Властелин колец: Две башни

           Nothinggrewtherebutafewgrassesandweedsatitsedge,andoneoldstumpofatreewithonlytwobentbranchesleft:itlookedalmostlikethefigureofsomegnarledoldman,standingthere,blinkinginthemorning-light.

           ’Upwego!’saidMerryjoyfully.’Nowforabreathofair,andasightoftheland!’

           Theyclimbedandscrambleduptherock.Ifthestairhadbeenmadeitwasforbiggerfeetandlongerlegsthantheirs.Theyweretooeagertobesurprisedattheremarkablewayinwhichthecutsandsoresoftheircaptivityhadhealedandtheirvigourhadreturned.Theycameatlengthtotheedgeoftheshelfalmostatthefeetoftheoldstump;thentheysprangupandturnedroundwiththeirbackstothehill,breathingdeep,andlookingouteastward.Theysawthattheyhadonlycomesomethreeorfourmilesintotheforest:theheadsofthetreesmarcheddowntheslopestowardstheplain.There,nearthefringeoftheforest,tallspiresofcurlingblacksmokewentup,waveringandfloatingtowardsthem.

           ’Thewind’schanging,’saidMerry.’It’sturnedeastagain.Itfeelscooluphere.’

           ’Yes,’saidPippin;’I’mafraidthisisonlyapassinggleam,anditwillallgogreyagain.Whatapity!Thisshaggyoldforestlookedsodifferentinthesunlight.IalmostfeltIlikedtheplace.’

           ’AlmostfeltyoulikedtheForest!That’sgood!That’suncommonlykindofyou,’saidastrangevoice.’Turnroundandletmehavealookatyourfaces.IalmostfeelthatIdislikeyouboth,butdonotletusbehasty.