Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Journey in the Dark
Inbreadthitlookedtobenomorethantwoorthreefurlongsatthewidestpoint.Howfaritstretchedawaysouthwardtheycouldnotseeinthefailinglight;butitsnorthernendwasnomorethanhalfamilefromwheretheystood,andbetweenthestonyridgesthatenclosedthevalleyandthewater’sedgetherewasarimofopenground.Theyhurriedforward,fortheyhadstillamileortwotogobeforetheycouldreachthepointonthefarshorethatGandalfwasmakingfor;andthenhehadstilltofindthedoors.
Whentheycametothenorthernmostcornerofthelaketheyfoundanarrowcreekthatbarredtheirway.Itwasgreenandstagnant,thrustoutlikeaslimyarmtowardstheenclosinghills.Gimlistrodeforwardundeterred,andfoundthatthewaterwasshallow,nomorethanankle-deepattheedge.Behindhimtheywalkedinfile,threadingtheirwaywithcare,forundertheweedypoolswereslidingandgreasystones,andfootingwastreacherous.Frodoshudderedwithdisgustatthetouchofthedarkuncleanwateronhisfeet.
AsSam,thelastoftheCompany,ledBillupontothedrygroundonthefarside,therecameasoftsound:aswish,followedbyaplop,asifafishhaddisturbedthestillsurfaceofthewater.Turningquicklytheysawripples,black-edgedwithshadowinthewaninglight:greatringswerewideningoutwardsfromapointfaroutinthelake.Therewasabubblingnoise,andthensilence.Theduskdeepened,andthelastgleamsofthesunsetwereveiledincloud.
