°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
stony¡¡valley¡£¡¡When¡¡a¡¡grey¡¡light¡¡crept¡¡back¡¡over¡¡the¡¡western¡¡heights£»¡¡long¡¡after¡¡day¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡lands¡¡beyond£»¡¡they¡¡went¡¡into¡¡hiding¡¡again¡¡and¡¡slept¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡turn¡¡by¡¡turn¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡times¡¡of¡¡waking¡¡
Sam¡¡was¡¡busy¡¡with¡¡thoughts¡¡of¡¡food¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡when¡¡Frodo¡¡roused¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡eating¡¡and¡¡
making¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡effort£»¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡question¡¡that¡¡was¡¡troubling¡¡him¡¡most¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Begging¡¡your¡¡pardon£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Frodo£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'but¡¡have¡¡you¡¡any¡¡notion¡¡how¡¡far¡¡there¡¡is¡¡still¡¡to¡¡go£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'No£»¡¡not¡¡any¡¡clear¡¡notion£»¡¡Sam£»'¡¡Frodo¡¡answered¡£¡¡'In¡¡Rivendell¡¡before¡¡I¡¡set¡¡out¡¡I¡¡was¡¡shown¡¡a¡¡
map¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡that¡¡was¡¡made¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡¡came¡¡back¡¡here£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡only¡¡remember¡¡it¡¡vaguely¡£¡¡I¡¡
remember¡¡clearest¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡where¡¡the¡¡western¡¡range¡¡and¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡
range¡¡send¡¡out¡¡spurs¡¡that¡¡nearly¡¡meet¡£¡¡That¡¡must¡¡be¡¡twenty¡¡leagues¡¡at¡¡least¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡back¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡Tower¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡a¡¡good¡¡point¡¡at¡¡which¡¡to¡¡cross¡£¡¡But¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡if¡¡we¡¡get¡¡there£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡
further¡¡than¡¡we¡¡were¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Mountain£»¡¡sixty¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡think¡£¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡
gone¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡leagues¡¡north¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡now¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡all¡¡goes¡¡well£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡reach¡¡
the¡¡Mountain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡week¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid£»¡¡Sam£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡burden¡¡will¡¡get¡¡very¡¡heavy£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡go¡¡still¡¡
slower¡¡as¡¡we¡¡get¡¡nearer¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sam¡¡sighed¡£¡¡'That's¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡feared£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Well£»¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡we've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡less£»¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡Frodo£»¡¡or¡¡else¡¡move¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡quicker£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡while¡¡we're¡¡still¡¡in¡¡this¡¡valley¡£¡¡One¡¡more¡¡bite¡¡and¡¡
all¡¡the¡¡food's¡¡ended£»¡¡save¡¡the¡¡Elves'¡¡waybread¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I'll¡¡try¡¡and¡¡be¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡quicker£»¡¡Sam£»'¡¡said¡¡Frodo£»¡¡drawing¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡£¡¡'e¡¡on¡¡then£¡¡¡Let's¡¡start¡¡
another¡¡march£¡'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡quite¡¡dark¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡plodded¡¡along£»¡¡on¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡The¡¡hours¡¡passed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
weary¡¡stumbling¡¡trudge¡¡with¡¡a¡¡few¡¡brief¡¡halts¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡first¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡light¡¡under¡¡the¡¡skirts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
canopy¡¡of¡¡shadow¡¡they¡¡hid¡¡themselves¡¡again¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡hollow¡¡under¡¡an¡¡overhanging¡¡stone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Slowly¡¡the¡¡light¡¡grew£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡clearer¡¡than¡¡it¡¡yet¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡A¡¡strong¡¡wind¡¡from¡¡the¡¡West¡¡was¡¡
now¡¡driving¡¡the¡¡fumes¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡from¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡airs¡£¡¡Before¡¡long¡¡the¡¡hobbits¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡the¡¡
shape¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡for¡¡some¡¡miles¡¡about¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡trough¡¡between¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Morgai¡¡
had¡¡steadily¡¡dwindled¡¡as¡¡it¡¡climbed¡¡upwards£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡ridge¡¡was¡¡now¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡shelf¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡steep¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ephel¡¡D¨²ath£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡as¡¡sheerly¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡down¡¡into¡¡Gorgoroth¡£¡¡
Ahead¡¡the¡¡water¡course¡¡came¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end¡¡in¡¡broken¡¡steps¡¡of¡¡rock£»¡¡for¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡main¡¡range¡¡there¡¡
sprang¡¡a¡¡high¡¡barren¡¡spur£»¡¡thrusting¡¡eastward¡¡like¡¡a¡¡wall¡£¡¡To¡¡meet¡¡it¡¡there¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
grey¡¡and¡¡misty¡¡northern¡¡range¡¡of¡¡Ered¡¡Lithui¡¡a¡¡long¡¡jutting¡¡arm£»¡¡and¡¡between¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡
narrow¡¡gap£º¡¡Carach¡¡Angren£»¡¡the¡¡Isenmouthe£»¡¡beyond¡¡which¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡dale¡¡of¡¡Ud£¿n¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡dale¡¡
behind¡¡the¡¡Morannon¡¡were¡¡the¡¡tunnels¡¡and¡¡deep¡¡armouries¡¡that¡¡the¡¡servants¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡had¡¡made¡¡
for¡¡the¡¡defence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Black¡¡Gate¡¡of¡¡their¡¡land£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡now¡¡their¡¡Lord¡¡was¡¡gathering¡¡in¡¡haste¡¡
great¡¡forces¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡onslaught¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Captains¡¡of¡¡the¡¡West¡£¡¡Upon¡¡the¡¡out¡thrust¡¡spurs¡¡forts¡¡and¡¡
towers¡¡were¡¡built£»¡¡and¡¡watch¡fires¡¡burned£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡across¡¡the¡¡gap¡¡an¡¡earth¡wall¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raised£»¡¡and¡¡
a¡¡deep¡¡trench¡¡delved¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡only¡¡by¡¡a¡¡single¡¡bridge¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡miles¡¡north£»¡¡high¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡angle¡¡where¡¡the¡¡western¡¡spur¡¡branched¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡main¡¡
range£»¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡old¡¡castle¡¡of¡¡Durthang£»¡¡now¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡¡orc¡holds¡¡that¡¡clustered¡¡about¡¡the¡¡dale¡¡
of¡¡Ud£¿n¡£¡¡A¡¡road£»¡¡already¡¡visible¡¡in¡¡the¡¡growing¡¡light£»¡¡came¡¡winding¡¡down¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡until¡¡only¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡
or¡¡two¡¡from¡¡where¡¡the¡¡hobbits¡¡lay¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡east¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡along¡¡a¡¡shelf¡¡cut¡¡in¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spur£»¡¡and¡¡
so¡¡went¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡plain£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Isenmouthe¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡hobbits¡¡as¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡all¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡north¡¡had¡¡been¡¡useless¡£¡¡The¡¡
plain¡¡to¡¡their¡¡right¡¡was¡¡dim¡¡and¡¡smoky£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡there¡¡neither¡¡camps¡¡nor¡¡troops¡¡moving£»¡¡
but¡¡all¡¡that¡¡region¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡vigilance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forts¡¡of¡¡Carach¡¡Angren¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'We¡¡have¡¡e¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡end£»¡¡Sam£»'¡¡said¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'If¡¡we¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡only¡¡e¡¡up¡¡to¡¡that¡¡orc¡
tower£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡only¡¡road¡¡to¡¡take¡¡is¡¡that¡¡road¡¡that¡¡es¡¡down¡¡from¡¡it¡¡¨C¡¡unless¡¡we¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡We¡¡can't¡¡
climb¡¡up¡¡westward£»¡¡or¡¡climb¡¡down¡¡eastward¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡we¡¡must¡¡take¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Frodo£»'¡¡said¡¡Sam¡£¡¡'We¡¡must¡¡take¡¡it¡¡and¡¡chance¡¡our¡¡luck£»¡¡if¡¡
there¡¡is¡¡any¡¡luck¡¡in¡¡Mordor¡£¡¡We¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡give¡¡ourselves¡¡up¡¡as¡¡wander¡¡about¡¡any¡¡more£»¡¡or¡¡try¡¡
to¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡Our¡¡food¡¡won't¡¡last¡£¡¡We've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡dash¡¡for¡¡it£¡'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'All¡¡right£»¡¡Sam£»'¡¡said¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'Lead¡¡me£¡¡¡As¡¡long¡¡as¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡any¡¡hope¡¡left¡£¡¡Mine¡¡is¡¡gone¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡
can't¡¡dash£»¡¡Sam¡£¡¡I'll¡¡just¡¡plod¡¡along¡¡after¡¡you¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Before¡¡you¡¡start¡¡any¡¡more¡¡plodding£»¡¡you¡¡need¡¡sleep¡¡and¡¡food£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡e¡¡and¡¡take¡¡what¡¡
you¡¡can¡¡get¡¡of¡¡them£¡'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡Frodo¡¡water¡¡and¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡wafer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡waybread£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡made¡¡a¡¡pillow¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cloak¡¡
for¡¡his¡¡master's¡¡head¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡was¡¡too¡¡weary¡¡to¡¡debate¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡did¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡
had¡¡drunk¡¡the¡¡last¡¡drop¡¡of¡¡their¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡eaten¡¡Sam's¡¡share¡¡of¡¡the¡¡food¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡When¡¡
Frodo¡¡was¡¡asleep¡¡Sam¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡him¡¡and¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡breathing¡¡and¡¡scanned¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡lined¡¡
and¡¡thin£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡sleep¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡content¡¡and¡¡unafraid¡£¡¡'Well£»¡¡here¡¡goes£»¡¡Master£¡'¡¡Sam¡¡muttered¡¡to¡¡
himself¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡and¡¡trust¡¡to¡¡luck¡£¡¡Water¡¡we¡¡must¡¡have£»¡¡or¡¡we'll¡¡get¡¡no¡¡
further¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sam¡¡crept¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡flitting¡¡from¡¡stone¡¡to¡¡stone¡¡with¡¡more¡¡than¡¡hobbit¡care£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
water¡course£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡followed¡¡it¡¡for¡¡some¡¡way¡¡as¡¡it¡¡climbed¡¡north£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rock¡steps¡¡
where¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡its¡¡spring¡¡had¡¡e¡¡gushing¡¡down¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡waterfall¡£¡¡All¡¡now¡¡seemed¡¡
dry¡¡and¡¡silent£»¡¡but¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡despair¡¡Sam¡¡stooped¡¡and¡¡listened£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡his¡¡delight¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡
sound¡¡of¡¡trickling¡£¡¡Clambering¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡up¡¡he¡¡found¡¡a¡¡tiny¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡water¡¡that¡¡came¡¡out¡¡
from¡¡the¡¡hill¡side¡¡and¡¡filled¡¡a¡¡little¡¡bare¡¡pool£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡again¡¡it¡¡spilled£»¡¡and¡¡vanished¡¡then¡¡under¡¡
the¡¡barren¡¡stones¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sam¡¡tasted¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡good¡¡enough¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡drank¡¡deeply£»¡¡refilled¡¡the¡¡bottle£»¡¡and¡¡
turned¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡At¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡black¡¡form¡¡or¡¡shadow¡¡flitting¡¡among¡¡
the¡¡rocks¡¡away¡¡near¡¡Frodo's¡¡hiding¡place¡£¡¡Biting¡¡back¡¡a¡¡cry£»¡¡he¡¡leapt¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡and¡¡ran£»¡¡
jumping¡¡from¡¡stone¡¡to¡¡stone¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wary¡¡creature£»¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡see£»¡¡but¡¡Sam¡¡had¡¡little¡¡doubt¡¡about¡¡
it£º¡¡he¡¡longed¡¡to¡¡get¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡its¡¡neck¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡ing¡¡and¡¡slipped¡¡quickly¡¡away¡£¡¡Sam¡¡
thought¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡last¡¡fleeting¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡peering¡¡back¡¡over¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eastward¡¡precipice£»¡¡
before¡¡it¡¡ducked¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Well£»¡¡luck¡¡did¡¡not¡¡let¡¡me¡¡down£»'¡¡muttered¡¡Sam£»¡¡'but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡a¡¡near¡¡thing£¡¡¡Isn't¡¡it¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡
have¡¡orcs¡¡by¡¡the¡¡thousand¡¡without¡¡that¡¡stinking¡¡villain¡¡ing¡¡nosing¡¡round£¿¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡
shot£¡'¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡by¡¡Frodo¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡rouse¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡himself¡£¡¡At¡¡
last¡¡when¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡closing¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡struggle¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡awake¡¡could¡¡not¡¡go¡¡on¡¡much¡¡
longer£»¡¡he¡¡wakened¡¡Frodo¡¡gently¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'That¡¡Gollum's¡¡about¡¡again£»¡¡I'm¡¡afraid£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Frodo£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Leastways£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡him£»¡¡then¡¡
there's¡¡two¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡away¡¡to¡¡find¡¡some¡¡water¡¡and¡¡spied¡¡him¡¡nosing¡¡round¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡back¡£¡¡
I¡¡reckon¡¡it¡¡isn't¡¡safe¡¡for¡¡us¡¡both¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡begging¡¡your¡¡pardon£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡hold¡¡up¡¡my¡¡
lids¡¡much¡¡longer¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Bless¡¡you£»¡¡Sam£¡'¡¡said¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'Lie¡¡down¡¡and¡¡take¡¡your¡¡proper¡¡turn£¡¡¡But¡¡I'd¡¡rather¡¡have¡¡Gollum¡¡
than¡¡orcs¡£¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡give¡¡us¡¡away¡¡to¡¡them¡¡¨C¡¡not¡¡unless¡¡he's¡¡caught¡¡himself¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'But¡¡he¡¡might¡¡do¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡robbery¡¡and¡¡murder¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own£»'¡¡growled¡¡Sam¡£¡¡'Keep¡¡your¡¡eyes¡¡open£»¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡Frodo£¡¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡full¡¡of¡¡water¡£¡¡Drink¡¡up¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡fill¡¡it¡¡again¡¡when¡¡we¡¡go¡¡on¡£'¡¡With¡¡that¡¡
Sam¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡sleep¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Light¡¡was¡¡fading¡¡when¡¡he¡¡woke¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡sat¡¡propped¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡behind£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡
asleep¡£¡¡The¡¡water¡bottle¡¡was¡¡empty¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡Gollum¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mordor¡dark¡¡had¡¡returned£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡watch¡fires¡¡on¡¡the¡¡heights¡¡burned¡¡fierce¡¡and¡¡red£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡
hobbits¡¡set¡¡out¡¡again¡¡on¡¡the¡¡most¡¡dangerous¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡all¡¡their¡¡journey