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two towers-第86部分
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web。 Didn't you see that? And who stuck a pin into Her Ladyship? Same one; I
reckon。 And where is he? Where is he; Shagrat? '
Shagrat made no reply。
‘You may well put your thinking cap on; if you've got one。 It's no
laughing matter。 No one; no one has ever stuck a pin in Shelob before; as
you should know well enough。 There's no grief in that; but think…there's
someone loose hereabouts as is more dangerous than any other damned rebel
that ever walked since the bad old times; since the Great Siege。 Something
has slipped。'
‘And what is it then? ' growled Shagrat。
‘By all the signs; Captain Shagrat; I'd say there's a large warrior
loose; Elf most likely; with an elf…sword anyway; and an axe as well maybe:
and he's loose in your bounds; too; and you've never spotted him。 Very funny
indeed! ' Gorbag spat。 Sam smiled grimly at this description of himself。
'Ah well; you always did take a gloomy view。' said Shagrat。 'You can
read the signs how you like; but there may be other ways to explain them。
Anyhow。 I've got watchers at every point; and I'm going to deal with one
thing at a time。 When I've had a look at the fellow we have caught; then
I'll begin to worry
1cb2
about something else。'
‘It's my guess you won't find much in that little fellow;' said Gorbag。
'He may have had nothing to do with the real mischief。 The big fellow with
the sharp sword doesn't seem to have thought him worth much anyhow just
left him lying: regular elvish trick。'
‘We'll see。 e on now! We've talked enough。 Let's go and have a look
at the prisoner!
‘What are you going to do with him? Don't forget I spotted him first。
If there's any game; me and my lads must be in it。'
'Now; now;' growled Shagrat。 'I have my orders。 And it's more than my
belly's worth; or yours; to break 'em。 Any trespasser found by the guard is
to be held at the tower。 Prisoner is to be stripped。 Full description of
every article; garment; weapon; letter; ring。 or trinket is to be sent to
Lugb畆z at once; and to Lugb畆z only。 And the prisoner is to be kept safe
and intact; under pain of death for every member of the guard; until He
sends or es Himself。 That's plain enough; and that's what I'm going to
do。'
'Stripped; eh? ' said Gorbag。 'What; teeth; nails; hair; and all? '
‘No; none of that。 He's for Lugb畆z; I tell you。 He's wanted safe and
whole。'
'You'll find that difficult;' laughed Gorbag。 'He's nothing but carrion
now。 What Lugb畆z will do with such stuff I can't guess。 He might as well go
in the pot。'
'You fool;' snarled Shagrat。 'You've been talking very clever; but
there's a lot you don't know; though most other folk do。 You'll be for the
pot or for Shelob; if you don't take care。 Carrion! Is that all you know of
Her Ladyship? When she binds with cords; she's after meat。 She doesn't eat
dead meat; nor suck cold blood。 This fellow isn't dead! '
Sam reeled; clutching at the stone。 He felt as if the whole dark world
was turning upside down。 So great was the shock that he almost swooned; but
even as he fought to keep a hold on his senses; deep inside him he was aware
of the ment: 'You fool; he isn't dead; and your heart knew it。 Don't
trust your head; Samwise; it is not the best part of you。 The trouble with
you is that you never really had any hope。 Now what is to be done? ' Fur the
moment nothing; but to prop himself against the unmoving stone and listen;
listen to the vile orc…voices。
‘Garn!' said Shagrat。 'She's got more than one poison。 When she's
hunting; she just gives 'em a dab in the neck and they go as limp as boned
fish; and then she has her way with them。 D'you remember old Ufthak? We lost
him for days。 Then we found him in a corner; hanging up he was; but he was
wide awake and glaring。 How we laughed! She'd forgotten him; maybe; but we
didn't touch him…no good interfering with Her。 Nar this little filth;
he'll wake up; in a few hours; and beyond feeling a bit sick for a hit;
he'll be all right。 Or would be; if Lugb畆z would let him alone。 And of
course; beyond wondering where he is and what's happened to him。'
'And what's going to happen to him;' laughed Gorbag。 'We can tell him a
few stories at any rate; if we can't do anything else。 I don't suppose he's
ever been in lovely Lugb畆z; so he may like to know what to expect。 This is
going to be more funny than I thought。 Let's go!'
‘There's going to be no fun; I tell you;' said Shagrat。 'And he's got
to be kept safe; or we're all as good as dead。'
‘AII right! But if I were you; I'd catch the big one that's loose;
before you send in any report to Lugb畆z。 It won't sound too pretty to say
you've caught the kitten and let the cat escape。'
The voices began to move away。 Sam heard the sound of feet receding。 He
was recovering from his shock; and now a wild fury was on him。 ‘I got it all
wrong! ' he cried。 ‘I knew I would。 Now they've got him; the devils! the
filth! Never leave your master; never; never: that was my right rule。 And I
knew it in my heart。 May I be forgiven! Now I've got to get back to him。
Somehow; somehow! '
He drew his sword again and beat on the stone with the hilt; but it
only gave out a dull sound。 The sword; however; blazed so brightly now that
he could see dimly in its light。 To his surprise he noticed that the great
block was shaped like a heavy door; and was less than twice his own height。
Above it was a dark blank space between the top and the low arch of the
opening。 It was probably only meant to be a stop against the intrusion of
Shelob; fastened on the inside with some latch or bolt beyond the reach of
her cunning。 With his remaining strength Sam leaped and caught the top;
scrambled up; and dropped; and then he ran madly; sword blazing in hand;
round a bend and up a winding tunnel。
The news that his master was still alive roused him to a last effort
beyond thought of weariness。 He could not see anything ahead。 for this new
passage twisted and turned constantly; but he thought he was catching the
two Orcs up: their voices were growing nearer again。 Now they seemed quite
close。
‘That's what I'm going to do;' said Shagrat in angry tones。 'Put him
right up in the top chamber。'
‘What for? ' growled Gorbag。 ‘Haven't you any lock…ups down below? '
‘He's going out of harm's way; I tell you;' answered Shagrat。 'See?
He's precious。 I don't trust all my lads; and none of yours; nor you
neither; when you're mad for fun。 He's going where I want him; and where you
won't e; if you don't keep civil。 Up to the top; I say。 He'll be safe
there。'
‘Will he?' said Sam。 'You're forgetting the great big elvish warrior
that's loose!' And with that he raced round the last corner; only to find
that by some trick of the tunnel; or of the hearing which the Ring gave him;
he had misjudged the distance。
The two orc…figures were still some way ahead。 He could see them now;
black and squat against a red glare。 The passage ran straight at last; up an
incline; and at the end; wide open; were great double doors; leading
probably to deep chambers far below the high horn of the tower。 Already the
Orcs with their burden had passed inside。 Gorbag and Shagrat were drawing
near the gate。
Sam heard a burst of hoarse singing; blaring of horns and banging of
gongs; a hideous clamour。 Gorbag and Shagrat were already on the threshold。
Sam yelled and brandished Sting; but his little voice was drowned in
the tumult。 No one heeded him。
The great doors slammed to。 Boom。 The bars of iron fell into place
inside。 Clang。 The gate was shut。 Sam hurled himself against the bolted
brazen plates and fell senseless to the ground。 He was out in the darkness。
Frodo was alive but taken by the Enemy。
Here ends the second part of the history of the War of the Ring。
The third part tells of the last defence against the Shadow; and the
end of the mission of the Ring…bearer in THE RETURN OF THE KING。
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