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第18章

prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第18章

小说: prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯 字数: 每页3500字

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 hoof occasionally on the turf; looked much more imposing than the telmarine  baron who  

faced him on the left。 peter had just shaken hands with edmund and the  doctor; and was now walking down to the bat。 it was like the moment before the pistol  goes at an important race; but very much worse。

〃i wish aslan had turned up before it came to this;〃 said trumpkin。

〃so do i;〃 said trufflehunter。 〃but look behind you。鈥

〃crows and crockery!〃 muttered the dwarf as soon as he had done so。 〃what  are they?

huge people … beautiful people … like gods and goddesses and giants。  hundreds and thousands of them; closing in behind us。 what are they?鈥

〃its the dryads and hamadryads and silvans;〃 said trufflehunter。 〃aslan  has waked them。鈥

〃humph!〃 said the dwarf。 〃thatll be very useful if the enemy try any  treachery。 but it wont help the high king very much if miraz proves handier with his sword。鈥

the badger said nothing; for now peter and miraz were entering the lists  from opposite ends; both on foot; both in chain shirts; with helmets and shields。 they  advanced till they were close together。 both bowed and seemed to speak;; but it was impossible  to hear what they said。 next moment; the two swords flashed in the sunlight。 for a  second the clash could be heard but it was immediately drowned because both armies  began shouting like crowds at a football match。

〃well done; peter; oh; well done!〃 shouted edmund as he saw miraz reel back  a whole pace and a half。 〃follow it up; quick!〃 and peter did; and for a few  seconds it looked as if the fight might be won。 but then miraz pulled himself together … began  to make real use of his height and weight 〃miraz! miraz! the king! the king!〃 came the  roar of the telmarines。 caspian and edmund grew white with sickening anxiety。

〃peter is taking some dreadful knocks;〃 said edmund。

〃hullo!〃 said caspian。 〃whats happening now?鈥

〃both falling apart;〃 said edmund。 〃a bit blown; expect。 watch。 ah; now  theyre beginning again; more scientifically this time。 circling round and round;  feeling each others defences。鈥

〃im afraid this miraz knows his work;〃 muttered the doctor。 but hardly had  he said this when there was such a clapping and baying and throwing up of hoods among  the old narnians that it was nearly deafening。

〃what was it? what was it?〃 asked the doctor。 〃my old eyes missed it。鈥

〃the high king has pricked him in the arm…pit;〃 said caspian; still  clapping。 〃just where the arm…hole of the hauberk let the point through。 first blood。  〃its looking ugly again now; though;〃 said edmund。 〃peters not using his  shield properly。 he must be hurt in the left arm。鈥

it was only too true。 everyone could see that peters shield hung limp。 the  shouting of the telmarines redoubled。

〃youve seen more battles than i;〃 said caspian。 〃is there any chance now?鈥

〃precious little;〃 said edmund。 〃i suppose he might just do it。 with luck。鈥

〃oh; why did we let it happen at all?〃 said caspian。

suddenly all the shouting on both sides died down。 edmund was puzzled for a  moment。

then he said; 〃oh; i see。 theyve both agreed to a rest。 e on; doctor。  you and i may be able to do something for the high king。 they ran down to the lists and  peter came outside the ropes to meet them; his face red and sweaty; his chest heaving。

〃is your left arm wounded?〃 asked edmund。

〃its not exactly a wound;〃 peter said。 〃i got the weight of his shoulder  on my shield … like a load of bricks and the rim of the shield drove into my wrist。 i dont  think its broken; but it might be a sprain。 if you could tie it up very tight i think i could  manage。鈥

while they were doing this; edmund asked anxiously。 〃what do you think of  him; peter?鈥

〃tough;〃 said peter。 〃very tough。 i have a chance if can keep him on the  hop till his weight and short wind e against him … in this hot sun too。 to tell the  truth; i havent much chance else。 give my love to … to everyone at home; ed; if he gets me。  here he es into the lists again  so long; old chap。 good…bye; doctor。 and i say; ed; say something specially  nice to trumpkin。 hes been a brick。鈥

edmund couldnt speak。 he walked back with the doctor to his own lines with  a sick feeling in his stomach。

but the new bout went well。 peter now seemed to be able to make some use of  his shield; and he certainly made good use of his feet。 he was almost playing tig with  miraz now; keeping out of range; shifting his ground; making the enemy work。

〃coward!〃 booed the telmarines。 〃why dont you stand up to him? dont you  like it; eh?

thought youd e to fight; not dance。 yah!鈥

〃oh; i do hope he wont listen to them;〃 said caspian。

〃not he;〃 said edmund。 〃you dont know him … oh!〃 for miraz had got in a  blow at last; on peters helmet。 peter staggered; slipped sideways; and fell on one knee。  the roar of the telmarines rose like the noise of the sea。 〃now; miraz;〃 they yelled。 〃now。  quick!

quick! kill him。〃 but indeed there was no need to egg the usurper on。 he  was on top of peter already。 edmund bit his lips till the blood came; as the sword  flashed down on peter。 it looked as if it would slash off his head。 thank heavens! it had  glanced down his right shoulder。 the dwarf…wrought mail was sound and did not break。

〃great scott!〃 cried edmund。 〃hes up again。 peter; go it; peter。鈥

〃i couldnt see what happened;〃 said the doctor。 〃how did he do it?鈥

〃grabbed mirazs arm as it came down;〃 said trumpkin; dancing with delight。  〃theres a man for you! uses his enemys arm as a ladder。 the high king! the high  king! up; old narnia!鈥

〃look;〃 said trufflehunter。 〃miraz is angry。 it is good。〃 they were  certainly at it hammer and tongs now: such a flurry of blows that it seemed impossible for either  not to be killed。

as the excitement grew; the shouting almost died away。 the spectators were  holding their breath。 it was most horrible and most magnificent。

a great shout arose from the old narnians。 miraz was a down … not struck by  peter; but face downwards; having tripped on a tussock。 peter stepped back; waiting  for him to rise。

〃oh bother; bother; bother;〃 said edmund to himself。 〃need he be as  gentlemanly as all that? i suppose he must。 es of being a knight and a high king。 i suppose  it is what aslan would like。 but that brute will be up again in a minute and then …鈥

but 〃that brute〃 never rose。 the lords glozelle and sopespian had their own  plans ready。

as soon as they saw their king down they leaped into the lists crying;  〃treachery!

treachery! the narnian traitor has stabbed him in the back while he lay  helpless。 to arms! to arms; telmar!鈥

peter hardly understood what was happening。 he saw two big men running  towards him with drawn swords。 then the third telmarine had leaped over the ropes on  his; left。 〃to arms; narnia! treachery!〃 peter shouted。 if all three had set upon him at  once he would never have spoken again。 but glozelle stopped to stab his own king dead  where he lay: 〃thats for your insult; this morning;〃 he whispered as the blade went  home。  peter swung to face sopespian; slashed his legs from under him and; with the back…cut  of the same stroke; walloped off his head edmund was now at his side crying; 〃narnia;  narnia! the lion!〃 the whole telmarine army was rushing toward them。 but now the giant  was stamping forward; stooping low and swinging his club。 the centaurs charged。  twang;  

twang behind and hiss; hiss overhead came the archery of dwarfs。 trumpkin  was fighting at his left。 full battle was joined。

〃e back; reepicheep; you little ass!〃 shouted peter。 〃youll only be  killed。 this is no place for mice。〃 but the ridiculous little creatures were dancing in and  out among the feet of both armies; jabbing with their swords。 many a telmarine warrior that  day felt his foot suddenly pierced as if by a dozen skewers; hopped on one leg cursing the  pain; and fell as often as not。 if he fell; the mice finished him off; if he did not; someone  else did。

but almost before the old narnians were really warmed to their work they  found the enemy giving way。 toughlooking warriors turned white; gazed in terror not  on the old narnians but on something behind them; and then flung down their weapons;  shrieking; 〃the wood! the wood! the end of the world!鈥

but soon neither their cries nor the sound of weapons could be heard any  more; for both were drowned in the ocean…like roar of the awakened trees as they plunged  through the ranks of peters army; and then on; in pursuit of the telmarines。 have you  ever stood at the edge of a great wood on a high ridge when a wild south…wester broke  over it in full fury on an autumn evening? imagine that sound。 and then imagine that the  wood; instead of being fixed to one place; was rushing at you; and was no longer trees  but huge people; yet still like trees because their long arms waved like branches and their  heads tossed and leaves fell round them in showers。 it was like that for the telmarines。 it  was a little alarming even for the narnians。 in a few minutes all mirazs followers were  running down to the great river in the hope of crossing the bridge to the town of  beruna and there defending themselves behind ramparts and closed gates。

they reached the river; but there was no bridge。 it had disappeared since  yesterday。 then utter panic and horror fell upon them and they all surrendered。

but what had happened to the bridge?

early that morning; after a few hours sleep; the girls had waked; to see  aslan standing over them and to hear his voice saying; 〃we will make holiday。〃 they rubbed  their eyes and looked round them。 the trees had all gone but could still be seen  moving away towards aslans how in a dark mass。 bacchus and the maenads … his fierce;  madcap girls … and silenus were still with them。 lucy; fully rested; jumped up。 everyone  was awake; everyone was laughing; flutes were playing; cymbals clashing。 animals; not  talking animals; were crowding in upon them from every direction。

〃what is it; aslan?〃 said lucy; her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to  dance。

〃e; children;〃 said he。 〃ride on my back again today。鈥

〃oh; lovely!〃 cried lucy; and both girls climbed on to the warm golden back  as they had done no one knew how many years before。 then the whole party moved off  aslan  

leading; bacchus and his maenads leaping; rushing; and turning somersaults;  the beasts frisking round them; and silenus and his donkey bringing up the rear。

they turned a little to the right; raced down a steep hill; and found the  long bridge of beruna in front of them。 before they had begun to cross it; however; up out  of the water came a great wet; bearded head; larger than a mans; crowned with rushes。  it looked at aslan and out of its mouth a deep voice came。

〃hail; lord;〃 it said。 〃loose my chains。鈥

〃who on earth is that?〃 whispered susan。

〃i think its the river…god; but hush;〃 said lucy。

〃bacchus;〃 said aslan。 〃deliver him from his chains。鈥

〃that means the bridge; i expect;〃 thought lucy。 and so it did。 bacchus and  his people splashed forward into the shallow water; and a minute later the most  curious things began happening。 great; strong trunks of ivy came curling up all the

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