Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Journey in the Dark
Nosignofgateorentrance,notafissureorcrackcouldFrodoseeinthefrowningstone.
"TherearetheWallsofMoria,"saidGandalf,pointingacrossthewater."AndtheretheGatestoodonceuponatime,theElvenDoorattheendoftheroadfromHollinbywhichwehavecome.Butthiswayisblocked.NoneoftheCompany,Iguess,willwishtoswimthisgloomywaterattheendoftheday.Ithasanunwholesomelook."
"Wemustfindawayroundthenorthernedge,"saidGimli."ThefirstthingfortheCompanytodoistoclimbupbythemainpathandseewherethatwillleadus.Eveniftherewerenolake,wecouldnotgetourbaggage-ponyupthisstair."
"ButinanycasewecannottakethepoorbeastintotheMines,"saidGandalf."Theroadunderthemountainsisadarkroad,andthereareplacesnarrowandsteepwhichhecannottread,evenifwecan."
"PooroldBill!"saidFrodo."Ihadnotthoughtofthat.AndpoorSam!Iwonderwhathewillsay?"
"Iamsorry,"saidGandalf."PoorBillhasbeenausefulcompanionanditgoestomyhearttoturnhimadriftnow.Iwouldhavetravelledlighterandbroughtnoanimal,leastofallthisonethatSamisfondof,ifIhadhadmyway.Ifearedallalongthatweshouldbeobligedtotakethisroad."
Thedaywasdrawingtoitsend,andcoldstarswereglintingintheskyhighabovethesunset,whentheCompany,withallthespeedtheycould,climbeduptheslopesandreachedthesideofthelake.
