The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第66部分

At　length　they　stirred　and　looked　up；　and　began　to　search　for　anything　that　would　give　them　tidings　of　Balin's　fate；　or　show　what　had　bee　of　his　folk。　There　was　another　smaller　door　on　the　other　side　of　the　chamber；　under　the　shaft。　By　both　the　doors　they　could　now　see　that　many　bones　were　lying；　and　among　them　were　broken　swords　and　axeheads；　and　cloven　shields　and　helms。

　Some　of　the　swords　were　crooked：　orcscimitars　with　blackened　blades。

There　were　many　recesses　cut　in　the　rock　of　the　walls；　and　in　them　were　large　ironbound　chests　of　wood。　All　had　been　broken　and　plundered；　but　beside　the　shattered　lid　of　one　there　lay　the　remains　of　a　book。　It　had　been　slashed　and　stabbed　and　partly　burned；　and　it　was　so　stained　with　black　and　other　dark　marks　like　old　blood　that　little　of　it　could　be　read。　Gandalf　lifted　it　carefully；　but　the　leaves　crackled　and　broke　as　he　laid　it　on　the　slab。　He　pored　over　it　for　some　time　without　speaking。　Frodo　and　Gimli　standing　at　his　side　could　see；　as　he　gingerly　turned　the　leaves；　that　they　were　written　by　many　different　hands；　in　runes；　both　of　Moria　and　of　Dale；　and　here　and　there　in　Elvish　script。

At　last　Gandalf　looked　up。　'It　seems　to　be　a　record　of　the　fortunes　of　Balin's　folk；'　he　said。　'I　guess　that　it　began　with　their　ing　to　Dimrill　Dale　nigh　on　thirty　years　ago：　the　pages　seem　to　have　numbers　referring　to　the　years　after　their　arrival。　The　top　page　is　marked　one；　three；　so　at　least　two　are　missing　from　the　beginning。　Listen　to　this！

'We　drove　out　orcs　from　the　great　gate　and　guard。　I　think；　the　next　word　is　blurred　and　burned；　probably　room；　we　slew　many　in　the　bright。　I　think。　sun　in　the　dale。　Flói　was　killed　by　an　arrow。　He　slew　the　great。　Then　there　is　a　blur　followed　by　Flói　under　grass　near　Mirror　mere。　The　next　line　or　two　I　cannot　read。　Then　es　We　have　taken　the　twentyfirst　hall　of　North　end　to　dwell　in。　There　is　I　cannot　read　what。　A　shaft　is　mentioned。　Then　Balin　has　set　up　his　seat　in　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul。'

'The　Chamber　of　Records；'　said　Gimli。　'I　guess　that　is　where　we　now　stand。'

'Well；　I　can　read　no　more　for　a　long　way；'　said　Gandalf；　'except　the　word　gold；　and　Durin's　Axe　and　something　helm。　Then　Balin　is　now　lord　of　Moria。　That　seems　to　end　a　chapter。　After　some　stars　another　hand　begins；　and　I　can　see　we　found　truesilver；　and　later　the　word　wellfed　and　then　something；　I　have　it！　mithril；　and　the　last　two　lines　óin　to　seek　for　the　upper　armouries　of　Third　Deep；　something　go　westwards；　a　blur；　to　Hollin　gate。'

Gandalf　paused　and　set　a　few　leaves　aside。　'There　are　several　pages　of　the　same　sort；　rather　hastily　written　and　much　damaged；　he　said；　'but　I　can　make　little　of　them　in　this　light。　Now　there　must　be　a　number　of　leaves　missing；　because　they　begin　to　be　numbered　five；　the　fifth　year　of　the　colony；　I　suppose。　Let　me　see！　No；　they　are　too　cut　and　stained；　I　cannot　read　them。　We　might　do　better　in　the　sunlight。　Wait！　Here　is　something：　a　large　bold　hand　using　an　Elvish　script。'

'That　would　be　Ori's　hand；'　said　Gimli；　looking　over　the　wizard's　arm。　'He　could　write　well　and　speedily；　and　often　used　the　Elvish　characters。'

'I　fear　he　had　ill　tidings　to　record　in　a　fair　hand；'　said　Gandalf。　'The　first　clear　word　is　sorrow；　but　the　rest　of　the　line　is　lost；　unless　it　ends　in　estre。　Yes；　it　must　be　yestre　followed　by　day　being　the　tenth　of　novembre　Balin　lord　of　Moria　fell　in　Dimrill　Dale。　He　went　alone　to　look　in　Mirror　mere。　an　orc　shot　him　from　behind　a　stone。　we　slew　the　orc；　hut　many　more　。。。　up　from　east　up　the　Silverlode。　The　remainder　of　the　page　is　so　blurred　that　I　can　hardly　make　anything　out；　but　I　think　I　can　read　we　have　barred　the　gates；　and　then　can　hold　them　long　if；　and　then　perhaps　horrible　and　suffer。　Poor　Balin！　He　seems　to　have　kept　the　title　that　he　took　for　less　than　five　years。　I　wonder　what　happened　afterwards；　but　there　is　no　time　to　puzzle　out　the　last　few　pages。　Here　is　the　last　page　of　all。'　He　paused　and　sighed。

'It　is　grim　reading；'　he　said。　'I　fear　their　end　was　cruel。　Listen！　We　cannot　get　out。　We　cannot　get　out。　They　have　taken　the　Bridge　and　second　hall。　Frár　and　Lóni　and　Náli　fell　there。　Then　there　are　four　lines　smeared　so　that　I　can　only　read　went　5　days　ago。　The　last　lines　run　the　pool　is　up　to　the　wall　at　Westgate。　The　Watcher　in　the　Water　took　óin。　We　cannot　get　out。　The　end　es；　and　then　drums；　drums　in　the　deep。　I　wonder　what　that　means。　The　last　thing　written　is　in　a　trailing　scrawl　of　elfletters：　they　are　ing。　There　is　nothing　more。'　Gandalf　paused　and　stood　in　silent　thought。

A　sudden　dread　and　a　horror　of　the　chamber　fell　on　the　pany。　'We　cannot　get　out；'　muttered　Gimli。　'It　was　well　for　us　that　the　pool　had　sunk　a　little；　and　that　the　Watcher　was　sleeping　down　at　the　southern　end。'

Gandalf　raised　his　head　and　looked　round。　'They　seem　to　have　made　a　last　stand　by　both　doors；'　he　said；　'but　there　were　not　many　left　by　that　time。　So　ended　the　attempt　to　retake　Moria！　It　was　valiant　but　foolish。　The　time　is　not　e　yet。　Now；　I　fear；　we　must　say　farewell　to　Balin　son　of　Fundin。　Here　he　must　lie　in　the　halls　of　his　fathers。　We　will　take　this　book；　the　Book　of　Mazarbul；　and　look　at　it　more　closely　later。　You　had　better　keep　it；　Gimli；　and　take　it　back　to　Dáin；　if　you　get　a　chance。　It　will　interest　him；　though　it　will　grieve　him　deeply。　e；　let　us　go！　The　morning　is　passing。'

'Which　way　shall　we　go？　'　asked　Boromir。

'Back　to　the　hall；'　answered　Gandalf。　'But　our　visit　to　this　room　has　not　been　in　vain。　I　now　know　where　we　are。　This　must　be；　as　Gimli　says；　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul；　and　the　hall　must　be　the　twentyfirst　of　the　Northend。　Therefore　we　should　leave　by　the　eastern　arch　of　the　hall；　and　bear　right　and　south；　and　go　downwards。　The　Twentyfirst　Hall　should　be　on　the　Seventh　Level；　that　is　six　above　the　level　of　the　Gates。　e　now！　Back　to　the　hall！　'

Gandalf　had　hardly　spoken　these　words；　when　there　came　a　great　noise：　a　rolling　Boom　that　seemed　to　e　from　depths　far　below；　and　to　tremble　in　the　stone　at　their　feet。　They　sprang　towards　the　door　in　alarm。　Doom；　doom　it　rolled　again；　as　if　huge　hands　were　turning　the　very　caverns　of　Moria　into　a　vast　drum。　Then　there　came　an　echoing　blast：　a　great　horn　was　blown　in　the　hall；　and　answering　horns　and　harsh　cries　were　heard　further　off。　There　was　a　hurrying　sound　of　many　feet。

'They　are　ing！　'　cried　Legolas。

'We　cannot　get　out；'　said　Gimli。

'Trapped！　'　cried　Gandalf。　'Why　did　I　delay？　Here　we　are；　caught；　just　as　they　were　before。　But　I　was　not　here　then。　We　will　see　what—？'

Doom；　doom　came　the　drumbeat　and　the　walls　shook。

'Slam　the　doors　and　wedge　them！　'　shouted　Aragorn。　'And　keep　your　packs　on　as　long　as　you　can：　we　may　get　a　chance　to　cut　our　way　out　yet。'

'No！　'　said　Gandalf。　'We　must　not　get　shut　in。　Keep　the　east　door　ajar！　We　will　go　that　way；　if　we　get　a　chance。'

Another　harsh　horncall　and　shrill　cries　rang　out。　Feet　were　ing　down　the　corridor。　There　was　a　ring　and　clatter　as　the　pany　drew　their　swords。　Glamdring　shone　with　a　pale　light；　and　Sting　glinted　at　the　edges。　Boromir　set　his　shoulder　against　the　western　door。

'Wait　a　moment！　Do　not　close　it　yet！　'　said　Gandalf。　He　sprang　forward　to　Boromir's　side　and　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height。

'Who　es　hither　to　disturb　the　rest　of　Balin　Lord　of　Moria？　'　he　cried　in　a　loud　voice。

There　was　a　rush　of　hoarse　laughter；　like　the　fall　of　sliding　stones　into　a　pit；　amid　the　clamour　a　deep　voice　was　raised　in　mand。　Doom；　boom；　doom　went　the　drums　in　the　deep。

ent　Gandalf　stepped　before　the　narrow　opening　of　the　door　and　thrust　forward　his　staff：　There　was　a　dazzling　flash　that　lit　the　chamber　and　the　passage　outside。　For　an　instant　the　wizard　looked　out。　Arrows　whined　and　whistled　down　the　corridor　as　he　sprang　back。

'There　are　Orcs；　very　many　of　them；'　he　said。　'And　some　are　large　and　evil：　black　Uruks　of　Mordor。　For　the　moment　they　are　hanging　back；　but　there　is　something　else　there。　A　great　cavetroll；　I　think；　or　more　than　one。　There　is　no　hope　of　escape　that　way。'

'And　no　hope　at　all；　if　they　e　at　the　other　door　as　well；'　said　Boromir。

'There　is　no　sound　outside　here　yet；'　said　Aragorn；　who　was　standing　by　the　eastern　door　listening。　'The　passage　on　this　side　plunges　straight　down　a　stair：　it　plainly　does　not　lead　back　towards　the　hall。　But　it　is　no　good　flying　blindly　this　way　with　the　pursuit　just　behind。　We　cannot　block　the　door。　Its　key　is　gone　and　the　lock　is　broken；　and　it　opens　inwards。　We　must　do　something　to　delay　the　enemy　first。　We　will　make　them　fear　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul！'　he　said　grimly　feeling　the　edge　of　his　sword；　Andúril。

Heavy　feet　were　heard　in　the　corridor。　Boromir　flung　himself　against　the　door　and　heaved　it　to；　then　he　wedged　it　with　broken　swordblades　and　splinters　of　wood。　The　pany　retreated　to　the　other　side　of　the　chamber。　But　they　had　no　chance　to　fly　yet。　There　was　a　blow　on　the　door　that　made　it　quiver；　and　then　it　began　to　grind　slowly　open；　driving　back　the　wedges。　A　huge　arm　and　shoulder；　with　a　dark　skin　of　greenish　scales；　was　thrust　through　the　widening　gap。　Then　a　great；　flat；　toeless　foot　was　forced　through　below。　There　was　a　dead　silence　outside。

Boromir　leaped　forward　and　hewed　at　the　arm　with　all　his　might；　but　his　sword　rang；　glanced　aside；　and　fell　from　his　shaken　hand。　The　blade　was　notched。

Suddenly；　and　to　his　own　surprise；　Frodo　felt　a　hot　wrath　blaze　up　in　his　heart。　'The　Shire！　'　he　cried；　and　springing　beside　Boromir；　he　stooped；　and　stabbed　with　Sting　at　the　hideous　foot。　There　was　a　bellow；　and　the　foot　jerked　back；　nearly　wrenching　Sting　from　Frodo's　arm。　Black　drops　dripped　from　the　blade　and　smoked　on　the　floor。　Boromir　hurled　himself　against　the　door　and　slammed　it　again。

'One　for　the　Shire！　'　cried　Aragorn。　'The　hobbit's　bite　is　deep！　You　have　a　good　blade；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo！　'

There　was　a　crash　on　the　door；　followed　by　crash　after　crash。　Rams　and　hammers　were　beating　against　it。　It　cracked　and　staggered　back；　and　the　opening　grew　suddenly　wide。　Arrows　came　whistling　in；　but　struck　the　northern　wall；　and　fell　harmlessly　to　the　floor。　There　was　a　hornblast　and　a　rush　of　feet；　and　orcs　one　after　another　leaped　into　the　chamber。

How　many　there　were　the　pany　could　not　count。　The　affray　was　sharp；　but　the　orcs　were　dismayed　by　the　fierceness　of　the　defence。　Legolas　shot　two　through　the　throat。　Gimli　hewed　the　legs　from　under　another　that　had　sprung　up　on　Balin's　tomb。　Boromir　and　Aragorn　slew　many。　When　thirteen　had　fallen　the　rest　fled　shrieking。　leaving　the　defenders　unharmed；　except　for　Sam　who　had　a　scratch　along　the　scalp。　A　quick　duck　had　saved　him；　and　he　had　felled　his　orc：　a　sturdy　thrust　with　his　Barrowblade。　A　fire　was　smouldering　in　his　brown　eyes　that　would　have　made　Ted　Sandyman　step　backwards；　if　he　had　seen　it。

'Now　is　the　time！　'　cried　Gandalf。　'Let　us　go；　before　the　troll　returns！'

But　even　as　they　retreated；　and　before　Pippin　and　Merry　had　reached　the　stair　outside；　a　huge　orcchieftain；　almost　manhigh；　clad　in　black　mail　from　head　to　foot；　leaped　into　the　chamber；　behind　him　his　followers　clustered　in　the　doorway。　His　broad　flat　face　was　swart；　his　eyes　were　like　coals；　and　his　tongue　was　red；　he　wielded　a　great　spear。　With　a　thrust　of　his　huge　hide　shield　h