Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
Pippincowereddownwithhishandspressedtohisears;butBeregond,whohadbeenlookingoutfromthebattlementashespokeofFaramir,remainedthere,stiffened,staringoutwithstartingeyes.Pippinknewtheshudderingcrythathehadheard:itwasthesamethathehadheardlongagointheMarishoftheShire,butnowitwasgrowninpowerandhatred,piercingtheheartwithapoisonousdespair.
AtlastBeregondspokewithaneffort.‘Theyhavecome!’hesaid.‘Takecourageandlook!Therearefellthingsbelow.’
ReluctantlyPippinclimbedontotheseatandlookedoutoverthewall.ThePelennorlaydimbeneathhim,fadingawaytothescarceguessedlineoftheGreatRiver.Butnowwheelingswiftlyacrossit,likeshadowsofuntimelynight,hesawinthemiddleairsbelowhimfivebirdlikeforms,horribleascarrion-fowlyetgreaterthaneagles,cruelasdeath.Nowtheyswoopednear,venturingalmostwithinbowshotofthewalls,nowtheycircledaway.
‘BlackRiders!’mutteredPippin.‘BlackRidersoftheair!Butsee,Beregond!’hecried.‘Theyarelookingforsomething,surely?Seehowtheywheelandswoop,alwaysdowntothatpointoverthere!Andcanyouseesomethingmovingontheground?Darklittlethings.Yes,menonhorses:fourorfive.Ah!Icannotstandit!Gandalf!Gandalfsaveus!’
Anotherlongscreechroseandfell,andhethrewhimselfbackagainfromthewall,pantinglikeahuntedanimal.Faintandseeminglyremotethroughthatshudderingcryheheardwindingupfrombelowthesoundofatrumpetendingonalonghighnote.
