The Land of Shadow

           Samhadjustwitsenoughlefttothrustthephialbackintohisbreast."Run,Mr.Frodo!"hecried."No,notthatway!There’sasheerdropoverthewall.Followme!"

           Downtheroadfromthegatetheyfled.Infiftypaces,withaswiftbendroundajuttingbastionofthecliff,ittookthemoutofsightfromtheTower.Theyhadescapedforthemoment.Coweringbackagainsttherocktheydrewbreath,andthentheyclutchedattheirhearts.PerchingnowonthewallbesidetheruinedgatetheNazgûlsentoutitsdeadlycries.Allthecliffsechoed.

           Interrortheystumbledon.SoontheroadbentsharplyeastwardagainandexposedthemforadreadfulmomenttoviewfromtheTower.Astheyflittedacrosstheyglancedbackandsawthegreatblackshapeuponthebattlement;thentheyplungeddownbetweenhighrock-wallsinacuttingthatfellsteeplytojointheMorgul-road.Theycametotheway-meeting.Therewasstillnosignoforcs,norofananswertothecryoftheNazgûl;buttheyknewthatthesilencewouldnotlastlong.Atanymomentnowthehuntwouldbegin.

           "Thiswon’tdo,Sam,"saidFrodo."Ifwewererealorcs,weoughttobedashingbacktotheTower,notrunningaway.Thefirstenemywemeetwillknowus.Wemustgetoffthisroadsomehow."

           "Butwecan’t,"saidSam,"notwithoutwings."

           TheeasternfacesoftheEphelDuathweresheer,fallingincliffandprecipicetotheblacktroughthatlaybetweenthemandtheinnerridge.