Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
Busyasantshurryingorcsweredigging,digginglinesofdeeptrenchesinahugering,justoutofbowshotfromthewalls;andasthetrenchesweremadeeachwasfilledwithfire,thoughhowitwaskindledorfed,byartordevilry,nonecouldsee.Alldaythelabourwentforward,whilethemenofMinasTirithlookedon,unabletohinderit.Andaseachlengthoftrenchwascompleted,theycouldseegreatwainsapproaching;andsoonyetmorecompaniesoftheenemywereswiftlysettingup,eachbehindthecoverofatrench,greatenginesforthecastingofmissiles.TherewerenoneupontheCitywallslargeenoughtoreachsofarortostaythework.
Atfirstmenlaughedanddidnotgreatlyfearsuchdevices.ForthemainwalloftheCitywasofgreatheightandmarvellousthickness,builterethepowerandcraftofNúmenorwanedinexile;anditsoutwardfacewasliketotheTowerofOrthanc,hardanddarkandsmooth,unconquerablebysteelorfire,unbreakableexceptbysomeconvulsionthatwouldrendtheveryearthonwhichitstood.
‘Nay,’theysaid,‘notiftheNamelessOnehimselfshouldcome,notevenhecouldenterherewhileweyetlive.’Butsomeanswered:‘Whileweyetlive?Howlong?Hehasaweaponthathasbroughtlowmanystrongplacessincetheworldbegan.Hunger.Theroadsarecut.Rohanwillnotcome.’
Buttheenginesdidnotwasteshotupontheindomitablewall.Itwasnobrigandororc-chieftainthatorderedtheassaultupontheLordofMordor’sgreatestfoe.Apowerandmindofmaliceguidedit.
