and about Gollum? Do you really know it all, or are you just

guessing still?’

Gandalf looked at Frodo, and his eyes glinted. ‘I knew

much and I have learned much,’ he answered. ‘But I am not

going to give an account of all my doings to you. The history

of Elendil and Isildur and the One Ring is known to all the

Wise. Your ring is shown to be that One Ring by the fire-

writing alone, apart from any other evidence.’

‘And when did you discover that?’ asked Frodo, inter-

rupting.

‘Just now in this room, of course,’ answered the wizard

sharply. ‘But I expected to find it. I have come back from

dark journeys and long search to make that final test. It is the

last proof, and all is now only too clear. Making out Gollum’s

part, and fitting it into the gap in the history, required some

thought. I may have started with guesses about Gollum, but

I am not guessing now. I know. I have seen him.’

‘You have seen Gollum?’ exclaimed Frodo in amazement.

‘Yes. The obvious thing to do, of course, if one could. I

tried long ago; but I have managed it at last.’

‘Then what happened after Bilbo escaped from him? Do

you know that?’

‘Not so clearly. What I have told you is what Gollum was

willing to tell – though not, of course, in the way I have

reported it. Gollum is a liar, and you have to sift his words.

For instance, he called the Ring his ‘‘birthday-present’’, and

he stuck to that. He said it came from his grandmother, who

had lots of beautiful things of that kind. A ridiculous story. I

have no doubt that Sme agol’s grandmother was a matriarch,

a great person in her way, but to talk of her possessing many

Elven-rings was absurd, and as for giving them away, it was

a lie. But a lie with a grain of truth.

‘The murder of De agol haunted Gollum, and he had made

up a defence, repeating it tohis ‘‘Precious’’over and over

again, as he gnawed bones in the dark, until he almost

believed it. It was his birthday. De agol ought to have given

the ring to him. It had obviously turned up just so as to be

>>15072647

>and he had made

>up a defence, repeating it tohis ‘‘Precious’’over and over

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<COUPLE OF BUMS MOCKIN JFK TRANNY

>>15072647

>For instance, he called the Ring his ‘‘birthday-present’’, and

>he stuck to that. He said it came from his grandmother, who

>had lots of beautiful things of that kind. A ridiculous story. I

>have no doubt that Sme agol’s grandmother was a matriarch,

>a great person in her way, but to talk of her possessing many

>Elven-rings was absurd, and as for giving them away, it was

>a lie. But a lie with a grain of truth.

>‘The murder of De agol haunted Gollum

>>15072673

> it was

>>a lie. But a lie with a grain of truth.

>>‘The murder of De agol haunted Gollum

>>15072647

>‘Yes. The obvious thing to do, of course, if one could. I

>tried long ago; but I have managed it at last.’

>‘Then what happened after Bilbo escaped from him? Do

>you know that?’

>‘Not so clearly. What I have told you is what Gollum was

>willing to tell – though not, of course, in the way I have

>reported it. Gollum is a liar, and you have to sift his words.

>For instance, he called the Ring his ‘‘birthday-present’’, and

>>15072647

>last proof, and all is now only too clear. Making out Gollum’s

>part, and fitting it into the gap in the history, required some

>thought. I may have started with guesses about Gollum, but

>I am not guessing now. I know. I have seen him.’

>‘You have seen Gollum?’ exclaimed Frodo in amazement.

>‘Yes. The obvious thing to do, of course, if one could. I

>tried long ago; but I have managed it at last.’

>>15072647

>Wise. Your ring is shown to be that One Ring by the fire-

>writing alone, apart from any other evidence.’

>‘And when did you discover that?’ asked Frodo, inter-

>rupting.

>‘Just now in this room, of course,’ answered the wizard

>sharply. ‘But I expected to find it. I have come back from

>dark journeys and long search to make that final test. It is the

>last proof, and all is now only too clear. Making out Gollum’s

>part, and fitting it into the gap in the history, required some

a present. It was his birthday-present, and so on, and on.

‘I endured him as long as I could, but the truth was desper-

ately important, and in the end I had to be harsh. I put the

fear of fire on him, and wrung the true story out of him, bit by

bit, together with much snivelling and snarling. He thought he

was misunderstood and ill-used. But when he had at last told

me his history, as far as the end of the Riddle-game and

Bilbo’s escape, he would not say any more, except in dark

hints. Some other fear was on him greater than mine. He

muttered that he was going to get his own back. People would

see if he would stand being kicked, and driven into a hole

and then robbed. Gollum had good friends now, good friends

and very strong. They would help him. Baggins would pay

for it. That was his chief thought. He hated Bilbo and cursed

his name. What is more, he knew where he came from.’

‘But how did he find that out?’ asked Frodo.

‘Well, as for the name, Bilbo very foolishly told Gollum

himself; and after that it would not be difficult to discover

his country, once Gollum came out. Oh yes, he came out.

His longing for the Ring proved stronger than his fear of

the Orcs, or even of the light. After a year or two he left the

mountains. You see, though still bound by desire of it, the

Ring was no longer devouring him; he began to revive a little.

He felt old, terribly old, yet less timid, and he was mortally

hungry.

‘Light, light of Sun and Moon, he still feared and hated,

and he always will, I think; but he was cunning. He found he

could hide from daylight and moonshine, and make his way

swiftly and softly by dead of night with his pale cold eyes,

and catch small frightened or unwary things. He grew

stronger and bolder with new food and new air. He found

his way into Mirkwood, as one would expect.’

‘Is that where you found him?’ asked Frodo.

‘I saw him there,’ answered Gandalf, ‘but before that he

had wandered far, following Bilbo’s trail. It was difficult to

learn anything from him for certain, for his talk was con-

stantly interrupted by curses and threats. ‘‘What had it got

>>15072706

>‘I endured him as long as I could, but the truth was desper-

>ately important, and in the end I had to be harsh. I put the

>fear of fire on him, and wrung the true story out of him, bit by

>bit, together with much snivelling and snarling. He thought he

>was misunderstood and ill-used. But when he had at last told

>>15072706

>But when he had at last told

>me his history, as far as the end of the Riddle-game and

>Bilbo’s escape, he would not say any more, except in dark

>hints. Some other fear was on him greater than mine. He

>muttered that he was going to get his own back. People would

>see if he would stand being kicked, and driven into a hole

>and then robbed. Gollum had good friends now, good friends

>and very strong. They would help him. Baggins would pay

>>15072706

>and then robbed. Gollum had good friends now, good friends

>and very strong. They would help him. Baggins would pay

>for it. That was his chief thought. He hated Bilbo and cursed

>his name. What is more, he knew where he came from.’

>‘But how did he find that out?’ asked Frodo.

>‘Well, as for the name, Bilbo very foolishly told Gollum

>himself; and after that it would not be difficult to discover

>his country, once Gollum came out. Oh yes, he came out.

>His longing for the Ring proved stronger than his fear of

>the Orcs, or even of the light. After a year or two he left the

>mountains. You see, though still bound by desire of it, the

>Ring was no longer devouring him; he began to revive a little.

>>15072706

>Ring was no longer devouring him; he began to revive a little.

>He felt old, terribly old, yet less timid, and he was mortally

>hungry.

>‘Light, light of Sun and Moon, he still feared and hated,

>and he always will, I think; but he was cunning. He found he

>could hide from daylight and moonshine, and make his way

>swiftly and softly by dead of night with his pale cold eyes,

>and catch small frightened or unwary things. He grew

>stronger and bolder with new food and new air. He found

>his way into Mirkwood, as one would expect.’

>‘Is that where you found him?’ asked Frodo.

>>15072706

>He felt old, terribly old, yet less timid, and he was mortally

>hungry.

>‘Light, light of Sun and Moon, he still feared and hated,

>and he always will, I think; but he was cunning. He found he

>could hide from daylight and moonshine, and make his way

>swiftly and softly by dead of night with his pale cold eyes,

>and catch small frightened or unwary things. He grew

>stronger and bolder with new food and new air. He found

>his way into Mirkwood, as one would expect.’

>‘Is that where you found him?’ asked Frodo.

>‘I saw him there,’ answered Gandalf, ‘but before that he

>had wandered far, following Bilbo’s trail. It was difficult to

>learn anything from him for certain, for his talk was con-

>stantly interrupted by curses and threats.

in its pocketses?’’ he said. ‘‘It wouldn’t say, no precious. Little

cheat. Not a fair question. It cheated first, it did. It broke the

rules. We ought to have squeezed it, yes precious. And we

will, precious!’’

‘That is a sample of his talk. I don’t suppose you want any

more. I had weary days of it. But from hints dropped among

the snarls I gathered that his padding feet had taken him at

last to Esgaroth, and even to the streets of Dale, listening

secretly and peering. Well, the news of the great events went

far and wide in Wilderland, and many had heard Bilbo’s

name and knew where he came from. We had made no secret

of our return journey to his home in the West. Gollum’s

sharp ears would soon learn what he wanted.’

‘Then why didn’t he track Bilbo further?’ asked Frodo.

‘Why didn’t he come to the Shire?’

‘Ah,’ said Gandalf, ‘now we come to it. I think Gollum

tried to. He set out and came back westward, as far as the

Great River. But then he turned aside. He was not daunted

by the distance, I am sure. No, something else drew him

away. So my friends think, those that hunted him for me.

‘The Wood-elves tracked him first, an easy task for them,

for his trail was still fresh then. Through Mirkwood and back

again it led them, though they never caught him. The wood

was full of the rumour of him, dreadful tales even among

beasts and birds. The Woodmen said that there was some

new terror abroad, a ghost that drank blood. It climbed trees

to find nests; it crept into holes to find the young; it slipped

through windows to find cradles.

‘But at the western edge of Mirkwood the trail turned

away. It wandered off southwards and passed out of the

Wood-elves’ ken, and was lost. And then I made a great

mistake. Yes, Frodo, and not the first; though I fear it may

prove the worst. I let the matter be. I let him go; for I had

much else to think of at that time, and I still trusted the lore

of Saruman.

‘Well, that was years ago. I have paid for it since with many

dark and dangerous days. The trail was long cold when I

>>15072738

>in its pocketses?’’ he said. ‘‘It wouldn’t say, no precious. Little

>cheat. Not a fair question. It cheated first, it did. It broke the

>rules. We ought to have squeezed it, yes precious. And we

>will, precious!’’

>>15072665

><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<COUPLE OF BUMS MOCKIN JFK TRANNY

>>15072780

your danailingus is chasing its own scat tail tales already tho

>>15072789

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>>15072796

><<<,=,e<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<COUPLE OF BUMS MOCKIN JFK TRANNY

>>15072738

>last to Esgaroth, and even to the streets of Dale, listening

>secretly and peering. Well, the news of the great events went

>far and wide in Wilderland, and many had heard Bilbo’s

>name and knew where he came from. We had made no secret

>of our return journey to his home in the West. Gollum’s

>sharp ears would soon learn what he wanted.’

>‘Then why didn’t he track Bilbo further?’ asked Frodo.

>‘Why didn’t he come to the Shire?’

>‘Ah,’ said Gandalf, ‘now we come to it. I think Gollum

>tried to. He set out and came back westward, as far as the

>Great River. But then he turned aside. He was not daunted

>by the distance, I am sure. No, something else drew him

>away. So my friends think, those that hunted him for me.

>‘The Wood-elves tracked him first, an easy task for them,

>for his trail was still fresh then. Through Mirkwood and back

>again it led them, though they never caught him. The wood

>was full of the rumour of him, dreadful tales even among

>beasts and birds. The Woodmen said that there was some

>>15072752

>new terror abroad, a ghost that drank blood. It climbed trees

>to find nests; it crept into holes to find the young; it slipped

>through windows to find cradles.

>‘But at the western edge of Mirkwood the trail turned

>away. It wandered off southwards and passed out of the

>Wood-elves’ ken, and was lost. And then I made a great

>mistake. Yes, Frodo, and not the first; though I fear it may

>prove the worst. I let the matter be. I let him go; for I had

>much else to think of at that time, and I still trusted the lore

>of Saruman.

>‘Well, that was years ago. I have paid for it since with many

>dark and dangerous days. The trail was long cold when I

>>15072808

>new terror abroad, a ghost that drank blood. It climbed trees

>to find nests; it crept into holes to find the young; it slipped

>through windows to find cradles.

>‘But at the western edge of Mirkwood the trail turned

>away. It wandered off southwards and passed out of the

>Wood-elves’ ken, and was lost. And then I made a great

>mistake. Yes, Frodo, and not the first; though I fear it may

>prove the worst. I let the matter be. I let him go; for I had

>much else to think of at that time, and I still trusted the lore

>of Saruman.

>‘Well, that was years ago. I have paid for it since with many

>dark and dangerous days. The trail was long cold when I

took it up again, after Bilbo left here. And my search would

have been in vain, but for the help that I had from a friend:

Aragorn, the greatest traveller and huntsman of this age of

the world. Together we sought for Gollum down the whole

length of Wilderland, without hope, and without success. But

at last, when I had given up the chase and turned to other

paths, Gollum was found. My friend returned out of great

perils bringing the miserable creature with him.

‘What he had been doing he would not say. He only wept

and called us cruel, with many a gollum in his throat; and

when we pressed him he whined and cringed, and rubbed

his long hands, licking his fingers as if they pained him, as if

he remembered some old torture. But I am afraid there is no

possible doubt: he had made his slow, sneaking way, step by

step, mile by mile, south, down at last to the Land of Mordor.’

A heavy silence fell in the room. Frodo could hear his heart

beating. Even outside everything seemed still. No sound of

Sam’s shears could now be heard.

‘Yes, to Mordor,’ said Gandalf. ‘Alas! Mordor draws all

wicked things, and the Dark Power was bending all its will to

gather them there. The Ring of the Enemy would leave its

mark, too, leave him open to the summons. And all folk were

whispering then of the new Shadow in the South, and its

hatred of the West. There were his fine new friends, who

would help him in his revenge!

‘Wretched fool! In that land he would learn much, too

much for his comfort. And sooner or later as he lurked and

pried on the borders he would be caught, and taken – for

examination. That was the way of it, I fear. When he was

found he had already been there long, and was on his way

back. On some errand of mischief. But that does not matter

much now. His worst mischief was done.

‘Yes, alas! through him the Enemy has learned that the

One has been found again. He knows where Isildur fell. He

knows where Gollum found his ring. He knows that it is a

Great Ring, for it gave long life. He knows that it is not one

>>15072816

>the world. Together we sought for Gollum down the whole

>length of Wilderland, without hope, and without success. But

>at last, when I had given up the chase and turned to other

>paths, Gollum was found. My friend returned out of great

>perils bringing the miserable creature with him.

>‘What he had been doing he would not say. He only wept

>and called us cruel, with many a gollum in his throat; and

>when we pressed him he whined and cringed, and rubbed

>his long hands, licking his fingers as if they pained him, as if

>he remembered some old torture. But I am afraid there is no

>possible doubt: he had made his slow, sneaking way, step by

>step, mile by mile, south, down at last to the Land of Mordor.’

>A heavy silence fell in the room. Frodo could hear his heart

>beating. Even outside everything seemed still. No sound of

>Sam’s shears could now be heard.

>‘Yes, to Mordor,’ said Gandalf. ‘Alas! Mordor draws all

>>15072816

>‘Yes, to Mordor,’ said Gandalf. ‘Alas! Mordor draws all

>wicked things, and the Dark Power was bending all its will to

>gather them there. The Ring of the Enemy would leave its

>mark, too, leave him open to the summons. And all folk were

>whispering then of the new Shadow in the South, and its

>hatred of the West. There were his fine new friends, who

>would help him in his revenge!

>‘Wretched fool! In that land he would learn much, too

>much for his comfort. And sooner or later as he lurked and

>pried on the borders he would be caught, and taken – for

>examination. That was the way of it, I fear. When he was

>found he had already been there long, and was on his way

>back. On some errand of mischief. But that does not matter

>much now. His worst mischief was done.

>‘Yes, alas! through him the Enemy has learned that the

>One has been found again. He knows where Isildur fell. He

>knows where Gollum found his ring. He knows that it is a

>Great Ring, for it gave long life. He knows that it is not one

>>15072833

>>‘Yes, to Mordor,’ said Gandalf.‘Alas! Mordordraws all

>>wicked things, and the Darkgehy Power was bending all its will tofake it's h00m00

>>gather them there. The Ring of the Enemy would leave its

>>mark, too, leave him open to the summons. And all folk were

>>whispering then of the new Shadow in the South, and its

>>hatred of the West. There were his fine new friends, who

>>would help him in his revenge!

>>15072833

>>‘Wretched fool! In that land he would learn much, too

>>much for his comfort. And sooner or later as he lurked and

>>pried on the borders he would be caught, and taken – for

>>examination. That was the way of it, I fear. When he was

>>found he had already been there long, and was on his way

>>back. On some errand of mischief. But that does not matter

>>much now. His worst mischief was done.

>>‘Yes, alas! through him the Enemy has learned that the

>>One has been found again. He knows where Isildur fell. He

>>knows where Gollum found his ring. He knows that it is a

>>Great Ring, for it gave long life. He knows that it is not one

of the Three, for they have never been lost, and they endure

no evil. He knows that it is not one of the Seven, or the Nine,

for they are accounted for. He knows that it is the One. And

he has at last heard, I think, of hobbits and the Shire.

‘The Shire – he may be seeking for it now, if he has not

already found out where it lies. Indeed, Frodo, I fear that he

may even think that the long-unnoticed name of Baggins has

become important.’

‘But this is terrible!’ cried Frodo. ‘Far worse than the worst

that I imagined from your hints and warnings. O Gandalf,

best of friends, what am I to do? For now I am really afraid.

What am I to do? What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that

vile creature, when he had a chance!’

‘Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy:

not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded,

Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and

escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the

Ring so. With Pity.’

‘I am sorry,’ said Frodo. ‘But I am frightened; and I do not

feel any pity for Gollum.’

‘You have not seen him,’ Gandalf broke in.

‘No, and I don’t want to,’ said Frodo. ‘I can’t understand

you. Do you mean to say that you, and the Elves, have let

him live on after all those horrible deeds? Now at any rate he

is as bad as an Orc, and just an enemy. He deserves death.’

‘Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve

death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to

them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judge-

ment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not

much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but

there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of

the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet,

for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity

of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least. In any

case we did not kill him: he is very old and very wretched.

The Wood-elves have him in prison, but they treat him with

such kindness as they can find in their wise hearts.’