Властелин колец: Две башни
The Road to Isengard
Darklaythevalebeforethem,forthemoonhadpassedintotheWest,anditslightwashiddenbythehills.Butoutofthedeepshadowofthedaleroseavastspireofsmokeandvapour;asitmounted,itcaughttheraysofthesinkingmoon,andspreadinshimmeringbillows,blackandsilver,overthestarrysky.
’Whatdoyouthinkofthat,Gandalf?’askedAragorn.’OnewouldsaythatalltheWizard’sValewasburning.’
’Thereiseverafumeabovethatvalleyinthesedays,’saidÉomer:’butIhaveneverseenaughtlikethisbefore.Thesearesteamsratherthansmokes.Sarumanisbrewingsomedevilrytogreetus.MaybeheisboilingallthewatersofIsen,andthatiswhytheriverrunsdry.’
’Maybeheis,’saidGandalf.’Tomorrowweshalllearnwhatheisdoing.Nowletusrestforawhile,ifwecan.’
TheycampedbesidethebedoftheIsenriver;itwasstillsilentandempty.Someofthemsleptalittle.Butlateinthenightthewatchmencriedout,andallawoke.Themoonwasgone.Starswereshiningabove;butoverthegroundtherecreptadarknessblackerthanthenight.Onbothsidesoftheriveritrolledtowardsthem,goingnorthward.
’Staywhereyouare!’saidGandalf.’Drawnoweapons!Wait!anditwillpassyouby!’
Amistgatheredaboutthem.Abovethemafewstarsstillglimmeredfaintly;butoneithersidetherearosewallsofimpenetrablegloom;theywereinanarrowlanebetweenmovingtowersofshadow.Voicestheyheard,whisperingsandgroaningsandanendlessrustlingsigh;theearthshookunderthem.
