the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第7章

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ew　out　a　long　mail　shirt　of　a　curious　pattern　and　flashed　it　before　　the　childrens　eyes。

〃thats　funny…looking　mail；　sire；〃　said　eustace。

〃aye；　lad；〃　said　tirian。　〃no　narnian　dwarf　smithied　that。　tis　mail　of　　calormen；　outlandish　gear。　i　have　ever　kept　a　few　suits　of　it　in　readiness；　for　i　　never　knew　when　i　or　　

my　friends　might　have　reason　to　walk　unseen　in　the　tisrocs　land。　and　look　　on　this　stone　bottle。　in　this　there　is　a　juice　which；　when　we　have　rubbed　it　on　our　hands　　and　faces；　will　make　us　brown　as　calormenes。鈥�

〃oh　hurrah！〃　said　jill。　〃disguise！　i　love　disguises。鈥�

tirian　showed　them　how　to　pour　out　a　little　of　the　juice　into　the　palms　of　　their　hands　and　then　rub　it　well　over　their　faces　and　necks；　right　down　to　the　shoulders；　　and　then　on　their　hands；　right　up　to　the　elbows。　he　did　the　same　himself。

〃after　this　has　hardened　on　us；〃　he　said；　〃we　may　wash　in　water　and　it　will　　not　change。

nothing　but　oil　and　ashes　will　make　us　white　narnians　again。　and　now；　sweet　　jill；　let　us　go　see　how　this　mail　shirt　bees　you。　tis　something　too　long；　yet　not　so　　much　as　i　feared。　doubtless　it　belonged　to　a　page　in　the　train　of　one　of　their　　tarkaans。鈥�

after　the　mail　shirts　they　put　on　calormene　helmets；　which　are　little　round　　ones　fitting　tight　to　the　head　and　having　a　spike　on　top。　then　tirian　took　long　rolls　of　　some　white　stuff　out　of　the　locker　and　wound　them　over　the　helmets　till　they　became　　turbans：　but　the　little　steel　spike　still　stuck　up　in　the　middle。　he　and　eustace　took　curved　　calormene　swords　and　little　round　shields。　there　was　no　sword　light　enough　for　jill；　　but　he　gave　her　a　long；　straight　hunting　knife　which　might　do　for　a　sword　at　a　pinch。

〃hast　any　skill　with　the　bow；　maiden？〃　said　tirian。

〃nothing　worth　talking　of；〃　said　jill；　blushing。　〃scrubbs　not　bad。鈥�

〃dont　you　believe　her；　sire；〃　said　eustace。　〃weve　both　been　practising　　archery　ever　since　we　got　back　from　narnia　last　time；　and　shes　about　as　good　as　me　now。　　not　that　either　of　us　is　much。鈥�

then　tirian　gave　jill　a　bow　and　a　quiver　full　of　arrows。　the　next　business　　was　to　light　a　fire；　for　inside　that　tower　it　still　felt　more　like　a　cave　than　like　　anything　indoors　and　set　one　shivering。　but　they　got　warm　gathering　wood　…　the　sun　was　now　at　its　　highest　…　and　once　the　blaze　was　roaring　up　the　chimney　the　place　began　to　look　cheerful。　　dinner　was；　however；　a　dull　meal；　for　the　best　they　could　do　was　to　pound　up　some　of　　the　hard　biscuit　which　they　found　in　a　locker　and　pour　it　into　boiling　water；　with　salt；　so　　as　to　make　a　kind　of　porridge。　and　of　course　there　was　nothing　to　drink　but　water。

〃i　wish　wed　brought　a　packet　of　tea；〃　said　jill。

〃or　a　tin　of　cocoa；〃　said　eustace。

〃a　firkin　or　so　of　good　wine　in　each　of　these　towers　would　not　have　been　　amiss；〃　said　tirian。

ww锛枫��



CHAPTER　SIX

灏�*璇�**t*xt**澶�*鍫�
a　good　nights　work　　about　four　hours　later　tirian　flung　himself　into　one　of　the　bunks　to　snatch　　a　little　sleep。　the　two　children　were　already　snoring：　he　had　made　them　go　to　bed　　before　he　did　because　they　would　have　to　be　up　most　of　the　night　and　he　knew　that　at　　their　age　they　couldnt　do　without　sleep。　also；　he　had　tired　them　out。　first　he　had　given　　jill　some　practice　in　archery　and　found　that；　though　not　up　to　narnian　standards；　she　　was　really　not　too　bad。　indeed　she　had　succeeded　in　shooting　a　rabbit　（not　a　talking　　rabbit；　of　course：　there　are　lots　of　the　ordinary　kind　about　in　western　narnia）　and　it　was　　already　skinned；　cleaned；　and　hanging　up。　he　had　found　that　both　the　children　knew　all　about　　this　chilly　and　smelly　job；　they　had　learned　that　kind　of　thing　on　their　great　journey　　through　giant…land　in　the　days　of　prince　rilian。　then　he　had　tried　to　teach　eustace　how　　to　use　his　sword　and　shield。　eustace　had　learned　quite　a　lot　about　sword　fighting　on　　his　earlier　adventures　but　that　had　been　all　with　a　straight　narnian　sword。　he　had　　never　handled　a　curved　calormene　scimitar　and　that　made　it　hard；　for　many　of　the　strokes　　are　quite　different　and　some　of　the　habits　he　had　learned　with　the　long　sword　had　now　　to　be　unlearned　again。　but　tirian　found　that　he　had　a　good　eye　and　was　very　quick　　on　his　feet。

he　was　surprised　at　the　strength　of　both　children：　in　fact　they　both　seemed　　to　be　already　much　stronger　and　bigger　and　more　grown…up　than　they　had　been　when　he　first　　met　them　a　few　hours　ago。　it　is　one　of　the　effects　which　narnian　air　often　has　on　　visitors　from　our　world。

all　three　of　them　agreed　that　the　very　first　thing　they　must　do　was　to　go　　back　to　stable　hill　and　try　to　rescue　jewel　the　unicorn。　after　that；　if　they　succeeded；　　they　would　try　to　get　away　eastward　and　meet　the　little　army　which　roonwit　the　centaur　would　　be　bringing　from　cair　paravel。

an　experienced　warrior　and　huntsman　like　tirian　can　always　wake　up　at　the　　time　he　wants。　so　he　gave　himself　till　nine　oclock　that　night　and　then　put　all　　worries　out　of　his　head　and　fell　asleep　at　once。　it　seemed　only　a　moment　later　when　he　woke　　but　he　knew　by　the　light　and　the　very　feel　of　things　that　he　had　timed　his　sleep　　exactly。　he　got　up；　put　on　his　helmet…and…turban　（he　had　slept　in　his　mail　shirt）；　and　then　shook　　the　other　two　till　they　woke　up。　they　looked；　to　tell　the　truth；　very　grey　and　dismal　as　they　　climbed　out　of　their　bunks　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　yawning。

〃now；〃　said　tirian；　〃we　go　due　north　from　here　…　by　good　fortune　tis　a　　starry　night　…　and　it　will　be　much　shorter　than　our　journey　this　morning；　for　then　we　went　　round…about　but　now　we　shall　go　straight。　if　we　are　challenged；　then　do　you　two　hold　your　　peace　and　i　will　do　my　best　to　talk　like　a　curst；　cruel；　proud　lord　of　calormen。　if　i　　draw　my　sword　then　thou；　eustace；　must　do　likewise　and　let　jill　leap　behind　us　and　stand　　with　an　arrow　on　the　string。　but　if　i　cry　‘home；　then　fly　for　the　tower　both　of　you。　and　　let　none　try　to　fight　on　…　not　even　one　stroke　after　i　have　given　the　retreat：　such　false　　valour　has　spoiled　many　notable　plans　in　the　wars。　and　now；　friends；　in　the　name　of　aslan　let　　us　go　forward。鈥�

out　they　went　into　the　cold　night。　all　the　great　northern　stars　were　　burning　above　the　tree…tops。　the　north…star　of　that　world　is　called　the　spear…head：　it　is　　brighter　than　our　pole　star。

for　a　time　they　could　go　straight　towards　the　spear…head　but　presently　they　　came　to　a　dense　thicket　so　that　they　had　to　go　out　of　their　course　to　get　round　it。　　and　after　that　…for　they　were　still　overshadowed　by　branches　…　it　was　hard　to　pick　up　their　　bearings。　it　was　jill　who　set　them　right　again：　she　had　been　an　excellent　guide　in　england。　　and　of　course　she　knew　her　narnian　stars　perfectly；　having　travelled　so　much　in　the　wild　　northern　lands；　and　could　work　out　the　direction　from　other　stars　even　when　the　　spear…head　was　hidden。　as　soon　as　tirian　saw　that　she　was　the　best　pathfinder　of　the　three　　of　them　he　put　her　in　front。　and　then　he　was　astonished　to　find　how　silently　and　almost　　invisibly　she　glided　on　before　them。

〃by　the　mane！〃　he　whispered　to　eustace。　〃this　girl　is　a　wondrous　wood…maid。　　if　she　had　dryads　blood　in　her　she　could　scarce　do　it　better。鈥�

〃shes　so　small；　thats　what　helps；〃　whispered　eustace。　but　jill　from　in　　front　said：　〃s…s…s…h；　less　noise。鈥�

all　round　them　the　wood　was　very　quiet。　indeed　it　was　far　too　quiet。　on　an　　ordinary　narnia　night　there　ought　to　have　been　noises　…　an　occasional　cheery　　〃goodnight〃　from　a　hedgehog；　the　cry　of　an　owl　overhead；　perhaps　a　flute　in　the　distance　to　　tell　of　fauns　dancing；　or　some　throbbing；　hammering　noises　from　dwarfs　underground。　all　　that　was　silenced：　gloom　and　fear　reigned　over　narnia。

after　a　time　they　began　to　go　steeply　uphill　and　the　trees　grew　further　　apart。　tirian　could　dimly　make　out　the　wellknown　hill…top　and　the　stable。　jill　was　now　going　　with　more　and　more　caution：　she　kept　on　making　signs　to　the　others　with　her　hand　to　do　　the　same。　then　she　stopped　dead　still　and　tirian　saw　her　gradually　sink　down　into　the　　grass　and　disappear　without　a　sound。　a　moment　later　she　rose　again；　put　her　mouth　　close　to　tirians　ear；　and　said　in　the　lowest　possible　whisper；　〃get　down。　thee　better。〃　she　　said　thee　for　see　not　because　she　had　a　lisp　but　because　she　knew　the　hissing　letter　s　is　　the　part　of　a　whisper　most　likely　to　be　overheard。　tirian　at　once　lay　down；　almost　as　　silently　as　jill；　but　not　quite；　for　he　was　heavier　and　older。　and　once　they　were　down；　he　　saw　how　from　that　position　you　could　see　the　edge　of　the　hill　sharp　against　the　star…　strewn　sky。　two　black　shapes　rose　against　it：　one　was　the　stable；　and　the　other；　a　few　feet　　in　front　of　it；　was　a　calormene　sentry。　he　was　keeping　very　ill　watch：　not　walking　or　even　　standing　but　sitting　with　his　spear　over　his　shoulder　and　his　chin　on　his　chest。　〃well　　done；〃　said　tirian　to　jill。　she　had　shown　him　exactly　what　he　needed　to　know。

they　got　up　and　tirian　now　took　the　lead。　very　slowly；　hardly　daring　to　　breathe；　they　made　their　way　up　to　a　little　clump　of　trees　which　was　not　more　than　forty　　feet　away　from　the　sentinel。

〃wait　here　till　i　e　again；〃　he　whispered　to　the　other　two。　〃if　i　　miscarry；　fly。〃　then　he　sauntered　out　boldly　in　full　view　of　the　enemy。　the　man　started　when　he　saw　　him　and　was　just　going　to　jump　to　his　feet：　he　was　afraid　tirian　might　be　one　of　　his　own　officers　and　that　he　would　get　into　trouble　for　sitting　down。　but　before　he　could　　get　up　tirian　had　dropped　on　one　knee　beside　him；　saying：　　〃art　thou　a　warrior　of　the　tisrocs；　may　he　live　for　ever？　it　cheers　my　　heart　to　meet　thee　among　all　these　beasts　and　devils　of　narnians。　give　me　thy　hand；　friend。鈥�

before　he　well　knew　what　was　happening　the　calormene　sentry　found　his　right　　hand　seized　in　a　mighty　grip。　next　instant　someone　was　kneeling　on　his　legs　and　　a　dagger　was　pressed　against　his　neck。

〃one　noise　and　thou　art　dead；〃　said　tirian　in　his　ear。　〃tell　me　where　the　　unicorn　is　and　thou　shalt　live。鈥�

〃b　…　behind　the　stable；　o　my　master；〃　stammered　the　unfortunate　man。

〃good。　rise　up　and　lead　me　to　him。鈥�

as　the　man　got　up　the　point　of　the　dagger　never　left　his　neck。　it　only　　travelled　round　（cold　and　rather　ticklish）　as　tirian　got　behind　him　and　settled　it　at　a　　convenient　place　under　his　ear。　trembling　he　went　round　to　the　back　of　the　stable。

though　it　was　dark　tirian　could　see　the　white　shape　of　jewel　at　once。

〃hush！〃　he　said。　〃no；　do　not　neigh。　yes；　jewel；　it　is　i。　how　have　they　tied　　thee？鈥�

〃hobbled　by　all　four　legs　and　tied　with　a　bridle　to　a　ring　in　the　stable　　wall；〃　came　jewels　voice。

〃stand　here；　sentry；　with　your　back　to　the　wall。　so。　now；　jewel：　set　the　　point　of　your　horn　against　this　calormenes　breast。鈥�

〃with　a　good　will；　sire；〃　said　jewel。

〃if　he　moves；　rive　him　to　the　heart。〃　then　in　a　few　seconds　tirian　cut　the　　ropes。　with　the　remains　of　them　he　bound　the　sentry　hand　and　foot。　finally　he　made　him　open　　his　mouth；　stuffed　it　full　of　grass　and　tied　him　up　from　scalp　to　chin　so　that　he　　could　make　no　noise；　lowered　the　man　into　a　sitting　position　and　set　him　against　the　wall。

〃i　have　done　thee　some　discourtesy；　soldier；〃　said　tirian。　〃but　such　was　my　　need。　if　we　meet　again　i　may　happen　to　do　thee　a　better　turn。　now；　jewel；　let　us　go　　softly。鈥�

he　put　his　left　arm　round