the fellowship of the ring-第57章

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'　〃I　will　go　to　Saruman；〃　I　said。　　
　
'　〃Then　you　must　go　_now_；〃　said　Radagast；　〃for　I　have　wasted　time　inlooking　for　you；　and　the　days　are　running　short。　I　was　told　to　find　you　beforeMidsummer；　and　that　is　now　here。　Even　if　you　set　out　from　this　spot；　you　willhardly　reach　him　before　the　Nine　discover　the　land　that　they　seek。　I　myselfshall　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　allthings　that　will　give　it。　Send　out　messages　to　all　the　beasts　and　birds　thatare　your　friends。　Tell　them　to　bring　news　of　anything　that　bears　on　thismatter　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　alreadythat　day；　and　I　was　as　weary　as　my　horse；　and　I　needed　to　consider　matters。　Istayed　the　night　in　Bree；　and　decided　that　I　had　no　time　to　return　to　theShire。　Never　did　I　make　a　greater　mistake！　
‘However；　I　wrote　a　message　to　Frodo；　and　trusted　to　my　friend　theinnkeeper　to　send　it　to　him。　I　rode　away　at　dawn；　and　I　came　at　long　last　tothe　dwelling　of　Saruman。　That　is　far　south　in　Isengard；　in　the　end　of　theMisty　Mountains；　not　far　from　the　Gap　of　Rohan。　And　Boromir　will　tell　you　thatthat　is　a　great　open　vale　that　lies　between　the　Misty　Mountains　and　thenorthmost　foothills　of　Ered　Nimrais；　the　White　Mountains　of　his　home。　ButIsengard　is　a　circle　of　sheer　rocks　that　enclose　a　valley　as　with　a　wall；　andin　the　midst　of　that　valley　is　a　tower　of　stone　called　Orthanc。　It　was　notmade　by　Saruman；　but　by　the　Men　of　Númenor　long　ago；　and　it　is　very　tall　andhas　many　secrets；　yet　it　looks　not　to　be　a　work　of　craft。　It　cannot　be　reachedsave　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　ofrock；　and　it　was　strongly　guarded。　But　the　keepers　of　the　gate　were　on　thewatch　for　me　and　told　me　that　Saruman　awaited　me。　I　rode　under　the　arch；　andthe　gate　closed　silently　behind　me；　and　suddenly　I　was　afraid；　though　I　knewno　reason　for　it。　　
'But　I　rode　to　the　foot　of　Orthanc；　and　came　to　the　stair　of　Saruman　andthere　he　met　me　and　led　me　up　to　his　high　chamber。　He　wore　a　ring　on　hisfinger。　
‘　〃So　you　have　e；　Gandalf；〃　he　said　to　me　gravely；　but　in　his　eyesthere　seemed　to　be　a　white　light；　as　if　a　cold　laughter　was　in　his　heart。　
‘　〃Yes；　I　have　e；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　e　for　your　aid；　Saruman　theWhite。〃　And　that　title　seemed　to　anger　him。　
'　〃Have　you　indeed；　Gandalf　the　_Grey_！　〃　he　scoffed。　〃For　aid？　It　hasseldom　been　heard　of　that　Gandalf　the　Grey　sought　for　aid；　one　so　cunning　andso　wise；　wandering　about　the　lands；　and　concerning　himself　in　every　business；　
whether　it　belongs　to　him　or　not。〃　
'I　looked　at　him　and　wondered。　〃But　if　I　am　not　deceived；〃　said　I；　
〃things　are　now　moving　which　will　require　the　union　of　all　our　strength。〃　
'　〃That　may　be　so；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　thought　is　late　in　ing　to　you。　
How　long。　I　wonder；　have　you　concealed　from　me；　the　head　of　the　Council；　amatter　of　greatest　import？　What　brings　you　now　from　your　lurking…place　in　theShire？　〃　　
'　〃The　Nine　have　e　forth　again；〃　I　answered。　〃They　have　crossed　theRiver。　So　Radagast　said　to　me。〃　
‘　〃Radagast　the　Brown！　〃　laughed　Saruman；　and　he　no　longer　concealed　hisscorn。　〃Radagast　the　Bird…tamer！　Radagast　the　Simple！　Radagast　the　Fool！　Yethe　had　just　the　wit　to　play　the　part　that　I　set　him。　For　you　have　e；　andthat　was　all　the　purpose　of　my　message。　And　here　you　will　stay；　Gandalf　theGrey；　and　rest　from　journeys。　For　I　am　Saruman　the　Wise；　Saruman　Ring…maker；　
Saruman　of　Many　Colours！　〃　
'I　looked　then　and　saw　that　his　robes；　which　had　seemed　white；　were　not　　
　
so；　but　were　woven　of　all　colours。　and　if　he　moved　they　shimmered　and　changed　
hue　so　that　the　eye　was　bewildered。　
'　〃I　liked　white　better；〃　I　said。　
'　〃White！　〃　he　sneered。　〃It　serves　as　a　beginning。　White　cloth　may　bedyed。　The　white　page　can　be　overwritten；　and　the　white　light　can　be　broken。〃　
'　〃In　which　case　it　is　no　longer　white；〃　said　I。　〃And　he　that　breaks　athing　to　find　out　what　it　is　has　left　the　path　of　wisdom。〃　
'　〃You　need　not　speak　to　me　as　to　one　of　the　fools　that　you　take　forfriends；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　not　brought　you　hither　to　be　instructed　by　you；　butto　give　you　a　choice。〃　
'He　drew　himself　up　then　and　began　to　declaim；　as　if　he　were　making　aspeech　long　rehearsed。　〃The　Elder　Days　are　gone。　The　Middle　Days　are　passing。　
The　Younger　Days　are　beginning。　The　time　of　the　Elves　is　over；　but　our　time　isat　hand：　the　world　of　Men；　which　we　must　rule。　But　we　must　have　power；　powerto　order　all　things　as　we　will；　for　that　good　which　only　the　Wise　can　see。　
'　〃And　listen；　Gandalf；　my　old　friend　and　helper！　〃　he　said；　ing　nearand　speaking　now　in　a　softer　voice。　〃I　said　we；　for　we　it　may　be；　if　you　willjoin　with　me。　A　new　Power　is　rising。　Against　it　the　old　allies　and　policieswill　not　avail　us　at　all。　There　is　no　hope　left　in　Elves　or　dying　Númenor。　
This　then　is　one　choice　before　you。　before　us。　We　may　join　with　that　Power。　Itwould　be　wise；　Gandalf。　There　is　hope　that　way。　Its　victory　is　at　hand；　andthere　will　be　rich　reward　for　those　that　aided　it。　As　the　Power　grows；　itsproved　friends　will　also　grow；　and　the　Wise；　such　as　you　and　I；　may　withpatience　e　at　last　to　direct　its　courses；　to　control　it。　We　can　bide　ourtime；　we　can　keep　our　thoughts　in　our　hearts；　deploring　maybe　evils　done　bythe　way；　but　approving　the　high　and　ultimate　purpose：　Knowledge；　Rule；　Order；　
all　the　things　that　we　have　so　far　striven　in　vain　to　acplish；　hinderedrather　than　helped　by　our　weak　or　idle　friends。　There　need　not　be；　there　wouldnot　be；　any　real　change　in　our　designs；　only　in　our　means。〃　
'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　heard　speeches　of　this　kind　before；　but　onlyin　the　mouths　of　emissaries　sent　from　Mordor　to　deceive　the　ignorant。　I　cannotthink　that　you　brought　me　so　far　only　to　weary　my　ears。〃　
'He　looked　at　me　sidelong；　and　paused　a　while　considering。　〃Well；　I　seethat　this　wise　course　does　not　mend　itself　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃Not　yet？　Notif　some　better　way　can　be　contrived？　〃　
‘He　came　and　laid　his　long　hand　on　my　arm。　〃And　why　not；　Gandalf？　〃　hewhispered。　〃Why　not？　The　Ruling　Ring？　If　we　could　mand　that；　then　the　Powerwould　pass　to　us。　That　is　in　truth　why　I　brought　you　here。　For　I　have　manyeyes　in　my　service；　and　I　believe　that　you　know　where　this　precious　thing　nowlies。　Is　it　not　so？　Or　why　do　the　Nine　ask　for　the　Shire；　and　what　is　yourbusiness　there？　〃　As　he　said　this　a　lust　which　he　could　not　conceal　shone　　
suddenly　in　his　eyes。　
'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　standing　away　from　him；　〃only　one　hand　at　a　time　canwield　the　One；　and　you　know　that　well；　so　do　not　trouble　to　say　we！　But　Iwould　not　give　it；　nay；　I　would　not　give　even　news　of　it　to　you；　now　that　Ilearn　your　mind。　You　were　head　of　the　Council；　but　you　have　unmasked　yourselfat　last。　Well；　the　choices　are；　it　seems；　to　submit　to　Sauron；　or　to　yourself。　
I　will　take　neither。　Have　you　others　to　offer？　〃　
'He　was　cold　now　and　perilous。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　expect　you　toshow　wisdom；　even　in　your　own　behalf；　but　I　gave　you　the　chance　of　aiding　mewillingly。　and　so　saving　yourself　much　trouble　and　pain。　The　third　choice　isto　stay　here；　until　the　end。〃　
'　〃Until　what　end？　〃　　
'　〃Until　you　reveal　to　me　where　the　One　may　be　found。　I　may　find　means　topersuade　you。　Or　until　it　is　found　in　your　despite；　and　the　Ruler　has　time　toturn　to　lighter　matters：　to　devise；　say；　a　fitting　reward　for　the　hindranceand　insolence　of　Gandalf　the　Grey。〃　
'　〃That　may　not　prove　to　be　one　of　the　lighter　matters；〃　said　I。　Helaughed　at　me；　for　my　words　were　empty；　and　he　knew　it。　
‘They　took　me　and　they　set　me　alone　on　the　pinnacle　of　Orthanc；　in　the　　
　
place　where　Saruman　was　accustomed　to　watch　the　stars。　There　is　no　descentsave　by　a　narrow　stair　of　many　thousand　steps；　and　the　valley　below　seems　faraway。　I　looked　on　it　and　saw　that；　whereas　it　had　once　been　green　and　fair；　itwas　now　filled　with　pits　and　forges。　Wolves　and　orcs　were　housed　in　Isengard；　
for　Saruman　was　mustering　a　great　force　on　his　own　account；　in　rivalry　ofSauron　and　not　in　his　service　yet。　Over　all　his　works　a　dark　smoke　hung　andwrapped　itself　about　the　sides　of　Orthanc。　I　stood　alone　on　an　island　in　theclouds；　and　I　had　no　chance　of　escape；　and　my　days　were　bitter。　I　was　piercedwith　cold；　and　I　had　but　little　room　in　which　to　pace　to　and　fro；　brooding　onthe　ing　of　the　Riders　to　the　North。　
‘That　the　Nine　had　indeed　arisen　I　felt　assured；　apart　from　the　words　ofSaruman　which　might　be　lies。　Long　ere　I　came　to　Isengard　I　had　heard　tidingsby　the　way　that　could　not　be　mistaken。　Fear　was　ever　in　my　heart　for　myfriends　in　the　Shire；　but　still　I　had　some　hope。　I　hoped　that　Frodo　had　setforth　at　once；　as　my　letter　had　urged；　and　that　he　had　reached　Rivendellbefore　the　deadly　pursuit　began。　And　both　my　fear　and　my　hope　proved　ill…　
founded。　For　my　hope　was　founded　on　a　fat　man　in　Bree；　and　my　fear　was　foundedon　the　cunning　of　Sauron。　But　fat　men　who　sell　ale　have　many　calls　to　answer；　
and　the　power　of　Sauron　is　still　less　than　fear　makes　it。　But　in　the　circle　ofIsengard；　trapped　and　alone；　it　was　not　easy　to　think　that　the　hunters　beforewhom　all　have　fled　or　fallen　would　falter　in　the　Shire　far　away。'　
‘I　saw　you！'　cried　Frodo。　‘You　were　walking　backwards　and　forwards。　Themoon　shone　in　your　hair。'　
Gandalf　paused　astonished　and　looked　at　him。　'It　was　only　a　dream'　saidFrodo；　‘but　it　suddenly　came　back　to　me。　I　had　quite　forgotten　it。　It　camesome　time　ago；　after　I　left　the　Shire；　I　think。'　
‘Then　it　was　late　in　ing；'　said　Gandalf；　'as　you　will　see。　I　was　in　anevil　plight。　And　those　who　know　me　will　agree　that　I　have　seldom　been　in　suchneed；　and　do　not　bear　such　misfortune　well。　Gandalf　the　Grey　caught　like　a　flyin　a　spider's　treacherous　web！　Yet　even　the　most　subtle　spiders　may　leave　aweak　thread。　　
‘At　first　I　feared；　as　Saruman　no　doubt　intended；　that　Radagast　had　alsofallen。　Yet　I　had　caught　no　hint　of　anything　wrong　in　his　voice　or　in　his　eyeat　our　meeting。　If　I　had；　I　should　never　have　gone　to　Isengard；　or　I　shouldhave　gone　more　warily。　So　Saruman　guessed；　and　he　had　concealed　his　mind　anddeceived　his　messenger。　It　would　have　been　useless　in　any　case　to　try　and　winover　the　honest　Radagast　to　treachery。　He　sought　me　in　good　faith；　and　sopersuaded　me。　
‘That　was　the　undoing　of　Saruman's　plot。　For　Radagast　knew　no　reason　whyhe　should　not　do　as　I　asked；　and　he　rode　away　towards　Mirkwood　where　he　hadmany　friends　of　old。　And　the　Eagles　of　the　Mountains　went　far　and　wide；　andthey　saw　many　things：　the　gathering　of　wolves　and　the　mustering　of　Orcs；　andthe　Nine　Riders　going　hither　and　thither　in　the　lands；　and　they　heard　news　ofthe　escape　of　Gollum。　And　they　sent　a　messenger　to　bring　these　tidings　to　me。　
‘So　it　was　that　when　summer　waned；　there　came　a　night　of　moon；　andGwaihir　the　Windlord；　swiftest　of　the　Great　Eagles；　came　unlooked…for　toOrthanc；　and　he　found　me　standing　on　the　pinnacle。　Then　I　spoke　to　him　and　hebore　me　away；　before　Saruman　was　aware。　I　was　far　from　Isengard；　ere　thewolves　and　orcs　issued　from　the　gate　to　pursue　me。　
‘　〃How　far　can　you　bear　me？　〃　I　said　to　Gwaihir。