prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第14章

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e　rest　had　their　eyes　on　lucy　　…　and　nearer　the　edge　of　the　gorge。　〃cobbles　and　kettledrums！〃　thought　trumpkin。　〃i　hope　　this　madness　isnt　going　to　end　in　a　moonlight　climb　and　broken　necks。鈥�

for　a　long　way　aslan　went　along　the　top　of　the　precipices。　then　they　came　　to　a　place　where　some　little　trees　grew　right　on　the　edge。　he　turned　and　disappeared　　among　them。

lucy　held　her　breath；　for　it　looked　as　if　he　had　plunged　over　the　cliff；　　but　she　was　too　busy　keeping　him　in　sight　to　stop　and　think　about　this。　she　quickened　her　　pace　and　was　soon　among　the　trees　herself。　looking　down；　she　could　see　a　steep　and　　narrow　path　going　slantwise　down　into　the　gorge　between　rocks；　and　aslan　descending　it。　he　　turned　and　looked　at　her　with　his　happy　eyes。　lucy　clapped　her　hands　and　began　to　　scramble　down　after　him。　from　behind　her　she　heard　the　voices　of　the　others　shouting；　　〃hi！　lucy！　look　out；　for　goodness　sake。　youre　right　on　the　edge　of　the　gorge。　e　back　…　　〃and　then；　a　moment　later；　edmunds　voice　saying；　〃no；　shes　right。　there　is　a　way　　down。鈥�

half…way　down　the　path　edmund　caught　up　with　her。

〃look！〃　he　said　in　great　excitement。　〃look！　whats　that　shadow　crawling　　down　in　front　of　us？鈥�

〃its　his　shadow；〃　said　lucy。

〃i　do　believe　youre　right；　lu；〃　said　edmund。　〃i　cant　think　how　i　didnt　　see　it　before。　but　where　is　he？鈥�

〃with　his　shadow；　of　course。　cant　you　see　him？鈥�

〃well；　i　almost　thought　i　did　…　for　a　moment。　its　such　a　rum　light。鈥�

〃get　on；　king　edmund；　get　on；〃　came　trumpkins　voice　from　behind　and　above：　　and　then；　farther　behind　and　still　nearly　at　the　top；　peters　voice　saying；　　〃oh；　buck　up；　susan。

give　me　your　hand。　why；　a　baby　could　get　down　here。　and　do　stop　grousing。鈥�

in　a　few　minutes　they　were　at　the　bottom　and　the　roaring　of　water　filled　　their　ears。

treading　delicately；　like　a　cat；　aslan　stepped　from　stone　to　stone　across　　the　stream。　in　the　middle　he　stopped；　bent　down　to　drink；　and　as　he　raised　his　shaggy　head；　　dripping　from　the　water；　he　turned　to　face　them　again。　this　time　edmund　saw　him。　〃oh；　　aslan！〃　he　cried；　darting　forward。　but　the　lion　whisked　round　and　began　padding　up　the　　slope　on　the　far　side　of　the　rush。

〃peter；　peter；〃　cried　edmund。　〃did　you　see？鈥�

〃i　saw　something；〃　said　peter。　〃but　its　so　tricky　in　this　moonlight。　on　we　　go；　though；　and　three　cheers　for　lucy。　i　dont　feel　half　so　tired　now；　either。鈥�

aslan　without　hesitation　led　them　to　their　left；　farther　up　the　gorge。　the　　whole　journey　was　odd　and　dream…like　the　roaring　stream；　the　wet　grey　grass；　the　　glimmering　cliffs　which　they　were　approaching；　and　always　the　glorious；　silently　pacing　beast　　ahead。

everyone　except　susan　and　the　dwarf　could　see　him　now。

presently　they　came　to　another　steep　path；　up　the　face　of　the　farther　　precipices。　these　were　far　higher　than　the　ones　they　had　just　descended；　and　the　journey　up　　them　was　a　long　and　tedious　zig…zag。　fortunately　the　moon　shone　right　above　the　gorge　　so　that　neither　side　was　in　shadow。

lucy　was　nearly　blown　when　the　tail　and　hind　legs　of　aslan　disappeared　over　　the　top：　but　with　one　last　effort　she　scrambled　after　him　and　came　out；　rather　shaky…　legged　and　breathless；　on　the　hill　they　had　been　trying　to　reach　ever　since　they　left　　glasswater。　the　long　gentle　slope　（heather　and　grass　and　a　few　very　big　rocks　that　shone　　white　in　the　moonlight）　stretched　up　to　where　it　vanished　in　a　glimmer　of　trees　about　　half　a　mile　away。　she　knew　it。　it　was　the　hill　of　the　stone　table：　　with　a　jingling　of　mail　the　others　climbed　up　behind　her。　aslan　glided　on　　before　them　and　they　walked　after　him。

〃lucy；〃　said　susan　in　a　very　small　voice。

〃yes？〃　said　lucy。

〃i　see　him　now。　im　sorry。鈥�

〃thats　all　right。鈥�

〃but　ive　been　far　worse　than　you　know。　i　really　believed　it　was　him　…　he；　　i　mean　…　yesterday。　when　he　warned　us　not　to　go　down　to　the　fir　wood。　and　i　really　　believed　it　　

was　him　tonight；　when　you　woke　us　up。　i　mean；　deep　down　inside。　or　i　could　　have；　if　id　let　myself。　but　i　just　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　woods　and　…　and　…　oh；　i　　dont　know。　and　what　ever　am　i　to　say　to　him？鈥�

〃perhaps　you　wont　need　to　say　much；〃　suggested　lucy。

soon　they　reached　the　trees　and　through　them　the　children　could　see　the　　great　mound；　aslans　how；　which　had　been　raised　over　the　table　since　their　days。

〃our　side　dont　keep　very　good　watch；〃　muttered　trumpkin。　〃we　ought　to　have　　been　challenged　before　now　…鈥�

〃hush！〃　said　the　other　four；　for　now　aslan　had　stopped　and　turned　and　stood　　facing　them；　looking　so　majestic　that　they　felt　as　glad　as　anyone　can　who　feels　afraid；　　and　as　afraid　as　anyone　can　who　feels　glad。　the　boys　strode　forward：　lucy　made　way　for　them：　　susan　and　the　dwarf　shrank　back。

〃oh；　aslan；〃　said　king　peter；　dropping　on　one　knee　and　raising　the　lions　　heavy　paw　to　his　face；　〃im　so　glad。　and　im　so　sorry。　ive　been　leading　them　wrong　ever　　since　we　started　and　especially　yesterday　morning。鈥�

〃my　dear　son；〃　said　aslan。

then　he　turned　and　weled　edmund。　〃well　done；〃　were　his　words。

then；　after　an　awful　pause；　the　deep　voice　said；　〃susan。〃　susan　made　no　　answer　but　the　others　thought　she　was　crying。　〃you　have　listened　to　fears；　child；〃　said　　aslan。　〃e；　let　me　breathe　on　you。　forget　them。　are　you　brave　again？鈥�

〃a　little；　aslan；〃　said　susan。

〃and　now！〃　said　aslan　in　a　much　louder　voice　with　just　a　hint　of　roar　in　　it；　while　his　tail　lashed　his　flanks。　〃and　now；　where　is　this　little　dwarf；　this　famous　　swordsman　and　archer；　who　doesnt　believe　in　lions？　e　here；　son　of　earth；　e　here！〃　　…　and　the　last　word　was　no　longer　the　hint　of　a　roar　but　almost　the　real　thing。

〃wraiths　and　wreckage！〃　gasped　trumpkin　in　the　ghost　of　a　voice。　the　　children；　who　knew　aslan　well　enough　to　see　that　he　liked　the　dwarf　very　much；　were　not　　disturbed；　but　it　was　quite　another　thing　for　trumpkin；　who　had　never　seen　a　lion　　before；　let　alone　this　lion。　he　did　the　only　sensible　thing　he　could　have　done；　that　is；　　instead　of　bolting；　he　tottered　towards　aslan。

aslan　pounced。　have　you　ever　seen　a　very　young　kitten　being　carried　in　the　　mother　cats　mouth？　it　was　like　that。　the　dwarf；　hunched　up　in　a　little；　miserable　ball；　　hung　from　aslans　mouth。　the　lion　gave　him　one　shake　and　all　his　armour　rattled　like　　a　tinkers　pack　and　then　…　heypresto　…　the　dwarf　flew　up　in　the　air。　he　was　as　safe　as　　if　he　had　been　　

in　bed；　though　he　did　not　feel　so。　as　he　came　down　the　huge　velvety　paws　　caught　him　as　gently　as　a　mothers　arms　and　set　him　（right　way　up；　too）　on　the　ground。

〃son　of　earth；　shall　we　be　friends？〃　asked　aslan。

〃ye　…　he　…　he　…　hes；〃　panted　the　dwarf；　for　it　had　not　yet　got　its　breath　　back。

〃now；〃　said　aslan。　〃the　moon　is　setting。　look　behind　you：　there　is　the　dawn　　beginning。

we　have　no　time　to　lose。　you　three；　you　sons　of　adam　and　son　of　earth；　　hasten　into　the　mound　and　deal　with　what　you　will　find　there。鈥�

the　dwarf　was　still　speechless　and　neither　of　the　boys　dared　to　ask　if　　aslan　would　follow　them。　all　three　drew　their　swords　and　saluted；　then　turned　and　jingled　away　　into　the　dusk。

lucy　noticed　that　there　was　no　sign　of　weariness　in　their　faces：　both　the　　high　king　and　king　edmund　looked　more　like　men　than　boys。

the　girls　watched　them　out　of　sight；　standing　close　beside　aslan。　the　light　　was　changing。

low　down　in　the　east；　aravir；　the　morning　star　of　narnia；　gleamed　like　a　　little　moon。

aslan；　who　seemed　larger　than　before；　lifted　his　head；　shook　his　mane；　and　　roared。

the　sound；　deep　and　throbbing　at　first　like　an　organ　beginning　on　a　low　　note；　rose　and　became　louder；　and　then　far　louder　again；　till　the　earth　and　air　were　　shaking　with　it。　it　rose　up　from　that　hill　and　floated　across　all　narnia。　down　in　mirazs　camp　　men　woke；　stared　palely　in　one　anothers　faces；　and　grasped　their　weapons。　down　below　　that　in　the　great　river；　now　at　its　coldest　hour；　the　heads　and　shoulders　of　the　　nymphs；　and　the　great　weedy…bearded　head　of　the　river…god；　rose　from　the　water。　beyond　it；　in　　every　field　and　wood；　the　alert　ears　of　rabbits　rose　from　their　holes；　the　sleepy　heads　of　　birds　came　out　from　under　wings；　owls　hooted；　vixens　barked；　hedgehogs　grunted；　the　trees　　stirred。　in　towns　and　villages　mothers　pressed　babies　close　to　their　breasts；　staring　　with　wild　eyes；　dogs　whimpered；　and　men　leaped　up　groping　for　lights。　far　away　on　the　　northern　frontier　the　mountain　giants　peered　from　the　dark　gateways　of　their　castles。

what　lucy　and　susan　saw　was　a　dark　something　ing　to　them　from　almost　　every　direction　across　the　hills。　it　looked　first　like　a　black　mist　creeping　on　　the　ground；　then　like　the　stormy　waves　of　a　black　sea　rising　higher　and　higher　as　it　came　on；　and　　then；　at　last；　like　what　it　was　woods　on　the　move。　all　the　trees　of　the　world　appeared　to　　be　rushing　towards　aslan。　but　as　they　drew　nearer　they　looked　less　like　trees；　and　　when　the　whole　crowd；　bowing　and　curtsying　and　waving　thin　long　arms　to　aslan；　were　all　　around　lucy；　she　saw　that　it　was　a　crowd　of　human　shapes。　pale　birch…girls　were　tossing　　their　heads；　willowwomen　pushed　back　their　hair　from　their　brooding　faces　to　gaze　on　　aslan；　the　queenly　beeches　stood　still　and　adored　him；　shaggy　oak…men；　lean　and　　melancholy　elms；　shockheaded　hollies　（dark　themselves；　but　their　wives　all　bright　with　　berries）　and　gay　rowans；　all　bowed　and　rose　again；　shouting；　〃aslan；　aslan！〃　in　their　　various　husky　or　creaking　or　wave…like　voices。

the　crowd　and　the　dance　round　aslan　（for　it　had　bee　a　dance　once　more）　　grew　so　thick　and　rapid　that　lucy　was　confused。　she　never　saw　where　certain　other　　people　came　from　who　were　soon　capering　about　among　the　trees。　one　was　a　youth；　dressed　　only　in　a　fawn…skin；　with　vine…leaves　wreathed　in　his　curly　hair。　his　face　would　have　　been　almost　too　pretty　for　a　boys；　if　it　had　not　looked；　so　extremely　wild。　you　felt；　　as　edmund　said　when　he　saw　him　a　few　days　later；　〃theres　a　chap　who　might　do　anything　　absolutely　anything。〃　he　seemed　to　have　a　great　many　names　…　bromios；　bassareus；　and　　the　ram　were　three　of　them。　there　were　a　lot　of　girls　with　him；　as　wild　as　he。　　there　was　even；　unexpectedly；　someone　on　a　donkey。　and　everybody　was　laughing：　and　　everybody　was　shouting　out；　〃euan；　euan；　eu…oi…oi…oi。鈥�

〃is　it　a　romp；　aslan？〃　cried　the　youth。　and　apparently　it　was。　but　nearly　　everyone　seemed　to　have　a　different　idea　as　to　what　they　were　playing。　it　may　have　　been　tig；　but　lucy　never　discovered　who　was　it。　it　was　rather　like　blind　mans　buff；　only　　everyone　behaved　as　if　they　were　blindfolded。　it　was　not　unlike　hunt　the　slipper；　　but　the　slipper　was　never　found。　what　made　it　more　plicated　was　that　the　man　on　the　　donkey；　who　was　old　and　enormously　fat；　began　calling　out　at　once；　〃refreshments！　time　　for　refreshments；〃　and　falling　off　his　donkey　and　being　bundled　on　to　it　again　　by　the　others；　while　the　donkey　was　under　the　impression　that　the　whole　thing　was　a　circus　　and　tried　to　give　a　display　of　walking　on　its　hind　legs。　and　all　the　time　there　were　　more　and　more　vine　leaves　everywhere。　and　soon　not　only　leaves　but　vines。　they　were　　climbing　up　everything。　they　were　running　up　the　legs　of　the　tree　people　and　circling　　round　their　necks。　lucy　put　up　her　hands　to　push　back　her　hair　and　found　she　was　　pushing　back　vine　branch