Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
SeveraloftheRiderscriedoutgladly.Théodenhelduphishand.’Yes,wewillhavepeace,’hesaid,nowinaclearvoice,’wewillhavepeace,whenyouandallyourworkshaveperished-andtheworksofyourdarkmastertowhomyouwoulddeliverus.Youarealiar.Saruman,andacorrupterofmen’shearts.Youholdoutyourhandtome,andIperceiveonlyafingeroftheclawofMordor.Cruelandcold!Evenifyourwaronmewasjustasitwasnot,forwereyoutentimesaswiseyouwouldhavenorighttorulemeandmineforyourownprofitasyoudesired-evenso,whatwillyousayofyourtorchesinWestfoldandthechildrenthatliedeadthere?AndtheyhewedHáma’sbodybeforethegatesoftheHornburg,afterhewasdead.Whenyouhangfromagibbetatyourwindowforthesportofyourowncrows,IwillhavepeacewithyouandOrthanc.SomuchfortheHouseofEorl.AlessersonofgreatsiresamI,butIdonotneedtolickyourfingers.Turnelsewhither.ButIfearyourvoicehaslostitscharm.’
TheRidersgazedupatThéodenlikemenstartledoutofadream.Harshasanoldraven’stheirmaster’svoicesoundedintheirearsafterthemusicofSaruman.ButSarumanforawhilewasbesidehimselfwithwrath.HeleanedovertherailasifhewouldsmitetheKingwithhisstaff.Tosomesuddenlyitseemedthattheysawasnakecoilingitselftostrike.
’Gibbetsandcrows!’hehissed,andtheyshudderedatthehideouschange.
