirstgrewthetruepipe-weedinhisgardens,abouttheyear1070accordingtoourreckoning.HowoldTobycamebytheplant...’
’Youdonotknowyourdanger,Théoden,’interruptedGandalf.’Thesehobbitswillsitontheedgeofruinanddiscussthepleasuresofthetable,orthesmalldoingsoftheirfathers,grandfathers,andgreat-grandfathers,andremotercousinstotheninthdegree,ifyouencouragethemwithunduepatience.Someothertimewouldbemorefittingforthehistoryofsmoking.WhereisTreebeard,Merry?’
’Awayonthenorthside,Ibelieve.Hewenttogetadrink-ofcleanwater.MostoftheotherEntsarewithhim,stillbusyattheirwork-overthere.’Merrywavedhishandtowardsthesteaminglake;andastheylooked,theyheardadistantrumblingandrattling,asifanavalanchewasfallingfromthemountain-side.Farawaycameahoom-hom,asofhornsblowingtriumphantly.
’AndisOrthancthenleftunguarded?’askedGandalf.
’Thereisthewater,’saidMerry.’ButQuickbeamandsomeothersarewatchingit.NotallthosepostsandpillarsintheplainareofSaruman’splanting.Quickbeam,Ithink,isbytherock,nearthefootofthestair.’
