the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第3章

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they　soon　reached　the　river　and　turned　up　it　where　there　was　a　grassy　road：　　they　had　the　water　on　their　left　and　the　forest　on　their　right。　soon　after　that　they　　came　to　the　place　where　the　ground　grew　rougher　and　thick　wood　came　down　to　the　waters　edge。　　the　road；　what　there　was　of　it；　now　ran　on　the　southern　bank　and　they　had　to　ford　the　　river　to　reach　it。　it　was　up　to　tirians　arm…pits；　but　jewel　（who　had　four　legs　and　　was　therefore　steadier）　kept　on　his　right　so　as　to　break　the　force　of　the　current；　and　　tirian　put　his　strong　arm　round　the　unicorns　strong　neck　and　they　both　got　safely　over。　the　king　　was　still　so　angry　that　he　hardly　noticed　the　cold　of　the　water。　but　of　course　he　dried　　his　sword　very　carefully　on　the　shoulder　of　his　cloak；　which　was　the　only　dry　part　of　him；　　as　soon　as　they　came　to　shore。

they　were　now　going　westward　with　the　river　on　their　right　and　lantern　　waste　straight　ahead　of　them。　they　had　not　gone　more　than　a　mile　when　they　both　stopped　　and　both　spoke　at　the　same　moment。　the　king　said　〃what　have　we　here？〃　and　jewel　said　　〃look！鈥�

〃it　is　a　raft；〃　said　king　tirian。

and　so　it　was。　half　a　dozen　splendid　tree…trunks；　all　newly　cut　and　newly　　lopped　of　their　branches；　had　been　lashed　　together　to　make　a　raft；　and　were　gliding　　swiftly　down　the　river。　on　the　front　of　the　raft　there　was　a　water　rat　with　a　pole　to　steer　　it。

〃hey！　water…rat！　what　are　you　about？〃　cried　the　king。

〃taking　logs　down　to　sell　to　the　calormenes；　sire；〃　said　the　rat；　touching　　his　ear　as　he　might　have　touched　his　cap　if　he　had　had　one。

〃calormenes！〃　thundered　tirian。　〃what　do　you　mean？　who　gave　order　for　these　　trees　to　be　felled？鈥�

the　river　flows　so　swiftly　at　that　time　of　the　year　that　the　raft　had　　already　glided　past　the　king　and　jewel。　but　the　water…rat　looked　back　over　its　shoulder　and　shouted　　out：　　〃the　lions　orders；　sire。　aslan　himself。〃　he　added　something　more　but　they　　couldnt　hear　it。

the　king　and　the　unicorn　stared　at　one　another　and　both　looked　more　　frightened　than　they　had　ever　been　in　any　battle。

〃aslan；〃　said　the　king　at　last；　in　a　very　low　voice。　〃aslan。　could　it　be　　true？　could　he　be　felling　the　holy　trees　and　murdering　the　dryads？鈥�

〃unless　the　dryads　have　all　done　something　dreadfully　wrong…〃　murmured　　jewel。

〃but　selling　them　to　calormenes！〃　said　the　king。　〃is　it　possible？鈥�

〃i　dont　know；〃　said　jewel　miserably。　〃hes　not　a　tame　lion。鈥�

〃well；〃　said　the　king　at　last；　〃we　must　go　on　and　take　the　adventure　that　　es　to　us。鈥�

〃it　is　the　only　thing　left　for　us　to　do；　sire；〃　said　the　unicorn。　he　did　　not　see　at　the　moment　how　foolish　it　was　for　two　of　them　to　go　on　alone；　nor　did　the　king。　　they　were　too　angry　to　think　clearly。　but　much　evil　came　of　their　rashness　in　the　　end。

suddenly　the　king　leaned　hard　on　his　friends　neck　and　bowed　his　head。

〃jewel；〃　he　said；　〃what　lies　before　us？　horrible　thoughts　arise　in　my　　heart。　if　we　had　died　before　today　we　should　have　been　happy。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　jewel。　〃we　have　lived　too　long。　the　worst　thing　in　the　world　　has　e　upon　us。〃　they　stood　like　that　for　a　minute　or　two　and　then　went　on。

before　long　they　could　hear　the　hack…hack…hack　of　axes　falling　on　timber；　　though　they　could　see　nothing　yet　because　there　was　a　rise　of　the　ground　in　front　of　　them。　when　they　had　reached　the　top　of　it　they　could　see　right　into　lantern　waste　itself。　　and　the　kings　face　turned　white　when　he　saw　it。

right　through　the　middle　of　that　ancient　forest　…　that　forest　where　the　　trees　of　gold　and　of　silver　had　once　grown　and　where　a　child　from　our　world　had　once　planted　the　　tree　of　protection　…　a　broad　lane　had　already　been　opened。　it　was　a　hideous　lane　　like　a　raw　gash　in　the　land；　full　of　muddy　ruts　where　felled　trees　had　been　dragged　down　to　　the　river。

there　was　a　great　crowd　of　people　at　work；　and　a　cracking　of　whips；　and　　horses　tugging　and　straining　as　they　dragged　at　　the　logs。　the　first　thing　that　struck　the　　king　and　the　unicorn　was　that　about　half　the　people　in　the　crowd　were　not　talking　beasts　　but　men。

the　next　thing　was　that　these　men　were　not　the　fair…haired　men　of　narnia：　　they　were　dark；　bearded　men　from　calormen；　that　great　and　cruel　country　that　lies　　beyond　archenland　across　the　desert　to　the　south。　there　was　no　reason；　of　course；　　why　one　should　not　meet　a　calormene　or　two　in　narnia　…　a　merchant　or　an　ambassador　　…　for　there　was　peace　between　narnia　and　calormen　in　those　days。　but　tirian　could　not　　understand　why　there　were　so　many　of　them：　nor　why　they　were　cutting　down　a　narnian　　forest。　he　grasped　his　sword　tighter　and　rolled　his　cloak　round　his　left　arm。　they　　came　quickly　down　among　the　men。

two　calormenes　were　driving　a　horse　which　was　harnessed　to　a　log。　just　as　　the　king　reached　them　the　log　had　got　stuck　in　a　bad　muddy　place。

〃get　on；　son　of　sloth！　pull；　you　lazy　pig！〃　cried　the　calormenes；　cracking　　their　whips。

the　horse　was　already　straining　himself　as　hard　as　he　could；　his　eyes　were　　red　and　he　was　covered　with　foam。

〃work；　lazy　brute；〃　shouted　one　of　the　calormenes：　and　as　he　spoke　he　　struck　the　horse　savagely　with　his　whip。　it　was　then　that　the　really　dreadful　thing　　happened。

up　till　now　tirian　had　taken　it　for　granted　that　the　horses　which　the　　calormenes　were　driving　were　their　own　horses；　dumb；　witless　animals　like　the　horses　of　our　　own　world。

and　though　he　hated　to　see　even　a　dumb　horse　overdriven；　he　was　of　course　　thinking　more　about　the　murder　of　the　trees。　it　had　never　crossed　his　mind　that　　anyone　would　dare　to　harness　one　of　the　free　talking　horses　of　narnia；　much　less　to　use　　a　whip　on　it。

but　as　that　savage　blow　fell　the　horse　reared　up　and　said；　half　screaming：　　〃fool　and　tyrant！　do　you　not　see　i　am　doing　all　i　can？鈥�

when　tirian　knew　that　the　horse　was　one　of　his　own　narnians；　there　came　　over　him　and　over　jewel　such　a　rage　that　they　did　not　know　what　they　were　doing。　the　　kings　sword　went　up；　the　unicorns　horn　went　down。　they　rushed　forward　together。　next　　moment　both　the　calormenes　lay　dead；　the　one　beheaded　by　tirians　sword　and　the　　other　gored　through　the　heart　by　jewels　horn。

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CHAPTER　THREE

灏彙ｈ�淬�倀銆倄t…澶�/鍫�
the　ape　in　its　glory　　　〃master　horse；　master　horse；〃　said　tirian　as　he　hastily　cut　its　traces；　　〃how　came　these　aliens　to　enslave　you？　is　narnia　conquered？　has　there　been　a　battle？鈥�

〃no；　sire；〃　panted　the　horse；　〃aslan　is　here。　it　is　all　by　his　orders。　he　　has　manded　…鈥�

〃ware　danger；　king；〃　said　jewel。　tirian　looked　up　and　saw　that　calormenes　　（mixed　with　a　few　talking　beasts）　were　beginning　to　run　towards　them　from　every　　direction。　the　two　dead　men　had　died　without　a　cry　and　so　it　had　taken　a　moment　before　the　　rest　of　the　crowd　knew　what　had　happened。　but　now　they　did。　most　of　them　had　naked　　scimitars　in　their　hands。

〃quick。　on　my　back；〃　said　jewel。

the　king　flung　himself　astride　of　his　old　friend　who　turned　and　galloped　　away。　he　changed　direction　twice　or　thrice　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　sight　of　　their　enemies；　crossed　a　stream；　and　shouted　without　slackening　his　pace；　〃whither　away；　　sire？　to　cair　paravel？鈥�

〃hold　hard；　friend；〃　said　tirian。　〃let　me　off。〃　he　slid　off　the　unicorns　　back　and　faced　him。

〃jewel；〃　said　the　king。　〃we　have　done　a　dreadful　deed。鈥�

〃we　were　sorely　provoked；〃　said　jewel。

〃but　to　leap　on　them　unawares　…　without　defying　them　while　they　were　　unarmed　…　faugh！

we　are　two　murderers；　jewel。　i　am　dishonoured　forever。鈥�

jewel　drooped　his　head。　he　too　was　ashamed。

〃and　then；〃　said　the　king；　〃the　horse　said　it　was　by　aslans　orders。　the　　rat　said　the　same。　they　all　say　aslan　is　here。　how　if　it　were　true？鈥�

〃but；　sire；　how　could　aslan　be　manding　such　dreadful　things？鈥�

〃he　is　not　a　tame　lion；〃　said　tirian。　〃how　should　we　know　what　he　would　do？　　we；　who　are　murderers。　jewel；　i　will　go　back。　i　will　give　up　my　sword　and　put　　myself　in　the　hands　of　these　calormenes　and　ask　that　they　bring　me　before　aslan。　let　him　do　　justice　on　me。鈥�

〃you　will　go　to　your　death；　then；〃　said　jewel。

〃do　you　think　i　care　if　aslan　dooms　me　to　death？〃　said　the　king。　〃that　　would　be　nothing；　nothing　at　all。　would　it　not　be　better　to　be　dead　than　to　have　　this　horrible　fear　that　aslan　has　e　and　is　not　like　the　aslan　we　have　believed　in　and　　longed　for？　it　is　as　if　the　sun　rose　one　day　and　were　a　black　sun。鈥�

〃i　know；〃　said　jewel。　〃or　as　if　you　drank　water　and　it　were　dry　water。　you　　are　in　the　right；　sire。　this　is　the　end　of　all　things。　let　us　go　and　give　ourselves　　up。鈥�

〃there　is　no　need　for　both　of　us　to　go。鈥�

〃if　ever　we　loved　one　another；　let　me　go　with　you　now；〃　said　the　unicorn。　　〃if　you　are　dead　and　if　aslan　is　not　aslan；　what　life　is　left　for　me？鈥�

they　turned　and　walked　back　together；　shedding　bitter　tears。

as　soon　as　they　came　to　the　place　where　the　work　was　going　on　the　　calormenes　raised　a　cry　and　came　towards　them　with　their　weapons　in　hand。　but　the　king　held　out　　his　sword　with　the　hilt　towards　them　and　said：　　〃i　who　was　king　of　narnia　and　am　now　a　dishonoured　knight　give　myself　up　to　　the　justice　of　aslan。　bring　me　before　him。鈥�

〃and　i　give　myself　up　too；〃　said　jewel。

then　the　dark　men　came　round　them　in　a　thick　crowd；　smelling　of　garlic　and　　onions；　their　white　eyes　flashing　dreadfully　in　their　brown　faces。　they　put　a　rope　halter　　round　jewels　neck。　they　took　the　kings　sword　away　and　tied　his　hands　behind　his　back。　　one　of　the　calormenes；　who　had　a　helmet　instead　of　a　turban　and　seemed　to　be　in　　mand；　snatched　the　gold　circlet　off　tirians　head　and　hastily　put　it　away　　somewhere　among　his　clothes。　they　led　the　two　prisoners　uphill　to　a　place　where　there　was　a　big　　clearing。　and　this　was　what　the　prisoners　saw。　　　at　the　centre　of　the　clearing；　which　was　　also　the　highest　point　of　the　hill；　there　was　a　little　hut　like　a　stable；　with　a　　thatched　roof。　its　door　was　shut。　on　the　grass　in　front　of　the　door　there　sat　an　ape。　tirian　and　　jewel；　who　had　been　expecting　to　see　aslan　and　had　heard　nothing　about　an　ape　yet；　were　　very　bewildered　when　they　saw　it。　the　ape　was　of　course　shift　himself；　but　he　　looked　ten　times　uglier　than　when　he　lived　by　caldron　pool；　for　he　was　now　dress…　ed　　up。　he　was　wearing　a　scarlet　jacket　which　did　not　fit　him　very　well；　having　been　made　　for　a　dwarf。

he　had　jewelled　slippers　on　his　hind　paws　which　would　not　stay　on　properly　　because；　as　you　know；　the　hind　paws　of　an　ape　are　really　like　hands。　he　wore　what　　seemed　to　be　a　paper　crown　on　his　head。　there　was　a　great　pile　of　nuts　beside　him　and　he　　kept　cracking　nuts　with　his　jaws　and　spitting　out　the　shells。　and　he　also　kept　on　pulling　　up　the　scarlet　jacket　to　scratch　himself。　a　great　number　of　talking　beasts　stood　facing　　him；　and　nearly　every　face　in　that　crowd　looked　miserably　worried　and　bewildered。　when　they　　saw　who　the　prisoners　were　they　all　groaned　and　whimpered。

〃o　lord　shift；　mouthpiece　of　aslan；〃　said　the　chief　calormene。　〃we　bring　　you　prisoners。

by　our　skill　and　courage　and　by　the　permission　of　the　great　god　tash　we　　have　taken　alive　these　two　desperate　murderers。鈥�

〃give　me　that　mans　sword；〃　said　the　ape。　so　they　took　the　kings　sword　and　　handed　it；　with　the　sword…belt　and　all；　to　the　monkey。　and　he　hung　it　round　his　own　　neck：　and　it　made　h