make it。' He pointed to the Mountain。 'It's no good taking anything we're not sure to need。'
Frodo looked again towards the Mountain。 'No；' he said； 'we shan't need much on that road。 And
at its end nothing。' Picking up his orc…shield he flung it away and threw his helmet after it。 Then
pulling off the grey cloak he undid the heavy belt and let it fall to the ground； and the sheathed
sword with it。 The shreds of the black cloak he tore off and scattered。
'There； I'll be an orc no more；' he cried； 'and I'll bear no weapon fair or foul。 Let them take me； if
they will！'
Sam did likewise； and put aside his orc…gear； and he took out all the things in his pack。
Somehow each of them had bee dear to him； if only because he had borne them so far with so
much toil。 Hardest of all it was to part with his cooking…gear。 Tears welled in his eyes at the
thought of casting it away。
'Do you remember that bit of rabbit； Mr。 Frodo？' he said。 'And our place under the warm bank in
Captain Faramir's country； the day I saw an oliphaunt？'
'No； I am afraid not； Sam；' said Frodo。 'At least； I know that such things happened； but I cannot
see them。 No taste of food； no feel of water； no sound of wind； no memory of tree or grass or
flower； no image of moon or star are left to me。 I am naked in the dark。 Sam； and there is no veil
between me and the wheel of fire。 I begin to see it even with my waking eyes； and all else fades。'
Sam went to him and kissed his hand。 'Then the sooner we're rid of it； the sooner to rest；' he said
haltingly； finding no better words to say。 'Talking won't mend nothing；' he muttered to himself； as
he gathered up all the things that they had chosen to cast away。 He was not willing to leave them
lying open in the wilderness for any eyes to see。 'Stinker picked up that orc…shirt； seemingly； and he
isn't going to add a sword to it。 His hands are bad enough when empty。 And he isn't going to mess
with my pans！' With that he carried all the gear away to one of the many gaping fissures that scored
the land and threw them in。 The clatter of his precious pans as they fell down into the dark was like
a death…knell to his heart。
He came back to Frodo； and then of his elven…rope he cut a short piece to serve his master as a
girdle and bind the grey cloak close about his waist。 The rest he carefully coiled and put back in his
pack。 Beside that he kept only the remnants of their waybread and the water…bottle； and Sting still
hanging by his belt； and hidden away in a pocket of his tunic next his breast the phial of Galadriel
and the little box that she gave him for his own。
Now at last they turned their faces to the Mountain and set out； thinking no more of concealment；
bending their weariness and failing wills only to the one task of going on。 In the dimness of its
dreary day few things even in that land of vigilance could have espied them； save from close at
hand。 Of all the slaves of the Dark Lord； only the Nazg？l could have warned him of the peril that
crept； small but indomitable； into the very heart of his guarded realm。 But the Nazg？l and their
black wings were abroad on another errand： they were gathered far away； shadowing the march of
the Captains of the West； and thither the thought of the Dark Tower was turned。
That day it seemed to Sam that his master had found some new strength； more than could be
explained by the small lightening of the load that he had to carry。 In the first marches they went
further and faster than he had hoped。 The land was rough and hostile； and yet they made much
progress； and ever the Mountain drew nearer。 But as the day wore on and all too soon the dim light
began to fail； Frodo stooped again； and began to stagger； as if the renewed effort had squandered
his remaining strength。
At their last halt he sank down and said： 'I'm thirsty； Sam；' and did not speak again。 Sam gave
him a mouthful of water； only one more mouthful remained。 He went without himself； and now as
once more the night of Mordor closed over them； through all his thoughts there came the memory
of water； and every brook or stream or fount that he had ever seen； under green willow…shades or
twinkling in the sun； danced and rippled for his torment behind the blindness of his eyes。 He felt the
cool mud about his toes as he paddled in the Pool at Bywater with Jolly Cotton and Tom and Nibs；
and their sister Rosie。 'But that was years ago；' he sighed； 'and far away。 The way back； if there is
one； goes past the Mountain。'
He could not sleep and he held a debate with himself。 'Well； e now； we've done better than
you hoped；' he said sturdily。 'Began well anyway。 I reckon we crossed half the distance before we
stopped。 One more day will do it。' And then he paused。
'Don't be a fool； Sam Gamgee；' came an answer in his own voice。 'He won't go another day like
that； if he moves at all。 And you can't go on much longer giving him all the water and most of the
food。'
'I can go on a good way though； and I will。'
'Where to？'
'To the Mountain； of course。'
'But what then； Sam Gamgee； what then？ When you get there； what are you going to do？ He
won't be able to do anything for himself。'
To his dismay Sam realized that he had not got an answer to this。 He had no clear idea at all。
Frodo had not spoken much to him of his errand； and Sam only knew vaguely that the Ring had
somehow to be put into the fire。 'The Cracks of Doom；' he muttered； the old name rising to his mind。
'Well； if Master knows how to find them； I don't。'
'There you are！' came the answer。 'It's all quite useless。 He said so himself。 You are the fool；
going on hoping and toiling。 You could have lain down and gone to sleep together days ago； if you
hadn't been so dogged。 But you'll die just the same； or worse。 You might just as well lie down now
and give it up。 You'll never get to the top anyway。'
'I'll get there； if I leave everything but my bones behind；' said Sam。 'And I'll carry Mr。 Frodo up
myself； if it breaks my back and heart。 So stop arguing！'
At that moment Sam felt a tremor in the ground beneath him； and he heard or sensed a deep
remote rumble as of thunder imprisoned under the earth。 There was a brief red flame that flickered
under the clouds and died away。 The Mountain too slept uneasily。
The last stage of their journey to Orodruin came； and it was a torment greater than Sam had ever
thought that he could bear。 He was in pain； and so parched that he could no longer swallow even a
mouthful of food。 It remained dark； not only because of the smokes of the Mountain： there seemed
to be a storm ing up； and away to the south…east there was a shimmer of lightnings under the
black skies。 Worst of all； the air was full of fumes； breathing was painful and difficult； and a
dizziness came on them； so that they staggered and often fell。 And yet their wills did not yield； and
they struggled on。
The Mountain crept up ever nearer； until； if they lifted their heavy heads； it filled all their sight；
looming vast before them： a huge mass of ash and slag and burned sto