Властелин колец: Две башни
The Passage of the Marshes
Hetookhismaster’shandandbentoverit.Hedidnotkissit,thoughhistearsfellonit.Thenheturnedaway,drewhissleeveoverhisnose,andgotup,andstampedabout,tryingtowhistle,andsayingbetweentheefforts:’Where’sthatdrattedcreature?’
ItwasactuallynotlongbeforeGollumreturned;buthecamesoquietlythattheydidnothearhimtillhestoodbeforethem.Hisfingersandfaceweresoiledwithblackmud.Hewasstillchewingandslavering.Whathewaschewing,theydidnotaskorliketothink.
’Wormsorbeetlesorsomethingslimyoutofholes,’thoughtSam.’Brr!Thenastycreature;thepoorwretch!’
Gollumsaidnothingtothem,untilhehaddrunkdeeplyandwashedhimselfinthestream.Thenhecameuptothem,lickinghislips.’Betternow,’hesaid.`Arewerested?Readytogoon?Nicehobbits,theysleepbeautifully.TrustSméagolnow?Very,verygood.’
Thenextstageoftheirjourneywasmuchthesameasthelast.Astheywentonthegullybecameevershallowerandtheslopeofitsfloormoregradual.Itsbottomwaslessstonyandmoreearthy,andslowlyitssidesdwindledtomerebanks.Itbegantowindandwander.Thatnightdrewtoitsend,butcloudswerenowovermoonandstar,andtheyknewofthecomingofdayonlybytheslowspreadingofthethingreylight.
Inachillhourtheycametotheendofthewater-course.Thebanksbecamemoss-grownmounds.Overthelastshelfofrottingstonethestreamgurgledandfelldownintoabrownbogandwaslost.
