Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
IntheLandofMordorwheretheShadowslie.’
Hepaused,andthensaidslowlyinadeepvoice:’ThisistheMaster-ring,theOneRingtorulethemall.ThisistheOneRingthathelostmanyagesago,tothegreatweakeningofhispower.Hegreatlydesiresit—buthemustnotgetit.’
Frodosatsilentandmotionless.Fearseemedtostretchoutavasthand,likeadarkcloudrisingintheEastandloominguptoengulfhim.’Thisring!’hestammered.’How,howonearthdiditcometome?’
’Ah!’saidGandalf.’Thatisaverylongstory.ThebeginningsliebackintheBlackYears,whichonlythelore-mastersnowremember.IfIweretotellyouallthattale,weshouldstillbesittingherewhenSpringhadpassedintoWinter.
’ButlastnightItoldyouofSaurontheGreat,theDarkLord.Therumoursthatyouhaveheardaretrue:hehasindeedarisenagainandlefthisholdinMirkwoodandreturnedtohisancientfastnessintheDarkTowerofMordor.Thatnameevenyouhobbitshaveheardof,likeashadowonthebordersofoldstories.Alwaysafteradefeatandarespite,theShadowtakesanothershapeandgrowsagain.’
’Iwishitneednothavehappenedinmytime,’saidFrodo.
’SodoI,’saidGandalf,’andsodoallwholivetoseesuchtimes.Butthatisnotforthemtodecide.Allwehavetodecideiswhattodowiththetimethatisgivenus.Andalready,Frodo,ourtimeisbeginningtolookblack.TheEnemyisfastbecomingverystrong.Hisplansarefarfromripe,Ithink,buttheyareripening.Weshallbehardputtoit.Weshouldbeveryhardputtoit,evenifitwerenotforthisdreadfulchance.
