Властелин колец: Две башни
The Passage of the Marshes
Beforetheshadowsofeveningwerelonginhappierlands,theywentonagain,alwaysonandonwithonlybriefhalts.ThesetheymadenotsomuchforrestastohelpGollum;fornowevenhehadtogoforwardwithgreatcare,andhewassometimesatalossforawhile.TheyhadcometotheverymidstoftheDeadMarshes,anditwasdark.
Theywalkedslowly,stooping,keepingcloseinline,followingattentivelyeverymovethatGollummade.Thefensgrewmorewet,openingintowidestagnantmeres,amongwhichitgrewmoreandmoredifficulttofindthefirmerplaceswherefeetcouldtreadwithoutsinkingintogurglingmud.Thetravellerswerelight,ormaybenoneofthemwouldeverhavefoundawaythrough.
Presentlyitgrewaltogetherdark:theairitselfseemedblackandheavytobreathe.WhenlightsappearedSamrubbedhiseyes:hethoughthisheadwasgoingqueer.Hefirstsawonewiththecornerofhislefteye,awispofpalesheenthatfadedaway;butothersappearedsoonafter:somelikedimlyshiningsmoke,somelikemistyflamesflickeringslowlyaboveunseencandles;hereandtheretheytwistedlikeghostlysheetsunfurledbyhiddenhands.Butneitherofhiscompanionsspokeaword.
AtlastSamcouldbearitnolonger.`What’sallthis,Gollum?’hesaidinawhisper.`Theselights?They’reallroundusnow.Arewetrapped?Whoarethey?’
Gollumlookedup.Adarkwaterwasbeforehim,andhewascrawlingontheground,thiswayandthat,doubtfuloftheway.’Yes,theyareallroundus,’hewhispered.’Thetricksylights.
