The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第61部分

'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　thereif　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　wolfvoices。　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　southwest　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　wolfshape　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　dwarfaxe。　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　treetop　to　treetop。　The　whole　hill　was　crowned　with　dazzling　light。　The　swords　and　knives　of　the　defenders　shone　and　flickered。　The　last　arrow　of　Legolas　kindled　in　the　air　as　it　flew；　and　plunged　burning　into　the　heart　of　a　great　wolfchieftain。　All　the　others　fled。

Slowly　the　fire　died　till　nothing　was　left　but　falling　ash　and　sparks；　a　bitter　smoke　curled　above　the　burned　treestumps；　and　blew　darkly　from　the　hill；　as　the　first　light　of　dawn　came　dimly　in　the　sky。　Their　enemies　were　routed　and　did　not　return。

'What　did　I　tell　you；　Mr。　Pippin？　'　said　Sam；　she/thing　his　sword。　'Wolves　won't　get　him。　That　was　an　eyeopener；　and　no　mistake！　Nearly　singed　the　hair　off　my　head！'

When　the　full　light　of　the　morning　came　no　signs　of　the　wolves　were　to　be　found；　and　they　looked　in　vain　for　the　bodies　of　the　dead。　No　trace　of　the　fight　remained　but　the　charred　trees　and　the　arrows　of　Legolas　lying　on　the　hilltop。　All　were　undamaged　save　one　of　which　only　the　point　was　left。

'It　is　as　I　feared；'　said　Gandalf。　'These　were　no　ordinary　wolves　hunting　for　food　in　the　wilderness。　Let　us　eat　quickly　and　go！'

That　day　the　weather　changed　again；　almost　as　if　it　was　at　the　mand　of　some　power　that　had　no　longer　any　use　for　snow；　since　they　had　retreated　from　the　pass；　a　power　that　wished　now　to　have　a　clear　light　in　which　things　that　moved　in　the　wild　could　be　seen　from　far　away。　The　wind　had　been　turning　through　north　to　northwest　during　the　night；　and　now　it　failed。　The　clouds　vanished　southwards　and　the　sky　was　opened；　high　and　blue。　As　they　stood　upon　the　hillside；　ready　to　depart；　a　pale　sunlight　gleamed　over　the　mountain　tops。

'We　must　reach　the　doors　before　sunset；'　said　Gandalf；　'or　I　fear　we　shall　not　reach　them　at　all。　It　is　not　far；　but　our　path　may　be　winding；　for　here　Aragorn　cannot　guide　us；　he　has　seldom　walked　in　this　country；　and　only　once　have　I　been　under　the　west　wall　of　Moria；　and　that　was　long　ago。

'There　it　lies；'　he　said；　pointing　away　southeastwards　to　where　the　mountains'　sides　fell　sheer　into　the　shadows　at　their　feet。　In　the　distance　could　be　dimly　seen　a　line　of　bare　cliffs；　and　in　their　midst；　taller　than　the　rest；　one　great　grey　wall。　'When　we　left　the　pass　I　led　you　southwards；　and　not　back　to　our　starting　point；　as　some　of　you　may　have　noticed。　It　is　well　that　I　did　so；　for　now　we　have　several　miles　less　to　cross；　and　haste　is　needed。　Let　us　go！　'

'I　do　not　know　which　to　hope；'　said　Boromir　grimly：　'that　Gandalf　will　find　what　he　seeks；　or　that　ing　to　the　cliff　we　shall　find　the　gates　lost　for　ever。　All　choices　seem　ill；　and　to　be　caught　between　wolves　and　the　wall　the　likeliest　chance。　Lead　on！'

Gimli　now　walked　ahead　by　the　wizard's　side；　so　eager　was　he　to　e　to　Moria。　Together　they　led　the　pany　back　towards　the　mountains。　The　only　road　of　old　to　Moria　from　the　west　had　lain　along　the　course　of　a　stream；　the　Sirannon；　that　ran　out　from　the　feet　of　the　cliffs　near　where　the　doors　had　stood。　But　either　Gandalf　was　astray；　or　else　the　land　had　changed　in　recent　years；　for　he　did　not　strike　the　stream　where　he　looked　to　find　it；　only　a　few　miles　southwards　from　their　start。

The　morning　was　passing　towards　noon；　and　still　the　pany　wandered　and　scrambled　in　a　barren　country　of　red　stones。　Nowhere　could　they　see　any　gleam　of　water　or　hear　any　sound　of　it。　All　was　bleak　and　dry。　Their　hearts　sank。　They　saw　no　living　thing；　and　not　a　bird　was　in　the　sky；　but　what　the　night　would　bring；　if　it　caught　them　in　that　lost　land；　none　of　them　cared　to　think。

Suddenly　Gimli；　who　had　pressed　on　ahead；　called　back　to　them。　He　was　standing　on　a　knoll　and　pointing　to　the　right。　Hurrying　up　they　saw　below　them　a　deep　and　narrow　channel。　It　was　empty　and　silent；　and　hardly　a　trickle　of　water　flowed　among　the　brown　and　redstained　stones　of　its　bed；　but　on　the　near　side　there　was　a　path；　much　broken　and　decayed；　that　wound　its　way　among　the　ruined　walls　and　pavingstones　of　an　ancient　highroad。

'Ah！　Here　it　is　at　last！　'　said　Gandalf。　'This　is　where　the　stream　ran：　Sirannon；　the　Gatestream；　they　used　to　call　it。　But　what　has　happened　to　the　water；　I　cannot　guess；　it　used　to　be　swift　and　noisy。　e！　We　must　hurry　on。　We　are　late。'

The　pany　were　footsore　and　tired；　but　they　trudged　doggedly　along　the　rough　and　winding　track　for　many　miles。　The　sun　turned　from　the　noon　and　began　to　go　west。　After　a　brief　halt　and　a　hasty　meal　they　went　on　again。　Before　them　the　mountains　frowned；　but　their　path　lay　in　a　deep　trough　of　land　and　they　could　see　only　the　higher　shoulders　and　the　far　eastward　peaks。

At　length　they　came　to　a　sharp　bend。　There　the　road；　which　had　been　veering　southwards　between　the　brink　of　the　channel　and　a　steep　fall　of　the　land　to　the　left；　turned　and　went　due　east　again。　Rounding　the　corner　they　saw　before　them　a　low　cliff；　some　five　fathoms　high；　with　a　broken　and　jagged　top。　Over　it　a　trickling　water　dr