Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Gandalftooknoturns,rightorleft,forthepassageseemedtobegoinginthedirectionthathedesired.Everynowandagainitdescendedaflightofsteps,fiftyormore,toalowerlevel.Atthemomentthatwastheirchiefdanger;forinthedarktheycouldnotseeadescent,untiltheycameonit,andputtheirfeetoutintoemptiness.Gandalffeltthegroundwithhisstafflikeablindman.
Attheendofanhourtheyhadgoneamile,ormaybealittlemore,andhaddescendedmanyflightsofstairs.Therewasstillnosoundofpursuit.Almosttheybegantohopethattheywouldescape.AtthebottomoftheseventhflightGandalfhalted.
"Itisgettinghot!"hegasped."WeoughttobedownatleasttotheleveloftheGatesnow.SoonIthinkweshouldlookforaleft-handturntotakeuseast.Ihopeitisnotfar.Iamveryweary.Imustresthereamoment,evenifalltheorcseverspawnedareafterus."
Gimlitookhisarmandhelpedhimdowntoaseatonthestep."Whathappenedawayupthereatthedoor?"heasked."Didyoumeetthebeaterofthedrums?"
"Idonotknow,"answeredGandalf."ButIfoundmyselfsuddenlyfacedbysomethingthatIhavenotmetbefore.Icouldthinkofnothingtodobuttotryandputashutting-spellonthedoor.Iknowmany;buttodothingsofthatkindrightlyrequirestime,andeventhenthedoorcanbebrokenbystrength.
"AsIstoodthereIcouldhearorc-voicesontheotherside:atanymomentIthoughttheywouldburstitopen.
