Hobbiton

http://www.geocities.com/robertwgard.../sauganast.gif "Grima!" the wizard then removed his old ragged cloak and stood up, unleashed in his full might, his red cloak flowing around him.

http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000/grima.jpgGrima cowered before the presence of Sauganast the Red, uncloaked. But not so very long ago, Wormtongue had nearly brought about the ruin of a kingdom with his deft thought and quick mind. Sauganast was the fourth wizard he had seen in his day, and he knew something of what they would and would not do. Now he sought some advantage or delay that would further hinder Sauganast.

"He will not kill us!" cried Grima to the men. "Do not threaten him! Make no sudden moves! He will not kill in cold blood." He straightened and stood a little taller and even began to swagger a little when he saw in the wizard's eyes that it was all too true. Rage flickered across the countenance of the old man.

"You see? He is bound by his moral code! What shall he do when Sharkey arrives, I wonder?"

Upon hearing that, Sauganast leaped from the cart right into the midst of the men and with a great flash and a blast like lightning a foot away, they were all flattened to the ground like wheat before a hurricane.

The booming sound of it echoed down the hillside and throughout much of the Shire it was heard. The brick factory itself, the nearest building, shook for a moment with the shock and then was still, while the mighty sound echoed on.

At the tiny basement windows at the bottom of the factory, near the riverside, brutish, squinting faces briefly appeared. The sharp eyes of the wizard saw the loathsome folk, briefly though they dared to look.

He laughed, leapt upon the cart, and rode away far more swiftly than he rode in.

Even had the men and Grima been conscious, they would not have heard him. Indeed, it was late in the day before any of them could hear anything at all.

By the time Tater and Saruman arrived, Tater holding a large club, and Saruman clutching a small bag, Sauganast was gone. At Sharkey's bidding, Tater shook Grima awake, and though he could not hear, he was able to tell them all that had happened until the blast.

Saruman's eyes narrowed. He looked long at the factory and the basement windows. Tater was waking the men. The others came running up at that time, having delivered the hobbits to the Lockholes.

Saruman ordered them to brick up the basement windows and then Tater was to carry out his assignment in Buckland. When all had been set in motion, the wizard decided to pay a visit to the hobbits in prison. They would be made to forget about the old man and the cart of gold. There must be no hope of resistance, or the entire enterprise would be jeopardized. Just a little longer, and the enslavement would begin.

It was time to begin encouraging a large scale immigration of Men from the South.

Saruman sent messengers with new signs to post and new rumours to spread. Sharkey promised a grand life, in a cultivated land, with halfling servants for every one who signed up. They could bring their families. Plenty of room. No one refused. No questions asked.

Within a month, Saruman of Many Colours planned to be Lord of the Shire, with the core of a loyal army that would swiftly dominate all of Anor. If he could only keep control until the immigration began...