the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第3章

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shasta　　had　ever　seen。

while　shasta　sat　down　…　painfully　and　cautiously　…　with　his　back　against　a　　tree　and　started　on　the　pasty；　bree　had　a　few　more　mouthfuls　of　grass　to　keep　him　pany。

〃wont　it　be　stealing　to　use　the　money？〃　asked　shasta。

〃oh；〃　said　the　horse；　looking　up　with　its　mouth　full　of　grass；　〃i　never　　thought　of　that。　a　free　horse　and　a　talking　horse　mustnt　steal；　of　course。　but　i　think　its　　all　right。　were　prisoners　and　captives　in　enemy　country。　that　money　is　booty；　spoil。　　besides；　how　are　we　to　get　any　food　for　you　without　it？　i　suppose；　like　all　humans；　you　　wont　eat　natural　food　like　grass　and　oats。鈥�

〃i　cant。鈥�

〃ever　tried？鈥�

〃yes；　i　have。　i　cant　get　it　down　at　all。　you　couldnt　either　if　you　were　　me。鈥�

〃youre　rum　little　creatures；　you　humans；〃　remarked　bree。

when　shasta　had　finished　his　breakfast　（which　was　by　far　the　nicest　he　had　　ever　eaten）；　bree　said；　〃i　think　ill　have　a　nice　roll　before　we　put　on　that　saddle　　again。〃　and　he　proceeded　to　do　so。　〃thats　good。　thats　very　good；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　　back　on　the　turf　and　waving　all　four　legs　in　the　air。　〃you　ought　to　have　one　too；　shasta；〃　　he　snorted。　〃its　most　refreshing。鈥�

but　shasta　burst　out　laughing　and　said；〃you　do　look　funny　when　youre　on　　your　back！鈥�

〃i　look　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　bree。　but　then　suddenly　he　rolled　round　　on　his　side；　raised　his　head　and　looked　hard　at　shasta；　blowing　a　little。

〃does　it　really　look　funny？〃　he　asked　in　an　anxious　voice。

〃yes；　it　does；〃　replied　shasta。　〃but　what　does　it　matter？鈥�

〃you　dont　think；　do　you；〃　said　bree；　〃that　it　might　be　a　thing　talking　　horses　never　do　…　a　silly；　clownish　trick　ive　learned　from　the　dumb　ones？　it　would　be　dreadful　　to　find；　when　i　get　back　to　narnia；　that　ive　picked　up　a　lot　of　low；　bad　habits。　what　do　　you　think；　shasta？　honestly；　now。　dont　spare　my　feelings。　should　you　think　the　real；　　free　horses　…　the　talking　kind　…　do　roll？鈥�

〃how　should　i　know？　anyway　i　dont　think　i　should　bother　about　it　if　i　were　　you。　weve　got　to　get　there　first。　do　you　know　the　way？鈥�

〃i　know　my　way　to　tashbaan。　after　that　es　the　desert。　oh；　well　manage　　the　desert　somehow；　never　fear。　why；　well　be　in　sight　of　the　northern　mountains　then。　　think　of　it！

to　narnia　and　the　north！　nothing　will　stop　us　then。　but　id　be　glad　to　be　　past　tashbaan。

you　and　i　are　safer　away　from　cities。鈥�

〃cant　we　avoid　it？鈥�

〃not　without　going　along　way　inland；　and　that　would　take　us　into　cultivated　　land　and　main　roads；　and　i　wouldnt　know　the　way。　no；　well　just　have　to　creep　along　　the　coast。　up　here　on　the　downs　well　meet　nothing　but　sheep　and　rabbits　and　gulls　and　a　　few　shepherds。　and　by　the　way；　what　about　starting？鈥�

shastas　legs　ached　terribly　as　he　saddled　bree　and　climbed　into　the　　saddle；　but　the　horse　was　kindly　to　him　and　went　at　a　soft　pace　all　afternoon。　when　evening　　twilight　came　they　dropped　by　steep　tracks　into　a　valley　and　found　a　village。　before　they　got　　into　it　shasta　dismounted　and　entered　it　on　foot　to　buy　a　loaf　and　some　onions　and　　radishes。　the　horse　trotted　round　by　the　fields　in　the　dusk　and　met　shasta　at　the　far　side。　　this　became　their　regular　plan　every　second　night。

these　were　great　days　for　shasta；　and　every　day　better　than　the　last　as　his　　muscles　hardened　and　he　fell　less　often。　even　at　the　end　of　his　training　bree　still　　said　he　sat　like　a　bag　of　flour　in　the　saddle。　〃and　even　if　it　was　safe；　young　un；　id　be　　ashamed　to　be　seen　with　you　on　the　main　road。〃　but　in　spite　of　his　rude　words　bree　was　a　　patient　teacher。　no　one　can　teach　riding　so　well　as　a　horse。　shasta　learned　to　trot；　to　canter；　　to　jump；　and　to　keep　his　seat　even　when　bree　pulled　up　suddenly　or　swung　unexpectedly　to　　the　left　or　the　right　…　which；　as　bree　told　him；　was　a　thing　you　might　have　to　do　at　any　　moment　in　a　battle。　and　then　of　course　shasta　begged　to　be　told　of　the　battles　and　wars　　in　which　bree　had　carried　the　tarkaan。　and　bree　would　tell　of　forced　marches　and　the　　fording　of　swift　rivers；　of　charges　and　of　fierce　fights　between　cavalry　and　cavalry　when　　the　war　horses　fought　as　well　as　the　men；　being　all　fierce　stallions；　trained　to　bite　and　　kick；　and　to　rear　at　the　right　moment　so　that　the　horses　weight　as　well　as　the　riders　would　　e　down　on　a　enemys　crest　in　the　stroke　of　sword　or　battleaxe。　but　bree　did　not　want　to　　talk　about　the　wars　as　often　as　shasta　wanted　to　hear　about　them。　〃dont　speak　of　them；　　youngster；〃　he　would　say。　〃they　were　only　the　tisrocs　wars　and　i　fought　in　them　as　a　　slave　and　a　dumb　beast。　give　me　the　narnian　wars　where　i　shall　fight　as　a　free　horse　among　　my　own　people！　those　will　be　wars　worth　talking　about。　narnia　and　the　north！　bra…　ha…ha！　broo　hoo！鈥�

shasta　soon　learned；　when　he　heard　bree　talking　like　that；　to　prepare　for　a　　gallop。

after　they　had　travelled　on　for　weeks　and　weeks　past　more　bays　and　　headlands　and　rivers　and　villages　than　shasta　could　remember；　there　came　a　moonlit　night　when　　they　started　their　journey　at　evening；　having　slept　during　the　day。　they　had　left　the　　downs　behind　them　and　were　crossing　a　wide　plain　with　a　forest　about　half　a　mile　away　on　　their　left。

the　sea；　hidden　by　low　sandhills；　was　about　the　same　distance　on　their　　right。　they　had　jogged　along　for　about　an　hour；　sometimes　trotting　and　sometimes　walking；　　when　bree　suddenly　stopped。

〃whats　up？〃　said　shasta。

〃s…s…ssh！〃　said　bree；　craning　his　neck　round　and　twitching　his　ears。　〃did　　you　hear　something？　listen。鈥�

〃it　sounds　like　another　horse　…　between　us　and　the　wood；〃　said　shasta　after　　he　had　listened　for　about　a　minute。

〃it　is　another　horse；〃　said　bree。　〃and　thats　what　i　dont　like。鈥�

〃isnt　it　probably　just　a　farmer　riding　home　late？〃　said　shasta　with　a　　yawn。

〃dont　tell　me！〃　said　bree。　〃thats　not　a　farmers　riding。　nor　a　farmers　　horse　either。　cant　you　tell　by　the　sound？　thats　quality；　that　horse　is。　and　its　being　ridden　　by　a　real　horseman。　i　tell　you　what　it　is；　shasta。　theres　a　tarkaan　under　the　edge　　of　that　wood。

not　on　his　war　horse　…　its　too　light　for　that。　on　a　fine　blood　mare；　i　　should　say。鈥�

〃well；　its　stopped　now；　whatever　it　is；〃　said　shasta。

〃youre　right；〃　said　bree。　〃and　why　should　he　stop　just　when　we　do？　shasta；　　my　boy；　i　do　believe　theres　someone　shadowing　us　at　last。鈥�

〃what　shall　we　do？〃　said　shasta　in　a　lower　whisper　than　before。　〃do　you　　think　he　can　see　us　as　well　as　hear　us？鈥�

〃not　in　this　light　so　long　as　we　stay　quite　still；〃　answered　bree。　〃but　　look！　theres　a　cloud　ing　up。　ill　wait　till　that　gets　over　the　moon。　then　well　get　off　　to　our　right　as　quietly　as　we　can；　down　to　the　shore。　we　can　hide　among　the　sandhills　if　　the　worst　es　to　the　worst。鈥�

they　waited　till　the　cloud　covered　the　moon　and　then；　first　at　a　walking　　pace　and　afterwards　at　a　gentle　trot；　made　for　the　shore。

the　cloud　was　bigger　and　thicker　than　it　had　looked　at　first　and　soon　the　　night　grew　very　dark。　just　as　shasta　was　saying　to　himself；　〃we　must　be　nearly　at　those　　sandhills　by　　

now；〃　his　heart　leaped　into　his　mouth　because　an　appalling　noise　had　　suddenly　risen　up　out　of　the　darkness　ahead；　a　long　snarling　roar；　melancholy　and　utterly　　savage。　instantly　bree　swerved　round　and　began　galloping　inland　again　as　fast　as　he　could　　gallop。

〃what　is　it？〃　gasped　shasta。

〃lions！〃　said　bree；　without　checking　his　pace　or　turning　his　head。

after　that　there　was　nothing　but　sheer　galloping　for　some　time。　at　last　　they　splashed　across　a　wide；　shallow　stream　and　bree　came　to　a　stop　on　the　far　side。　　shasta　noticed　that　he　was　trembling　and　sweating　all　over。

〃that　water　may　have　thrown　the　brute　off　our　scent；〃　panted　bree　when　he　　had　partly　got　his　breath　again。　〃we　can　walk　for　a　bit　now。鈥�

as　they　walked　bree　said；　〃shasta；　im　ashamed　of　myself。　im　just　as　　frightened　as　a　mon；　dumb　calor　mene　horse。　i　am　really。　i　dont　feel　like　a　talking　　horse　at　all。　i　dont　mind　swords　and　lances　and　arrows　but　i　cant　bear　…　those　creatures。　　i　think　ill　trot　for　a　bit。鈥�

about　a　minute　later；　however；　he　broke　into　a　gallop　again；　and　no　wonder。　　for　the　roar　broke　out　again；　this　time　on　their　left　from　the　direction　of　the　forest。

〃two　of　them；〃　moaned　bree。

when　they　had　galloped　for　several　minutes　without　any　further　noise　from　　the　lions　shasta　said；　〃i　say！　that　other　horse　is　galloping　beside　us　now。　only　a　　stones　throw　away。鈥�

〃all　the　b…better；〃　panted　bree。　〃tarkaan　on　it　…　will　have　a　sword　…　　protect　us　all。鈥�

〃but；　bree！〃　said　shasta。　〃we　might　just　as　well　be　killed　by　lions　as　　caught。　or　1　might。

theyll　hang　me　for　horsestealing。〃　he　was　feeling　less　frightened　of　lions　　than　bree　because　he　had　never　met　a　lion；　bree　had。

bree　only　snorted　in　answer　but　he　did　sheer　away　to　his　right。　oddly　　enough　the　other　horse　seemed　also　to　be　sheering　away　to　the　left；　so　that　in　a　few　seconds　　the　space　between　them　had　widened　a　good　deal。　but　as　soon　as　it　did　so　there　came　　two　more　lions　roars；　immediately　after　one　another；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other　　on　the　left；　the　horses　began　drawing　nearer　together。　so；　apparently；　did　the　lions。　the　　roaring　of　the　brutes　on　each　side　was　horribly　close　and　they　seemed　to　be　keeping　up　　with　the　galloping　horses　quite　easily。　then　the　cloud　rolled　away。　the　moonlight；　　astonishingly　bright；　showed　up　everything　almost　as　if　it　were　broad　day。　the　two　horses　　and　two　riders　were　galloping　neck　to　neck　and　knee　to　knee　just　as　if　they　were　in　　a　race。　indeed　bree　said　（afterwards）　that　a　finer　race　had　never　been　seen　in　calormen。

shasta　now　gave　himself　up　for　lost　and　began　to　wonder　whether　lions　　killed　you　quickly　or　played　with　you　as　a　cat　plays　with　a　mouse　and　how　much　it　　would　hurt。　at　the　same　time　（one　sometimes　does　this　at　the　most　frightful　moments）　he　　noticed　everything。　he　saw　that　the　other　rider　was　a　very　small；　slender　person；　　mail…clad　（the　moon　shone　on　the　mail）　and　riding　magnificently。　he　had　no　beard。

something　flat　and　shining　was　spread　out　before　them。　before　shasta　had　　time　even　to　guess　what　it　was　there　was　　a　great　splash　and　he　found　his　mouth　half　full　of　salt　water。　the　shining　　thing　had　been　a　long　inlet　of　the　sea。　both　horses　were　swimming　and　the　water　was　up　to　　shastas　knees。

there　was　an　angry　roaring　behind　them　and　looking　back　shasta　saw　a　great；　　shaggy；　and　terrible　shape　crouched　on　the　waters　edge；　but　only　one。　〃we　must　　have　shaken　off　the　other　lion；〃　he　thought。

the　lion　apparently　did　not　think　its　prey　worth　a　wetting；　at　any　rate　it　　made　no　attempt　to　take　the　water　in　pursuit。　the　two　horses；　side　by　side；　were　now　well　　out　into　the　middle　of　the　creek　and　the　opposite　shore　could　be　clearly　seen。　the　　tarkaan　had　not　yet　spoken　a　word。　〃but　he　will；〃　thought　shasta。　〃as　soon　as　we　have　landed。　　what　am　i　to　say？　i　must　begin　thinking　out　a　story。鈥�

then；　suddenly；　two　voices　spoke　at　his　side。

〃oh；　i　am　so　tired；〃　said　the　one。　〃hold　your　tongue；　hwin；　and　dont　be　a　　fool；〃　said　the　other。

〃im　dreaming；〃　thought　shasta。　〃i　could　have　sworn　that　other　horse　　spoke。鈥�

soon　the　horses　were　no　longer　swimming　but　walking　and　soon　with　a　great　　sound　of　water　running　off　their　sides　and　tails　and　with　a　great　crunching　of　　pebbles　under