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！
together。 But I have ordered all the Ents to remove themselves from sight；
so perhaps we shall persuade him to e out。'
'What's the danger？' asked Pippin。 'Will he shoot at us； and pour fire
out of the windows； or can he put a spell on us from a distance？'
'The last is most likely； if you ride to his door with a light heart；'
said Gandalf。 'But there is no knowing what he can do； or may choose to try。
A wild beast cornered is not safe to approach。 And Saruman has powers you do
not guess。 Beware of his voice！'
They came now to the foot of Orthanc。 It was black； and the rock
gleamed as if it were wet。 The many faces of the stone had sharp edges as
though they had been newly chiselled。 A few scorings。 and small flake…like
splinters near the base； were all the marks that it bore of the fury of the
Ents。
On the eastern side； in the angle of two piers； there was a great door；
high above the ground； and over it was a shuttered window； opening upon a
balcony hedged with iron bars。 Up to the threshold of the door there mounted
a flight of twenty…seven broad stairs； hewn by some unknown art of the same
black stone。 This was the only entrance to the tower； but many tall windows
were cut with deep embrasures in the climbing walls： far up they peered like
little eyes in the sheer faces of the horns。
At the foot of the stairs Gandalf and the king dismounted。 'I will go
up；' said Gandalf。 'I have been in Orthanc and I know my peril。'
'And I too will go up；' said the king。 'I am old； and fear no peril any
more。 I wish to speak with the enemy who has done me so much wrong。 Jomer
shall e with me； and see that my aged feet do not falter。'
'As you will；' said Gandalf。 'Aragorn shall e with me。 Let the
others await us at the foot of the stairs。 They will hear and see enough； if
there is anything to hear or see。'
'Nay！' said Gimli。 'Legolas and I wish for a closer view。 We alone here
represent our kindred。 We also will e behind。'
'e then！' said Gandalf； and with that he climbed the steps； and
Thjoden went beside him。
The Riders of Rohan sat uneasily upon their horses； on either side of
the stair； and looked up darkly at the great tower； fearing what might
befall their lord。 Merry and Pippin sat on the bottom step； feeling both
unimportant and unsafe。
'Half a sticky mile from here to the gate！' muttered Pippin。 'I wish I
could slip off back to the guardroom unnoticed！ What did we e for？ We are
not wanted。'
Gandalf stood before the door of Orthanc and beat on it with his staff。
It rang with a hollow sound。 'Saruman； Saruman！' he cried in a loud
manding voice。 'Saruman e forth！'
For some time there was no answer。 At last the window above the door
was unbarred； hut no figure could be seen at its dark opening。
'Who is it？' said a voice。 'What do you wish？'
Thjoden started。 'I know that voice；' he said； 'and I curse the day
when I first listened to it。'
'Go and fetch Saruman； since you have bee his footman； Grnma
Wormtongue！' said Gandalf。 'And do not waste our time！'
The window closed。 They waited。 Suddenly another voice spoke； low and
melodious； its very sound an enchantment。 Those who listened unwarily to
that voice could seldom report the words that they heard； and if they did；
they wondered； for little power remained in them。 Mostly they remembered
only that it was a delight to hear the voice speaking； all that it said
seemed wise and reasonable； and desire awoke in them by swift agreement to
seem wise themselves。 When others spoke they seemed harsh and uncouth by
contrast； and if they gainsaid the voice； anger was kindled in the hearts of
those under the spell。 Fur some the spell lasted only while the voice spoke
to them； and when it spake to another they smiled； as men do who see through
a juggler's trick while others gape at it。 For many the sound of the voice
alone was enough to hold them enthralled； but for those whom it conquered
the spell endured when they were far away。 and ever they heard that soft
voice whispering and urging them。 But none were unmoved； none rejected its
pleas and its mands without an effort of mind and will； so long as its
master had control of it。
'Well？' it said now with gentle question。 'Why must you disturb my
rest？ Will you give me no peace at all by night or day？' Its tone was that
of a kindly heart aggrieved by injuries undeserved。
They looked up； astonished； for they had heard no sound of his ing；
and they saw a figure standing at the rail； looking down upon them： an old
man； swathed in a great cloak； the colour of which was not easy to tell； for
it changed if they moved their eyes or if he stirred。 His face was long；
with a high forehead； he had deep darkling eyes； hard to fathom； though the
look that they now bore was grave and benevolent； and a little weary。 His
hair and beard were white； but strands of black still showed about his lips
and ears。
'Like； and yet unlike；' muttered Gimli。
'But e now；' said the soft voice。 'Two at least of you I know by
name。 Gandalf I know too well to have much hope that he seeks help or
counsel here。 But you； Thjoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan are declared by
your noble devices； and still more by the fair countenance of the House of
Eorl。 O worthy son of Thengel the Thrice…renowned！ Why have you not e
before； and as a friend？ Much have I desired to see you； mightiest king of
western lands； and especially in these latter years； to save you from the
unwise and evil counsels that beset you！ Is it yet too late？ Despite the
injuries that have been done to me； in which the men of Rohan； alas！ have
had some part； still I would save you； and deliver you from the ruin that
draws nigh inevitably； if you ride upon this road which you have taken。
Indeed I alone can aid you now。'
Thjoden opened his mouth as if to speak； but he said nothing。 He looked
up at the face of Saruman with its dark solemn eyes bent down upon him； and
then to Gandalf at his side； and he seemed to hesitate。 Gandalf made no
sign； but stood silent as stone； as one waiting patiently for some call that
has not yet e。 The Riders stirred at first； murmuring with approval of
the words of Saruman； and then they too were silent； as men spell…bound。 It
seemed to them that Gandalf had never spoken so fair and fittingly to their
lord。 Rough and proud now seemed all his dealings with Thjoden。 And over
their hearts crept a shadow； the fear of a great danger： the end of the Mark
in a darkness to which Gandalf was driving them； while Saruman stood beside
a door of escape； holding it half open so that a ray of light came through。
There was a heavy silence。
It was Gimli the dwarf who broke in suddenly。 'The words of this wizard
stand on their heads；' he growled； gripping the handle of his axe。 'In the
language of Orthanc help means ruin