jrt.fellowshipofring-第80节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　the　mention　of　that　name。　Even　to　the　hobbits　it　was　a　legend　of　vague　fear：
　　　‘The　road　may　lead　to　Moria；　but　how　can　we　hope　that　it　will　lead　through　Moria？　'　said　Aragorn　darkly。
　　　‘It　is　a　name　of　ill　omen；'　said　Boromir。　‘Nor　do　I　see　the　need　to　go　there。　If　we　cannot　cross　the　mountains；　let　us　journey　southwards；　until　we　e　to　the　Gap　of　Rohan；　where　men　are　friendly　to　my　people；　taking　the　road　that　I　followed　on　my　way　hither。　Or　we　might　pass　by　and　cross　the　Isen　into　Langstrand　and　Lebennin；　and　so　e　to　Gondor　from　the　regions　nigh　to　the　sea。'
　　　'Things　have　changed　since　you　came　north；　Boromir；'　answered　Gandalf。　'Did　you　not　hear　what　I　told　you　of　Saruman？　With　him　I　may　have　business　of　my　own　ere　all　is　over。　But　the　Ring　must　not　e　near　Isengard；　if　that　can　by　any　means　be　prevented。　The　Gap　of　Rohan　is　closed　to　us　while　we　go　with　the　Bearer。
　　　'As　for　the　longer　road：　we　cannot　afford　the　time。　We　might　spend　a　year　in　such　a　journey；　and　we　should　pass　through　many　lands　that　are　empty　and　harbourless。　Yet　they　would　not　be　safe。　The　watchful　eyes　both　of　Saruman　and　of　the　Enemy　are　on　them。　When　you　came　north；　Boromir；　you　were　in　the　Enemy's　eyes　only　one　stray　wanderer　from　the　South　and　a　matter　of　small　concern　to　him：　his　mind　was　busy　with　the　pursuit　of　the　Ring。　But　you　return　now　as　a　member　of　the　Ring's　pany；　and　you　are　in　peril　as　long　as　you　remain　with　us。　The　danger　will　increase　with　every　league　that　we　go　south　under　the　naked　sky。
　　　‘Since　our　open　attempt　on　the　mountain…pass　our　plight　has　bee　more　desperate；　I　fear。　I　see　now　little　hope；　if　we　do　not　soon　vanish　from　sight　for　a　while；　and　cover　our　trail。　Therefore　I　advise　that　we　should　go　neither　over　the　mountains；　nor　round　them；　but　under　them。　That　is　a　road　at　any　rate　that　the　Enemy　will　least　expect　us　to　take。'
　　　‘We　do　not　know　what　he　expects；'　said　Boromir。　‘He　may　watch　all　roads；　likely　and　unlikely。　In　that　case　to　enter　Moria　would　be　to　walk　into　a　trap；　hardly　better　than　knocking　at　the　gates　of　the　Dark　Tower　itself。　The　name　of　Moria　is　black。'
　　　‘You　speak　of　what　you　do　not　know；　when　you　liken　Moria　to　the　stronghold　of　Sauron；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘I　alone　of　you　have　ever　been　in　the　dungeons　of　the　Dark　Lord；　and　only　in　his　older　and　lesser　dwelling　in　Dol　Guldur。　Those　who　pass　the　gates　of　Barad…d？r　do　not　return。　But　I　would　not　lead　you　into　Moria　if　there　were　no　hope　of　ing　out　again。　If　there　are　Orcs　there；　it　may　prove　ill　for　us；　that　is　true。　But　most　of　the　Orcs　of　the　Misty　Mountains　were　scattered　or　destroyed　in　the　Battle　of　Five　Armies。　The　Eagles　report　that　Orcs　are　gathering　again　from　afar；　but　there　is　a　hope　that　Moria　is　still　free。
　　　‘There　is　even　a　chance　that　Dwarves　are　there；　and　that　in　some　deep　hall　of　his　fathers；　Balin　son　of　Fundin　may　be　found。　However　it　may　prove；　one　must　tread　the　path　that　need　chooses！'
　　　'I　will　tread　the　path　with　you；　Gandalf！　'　said　Gimli。　'I　will　go　and　look　on　the　halls　of　Durin；　whatever　may　wait　there…if　you　can　find　the　doors　that　are　shut。'
　　　'Good；　Gimli！　'　said　Gandalf。　‘You　encourage　me。　We　will　seek　the　hidden　doors　together。　And　we　will　e　through。　In　the　ruins　of　the　Dwarves；　a　dwarf's　head　will　be　less　easy　to　bewilder　than　Elves　or　Men　or　Hobbits。　Yet　it　will　not　be　the　first　time　that　I　have　been　to　Moria。　I　sought　there　long　for　Thráin　son　of　Thrór　after　he　was　lost。　I　passed　through；　and　I　came　out　again　alive！　'
　　　‘I　too　once　passed　the　Dimrill　Gate；'　said　Aragorn　quietly；　'but　though　I　also　came　out　again；　the　memory　is　very　evil。　I　do　not　wish　to　enter　Moria　a　second　time。'
　　　'And　I　don't　wish　to　enter　it　even　once；'　said　Pippin。
　　　'Nor　me；'　muttered　Sam。
　　　‘Of　course　not！　'　said　Gandalf。　'Who　would？　But　the　question　is：　who　will　follow　me；　if　I　lead　you　there？　'
　　　'I　will；'　said　Gimli　eagerly。
　　　'I　will；'　said　Aragorn　heavily。　‘You　followed　my　lead　almost　to　disaster　in　the　snow；　and　have　said　no　word　of　blame。　I　will　follow　your　lead　now　…　if　this　last　warning　does　not　move　you。　It　is　not　of　the　Ring；　nor　of　us　others　that　I　am　thinking　now；　but　of　you；　Gandalf。　And　I　say　to　you：　if　you　pass　the　doors　of　Moria；　beware！　'
　　　‘I　will　not　go；'　said　Boromir；　'not　unless　the　vote　of　the　whole　pany　is　against　me。　What　do　Legolas　and　the　little　folk　say？　The　Ring…bearer's　voice　surely　should　be　heard？　'
　　　'I　do　not　wish　to　go　to　Moria；'　said　Legolas。
　　　The　hobbits　said　nothing。　Sam　looked　at　Frodo。　At　last　Frodo　spoke。　‘I　do　not　wish　to　go；'　he　said；　‘but　neither　do　I　wish　to　refuse　the　advice　of　Gandalf。　I　beg　that　there　should　be　no　vote；　until　we　have　slept　on　it。　Gandalf　will　get　votes　easier　in　the　light　of　the　morning　than　in　this　cold　gloom。　How　the　wind　howls！　'
　　　At　these　words　all　fell　into　silent　thought。　They　heard　the　wind　hissing　among　the　rocks　and　trees；　and　there　was　a　howling　and　wailing　round　them　in　the　empty　spaces　of　the　night。
　　　Suddenly　Aragorn　leapt　to　his　feet。　'How　the　wind　howls！　'　he　cried。　'It　is　howling　with　wolf…voices。　The　Wargs　have　e　west　of　the　Mountains！　'
　　　'Need　we　wait　until　morning　then？　'　said　Gandalf。　‘It　is　as　I　said。　The　hunt　is　up！　Even　if　we　live　to　see　the　dawn；　who　now　will　wish　to　journey　south　by　night　with　the　wild　wolves　on　his　trail？　'
　　　'How　far　is　Moria？　'　asked　Boromir。
　　　‘There　was　a　door　south…west　of　Caradhras；　some　fifteen　miles　as　the　crow　flies；　and　maybe　twenty　as　the　wolf　runs；'　answered　Gandalf　grimly。
　　　'Then　let　us　start　as　soon　as　it　is　light　tomorrow；　if　we　can；'　said　Boromir。　'The　wolf　that　one　hears　is　worse　than　the　orc　that　one　fears。'
　　　‘True！'　said　Aragorn；　loosening　his　sword　in　its　sheath。　‘But　where　the　warg　howls；　there　also　the　orc　prowls。'
　　　‘I　wish　I　had　taken　Elrond's　advice；'　muttered　Pippin　to　Sam。　‘I　am　no　good　after　all。　There　is　not　enough　of　the　breed　of　Bandobras　the　Bullroarer　in　me：　these　howls　freeze　my　blood。　I　don't　ever　remember　feeling　so　wretched。'
　　　'My　heart's　right　down　in　my　toes；　Mr。　Pippin；'　said　Sam。　'But　we　aren't　etten　yet；　and　there　are　some　stout　folk　here　with　us。　Whatever　may　be　in　store　for　old　Gandalf；　I'll　wager　it　isn't　a　wolf's　belly。'
　　　For　their　defence　in　the　night　the　pany　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　small　hill　under　which　they　had　been　sheltering。　it　was　crowned　with　a　knot　of　old　and　twisted　trees；　about　which　lay　a　broken　circle　of　boulder　stones。　In　the　midst　of　this　they　lit　a　fire；　for　there　was　no　hope　that　darkness　and　silence　would　keep　their　trail　from　discovery　by　the　hunting　packs。
　　　Round　the　fire　they　sat；　and　those　that　were　not　on　guard　dozed　uneasily。　Poor　Bill　the　pony　trembled　and　sweated　where　he　stood。　The　howling　of　the　wolves　was　now　all　round　them；　sometimes　nearer　and　sometimes　further　off。　In　the　dead　of　the　night　many　shining　eyes　were　seen　peering　over　the　brow　of　the　hill。　Some　advanced　almost　to　the　ring　of　stones。　At　a　gap　in　the　circle　a　great　dark　wolf…shape　could　be　seen　halted；　gazing　at　them。　A　shuddering　howl　broke　from　him；　as　if　he　were　a　captain　summoning　his　pack　to　the　assault。
　　　Gandalf　stood　up　and　strode　forward；　holding　his　staff　aloft。　'Listen；　Hound　of　Sauron！　'　he　cried。　‘Gandalf　is　here。　Fly；　if　you　value　your　foul　skin！　I　will　shrivel　you　from　tail　to　snout；　if　you　e　within　this　ring。'
　　　The　wolf　snarled　and　sprang　towards　them　with　a　great　leap。　At　that　moment　there　was　a　sharp　twang。　Legolas　had　loosed　his　bow。　There　was　a　hideous　yell；　and　the　leaping　shape　thudded　to　the　ground；　the　elvish　arrow　had　pierced　its　throat。　The　watching　eyes　were　suddenly　extinguished。　Gandalf　and　Aragorn　strode　forward；　but　the　hill　was　deserted；　the　hunting　packs　had　fled。　All　about　them　the　darkness　grew　silent；　and　no　cry　came　on　the　sighing　wind。
　　　The　night　was　old；　and　westward　the　waning　moon　was　setting。　gleaming　fitfully　through　the　breaking　clouds。　Suddenly　Frodo　started　from　sleep。　Without　warning　a　storm　of　howls　broke　out　fierce　and　wild　all　about　the　camp。　A　great　host　of　Wargs　had　gathered　silently　and　was　now　attacking　them　from　every　side　at　once。
　　　‘Fling　fuel　on　the　fire！'　cried　Gandalf　to　the　hobbits。　‘Draw　your　blades；　and　stand　back　to　back！'
　　　In　the　leaping　light；　as　the　fresh　wood　blazed　up；　Frodo　saw　many　grey　shapes　spring　over　the　ring　of　stones。　More　and　more　followed。　Through　the　throat　of　one　huge　leader　Aragorn　passed　his　sword　with　a　thrust；　with　a　great　sweep　Boromir　hewed　the　head　off　another。　Beside　them　Gimli　stood　with　his　stout　legs　apart；　wielding　his　dwarf…axe。　The　bow　of　Legolas　was　singing。
　　　In　the　wavering　firelight　Gandalf　seemed　suddenly　to　grow：　he　rose　up；　a　great　menacing　shape　like　the　monument　of　some　ancient　king　of　stone　set　upon　a　hill。　Stooping　like　a　cloud；　he　lifted　a　burning　branch　and　strode　to　meet　the　wolves。　They　gave　back　before　him。　High　in　the　air　he　tossed　the　blazing　brand。　It　flared　with　a　sudden　white　radiance　like　lightning；　and　his　voice　rolled　like　thunder。
　　　‘Naur　an　edraith　ammen！　Naur　dan　i　ngaurhoth！'　he　cried。
　　　There　was　a　roar　and　a　crackle；　and　the　tree　above　him　burst　into　a　leaf　and　bloom　of　blinding　flame。　The　fire　leapt　from　tree…top　to　tree…top。　The　whole　hill　was　crowned　with　dazzling　light。　The　swords　and　knives　of