blurring shadow shrouded the stony world about them。 They passed on； Gollum
in front and the hobbits now side by side； up the long ravine between the
piers and columns of torn and weathered rock； standing like huge unshapen
statues on either hand。 There was no sound。 Some way ahead； a mile or so；
perhaps； was a great grey wall； a last huge upthrusting mass of
mountain…stone。 Darker it loomed； and steadily it rose as they approached；
until it towered up high above them； shutting out the view of all that lay
beyond。 Deep shadow lay before its feet。 Sam sniffed the air。
‘Ugh！ That smell！' he said。 ‘It's getting stronger and stronger。'
Presently they were under the shadow； and there in the midst of it they
saw the opening of a cave。 ‘This is the way in；' said Gollum softly。 ‘This
is the entrance to the tunnel。' He did not speak its name： Torech Ungol；
Shelob's Lair。 Out of it came a stench； not the sickly odour of decay in the
meads of Morgul； but a foul reek； as if filth unnameable were piled and
hoarded in the dark within。
‘Is this the only way； Smjagol？ ' said Frodo。
'Yes； yes；' he answered。 'Yes； we must go this way now。'
'D'you mean to say you've been through this hole？' said Sam。 ‘Phew！ But
perhaps you don't mind bad smells。'
Gollum's eyes glinted。 ‘He doesn't know what we minds； does he
precious？ No； he doesn't。 But Smjagol can bear things。 Yes。 He's been
through。 O yes； right through。 It's the only way。'
‘And what makes the smell； I wonder；' said Sam。 ‘It's like well； I
wouldn't like to say。 Some beastly hole of the Orcs； I'll warrant； with a
hundred years of their filth in it。'
'Well；' said Frodo； 'Orcs or no； if it's the only way； we must take
it。'
Drawing a deep breath they passed inside。 In a few steps they were in
utter and impenetrable dark。 Not since the lightless passages of Moria had
Frodo or Sam known such darkness； and if possible here it was deeper and
denser。 There； there were airs moving； and echoes； and a sense of space。
Here the air was still； stagnant； heavy； and sound fell dead。 They walked as
it were in a black vapour wrought of veritable darkness itself that； as it
was breathed； brought blindness not only to the eyes but to the mind； so
that even the memory of colours and of forms and of any light faded out of
thought。 Night always had been； and always would be； and night was all。
But for a while they could still feel； and indeed the senses of their
feet and fingers at first seemed sharpened almost painfully。 The walls felt；
to their surprise； smooth； and the floor； save for a step now and again； was
straight and even； going ever up at the same stiff slope。 The tunnel was
high and wide； so wide that； though the hobbits walked abreast； only
touching the side…walls with their outstretched hands； they were separated；
cut off alone in the darkness。
Gollum had gone in first and seemed to be only a few steps ahead。 While
they were still able to give heed to such things； they could hear his breath
hissing and gasping just in front of them。 But after a time their senses
became duller； both touch and hearing seemed to grow numb； and they kept on；
groping； walking； on and on； mainly by the force of the will with which they
had entered； will to go through and desire to e at last to the high gate
beyond。
Before they had gone very far； perhaps； but time and distance soon
passed out of his reckoning； Sam on the right； feeling the wall； was aware
that there was an opening at the side： for a moment he caught a faint breath
of some air less heavy； and then they passed it by。
'There's more than one passage here；' he whispered with an effort： it
seemed hard to make his breath give any sound。 ‘It's as orc…like a place as
ever there could be！ '
After that； first he on the right； and then Frodo on the left； passed
three or four such openings； some wider； some smaller； but there was as yet
no doubt of the main way； for it was straight； and did not turn； and still
went steadily up。 But how long was it； how much more of this would they have
to endure； or could they endure？ The breathlessness of the air was growing
as they climbed； and now they seemed often in the blind dark to sense some
resistance thicker than the foul air。 As they thrust forward they felt
things brush against their heads； or against their hands； long tentacles； or
hanging growths perhaps： they could not tell what they were。 And still the
stench grew。 It grew； until almost it seemed to them that smell was the only
clear sense left t？ them。 and that was for their torment。 One hour； two
hours； three hours： how many had they passed in this lightless hole？
Hours…days； weeks rather。 Sam left the tunnel…side and shrank towards Frodo；
and their hands met and clasped。 and so together they still went on。
At length Frodo； groping along the left…hand wall； came suddenly to a
void。 Almost he fell sideways into the emptiness。 Here was some opening in
the rock far wider than any they had yet passed； and out of it came a reek
so foul； and a sense of lurking malice so intense； that Frodo reeled。 And at
that moment Sam too lurched and fell forwards。
Fighting off both the sickness and the fear； Frodo gripped Sam's hand。
‘Up！ ' he said in a hoarse breath without voice。 'It all es from here；
the stench and the peril。 Now for it！ Quick！ '
Calling up his remaining strength and resolution； he dragged Sam to his
feet； and forced his own limbs to move。 Sam stumbled beside him。 One step；
two steps； three steps…at last six steps。 Maybe they had passed the dreadful
unseen opening； but whether that was so or not； suddenly it was easier to
move； as if some hostile will for the moment had released them。 They
struggled on； still hand in hand。
But almost at once they came to a new difficulty。 The tunnel forked； or
so it seemed； and in the dark they could not tell which was the wider way；
or which kept nearer to the straight。 Which should they take； the left； or
the right？ They knew of nothing to guide them； yet a false choice would
almost certainly be fatal。
‘Which way has Gollum gone？ ' panted Sam。 'And why didn't he wait？ '
‘Smjagol！ ' said Frodo； trying to call。 'Smjagol！ ' But his voice
croaked； and the name fell dead almost as it left his lips。 There was no
answer； not an echo； not even a tremor of the air。
‘He's really gone this time； I fancy；' muttered Sam。 ‘I guess this is
just exactly where he meant to bring us。 Gollum！ If ever I lay hands on you
again； you'll be sorry for it。'
Presently； groping and fumbling in the dark； they found that the
opening on the left was blocked： either it was a blind； or else some great
stone had fallen in the passage。 'This can't be the way；' Frodo whispered。
'Right or wrong； we must take the other。'
'And quick！ ' Sam panted。 'There's something worse t