按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
put slips right； and small thanks。 But don't forget： the enemies don't love
us any more than they love Him； and if they get topsides on Him； we're done
too。 But see here： when were you ordered out？ '
‘About an hour ago； just before you saw us。 A message came： Nazgyl
uneasy。 Spies feared on Stairs。 Double vigilance。 Patrol to head of Stairs。
I came at once。'
'Bad business；' said Gorbag。 ‘See here our Silent Watchers were
uneasy more than two days ago。 that I know。 But my patrol wasn't ordered out
for another day； nor any message sent to Lugb畆z either： owing to the Great
Signal going up； and the High Nazgyl going off to the war； and all that。 And
then they couldn't get Lugb畆z to pay attention for a good while； I'm told。'
‘The Eye was busy elsewhere； I suppose；' said Shagrat。 ‘Big things
going on away west； they say。'
'I daresay；' growled Gorbag。 ‘But in the meantime enemies have got up
the Stairs。 And what were you up to？ You're supposed to keep watch； aren't
you； special orders or no？ What are you for？'
‘That's enough！ Don't try and teach me my job。 We were awake all right。
We knew there were funny things going on。'
‘Very funny！ '
‘Yes； very funny： lights and shouting and all。 But Shelob was on the
go。 My lads saw her and her Sneak。'
‘Her Sneak？ What's that？ '
‘You must have seen him： little thin black fellow； like a spider
himself； or perhaps more like a starved frog。 He's been here before。 Came
out of Lugb畆z the first time； years ago； and we had word from High Up to
let him pass。 He's been up the Stairs once or twice since then； but we've
left him alone： seems to have some understanding with Her Ladyship。 I
suppose he's no good to eat： she wouldn't worry about words from High Up。
But a fine guard you keep in the valley： he was up here a day before all
this racket。 Early last night we saw him。 Anyway my lads reported that Her
Ladyship was having some fun； and that seemed good enough for me； until the
message came。 I thought her Sneak had brought her a toy。 or that you'd
perhaps sent her a present； a prisoner of war or something。 I don't
interfere when she's playing。 Nothing gets by Shelob when she's on the
hunt。'
'Nothing； say you！ Didn't you use your eyes back there？ I tell you I'm
not easy in my mind。 Whatever came up the Stairs； did get by。 It cut her web
and got clean out of the hole。 That's something to think about！ '
‘Ah well； but she got him in the end； didn't she？ '
‘Got him？ Got who？ This little fellow？ But if he was the only one then
she'd have had him off to her larder long before； and there he'd be now。 And
if Lugb畆z wanted him； you'd have to go and get him。 Nice for you。 But there
was more than one。'
At this point Sam began to listen more attentively and pressed his ear
against the stone。
'Who cut the cords she'd put round him； Shagrat？ Same one as cut the
web。 Didn't you see that？ And who stuck a pin into Her Ladyship？ Same one； I
reckon。 And where is he？ Where is he； Shagrat？ '
Shagrat made no reply。
‘You may well put your thinking cap on； if you've got one。 It's no
laughing matter。 No one； no one has ever stuck a pin in Shelob before； as
you should know well enough。 There's no grief in that； but think…there's
someone loose hereabouts as is more dangerous than any other damned rebel
that ever walked since the bad old times； since the Great Siege。 Something
has slipped。'
‘And what is it then？ ' growled Shagrat。
‘By all the signs； Captain Shagrat； I'd say there's a large warrior
loose； Elf most likely； with an elf…sword anyway； and an axe as well maybe：
and he's loose in your bounds； too； and you've never spotted him。 Very funny
indeed！ ' Gorbag spat。 Sam smiled grimly at this description of himself。
'Ah well； you always did take a gloomy view。' said Shagrat。 'You can
read the signs how you like； but there may be other ways to explain them。
Anyhow。 I've got watchers at every point； and I'm going to deal with one
thing at a time。 When I've had a look at the fellow we have caught； then
I'll begin to worry
1cb2
about something else。'
‘It's my guess you won't find much in that little fellow；' said Gorbag。
'He may have had nothing to do with the real mischief。 The big fellow with
the sharp sword doesn't seem to have thought him worth much anyhow just
left him lying： regular elvish trick。'
‘We'll see。 e on now！ We've talked enough。 Let's go and have a look
at the prisoner！
‘What are you going to do with him？ Don't forget I spotted him first。
If there's any game； me and my lads must be in it。'
'Now； now；' growled Shagrat。 'I have my orders。 And it's more than my
belly's worth； or yours； to break 'em。 Any trespasser found by the guard is
to be held at the tower。 Prisoner is to be stripped。 Full description of
every article； garment； weapon； letter； ring。 or trinket is to be sent to
Lugb畆z at once； and to Lugb畆z only。 And the prisoner is to be kept safe
and intact； under pain of death for every member of the guard； until He
sends or es Himself。 That's plain enough； and that's what I'm going to
do。'
'Stripped； eh？ ' said Gorbag。 'What； teeth； nails； hair； and all？ '
‘No； none of that。 He's for Lugb畆z； I tell you。 He's wanted safe and
whole。'
'You'll find that difficult；' laughed Gorbag。 'He's nothing but carrion
now。 What Lugb畆z will do with such stuff I can't guess。 He might as well go
in the pot。'
'You fool；' snarled Shagrat。 'You've been talking very clever； but
there's a lot you don't know； though most other folk do。 You'll be for the
pot or for Shelob； if you don't take care。 Carrion！ Is that all you know of
Her Ladyship？ When she binds with cords； she's after meat。 She doesn't eat
dead meat； nor suck cold blood。 This fellow isn't dead！ '
Sam reeled； clutching at the stone。 He felt as if the whole dark world
was turning upside down。 So great was the shock that he almost swooned； but
even as he fought to keep a hold on his senses； deep inside him he was aware
of the ment： 'You fool； he isn't dead； and your heart knew it。 Don't
trust your head； Samwise； it is not the best part of you。 The trouble with
you is that you never really had any hope。 Now what is to be done？ ' Fur the
moment nothing； but to prop himself against the unmoving stone and listen；
listen to the vile orc…voices。
‘Garn！' said Shagrat。 'She's got more than one poison。 When she's
hunting； she just gives 'em a dab in the neck and they go as limp as boned
fish； and then she has her way with them。 D'you remember old Ufthak？ We lost
him for days。 Then we found him in a corner； hanging up he was； but he was
wide awake and glaring。 How we laughed！ She'd forgotten him； maybe； but we
didn't touch him…no good interfering with Her。 Nar this little filth；
he'll wake up； in a few hours； and beyond feeling a bit