°´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£¡
All¡¡sat¡¡silent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡length¡¡Boromir¡¡spoke¡£¡¡'He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡small¡¡thing£»¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡this¡¡Gollum£¿¡¡Small£»¡¡but¡¡great¡¡in¡¡mischief¡£¡¡What¡¡became¡¡of¡¡him£¿¡¡To¡¡what¡¡doom¡¡did¡¡you¡¡put¡¡him£¿'
'He¡¡is¡¡in¡¡prison£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡worse£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'He¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡much¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡tormented£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡Sauron¡¡lies¡¡black¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡Still¡¡I¡¡for¡¡one¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡safely¡¡kept¡¡by¡¡the¡¡watchful¡¡Elves¡¡of¡¡Mirkwood¡£¡¡His¡¡malice¡¡is¡¡great¡¡and¡¡gives¡¡him¡¡a¡¡strength¡¡hardly¡¡to¡¡be¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡one¡¡so¡¡lean¡¡and¡¡withered¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡work¡¡much¡¡mischief¡¡still£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡free¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡Mordor¡¡on¡¡some¡¡evil¡¡errand¡£'
'Alas£¡¡¡alas£¡'¡¡cried¡¡Legolas£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fair¡¡elvish¡¡face¡¡there¡¡was¡¡great¡¡distress¡£¡¡'The¡¡tidings¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡must¡¡now¡¡be¡¡told¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡not¡¡good£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡here¡¡have¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡how¡¡evil¡¡they¡¡may¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡this¡¡pany¡£¡¡Sm¨¦agol£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡now¡¡called¡¡Gollum£»¡¡has¡¡escaped¡£'
'Escaped£¿'¡¡cried¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡ill¡¡news¡¡indeed¡£¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡all¡¡rue¡¡it¡¡bitterly£»¡¡I¡¡fear¡£¡¡How¡¡came¡¡the¡¡folk¡¡of¡¡Thranduil¡¡to¡¡fail¡¡in¡¡their¡¡trust£¿'
'Not¡¡through¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡watchfulness£»'¡¡said¡¡Legolas£»¡¡'but¡¡perhaps¡¡through¡¡overkindliness¡£¡¡And¡¡we¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡¡had¡¡aid¡¡from¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡more¡¡is¡¡known¡¡of¡¡our¡¡doings¡¡than¡¡we¡¡could¡¡wish¡£¡¡We¡¡guarded¡¡this¡¡creature¡¡day¡¡and¡¡night£»¡¡at¡¡Gandalf's¡¡bidding£»¡¡much¡¡though¡¡we¡¡wearied¡¡of¡¡the¡¡task¡£¡¡But¡¡Gandalf¡¡bade¡¡us¡¡hope¡¡still¡¡for¡¡his¡¡cure£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡ever¡¡in¡¡dungeons¡¡under¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡would¡¡fall¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡old¡¡black¡¡thoughts¡£'
'You¡¡were¡¡less¡¡tender¡¡to¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡Gl¨®in¡¡with¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡old¡¡memories¡¡were¡¡stirred¡¡of¡¡his¡¡imprisonment¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡places¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elven¡¡king's¡¡halls¡£
'Now¡¡e£¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'Pray¡¡do¡¡not¡¡interrupt£»¡¡my¡¡good¡¡Gl¨®in¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡a¡¡regrettable¡¡misunderstanding£»¡¡long¡¡set¡¡right¡£¡¡If¡¡all¡¡the¡¡grievances¡¡that¡¡stand¡¡between¡¡Elves¡¡and¡¡Dwarves¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡here£»¡¡we¡¡may¡¡as¡¡well¡¡abandon¡¡this¡¡Council¡£'
Gl¨®in¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡bowed£»¡¡and¡¡Legolas¡¡continued¡£¡¡'In¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡fair¡¡weather¡¡we¡¡led¡¡Gollum¡¡through¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡high¡¡tree¡¡standing¡¡alone¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡others¡¡which¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡climb¡£¡¡Often¡¡we¡¡let¡¡him¡¡mount¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡branches£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡free¡¡wind£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡set¡¡a¡¡guard¡¡at¡¡the¡¡tree's¡¡foot¡£¡¡One¡¡day¡¡he¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡e¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡had¡¡no¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡after¡¡him£º¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡the¡¡trick¡¡of¡¡clinging¡¡to¡¡boughs¡¡with¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡by¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡far¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£
'It¡¡was¡¡that¡¡very¡¡night¡¡of¡¡summer£»¡¡yet¡¡moonless¡¡and¡¡starless£»¡¡that¡¡Orcs¡¡came¡¡on¡¡us¡¡at¡¡unawares¡£¡¡We¡¡drove¡¡them¡¡off¡¡after¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡many¡¡and¡¡fierce£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡came¡¡from¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡unused¡¡to¡¡the¡¡woods¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡we¡¡found¡¡that¡¡Gollum¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡slain¡¡or¡¡taken¡£¡¡It¡¡then¡¡seemed¡¡plain¡¡to¡¡us¡¡that¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡for¡¡his¡¡rescue£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡it¡¡beforehand¡£¡¡How¡¡that¡¡was¡¡contrived¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡guess£»¡¡but¡¡Gollum¡¡is¡¡cunning£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡¡are¡¡many¡£¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡things¡¡that¡¡were¡¡driven¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dragon's¡¡fall¡¡have¡¡returned¡¡in¡¡greater¡¡numbers£»¡¡and¡¡Mirkwood¡¡is¡¡again¡¡an¡¡evil¡¡place£»¡¡save¡¡where¡¡our¡¡realm¡¡is¡¡maintained¡£
'We¡¡have¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡recapture¡¡Gollum¡£¡¡We¡¡came¡¡on¡¡his¡¡trail¡¡among¡¡those¡¡of¡¡many¡¡Orcs£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡plunged¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Forest£»¡¡going¡¡south¡£¡¡But¡¡ere¡¡long¡¡it¡¡escaped¡¡our¡¡skill£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡hunt£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡were¡¡drawing¡¡nigh¡¡to¡¡Dol¡¡Guldur£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡still¡¡a¡¡very¡¡evil¡¡place£»¡¡we¡¡do¡¡not¡¡go¡¡that¡¡way¡£'
'Well£»¡¡well£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡gone£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'We¡¡have¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡for¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡do¡¡what¡¡he¡¡will¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡may¡¡play¡¡a¡¡part¡¡yet¡¡that¡¡neither¡¡he¡¡nor¡¡Sauron¡¡have¡¡foreseen¡£
'And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡will¡¡answer¡¡Galdor's¡¡other¡¡questions¡£¡¡What¡¡of¡¡Saruman£¿¡¡What¡¡are¡¡his¡¡counsels¡¡to¡¡us¡¡in¡¡this¡¡need£¿¡¡This¡¡tale¡¡I¡¡must¡¡tell¡¡in¡¡full£»¡¡for¡¡only¡¡Elrond¡¡has¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡in¡¡brief£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡will¡¡bear¡¡on¡¡all¡¡that¡¡we¡¡must¡¡resolve¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last¡¡chapter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡it¡¡has¡¡yet¡¡gone¡£
'At¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡June¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Shire£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡anxiety¡¡was¡¡on¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡to¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡land£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡foreboding¡¡of¡¡some¡¡danger£»¡¡still¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡me¡¡but¡¡drawing¡¡near¡£¡¡There¡¡messages¡¡reached¡¡me¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡of¡¡war¡¡and¡¡defeat¡¡in¡¡Gondor£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Black¡¡Shadow¡¡a¡¡chill¡¡smote¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡found¡¡nothing¡¡save¡¡a¡¡few¡¡fugitives¡¡from¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡on¡¡them¡¡sat¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡speak¡£¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡then¡¡east¡¡and¡¡north¡¡and¡¡journeyed¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Greenway£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡Bree¡¡I¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡traveller¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡a¡¡bank¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡road¡¡with¡¡his¡¡grazing¡¡horse¡¡beside¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Radagast¡¡the¡¡Brown£»¡¡who¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡dwelt¡¡at¡¡Rhosgobel£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡Mirkwood¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡order£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡for¡¡many¡¡a¡¡year¡£
'¡¡¡¨Gandalf£¡¡¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡seeking¡¡you¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡in¡¡these¡¡parts¡£¡¡All¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡was¡¡that¡¡you¡¡might¡¡be¡¡found¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡region¡¡with¡¡the¡¡uncouth¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Shire¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨Your¡¡information¡¡was¡¡correct£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡do¡¡not¡¡put¡¡it¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡meet¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡near¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Shire¡¡now¡£¡¡And¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡with¡¡me£¿¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡pressing¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡never¡¡a¡¡traveller£»¡¡unless¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡great¡¡need¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡an¡¡urgent¡¡errand£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡news¡¡is¡¡evil¡£¡¨¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡hedges¡¡might¡¡have¡¡ears¡£¡¡¡¨Nazg¡£l£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡Nine¡¡are¡¡abroad¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡River¡¡secretly¡¡and¡¡are¡¡moving¡¡westward¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡guise¡¡of¡¡riders¡¡in¡¡black¡£¡¨
'I¡¡knew¡¡then¡¡what¡¡I¡¡had¡¡dreaded¡¡without¡¡knowing¡¡it¡£
'¡¡¡¨The¡¡enemy¡¡must¡¡have¡¡some¡¡great¡¡need¡¡or¡¡purpose£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Radagast£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡that¡¡makes¡¡him¡¡look¡¡to¡¡these¡¡distant¡¡and¡¡desolate¡¡parts£»¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡guess¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£
'¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told¡¡that¡¡wherever¡¡they¡¡go¡¡the¡¡Riders¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡news¡¡of¡¡a¡¡land¡¡called¡¡Shire¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨The¡¡Shire£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡sank¡£¡¡For¡¡even¡¡the¡¡Wise¡¡might¡¡fear¡¡to¡¡withstand¡¡the¡¡Nine£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡gathered¡¡together¡¡under¡¡their¡¡fell¡¡chieftain¡£¡¡A¡¡great¡¡king¡¡and¡¡sorcerer¡¡he¡¡was¡¡of¡¡old£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡he¡¡wields¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡fear¡£¡¡¡¨Who¡¡told¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡sent¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
'¡¡¡¨Saruman¡¡the¡¡White£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Radagast¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡if¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡need£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡help£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡must¡¡seek¡¡his¡¡aid¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡or¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¨
'And¡¡that¡¡message¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡hope¡£¡¡For¡¡Saruman¡¡the¡¡White¡¡is¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡of¡¡my¡¡order¡£¡¡Radagast¡¡is£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡a¡¡worthy¡¡Wizard£»¡¡a¡¡master¡¡of¡¡shapes¡¡and¡¡changes¡¡of¡¡hue£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡has¡¡much¡¡lore¡¡of¡¡herbs¡¡and¡¡beasts£»¡¡and¡¡birds¡¡are¡¡especially¡¡his¡¡friends¡£¡¡But¡¡Saruman¡¡has¡¡long¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡arts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡we¡¡have¡¡often¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡forestall¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡by¡¡the¡¡devices¡¡of¡¡Saruman¡¡that¡¡we¡¡drove¡¡him¡¡from¡¡Dol¡¡Guldur¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡some¡¡weapons¡¡that¡¡would¡¡drive¡¡back¡¡the¡¡Nine¡£
'¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Saruman£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
'¡¡¡¨Then¡¡you¡¡must¡¡go¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Radagast£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡I¡¡have¡¡wasted¡¡time¡¡in¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡days¡¡are¡¡running¡¡short¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡told¡¡to¡¡find¡¡you¡¡before¡¡Midsummer£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡now¡¡here¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡you¡¡set¡¡out¡¡from¡¡this¡¡spot£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡hardly¡¡reach¡¡him¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Nine¡¡discover¡¡the¡¡land¡¡that¡¡they¡¡seek¡£¡¡I¡¡myself¡¡shall¡¡turn¡¡back¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡with¡¡that¡¡he¡¡mounted¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡ridden¡¡straight¡¡off¡£
'¡¡¡¨Stay¡¡a¡¡moment£¡¡¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡shall¡¡need¡¡your¡¡help£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡help¡¡of¡¡all¡¡things¡¡that¡¡will¡¡give¡¡it¡£¡¡Send¡¡out¡¡messages¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡beasts¡¡and¡¡birds¡¡that¡¡are¡¡your¡¡friends¡£¡¡Tell¡¡them¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡news¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡bears¡¡on¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡Saruman¡¡and¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡Let¡¡messages¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Orthanc¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡off¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Nine¡¡were¡¡after¡¡him¡£
'I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡then¡¡and¡¡there¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡very¡¡far¡¡already¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡as¡¡weary¡¡as¡¡my¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡matters¡£¡¡I¡¡stayed¡¡the¡¡night¡¡in¡¡Bree£»¡¡and¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Shire¡£¡¡Never¡¡did¡¡I¡¡make¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡mistake£¡
'However£»¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡message¡¡to¡¡Frodo£»¡¡and¡¡trusted¡¡to¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡the¡¡innkeeper¡¡to¡¡send¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡away¡¡at¡¡dawn£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡came¡¡at¡¡long¡¡last¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dwelling¡¡of¡¡Saruman¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡far¡¡south¡¡in¡¡Isengard£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Misty¡¡Mountains£»¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Gap¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡£¡¡And¡¡Boromir¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡that¡¡is¡¡a¡¡great¡¡open¡¡vale¡¡that¡¡lies¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Misty¡¡Mountains¡¡and¡¡the¡¡northmost¡¡foothills¡¡of¡¡Ered¡¡Nimrais£»¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Mountains¡¡of¡¡his¡¡home¡£¡¡But¡¡Isengard¡¡is¡¡a¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡sheer¡¡rocks¡¡that¡¡enclose¡¡a¡¡valley¡¡as¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡that¡¡valley¡¡is¡¡a¡¡tower¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡called¡¡Orthanc¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡made¡¡by¡¡Saruman£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡N¨²menor¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡has¡¡many¡¡secrets£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡looks¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡work¡¡of¡¡craft¡£¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡reached¡¡save¡¡by¡¡passing¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡Isengard£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡that¡¡circle¡¡there¡¡is¡¡only¡¡one¡¡gate¡£
'Late¡¡one¡¡evening¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡great¡¡arch¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡rock£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡strongly¡¡guarded¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡keepers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡watch¡¡for¡¡me¡¡and¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Saruman¡¡awaited¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡under¡¡the¡¡arch£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡closed¡¡silently¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡I¡¡was¡¡afraid£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡it¡£
'But¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡Orthanc£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stair¡¡of¡¡Saruman¡¡and¡¡there¡¡he¡¡met¡¡me¡¡and¡¡led¡¡me¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡high¡¡chamber¡£¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡ring¡¡on¡¡his¡¡finger¡£
'¡¡¡¨So¡¡you¡¡have¡¡e£»¡¡Gandalf£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me¡¡gravely£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡white¡¡light£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡laughter¡¡w