towers

904 the two towers
road,’ Frodo continued; ‘for he said that there is, or there
may be, a path near to Minas Ithil.’
‘Minas Morgul,’ said Faramir.
‘I do not know clearly,’ said Frodo; ‘but the path climbs, I
think, up into the mountains on the northern side of that vale
where the old city stands. It goes up to a high cleft and so
down to – that which is beyond.’
‘Do you know the name of that high pass?’ said Faramir.
‘No,’ said Frodo.
‘It is called Cirith Ungol.’ Gollum hissed sharply and began
muttering to himself. ‘Is not that its name?’ said Faramir
turning to him.
‘No!’ said Gollum, and then he squealed, as if something
had stabbed him. ‘Yes, yes, we heard the name once. But
what does the name matter to us? Master says he must get
in. So we must try some way. There is no other way to try,
no.’
‘No other way?’ said Faramir. ‘How do you know that?
And who has explored all the confines of that dark realm?’
He looked long and thoughtfully at Gollum. Presently he
spoke again. ‘Take this creature away, Anborn. Treat him
gently, but watch him. And do not you, Sméagol, try to dive
into the falls. The rocks have such teeth there as would slay
you before your time. Leave us now and take your fish!’
Anborn went out and Gollum went cringing before him.
The curtain was drawn across the recess.
‘Frodo, I think you do very unwisely in this,’ said Faramir.
‘I do not think you should go with this creature. It is wicked.’
‘No, not altogether wicked,’ said Frodo.
‘Not wholly, perhaps,’ said Faramir; ‘but malice eats it like
a canker, and the evil is growing. He will lead you to no good.
If you will part with him, I will give him safe-conduct and
guidance to any point on the borders of Gondor that he may
name.’
‘He would not take it,’ said Frodo. ‘He would follow after
me as he long has done. And I have promised many times to