towers

748 the two towers
can go there and give him all the messages that you can think
of.’’
‘ ‘‘Let me go, let me go!’’ said Wormtongue. ‘‘I know the
way.’’
‘ ‘‘You knew the way, I don’t doubt,’’ said Treebeard. ‘‘But
things have changed here a little. Go and see!’’
‘He let Wormtongue go, and he limped off through the
arch, with us close behind, until he came inside the ring and
could see all the floods that lay between him and Orthanc.
Then he turned to us.
‘ ‘‘Let me go away!’’ he whined. ‘‘Let me go away! My
messages are useless now.’’
‘ ‘‘They are indeed,’’ said Treebeard. ‘‘But you have only
two choices: to stay with me until Gandalf and your master
arrive; or to cross the water. Which will you have?’’
‘The man shivered at the mention of his master, and put
a foot into the water; but he drew back. ‘‘I cannot swim,’’ he
said.
‘ ‘‘The water is not deep,’’ said Treebeard. ‘‘It is dirty, but
that will not harm you, Master Wormtongue. In you go now!’’
‘With that the wretch floundered off into the flood. It rose
up nearly to his neck before he got too far away for me to
see him. The last I saw of him was clinging to some old
barrel or piece of wood. But Treebeard waded after him, and
watched his progress.
‘ ‘‘Well, he has gone in,’’ he said when he returned. ‘‘I saw
him crawling up the steps like a draggled rat. There is someone
in the tower still: a hand came out and pulled him in. So
there he is, and I hope the welcome is to his liking. Now I
must go and wash myself clean of the slime. I’ll be away up
on the north side, if anyone wants to see me. There is no
clean water down here fit for an Ent to drink, or to bathe in.
So I will ask you two lads to keep a watch at the gate for the
folk that are coming. There’ll be the Lord of the Fields of
Rohan, mark you! You must welcome him as well as you
know how: his men have fought a great fight with the Orcs.
Maybe, you know the right fashion of Men’s words for such