Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
Mount Doom
Smokeswerepouringfromitandwhilethosethatroseintotheupperairtrailedawayeastward,greatrollingcloudsfloateddownitssidesandspreadovertheland.Afewmilestothenorth-eastthefoothillsoftheAshenMountainsstoodlikesombregreyghosts,behindwhichthemistynorthernheightsroselikealineofdistantcloudhardlydarkerthantheloweringsky.
Samtriedtoguessthedistancesandtodecidewhatwaytheyoughttotake.Itlookseverystepoffiftymiles,"hemutteredgloomilystaringatthethreateningmountain,"andthat’lltakeaweek,ifittakesaday,withMr.Frodoasheis."Heshookhishead,andasheworkedthingsout,slowlyanewdarkthoughtgrewinhismind.Neverforlonghadhopediedinhisstaunchheart,andalwaysuntilnowhehadtakensomethoughtfortheirreturn.Butthebittertruthcamehometohimatlast:atbesttheirprovisionwouldtakethemtotheirgoal;andwhenthetaskwasdone,theretheywouldcometoanend,alone,houseless,foodlessinthemidstofaterribledesert.Therecouldbenoreturn.
"SothatwasthejobIfeltIhadtodowhenIstarted,"thoughtSam,"tohelpMr.Frodotothelaststepandthendiewithhim?Well,ifthatisthejobthenImustdoit.ButIwoulddearlyliketoseeBywateragain,andRosieCottonandherbrothers,andtheGafferandMarigoldandall.Ican’tthinksomehowthatGandalfwouldhavesentMr.Frodoonthiserrandiftherehadn’ta’beenanyhopeofhisevercomingbackatall.
