the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


him　look　sillier　than　ever。

〃well　see　about　those　two　later；〃　said　the　ape；　spitting　out　a　shell　in　　the　direction　of　the　two　prisoners。　〃i　got　some　other　business　first。　they　can　wait。　now　listen　　to　me；　everyone。　the　first　thing　i　want　to　say　is　about　nuts。　wheres　that　head　　squirrel　got　to？鈥�

〃here；　sir；〃　said　a　red　squirrel；　ing　forward　and　making　a　nervous　　little　bow。

〃oh　you　are；　are　you？〃　said　the　ape　with　a　nasty　look。　〃now　attend　to　me。　i　　want　…　i　mean；　aslan　wants　…　some　more　nuts。　these　youve　brought　arent　anything　　like　enough。

you　must　bring　some　more；　do　you　hear？　twice　as　many。　and　theyve　got　to　be　　here　by　sunset　tomorrow；　and　there　mustnt　be　any　bad　ones　or　any　small　ones　among　　them。鈥�

a　murmur　of　dismay　ran　through　the　other　squirrels；　and　the　head　squirrel　　plucked　up　courage　to　say：　　〃please；　would　aslan　himself　speak　to　us　about　it？　if　we　might　be　allowed　　to　see　him　…鈥�

〃well　you　wont；〃　said　the　ape。　〃he　may　be　very　kind　（though　its　a　lot　　more　than　most　of　you　deserve）　and　e　out　for　a　few　minutes　tonight。　then　you　can　all　　have　a　look　at　him。　but　he　will　not　have　you　all　crowding　round　him　and　pestering　him　with　　questions。

anything　you　want　to　say　to　him　will　be　passed　on　through　me：　if　i　think　　its　worth　bothering　him　about。　in　the　meantime　all　you　squirrels　had　better　go　and　　see　about　the　nuts。　and　make　sure　they　are　here　by　tomorrow　evening　or；　my　word！　youll　　catch　it。鈥�

the　poor　squirrels　all　scampered　away　as　if　a　dog　were　after　them。　this　new　　order　was　terrible　news　for　them。　the　nuts　they　had　carefully　hoarded　for　the　winter　　had　nearly　all　been　eaten　by　now；　and　of　the　few　that　were　left　they　had　already　given　the　　ape　far　more　than　they　could　spare。

then　a　deep　voice　…　it　belonged　to　a　great　tusked　and　shaggy　boar　…　spoke　　from　another　part　of　the　crowd。

〃but　why　cant　we　see　aslan　properly　and　talk　to　him？〃　it　said。　〃when　he　　used　to　appear　in　narnia　in　the　old　days　everyone　could　talk　to　him　face　to　face。鈥�

〃dont　you　believe　it；〃　said　the　ape。　〃and　even　if　it　was　true；　times　have　　changed。　aslan　says　hes　been　far　too　soft　with　you　before；　do　you　see？　well；　he　isnt　　going　to　be　soft　any　more。　hes　going　to　lick　you　into　shape　this　time。　hell　teach　you　to　think　　hes　a　tame　lion！鈥�

a　low　moaning　and　whimpering　was　heard　among　the　beasts；　and；　after　that；　a　　dead　silence　which　was　more　miserable　still。

〃and　now　theres　another　thing　you　got　to　learn；〃　said　the　ape。　〃i　hear　　some　of　you　are　saying　im　an　ape。　well；　im　not。　im　a　man。　if　i　look　like　an　ape；　thats　　because　im　so　very　old：　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　years　old。　and　its　because　im　so　old　　that　im　so　wise。　and　its　because　im　so　wise　that　im　the　only　one　aslan　is　ever　　going　to　speak　to。

he　cant　be　bothered　talking　to　a　lot　of　stupid　animals。　hell　tell　me　what　　youve　got　to　do；　and　ill　tell　the　rest　of　you。　and　take　my　advice；　and　see　you　do　it　in　　double　quick　time；　for　he　doesnt　mean　to　stand　any　nonsense。鈥�

there　was　a　dead　silence　except　for　the　noise　of　a　very　young　badger　crying　　and　its　mother　trying　to　make　it　keep　quiet。

〃and　now　heres　another　thing；〃　the　ape　went　on；　fitting　a　fresh　nut　into　　its　cheek；　〃i　hear　some　of　the　horses　are　saying；　lets　hurry　up　and　get　this　job　of　carting　　timber　over　as　quickly　as　we　can；　and　then　well　be　free　again。　well；　you　can　get　that　　idea　out　of　your　heads　at　once。　and　not　only　the　horses　either。　everybody　who　can　work　is　　going　to　be　made　to　work　in　future。　aslan　has　it　all　settled　with　the　king　of　calormen　　…　the　tisroc；　as　our　dark　faced　friends　the　calormenes　call　him。　all　you　horses　and　bulls　　and　donkeys　are　to　be　sent　down　into　calormen　to　work　for　your　living　…　pulling　and　　carrying　the　way　horses　and　such…like　do　in　other　countries。　and　all　you　digging　animals　　like　moles　and　rabbits　and　dwarfs　are　going　down　to　work　in　the　tisrocs　mines。　and　…鈥�

〃no；　no；　no；〃　howled　the　beasts。　〃it　cant　be　true。　aslan　would　never　sell　　us　into　slavery　to　the　king　of　calormen。鈥�

〃none　of　that！　hold　your　noise！〃　said　the　ape　with　a　snarl。　〃who　said　　anything　about　slavery？　you　wont　be　slaves。　youll　be　paid　…　very　good　wages　too。　that　is　　to　say；　your　pay　will　be　paid　into　aslans　treasury　and　he　will　use　it　all　for　　everybodys　good。〃　then　he　glanced；　and　almost　winked；　at　the　chief　calormene。　the　calormene　bowed　　and　replied；　in　the　pompous　calormene　way：　　〃most　sapient　mouthpiece　of　aslan；　the　tisroc　（may　he…live…forever）　is　　wholly　of　one　mind　with　your　lordship　in　this　judicious　plan。鈥�

〃there！　you　see！〃　said　the　ape。　〃its　all　arranged。　and　all　for　your　own　　good。　well　be　able；　with　the　money　you　earn；　to　make　narnia　a　country　worth　living　in。　　therell　be　oranges　and　bananas　pouring　in　…　and　roads　and　big　cities　and　schools　and　　offices　and　whips　and　muzzles　and　saddles　and　cages　and　kennels　and　prisons　…　oh；　　everything。鈥�

〃but　we　dont　want　all　those　things；〃　said　an　old　bear。　〃we　want　to　be　　free。　and　we　want　to　hear　aslan　speak　himself。鈥�

〃now　dont　you　start　arguing；〃　said　the　ape；　〃for　its　a　thing　i　wont　　stand。　im　a　man：　youre　only　a　fat；　stupid　old　bear。　what　do　you　know　about　freedom？　you　　think　freedom　means　doing　what　you　like。　well；　youre　wrong。　that　isnt　true　freedom。　　true　freedom　means　doing　what　i　tell　you。鈥�

〃h…n…n…h；〃　grunted　the　bear　and　scratched　its　head；　it　found　this　sort　of　　thing　hard　to　understand。

〃please；　please；〃　said　the　high　voice　of　a　woolly　lamb；　who　was　so　young　　that　everyone　was　surprised　he　dared　to　speak　at　all。

〃what　is　it　now？〃　said　the　ape。　〃be　quick。鈥�

〃please；〃　said　the　lamb；　〃i　cant　understand。　what　have　we　to　do　with　the　　calormenes？

we　belong　to　aslan。　they　belong　to　tash。　they　have　a　god　called　tash。　they　　say　he　has　four　arms　and　the　head　of　a　vulture。　they　kill　men　on　his　altar。　i　dont　　believe　theres　any　such　person　as　tash。　but　if　there　was；　how　could　aslan　be　friends　with　　him？鈥�

all　the　animals　cocked　their　heads　sideways　and　all　their　bright　eyes　　flashed　towards　the　ape。　they　knew　it　was　the　best　question　anyone　had　asked　yet。

the　ape　jumped　up　and　spat　at　the　lamb。

〃baby！〃　he　hissed。　〃silly　little　bleater！　go　home　to　your　mother　and　drink　　milk。　what　do　you　understand　of　such　things？　but　the　others；　listen。　tash　is　only　another　　name　for　aslan。　all　that　old　idea　of　us　being　right　and　the　calormenes　wrong　is　　silly。　we　know　better　now。　the　calormenes　use　different　words　but　we　all　mean　the　same　　thing。　tash　and　aslan　are　only　two　different　names　for　you　know　who。　thats　why　there　　can　never　be　any　quarrel　between　them。　get　that　into　your　heads；　you　stupid　brutes。　　tash　is　aslan：　aslan　is　tash。鈥�

you　know　how　sad　your　own　dogs　face　can　look　sometimes。　think　of　that　and　　then　think　of　all　the　faces　of　those　talking　beasts　…　all　those　honest；　humble；　　bewildered　birds；　bears；　badgers；　rabbits；　moles；　and　mice　…　all　far　sadder　than　that。　every　　tail　was　down；　every　whisker　drooped。　it　would　have　broken　your　heart　with　very　pity　to　　see　their　faces。

there　was　only　one　who　did　not　look　at　all　unhappy。

it　was　a　ginger　cat　…　a　great　big　tom　in　the　prime　of　life　…　who　sat　bolt　　upright　with　his　tail　curled　round　his　toes；　in　the　very　front　row　of　all　the　beasts。　he　had　　been　staring　hard　at　the　ape　and　the　calormene　captain　all　the　time　and　had　never　once　　blinked　his　eyes。

〃excuse　me；〃　said　the　cat　very　politely；　〃but　this　interests　me。　does　your　　friend　from　calormen　say　the　same？鈥�

〃assuredly；〃　said　the　calormene。　〃the　enlightened　ape　…　man；　i　mean　…　is　in　　the　right。

aslan　means　neither　less　nor　more　than　tash。鈥�

〃especially；　aslan　means　no　more　than　tash？〃　suggested　the　cat。

〃no　more　at　all；〃　said　the　calormene；　looking　the　cat　straight　in　the　face。

〃is　that　good　enough　for　you；　ginger？〃　said　the　ape。

〃oh　certainly；〃　said　ginger　coolly。　〃thank　you　very　much。　i　only　wanted　to　　be　quite　clear。　i　think　i　am　beginning　to　understand。鈥�

up　till　now　the　king　and　jewel　had　said　nothing：　they　were　waiting　until　　the　ape　should　bid　them　speak；　for　they　thought　it　was　no　use　interrupting。　but　now；　as　　tirian　looked　round　on　the　miserable　faces　of　the　narnians；　and　saw　how　they　would　all　　believe　that　aslan　and　tash　were　one　and　the　same；　he　could　bear　it　no　longer。

〃ape；〃　he　cried　with　a　great　voice；　〃you　lie　damnably。　you　lie　like　a　　calormene。　you　lie　like　an　ape。鈥�

he　meant　to　go　on　and　ask　how　the　terrible　god　tash　who　fed　on　the　blood　of　　his　people　could　possibly　be　the　same　as　the　good　lion　by　whose　blood　all　narnia　was　　saved。　if　he　had　been　allowed　to　speak；　the　rule　of　the　ape　might　have　ended　that　day；　　the　beasts　might　have　seen　the　truth　and　thrown　the　ape　down。　but　before　he　could　say　　another　word　two　calormenes　struck　him　in　the　mouth　with　all　their　force；　and　a　　third；　from　behind；　kicked　his　feet　from　under　him。　and　as　he　fell；　the　ape　squealed　in　　rage　and　terror。

〃take　him　away。　take　him　away。　take　him　where　he　cannot　hear　us；　nor　we　　hear　him。

there　tie　him　to　a　tree。　i　will　…　i　mean；　aslan　will　…　do　justice　on　him　　later。鈥�

w锛穡锛氾紵



CHAPTER　FOUR

锝炲皬　　璇磘　　xt　澶�；鍫�
what　happened　that　night

the　king　was　so　dizzy　from　being　knocked　down　that　he　hardly　knew　what　was　happening　until　the　calormenes　untied　his　wrists　and　put　his　arms　straight　　down　by　his　sides　and　set　him　with　his　back　against　an　ash　tree。　then　they　bound　ropes　　round　his　ankles　and　his　knees　and　his　waist　and　his　chest　and　left　him　there。　what　　worried　him　worst　at　the　moment　…　for　it　is　often　little　things　that　are　hardest　to　　stand　…　was　that　his　lip　was　bleeding　where　they　had　hit　him　and　he　couldnt　wipe　the　little　trickle　　of　blood　away　although　it　tickled　him。

from　where　he　was　he　could　still　see　the　little　stable　on　the　top　of　the　　hill　and　the　ape　sitting　in　front　of　it。　he　could　just　hear　the　apes　voice　still　going　on　　and；　every　now　and　then；　some　answer　from　the　crowd；　but　he　could　not　make　out　the　words。

〃i　wonder　what　theyve　done　to　jewel；〃　thought　the　king。

presently　the　crowd　of　beasts　broke　up　and　began　going　away　in　different　　directions。

some　passed　close　to　tirian。　they　looked　at　him　as　if　they　were　both　　frightened　and　sorry　to　see　him　tied　up　but　none　of　them　spoke。　soon　they　had　all　gone　and　　there　was　silence　in　the　wood。　then　hours　and　hours　went　past　and　tirian　became　first　　very　thirsty　and　then　very　hungry；　and　as　the　afternoon　dragged　on　and　turned　into　　evening；　he　became　cold　too。　his　back　was　very　sore。　the　sun　went　down　and　it　began　to　　be　twilight。

when　it　was　almost　dark　tirian　heard　a　light　pitter…patter　of　feet　and　saw　　some　small　creatures　ing　towards　him。　the　three　on　the　left　were　mice；　and　there　　was　a　rabbit　in　the　middle：　on　the　right　were　two　moles。　both　these　were　carrying　little　　bags　on　their　backs　which　gave　them　a　curious　look　in　the　dark　so　that　at　first　he　　wondered　what　kind　of　beasts　they　were。　then；　in　a　moment；　they　were　all　standing　up　on　their　　hind　legs；　laying　their　cool　paws　on　his　knees　and　giving　his　knees　snuffly　animal　　kisses。　（they　could　reach　his　knees　because　narnian　talking　beasts　of　that　sort　are　　bigger　than　the　dumb　beasts　of　the　same　kind　in　england。）

〃lord　king！　dear　lord　king；〃　said　their　shrill　voices；　〃we　are　so　sorry　for　　you。　we　da