return

1244 the return of the king
‘I am glad that you are here with me,’ said Frodo. ‘Here at
the end of all things, Sam.’
‘Yes, I am with you, Master,’ said Sam, laying Frodo’s
wounded hand gently to his breast. ‘And you’re with me.
And the journey’s finished. But after coming all that way I
don’t want to give up yet. It’s not like me, somehow, if you
understand.’
‘Maybe not, Sam,’ said Frodo; ‘but it’s like things are in
the world. Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little
time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall, and there
is no escape.’
‘Well, Master, we could at least go further from this
dangerous place here, from this Crack of Doom, if that’s its
name. Now couldn’t we? Come, Mr. Frodo, let’s go down
the path at any rate!’
‘Very well, Sam. If you wish to go, I’ll come,’ said Frodo;
and they rose and went slowly down the winding road; and
even as they passed towards the Mountain’s quaking feet, a
great smoke and steam belched from the Sammath Naur,
and the side of the cone was riven open, and a huge fiery
vomit rolled in slow thunderous cascade down the eastern
mountain-side.
Frodo and Sam could go no further. Their last strength of
mind and body was swiftly ebbing. They had reached a low
ashen hill piled at the Mountain’s foot; but from it there was
no more escape. It was an island now, not long to endure,
amid the torment of Orodruin. All about it the earth gaped,
and from deep rifts and pits smoke and fumes leaped up.
Behind them the Mountain was convulsed. Great rents
opened in its side. Slow rivers of fire came down the long
slopes towards them. Soon they would be engulfed. A rain
of hot ash was falling.
They stood now; and Sam still holding his master’s hand
caressed it. He sighed. ‘What a tale we have been in, Mr.
Frodo, haven’t we?’ he said. ‘I wish I could hear it told! Do
you think they’ll say: Now comes the story of Nine-fingered
Frodo and the Ring of Doom? And then everyone will hush,