Властелин колец: Две башни
Journey to the Cross-roads
Astheydrewnearertheybecameawarethatthesewereofvastsize,veryancientitseemed,andstilltoweringhigh,thoughtheirtopsweregauntandbroken,asiftempestandlightning-blasthadsweptacrossthem,buthadfailedtokillthemortoshaketheirfathomlessroots.
’TheCross-roads,yes,’whisperedGollum,thefirstwordsthathadbeenspokensincetheylefttheirhiding-place.’Wemustgothatway.’Turningeastwardnow,heledthemuptheslope;andthensuddenlythereitwasbeforethem:theSouthwardRoad,windingitswayabouttheouterfeetofthemountains,untilpresentlyitplungedintothegreatringoftrees.
’Thisistheonlyway,’whisperedGollum.’Nopathsbeyondtheroad.Nopaths.WemustgototheCross-roads.Butmakehaste!Besilent!’
Asfurtivelyasscoutswithinthecampmentoftheirenemies,theycreptdownontotheroad,andstolealongitswestwardedgeunderthestonybank,greyasthestonesthemselves,andsoft-footedashuntingcats.Atlengththeyreachedthetrees,andfoundthattheystoodinagreatrooflessring,openinthemiddletothesombresky;andthespacesbetweentheirimmenseboleswerelikethegreatdarkarchesofsomeruinedhall.Intheverycentrefourwaysmet.BehindthemlaytheroadtotheMorannon;beforethemitranoutagainuponitslongjourneysouth;totheirrighttheroadfromoldOsgiliathcameclimbingup,andcrossing,passedouteastwardintodarkness:thefourthway,theroadtheyweretotake.
