[Dininziliel]

The most poignant part in the book was bypassed in favor of Gollum framing Sam with the lembas theft. It was Smeagol's last chance at redemption: (From "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol")<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Gollum looked at them. A strange expression passed over his lean hungry face. The gleam faded from his eyes, and they went dim and grey, old and tired. A spasm of pain seemed to twist him, and he turned away, peering back up towards the pass, shaking his head, as if engaged in some interior debate. Then he came back, and slowly putting out a trembling hand, very cautiously he touched Frodo's knee--but almost the touch was a caress. For a fleeting moment, could one of the sleepers have seen him, they would have thought they they beheld an old weary hobbit, shrunken by the years that had carried him far beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing.<P>But at that touch Frodo stirred and cried out softly in his sleep, and immediately Sam was wide awake. The first thing he saw was Gollum--"pawing at master,' as he thought.<P>"Hey you!" he said roughly. "What are you up to?"<P>"Nothing, nothing," said Gollum softly. "Nice Master!"<P>"I daresay," said Sam. "But where have you been to--sneaking off and sneaking back, you old villain?"<P>Gollum withdrew himself, and a green glint flickered under his heavy lids. Almost spider-like he looked now, crouched back on his bent limbs, with his protruding eyes. The fleeting moment had passed, beyond recall. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Tolkien said that Smeagol truly had a last chance for salvation, but Sam's suspicion--based upon love and protection for Frodo--ended any hope Smeagol had.