Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Black Gate Opens
Still,Ithankhim,foritisplainthatthisbratatleasthasseenthesetokensbefore,anditwouldbevainforyoutodenythemnow.’
‘Idonotwishtodenythem,’saidGandalf.‘Indeed,Iknowthemallandalltheirhistory,anddespiteyourscorn,foulMouthofSauron,youcannotsayasmuch.Butwhydoyoubringthemhere?’
‘Dwarf-coat,elf-cloak,bladeofthedownfallenWest,andspyfromthelittlerat-landoftheShire-nay;donotstart!Weknowitwell-herearethemarksofaconspiracy.Now,maybehethatborethesethingswasacreaturethatyouwouldnotgrievetolose,andmaybeotherwise:onedeartoyou,perhaps?Ifso,takeswiftcounselwithwhatlittlewitislefttoyou.ForSaurondoesnotlovespies,andwhathisfateshallbedependsnowonyourchoice.’
Nooneansweredhim;buthesawtheirfacesgreywithfearandthehorrorintheireyes,andhelaughedagain,foritseemedtohimthathissportwentwell.‘Good,good!’hesaid.‘Hewasdeartoyou,Isee.Orelsehiserrandwasonethatyoudidnotwishtofail?Ithas.Andnowheshallenduretheslowtormentofyears,aslongandslowasourartsintheGreatTowercancontrive,andneverbereleased,unlessmaybewhenheischangedandbroken,sothathemaycometoyou,andyoushallseewhatyouhavedone.Thisshallsurelybe-unlessyouacceptmyLord’sterms.’
‘Nametheterms,’saidGandalfsteadily,butthosenearbysawtheanguishinhisface,andnowheseemedanoldandwizenedman,crushed,defeatedatlast.Theydidnotdoubtthathewouldaccept.
