Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
Sunlightwasstillshininginthesky,butlongshadowsreachedoverIsengard:greyruinsfallingintodarkness.Treebeardstoodalonetherenow,likethedistantstumpofanoldtree:thehobbitsthoughtoftheirfirstmeeting,uponthesunnyledgefarawayonthebordersofFangorn.
TheycametothepillaroftheWhiteHand.Thepillarwasstillstanding,butthegravenhandhadbeenthrowndownandbrokenintosmallpieces.Rightinthemiddleoftheroadthelongforefingerlay,whiteinthedusk,itsrednaildarkeningtoblack.
’TheEntspayattentiontoeverydetail!’saidGandalf.
Theyrodeon,andeveningdeepenedinthevalley.
’Areweridingfartonight,Gandalf?’askedMerryafterawhile.’Idon’tknowhowyoufeelwithsmallrag-tagdanglingbehindyou;buttherag-tagistiredandwillbegladtostopdanglingandliedown.’
’Soyouheardthat?’saidGandalf.’Don’tletitrankle!Bethankfulnolongerwordswereaimedatyou.Hehadhiseyesonyou.Ifitisanycomforttoyourpride,Ishouldsaythat,atthemoment,youandPippinaremoreinhisthoughtsthanalltherestofus.Whoyouare;howyoucamethere,andwhy;whatyouknow;whetheryouwerecaptured,andifso,howyouescapedwhenalltheOrcsperished-itiswiththoselittleriddlesthatthegreatmindofSarumanistroubled.Asneerfromhim,Meriadoc,isacompliment,ifyoufeelhonouredbyhisconcern.’
’Thankyou!’saidMerry.’Butitisagreaterhonourtodangleatyourtail,Gandalf.
