Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
Therewasacrack,andthestaffsplitasunderinSaruman’shand,andtheheadofitfelldownatGandalf’sfeet.’Go!’saidGandalf.WithacrySarumanfellbackandcrawledaway.Atthatmomentaheavyshiningthingcamehurtlingdownfromabove.Itglancedofftheironrail,evenasSarumanleftit,andpassingclosetoGandalf’shead,itsmotethestaironwhichhestood.Therailrangandsnapped.Thestaircrackedandsplinteredinglitteringsparks.Buttheballwasunharmed:itrolledondownthesteps,aglobeofcrystal,dark,butglowingwithaheartoffire.AsitboundedawaytowardsapoolPippinranafteritandpickeditup.
’Themurderousrogue!’criedÉomer.ButGandalfwasunmoved.No,thatwasnotthrownbSaruman,hesaid;norevenathisbidding,Ithink.Itcamefromawindowfarabove.ApartingshotfromMasterWormtongue,Ifancy,butillaimed.’
’Theaimwaspoor,maybe,becausehecouldnotmakeuphismindwhichhehatedmore,youorSaruman,’saidAragorn.
’Thatmaybeso,’saidGandalf.’Smallcomfortwillthosetwohaveintheircompanionship:theywillgnawoneanotherwithwords.Butthepunishmentisjust.IfWormtongueevercomesoutofOrthancalive,itwillbemorethanhedeserves.
’Here,mylad,I’lltakethat!Ididnotaskyoutohandleit,’hecried,turningsharplyandseeingPippincomingupthesteps,slowly,asifhewerebearingagreatweight.Hewentdowntomeethimandhastilytookthedarkglobefromthehobbit,wrappingitinthefoldsofhiscloak.
