towers

774 the two towers
‘That won’t do,’ said Gandalf sternly. ‘What did you see,
and what did you say?’
Pippin shut his eyes and shivered, but said nothing. They
all stared at him in silence, except Merry who turned away.
But Gandalf ’s face was still hard. ‘Speak!’ he said.
In a low hesitating voice Pippin began again, and slowly
his words grew clearer and stronger. ‘I saw a dark sky, and
tall battlements,’ he said. ‘And tiny stars. It seemed very far
away and long ago, yet hard and clear. Then the stars went
in and out – they were cut off by things with wings. Very big,
I think, really; but in the glass they looked like bats wheeling
round the tower. I thought there were nine of them. One
began to fly straight towards me, getting bigger and bigger.
It had a horrible – no, no! I can’t say.
‘I tried to get away, because I thought it would fly out; but
when it had covered all the globe, it disappeared. Then he
came. He did not speak so that I could hear words. He just
looked, and I understood.
‘ ‘‘So you have come back? Why have you neglected to
report for so long?’’
‘I did not answer. He said: ‘‘Who are you?’’ I still did not
answer, but it hurt me horribly; and he pressed me, so I said:
‘‘A hobbit.’’
‘Then suddenly he seemed to see me, and he laughed at
me. It was cruel. It was like being stabbed with knives. I
struggled. But he said: ‘‘Wait a moment! We shall meet again
soon. Tell Saruman that this dainty is not for him. I will send
for it at once. Do you understand? Say just that!’’
‘Then he gloated over me. I felt I was falling to pieces.
No, no! I can’t say any more. I don’t remember anything
else.’
‘Look at me!’ said Gandalf.
Pippin looked up straight into his eyes. The wizard held
his gaze for a moment in silence. Then his face grew gentler,
and the shadow of a smile appeared. He laid his hand softly
on Pippin’s head.
‘All right!’ he said. ‘Say no more! You have taken no harm.