Chapter 1 THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL Sam roused himself painfully from the ground. For a moment he wondered where he was, and then all the misery and despair returned to him. He was in the deep dark outside the under-gate of the orcs’ stronghold; its brazen doors were shut. He must have fallen stunned when he hurled himself against them; but how long he had lain there he did not know. Then he had been on fire, desperate and furious; now he was shivering and cold. He crept to the doors and pressed his ears against them. Far within he could hear faintly the voices of orcs clamouring, but soon they stopped or passed out of hearing, and all was still. His head ached and his eyes saw phantom lights in the darkness, but he struggled to steady himself and think. It was clear at any rate that he had no hope of getting into the orc-hold by that gate; he might wait there for days before it was opened, and he could not wait: time was desperately precious. He no longer had any doubt about his duty: he must rescue his master or perish in the attempt. “The perishing is more likely, and will be a lot easier anyway,’ he said grimly to himself, as he sheathed Sting and turned from the brazen doors. Slowly he groped his way back in the dark along the tunnel, not daring to use the elven-light; and as he went he tried to fit together the events since Frodo and he had left the Cross-roads. He wondered what the time was. Somewhere between one day and the next, he supposed; but even of the days he had quite lost count. He was in a land of darkness where the days of the world seemed forgotten, and where all who entered were forgotten too. ‘I wonder if they think of us at all,’ he said, ‘and what is happening to them all away there.’ He waved his hand vaguely in the air before him; but he was in fact now facing southwards, as he came back to Shelob’s tunnel, not west. Out westward in the world it was drawing to noon upon the fourteenth day of March in the Shire-reckoning, and even now Aragorn was leading the black fleet from Pelargir, and Merry was riding with the Rohirrim down the Stonewain Valley, while in Minas Tirith flames were rising and Pippin watched the madness growing in the eyes of Denethor. Yet amid all their cares and fear the thoughts of their friends turned constantly to Frodo and Sam. They were not forgotten. But they were far beyond aid, and no thought could yet bring any help to Samwise Hamfast’s son; he was utterly alone. BS ES
第一章 西力斯昂哥的塔樓 山姆痛苦地從地上爬起來。有一會兒他不知道自己在何處，隨後所有的痛苦和絕望又湧上心頭。他身處獸人要塞下層大門外的深沉黑暗中；那扇黃銅大門緊閉著。他一定是撞向大門時被震暈了；但他躺在那裡多久了，他自己也不知道。那時他曾怒火中燒，絕望而狂怒；現在他卻渾身發抖，感到寒冷。他悄悄爬到門邊，把耳朵貼在上面。遠遠地，他隱約聽到獸人喧鬧的聲音，但很快這些聲音就停止了，或者遠去聽不見了，一切又歸於寂靜。他頭痛欲裂，眼睛在黑暗中看到幻影般的亮光，但他努力穩住自己，試圖思考。無論如何，他很清楚自己沒有希望從那扇門進入獸人要塞；他可能要等上好幾天門才會打開，但他不能等：時間寶貴得令人絕望。他對自己的職責不再有任何疑問：他必須救出他的主人，否則就死在這次嘗試中。「死掉的可能性更大，而且無論如何都會輕鬆得多，」他陰沉地自言自語道，同時將刺針收入鞘中，轉身離開了那扇黃銅大門。他在黑暗中沿著隧道慢慢摸索著往回走，不敢使用精靈之光；一邊走，他一邊試圖將佛羅多和他離開十字路口以來發生的事情串聯起來。他想知道現在是什麼時候。他猜想大概是介於今天和明天之間吧；但他甚至連日子都已經完全算不清了。他身處一片黑暗之地，那裡世界的日子似乎已被遺忘，所有進入者也都被遺忘。「我不知道他們是否還會想起我們，」他說，「那邊的他們都怎麼樣了。」他在他面前的空中模糊地揮了揮手；但事實上，他現在是面朝南方，因為他回到了屍羅的隧道，而不是西方。在世界西方的夏爾曆法中，三月十四日已近正午，而此時亞拉岡正率領黑色艦隊從佩拉格向外駛去，梅里則與洛汗騎兵沿著石路谷馳騁，同時在米那斯提力斯，火焰正熊熊燃燒，皮聘看著迪耐瑟眼中逐漸滋長的瘋狂。然而，在他們所有的憂慮和恐懼中，他們朋友的思緒卻不斷地轉向佛羅多和山姆。他們沒有被遺忘。但他們已遠遠超出援救的範圍，任何思念都無法為山姆衛斯·詹吉帶來任何幫助；他徹底孤身一人。
898 THE LORD OF THE RINGS He came back at last to the stone door of the orc-passage, and still unable to discover the catch or bolt that held it, he scrambled over as before and dropped softly to the ground. Then he made his way stealthily to the outlet of Shelob’s tunnel, where the rags of her great web were still blowing and swaying in the cold airs. For cold they seemed to Sam after the noisome darkness behind; but the breath of them revived him. He crept cautiously out. All was ominously quiet. The light was no more than that of dusk at a dark day’s end. The vast vapours that arose in Mordor and went streaming westward passed low overhead, a great welter of cloud and smoke now lit again beneath with a sullen glow of red. Sam looked up towards the orc-tower, and suddenly from its narrow windows lights stared out like small red eyes. He wondered if they were some signal. His fear of the orcs, forgotten for a while in his wrath and desperation, now returned. As far as he could see, there was only one possible course for him to take: he must go on and try to find the main entrance to the dreadful tower; but his knees felt weak, and he found that he was trembling. Drawing his eyes down from the tower and the horns of the Cleft before him, he forced his unwilling feet to obey him, and slowly, listening with all his ears, peering into the dense shadows of the rocks beside the way, he retraced his steps, past the place where Frodo fell, and still the stench of Shelob lingered, and then on and up, until he stood again in the very cleft where he had put on the Ring and seen Shagrat’s company go by. There he halted and sat down. For the moment he could drive himself no further. He felt that if once he went beyond the crown of the pass and took one step veritably down into the land of Mordor, that step would be irrevocable. He could never come back. Without any clear purpose he drew out the Ring and put it on again. Immediately he felt the great burden of its weight, and felt afresh, but now more strong and urgent than ever, the malice of the Eye of Mordor, searching, trying to pierce the shadows that it had made for its own defence, but which now hindered it in its unquiet and doubt. As before, Sam found that his hearing was sharpened, but that to his sight the things of this world seemed thin and vague. The rocky walls of the path were pale, as if seen through a mist, but still at a distance he heard the bubbling of Shelob in her misery; and harsh and clear, and very close it seemed, he heard cries and the clash of metal. He sprang to his feet, and pressed himself against the wall beside the road. He was glad of the Ring, for here was yet another company of orcs on the march. Or so at first he thought. Then suddenly he realized that it was not so, his hearing had deceived him: the orc-cries came from the tower, whose topmost horn was now right above him, on the left hand of the Cleft.
898 《魔戒》 他終於回到了獸人通道的石門前，仍然無法找到固定石門的門閂或插銷，於是他像之前一樣爬了過去，輕輕地落到地面。接著他悄悄地來到屍羅隧道出口，那裡仍有她巨網的殘絲在寒風中飄盪搖曳。對山姆來說，在經歷了身後那令人作嘔的黑暗之後，這些風顯得格外寒冷；但它們的氣息卻使他恢復了精神。他小心翼翼地爬了出去。一切都寂靜得令人不安。光線昏暗，如同陰沉日子的黃昏。魔多升起的巨大煙霧向西流動，低低地從頭頂掠過，一大片混雜的雲霧和煙塵，此刻下方又被陰沉的紅光照亮。山姆抬頭望向獸人塔，突然間，狹窄的窗戶裡射出光芒，像一雙雙小小的紅眼睛。他想知道那是否是某種信號。他對獸人的恐懼，在憤怒和絕望中暫時被遺忘，此刻又重新湧上心頭。就他所能預見的，他只有一條路可走：他必須繼續前進，試圖找到那座可怕高塔的主要入口；但他的雙腿感到無力，他發現自己正在顫抖。他將目光從高塔和眼前裂隙的尖角處收回，強迫自己不情願的雙腳聽從指令，緩緩地，全神貫注地傾聽著，凝視著路旁岩石的濃密陰影，他原路返回，經過佛羅多跌倒的地方，屍羅的惡臭依然揮之不去，然後繼續向上，直到他再次站在他戴上魔戒並看見夏格拉特隊伍經過的那個裂隙中。他在那裡停下腳步，坐了下來。此刻他已無法再前進一步。他覺得，一旦他越過山口的頂峰，真正踏入魔多之地，那一步將是不可逆轉的。他將永遠無法回頭。他漫無目的地取出魔戒，再次戴上。他立刻感受到魔戒沉重的負擔，並再次感受到，但這次比以往任何時候都更強烈、更緊迫，魔多之眼的惡意，它正在搜尋，試圖穿透它為自我防禦而製造的陰影，但這些陰影此刻卻因它的不安和疑慮而阻礙了它。一如既往，山姆發現自己的聽力變得敏銳，但對他而言，這個世界的一切都顯得稀薄而模糊。小徑兩旁的岩壁蒼白，彷彿隔著一層薄霧，但遠處他仍聽見屍羅在痛苦中發出的咕嚕聲；而刺耳清晰，且似乎近在咫尺的，他聽到了叫喊聲和金屬碰撞聲。他猛地站起身，緊貼著路旁的牆壁。他慶幸有魔戒在身，因為又有一隊獸人正在行進。或者說，他起初是這麼認為的。然而他突然意識到並非如此，他的聽力欺騙了他：獸人的叫喊聲來自高塔，高塔的最高尖角此刻就在他正上方，位於裂隙的左側。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 899 Sam shuddered and tried to force himself to move. There was plainly some devilry going on. Perhaps in spite of all orders the cruelty of the orcs had mastered them, and they were tormenting Frodo, or even savagely hacking him to pieces. He listened; and as he did so a gleam of hope came to him. There could not be much doubt: there was fighting in the tower, the orcs must be at war among themselves, Shagrat and Gorbag had come to blows. Faint as was the hope that his guess brought him, it was enough to rouse him. There might be just a chance. His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: ‘I’m coming, Mr. Frodo!’ He ran forward to the climbing path, and over it. At once the road turned left and plunged steeply down. Sam had crossed into Mordor. He took off the Ring, moved it may be by some deep premonition of danger, though to himself he thought only that he wished to see more clearly. ‘Better have a look at the worst,’ he muttered. ‘No good blundering about in a fog!’ Hard and cruel and bitter was the land that met his gaze. Before his feet the highest ridge of the Ephel Duath fell steeply in great cliffs down into a dark trough, on the further side of which there rose another ridge, much lower, its edge notched and jagged with crags like fangs that stood out black against the red light behind them: it was the grim Morgai, the inner ring of the fences of the land. Far beyond it, but almost straight ahead, across a wide lake of darkness dotted with tiny fires, there was a great burning glow; and from it rose in huge columns a swirling smoke, dusty red at the roots, black above where it merged into the billowing canopy that roofed in all the accursed land. Sam was looking at Orodruin, the Mountain of Fire. Ever and anon the furnaces far below its ashen cone would grow hot and with a great surging and throbbing pour forth rivers of molten rock from chasms in its sides. Some would flow blazing towards Barad-dir down great channels; some would wind their way into the stony plain, until they cooled and lay like twisted dragon-shapes vomited from the tormented earth. In such an hour of labour Sam beheld Mount Doom, and the light of it, cut off by the high screen of the Ephel Duath from those who climbed up the path from the West, now glared against the stark rock faces, so that they seemed to be drenched with blood. In that dreadful light Sam stood aghast, for now, looking to his left, he could see the Tower of Cirith Ungol in all its strength. The horn that he had seen from the other side was only its topmost turret. Its eastern face stood up in three great tiers from a shelf in the mountain-wall far below; its back was to a great cliff behind, from
900 THE LORD OF THE RINGS which it jutted out in pointed bastions, one above the other, diminishing as they rose, with sheer sides of cunning masonry that looked north-east and south-east. About the lowest tier, two hundred feet below where Sam now stood, there was a battlemented wall enclosing a narrow court. Its gate, upon the near south-eastern side, opened on a broad road, the outer parapet of which ran upon the brink of a precipice, until it turned southward and went winding down into the darkness to join the road that came over the Morgul Pass. Then on it went through a jagged rift in the Morgai out into the valley of Gorgoroth and away to Barad-dir. The narrow upper way on which Sam stood leapt swiftly down by stair and steep path to meet the main road under the frowning walls close to the Tower-gate. As he gazed at it suddenly Sam understood, almost with a shock, that this stronghold had been built not to keep enemies out of Mordor, but to keep them in. It was indeed one of the works of Gondor long ago, an eastern outpost of the defences of Ithilien, made when, after the Last Alliance, Men of Westernesse kept watch on the evil land of Sauron where his creatures still lurked. But as with Narchost and Carchost, the Towers of the Teeth, so here too the vigilance had failed, and treachery had yielded up the Tower to the Lord of the Ringwraiths, and now for long years it had been held by evil things. Since his return to Mordor, Sauron had found it useful; for he had few servants but many slaves of fear, and still its chief purpose as of old was to prevent escape from Mordor. Though if an enemy were so rash as to try to enter that land secretly, then it was also a last unsleeping guard against any that might pass the vigilance of Morgul and of Shelob. Only too clearly Sam saw how hopeless it would be for him to creep down under those many-eyed walls and pass the watchful gate. And even if he did so, he could not go far on the guarded road beyond: not even the black shadows, lying deep where the red glow could not reach, would shield him long from the night-eyed orcs. But desperate as that road might be, his task was now far worse: not to avoid the gate and escape, but to enter it, alone. His thought turned to the Ring, but there was no comfort there, only dread and danger. No sooner had he come in sight of Mount Doom, burning far away, than he was aware of a change in his burden. As it drew near the great furnaces where, in the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the Ring’s power grew, and it became more fell, untameable save by some mighty will. As Sam stood there, even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck, he felt himself enlarged, as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself, a vast and ominous threat halted upon the walls
《魔戒》900頁，它以尖銳的堡壘突出，一個疊著一個，隨著高度的增加而逐漸縮小，其陡峭的牆壁由精巧的石工築成，面朝東北和東南。在最低層，也就是山姆現在站立位置下方兩百英尺處，有一道帶有城垛的牆，圍繞著一個狹窄的庭院。它的城門位於靠近東南側，通向一條寬闊的道路，道路的外側護牆沿著懸崖邊緣延伸，直到它轉向南方，蜿蜒向下深入黑暗，與來自魔窟隘口的道路匯合。接著它穿過魔蓋山脈一道崎嶇的裂縫，進入戈哥洛斯山谷，並延伸至巴拉多。山姆所站的狹窄上層通道，透過階梯和陡峭的小徑迅速下降，在陰森的城牆下，靠近塔門處與主路匯合。當他凝視著它時，山姆突然明白，幾乎是震驚地意識到，這座要塞的建造目的並非是為了將敵人擋在魔多之外，而是為了將他們困在其中。它確實是剛鐸很久以前的工程之一，是伊西力安防禦體系的一個東部前哨，建於最後聯盟之後，當時西方人監視著索倫的邪惡之地，那裡仍有他的爪牙潛伏。但就像納爾科斯特和卡爾科斯特，也就是牙之塔一樣，這裡的警戒也已失效，背叛將這座塔拱手讓給了戒靈之王，如今多年來它一直被邪惡之物佔據。自從索倫返回魔多以來，他發現它很有用；因為他僕從甚少，但卻有許多恐懼的奴隸，而且它主要的目的仍如往昔，是為了阻止從魔多逃脫。然而，如果敵人膽敢冒險秘密進入那片土地，那麼它也是一道最後的、不眠的防線，以防任何可能通過魔窟和屍羅警戒線的敵人。山姆非常清楚地看到，他要潛入那些「千眼」城牆下並通過那扇「警惕」的城門是多麼絕望。即使他做到了，他也無法在守衛森嚴的道路上走多遠：即使是紅光無法觸及的深處的黑暗陰影，也無法長時間地將他從夜眼獸人手中遮蔽。但儘管那條路可能充滿絕望，他現在的任務卻更糟：不是避開城門逃跑，而是獨自進入它。他的思緒轉向魔戒，但那裡沒有安慰，只有恐懼和危險。他剛一看到遠處燃燒的末日火山，就意識到他身上的負擔發生了變化。當它靠近那些在時間深處被塑形和鍛造的巨大熔爐時，魔戒的力量增長了，變得更加兇惡，除了某種強大的意志外，無人能馴服。當山姆站在那裡時，儘管魔戒並不在他身上，而是掛在他脖子的鏈子上，他卻感覺自己被放大了，彷彿披上了一層巨大而扭曲的自身陰影，一個龐大而險惡的威脅停駐在城牆之上。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 9OI of Mordor. He felt that he had from now on only two choices: to forbear the Ring, though it would torment him; or to claim it, and challenge the Power that sat in its dark hold beyond the valley of shadows. Already the Ring tempted him, gnawing at his will and reason. Wild fantasies arose in his mind; and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the overthrow of Barad-dir. And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shone, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be. In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command. ‘And anyway all these notions are only a trick,’ he said to himself. ‘He’d spot me and cow me, before I could so much as shout out. He’d spot me, pretty quick, if I put the Ring on now, in Mordor. Well, all I can say is: things look as hopeless as a frost in Spring. Just when being invisible would be really useful, I can’t use the Ring! And if ever I get any further, it’s going to be nothing but a drag and a burden every step. So what’s to be done?’ He was not really in any doubt. He knew that he must go down to the gate and not linger any more. With a shrug of his shoulders, as if to shake off the shadow and dismiss the phantoms, he began slowly to descend. With each step he seemed to diminish. He had not gone far before he had shrunk again to a very small and frightened hobbit. He was now passing under the very walls of the Tower, and the cries and sounds of fighting could be heard with his unaided ears. At the moment the noise seemed to be coming from the court behind the outer wall. Sam was about half way down the path when out of the dark gateway into the red glow there came two orcs running. They did not turn towards him. They were making for the main road; but even as they ran they stumbled and fell to the ground and lay still. Sam had seen no arrows, but he guessed that the orcs had been shot down by others on the battlements or hidden in the shadow of the gate. He went on, hugging the wall on his left. One look upward had shown him that there was no hope of climbing it. The stone-work
西力斯昂哥之塔，魔多。他覺得從現在起，他只有兩個選擇：忍住不戴上魔戒，儘管它會折磨他；或者戴上它，挑戰那盤踞在陰影谷之外黑暗巢穴中的力量。魔戒已經在誘惑他，啃噬著他的意志和理智。狂野的幻想在他腦海中浮現；他看見強壯的山姆衛斯，時代的英雄，手持燃燒的劍，闊步走過黑暗的大地，軍隊響應他的號召，向巴拉督爾進軍，將其推翻。然後所有的烏雲都散去了，白色的太陽照耀著，在他的命令下，哥哥洛斯山谷變成了一座鮮花和樹木的花園，結出了果實。他只需要戴上魔戒並將其據為己有，這一切就能實現。在那考驗的時刻，最能幫助他堅定不移的是他對主人的愛；但同時，在他內心深處，他那樸實的哈比人常識依然未被征服：他心知肚明，自己不夠強大，無法承受如此重擔，即使這些幻象並非只是為了欺騙他的詭計。一個自由園丁的小花園是他全部的需求和應得，而不是一個膨脹成王國的花園；他要用自己的雙手，而不是指揮他人的雙手。「反正這些想法都只是個詭計，」他對自己說。「在我還沒來得及喊出來之前，他就會發現我並嚇倒我。如果我現在在魔多戴上魔戒，他會很快發現我。唉，我只能說：事情看起來就像春天裡的霜凍一樣絕望。偏偏在隱形會非常有用時，我卻不能使用魔戒！而且如果我再往前走，每一步都將是個累贅和負擔。那麼該怎麼辦？」他其實並沒有任何疑慮。他知道自己必須走到大門那裡，不能再拖延了。他聳了聳肩，彷彿要甩掉陰影，驅散幻影，然後開始緩緩下降。每走一步，他似乎都在縮小。他沒走多遠，就又縮成了一個非常小而害怕的哈比人。他現在正從塔樓的城牆下經過，他不用任何輔助就能聽到戰鬥的哭喊聲和聲音。此刻，噪音似乎來自外牆後面的庭院。山姆走到一半時，從黑暗的拱門進入紅光中，有兩隻半獸人跑了出來。它們沒有轉向他。它們正朝著主幹道跑去；但即使在奔跑中，它們也絆倒在地，一動不動地躺著。山姆沒有看到箭，但他猜測這些半獸人是被城垛上或藏在門影中的其他人射殺的。他繼續前進，緊貼著左邊的牆壁。他抬頭看了一眼，就知道沒有攀爬的希望。石砌的牆體
902 THE LORD OF THE RINGS rose thirty feet, without a crack or ledge, to overhanging courses like inverted steps. The gate was the only way. He crept on; and as he went he wondered how many orcs lived in the Tower with Shagrat, and how many Gorbag had, and what they were quarrelling about, if that was what was happening. Shagrat’s company had seemed to be about forty, and Gorbag’s more than twice as large; but of course Shagrat’s patrol had only been a part of his garrison. Almost certainly they were quarrelling about Frodo, and the spoil. For a second Sam halted, for suddenly things seemed clear to him, almost as if he had seen them with his eyes. The mithril coat! Of course, Frodo was wearing it, and they would find it. And from what Sam had heard Gorbag would covet it. But the orders of the Dark Tower were at present Frodo’s only protection, and if they were set aside, Frodo might be killed out of hand at any moment. ‘Come on, you miserable sluggard!’ Sam cried to himself. ‘Now for it!’ He drew Sting and ran towards the open gate. But just as he was about to pass under its great arch he felt a shock: as if he had run into some web like Shelob’s, only invisible. He could see no obstacle, but something too strong for his will to overcome barred the way. He looked about, and then within the shadow of the gate he saw the Two Watchers. They were like great figures seated upon thrones. Each had three joined bodies, and three heads facing outward, and inward, and across the gateway. The heads had vulture-faces, and on their great knees were laid clawlike hands. They seemed to be carved out of huge blocks of stone, immovable, and yet they were aware: some dreadful spirit of evil vigilance abode in them. They knew an enemy. Visible or invisible none could pass unheeded. They would forbid his entry, or his escape. Hardening his will Sam thrust forward once again, and halted with a jerk, staggering as if from a blow upon his breast and head. Then greatly daring, because he could think of nothing else to do, answering a sudden thought that came to him, he drew slowly out the phial of Galadriel and held it up. Its white light quickened swiftly, and the shadows under the dark arch fled. The monstrous Watchers sat there cold and still, revealed in all their hideous shape. For a moment Sam caught a glitter in the black stones of their eyes, the very malice of which made him quail; but slowly he felt their will waver and crumble into fear. He sprang past them; but even as he did so, thrusting the phial back into his bosom, he was aware, as plainly as if a bar of steel had snapped to behind him, that their vigilance was renewed. And from those evil heads there came a high shrill cry that echoed in the tower
902 《魔戒》 高塔拔地而起三十呎，沒有裂縫或壁架，只有像倒置的階梯般懸垂的層次。大門是唯一的通道。他悄悄前進；一邊走一邊想著，夏格拉特手下的半獸人有多少住在塔裡，葛巴格手下又有多少，如果他們真的在吵架，那又是為了什麼。夏格拉特的隊伍似乎有四十人左右，而葛巴格的則超過兩倍；但當然，夏格拉特的巡邏隊只是他駐軍的一部分。他們幾乎肯定是在為了佛羅多和戰利品而爭吵。山姆停頓了一下，因為突然間一切都清晰起來，彷彿他親眼所見。秘銀甲！當然，佛羅多正穿著它，他們會找到的。而根據山姆所聽到的，葛巴格會覬覦它。但黑暗之塔的命令目前是佛羅多唯一的保護，如果這些命令被擱置，佛羅多隨時都可能被立刻殺死。「加油，你這可憐的懶鬼！」山姆對自己喊道。「現在該行動了！」他拔出刺針，朝著敞開的大門跑去。但就在他即將穿過那巨大的拱門時，他感到一陣衝擊：彷彿他撞上了一張像屍羅的網，只是看不見。他看不到任何障礙，但有某種力量強大到他的意志無法克服，擋住了去路。他環顧四周，然後在門的陰影中，他看到了兩位守衛。他們就像坐在寶座上的巨大雕像。每個都有三個相連的身體，三顆頭分別朝外、朝內、以及橫跨門口。這些頭顱有著禿鷲般的面孔，巨大的膝蓋上放著爪狀的手。它們似乎是由巨大的石塊雕刻而成，紋絲不動，然而它們卻有意識：某種邪惡警惕的可怕靈魂棲息其中。它們知道有敵人。無論可見或不可見，無人能不被察覺地通過。它們會阻止他的進入，或他的逃脫。山姆堅定意志，再次向前衝去，然後猛地停下，搖搖晃晃，彷彿胸口和頭部受到一擊。然後他大膽地，因為他想不出其他辦法，回應著突然閃現的念頭，他緩緩地拿出凱蘭崔爾的聖瓶，將它舉起。它的白光迅速增強，黑暗拱門下的陰影消散了。那巨大的守衛們冰冷而靜止地坐在那裡，它們醜陋的形狀完全顯露出來。一瞬間，山姆在它們眼睛的黑石中捕捉到一絲閃光，那純粹的惡意讓他膽怯；但慢慢地，他感覺到它們的意志動搖並崩潰成恐懼。他衝過它們；但就在他這樣做的時候，將聖瓶塞回胸前，他意識到，就像一根鋼條在他身後「咔嗒」一聲關上那樣清晰，它們的警惕性又恢復了。從那些邪惡的頭顱中傳來一聲尖銳的叫喊，迴盪在塔中。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 903 ing walls before him. Far up above, like an answering signal, a harsh bell clanged a single stroke. “That’s done it!’ said Sam. ‘Now I’ve rung the front-door bell! Well, come on somebody!’ he cried. “Tell Captain Shagrat that the great Elf-warrior has called, with his elf-sword too!’ There was no answer. Sam strode forward. Sting glittered blue in his hand. The courtyard lay in deep shadow, but he could see that the pavement was strewn with bodies. Right at his feet were two orc-archers with knives sticking in their backs. Beyond lay many more shapes; some singly as they had been hewn down or shot; others in pairs, still grappling one another, dead in the very throes of stabbing, throttling, biting. The stones were slippery with dark blood. Two liveries Sam noticed, one marked by the Red Eye, the other by a Moon disfigured with a ghastly face of death; but he did not stop to look more closely. Across the court a great door at the foot of the Tower stood half open, and a red light came through; a large orc lay dead upon the threshold. Sam sprang over the body and went in; and then he peered about at a loss. A wide and echoing passage led back from the door towards the mountain-side. It was dimly lit with torches flaring in brackets on the walls, but its distant end was lost in gloom. Many doors and openings could be seen on this side and that; but it was empty save for two or three more bodies sprawling on the floor. From what he had heard of the captains’ talk Sam knew that, dead or alive, Frodo would most likely be found in a chamber high up in the turret far above; but he might search for a day before he found the way. ‘It'll be near the back, I guess,’ Sam muttered. “The whole Tower climbs backwards-like. And anyway I’d better follow these lights.’ He advanced down the passage, but slowly now, each step more reluctant. Terror was beginning to grip him again. There was no sound save the rap of his feet, which seemed to grow to an echoing noise, like the slapping of great hands upon the stones. The dead bodies; the emptiness; the dank black walls that in the torchlight seemed to drip with blood; the fear of sudden death lurking in doorway or shadow; and behind all his mind the waiting watchful malice at the gate: it was almost more than he could screw himself to face. He would have welcomed a fight — with not too many enemies at a time — rather than this hideous brooding uncertainty. He forced himself to think of Frodo, lying bound or in pain or dead somewhere in this dreadful place. He went on. He had passed beyond the torchlight, almost to a great arched door at the end of the passage, the inner side of the under-gate, as he rightly guessed, when there came from high above a dreadful
西力斯昂哥的塔樓。他面前的牆壁。遠處高處，彷彿是回應的信號，一聲刺耳的鐘聲敲響了一下。「成了！」山姆說。「我現在已經按響了前門鈴！喂，來人啊！」他喊道。「去告訴夏格拉特隊長，偉大的精靈戰士來訪了，還帶著他的精靈寶劍呢！」沒有回應。山姆大步向前。刺針在他手中閃爍著藍光。庭院籠罩在深深的陰影中，但他能看到地面上散落著屍體。就在他腳邊，有兩名半獸人弓箭手，背上插著刀。更遠處躺著更多形體；有些是單獨的，像是被砍倒或射殺的；有些則是成對的，仍然互相扭打著，死在刺殺、勒頸、撕咬的劇痛之中。石頭上沾滿了濕滑的黑血。山姆注意到兩種制服，一種標誌著紅眼，另一種則是一個被可怕的死亡面孔扭曲的月亮；但他沒有停下來仔細查看。穿過庭院，塔樓底部的一扇大門半開著，透出紅光；一個巨大的半獸人屍體躺在門檻上。山姆跳過屍體走了進去；然後他茫然地四下張望。一條寬闊而迴響的通道從門口向山腰延伸。通道裡光線昏暗，火把在牆上的支架中搖曳，但其遠端則消失在黑暗中。這邊那邊都能看到許多門和開口；但除了兩三具橫陳在地上的屍體外，通道裡空無一人。從他聽到的隊長們的談話中，山姆知道，無論死活，佛羅多很可能被發現在高處塔樓的一個房間裡；但他可能要找上一整天才能找到路。「我想，應該在後面吧，」山姆喃喃自語。「整座塔樓都是向後攀升的。而且無論如何，我最好還是跟著這些光線走。」他沿著通道向前走，但現在腳步緩慢，每一步都更加不情願。恐懼再次開始攫住他。除了他腳步的輕敲聲外，沒有其他聲音，這聲音似乎逐漸變成迴響，如同巨手拍打在石頭上。那些屍體；那份空虛；在火把光下似乎滴著血的陰濕黑牆；潛伏在門口或陰影中的猝死恐懼；以及他腦海深處，門口那等待著的警惕惡意：這一切幾乎超出了他所能鼓起勇氣面對的極限。他寧願迎接一場戰鬥——敵人不要太多——也不願面對這種可怕而陰鬱的不確定性。他強迫自己去想佛羅多，他可能被綁著，或在痛苦中，或死在這個可怕的地方的某處。他繼續前進。他已經走出了火把光照範圍，幾乎到達通道盡頭的一扇巨大拱門，那是下層門的內側，正如他正確猜測的那樣，此時，從高處傳來一聲可怕的
904 THE LORD OF THE RINGS choking shriek. He stopped short. Then he heard feet coming. Someone was running in great haste down an echoing stairway overhead. His will was too weak and slow to restrain his hand. It dragged at the chain and clutched the Ring. But Sam did not put it on; for even as he clasped it to his breast, an orc came clattering down. Leaping out of a dark opening at the right, it ran towards him. It was no more than six paces from him when, lifting its head, it saw him; and Sam could hear its gasping breath and see the glare in its bloodshot eyes. It stopped short aghast. For what it saw was not a small frightened hobbit trying to hold a steady sword: it saw a great silent shape, cloaked in a grey shadow, looming against the wavering light behind; in one hand it held a sword, the very light of which was a bitter pain, the other was clutched at its breast, but held concealed some nameless menace of power and doom. For a moment the orc crouched, and then with a hideous yelp of fear it turned and fled back as it had come. Never was any dog more heartened when its enemy turned tail than Sam at this unexpected flight. With a shout he gave chase. ‘Yes! The Elf-warrior is loose!’ he cried. ‘?’m coming. Just you show me the way up, or I’ll skin you!’ But the orc was in its own haunts, nimble and well-fed. Sam was a stranger, hungry and weary. The stairs were high and steep and winding. Sam’s breath began to come in gasps. The orc had soon passed out of sight, and now only faintly could be heard the slapping of its feet as it went on and up. Every now and again it gave a yell, and the echo ran along the walls. But slowly all sound of it died away. Sam plodded on. He felt that he was on the right road, and his spirits had risen a good deal. He thrust the Ring away and tightened his belt. ‘Well, well!’ he said. ‘If only they all take such a dislike to me and my Sting, this may turn out better than I hoped. And anyway it looks as if Shagrat, Gorbag, and company have done nearly all my job for me. Except for that little frightened rat, I do believe there’s nobody left alive in the place!’ And with that he stopped, brought up hard, as if he had hit his head against the stone wall. The full meaning of what he had said struck him like a blow. Nobody left alive! Whose had been that horrible dying shriek? ‘Frodo, Frodo! Master!’ he cried half sobbing. ‘If they’ve killed you, what shall I do? Well, ’m coming at last, right to the top, to see what I must.’ Up, up he went. It was dark save for an occasional torch flaring at a turn, or beside some opening that led into the higher levels of
904 《魔戒》 窒息的尖叫。他猛地停下。接著他聽到腳步聲。有人正急匆匆地跑下頭頂上方迴盪的樓梯。他的意志太過薄弱和遲緩，無法抑制住自己的手。它拖曳著鎖鏈，緊緊抓住魔戒。但山姆並沒有戴上它；因為就在他將它緊貼胸口時，一個半獸人嘎吱作響地跑了下來。它從右邊一個黑暗的開口跳出，朝他跑來。當它抬起頭看到他時，離他不過六步之遙；山姆能聽到它喘息的呼吸聲，看到它血紅的眼睛裡閃爍著凶光。它驚恐地猛地停下。因為它看到的不是一個試圖握穩劍的小小、受驚的哈比人：它看到的是一個巨大的、沉默的身影，披著灰色的陰影，在身後搖曳的光線中若隱若現；它的一隻手握著劍，劍的光芒本身就是一種劇烈的痛苦，另一隻手緊貼胸口，卻隱藏著某種無名的力量和厄運的威脅。半獸人蹲伏了一會兒，然後發出一聲可怕的恐懼尖叫，轉身逃回原路。當敵人轉身逃跑時，沒有哪隻狗比山姆此刻因這意想不到的逃跑而更受鼓舞了。他大喊一聲追了上去。「是的！精靈戰士出來了！」他喊道。「我來了。你只要給我指明上去的路，不然我就剝了你的皮！」但那半獸人身處自己的巢穴，靈活而飽食。山姆是個陌生人，又餓又累。樓梯又高又陡又彎曲。山姆開始喘不過氣來。半獸人很快就消失在視線中，現在只能隱約聽到它腳步拍打的聲音，它繼續向上跑去。它時不時地發出一聲叫喊，迴聲沿著牆壁傳開。但慢慢地，所有聲音都消失了。山姆蹣跚前行。他覺得自己走在正確的道路上，精神也振奮了許多。他把魔戒推開，繫緊了腰帶。「嗯，嗯！」他說。「如果它們都這麼討厭我和我的『刺針』，這結果可能比我預期的還要好。而且反正看起來，夏格拉特、葛巴格和他們的同夥已經替我完成了幾乎所有工作。除了那個受驚的小老鼠，我相信這裡已經沒有活人了！」說到這裡，他停了下來，猛地一震，彷彿頭撞到了石牆。他所說的話的全部意義像一記重擊般擊中了他。沒有活人了！那可怕的臨終尖叫是誰發出的？「佛羅多，佛羅多！主人！」他半哭半喊道。「如果他們殺了你，我該怎麼辦？好吧，我終於要上去了，一直到頂，看看我必須做什麼。」他向上，向上走去。除了偶爾在轉彎處或通往更高層的某個開口旁閃爍的火把外，一片漆黑。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 905 the Tower. Sam tried to count the steps, but after two hundred he lost his reckoning. He was moving quietly now; for he thought that he could hear the sound of voices talking, still some way above. More than one rat remained alive it seemed. All at once, when he felt that he could pump out no more breath, nor force his knees to bend again, the stair ended. He stood still. The voices were now loud and near. Sam peered about. He had climbed right to the flat roof of the third and highest tier of the Tower: an open space, about twenty yards across, with a low parapet. There the stair was covered by a small domed chamber in the midst of the roof, with low doors facing east and west. Eastward Sam could see the plain of Mordor vast and dark below, and the burning mountain far away. A fresh turmoil was surging in its deep wells, and the rivers of fire blazed so fiercely that even at this distance of many miles the light of them lit the tower-top with a red glare. Westward the view was blocked by the base of the great turret that stood at the back of this upper court and reared its horn high above the crest of the encircling hills. Light gleamed in a window-slit. Its door was not ten yards from where Sam stood. It was open but dark, and from just within its shadow the voices came. At first Sam did not listen; he took a pace out of the eastward door and looked about. At once he saw that up here the fighting had been fiercest. All the court was choked with dead orcs, or their severed and scattered heads and limbs. The place stank of death. A snarl followed by a blow and a cry sent him darting back into hiding. An orc-voice rose in anger, and he knew it again at once, harsh, brutal, cold. It was Shagrat speaking, Captain of the Tower. “You won’t go again, you say? Curse you, Snaga, you little maggot! If you think ’m so damaged that it’s safe to flout me, you’re mistaken. Come here, and I’ll squeeze your eyes out, like I did to Radbug just now. And when some new lads come, I’ll deal with you: Pll send you to Shelob.’ “They won’t come, not before you’re dead anyway,’ answered Snaga surlily. ‘Pve told you twice that Gorbag’s swine got to the gate first, and none of ours got out. Lagduf and Muzgash ran through, but they were shot. I saw it from a window, I tell you. And they were the last.’ “Then you must go. I must stay here anyway. But ’'m hurt. The Black Pits take that filthy rebel Gorbag!’ Shagrat’s voice trailed off into a string of foul names and curses. ‘I gave him better than I got, but he knifed me, the dung, before I throttled him. You must go, or Ill eat you. News must get through to Lugburz, or we’ll both be for the Black Pits. Yes, you too. You won’t escape by skulking here.’
西力斯昂哥的塔樓 905號塔樓。山姆試著數著階梯，但在數到兩百級後，他便數不清了。他現在正悄悄地移動；因為他覺得自己能聽到說話的聲音，那聲音仍在上方不遠處。看來，活著的老鼠不止一隻。突然間，當他覺得自己再也無法喘氣，也無法強迫雙膝再次彎曲時，階梯到頭了。他停了下來。那些聲音現在又響又近。山姆環顧四周。他已爬到了塔樓第三層也是最高層的平坦屋頂：那是一個約二十碼寬的開放空間，周圍有一道矮矮的胸牆。階梯在那裡被屋頂中央的一個小型圓頂房間覆蓋，房間有兩扇矮門，分別朝向東方和西方。向東望去，山姆能看到下方廣闊而黑暗的魔多平原，以及遠處那座燃燒的山。一股新的騷動正在其深井中翻騰，火焰之河熊熊燃燒，即使相隔數英里之遙，它們的光芒仍將塔頂映照得一片通紅。向西望去，視線被這上層庭院後方那座巨大角樓的底部所阻擋，它的尖角高高聳立在周圍群山的頂峰之上。一道光芒從窗縫中透出。它的門離山姆站立之處不到十碼。門是開著的，但裡面一片漆黑，聲音就從門內的陰影中傳來。起初山姆沒有細聽；他從東邊的門走出去一步，環顧四周。他立刻看到，這裡的戰鬥最為激烈。整個庭院都堆滿了死去的半獸人，或是他們被砍下散落的頭顱和肢體。這個地方瀰漫著死亡的惡臭。一聲咆哮，緊接著一擊和一聲慘叫，讓他迅速躲了回去。一個半獸人的聲音憤怒地響起，他立刻又認出了它，那聲音粗厲、殘酷、冰冷。是夏格拉特在說話，他是塔樓的隊長。「你說你不會再去了？該死的，史納加，你這隻小蛆蟲！如果你以為我受了傷，就可以安全地蔑視我，那你就錯了。過來，我會把你的眼珠子擠出來，就像我剛才對拉德巴格做的那樣。等有新的小夥子來了，我就會處理你：我會把你送去給屍羅。」「他們不會來的，反正你死之前都不會來。」史納加粗魯地回答。「我已經告訴你兩次了，戈巴格那群豬先到了大門，我們的人一個都沒出去。拉格杜夫和穆茲加什衝了過去，但他們被射殺了。我從窗戶裡看到的，我告訴你。他們是最後一批了。」「那麼你必須去。我反正必須待在這裡。但我受傷了。讓黑坑把那個骯髒的叛徒戈巴格帶走吧！」夏格拉特的聲音漸漸變成一連串污言穢語和詛咒。「我給他的比我得到的還多，但他卻在我勒死他之前，用刀捅了我，這個糞便。你必須去，不然我就吃了你。消息必須傳到盧格布爾茲，不然我們兩個都會被送進黑坑。是的，你也是。你躲在這裡是逃不掉的。」
906 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘I’m not going down those stairs again,’ growled Snaga, ‘be you captain or no. Nar! Keep your hands off your knife, or Pll put an arrow in your guts. You won’t be a captain long when They hear about all these goings-on. I’ve fought for the Tower against those stinking Morgul-rats, but a nice mess you two precious captains have made of things, fighting over the swag.’ “That’s enough from you,’ snarled Shagrat. ‘I had my orders. It was Gorbag started it, trying to pinch that pretty shirt.’ ‘Well, you put his back up, being so high and mighty. And he had more sense than you anyway. He told you more than once that the most dangerous of these spies was still loose, and you wouldn’t listen. And you won’t listen now. Gorbag was right, I tell you. There’s a great fighter about, one of those bloody-handed Elves, or one of the filthy tarks.* He’s coming here, I tell you. You heard the bell. He’s got past the Watchers, and that’s tark’s work. He’s on the stairs. And until he’s off them, I’m not going down. Not if you were a Nazgil, I wouldn’t.’ ‘So that’s it, is it?’ yelled Shagrat. ‘You’ll do this, and you’ll not do that? And when he does come, you’ll bolt and leave me? No, you won’t! Pll put red maggot-holes in your belly first.’ Out of the turret-door the smaller orc came flying. Behind him came Shagrat, a large orc with long arms that, as he ran crouching, reached to the ground. But one arm hung limp and seemed to be bleeding; the other hugged a large black bundle. In the red glare Sam, cowering behind the stair-door, caught a glimpse of his evil face as it passed: it was scored as if by rending claws and smeared with blood; slaver dripped from its protruding fangs; the mouth snarled like an animal. As far as Sam could see, Shagrat hunted Snaga round the roof, until ducking and eluding him the smaller orc with a yelp darted back into the turret and disappeared. Then Shagrat halted. Out of the eastward door Sam could see him now by the parapet, panting, his left claw clenching and unclenching feebly. He put the bundle on the floor and with his right claw drew out a long red knife and spat on it. Going to the parapet he leaned over, looking down into the outer court far below. Twice he shouted but no answer came. Suddenly, as Shagrat was stooped over the battlement, his back to the roof-top, Sam to his amazement saw that one of the sprawling bodies was moving. It was crawling. It put out a claw and clutched the bundle. It staggered up. In its other hand it held a broad-headed spear with a short broken haft. It was poised for a stabbing thrust. But at that very moment a hiss escaped its teeth, a gasp of pain or * See Appendix F, 1131.
906 魔戒之主 「我再也不要下那些樓梯了！」史納加咆哮道，「不管你是不是隊長。哼！把你的手從刀子上拿開，不然我就一箭射穿你的肚子。等他們聽到這些亂七八糟的事情，你隊長也當不長了。我為了高塔對抗那些臭氣熏天的魔窟鼠，但你們兩個寶貝隊長卻把事情搞得一團糟，還為了贓物打架。」 「你說夠了！」夏格拉特怒吼道。「我有我的命令。是戈巴格先挑起的，他想偷那件漂亮的襯衫。」 「哼，你那麼趾高氣揚，把他惹毛了。而且他總比你聰明。他不止一次告訴你，這些間諜中最危險的一個還逍遙法外，你卻不聽。現在你也不會聽。戈巴格是對的，我告訴你。有個厲害的戰士在附近，不是那些血腥的精靈，就是那些骯髒的塔克人。他正朝這裡來，我告訴你。你聽到鈴聲了。他已經過了守望者，那是塔克人的把戲。他就在樓梯上。在他離開之前，我不會下去。就算你是戒靈，我也不會。」 「所以就這樣了，是嗎？」夏格拉特大吼。「你會做這個，不會做那個？等他真的來了，你就會溜走把我丟下？不，你不會！我會先在你的肚子上開幾個紅色的蛆蟲洞！」 小一點的半獸人從塔樓門口飛奔而出。夏格拉特緊隨其後，他是一個高大的半獸人，手臂很長，當他彎腰跑動時，手臂幾乎觸地。但他的一隻手臂無力地垂著，似乎在流血；另一隻則抱著一個巨大的黑色包裹。在紅色的光芒中，山姆蜷縮在樓梯門後，當那張邪惡的臉經過時，他瞥見了一眼：那張臉像是被撕裂的爪子劃傷，沾滿了鮮血；口水從突出的獠牙滴下；嘴巴像野獸一樣咆哮著。 據山姆所見，夏格拉特在屋頂上追逐史納加，直到小半獸人閃躲並擺脫了他，發出一聲尖叫，衝回塔樓並消失了。然後夏格拉特停了下來。從東邊的門，山姆現在可以看到他在女兒牆邊，氣喘吁吁，他的左爪無力地握緊又鬆開。他把包裹放在地上，用右爪抽出一把長長的紅刀，然後朝上面吐了口水。他走到女兒牆邊，俯身向下，望著下方遙遠的外院。他喊了兩聲，但沒有回應。突然，當夏格拉特彎腰在城垛上，背對著屋頂時，山姆驚訝地看到其中一具橫七豎八的屍體正在移動。它在爬行。它伸出一隻爪子，抓住了包裹。它搖搖晃晃地站了起來。它的另一隻手握著一根短柄斷裂的寬頭長矛。它擺出刺擊的姿勢。但就在那一刻，一聲嘶嘶聲從它的牙齒間逸出，一聲痛苦的喘息，或者 * 見附錄F，1131。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 907 hate. Quick as a snake Shagrat slipped aside, twisted round, and drove his knife into his enemy’s throat. ‘Got you, Gorbag!’ he cried. ‘Not quite dead, eh? Well, Pll finish my job now.’ He sprang on to the fallen body, and stamped and trampled it in his fury, stooping now and again to stab and slash it with his knife. Satisfied at last, he threw back his head and let out a horrible gurgling yell of triumph. Then he licked his knife, and put it between his teeth, and catching up the bundle he came loping towards the near door of the stairs. Sam had no time to think. He might have slipped out of the other door, but hardly without being seen; and he could not have played hide-and-seek with this hideous orc for long. He did what was probably the best thing he could have done. He sprang out to meet Shagrat with a shout. He was no longer holding the Ring, but it was there, a hidden power, a cowing menace to the slaves of Mordor; and in his hand was Sting, and its light smote the eyes of the orc like the glitter of cruel stars in the terrible elf-countries, the dream of which was a cold fear to all his kind. And Shagrat could not both fight and keep hold of his treasure. He stopped, growling, baring his fangs. Then once more, orc-fashion, he leapt aside, and as Sam sprang at him, using the heavy bundle as both shield and weapon, he thrust it hard into his enemy’s face. Sam staggered, and before he could recover, Shagrat darted past and down the stairs. Sam ran after him, cursing, but he did not go far. Soon the thought of Frodo returned to him, and he remembered that the other orc had gone back into the turret. Here was another dreadful choice, and he had no time to ponder it. If Shagrat got away, he would soon get help and come back. But if Sam pursued him, the other orc might do some horrible deed up there. And anyway Sam might miss Shagrat or be killed by him. He turned quickly and ran back up the stairs. ‘Wrong again, I expect,’ he sighed. ‘But it’s my job to go right up to the top first, whatever happens afterwards.’ Away below Shagrat went leaping down the stairs and out over the court and through the gate, bearing his precious burden. If Sam could have seen him and known the grief that his escape would bring, he might have quailed. But now his mind was set on the last stage of his search. He came cautiously to the turret-door and stepped inside. It opened into darkness. But soon his staring eyes were aware of a dim light at his right hand. It came from an opening that led to another stairway, dark and narrow: it appeared to go winding up the turret along the inside of its round outer wall. A torch was glimmering from somewhere up above. Softly Sam began to climb. He came to the guttering torch, fixed above a door on his left that faced a window-slit looking out westward:
西力斯昂哥塔 907 恨。沙格拉特像蛇一樣迅速閃開，轉身將刀刺入敵人的喉嚨。「抓到你了，葛巴格！」他喊道。「還沒完全死透，嗯？好吧，我現在就了結你。」他跳上倒下的屍體，在狂怒中踩踏、踐踏，不時彎下身用刀刺砍。終於心滿意足，他仰起頭，發出勝利的、可怕的咕嚕聲。然後他舔了舔刀，將它銜在齒間，抓起包裹，小跑著走向樓梯附近的門。山姆沒有時間思考。他或許可以從另一扇門溜走，但很難不被發現；而且他無法和這醜惡的半獸人玩太久的捉迷藏。他做了他可能做過最好的事情。他大叫一聲，跳出來迎向沙格拉特。他不再握著魔戒，但它就在那裡，一股隱藏的力量，對魔多奴隸來說是一種威嚇的威脅；他手中握著刺針，它的光芒刺痛了半獸人的眼睛，如同可怕精靈國度裡殘酷星辰的閃爍，那夢境對牠們所有同類而言都是一種冰冷的恐懼。而沙格拉特無法同時戰鬥並保住他的寶藏。他停了下來，咆哮著，露出獠牙。然後，他再次以半獸人的方式跳開，當山姆撲向他時，他將沉重的包裹既當作盾牌又當作武器，猛地推向敵人的臉。山姆踉蹌了一下，還沒來得及恢復，沙格拉特就衝過他身邊，跑下樓梯。山姆咒罵著追了上去，但他沒有跑遠。很快，佛羅多的念頭又回到他腦海中，他想起另一個半獸人已經回到塔樓裡了。這又是一個可怕的選擇，他沒有時間細想。如果沙格拉特逃走，他很快就會找來幫手並回來。但如果山姆追趕他，另一個半獸人可能會在上面做出可怕的事情。而且無論如何，山姆可能會錯過沙格拉特，或者被他殺死。他迅速轉身跑回樓梯。「我想，又錯了，」他嘆了口氣。「但我的職責是先上到頂端，之後發生什麼都無所謂。」下面，沙格拉特跳下樓梯，穿過庭院，衝出大門，帶著他珍貴的負擔。如果山姆能看到他，並知道他逃走會帶來多大的悲痛，他可能會退縮。但現在他的心思已放在他搜尋的最後階段。他小心翼翼地來到塔樓門口，走了進去。門內一片黑暗。但很快，他凝視的眼睛察覺到右手邊有一絲微弱的光線。它來自一個通往另一條樓梯的開口，那樓梯又黑又窄：它似乎沿著塔樓圓形外牆的內側盤旋而上。一支火把從上方某處閃爍著。山姆輕輕地開始攀爬。他來到那支搖曳的火把前，它固定在左邊一扇門的上方，那扇門面對著一個向西的窗縫：
908 THE LORD OF THE RINGS one of the red eyes that he and Frodo had seen from down below by the tunnel’s mouth. Quickly Sam passed the door and hurried on to the second storey, dreading at any moment to be attacked and to feel throttling fingers seize his throat from behind. He came next to a window looking east and another torch above the door to a passage through the middle of the turret. The door was open, the passage dark save for the glimmer of the torch and the red glare from outside filtering through the window-slit. But here the stair stopped and climbed no further. Sam crept into the passage. On either side there was a low door; both were closed and locked. There was no sound at all. ‘A dead end,’ muttered Sam; ‘and after all my climb! This can’t be the top of the tower. But what can I do now?’ He ran back to the lower storey and tried the door. It would not move. He ran up again, and sweat began to trickle down his face. He felt that even minutes were precious, but one by one they escaped; and he could do nothing. He cared no longer for Shagrat or Snaga or any other orc that was ever spawned. He longed only for his master, for one sight of his face or one touch of his hand. At last, weary and feeling finally defeated, he sat on a step below the level of the passage-floor and bowed his head into his hands. It was quiet, horribly quiet. The torch, that was already burning low when he arrived, sputtered and went out; and he felt the darkness cover him like a tide. And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing. His voice sounded thin and quavering in the cold dark tower: the voice of a forlorn and weary hobbit that no listening orc could possibly mistake for the clear song of an Elven-lord. He murmured old childish tunes out of the Shire, and snatches of Mr. Bilbo’s rhymes that came into his mind like fleeting glimpses of the country of his home. And then suddenly new strength rose in him, and his voice rang out, while words of his own came unbidden to fit the simple tune. In western lands beneath the Sun the flowers may rise in Spring, the trees may bud, the waters run, the merry finches sing. Or there maybe °tis cloudless night and swaying beeches bear the Elven-stars as jewels white amid their branching hair.
908 《魔戒》 他和佛羅多從下方隧道口看到的一隻紅眼睛。山姆迅速穿過門，趕往二樓，時刻擔心會遭到襲擊，感覺到扼喉的手指從後面掐住他的喉嚨。他來到一扇朝東的窗戶旁，門上方還有另一支火把，通往穿過塔樓中央的通道。門開著，通道一片漆黑，只有火把的微光和從外面透過窗縫滲入的紅色眩光。但樓梯到此為止，沒有再往上延伸。山姆悄悄地進入通道。兩邊各有一扇低矮的門；兩扇都關著並上了鎖。一點聲音都沒有。「死路一條！」山姆喃喃自語，「我爬了這麼久！這不可能是塔頂。但我現在能做什麼呢？」他跑回下層，試著開門。門紋絲不動。他又跑了上去，汗水開始沿著他的臉頰流下。他覺得連時間都彌足珍貴，但它們卻一個接一個地溜走了；他什麼也做不了。他不再關心夏格拉特、斯納加或任何其他被孵化出來的半獸人。他只渴望見到他的主人，看一眼他的臉，或觸摸一下他的手。最後，他疲憊不堪，感覺徹底被打敗了，坐在通道地板下的一級台階上，把頭埋在雙手中。四周一片寂靜，死一般的寂靜。他來時已經快燒盡的火把，滋滋作響後熄滅了；他感覺黑暗像潮水般將他吞沒。然後，出乎他自己的意料，在他漫長旅程和悲傷的徒勞盡頭，被心中無法言喻的思緒所感動，山姆輕輕地唱了起來。他的聲音在冰冷黑暗的塔樓裡顯得細弱顫抖：那是一個孤獨疲憊的哈比人的聲音，任何一個聽見的半獸人都不可能將其誤認為是精靈領主的清澈歌聲。他低聲哼唱著夏爾的古老童謠，以及比爾博先生的詩歌片段，這些詩歌像家鄉風景的短暫一瞥般浮現在他腦海中。隨後，一股新的力量突然在他心中升起，他的聲音響亮起來，而他自己的歌詞也應景地不請自來，與簡單的旋律契合。在陽光下的西方土地，春天花兒綻放，樹木發芽，流水潺潺，歡快的雀鳥歌唱。或者那裡可能是無雲的夜晚，搖曳的山毛櫸樹枝間，承載著如白色寶石般的精靈之星。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 909 Though here at journey’s end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day 1s done, nor bid the Stars farewell. ‘Beyond all towers strong and high,’ he began again, and then he stopped short. He thought that he had heard a faint voice answering him. But now he could hear nothing. Yes, he could hear something, but not a voice. Footsteps were approaching. Now a door was being opened quietly in the passage above; the hinges creaked. Sam crouched down listening. The door closed with a dull thud; and then a snarling orc-voice rang out. ‘Ho la! You up there, you dunghill rat! Stop your squeaking, or T’ll come and deal with you. D’you hear?’ There was no answer. ‘All right,’ growled Snaga. ‘But Pll come and have a look at you all the same, and see what you’re up to.’ The hinges creaked again, and Sam, now peering over the corner of the passage-threshold, saw a flicker of light in an open doorway, and the dim shape of an orc coming out. He seemed to be carrying a ladder. Suddenly the answer dawned on Sam: the topmost chamber was reached by a trap-door in the roof of the passage. Snaga thrust the ladder upwards, steadied it, and then clambered out of sight. Sam heard a bolt drawn back. Then he heard the hideous voice speaking again. “You lie quiet, or you'll pay for it! You’ve not got long to live in peace, I guess; but if you don’t want the fun to begin right now, keep your trap shut, see? There’s a reminder for you!’ There was a sound like the crack of a whip. At that rage blazed in Sam’s heart to a sudden fury. He sprang up, ran, and went up the ladder like a cat. His head came out in the middle of the floor of a large round chamber. A red lamp hung from its roof; the westward window-slit was high and dark. Something was lying on the floor by the wall under the window, but over it a black orc-shape was straddled. It raised a whip a second time, but the blow never fell. With a cry Sam leapt across the floor, Sting in hand. The orc wheeled round, but before it could make a move Sam slashed its whip-hand from its arm. Howling with pain and fear but desperate the orc charged head-down at him. Sam’s next blow went wide, and thrown off his balance he fell backwards, clutching at the orc as it
西力斯昂哥之塔 909 儘管我在此旅途終點，深埋於黑暗之中，超越所有堅固高聳的塔樓，超越所有陡峭的山脈，太陽駕臨於所有陰影之上，星辰永遠駐留：我不會說白晝已盡，也不會向星辰告別。「超越所有堅固高聳的塔樓，」他再次開口，然後戛然而止。他以為自己聽到一個微弱的聲音在回應他。但現在他什麼也聽不見了。是的，他確實聽到了一些聲音，但不是人聲。腳步聲正在靠近。這時，上方通道裡的一扇門被輕輕打開了；門鉸鏈發出吱呀聲。山姆蹲下身子傾聽。門發出沉悶的砰聲關上了；接著，一個咆哮的半獸人聲音響起。「喂！你上面那個，你這堆糞老鼠！別再吱吱叫了，不然我就上來收拾你。聽到了沒？」沒有回應。「好吧，」史納加咆哮道。「但我還是會上來看看你，瞧瞧你在搞什麼鬼。」門鉸鏈又吱呀作響，山姆此時正從通道門檻的角落探頭張望，看到一道微光從敞開的門口透出，一個模糊的半獸人身影走了出來。他似乎正扛著一架梯子。突然間，山姆恍然大悟：最上層的房間是透過通道屋頂的一個活板門進入的。史納加將梯子向上推，固定好，然後攀爬上去，消失在視線中。山姆聽到門閂被拉開的聲音。接著他又聽到那個可怕的聲音再次說話。「你給我安靜點，不然你會付出代價的！我猜你沒多少日子能安生了；但如果你不想現在就開始『找樂子』，就給我閉嘴，懂嗎？這就是給你的提醒！」傳來一聲像鞭子抽打的聲音。霎時間，怒火在山姆心中燃燒，化作一陣突如其來的狂怒。他一躍而起，跑過去，像貓一樣爬上梯子。他的頭從一個巨大的圓形房間的地板中央探了出來。一盞紅燈從屋頂垂下；朝西的窗縫又高又暗。窗下牆邊的地板上躺著什麼東西，但一個黑色的半獸人身影正跨騎在它上面。它第二次舉起鞭子，但這一擊從未落下。山姆大叫一聲，手持「刺針」跳過地板。半獸人轉過身來，但在它來得及行動之前，山姆就將它握鞭的手從手臂上砍了下來。半獸人因疼痛和恐懼而嚎叫，卻又絕望地低頭向他衝去。山姆的下一擊落空了，他失去平衡向後倒去，同時抓住了那個半獸人，而它卻
9IO THE LORD OF THE RINGS stumbled over him. Before he could scramble up he heard a cry and a thud. The orc in its wild haste had tripped on the ladder-head and fallen through the open trap-door. Sam gave no more thought to it. He ran to the figure huddled on the floor. It was Frodo. He was naked, lying as if in a swoon on a heap of filthy rags: his arm was flung up, shielding his head, and across his side there ran an ugly whip-weal. ‘Frodo! Mr. Frodo, my dear!’ cried Sam, tears almost blinding him. ‘It’s Sam, ’ve come!’ He half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast. Frodo opened his eyes. ‘Am I still dreaming?’ he muttered. ‘But the other dreams were horrible.’ “You’re not dreaming at all, Master,’ said Sam. ‘It’s real. It’s me. I’ve come.’ ‘I can hardly believe it,’ said Frodo, clutching him. “There was an orc with a whip, and then it turns into Sam! Then I wasn’t dreaming after all when I heard that singing down below, and I tried to answer? Was it you?’ ‘It was indeed, Mr. Frodo. I’'d given up hope, almost. I couldn’t find you.’ ‘Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,’ said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam’s gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand. Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness; but it was not allowed. It was not enough for him to find his master, he had still to try and save him. He kissed Frodo’s forehead. ‘Come! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!’ he said, trying to sound as cheerful as he had when he drew back the curtains at Bag End on a summer’s morning. Frodo sighed and sat up. ‘Where are we? How did I get here?’ he asked. ‘There’s no time for tales till we get somewhere else, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam. ‘But you’re in the top of that tower you and me saw from away down by the tunnel before the orcs got you. How long ago that was I don’t know. More than a day, I guess.’ ‘Only that?’ said Frodo. ‘It seems weeks. You must tell me all about it, if we get a chance. Something hit me, didn’t it? And I fell into darkness and foul dreams, and woke and found that waking was worse. Orcs were all round me. I think they had just been pouring some horrible burning drink down my throat. My head grew clear, but I was aching and weary. They stripped me of everything; and then two great brutes came and questioned me, questioned me until I thought I should go mad, standing over me, gloating, fingering their knives. P’ll never forget their claws and eyes.’
他絆倒了。在他掙扎著爬起來之前，他聽到一聲叫喊和一聲悶響。那隻半獸人因急躁而絆倒在梯子頂端，從敞開的活板門掉了下去。山姆不再理會這些。他跑到蜷縮在地上的身影旁。那是佛羅多。他赤身裸體，像昏厥般躺在一堆骯髒的破布上：他的手臂向上舉起，護著頭，而他的側腹上有一道醜陋的鞭痕。「佛羅多！佛羅多先生，我的寶貝！」山姆哭喊道，淚水幾乎讓他看不清東西。「我是山姆，我來了！」他半扶起他的主人，把他緊緊抱在懷裡。佛羅多睜開了眼睛。「我還在做夢嗎？」他喃喃自語。「但其他的夢都太可怕了。」「你根本沒有做夢，主人。」山姆說。「這是真的。是我。我來了。」「我簡直不敢相信。」佛羅多緊抓著他說。「剛才還有一個拿著鞭子的半獸人，然後它就變成山姆了！那麼，我聽到下面唱歌的時候，就不是在做夢了，而且我還試圖回應？那是你嗎？」「的確是我，佛羅多先生。我幾乎已經放棄希望了。我找不到你。」「嗯，你現在找到了，山姆，親愛的山姆。」佛羅多說，然後他躺回山姆溫柔的懷抱中，閉上眼睛，就像一個孩子在夜間的恐懼被某個摯愛的聲音或手驅散後安然入睡。山姆覺得他可以就這樣坐著，享受無盡的幸福；但這是不允許的。僅僅找到他的主人是不夠的，他還必須設法拯救他。他親吻了佛羅多的額頭。「來！醒醒，佛羅多先生！」他說，努力讓自己的聲音聽起來像他在夏日清晨於袋底洞拉開窗簾時那樣歡快。佛羅多嘆了口氣，坐了起來。「我們在哪裡？我是怎麼到這裡的？」他問。「佛羅多先生，在我們到達其他地方之前，沒時間講故事了。」山姆說。「但你在那座塔的頂端，就是你和我從隧道下方遠處看到的那座，在半獸人抓住你之前。那是什麼時候的事了，我不知道。我想，不止一天了。」「才一天？」佛羅多說。「感覺像幾個星期了。如果我們有機會，你必須把一切都告訴我。有什麼東西打了我，不是嗎？然後我墜入黑暗和噩夢，醒來卻發現清醒更糟。半獸人圍繞著我。我想他們剛把一些可怕的灼熱飲料灌進我的喉嚨。我的頭腦清醒了，但我渾身疼痛，疲憊不堪。他們剝光了我的一切；然後兩個大塊頭的惡棍走過來審問我，一直審問我，直到我以為自己會發瘋，他們站在我上方，幸災樂禍地玩弄著他們的刀子。我永遠不會忘記他們的爪子和眼睛。」
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL OII “You won’t, if you talk about them, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam. ‘And if we don’t want to see them again, the sooner we get going the better. Can you walk?’ “Yes, I can walk,’ said Frodo, getting up slowly. ‘I am not hurt, Sam. Only I feel very tired, and I’ve a pain here.’ He put his hand to the back of his neck above his left shoulder. He stood up, and it looked to Sam as if he was clothed in flame: his naked skin was scarlet in the light of the lamp above. Twice he paced across the floor. “That’s better!’ he said, his spirits rising a little. ‘I didn’t dare to move when I was left alone, or one of the guards came. Until the yelling and fighting began. The two big brutes: they quarrelled, I think. Over me and my things. I lay here terrified. And then all went deadly quiet, and that was worse.’ “Yes, they quarrelled, seemingly,’ said Sam. “There must have been a couple of hundred of the dirty creatures in this place. A bit of a tall order for Sam Gamgee, as you might say. But they’ve done all the killing of themselves. That’s lucky, but it’s too long to make a song about, till we’re out of here. Now what’s to be done? You can’t go walking in the Black Land in naught but your skin, Mr. Frodo.’ “They’ve taken everything, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘Everything I had. Do you understand? Everything!” He cowered on the floor again with bowed head, as his own words brought home to him the fullness of the disaster, and despair overwhelmed him. “The quest has failed, Sam. Even if we get out of here, we can’t escape. Only Elves can escape. Away, away out of Middle-earth, far away over the Sea. If even that is wide enough to keep the Shadow out.’ ‘No, not everything, Mr. Frodo. And it hasn’t failed, not yet. I took it, Mr. Frodo, begging your pardon. And I’ve kept it safe. It’s round my neck now, and a terrible burden it is, too.” Sam fumbled for the Ring and its chain. ‘But I suppose you must take it back.’ Now it had come to it, Sam felt reluctant to give up the Ring and burden his master with it again. “You’ve got it?’ gasped Frodo. ‘You’ve got it here? Sam, you’re a marvel!’ Then quickly and strangely his tone changed. ‘Give it to me!’ he cried, standing up, holding out a trembling hand. ‘Give it me at once! You can’t have it!’ ‘All right, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam, rather startled. ‘Here it is!’ Slowly he drew the Ring out and passed the chain over his head. ‘But you’re in the land of Mordor now, sir; and when you get out, you’ll see the Fiery Mountain and all. You’ll find the Ring very dangerous now, and very hard to bear. If it’s too hard a job, I could share it with you, maybe?’ ‘No, no!’ cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam’s
西力斯昂哥的塔樓 OII 「佛羅多先生，如果你們談論他們，他們就不會來了。」山姆說。「如果我們不想再見到他們，我們就越早動身越好。你能走嗎？」 「是的，我能走。」佛羅多慢慢地站起來說。「山姆，我沒受傷。只是我覺得很累，而且這裡有點痛。」他把手放到脖子後面，左肩上方。他站起來，在山姆看來，他彷彿被火焰包裹著：他赤裸的皮膚在上方燈光的照耀下呈現鮮紅色。他來回走了兩趟。 「好多了！」他說，精神稍稍振作了一些。「我獨自一人時不敢動，不然守衛就會來。直到叫喊和打鬥開始。那兩個大惡棍：我想他們吵架了。為了我和我的東西。我嚇得躺在這裡。然後一切都死寂了，那更糟。」 「是的，他們似乎吵架了。」山姆說。「這個地方一定有幾百個骯髒的生物。對山姆·詹吉來說，這可真是個艱鉅的任務，你可能會這麼說。但他們已經自相殘殺了。這很幸運，但在我們離開這裡之前，這沒什麼好大肆宣揚的。現在該怎麼辦？佛羅多先生，你不能光著身子在黑土行走啊。」 「他們拿走了所有東西，山姆。」佛羅多說。「我所有的一切。你明白嗎？所有的一切！」他再次弓著頭蜷縮在地板上，因為他自己的話讓他徹底意識到這場災難的嚴重性，絕望將他吞噬。 「任務失敗了，山姆。即使我們離開這裡，我們也無法逃脫。只有精靈才能逃脫。遠離中土世界，遠遠地越過大海。如果連那裡都足夠寬廣，能將陰影阻擋在外的話。」 「不，佛羅多先生，不是所有東西都沒了。而且它還沒失敗，還沒呢。佛羅多先生，請原諒我，我把它拿走了。而且我一直把它保管得好好的。它現在掛在我脖子上，而且它也是個沉重的負擔。」山姆摸索著魔戒和它的鍊子。「但我想你必須把它拿回去。」事到如今，山姆卻不願放棄魔戒，再次讓他的主人背負這個重擔。 「你拿到了？」佛羅多喘著氣說。「你把它帶到這裡了？山姆，你真是個奇蹟！」然後他的語氣迅速而奇怪地變了。「把它給我！」他喊道，站起身，伸出一隻顫抖的手。「立刻給我！你不能擁有它！」 「好的，佛羅多先生。」山姆有些吃驚地說。「在這裡！」他慢慢地拿出魔戒，把鍊子從頭上取下。「但是先生，你現在身處魔多之地；等你出去後，你會看到末日火山等等。你會發現魔戒現在非常危險，而且非常難以承受。如果這份工作太艱難，也許我可以和你分擔？」 「不，不！」佛羅多喊道，從山姆手中奪過魔戒和鍊子。
gI2 THE LORD OF THE RINGS hands. ‘No you won’t, you thief!’ He panted, staring at Sam with eyes wide with fear and enmity. Then suddenly, clasping the Ring in one clenched fist, he stood aghast. A mist seemed to clear from his eyes, and he passed a hand over his aching brow. The hideous vision had seemed so real to him, half bemused as he was still with wound and fear. Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again, leering and pawing at his treasure, a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth. But now the vision had passed. There was Sam kneeling before him, his face wrung with pain, as if he had been stabbed in the heart; tears welled from his eyes. ‘O Sam! cried Frodo. ‘What have I said? What have I done? Forgive me! After all you have done. It is the horrible power of the Ring. I wish it had never, never, been found. But don’t mind me, Sam. I must carry the burden to the end. It can’t be altered. You can’t come between me and this doom.’ ‘That’s all right, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam, rubbing his sleeve across his eyes. ‘I understand. But I can still help, can’t I? I’ve got to get you out of here. At once, see! But first you want some clothes and gear, and then some food. The clothes will be the easiest part. As we’re in Mordor, we’d best dress up Mordor-fashion; and anyway there isn’t no choice. It’ll have to be orc-stuff for you, Mr. Frodo, I’m afraid. And for me too. If we go together, we’d best match. Now put this round you!’ Sam unclasped his grey cloak and cast it about Frodo’s shoulders. Then unslinging his pack he laid it on the floor. He drew Sting from its sheath. Hardly a flicker was to be seen upon its blade. ‘I was forgetting this, Mr. Frodo,’ he said. ‘No, they didn’t get everything! You lent me Sting, if you remember, and the Lady’s glass. I’ve got them both still. But lend them to me a little longer, Mr. Frodo. I must go and see what I can find. You stay here. Walk about a bit and ease your legs. I shan’t be long. I shan’t have to go far.’ “Take care, Sam!’ said Frodo. ‘And be quick! There may be orcs still alive, lurking in wait.’ ‘I’ve got to chance it,’ said Sam. He stepped to the trap-door and slipped down the ladder. In a minute his head reappeared. He threw a long knife on the floor. “There’s something that might be useful,’ he said. ‘He’s dead: the one that whipped you. Broke his neck, it seems, in his hurry. Now you draw up the ladder, if you can, Mr. Frodo; and don’t you let it down till you hear me call the pass-word. Elbereth Pll call. What the Elves say. No orc would say that.’ Frodo sat for a while and shivered, dreadful fears chasing one another through his mind. Then he got up, drew the grey elven-cloak
吉爾《魔戒》之手。 「不，你不會得逞的，你這小偷！」他氣喘吁吁地說，雙眼因恐懼和敵意而睜得大大的，盯著山姆。然後，他突然將魔戒緊握在一個拳頭裡，驚恐地站著。他眼前的迷霧似乎消散了，他用手撫過自己疼痛的額頭。那可怕的幻象對他來說是如此真實，他因傷痛和恐懼而仍有些迷糊。山姆在他眼前又變成了半獸人，對著他的寶物獰笑著、抓撓著，一個長著貪婪的眼睛和流著口水的骯髒小生物。但現在幻象已經消失了。山姆跪在他面前，臉上因痛苦而扭曲，彷彿心臟被刺了一刀；淚水從他眼中湧出。「噢，山姆！」佛羅多哭喊道。「我說了什麼？我做了什麼？原諒我！在你為我做了這麼多之後。這是魔戒可怕的力量。我真希望它從未被發現。但別管我，山姆。我必須將這重擔承擔到底。它無法改變。你不能阻擋我和這宿命。」「沒關係，佛羅多先生。」山姆說，用袖子擦了擦眼睛。「我明白。但我還是可以幫忙，不是嗎？我必須帶你離開這裡。立刻，看！但首先你需要一些衣服和裝備，然後是一些食物。衣服會是最容易的部分。既然我們在魔多，我們最好穿得像魔多人的樣子；反正也沒得選擇。恐怕你得穿半獸人的東西了，佛羅多先生。我也一樣。如果我們一起走，最好穿得一致。現在把它披在你身上！」山姆解開他的灰色斗篷，披在佛羅多肩上。然後他卸下背包，放在地上。他從劍鞘中抽出刺針。劍刃上幾乎看不到一絲光芒。「我差點忘了這個，佛羅多先生。」他說。「不，他們沒有拿走所有東西！如果你記得，你借給我刺針，還有女士的玻璃瓶。我兩樣都還留著。但再借我一會兒吧，佛羅多先生。我必須去看看我能找到什麼。你待在這裡。走動一下，放鬆你的腿。我不會很久。我不用走太遠。」「山姆，小心！」佛羅多說。「快點！可能還有半獸人活著，潛伏著。」「我必須冒這個險。」山姆說。他走到活板門前，滑下梯子。一分鐘後，他的頭又出現了。他把一把長刀扔在地上。「這裡有樣東西可能有用。」他說。「他死了：那個鞭打你的人。他似乎在匆忙中摔斷了脖子。現在你把梯子拉上來，如果你能的話，佛羅多先生；在我叫出密碼之前，別把它放下來。我會叫『埃爾貝蕾絲』。那是精靈說的話。沒有半獸人會說那個。」佛羅多坐了一會兒，顫抖著，可怕的恐懼在他腦海中此起彼伏。然後他站起來，拉起灰色的精靈斗篷。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 913 about him, and to keep his mind occupied, began to walk to and fro, prying and peering into every corner of his prison. It was not very long, though fear made it seem an hour at least, before he heard Sam’s voice calling softly from below: Elbereth, Elbereth. Frodo let down the light ladder. Up came Sam, puffing, heaving a great bundle on his head. He let it fall with a thud. ‘Quick now, Mr. Frodo!’ he said. ‘ve had a bit of a search to find anything small enough for the likes of us. We’ll have to make do. But we must hurry. I’ve met nothing alive, and I’ve seen nothing, but I’m not easy. I think this place is being watched. I can’t explain it, but well: it feels to me as if one of those foul flying Riders was about, up in the blackness where he can’t be seen.’ He opened the bundle. Frodo looked in disgust at the contents, but there was nothing for it: he had to put the things on, or go naked. There were long hairy breeches of some unclean beast-fell, and a tunic of dirty leather. He drew them on. Over the tunic went a coat of stout ring-mail, short for a full-sized orc, too long for Frodo and heavy. About it he clasped a belt, at which there hung a short sheath holding a broad-bladed stabbing-sword. Sam had brought several orc-helmets. One of them fitted Frodo well enough, a black cap with iron rim, and iron hoops covered with leather upon which the Evil Eye was painted in red above the beaklike nose-guard. ‘The Morgul-stuff, Gorbag’s gear, was a better fit and better made,’ said Sam; ‘but it wouldn’t do, I guess, to go carrying his tokens into Mordor, not after this business here. Well, there you are, Mr. Frodo. A perfect little orc, if I may make so bold — at least you would be, if we could cover your face with a mask, give you longer arms, and make you bow-legged. This will hide some of the tell-tales.’ He put a large black cloak round Frodo’s shoulders. ‘Now you’re ready! You can pick up a shield as we go.’ ‘What about you, Sam?’ said Frodo. ‘Aren’t we going to match?’ ‘Well, Mr. Frodo, I’ve been thinking,’ said Sam. ‘I’d best not leave any of my stuff behind, and we can’t destroy it. And I can’t wear orc-mail over all my clothes, can I? I'll just have to cover up.’ He knelt down and carefully folded his elven-cloak. It went into a surprisingly small roll. This he put into his pack that lay on the floor. Standing up, he slung it behind his back, put an orc-helm on his head, and cast another black cloak about his shoulders. “There!” he said. ‘Now we match, near enough. And now we must be off!’ ‘I can’t go all the way at a run, Sam,’ said Frodo with a wry smile. ‘I hope you’ve made inquiries about inns along the road? Or have you forgotten about food and drink?’ ‘Save me, but so I had!’ said Sam. He whistled in dismay. ‘Bless me, Mr. Frodo, but you’ve gone and made me that hungry and
西力斯昂哥的塔樓 913 圍繞著他，為了讓自己保持清醒，他開始來回踱步，窺探著牢房的每個角落。沒過多久，儘管恐懼讓時間感覺像至少一個小時，他便聽到山姆的聲音從下方輕聲呼喚：「埃爾貝瑞斯，埃爾貝瑞斯。」佛羅多放下那輕巧的梯子。山姆氣喘吁吁地爬了上來，頭上頂著一個大包裹。他讓包裹砰地一聲落在地上。「快點，佛羅多先生！」他說。「我費了好大勁才找到一些適合我們這種身材的東西。我們將就著用吧。但我們必須快點。我沒遇到任何活物，也沒看到什麼，但我心裡總是不安。我覺得這個地方有人監視。我說不上來，但總覺得那些邪惡的飛騎兵就在附近，在看不見的黑暗中。」他打開包裹。佛羅多厭惡地看著裡面的東西，但別無選擇：他必須穿上這些，否則就得赤身裸體。裡面有條用不潔獸皮製成的長毛褲，還有一件髒兮兮的皮質束腰外衣。他穿上了它們。在束腰外衣外面，是一件堅固的鎖子甲，對一個成年半獸人來說太短，但對佛羅多來說卻太長且沉重。他在外面繫了一條腰帶，上面掛著一個短劍鞘，裡面裝著一把寬刃的刺劍。山姆帶來了幾頂半獸人頭盔。其中一頂佛羅多戴著還算合適，那是一頂帶有鐵邊的黑帽，鐵箍上覆蓋著皮革，在喙狀的鼻甲上方，用紅色繪著邪惡之眼。「魔窟的東西，戈巴格的裝備，更合身也做得更好，」山姆說，「但我猜，在經歷了這裡的事情之後，帶著他的標誌進入魔多，恐怕不妥。好了，佛羅多先生，你看。一個完美的小半獸人，如果我敢這麼說的話——至少如果你能戴上面具遮住臉，手臂再長一點，腿再彎一點，你就更像了。這能遮掩一些破綻。」他把一件大黑斗篷披在佛羅多肩上。「現在你準備好了！我們走的時候可以再拿個盾牌。」「那你呢，山姆？」佛羅多說，「我們不穿一樣的嗎？」「嗯，佛羅多先生，我一直在想，」山姆說，「我最好不要留下我的任何東西，而且我們也不能毀掉它。我總不能把半獸人鎖子甲穿在我所有衣服外面吧？我只能盡量遮掩了。」他跪下來，小心翼翼地疊好他的精靈斗篷。斗篷捲成一個驚人小的卷。他把這個卷放進了放在地上的背包裡。他站起來，把背包甩到背後，戴上一頂半獸人頭盔，又把另一件黑斗篷披在肩上。「好了！」他說，「現在我們差不多一樣了。現在我們必須走了！」「我可不能一路跑到底，山姆，」佛羅多苦笑著說，「我希望你已經打聽過沿途的客棧了吧？還是你忘了食物和飲水？」「天哪，我還真忘了！」山姆說。他沮喪地吹了聲口哨。「我的天，佛羅多先生，你這麼一說，害得我肚子好餓，而且
914 THE LORD OF THE RINGS thirsty! I don’t know when drop or morsel last passed my lips. P?'d forgotten it, trying to find you. But let me think! Last time I looked I'd got about enough of that waybread, and of what Captain Faramir gave us, to keep me on my legs for a couple of weeks at a pinch. But if there’s a drop left in my bottle, there’s no more. That’s not going to be enough for two, nohow. Don’t orcs eat, and don’t they drink? Or do they just live on foul air and poison?’ ‘No, they eat and drink, Sam. The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own. I don’t think it gave life to the orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them; and if they are to live at all, they have to live like other living creatures. Foul waters and foul meats they’ll take, if they can get no better, but not poison. They’ve fed me, and so I’m better off than you. There must be food and water somewhere in this place.’ ‘But there’s no time to look for them,’ said Sam. ‘Well, things are a bit better than you think,’ said Frodo. ‘I have had a bit of luck while you were away. Indeed they did not take everything. ’ve found my food-bag among some rags on the floor. They’ve rummaged it, of course. But I guess they disliked the very look and smell of the lembas, worse than Gollum did. It’s scattered about and some of it is trampled and broken, but I’ve gathered it together. It’s not far short of what you’ve got. But they’ve taken Faramir’s food, and they’ve slashed up my water-bottle.’ ‘Well, there’s no more to be said,’ said Sam. ‘We’ve got enough to start on. But the water’s going to be a bad business. But come, Mr. Frodo! Off we go, or a whole lake of it won’t do us any good!’ ‘Not till you’ve had a mouthful, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘I won’t budge. Here, take this elven-cake, and drink that last drop in your bottle! The whole thing is quite hopeless, so it’s no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won’t come.’ At last they started. Down the ladder they climbed, and then Sam took it and laid it in the passage beside the huddled body of the fallen orc. The stair was dark, but on the roof-top the glare of the Mountain could still be seen, though it was dying down now to a sullen red. They picked up two shields to complete their disguise and then went on. Down the great stairway they plodded. The high chamber of the turret behind, where they had met again, seemed almost homely: they were out in the open again now, and terror ran along the walls. All might be dead in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, but it was steeped in fear and evil still. At length they came to the door upon the outer court, and they halted. Even from where they stood they felt the malice of the
914 《魔戒》 渴死了！我不知道上次有什麼東西進過我的嘴巴。我為了找你都忘了這事。但讓我想想！上次我看的時候，我還有足夠的行路糧，加上法拉墨隊長給我們的，勉強能讓我撐上兩個星期。但如果我的水壺裡還有一滴水，那也沒剩多少了。這點水絕對不夠兩個人喝，一點也不夠。難道半獸人不吃不喝嗎？還是他們只靠污濁的空氣和毒物維生？』 『不，山姆，他們也吃也喝。孕育他們的陰影只能模仿，不能創造：不能創造出真正屬於自己的新事物。我不認為它賦予了半獸人生命，它只是毀壞了他們，扭曲了他們；如果他們要活下去，就必須像其他生物一樣生活。如果沒有更好的選擇，他們會吃污穢的食物和喝污穢的水，但不會吃毒藥。他們餵過我，所以我比你狀況好。這個地方一定有食物和水。』 『但我們沒時間找了，』山姆說。 『嗯，情況比你想像的要好一點，』佛羅多說。 『你不在的時候我有點運氣。他們確實沒有拿走所有東西。我在地板上的一些破布堆裡找到了我的食物袋。他們當然翻找過它。但我猜他們比咕嚕更討厭精靈餅的樣子和氣味。它散落一地，有些被踩爛了，但我把它們都收集起來了。數量跟你剩下的差不多。但他們拿走了法拉墨的食物，還把我的水壺割破了。』 『好吧，沒什麼好說的了，』山姆說。 『我們有足夠的食物可以開始。但水會是個大麻煩。不過，佛羅多先生，我們走吧，不然就算有一整湖的水也幫不了我們！』 『等你吃一口再說，山姆，』佛羅多說。 『我一步也不會動。來，吃這塊精靈餅，喝掉你水壺裡最後一滴水！整件事都毫無希望了，所以擔心明天也沒用。明天可能根本不會來。』 他們終於動身了。他們爬下梯子，然後山姆把它拿起來，放在通道裡，緊挨著那個蜷縮著的倒下半獸人的屍體。樓梯很黑，但在屋頂上，魔山的火光仍然可見，儘管它現在正逐漸黯淡成陰沉的紅色。他們撿起兩面盾牌來完成偽裝，然後繼續前進。他們緩慢地走下大樓梯。後面那個他們再次相遇的塔樓高室，現在看起來幾乎有點溫馨：他們現在又回到了開闊地，恐懼沿著牆壁蔓延。西力斯昂哥塔裡的一切可能都已死去，但它仍然充滿了恐懼和邪惡。最後他們來到通往外院的門口，然後停了下來。即使從他們站著的地方，他們也感受到了那股惡意。
THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL 915 Watchers beating on them, black silent shapes on either side of the gate through which the glare of Mordor dimly showed. As they threaded their way among the hideous bodies of the orcs each step became more difficult. Before they even reached the archway they were brought to a stand. To move an inch further was a pain and weariness to will and limb. Frodo had no strength for such a battle. He sank to the ground. ‘I can’t go on, Sam,’ he murmured. ‘I’m going to faint. I don’t know what’s come over me.’ ‘I do, Mr. Frodo. Hold up now! It’s the gate. There’s some devilry there. But I got through, and I’m going to get out. It can’t be more dangerous than before. Now for it!’ Sam drew out the elven-glass of Galadriel again. As if to do honour to his hardihood, and to grace with splendour his faithful brown hobbit-hand that had done such deeds, the phial blazed forth suddenly, so that all the shadowy court was lit with a dazzling radiance like lightning; but it remained steady and did not pass. ‘Gilthoniel, A Elbereth!’ Sam cried. For, why he did not know, his thought sprang back suddenly to the Elves in the Shire, and the song that drove away the Black Rider in the trees. ‘Atya elenion ancalima! cried Frodo once again behind him. The will of the Watchers was broken with a suddenness like the snapping of a cord, and Frodo and Sam stumbled forward. Then they ran. Through the gate and past the great seated figures with their glittering eyes. There was a crack. The keystone of the arch crashed almost on their heels, and the wall above crumbled, and fell in ruin. Only by a hair did they escape. A bell clanged; and from the Watchers there went up a high and dreadful wail. Far up above in the darkness it was answered. Out of the black sky there came dropping like a bolt a winged shape, rending the clouds with a ghastly shriek.
西力斯昂哥塔 915 守衛們正敲打著他們，在門的兩側，黑色的寂靜身影，透過門縫，魔多（Mordor）的微光隱約可見。當他們在獸人醜陋的屍體中穿行時，每一步都變得更加艱難。在他們還沒走到拱門前，他們就被迫停了下來。再往前挪動一寸，對意志和四肢來說都是一種痛苦和疲憊。佛羅多已無力再戰。他癱倒在地。「我走不動了，山姆，」他低聲說。「我要暈倒了。我不知道自己怎麼了。」「我知道，佛羅多先生。撐住！是那扇門。那裡有什麼妖術。但我已經穿過了，我也會出去的。它不可能比之前更危險了。現在就動手！」山姆再次拿出凱蘭崔爾的精靈寶鑽。彷彿是為了表彰他的堅韌，並以光輝點綴他那曾立下赫赫功勳的忠實棕色哈比人手，寶瓶突然爆發出耀眼的光芒，使得整個陰暗的庭院被一道如閃電般炫目的光芒照亮；但它卻穩定不滅。「吉爾松尼爾，啊，埃爾貝瑞斯！」山姆喊道。因為，他不知道為什麼，他的思緒突然回到了夏爾的精靈，以及那首在樹林中驅走黑騎士的歌。「阿提亞·埃萊尼翁·安卡利瑪！」佛羅多在他身後再次喊道。守衛們的意志像繩索斷裂般突然瓦解，佛羅多和山姆踉蹌向前。然後他們跑了起來。穿過大門，經過那些有著閃爍眼睛的巨大坐像。傳來一聲裂響。拱門的拱心石幾乎是擦著他們的腳跟墜落，上方的牆壁也隨之崩塌，化為廢墟。他們僅僅是險象環生地逃脫了。一聲鐘響；守衛們發出了一聲高亢而可怕的哀嚎。遠處黑暗中傳來了回應。從漆黑的天空中，一個有翼的形體像一道閃電般墜落，發出刺耳的尖叫聲，撕裂了雲層。