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some source higher up the valley。 Upon its outer marges under the westward mountains Mordor
was a dying land； but it was not yet dead。 And here things still grew； harsh； twisted； bitter；
struggling for life。 In the glens of the Morgai on the other side of the valley low scrubby trees
lurked and clung； coarse grey grass…tussocks fought with the stones； and withered mosses crawled
on them； and everywhere great writhing； tangled brambles sprawled。 Some had long stabbing
thorns； some hooked barbs that rent like knives。 The sullen shrivelled leaves of a past year hung on
them； grating and rattling in the sad airs； but their maggot…ridden buds were only just opening。 Flies；
dun or grey； or black； marked like ores with a red eye…shaped blotch； buzzed and stung； and above
the briar…thickets clouds of hungry midges danced and reeled。
'Orc…gear's no good；' said Sam； waving his arms。 'I wish I'd got an orc's hide！'
At last Frodo could go no further。 They had climbed up a narrow shelving ravine； but they still
had a long way to go before they could even e in sight of the last craggy ridge。 'I must rest now；
Sam； and sleep if I can。' said Frodo。 He looked about； but there seemed nowhere even for an animal
to crawl into in this dismal country。 At length； tired out； they slunk under a curtain of brambles that
hung down like a mat over a low rock…face。
There they sat and made such a meal as they could。 Keeping back the precious _lembas_ for the
evil days ahead； they ate the half of what remained in Sam's bag of Faramir's provision： some dried
fruit； and a small slip of cured meat； and they sipped some water。 They had drunk again from the
pools in the valley； but they were very； thirsty again。 There was a bitter tang in the air of Mordor
that dried the mouth。 When Sam thought of water even his hopeful spirit quailed。 Beyond the
Morgai there was the dreadful plain of Gorgoroth to cross。
'Now you go to sleep first； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 'It's getting dark again。 I reckon this day is nearly
over。'
Frodo sighed and was asleep almost before the words were spoken。 Sam struggled with his own
weariness； and he took Frodo's hand； and there he sat silent till deep night fell。 Then at last； to keep
himself awake； he crawled from the hiding…place and looked out。 The land seemed full of creaking
and cracking and sly noises； but there was no sound of voice or of foot。 Far above the Ephel Dúath
in the West the night…sky was still dim and pale。 There； peeping among the cloud…wrack above a
dark tor high up in the mountains； Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while。 The beauty of it smote
his heart； as he looked up out of the forsaken land； and hope returned to him。 For like a shaft； clear
and cold； the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing：
there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach。 His song in the Tower had been defiance
rather than hope； for then he was thinking of himself。 Now； for a moment； his own fate； and even
his masters； ceased to trouble him。 He crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo's
side； and putting away all fear he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep。
They woke together； hand in hand。 Sam was almost fresh； ready for another day； but Frodo
sighed。 His sleep had been uneasy； full of dreams of fire； and waking brought him no fort。 Still
his sleep had not been without all healing virtue： he was stronger； more able to bear his burden one
stage further。 They did not know the time； nor how long they had slept； but after a morsel of food
and a sip of water they went on up the ravine； until it ended in a sharp slope of screes and sliding
stones。 There the last living things gave up their struggle； the tops of the Morgai were grassless；
bare； jagged； barren as a slate。
After much wandering and search they found a way that they could climb； and with a last
hundred feet of clawing scramble they were up。 They came to a cleft between two dark crags； and
passing through found themselves on the very edge of the last fence of Mordor。 Below them； at the
bottom of a fall of some fifteen hundred feet； lay the inner plain stretching away into a formless
gloom beyond their sight。 The wind of the world blew now from the West； and the great clouds
were lifted high； floating away eastward； but still only a grey light came to the dreary fields of
Gorgoroth。 There smokes trailed on the ground and lurked in hollows； and fumes leaked from
fissures in the earth。
Still far away； forty miles at least； they saw Mount Doom； its feet founded in ashen ruin； its
huge cone rising to a great height； where its reeking head was swathed in cloud。 Its fires were now
dimmed； and it stood in smouldering slumber； as threatening and dangerous as a sleeping beast。
Behind it there hung a vast shadow； ominous as a thunder…cloud； the veils of Barad…d？r that was
reared far way upon a long spur of the Ashen Mountains thrust down from the North。 The Dark
Power was deep in thought； and the Eye turned inward； pondering tidings of doubt and danger： a
bright sword； and a stern and kingly face it saw； and for a while it gave little thought to other things；
and all its great stronghold； gate on gate； and tower on tower； was wrapped in a brooding gloom。
Frodo and Sam gazed out in mingled loathing and wonder on this hateful land。 Between them
and the smoking mountain； and about it north and south； all seemed ruinous and dead； a desert
burned and choked。 They wondered how the Lord of this realm maintained and fed his slaves and
his armies。 Yet armies he had。 As far as their eyes could reach； along the skirts of the Morgai and
away southward； there were camps； some of tents； some ordered like small towns。 One of the
largest of these was right below them。 Barely a mile out into the plain it clustered like some huge
nest of insects； with straight dreary streets of huts and long low drab buildings。 About it the ground
was busy with folk going to and fro； a wide road ran from it south…east to join the Morgul…way； and
along it many lines of small black shapes were hurrying。
'I don't like the look of things at all；' said Sam。 'Pretty hopeless； I call it – saving that where
there's such a lot of folk there must be wells or water； not to mention food。 And these are Men not
Orcs； or my eyes are all wrong。'
Neither he nor Frodo knew anything of the great slave…worked fields away south in this wide
realm； beyond the fumes of the Mountain by the dark sad waters of Lake Núrnen； nor of the great
roads that ran away east and south to tributary lands； from which the soldiers of the Tower brought
long waggon…trains of goods and booty and fresh slaves。 Here in the northward regions were the
mines and forges； and the musterings of long…planned war； and here the Dark Power； moving its
armies like pieces on the board； was gathering them together。 Its first moves； the first feelers of its
strength； had been checked upon its western line； southward and northward。 For the moment it
withdrew them； and brought up new forces； massing them about Cirith Gorg