Властелин колец: Две башни
The Road to Isengard
Itwasblack;andsetuponitwasagreatstone,carvedandpaintedinthelikenessofalongWhiteHand.Itsfingerpointednorth.NotfarnowtheyknewthatthegatesofIsengardmuststand,andtheirheartswereheavy;buttheireyescouldnotpiercethemistsahead.
Beneaththemountain’sarmwithintheWizard’sValethroughyearsuncountedhadstoodthatancientplacethatMencalledIsengard.Partlyitwasshapedinthemakingofthemountains,butmightyworkstheMenofWesternessehadwroughtthereofold;andSarumanhaddwelttherelongandhadnotbeenidle.
Thiswasitsfashion,whileSarumanwasathisheight,accountedbymanythechiefofWizards.Agreatring-wallofstone,liketoweringcliffs,stoodoutfromtheshelterofthemountain-side,fromwhichitranandthenreturnedagain.Oneentranceonlywastheremadeinit,agreatarchdelvedinthesouthernwall.Herethroughtheblackrockalongtunnelhadbeenhewn,closedateitherendwithmightydoorsofiron.Theyweresowroughtandpoisedupontheirhugehinges,postsofsteeldrivenintothelivingstone,thatwhenunbarredtheycouldbemovedwithalightthrustofthearms,noiselessly.Onewhopassedinandcameatlengthoutoftheechoingtunnel,beheldaplain,agreatcircle,somewhathollowedlikeavastshallowbowl:amileitmeasuredfromrimtorim.Onceithadbeengreenandfilledwithavenues,andgrovesoffruitfultrees,wateredbystreamsthatflowedfromthemountainstoalake.ButnogreenthinggrewthereinthelatterdaysofSaruman.
