Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
MerryandPippinsatonthebottomstep,feelingbothunimportantandunsafe.
’Halfastickymilefromheretothegate!’mutteredPippin.’IwishIcouldslipoffbacktotheguardroomunnoticed!Whatdidwecomefor?Wearenotwanted.’
GandalfstoodbeforethedoorofOrthancandbeatonitwithhisstaff.Itrangwithahollowsound.’Saruman,Saruman!’hecriedinaloudcommandingvoice.’Sarumancomeforth!’
Forsometimetherewasnoanswer.Atlastthewindowabovethedoorwasunbarred,hutnofigurecouldbeseenatitsdarkopening.
’Whoisit?’saidavoice.’Whatdoyouwish?’
Théodenstarted.’Iknowthatvoice,’hesaid,’andIcursethedaywhenIfirstlistenedtoit.’
’GoandfetchSaruman,sinceyouhavebecomehisfootman,GrímaWormtongue!’saidGandalf.’Anddonotwasteourtime!’
Thewindowclosed.Theywaited.Suddenlyanothervoicespoke,lowandmelodious,itsverysoundanenchantment.Thosewholistenedunwarilytothatvoicecouldseldomreportthewordsthattheyheard;andiftheydid,theywondered,forlittlepowerremainedinthem.Mostlytheyrememberedonlythatitwasadelighttohearthevoicespeaking,allthatitsaidseemedwiseandreasonable,anddesireawokeinthembyswiftagreementtoseemwisethemselves.Whenothersspoketheyseemedharshanduncouthbycontrast;andiftheygainsaidthevoice,angerwaskindledintheheartsofthoseunderthespell.
