"J.R.R. Tolkien - 2 - The two towers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

do not ask it for tidings. But now Boromir has taken his road. and we must make haste to choose
our own.'
He surveyed the green lawn, quickly but thoroughly, stooping often to the earth. 'The Orcs
have been on this ground,' he said. 'Otherwise nothing can be made out for certain. All our
footprints are here, crossing and re-crossing. I cannot tell whether any of the hobbits have come
back since the search for Frodo began.' He returned to the bank, close to where the rill from the
spring trickled out into the River. 'There are some clear prints here,' he said. 'A hobbit waded
out into the water and back; but I cannot say how long ago.'
'How then do you read this riddle?' asked Gimli.
Aragorn did not answer at once, but went back to the camping-place and looked at the baggage.
'Two packs are missing.' he said, 'and one is certainly Sam's: it was rather large and heavy. This
then is the answer: Frodo has gone by boat, and his servant has gone with him. Frodo must have
returned while we were all away. I met Sam going up the hill and told him to follow me; but
plainly he did not do so. He guessed his master s mind and came back here before Frodo had gone.


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He did not find it easy to leave Sam behind!'
'But why should he leave us behind, and without a word?' said Gimli. 'That was a strange
deed!'
'And a brave deed,' said Aragorn. 'Sam was right, I think. Frodo did not wish to lead any
friend to death with him in Mordor. But he knew that he must go himself. Something happened after
he left us that overcame his fear and doubt.'
'Maybe hunting Orcs came on him and he fled,' said Legolas.
'He fled, certainly,' said Aragorn, 'but not, I think, from Orcs.' What he thought was the
cause of Frodo's sudden resolve and flight Aragorn did not say. The last words of Boromir he long
kept secret.
'Well, so much at least is now clear,' said Legolas: 'Frodo is no longer on this side of the
River: only he can have taken the boat. And Sam is with him; only he would have taken his pack.'
'Our choice then,' said Gimli, 'is either to take the remaining boat and follow Frodo, or
else to follow the Orcs on foot. There is little hope either way. We have already lost precious
hours.'
'Let me think!' said Aragorn. 'And now may I make a right choice and change the evil fate of
this unhappy day!' He stood silent for a moment. 'I will follow the Orcs,' he said at last. 'I
would have guided Frodo to Mordor and gone with him to the end; but if I seek him now in the
wilderness, I must abandon the captives to torment and death. My heart speaks clearly at last: the
fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer. The Company has played its part. Yet we that remain
cannot forsake our companions while we have strength left. Come! We will go now. Leave all that
can be spared behind! We will press on by day and dark!'
They drew up the last boat and carried it to the trees. They laid beneath it such of their
goods as they did not need and could not carry away. Then they left Parth Galen. The afternoon was
fading as they came back to the glade where Boromir had fallen. There they picked up the trail of
the Orcs. It needed little skill to find.
'No other folk make such a trampling,' said Legolas. 'It seems their delight to slash and
beat down growing things that are not even in their way.'
'But they go with a great speed for all that,' said Aragorn, 'and they do not tire. And later
we may have to search for our path in hard bare lands.'
'Well, after them!' said Gimli. 'Dwarves too can go swiftly, and they do not tire sooner than