another； a huge ghostly head leering into the night。 For a moment the three
panions stood there； shrinking； staring up with unwilling eyes。 Gollum
was the first to recover。 Again he pulled at their cloaks urgently； but he
spoke no word。 Almost he dragged them forward。 Every step was reluctant； and
time seemed to slow its pace。 so that between the raising of a foot and the
setting of it down minutes of loathing passed。
So they came slowly to the white bridge。 Here the road； gleaming
faintly； passed over the stream in the midst of the valley； and went on；
winding deviously up towards the city's gate： a black mouth opening in the
outer circle of the northward walls。 Wide flats lay on either bank； shadowy
meads filled with pale white flowers。 Luminous these were too； beautiful and
yet horrible of shape； like the demented forms in an uneasy dream； and they
gave forth a faint sickening charnel…smell； an odour of rottenness filled
the air。 From mead to mead the bridge sprang。 Figures stood there at its
head； carven with cunning in forms human and bestial； but all corrupt and
loathsome。 The water flowing beneath was silent； and it steamed； but the
vapour that rose from it； curling and twisting about the bridge； was deadly
cold。 Frodo felt his senses reeling and his mind darkening。 Then suddenly；
as if some force were at work other than his own will； he began to hurry；
tottering forward； his groping hands held out； his head lolling from side to
side。 Both Sam and Gollum ran after him。 Sam caught his master in his arms；
as he stumbled and almost fell； right on the threshold of the bridge。
‘Not that way！ No； not that way！ ' whispered Gollum； but the breath
between his teeth seemed to tear the heavy stillness like a whistle； and he
cowered to the ground in terror。
‘Hold up； Mr。 Frodo！ ' muttered Sam in Frodo's ear。 'e back！ Not
that way。 Gollum says not； and for once I agree with him。'
Frodo passed his hand over his brow and wrenched his eyes away from the
city on the hill。 The luminous tower fascinated him； and he fought the
desire that was on him to run up the gleaming road towards its gate。 At last
with an effort he turned back； and as he did so； he felt the Ring resisting
him； dragging at the chain about his neck； and his eyes too； as he looked
away； seemed for the moment to have been blinded。 The darkness before him
was impenetrable。
Gollum； crawling on the ground like a frightened animal； was already
vanishing into the gloom。 Sam； supporting and guiding his stumbling master；
followed after him as quickly as he could。 Not far from the near bank of the
stream there was a gap in the stone…wall beside the road。 Through this they
passed； and Sam saw that they were on a narrow path that gleamed faintly at
first； as the main road did； until climbing above the meads of deadly
flowers it faded and went dark； winding its crooked way up into the northern
sides of the valley。
Along this path the hobbits trudged； side by side； unable to see Gollum
in front of them； except when he turned back to beckon them on。 Then his
eyes shone with a green…white light； reflecting the noisome Morgul…sheen
perhaps； or kindled by some answering mood within。 Of that deadly gleam and
of the dark eyeholes Frodo and Sam were always conscious； ever glancing
fearfully over their shoulders； and ever dragging their eyes back to find
the darkening path。 Slowly they laboured on。 As they rose above the stench
and vapours of the poisonous stream their breath became easier and their
heads clearer； but now their limbs were deadly tired； as if they had walked
all night under a burden； or had been swimming long against a heavy tide of
water。 At last they could go no further without a halt。
Frodo stopped and sat down on a stone。 They had now climbed up to the
top of a great hump of bare rock。 Ahead of them there was a bay in the
valley…side； and round the head of this the path went on； no more than a
wide ledge with a chasm on the right； across the sheer southward face of the
mountain it crawled upwards； until it disappeared into the blackness above。
‘I must rest a while； Sam；' whispered Frodo。 ‘It's heavy on me； Sam
lad； very heavy。 I wonder how far I can carry it？ Anyway I must rest before
we venture on to that。' He pointed to the narrow way ahead。
‘Sssh！ ssh！ ' hissed Gollum hurrying back to them。 ‘Sssh！ ' His fingers
were on his lips and he shook his head urgently。 Tugging at Frodo's sleeve；
he pointed towards the path； but Frodo would not move。
‘Not yet；' he said； 'not yet。' Weariness and more than weariness
oppressed him； it seemed as if a heavy spell was laid on his mind and body。
‘I must rest；' he muttered。
At this Gollum's fear and agitation became so great that he spoke
again； hissing behind his hand； as if to keep the sound from unseen
listeners in the air。 ‘Not here； no。 Not rest here。 Fools！ Eyes can see us。
When they e to the bridge they will see us。 e away！ Climb； climb！
e！ '
‘e； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam。 ‘He's right； again。 We can't stay here。'
'All right；' said Frodo in a remote voice； as of one speaking half
asleep。 ‘I will try。' Wearily he got to his feet。
But it was too late。 At that moment the rock quivered and trembled
beneath them。 The great rumbling noise； louder than ever before； rolled in
the ground and echoed in the mountains。 Then with searing suddenness there
came a great red flash。 Far beyond the eastern mountains it leapt into the
sky and splashed the lowering clouds with crimson。 In that valley of shadow
and cold deathly light it seemed unbearably violent and fierce。 Peaks of
stone and ridges like notched knives sprang out in staring black against the
uprushing flame in Gorgoroth。 Then came a great crack of thunder。
And Minas Morgul answered。 There was a flare of livid lightnings： forks
of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into
the sullen clouds。 The earth groaned； and out of the city there came a cry。
Mingled with harsh high voices as of birds of prey； and the shrill neighing
of horses wild with rage and fear； there came a rending screech； shivering；
rising swiftly to a piercing pitch beyond the range of hearing。 The hobbits
wheeled round towards it； and cast themselves down； holding their hands upon
their ears。
As the terrible cry ended； falling back through a long sickening wail
to silence； Frodo slowly raised his head。 Across the narrow valley； now
almost on a level with his eyes； the walls of the evil city stood； and its
cavernous gate； shaped like an open mouth with gleaming teeth； was gaping
wide。 And out of the gate an army came。
All that host was clad in sable； dark as the night。 Against the wan
walls and the luminous pavement of the road Frodo could see them； small
black figures in rank upon rank； marching swiftly and silently； passing