Властелин колец: Две башни
Journey to the Cross-roads
Frodoshudderedashelookedagainatthedistantpinnaclesnowdwindlingintonight,andthesoundofthewaterseemedcoldandcruel:thevoiceofMorgulduin,thepollutedstreamthatflowedfromtheValleyoftheWraiths.
’Whatshallwedo?’hesaid.’Wehavewalkedlongandfar.Shallwelookforsomeplaceinthewoodsbehindwherewecanliehidden?’
’Nogoodhidinginthedark,’saidGollum.’It’sindaythathobbitsmusthidenow,yesinday.’
`Ohcome!’saidSam.’Wemustrestforabit,evenifwegetupagaininthemiddleofthenight.There’llstillbehoursofdarkthentimeenoughforyoutotakeusalongmarch,ifyouknowtheway.’
Gollumreluctantlyagreedtothis,andheturnedbacktowardsthetrees,workingeastwardforawhilealongthestragglingedgesofthewood.Hewouldnotrestonthegroundsoneartheevilroad,andaftersomedebatetheyallclimbedupintothecrotchofalargeholm-oak,whosethickbranchesspringingtogetherfromthetrunkmadeagoodhiding-placeandafairlycomfortablerefuge.Nightfellanditgrewaltogetherdarkunderthecanopyofthetree.FrodoandSamdrankalittlewaterandatesomebreadanddriedfruit,butGollumatoncecurledupandwenttosleep.Thehobbitsdidnotshuttheireyes.
ItmusthavebeenalittleaftermidnightwhenGollumwokeup:suddenlytheywereawareofhispaleeyesunliddedgleamingatthem.Helistenedandsniffed,whichseemed,astheyhadnoticedbefore,hisusualmethodofdiscoveringthetimeofnight.
