Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Passing of the Grey Company
Letuspass,andthencome!IsummonyoutotheStoneofErech!’
Therewasnoanswer,unlessitwereanuttersilencemoredreadfulthanthewhispersbefore;andthenachillblastcameinwhichthetorchesflickeredandwentout,andcouldnotberekindled.Ofthetimethatfollowed,onehourormany,Gimlirememberedlittle.Theotherspressedon,buthewaseverhindmost,pursuedbyagropinghorrorthatseemedalwaysjustabouttoseizehim;andarumourcameafterhimliketheshadow-soundofmanyfeet.Hestumbledonuntilhewascrawlinglikeabeastonthegroundandfeltthathecouldendurenomore:hemusteitherfindanendingandescapeorrunbackinmadnesstomeetthefollowingfear.
Suddenlyheheardthetinkleofwater,asoundhardandclearasastonefallingintoadreamofdarkshadow.Lightgrew,andlo!thecompanypassedthroughanothergateway,high-archedandbroad,andarillranoutbesidethem;andbeyond,goingsteeplydown,wasaroadbetweensheercliffs,knife-edgedagainsttheskyfarabove.Sodeepandnarrowwasthatchasmthattheskywasdark,andinitsmallstarsglinted.YetasGimliafterlearneditwasstilltwohourseresunsetofthedayonwhichtheyhadsetoutfromDunharrow;thoughforallthathecouldthentellitmighthavebeentwilightinsomelateryear,orinsomeotherworld.
TheCompanynowmountedagain,andGimlireturnedtoLegolas.Theyrodeinfile,andeveningcameonandadeepbluedusk;andstillfearpursuedthem.
