"GL3" - читать интересную книгу автора (vol09)

unending and the dominion of the earth, if they would turn unto
Morgoth. And they believed him, and fell under the Shadow,
and the greater part of their people followed them. And
Tar-kalion raised a great temple to Morgoth upon the Moun-
tain of Iluvatar in the midst of the land; and Sauron dwelt there,
and all Numenor was under his vigilance. [This passage, from
'upon the Mountain of Iluvatar ...', was struck out and
replaced by the following: in the midst of the city of Numenos,(4)
and its dome rose like a black hill glowering over the land; and
smokes issued from it, for in that temple the Numenoreans
made hideous sacrifice to Morgoth, beseeching the Lord of
Darkness to deliver them from Death. But the hallowed place of
Iluvatar was upon the summit of the Mountain Menelmin,
Pillar of Heaven, in the midst of the land, and thither men had
been wont to climb to offer thanksgiving. There only in all
Numenor Sauron dared never to set his foot, and he forbade
[any] to go there under pain of death. Few dared to disobey him,
even if they so wished, for Sauron had many eyes and all the
ways of the land were under his vigilance. But some there were
;:, who remained faithful, and did not bow to him, and of these the
chief were Elendil the fair, and his sons Anarion and Isildur, and
they were of the royal blood of Earendel, though not of the line
direct.]
$6 But in the passing of the years Tar-kalion felt the
oncoming of old age, and he was troubled; but Sauron said that

the bounty of Morgoth was withheld by the gods, and that to
obtain plentitude of power and freedom from death the king
must be master of the West. And the fear of death was heavy
upon Tar-kalion. Therefore at his command the Numenoreans
made a great armament; and their might and skill had grown
exceedingly in those days, for they had in these matters the aid
of Sauron. The fleets of the Numenoreans were like a land of
many islands, and their masts were like a forest of mountain-
trees, and their banners like the streamers of a thunderstorm,
and their sails were scarlet and black. And they moved slowly
into the West, for all the winds were stilled, and all the world
was silent in the fear of that time. And they encompassed
Avallon; and it is said that the Elves mourned and sickness came
upon them, for the light of Valinor was cut off by the cloud
of the Numenoreans. Then Tar-kalion assailed the shores of
Valinor, and he cast forth bolts of thunder, and fire came upon
Tuna, and flame and smoke rose about Taniquetil.
$7 But the gods made no answer. Then the vanguard of the
Numenoreans set foot upon the forbidden shores, and they
encamped in might upon the borders of Valinor. But the heart
of Manwe was sorrowful and dismayed, and he called upon
Iluvatar, and took power and counsel from the Maker; and the
fate and fashion of the world was changed. The silence of the
gods was broken and their power made manifest; and Valinor