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the tower of cirith ungol 1195
better made,’ said Sam; ‘but it wouldn’t do, I guess, to go
carrying his tokens into Mordor, not after this business here.
Well, there you are, Mr. Frodo. A perfect little orc, if I may
make so bold – at least you would be, if we could cover
your face with a mask, give you longer arms, and make you
bow-legged. This will hide some of the tell-tales.’ He put a
large black cloak round Frodo’s shoulders. ‘Now you’re
ready! You can pick up a shield as we go.’
‘What about you, Sam?’ said Frodo. ‘Aren’t we going to
match?’
‘Well, Mr. Frodo, I’ve been thinking,’ said Sam. ‘I’d best
not leave any of my stuff behind, and we can’t destroy it.
And I can’t wear orc-mail over all my clothes, can I? I’ll just
have to cover up.’
He knelt down and carefully folded his elven-cloak. It went
into a surprisingly small roll. This he put into his pack that
lay on the floor. Standing up, he slung it behind his back, put
an orc-helm on his head, and cast another black cloak about
his shoulders. ‘There!’ he said. ‘Now we match, near enough.
And now we must be off !’
‘I can’t go all the way at a run, Sam,’ said Frodo with a
wry smile. ‘I hope you’ve made inquiries about inns along
the road? Or have you forgotten about food and drink?’
‘Save me, but so I had!’ said Sam. He whistled in dismay.
‘Bless me, Mr. Frodo, but you’ve gone and made me that
hungry and thirsty! I don’t know when drop or morsel last
passed my lips. I’d forgotten it, trying to find you. But let me
think! Last time I looked I’d got about enough of that waybread,
and of what Captain Faramir gave us, to keep me on
my legs for a couple of weeks at a pinch. But if there’s a drop
left in my bottle, there’s no more. That’s not going to be
enough for two, nohow. Don’t orcs eat, and don’t they drink?
Or do they just live on foul air and poison?’
‘No, they eat and drink, Sam. The Shadow that bred them
can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its
own. I don’t think it gave life to the orcs, it only ruined them
and twisted them; and if they are to live at all, they have to