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！
deep wells； and the rivers of fire blazed so fiercely that even at this distance of many miles the light
of them lit the tower…top with a red glare。 Westward the view was blocked by the base of the great
turret that stood at the back of this upper court and reared its horn high above the crest of the
encircling hills。 Light gleamed in a window…slit。 Its door was not ten yards from where Sam stood。
It was open but dark； and from just within its shadow the voices came。
At first Sam did not listen； he took a pace out of the eastward door and looked about。 At once he
saw that up here the fighting had been fiercest。 All the court was choked with dead orcs or their
severed and scattered heads and limbs。 The place stank of death。 A snarl followed by a blow and a
cry sent him darting back into hiding。 An orc…voice rose in anger； and he knew it again at once；
harsh； brutal； cold。 It was Shagrat speaking； Captain of the Tower。
‘You won't go again； you say？ Curse you； Snaga； you little maggot！ If you think I'm so damaged
that it's safe to flout me； you're mistaken e here； and I'll squeeze your eyes out； like I did to
Radbug just now。 And when some new lads e； I'll deal with you： I'll send you to Shelob。'
‘They won't e； not before you're dead anyway；' answered Snaga surlily。 'I've told you twice
that Gorbag's swine got to the gate first； and none of ours got out。 Lagduf and Muzgash ran through；
but they were shot。 I saw it from a window； I tell you。 And they were the last。'
'Then you must go。 I must stay here anyway。 But I'm hurt。 The Black Pits take that filthy rebel
Gorbag！' Shagrat's voice trailed off into a string of foul names and curses。 ‘I gave him better than I
got； but he knifed me； the dung； before I throttled him。 You must go； or I'll eat you。 News must get
through to Lugbúrz； or we'll both be for the Black Pits。 Yes； you too。 You won't escape by skulking
here。'
‘I'm not going down those stairs again；' growled Snaga； ‘be you captain or no。 Nar！ Keep your
hands off your knife； or I'll put an arrow in your guts。 You won't be a captain long when They hear
about all these goings…on。 I've fought for the Tower against those stinking Morgul…rats； but a nice
mess you two precious captains have made of things； fighting over the swag。'
'That's enough from you；' snarled Shagrat。 ‘I had my orders。 It was Gorbag started it； trying to
pinch that pretty shirt。'
‘Well； you put his back up； being so high and mighty。 And he had more sense than you anyway。
He told you more than once that the most dangerous of these spies was still loose； and you wouldn't
listen。 And you won't listen now。 Gorbag was right； I tell you。 There's a great fighter about； one of
those bloody…handed Elves； or one of the filthy _tarks_。*1 He's ing here； I tell you。 You heard
the bell。 He's got past the Watchers； and that's _tark's_ work。 He's on the stairs。 And until he's off
them； I'm not going down。 Not if you were a Nazg？l； I wouldn't。'
‘So that's it； is it？' yelled Shagrat。 'You'll do this； and you'll not do that？ And when he does e；
you'll bolt and leave me？ No； you won't！ I'll put red maggot…holes in your belly first。'
Out of the turret…door the smaller orc came flying。 Behind him came Shagrat； a large orc with
long arms that； as he ran crouching； reached to the ground。 But one arm hung limp and seemed to
be bleeding； the other hugged a large black bundle。 In the red glare Sam； cowering behind the stair…
door； caught a glimpse of his evil face as it passed： it was scored as if by rending claws and
smeared with blood； slaver dripped from its protruding fangs； the mouth snarled like an animal。
As far as Sam could see； Shagrat hunted Snaga round the roof； until ducking and eluding him
the smaller orc with a yelp darted back into the turret and disappeared。 Then Shagrat halted。 Out of
the eastward door Sam could see him now by the parapet； panting； his left claw clenching and
unclenching feebly。 He put the bundle on the floor and with his right claw drew out a long red knife
and spat on it。 Going to the parapet he leaned over； looking down into the outer court far below。
Twice he shouted but no answer came。
Suddenly； as Shagrat was stooped over the battlement； his back to the roof…top； Sam to his
amazement saw that one of the sprawling bodies was moving。 It was crawling。 It put out a claw and
clutched the bundle。 It staggered up。 In its other hand it held a broad…headed spear with a short
broken haft。 It was poised for a stabbing thrust。 But at that very moment a hiss escaped its teeth； a
gasp of pain or hate。 Quick as a snake Shagrat slipped aside； twisted round； and drove his knife into
his enemy's throat。
‘Got you； Gorbag！' he cried。 'Not quite dead； eh？ Well； I'll finish my job now。' He sprang on to
the fallen body； and stamped and trampled it in his fury； stooping now and again to stab and slash it
with his knife。 Satisfied at last； he threw back his head and let out a horrible gurgling yell of
triumph。 Then he licked his knife； and put it between his teeth； and catching up the bundle he came
loping towards the near door of the stairs。
Sam had no time to think。 He might have slipped out of the other door； but hardly without being
seen； and he could not have played hide…and…seek with this hideous orc for long。 He did what was
probably the best thing he could have done。 He sprang out to meet Shagrat with a shout。 He was no
longer holding the Ring； but it was there； a hidden power； a cowing menace to the slaves of Mordor；
and in his hand was Sting； and its light smote the eyes of the orc like the glitter of cruel stars in the
terrible elf…countries； the dream of which was a cold fear to all his kind。 And Shagrat could not both
fight and keep hold of his treasure。 He stopped； growling； baring his fangs。 Then once more； orc…
fashion； he leapt aside； and as Sam sprang at him； using the heavy bundle as both shield and
weapon； he thrust it hard into his enemy's face。 Sam staggered； and before he could recover；
Shagrat darted past and down the stairs。
Sam ran after him； cursing； but he did not go far。 Soon the thought of Frodo returned to him； and
he remembered that the other orc had gone back into the turret。 Here was another dreadful choice；
and he had no time to ponder it。 If Shagrat got away； he would soon get help and e back。 But if
Sam pursued him； the other orc might do some horrible deed up there。 And anyway Sam might
miss Shagrat or be killed by him。 He turned quickly and ran back up the stairs。 ‘Wrong again； I
expect；' he sighed。 ‘But it's my job to go right up to the top first； whatever happens afterwards。'
Away below Shagrat went leaping down the stairs and out over the court and through the gate；
bearing his precious burden。 If Sam could have seen him and known the grief that his escape would
bring； he might have quailed。 But now his mind was set on the last stage of his search。 He came
cautiously to the turret…door and stepped inside。 It opened into darkness。 But soon his staring eyes
were aware of a dim light at his right hand。 It came from an opening tha