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 all the more need to fill our bottles；' said Sam。 ‘But there
isn't any water up here： not a sound or a trickle have I heard。 And anyway
Faramir said we were not to drink any water in Morgul。'
'No water flowing out of Imlad Morgul； were his words；' said Frodo。 ‘We
are not in that valley now； and if we came on a spring it would be flowing
into it and not out of it。'
'I wouldn't trust it；' said Sam； 'not till I was dying of thirst。
There's a wicked feeling about this place。' He sniffed。 'And a smell； I
fancy。 Do you notice it？ A queer kind of a smell； stuffy。 I don't like it。'
'I don't like anything here at all。' said Frodo； ‘step or stone； breath
or bone。 Earth； air and water all seem accursed。 But so our path is laid。'
'Yes； that's so；' said Sam。 ‘And we shouldn't be here at all； if we'd
known more about it before we started。 But I suppose it's often that way。
The brave things in the old tales and songs； Mr。 Frodo： adventures； as I
used to call them。 I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk
of the stories went out and looked for； because they wanted them； because
they were exciting and life was a bit dull； a kind of a sport； as you might
say。 But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered； or
the ones that stay in the mind。 Folk seem to have been just landed in them；
usually their paths were laid that way； as you put it。 But I expect they
had lots of chances； like us； of turning back； only they didn't。 And if they
had； we shouldn't know； because they'd have been forgotten。 We hear about
those as just went on and not all to a good end； mind you； at least not
to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end。 You know；
ing home； and finding things all right； though not quite the same like
old Mr Bilbo。 But those aren't always the best tales to hear； though they
may be the best tales to get landed in！ I wonder what sort of a tale we've
fallen into？ '
‘I wonder；' said Frodo。 'But I don't know。 And that's the way of a real
tale。 Take any one that you're fond of。 You may know； or guess； what kind of
a tale it is； happy…ending or sad…ending； but the people in it don't know。
And you don't want them to。'
'No； sir； of course not。 Beren now； he never thought he was going to
get that Silmaril from the Iron Crown in Thangorodrim； and yet he did； and
that was a worse place and a blacker danger than ours。 But that's a long
tale； of course； and goes on past the happiness and into grief and beyond it
and the Silmaril went on and came to Edrendil。 And why； sir； I never
thought of that before！ We've got you've got some of the light of it in
that star…glass that the Lady gave you！ Why； to think of it； we're in the
same tale still！ It's going on。 Don't the great tales never end？ '
'No； they never end as tales；' said Frodo。 ‘But the people in them
e； and go when their part's ended。 Our part will end later or sooner。'
'And then we can have some rest and some sleep；' said Sam。 He laughed
grimly。 'And I mean just that； Mr。 Frodo。 I mean plain ordinary rest； and
sleep； and waking up to a morning's work in the garden。 I'm afraid that's
all I'm hoping for all the time。 All the big important plans are not for my
sort。 Still； I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales。 We're in
one； or course； but I mean： put into words； you know； told by the fireside；
or read out of a great big book with red and black letters； years and years
afterwards。 And people will say： 〃Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring！ 〃 And
they'll say： 〃Yes； that's one of my favourite stories。 Frodo was very brave。
wasn't he； dad？〃 〃Yes； my boy； the famousest of the hobbits； and that's
saying a lot。〃'
‘It's saying a lot too much；' said Frodo； and he laughed； a long clear
laugh from his heart。 Such a sound had not been heard in those places since
Sauron came to Middle…earth。 To Sam suddenly it seemed as if all the stones
were listening and the tall rocks leaning over them。 But Frodo did not heed
them； he laughed again。 'Why； Sam；' he said； 'to hear you somehow makes me
as merry as if the story was already written。 But you've left out one of the
chief characters： Samwise the stouthearted。 〃I want to hear more about Sam；
dad。 Why didn't they put in more of his talk； dad？ That's what I like； it
makes me laugh。 And Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam； would he； dad？
〃 '
‘Now； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； 'you shouldn't make fun。 I was serious。 '
‘So was I；' said Frodo； 'and so I am。 We're going on a bit too fast。
You and I； Sam； are still stuck in the worst places of the story； and it is
all too likely that some will say at this point： 〃Shut the book now； dad； we
don't want to read any more。〃 '
‘Maybe；' said Sam； 'but I wouldn't be one to say that。 Things done and
over and made into part of the great tales are different。 Why； even Gollum
might be good in a tale； better than he is to have by you； anyway。 And he
used to like tales himself once； by his own account。 I wonder if he thinks
he's the hero or the villain？
‘Gollum！' he called。 ‘Would you like to be the hero now where's he
got to again？'
There was no sign of him at the mouth of their shelter nor in the
shadows near。 He had refused their food； though he had； as usual； accepted a
mouthful of water； and then he had seemed to curl up for a sleep： They had
supposed that one at any rate of his objects in his long absence the day
before had been to hunt for food to his own liking； and now he had evidently
slipped off again while they talked。 But what for this time？
‘I don't like his sneaking off without saying；' said Sam。 'And least of
all now。 He can't be looking for food up here； not unless there's some kind
of rock he fancies。 Why； there isn't even a bit of moss！ '
‘It's no good worrying about him now；' said Frodo。 ‘We couldn't have
got so far； not even within sight of the pass； without him； and so we'll
have to put up with his ways。 If he's false； he's false。'
'All the same； I'd rather have him under my eye；' said Sam。 'All the
more so； if he's false。 Do you remember he never would say if this pass was
guarded or no？ And now we see a tower there and it may be deserted； and
it may not。 Do you think he's gone to fetch them； Orcs or whatever they
are？'
‘No； I don't think so；' answered Frodo。 'Even if he's up to some
wickedness； and I suppose that's not unlikely； I don't think it's that： not
to fetch Orcs； or any servants of the Enemy。 Why wait till now； and go
through all the labour of the climb； and e so near the land he fears？ He
could probably have betrayed us to Orcs many times since we met him。 No； if
it's anything； it will be some little private trick of his own…that he
thin