jrt.fellowshipofring-第106节

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　shelves　and　in　narrow　crevices；　a　few　thrawn　trees。　The　channel　grew　narrower　and　the　River　swifter。　Now　they　were　speeding　along　with　little　hope　of　stopping　or　turning；　whatever　they　might　meet　ahead。　Over　them　was　a　lane　of　pale…blue　sky；　around　them　the　dark　overshadowed　River；　and　before　them　black；　shutting　out　the　sun；　the　hills　of　Emyn　Muil；　in　which　no　opening　could　be　seen。
　　　Frodo　peering　forward　saw　in　the　distance　two　great　rocks　approaching：　like　great　pinnacles　or　pillars　of　stone　they　seemed。　Tall　and　sheer　and　ominous　they　stood　upon　either　side　of　the　stream。　A　narrow　gap　appeared　between　them；　and　the　River　swept　the　boats　towards　it。
　　　‘Behold　the　Argonath；　the　Pillars　of　the　Kings！　'　cried　Aragorn。　‘We　shall　pass　them　soon。　Keep　the　boats　in　line；　and　as　far　apart　as　you　can！　Hold　the　middle　of　the　stream！　'
　　　As　Frodo　was　borne　towards　them　the　great　pillars　rose　like　towers　to　meet　him。　Giants　they　seemed　to　him；　vast　grey　figures　silent　but　threatening。　Then　he　saw　that　they　were　indeed　shaped　and　fashioned：　the　craft　and　power　of　old　had　wrought　upon　them；　and　still　they　preserved　through　the　suns　and　rains　of　forgotten　years　the　mighty　likenesses　in　which　they　had　been　hewn。　Upon　great　pedestals　founded　in　the　deep　waters　stood　two　great　kings　of　stone：　still　with　blurred　eyes　and　crannied　brows　they　frowned　upon　the　North。　The　left　hand　of　each　was　raised　palm　outwards　in　gesture　of　warning；　in　each　right　hand　there　was　an　axe；　upon　each　head　there　was　a　crumbling　helm　and　crown。　Great　power　and　majesty　they　still　wore；　the　silent　wardens　of　a　long…vanished　kingdom。　Awe　and　fear　fell　upon　Frodo；　and　he　cowered　down；　shutting　his　eyes　and　not　daring　to　look　up　as　the　boat　drew　near。　Even　Boromir　bowed　his　head　as　the　boats　whirled　by。　frail　and　fleeting　as　little　leaves；　under　the　enduring　shadow　of　the　sentinels　of　Númenor。　So　they　passed　into　the　dark　chasm　of　the　Gates。
　　　Sheer　rose　the　dreadful　cliffs　to　unguessed　heights　on　either　side。　Far　off　was　the　dim　sky。　The　black　waters　roared　and　echoed；　and　a　wind　screamed　over　them。　Frodo　crouching　over　his　knees　heard　Sam　in　front　muttering　and　groaning：　‘What　a　place！　What　a　horrible　place！　Just　let　me　get　out　of　this　boat；　and　I'll　never　wet　my　toes　in　a　puddle　again；　let　alone　a　river！　'
　　　‘Fear　not！　'　said　a　strange　voice　behind　him。　Frodo　turned　and　saw　Strider；　and　yet　not　Strider；　for　the　weatherworn　Ranger　was　no　longer　there。　In　the　stern　sat　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn；　proud　and　erect；　guiding　the　boat　with　skilful　strokes；　his　hood　was　cast　back；　and　his　dark　hair　was　blowing　in　the　wind；　a　light　was　in　his　eyes：　a　king　returning　from　exile　to　his　own　land。
　　　'Fear　not！　'　he　said。　‘Long　have　I　desired　to　look　upon　the　likenesses　of　Isildur　and　Anárion；　my　sires　of　old。　Under　their　shadow　Elessar；　the　Elfstone　son　of　Arathorn　of　the　House　of　Valandil　Isildur's　son　heir　of　Elendil；　has　nought　to　dread！　'
　　　Then　the　light　of　his　eyes　faded；　and　he　spoke　to　himself：　‘Would　that　Gandalf　were　here！　How　my　heart　yearns　for　Minas　Anor　and　the　walls　of　my　own　city！　But　whither　now　shall　I　go？　'
　　　The　chasm　was　long　and　dark；　and　filled　with　the　noise　of　wind　and　rushing　water　and　echoing　stone。　It　bent　somewhat　towards　the　west　so　that　at　first　all　was　dark　ahead；　but　soon　Frodo　saw　a　tall　gap　of　light　before　him；　ever　growing。　Swiftly　it　drew　near；　and　suddenly　the　boats　shot　through；　out　into　a　wide　clear　light。
　　　The　sun；　already　long　fallen　from　the　noon；　was　shining　in　a　windy　sky。　The　pent　waters　spread　out　into　a　long　oval　lake；　pale　Nen　Hithoel；　fenced　by　steep　grey　hills　whose　sides　were　clad　with　trees；　but　their　heads　were　bare；　cold…gleaming　in　the　sunlight。　At　the　far　southern　end　rose　three　peaks。　The　midmost　stood　somewhat　forward　from　the　others　and　sundered　from　them；　an　island　in　the　waters；　about　which　the　flowing　River　flung　pale　shimmering　arms。　Distant　but　deep　there　came　up　on　the　wind　a　roaring　sound　like　the　roll　of　thunder　heard　far　away。
　　　‘Behold　Tol　Brandir！　'　said　Aragorn；　pointing　south　to　the　tall　peak。　'Upon　the　left　stands　Amon　Lhaw；　and　upon　the　right　is　Amon　Hen　the　Hills　of　Hearing　and　of　Sight。　In　the　days　of　the　great　kings　there　were　high　seats　upon　them；　and　watch　was　kept　there。　But　it　is　said　that　no　foot　of　man　or　beast　has　ever　been　set　upon　Tol　Brandir。　Ere　the　shade　of　night　falls　we　shall　e　to　them。　I　hear　the　endless　voice　of　Rauros　calling。'
　　　The　pany　rested　now　for　a　while；　drifting　south　on　the　current　that　flowed　through　the　middle　of　the　lake。　They　ate　some　food；　and　then　they　took　to　their　paddles　and　hastened　on　their　way。　The　sides　of　the　westward　hills　fell　into　shadow；　and　the　Sun　grew　round　and　red。　Here　and　there　a　misty　star　peered　out。　The　three　peaks　loomed　before　them；　darkling　in　the　twilight。　Rauros　was　roaring　with　a　great　voice。　Already　night　was　laid　on　the　flowing　waters　when　the　travellers　came　at　last　under　the　shadow　of　the　hills。
　　　The　tenth　day　of　their　journey　was　over。　Wilderland　was　behind　them。　They　could　go　no　further　without　choice　between　the　east…way　and　the　west。　The　last　stage　of　the　Quest　was　before　them。
　　　
　　　Chapter　10
The　Breaking　of　the　Fellowship
　　　
　　　Aragorn　led　them　to　the　right　arm　of　the　River。　Here　upon　its　western　side　under　the　shadow　of　Tol　Brandir　a　green　lawn　ran　down　to　the　water　from　the　feet　of　Amon　Hen。　Behind　it　rose　the　first　gentle　slopes　of　the　hill　clad　with　trees；　and　trees　marched　away　westward　along　the　curving　shores　of　the　lake。　A　little　spring　fell　tumbling　down　and　fed　the　grass。
　　　'Here　we　will　rest　tonight；'　said　Aragorn。　‘This　is　the　lawn　of　Parth　Galen：　a　fair　place　in　the　summer　days　of　old。　Let　us　hope　that　no　evil　has　yet　e　here。'
　　　They　drew　up　their　boats　on　the　green　banks；　and　beside　them　they　made　their　camp。　They　set　a　watch；　but　had　no　sight　nor　sound　of　their　enemies。　If　Gollum　had　contrived　to　follow　them；　he　remained　unseen　and　unheard。　Nonetheless　as　the　night　wore　on　Aragorn　grew　uneasy；　tossing　often　in　his　sleep　and　waking。　In　the　small　hours　he　got　up　and　came　to　Frodo；　whose　turn　it　was　to　watch。
　　　‘Why　are　you　waking？　'　asked　Frodo。　‘It　is　not　your　watch。'
　　　‘I　do　not　know；'　answered　Aragorn；　‘but　a　shadow　and　a　threat　has　been　growing　in　my　sleep。　It　would　be　well　to　draw　your　sword。'
　　　‘Why？　'　said　Frodo。　‘Are　enemies　at　hand？　'
　　　‘Let　us　see　what　Sting　may　show；'　answered　Aragorn。
　　　Frodo　then　drew　the　elf…blade　from　its　sheath。　To　his　dismay　the　edges　gleamed　dimly　in　the　night。　‘Orcs！　'　he　said。　‘Not　very　near；　and　yet　too　near；　it　seems。'
　　　‘I　feared　as　much；'　said　Aragorn。　‘But　maybe　they　are　not　on　this　side　of　the　River。　The　light　of　Sting　is　faint；　and　it　may　point　to　no　more　than　spies　of　Mordor　roaming　on　the　slopes　of　Amon　Lhaw。　I　have　never　heard　before　of　Orcs　upon　Amon　Hen。　Yet　who　knows　what　may　happen　in　these　evil　days；　now　that　Minas　Tirith　no　longer　holds　secure　the　passages　of　Anduin。　We　must　go　warily　tomorrow。'
　　　The　day　came　like　fire　and　smoke。　Low　in　the　East　there　were　black　bars　of　cloud　like　the　fumes　of　a　great　burning。　The　rising　sun　lit　them　from　beneath　with　flames　of　murky　red；　but　soon　it　climbed　above　them　into　a　clear　sky。　The　summit　of　Tol　Brandir　was　tipped　with　gold。　Frodo　looked　out　eastward　and　gazed　at　the　tall　island。　Its　sides　sprang　sheer　out　of　the　running　water。　High　up　above　the　tall　cliffs　were　steep　slopes　upon　which　trees　climbed；　mounting　one　head　above　another；　and　above　them　again　were　grey　faces　of　inaccessible　rock；　crowned　by　a　great　spire　of　stone。　Many　birds　were　circling　about　it；　but　no　sign　of　other　living　things　could　be　seen。
　　　When　they　had　eaten；　Aragorn　called　the　pany　together。　‘The　day　has　e　at　last；'　he　said：　'the　day　of　choice　which　we　have　long　delayed。　What　shall　now　bee　of　our　pany　that　has　travelled　so　far　in　fellowship？　Shall　we　turn　west　with　Boromir　and　go　to　the　wars　of　Gondor；　or　turn　east　to　the　Fear　and　Shadow；　or　shall　we　break　our　fellowship　and　go　this　way　and　that　as　each　may　choose？　Whatever　we　do　must　be　done　soon。　We　cannot　long　halt　here。　The　enemy　is　on　the　eastern　shore；　we　know；　but　I　fear　that　the　Orcs　may　already　be　on　this　side　of　the　water。'
　　　There　was　a　long　silence　in　which　no　one　spoke　or　moved。
　　　'Well；　Frodo；'　said　Aragorn　at　last。　‘I　fear　that　the　burden　is　laid　upon　you。　You　are　the　Bearer　appointed　by　the　Council。　Your　own　way　you　alone　can　choose。　In　this　matter　I　cannot　advise　you。　I　am　not　Gandalf；　and　though　I　have　tried　to　bear　his　part；　I　do　not　know　what　design　or　hope　he　had　for　this　hour；　if　indeed　he　had　any。　Most　likely　it　seems　that　if　he　were　here　now　the　choice　would　still　wait　on　you。　Such　is　your　fate。'
　　　Frodo　did　not　answer　at　once。　Then　he　spoke　slowly。　‘I　know　that　haste　is　needed；　yet　I　cannot　choose。　The　burden　is　heavy。　Give　me　an　hour　longer；　and　I　will　speak。　Let　me　be　alone！　'
　　　Aragorn　looked　at　him　with　kindly　pity。　‘Very　well；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo；'　he　said。　‘You　shall　have　an　hour；　and　you　shall　be　alone。　We　will　stay　here　for　a　while。　But　do　not　stray　far　or　out　of　call。'
　　　Frodo　sat　for　a　moment　with　his　head　bowed。　Sam；　who　had　been　watching　his　master　with　great　concern；　shook　his　head　and　muttered：　'Plain　as　a　pikestaff