towers

the choices of master samwise 965
desperate. They were carrying off his master’s body for some
foul purpose and he could not follow. He thrust and pushed
at the block, and he threw himself against it, but it did not
yield. Then not far inside, or so he thought, he heard the two
captains’ voices talking again. He stood still listening for a
little, hoping perhaps to learn something useful. Perhaps
Gorbag, who seemed to belong to Minas Morgul, would
come out, and he could then slip in.
‘No, I don’t know,’ said Gorbag’s voice. ‘The messages go
through quicker than anything could fly, as a rule. But I don’t
enquire how it’s done. Safest not to. Grr! Those Nazgûl give
me the creeps. And they skin the body off you as soon as
look at you, and leave you all cold in the dark on the other
side. But He likes ’em; they’re His favourites nowadays, so
it’s no use grumbling. I tell you, it’s no game serving down
in the city.’
‘You should try being up here with Shelob for company,’
said Shagrat.
‘I’d like to try somewhere where there’s none of ’em. But
the war’s on now, and when that’s over things may be easier.’
‘It’s going well, they say.’
‘They would,’ grunted Gorbag. ‘We’ll see. But anyway, if
it does go well, there should be a lot more room. What d’you
say? – if we get a chance, you and me’ll slip off and set up
somewhere on our own with a few trusty lads, somewhere
where there’s good loot nice and handy, and no big bosses.’
‘Ah!’ said Shagrat. ‘Like old times.’
‘Yes,’ said Gorbag. ‘But don’t count on it. I’m not easy in
my mind. As I said, the Big Bosses, ay,’ his voice sank almost
to a whisper, ‘ay, even the Biggest, can make mistakes. Something
nearly slipped, you say. I say, something has slipped.
And we’ve got to look out. Always the poor Uruks to put
slips right, and small thanks. But don’t forget: the enemies
don’t love us any more than they love Him, and if they get
topsides on Him, we’re done too. But see here: when were
you ordered out?’
‘About an hour ago, just before you saw us. A message