Shelob’s Lair

           Itmayindeedhavebeendaytimenow,asGollumsaid,butthehobbitscouldseelittledifference,unless,perhaps,theheavyskyabovewaslessutterlyblack,morelikeagreatroofofsmoke;whileinsteadofthedarknessofdeepnight,whichlingeredstillincracksandholes,agreyblurringshadowshroudedthestonyworldaboutthem.Theypassedon,Golluminfrontandthehobbitsnowsidebyside,upthelongravinebetweenthepiersandcolumnsoftornandweatheredrock,standinglikehugeunshapenstatuesoneitherhand.Therewasnosound.Somewayahead,amileorso,perhaps,wasagreatgreywall,alasthugeupthrustingmassofmountain-stone.Darkeritloomed,andsteadilyitroseastheyapproached,untilittowereduphighabovethem,shuttingouttheviewofallthatlaybeyond.Deepshadowlaybeforeitsfeet.Samsniffedtheair.

           `Ugh!Thatsmell!’hesaid.`It’sgettingstrongerandstronger.’

           Presentlytheywereundertheshadow,andthereinthemidstofittheysawtheopeningofacave.`Thisisthewayin,’saidGollumsoftly.`Thisistheentrancetothetunnel.’Hedidnotspeakitsname:TorechUngol,Shelob’sLair.Outofitcameastench,notthesicklyodourofdecayinthemeadsofMorgul,butafoulreek,asiffilthunnameablewerepiledandhoardedinthedarkwithin.

           `Isthistheonlyway,Sméagol?’saidFrodo.

           ’Yes,yes,’heanswered.’Yes,wemustgothiswaynow.’

           ’D’youmeantosayyou’vebeenthroughthishole?’saidSam.`Phew!Butperhapsyoudon’tmindbadsmells.’

           Gollum’seyesglinted.