towers

848 the two towers
but not for long. They were not going quick enough for
Gollum. By his reckoning it was nearly thirty leagues from
the Morannon to the Cross-roads above Osgiliath, and he
hoped to cover that distance in four journeys. So soon they
struggled on once more, until the dawn began to spread
slowly in the wide grey solitude. They had then walked almost
eight leagues, and the hobbits could not have gone any
further, even if they had dared.
The growing light revealed to them a land already less
barren and ruinous. The mountains still loomed up ominously
on their left, but near at hand they could see the southward
road, now bearing away from the black roots of the
hills and slanting westwards. Beyond it were slopes covered
with sombre trees like dark clouds, but all about them
lay a tumbled heathland, grown with ling and broom and
cornel, and other shrubs that they did not know. Here and
there they saw knots of tall pine-trees. The hearts of the
hobbits rose again a little in spite of weariness: the air was
fresh and fragrant, and it reminded them of the uplands of
the Northfarthing far away. It seemed good to be reprieved,
to walk in a land that had only been for a few years under
the dominion of the Dark Lord and was not yet fallen wholly
into decay. But they did not forget their danger, nor the
Black Gate that was still all too near, hidden though it was
behind the gloomy heights. They looked about for a hidingplace
where they could shelter from evil eyes while the light
lasted.
The day passed uneasily. They lay deep in the heather and
counted out the slow hours, in which there seemed little
change; for they were still under the shadows of the Ephel
Dúath, and the sun was veiled. Frodo slept at times, deeply
and peacefully, either trusting Gollum or too tired to trouble
about him; but Sam found it difficult to do more than doze,
even when Gollum was plainly fast asleep, whiffling and
twitching in his secret dreams. Hunger, perhaps, more than