the lion, the witch and the war_c·s·刘易斯-第14章

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　last　night；　and　was　at　　that　moment　with　aslan。　as　soon　as　they　had　breakfasted4　they　all　went　out；　and　there　　they　saw　aslan　and　edmund　walking　together　in　the　dewy　grass；　apart　from　the　rest　of　the　　court。　there　is　no　need　to　tell　you　（and　no　one　ever　heard）　what　aslan　was　saying；　but　it　　was　a　conversation　which　edmund　never　forgot。　as　the　others　drew　nearer　aslan　　turned　to　meet　them；　bringing　edmund　with　him。

〃here　is　your　brother；〃　he　said；　〃and　…　there　is　no　need　to　talk　to　him　　about　what　is　past。鈥�

edmund　shook　hands　with　each　of　the　others　and　said　to　each　of　them　in　　turn；　〃im　sorry；〃　and　everyone　said；　〃thats　all　right。〃　and　then　everyone　wanted　　very　hard　to　say　something　which　would　make　it　quite　clear　that　they　were　all　friends　with　　him　again　…something　ordinary　and　natural　…and　of　course　no　one　could　think　of　　anything　in　the　world　to　say。　but　before　they　had　time　to　feel　really　awkward　one　of　the　　leopards　approached　aslan　and　said；　　〃sire；　there　is　a　messenger　from　the　enemy　who　craves　audience。鈥�

〃let　him　approach；〃　said　aslan。

the　leopard　went　away　and　soon　returned　leading　the　witchs　dwarf。

〃what　is　your　message；　son　of　earth？〃　asked　aslan。

〃the　queen　of　narnia　and　empress　of　the　lone　islands　desires　a　safe　conduct　　to　e　and　speak　with　you；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃on　a　matter　which　is　as　much　to　your　　advantage　as　to　hers。鈥�

〃queen　of　narnia；　indeed！〃　said　mr　beaver。　〃of　all　the　cheek　…鈥�

〃peace；　beaver；〃　said　aslan。　〃all　names　will　soon　be　restored　to　their　　proper　owners。　in　the　meantime　we　will　not　dispute　about　them。　tell　your　mistress；　son　of　　earth；　that　i　grant　her　safe　conduct　on　condition　that　she　leaves　her　wand　behind　her　at　　that　great　oak。鈥�

this　was　agreed　to　and　two　leopards　went　back　with　the　dwarf　to　see　that　　the　conditions　were　properly　carried　out。　〃but　supposing　she　turns　the　two　leopards　into　　stone？鈥�

whispered　lucy　to　peter。　i　think　the　same　idea　had　occurred　to　the　leopards　　themselves；　at　any　rate；　as　they　walked　off　their　fur　was　all　standing　up　on　their　　backs　and　their　tails　were　bristling　…　like　a　cats　when　it　sees　a　strange　dog。

〃itll　be　all　right；〃　whispered　peter　in　reply。　〃he　wouldnt　send　them　if　　it　werent。鈥�

a　few　minutes　later　the　witch　herself　walked　out　on　to　the　top　of　the　hill　　and　came　straight　across　and　stood　before　aslan。　the　three　children　who　had　not　seen　　her　before　　

felt　shudders　running　down　their　backs　at　the　sight　of　her　face；　and　there　　were　low　growls　among　all　the　animals　present。　though　it　was　bright　sunshine　everyone　felt　　suddenly　cold。　the　only　two　people　present　who　seemed　to　be　quite　at　their　ease　were　　aslan　and　the　witch　herself。　it　was　the　oddest　thing　to　see　those　two　faces　…　the　　golden　face　and　the　dead…white　face　so　close　together。　not　that　the　witch　looked　aslan　exactly　　in　his　eyes；　mrs　beaver　particularly　noticed　this。

〃you　have　a　traitor　there；　aslan；〃　said　the　witch。　of　course　everyone　　present　knew　that　she　meant　edmund。　but　edmund　had　got　past　thinking　about　himself　after　all　　hed　been　through　and　after　the　talk　hed　had　that　morning。　he　just　went　on　looking　　at　aslan。　it　didnt　seem　to　matter　what　the　witch　said。

〃well；〃　said　aslan。　〃his　offence　was　not　against　you。鈥�

〃have　you　forgotten　the　deep　magic？〃　asked　the　witch。

〃let　us　say　i　have　forgotten　it；〃　answered　aslan　gravely。　〃tell　us　of　this　　deep　magic。鈥�

〃tell　you？〃　said　the　witch；　her　voice　growing　suddenly　shriller。　〃tell　you　　what　is　written　on　that　very　table　of　stone　which　stands　beside　us？　tell　you　what　is　　written　in　letters　deep　as　a　spear　is　long　on　the　firestones　on　the　secret　hill？　tell　you　what　　is　engraved　on　the　sceptre　of　the　emperor…beyond…the…sea？　you　at　least　know　the　magic　　which　the　emperor　put　into　narnia　at　the　very　beginning。　you　know　that　every　traitor　　belongs　to　me　as　my　lawful　prey　and　that　for　every　treachery　i　have　a　right　to　a　kill。鈥�

〃oh；〃　said　mr　beaver。　〃so　thats　how　you　came　to　imagine　yourself　a　queen　…　　because　you　were　the　emperors　hangman。　i　see。鈥�

〃peace；　beaver；〃　said　aslan；　with　a　very　low　growl。　〃and　so；〃　continued　the　　witch；　〃that　human　creature　is　mine。　his　life　is　forfeit　to　me。　his　blood　is　my　　property。鈥�

〃e　and　take　it　then；〃　said　the　bull　with　the　mans　head　in　a　great　　bellowing　voice。

〃fool；〃　said　the　witch　with　a　savage　smile　that　was　almost　a　snarl；　〃do　you　　really　think　your　master　can　rob　me　of　my　rights　by　mere　force？　he　knows　the　deep　magic　　better　than　that。　he　knows　that　unless　i　have　blood　as　the　law　says　all　narnia　　will　be　overturned　and　perish　in　fire　and　water。鈥�

〃it　is　very　true；〃　said　aslan；　〃i　do　not　deny　it。鈥�

〃oh；　aslan！〃　whispered　susan　in　the　lions　ear；　〃cant　we　…　i　mean；　you　　wont；　will　you？

cant　we　do　something　about　the　deep　magic？　isnt　there　something　you　can　　work　against　it？鈥�

〃work　against　the　emperors　magic？〃　said　aslan；　turning　to　her　with　　something　like　a　frown　on　his　face。　and　nobody　ever　made　that　suggestion　to　him　again。

edmund　was　on　the　other　side　of　aslan；　looking　all　the　time　at　aslans　　face。　he　felt　a　choking　feeling　and　wondered　if　he　ought　to　say　something；　but　a　moment　　later　he　felt　that　he　was　not　expected　to　do　anything　except　to　wait；　and　do　what　he　was　　told。

〃fall　back；　all　of　you；〃　said　aslan；　〃and　i　will　talk　to　the　witch　alone。鈥�

they　all　obeyed。　it　was　a　terrible　time　this　…　waiting　and　wondering　while　　the　lion　and　the　witch　talked　earnestly　together　in　low　voices。　lucy　said；　〃oh；　edmund！〃　　and　began　to　cry。　peter　stood　with　his　back　to　the　others　looking　out　at　the　distant　　sea。　the　beavers　stood　holding　each　others　paws　with　their　heads　bowed。　the　centaurs　　stamped　uneasily　with　their　hoofs。　but　everyone　became　perfectly　still　in　the　end；　so　that　　you　noticed　even　small　sounds　like　a　bumble…bee　flying　past；　or　the　birds　in　the　forest　down　　below　them；　or　the　wind　rustling　the　leaves。　and　still　the　talk　between　aslan　and　the　　white　witch　went　on。

at　last　they　heard　aslans　voice；　〃you　can　all　e　back；〃　he　said。　〃i　have　　settled　the　matter。　she　has　renounced　the　claim　on　your　brothers　blood。〃　and　all　over　　the　hill　there　was　a　noise　as　if　everyone　had　been　holding　their　breath　and　had　now　begun　　breathing　again；　and　then　a　murmur　of　talk。

the　witch　was　just　turning　away　with　a　look　of　fierce　joy　on　her　face　when　　she　stopped　and　said；　　〃but　how　do　i　know　this　promise　will　be　kept？鈥�

〃haa…a…arrh！〃　roared　aslan；　half　rising　from　his　throne；　and　his　great　　mouth　opened　wider　and　wider　and　the　roar　grew　louder　and　louder；　and　the　witch；　after　staring　　for　a　moment　with　her　lips　wide　apart；　picked　up　her　skirts　and　fairly　ran　for　her　life。

銆�ww銆�w銆�。銆�xia銆�oshu銆�otxt銆�m



CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

锝炲皬　　璇磘　　xt　澶�；鍫�
the　triumph　of　the　witch　　as　soon　as　the　witch　had　gone　aslan　said；　〃we　must　move　from　this　place　at　　once；　it　will　be　wanted　for　other　purposes。　we　shall　encamp　tonight　at　the　fords　of　　beruna。

of　course　everyone　was　dying　to　ask　him　how　he　had　arranged　matters　with　　the　witch；　but　his　face　was　stern　and　everyones　ears　were　still　ringing　with　the　　sound　of　his　roar　and　so　nobody　dared。

after　a　meal；　which　was　taken　in　the　open　air　on　the　hill…top　（for　the　sun　　had　got　strong　by　now　and　dried　the　grass）；　they　were　busy　for　a　while　taking　the　pavilion　　down　and　　

packing　things　up。　before　two　oclock　they　were　on　the　march　and　set　off　in　　a　northeasterly　direction；　walking　at　an　easy　pace　for　they　had　not　far　to　　go。

during　the　first　part　of　the　journey　aslan　explained　to　peter　his　plan　of　　campaign。　〃as　soon　as　she　has　finished　her　business　in　these　parts；〃　he　said；　〃the　witch　　and　her　crew　will　almost　certainly　fall　back　to　her　house　and　prepare　for　a　siege。　you　　may　or　may　not　be　able　to　cut　her　off　and　prevent　her　from　reaching　it。〃　　he　then　went　on　　to　outline　two　plans　of　battle　…　one　for　fighting　the　witch　and　her　people　in　the　wood　and　　another　for　assaulting　her　castle。　and　all　the　time　he　was　advising　peter　how　to　　conduct　the　operations；　saying　things　like；　〃you　must　put　your　centaurs　in　such　and　　such　a　place〃　or　〃you　must　post　scouts　to　see　that　she　doesnt　do　so…and…so；〃　till　at　last　　peter　said；　　〃but　you　will　be　there　yourself；　aslan。鈥�

〃i　can　give　you　no　promise　of　that；〃　answered　the　lion。　and　he　continued　　giving　peter　his　instructions。

for　the　last　part　of　the　journey　it　was　susan　and　lucy　who　saw　most　of　him。　　he　did　not　talk　very　much　and　seemed　to　them　to　be　sad。

it　was　still　afternoon　when　they　came　down　to　a　place　where　the　river　　valley　had　widened　out　and　the　river　was　broad　and　shallow。　this　was　the　fords　of　beruna　and　　aslan　gave　orders　to　halt　on　this　side　of　the　water。　but　peter　said；　　〃wouldnt　it　be　better　to　camp　on　the　far　side　…　for　fear　she　should　try　a　　night　attack　or　anything？鈥�

aslan；　who　seemed　to　have　been　thinking　about　something　else；　roused　　himself　with　a　shake　of　his　magnificent　mane　and　said；　〃eh？　whats　that？〃　peter　said　it　　all　over　again。

〃no；〃　said　aslan　in　a　dull　voice；　as　if　it　didnt　matter。　〃no。　she　will　not　　make　an　attack　to…night。〃　and　then　he　sighed　deeply。　but　presently　he　added；　〃all　the　same　　it　was　well　thought　of。　that　is　how　a　soldier　ought　to　think。　but　it　doesnt　really　　matter。〃　so　they　proceeded　to　pitch　their　camp。

aslans　mood　affected　everyone　that　evening。　peter　was　feeling　　unfortable　too　at　the　idea　of　fighting　the　battle　on　his　own；　the　news　that　aslan　might　not　be　　there　had　e　as　a　great　shock　to　him。　supper　that　evening　was　a　quiet　meal。　everyone　felt　　how　different　it　had　been　last　night　or　even　that　morning。　it　was　as　if　the　good　times；　　having　just　begun；　were　already　drawing　to　their　end。

this　feeling　affected　susan　so　much　that　she　couldnt　get　to　sleep　when　she　　went　to　bed。

and　after　she　had　lain　counting　sheep　and　turning　over　and　over　she　heard　　lucy　give　a　long　sigh　and　turn　over　just　beside　her　in　the　darkness。

〃cant　you　get　to　sleep　either？〃　said　susan。

〃no；〃　said　lucy。　〃i　thought　you　were　asleep。　i　say；　susan！鈥�

〃what？鈥�

〃ive　a　most　horrible　feeling　…　as　if　something　were　hanging　over　us。鈥�

〃have　you？　because；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　so　have　i。鈥�

〃something　about　aslan；〃　said　lucy。　〃either　some　dreadful　thing　is　going　to　　happen　to　him；　or　something　dreadful　that　hes　going　to　do。鈥�

〃theres　been　something　wrong　with　him　all　afternoon；〃　said　susan。　〃lucy！　　what　was　that　he　said　about　not　being　with　us　at　the　battle？　you　dont　think　he　　could　be　stealing　away　and　leaving　us　tonight；　do　you？鈥�

〃where　is　he　now？〃　said　lucy。　〃is　he　here　in　the　pavilion？鈥�

〃i　dont　think　so。鈥�

〃susan！　lets　go　outside　and　have　a　look　round。　we　might　see　him。鈥�

〃all　right。　lets；〃　said　susan；　〃we　might　just　as　well　be　doing　that　as　　lying　awake　here。鈥�

very　quietly　the　two　girls　groped　their　way　among　the　other　sleepers　and　　crept　out　of　the　tent。　the　moonlight　was　bright　and　everything　was　quite　still　except　for　　the　noise　of　the　river　chattering　over　the　stones。　then　susan　suddenly　caught　lucys　arm　and　　said；　〃look！〃　on　the　far　side　of　the　camping　ground；　just　where　the　trees　began；　　they　saw　the　lion　slowly　walking　away　from　them　into　the　wood。　without　a　word　they　both　　followed　him。

he　led　them　up　the　steep　slope　out　of　the　riv