Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Passing of the Grey Company
TheMoonwillthenbeonenightpasthisfull,andthemusterthatthekingcommandedwillbeheldthedayafter.Morespeedwecannotmake,ifthestrengthofRohanistobegathered.’
Aragornwassilentforamoment.‘Threedays,’hemurmured,‘andthemusterofRohanwillonlybebegun.ButIseethatitcannotnowbehastened.’Helookedup,anditseemedthathehadmadesomedecision;hisfacewaslesstroubled.Then,byourleave,lord,Imusttakenewcounselformyselfandmykindred.Wemustrideourownroad,andnolongerinsecret.Formethetimeofstealthhaspassed.Iwillrideeastbytheswiftestway,andIwilltakethePathsoftheDead.’
‘ThePathsoftheDead!’saidThéoden,andtrembled.‘Whydoyouspeakofthem?’ÉomerturnedandgazedatAragorn,anditseemedtoMerrythatthefacesoftheRidersthatsatwithinhearingturnedpaleatthewords.‘Iftherebeintruthsuchpaths,’saidThéoden,‘theirgateisinDunharrow;butnolivingmanmaypassit.’
‘Alas!Aragornmyfriend!’saidÉomer.‘Ihadhopedthatweshouldridetowartogether;butifyouseekthePathsoftheDead,thenourpartingiscome,anditislittlelikelythatweshallevermeetagainundertheSun.’
‘ThatroadIwilltake,nonetheless,’saidAragorn.‘ButIsaytoyou,Éomer,thatinbattlewemayyetmeetagain,thoughallthehostsofMordorshouldstandbetween.’
‘Youwilldoasyouwill,mylordAragorn,’saidThéoden.‘Itisyourdoom,maybe,totreadstrangepathsthatothersdarenot.
