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ahead； and forcing their aching knees to bend and straighten； and ever as
the stair cut its way deeper into the sheer mountain the rocky walls rose
higher and higher above their heads。
At length； just as they felt that they could endure no more； they saw
Gollum's eyes peering down at them again。 ‘We're up；' he whispered。 'First
stair's past。 Clever hobbits to climb so high； very clever hobbits。 Just a
few more little steps and that's all； yes。'
Dizzy and very tired Sam； and Frodo following him； crawled up the last
step； and sat down rubbing their legs and knees。 They were in a deep dark
passage that seemed still to go up before them； though at a gentler slope
and without steps。 Gollum did not let them rest long。
'There's another stair still；' he said。 ‘Much longer stair。 Rest when
we get to the top of next stair。 Not yet。'
Sam groaned。 'Longer； did you say？ ' he asked。
'Yes； yess； longer；' said Gollum。 ‘But not so difficult。 Hobbits have
climbed the Straight Stair。 Next es the Winding Stair。'
'And what after that？ ' said Sam。
‘We shall see；' said Gollum softly。 ‘O yes； we shall see！ '
'I thought you said there was a tunnel；' said Sam。 ‘Isn't there a
tunnel or something to go through？ '
'O yes； there's a tunnel；' said Gollum。 ‘But hobbits can rest before
they try that。 If they get through that； they'll be nearly at the top。 Very
nearly； if they get through。 O yes！ '
Frodo shivered。 The climb had made him sweat； but now he felt cold and
clammy； and there was a chill draught in the dark passage； blowing down from
the invisible heights above。 He got up and shook himself。 ‘Well； let's go
on！ ' he said。 ‘This is no place to sit in。'
The passage seemed to go on for miles； and always the chill air flowed
over them； rising as they went on to a bitter wind。 The mountains seemed to
be trying with their deadly breath to daunt them； to turn them back from the
secrets of the high places； or to blow them away into the darkness behind。
They only knew that they had e to the end； when suddenly they felt no
wall at their right hand。 They could see very little。 Great black shapeless
masses and deep grey shadows loomed above them and about them； but now and
again a dull red light flickered up under the lowering clouds； and for a
moment they were aware of tall peaks； in front and on either side； like
pillars holding up a vast sagging roof。 They seemed to have climbed up many
hundreds of feet； on to a wide shelf。 A cliff was on their left and a chasm
on their right。
Gollum led the way close under the cliff。 For the present they were no
longer climbing； but the ground was now more broken and dangerous in the
dark； and there were blocks and lumps of fallen stone in the way。 Their
going was slow and cautious。 How many hours had passed since they had
entered the Morgul Vale neither Sam nor Frodo could any longer guess。 The
night seemed endless。
At length they were once more aware of a wall looming up； and once more
a stairway opened before them。 Again they halted； and again they began to
climb。 It was a long and weary ascent； but this stairway did not delve into
the mountain…side。 Here the huge cliff face sloped backwards； and the path
like a snake wound to and fro across it。 At one point it crawled sideways
right to the edge of the dark chasm； and Frodo glancing down saw below him
as a vast deep pit the great ravine at the head of the Morgul Valley。 Down
in its depths glimmered like a glow…worm thread the wraith…road from the
dead city to the Nameless Pass。 He turned hastily away。
Still on and up the stairway bent and crawled； until at last with a
final flight； short and straight； it climbed out again on to another level。
The path had veered away from the main pass in the great ravine； and it now
followed its own perilous course at the bottom of a lesser cleft among the
higher regions of the Ephel D產th。 Dimly the hobbits could discern tall
piers and jagged pinnacles of stone on either side； between which were great
crevices and fissures blacker than the night； where forgotten winters had
gnawed and carved the sunless stone。 And now the red light in the sky seemed
stronger； though they could not tell whether a dreadful morning were indeed
ing to this place of shadow； or whether they saw only the flame of some
great violence of Sauron in the torment of Gorgoroth beyond。 Still far
ahead； and still high above； Frodo； looking up； saw； as he guessed； the very
crown of this bitter road。 Against the sullen redness of the eastern sky a
cleft was outlined in the topmost ridge； narrow； deep…cloven between two
black shoulders； and on either shoulder was a horn of stone。
He paused and looked more attentively。 The horn upon the left was tall
and slender； and in it burned a red light； or else the red light in the land
beyond was shining through a hole。 He saw now： it was a black tower poised
above the outer pass。 He touched Sam's arm and pointed。
'I don't like the look of that！ ' said Sam。 ‘So this secret way of
yours is guarded after all；' he growled； turning to Gollum。 'As you knew all
along； I suppose？ '
'All ways are watched； yes；' said Gollum。 ‘Of course they are。 But
hobbits must try some way。 This may be least watched。 Perhaps they've all
gone away to big battle； perhaps！ '
'Perhaps；' grunted Sam。 'Well； it still seems a long way off； and a
long way up before we get there。 And there's still the tunnel。 I think you
ought to rest now； Mr。 Frodo。 I don't know what time of day or night it is；
but we've kept going for hours and hours。'
‘Yes； we must rest；' said Frodo。 'Let us find some corner out of the
wind； and gather our strength…for the last lap。' For so he felt it to be。
The terrors of the land beyond； and the deed to be done there； seemed
remote； too far off yet to trouble him。 All his mind was bent on getting
through or over this impenetrable wall and guard。 If once he could do that
impossible thing； then somehow the errand would be acplished； or so it
seemed to him in that dark hour of weariness； still labouring in the stony
shadows under Cirith Ungol。
In a dark crevice between two great piers of rock they sat down： Frodo
and Sam a little way within。 and Gollum crouched upon the ground near the
opening。 There the hobbits took what they expected would be their last meal
before they went down into the Nameless Land； maybe the last meal they would
ever eat together。 Some of the food of Gondor they ate； and wafers of the
waybread of the Elves。 and they drank a little。 But of their water they were
sparing and took only enough to moisten their dry mouths。
‘I wonder when we'll find water again？ ' said Sam。 'But I suppose even
over there they drink？ Orcs drink； don't they？ '
'Yes； they drink；' said Frodo。 'But do not let us speak of that。 Such
drink is not for us。'
‘Then a