The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第58部分

'I　need　no　map；'　said　Gimli；　who　had　e　up　with　Legolas；　and　was　gazing　out　before　him　with　a　strange　light　in　his　deep　eyes。　'There　is　the　land　where　our　fathers　worked　of　old；　and　we　have　wrought　the　image　of　those　mountains　into　many　works　of　metal　and　of　stone；　and　into　many　songs　and　tales。　They　stand　tall　in　our　dreams：　Baraz；　Zirak；　Shath。r。

'Only　once　before　have　I　seen　them　from　afar　in　waking　life；　but　I　know　them　and　their　names；　for　under　them　lies　Khazadd？m；　the　Dwarrowdelf；　that　is　now　called　the　Black　Pit；　Moria　in　the　Elvish　tongue。　Yonder　stands　Barazinbar；　the　Redhorn；　cruel　Caradhras；　and　beyond　him　are　Silvertine　and　Cloudyhead：　Celebdil　the　White；　and　Fanuidhol　the　Grey；　that　we　call　Zirak　zigil　and　Bundushath。r。

'There　the　Misty　Mountains　divide；　and　between　their　arms　lies　the　deep　shadowed　valley　which　we　cannot　fet：　Azanulbizar；　the　Dimrill　Dale；　which　the　Elves　call　Nanduhirion。'

'It　is　for　the　Dimrill　Dale　that　we　are　making；'　said　Gandalf。　'If　we　climb　the　pass　that　is　called　the　Redhorn　Gate；　under　the　far　side　of　Caradhras；　we　shall　e　down　by　the　Dimrill　Stair　into　the　deep　vale　of　the　Dwarves。　There　lies　the　Mirrormere；　and　there　the　River　Silverlode　rises　in　its　icy　springs。'

'Dark　is　the　water　of　Kheledzaram；'　said　Gimli；　'and　cold　are　the　springs　of　Kibilnala。　My　heart　trembles　at　the　thought　that　I　may　see　them　soon。'

'May　you　have　joy　of　the　sight；　my　good　dwarf　l'　said　Gandalf。　'But　whatever　you　may　do；　we　at　least　cannot　stay　in　that　valley。　We　must　go　down　the　Silverlode　into　the　secret　woods；　and　so　to　the　Great　River；　and　then—'

He　paused。

'Yes；　and　where　then？'　asked　Merry。

'To　the　end　of　the　journey　。　in　the　end；'　said　Gandalf。　'We　cannot　look　too　far　ahead。　Let　us　be　glad　that　the　first　stage　is　safely　over。　I　think　we　will　rest　here；　not　only　today　but　tonight　as　well。　There　is　a　wholesome　air　about　Hollin。　Much　evil　must　befall　a　country　before　it　wholly　fets　the　Elves；　if　once　they　dwelt　there。'

'That　is　true；'　said　Legolas。　'But　the　Elves　of　this　land　were　of　a　race　strange　to　us　of　the　silvan　folk；　and　the　trees　and　the　grass　do　not　now　remember　them：　Only　I　hear　the　stones　lament　them：　deep　they　delved　us；　fair　they　wrought　us；　high　they　builded　us；　but　they　are　gone。　They　are　gone。　They　sought　the　Havens　long　ago。'

That　morning　they　lit　a　fire　in　a　deep　hollow　shrouded　by　great　bushes　of　holly；　and　their　supperbreakfast　was　merrier　than　it　had　been　since　they　set　out。　They　did　not　hurry　to　bed　afterwards；　for　they　expected　to　have　all　the　night　to　sleep　in；　and　they　did　not　mean　to　go　on　again　until　the　evening　of　the　next　day。　Only　Aragorn　was　silent　and　restless。　After　a　while　he　left　the　pany　and　wandered　on　to　the　ridge；　there　he　stood　in　the　shadow　of　a　tree；　looking　out　southwards　and　westwards；　with　his　head　posed　as　if　he　was　listening。　Then　he　returned　to　the　brink　of　the　dell　and　looked　down　at　the　others　laughing　and　talking。

'What　is　the　matter；　Strider？'　Merry　called　up。　'What　are　you　looking　for？　Do　you　miss　the　East　Wind？'

'No　indeed；'　he　answered。　'But　I　miss　something。　I　have　been　in　the　country　of　Hollin　in　many　seasons。　No　folk　dwell　here　now；　but　many　other　creatures　live　here　at　all　times；　especially　birds。　Yet　now　all　things　but　you　are　silent。　I　can　feel　it。　There　is　no　sound　for　miles　about　us；　and　your　voices　seem　to　make　the　ground　echo。　I　do　not　understand　it。'

Gandalf　looked　up　with　sudden　interest。　'But　what　do　you　guess　is　the　reason？'　he　asked。　'Is　there　more　in　it　than　surprise　at　seeing　four　hobbits；　not　to　mention　the　rest　of　us；　where　people　are　so　seldom　seen　or　heard？'

'I　hope　that　is　it；'　answered　Aragorn。　'But　I　have　a　sense　of　watchfulness；　and　of　fear；　that　I　have　never　had　here　before。'

〃Then　we　must　be　more　careful；'　said　Gandalf。　'If　you　bring　a　Ranger　with　you；　it　is　well　to　pay　attention　to　him；　especially　if　the　Ranger　is　Aragorn。　We　must　stop　talking　aloud；　rest　quietly；　and　set　the　watch。'

It　was　Sam's　turn　that　day　to　take　the　first　watch；　but　Aragorn　joined　him。　The　others　fell　asleep。　Then　the　silence　grew　until　even　Sam　felt　it。　The　breathing　of　the　sleepers　could　be　plainly　heard。　The　swish　of　the　pony's　tail　and　the　occasional　movements　of　his　feet　became　loud　noises。　Sam　could　hear　his　own　joints　creaking；　if　he　stirred。　Dead　silence　was　around　him；　and　over　all　hung　a　clear　blue　sky；　as　the　Sun　rode　up　from　the　East。　Away　in　the　South　a　dark　patch　appeared；　and　grew；　and　drove　north　like　flying　smoke　in　the　wind。

'What's　that；　Strider？　It　don't　look　like　a　cloud；'　said　Sam　in　a　whisper　to　Aragorn。　He　made　no　answer；　he　was　gazing　intently　at　the　sky；　but　before　long　Sam　could　see　for　himself　what　was　approaching。　Flocks　of　birds；　flying　at　great　speed；　were　wheeling　and　circling；　and　traversing　all　the　land　as　if　they　were　searching　for　something；　and　they　were　steadily　drawing　nearer。

'Lie　flat　and　still！'　hissed　Aragorn；　pulling　Sam　down　into　the　shade　of　a　hollybush；　for　a　whole　regiment　of　birds　had　broken　away　suddenly　from　the　main　host；　and　came；　flying　low；　straight　towards　the　ridge。　Sam　thought　they　were　a　kind　of　crow　of　large　size。　As　they　passed　overhead；　in　so　dense　a　throng　that　their　shadow　followed　them　darkly　over　the　ground　below；　one　harsh　croak　was　heard。

Not　until　they　had　dwindled　into　the　distance；　north　and　west；　and　the　sky　was　again　clear　would　Aragorn　rise。　Then　he　sprang　up　and　went　and　wakened　Gandalf。

'Regiments　of　black　crows　are　flying　over　all　the　land　between　the　Mountains　and　the　Greyflood；'　he　said；　'and　they　have　passed　over　Hollin。　They　are　not　natives　here；　they　are　crebain　out　of　Fangorn　and　Dunland。　I　do　not　know　what　they　are　about：　possibly　there　is　some　trouble　away　south　from　which　they　are　fleeing；　but　I　think　they　are　spying　out　the　land。　I　have　also　glimpsed　many　hawks　flying　high　up　in　the　sky。　I　think　we　ought　to　move　again　this　evening。　Hollin　is　no　longer　wholesome　for　us：　it　is　being　watched。'

'And　in　that　case　so　is　the　Redhorn　Gate；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　how　we　can　get　over　that　without　being　seen；　I　cannot　imagine。　But　we　will　think　of　that　when　we　must。　As　for　moving　as　soon　as　it　is　dark；　I　am　afraid　that　you　are　right。'

'Luckily　our　fire　made　little　smoke；　and　had　burned　low　before　the　crebain　came；'　said　Aragorn。　'It　must　be　put　out　and　not　lit　again。'

'Well　if　that　isn't　a　plague　and　a　nuisance！'　said　Pippin。　The　news：　no　fire；　and　a　move　again　by　night；　had　been　broken　to　him；　as　soon　as　he　woke　in　the　late　afternoon。　'All　because　of　a　pack　of　crows！　I　had　looked　forward　to　a　real　good　meal　tonight：　something　hot。'

'Well；　you　can　go　on　looking　forward；'　said　Gandalf。　'There　may　be　many　unexpected　feasts　ahead　for　you。　For　myself　I　should　like　a　pipe　to　smoke　in　fort；　and　warmer　feet。　However；　we　are　certain　of　one　thing　at　any　rate：　it　will　get　warmer　as　we　get　south。'

'Too　warm；　I　shouldn't　wonder；'　muttered　Sam　to　Frodo。　'But　I'm　beginning　to　think　it's　time　we　got　a　sight　of　that　Fiery　Mountain　and　saw　the　end　of　the　Road；　so　to　speak。　I　thought　at　first　that　this　here　Redhorn；　or　whatever　its　name　is；　might　be　it；　till　Gimli　spoke　his　piece。　A　fair　jawcracker　dwarflanguage　must　be！'　Maps　conveyed　nothing　to　Sam's　mind；　and　all　distances　in　these　strange　lands　seemed　so　vast　that　he　was　quite　out　of　his　reckoning。

All　that　day　the　pany　remained　in　hiding。　The　dark　birds　passed　over　now　and　again；　but　as　the　westering　Sun　grew　red　they　disappeared　southwards。　At　dusk　the　pany　set　out；　and　turning　now　half　east　they　steered　their　course　towards　Caradhras；　which　far　away　still　glowed　faintly　red　in　the　last　light　of　the　vanished　Sun。　One　by　one　white　stars　sprang　forth　as　the　sky　faded。

Guided　by　Aragorn　they　struck　a　good　path。　It　looked　to　Frodo　like　the　remains　of　an　ancient　road；　that　had　once　been　broad　and　well　planned；　from　Hollin　to　the　mountainpass。　The　Moon；　now　at　the　full；　rose　over　the　mountains；　and　cast　a　pale　light　in　which　the　shadows　of　stones　were　black。　Many　of　them　looked　to　have　been　worked　by　hands；　though　now　they　lay　tumbled　and　ruinous　in　a　bleak；　barren　land。

It　was　the　cold　chill　hour　before　the　first　stir　of　dawn；　and　the　moon　was　low。　Frodo　looked　up　at　the　sky。　Suddenly　he　saw　or　felt　a　shadow　pass　over　the　high　stars；　as　if　for　a　moment　they　faded　and　then　flashed　out　again。　He　shivered。

'Did　you　see　anything　pass　over？'　he　whispered　to　Gandalf；　who　was　just　ahead。

'No；　but　I　felt　it；　whatever　it　was；'　he　answered。　'It　may　be　nothing；　only　a　wisp　of　thin　cloud。'

'It　was　moving　fast　then；'　muttered　Aragorn；　'and　not　with　the　wind。'

Nothing　further　happened　that　night。　The　next　morning　dawned　even　brighter　than　before。　But　the　air　was　chill　again；　already　the　wind　was　turning　back　towards　the　east。　For　two　more　nights　they　marched　on；　climbing　steadily　but　ever　more　slowly　as　their　road　wound　up　into　the　hills；　and　the　mountains　towered　up；　nearer　and　nearer。　On　the　third　morning　Caradhras　rose　before　them；　a　mighty　peak；　tipped　with　snow　like　silver；　but　with　sheer　naked　sides；　dull　red　as　if　stained　with　blood。

There　was　a　black　look　in　the　sky；　and　the　sun　was　wan。　The　wind　had　gone　now　round　to　the　northeast。　Gandalf　snuffed　the　air　and　looked　back。

'Winter　deepens　behind　us；'　he　said　quietly　to　Aragorn。　'The　heights　away　north　are　whiter　than　they　were；　snow　is　lying　far　down　their　shoulders。

Tonight　we　shall　be　on　our　way　high　up　towards　the　Redhorn　Gate。　We　may　well　be　seen　by　watchers　on　that　narrow　path；　and　waylaid　by　some　evil；　but　the　weather　may　prove　a　more　deadly　enemy　than　any。　What　do　you　think　of　your　course　now；　Aragorn？'

Frodo　overheard　these　words；　and　understood　that　Gandalf　and　Aragorn　were　continuing　some　debate　that　had　begun　long　before。　He　listened　anxiously。

'I　think　no　good　of　our　course　from　beginning　to　end；　as　you　know　well；　Gandalf；'　answered　Aragorn。　'And　perils　known　and　unknown　will　grow　as　we　go　on。　But　we　must　go　on；　and　it　is　no　good　our　delaying　the　passage　of　the　mountains。　Further　south　there　are　no　passes；　till　one　es　to　the　Gap　of　Rohan。　I　do　not　trust　that　way　since　your　news　of　Saruman。　Who　knows　which　side　now　the　marshals　of　the　Horselords　serve？'

'Who　knows　indeed！'　said　Gandalf。　'But　there　is　another　way；　and　not　by　the　pass　of　Caradhras：　the　dark　and　secret　way　that　we　have　spoken　of。'

'But　let　us　not　speak　of　it　again！　Not　yet。　Say　nothing　to　the　others　I　beg；　not　until　it　is　plain　that　there　is　no　other　way。'

'We　must　decide　before　we　go　further；'　answered　Gandalf。

'Then　let　us　weigh　the　matter　in　our　minds；　while　the　others　rest　and　sleep；'　said　Aragorn。

In　the　late　afternoon；　while　the　others　were　finishing　their　breakfast；　Gandalf　and　Aragorn　went　aside　together　and　stood　looking　at　Caradhras。　Its　sides　were　now　dark　and　sullen；　and　its　head　was　in　grey　cloud。　Frodo　watched　them；　wondering　which　way　the　debate　would　go。　When　they　returned　to　the　pany　Gandalf　spoke；　and　then　he　knew　that　it　had　been　decided　to　face　the　weather　and　the　high　pass。　He　was　relieved。　He　could　not　guess　what　was　the　other　dark　and　secret　way；　but　the　very　mention　of　it　had　seemed　to　fill　Aragorn　with　dismay；　and　Frodo　was　glad　that　it　had　been　abandoned。

'From　signs　that　we　have　seen　lately；