the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ould　not　lie）　told　him　that　now；　when　high　summer　was　　ing　on；　my　heart　turned　to　the　cool　woods　and　dewy　slopes　of　narnia。　he　gave　a　smile　　that　meant　no　good　and　said；　‘there　is　nothing　to　hinder　you　from　dancing　there　again；　　little　goatfoot；　always　provided　you　leave　us　in　exchange　a　bride　for　our　prince。鈥�

〃do　you　mean　he　would　make　me　his　wife　by　force？〃　exclaimed　susan。

〃thats　my　fear；　susan；〃　said　edmund：　〃wife：　or　slave　which　is　worse。鈥�

〃but　how　can　he？　does　the　tisroc　think　our　brother　the　high　king　would　　suffer　such　an　outrage？鈥�

〃sire；〃　said　peridan　to　the　king。　〃they　would　not　be　so　mad。　do　they　think　　there　are　no　swords　and　spears　in　narnia？鈥�

〃alas；〃　said　edmund。　〃my　guess　is　that　the　tisroc　has　very　small　fear　of　　narnia。　we　are　a　little　land。　and　little　lands　on　the　borders　of　a　great　empire　were　　always　hateful　to　the　lords　of　the　great　empire。　he　longs　to　blot　them　out；　gobble　them　up。　when　　first　he　suffered　the　prince　to　e　to　cair　paravel　as　your　lover；　sister；　it　may　　be　that　he　was　only　seeking　an　occasion　against　us。　most　likely　he　hopes　to　make　one　　mouthful　of　narnia　and　archenland　both。鈥�

〃let　him　try；〃　said　the　second　dwarf。　〃at　sea　we　are　as　big　as　he　is。　and　　if　he　assaults　us　by　land；　he　has　the　desert　to　cross。鈥�

〃true；　friend；〃　said　edmund。　〃but　is　the　desert　a　sure　defence？　what　does　　sallowpad　say？鈥�

〃i　know　that　desert　well；〃　said　the　raven。　〃for　i　have　flown　above　it　far　　and　wide　in　my　younger　days；〃　（you　may　be　sure　that　shasta　pricked　up　his　ears　at　this　　point）。　〃and　this　is　certain；　that　if　the　tisroc　goes　by　the　great　oasis　he　can　never　lead　a　　great　army　across　it　into　archenland。　for　though　they　could　reach　the　oasis　by　the　end　of　　their　first　days　march；　yet　the　springs　there　would　be　too　little　for　the　thirst　of　all　　those　soldiers　and　their　beasts。　but　there　is　another　way。鈥�

shasta　listened　more　attentively　still。

〃he　that　would　find　that　way；〃　said　the　raven；　〃must　start　from　the　tombs　　of　the　ancient　kings　and　ride　northwest　so　that　the　double　peak　of　mount　pire　is　always　　straight　ahead　of　him。　and　so；　in　a　days　riding　or　a　little　more；　he　shall　e　to　the　　head　of　a　stony　valley；　which　is　so　narrow　that　a　man　might　be　within　a　furlong　of　it　a　　thousand　times　and　never　know　that　it　was　there。　and　looking　down　this　valley　he　will　see　　neither　grass　nor　water　nor　anything　else　good。　but　if　he　rides　on　down　it　he　will　e　to　a　　river　and　can　ride　by　the　water　all　the　way　into　archenland。鈥�

〃and　do　the　calormenes　know　of　this　western　way？〃　asked　the　queen。

〃friends；　friends；〃　said　edmund；　〃what　is　the　use　of　all　this　discourse？　we　　are　not　asking　whether　narnia　or　calormen　would　win　if　war　arose　between　them。　we　are　　asking　how　to　save　the　honour　of　the　queen　and　our　own　lives　out　of　this　devilish　city。　　for　though　my　brother；　peter　the　high　king；　defeated　the　tisroc　a　dozen　times　over；　yet　　long　before　that　day　our　throats　would　be　cut　and　the　queens　grace　would　be　the　wife；　or　　more　likely；　the　slave；　of　this　prince。鈥�

〃we　have　our　weapons；　king；〃　said　the　first　dwarf。　〃and　this　is　a　　reasonably　defensible　house。鈥�

〃as　to　that；〃　said　the　king；　〃i　do　not　doubt　that　every　one　of　us　would　　sell　our　lives　dearly　in　the　gate　and　they　would　not　e　at　the　queen　but　over　our　dead　　bodies。　yet　we　should　be　merely　rats　fighting　in　a　trap　when　alls　said。鈥�

〃very　true；〃　croaked　the　raven。　〃these　last　stands　in　a　house　make　good　　stories；　but　nothing　ever　came　of　them。　after　their　first　few　repulses　the　enemy　always　　set　the　house　on　fire。鈥�

〃i　am　the　cause　of　all　this；〃　said　susan；　bursting　into　tears。　〃oh；　if　only　　i　had　never　left　cair　paravel。　our　last　happy　day　was　before　those　ambassadors　came　from　　calormen。

the　moles　were　planting　an　orchard　for　us　。　。　。　oh　。　。　。　oh。鈥�

and　she　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　and　sobbed。

〃courage；　su；　courage；〃　said　edmund。　〃remember…but　what　is　the　matter　with　　you；　master　tumnus？〃　for　the　faun　was　holding　both　his　horns　with　his　hands　as　　if　he　were　　

trying　to　keep　his　head　on　by　them　and　writhing　to　and　fro　as　if　he　had　a　　pain　in　his　inside。

〃dont　speak　to　me；　dont　speak　to　me；〃　said　tumnus。　〃im　thinking。　im　　thinking　so　that　i　can　hardly　breathe。　wait；　wait；　do　wait。鈥�

there　was　a　moments　puzzled　silence　and　then　the　faun　looked　up；　drew　a　　long　breath；　mopped　its　forehead　and　said：　　〃the　only　difficulty　is　how　to　get　down　to　our　ship…with　some　stores；　too…　without　being　seen　and　stopped。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　a　dwarf　dryly。　〃just　as　the　beggars　only　difficulty　about　　riding　is　that　he　has　no　horse。鈥�

〃wait；　wait；〃　said　mr　tumnus　impatiently。　〃all　we　need　is　some　pretext　for　　going　down　to　our　ship　today　and　taking　stuff　on　board。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　king　edmund　doubtfully。

〃well；　then；〃　said　the　faun；　〃how　would　it　be　if　your　majesties　bade　the　　prince　to　a　great　banquet　to　be　held　on　board　our　own　galleon；　the　spendour　hyaline；　tomorrow　　night？

and　let　the　message　be　worded　as　graciously　as　the　queen　can　contrive　　without　pledging　her　honour：　so　as　to　give　the　prince　a　hope　that　she　is　weakening。鈥�

〃this　is　very　good　counsel；　sire；〃　croaked　the　raven。

〃and　then；〃　continued　tumnus　excitedly；　〃everyone　will　expect　us　to　be　　going　down　to　the　ship　all　day；　making　preparations　for　our　guests。　and　let　some　of　us　go　　to　the　bazaars　and　spend　every　minim　we　have　at　the　fruiterers　and　the　sweetmeat　sellers　　and　the　wine　merchants；　just　as　we　would　if　we　were　really　giving　a　feast。　and　let　us　　order　magicians　and　jugglers　and　dancing　girls　and　flute　players；　all　to　be　on　board　　tomorrow　night。鈥�

〃i　see；　i　see；〃　said　king　edmund；　rubbing　his　hands。

〃and　then；〃　said　tumnus；　〃well　all　be　on　board　tonight。　and　as　soon　as　it　　is　quite　dark…鈥�

〃up　sails　and　out　oars…！〃　said　the　king。

〃and　so　to　sea；〃　cried　tumnus；　leaping　up　and　beginning　to　dance。

〃and　our　nose　northward；〃　said　the　first　dwarf。

〃running　for　home！　hurrah　for　narnia　and　the　north！〃　said　the　other。

〃and　the　prince　waking　next　morning　and　finding　his　birds　flown！〃　said　　peridan；　clapping　his　hands。

〃oh　master　tumnus；　dear　master　tumnus；〃　said　the　queen；　catching　his　hands　　and　swinging　with　him　as　he　danced。　〃you　have　saved　us　all。鈥�

〃the　prince　will　chase　us；〃　said　another　lord；　whose　name　shasta　had　not　　heard。

〃thats　the　least　of　my　fears；〃　said　edmund。　〃i　have　seen　all　the　shipping　　in　the　river　and　theres　no　tall　ship　of　war　nor　swift　galley　there。　i　wish　he　may　chase　us！　　for　the　splendour　hyaline　could　sink　anything　he　has　to　send　after　her　…　if　we　were　　overtaken　at　all。鈥�

〃sire；〃　said　the　raven。　〃you　shall　hear　no　better　plot　than　the　fauns　　though　we　sat　in　council　for　seven　days。　and　now；　as　we　birds　say；　nests　before　eggs。　which　　is　as　much　as　to　say；　let　us　all　take　our　food　and　then　at　once　be　about　our　business。鈥�

everyone　arose　at　this　and　the　doors　were　opened　and　the　lords　and　the　　creatures　stood　aside　for　the　king　and　queen　to　go　out　first。　shasta　wondered　what　he　ought　　to　do；　but　mr　tumnus　said；　〃lie　there；　your　highness；　and　i　will　bring　you　up　a　little　　feast　to　yourself　in　a　few　moments。　there　is　no　need　for　you　to　move　until　we　are　　all　ready　to　embark。鈥�

shasta　laid　his　head　down　again　on　the　pillows　and　soon　he　was　alone　in　the　　room。

〃this　is　perfectly　dreadful；〃　thought　shasta。　it　never　came　into　his　head　　to　tell　these　narnians　the　whole　truth　and　ask　for　their　help。　having　been　brought　up　by　　a　hard；　closefisted　man　like　arsheesh；　he　had　a　fixed　habit　of　never　telling　grown　…ups　anything　if　he　could　help　it：　he　thought　they　would　always　spoil　or　stop　whatever　you　　were　trying　to　do。　and　he　thought　that　even　if　the　narnian　king　might　be　friendly　to　the　　two　horses；　because　they　were　talking　beasts　of　narnia；　he　would　hate　aravis；　because　　she　was　a　calormene；　and　either　sell　her　for　a　slave　or　send　her　back　to　her　father。　　as　for　himself；　〃i　simply　dnt　tell　them　im　not　prince　corin　now；〃　thought　shasta。　〃ive　　heard　all　their　plans。　if　they　knew　i　wasnt　one　of　themselves；　theyd　never　let　me　out　of　　this　house　alive。

theyd　be　afraid　id　betray　them　to　the　tisroc。　theyd　kill　me。　and　if　the　　real　corin　turns　up；　itll　all　e　out；　and　they　will！〃　he　had；　you　see；　no　idea　of　how　　noble　and　free…born　people　behave。

〃what　am　i　to　do？　what　am　i　to　do？〃　he　kept　saying　to　himself。　〃what…hullo；　　here　es　that　goaty　little　creature　again。鈥�

the　faun　trotted　in；　half　dancing；　with　a　tray　in　its　hands　which　was　　nearly　as　large　as　itself。　this　he　set　on　an　inlaid　table　beside　shastas　sofa；　and　sat　down　　himself　on　the　carpeted　floor　with　his　goaty　legs　crossed。

〃now；　princeling；〃　he　said。　〃make　a　good　dinner。　it　will　be　your　last　meal　　in　tashbaan。鈥�

it　was　a　fine　meal　after　the　calormene　fashion。　i　dont　know　whether　you　　would　have　liked　it　or　not；　but　shasta　did。　there　were　lobsters；　and　salad；　and　snipe　　stuffed　with　almonds　and　truffles；　and　a　plicated　dish　made　of　chickenlivers　and　rice　　and　raisins　and　nuts；　and　there　were　cool　melons　and　gooseberry　fools　and　mulberry　　fools；　and　every　kind　of　nice　thing　that　can　be　made　with　ice。　there　was　also　a　little　　flagon　of　the　sort　of　wine　that　is　called　〃white〃　though　it　is　really　yellow。

while　shasta　was　eating；　the　good　little　faun；　who　thought　he　was　still　　dazed　with　sunstroke；　kept　talking　to　him　about　the　fine　times　he　would　have　when　they　　all　got　home；　about　his　good　old　father　king　lune　of　archenland　and　the　little　　castle　where　he　lived　on　the　southern　slopes　of　the　pass。　〃and　dont　forget；〃　said　mr　　tumnus；　〃that　you　are　promised　your　first　suit　of　armour　and　your　first　war　horse　on　your　　next　birthday。　and　then　your　highness　will　begin　to　learn　how　to　tilt　and　joust。　and　in　a　few　　years；　if　all　goes　well；　king　peter　has　promised　your　royal　father　that　he　himself　will　　make　you　knight　at　cair　paravel。　and　in　the　meantime　there　will　be　plenty　of　ings　　and　goings　between　narnia　and　archenland　across　the　neck　of　the　mountains。　and　of　　course　you　remember　you　have　promised　to　e　for　a　whole　week　to　stay　with　me　for　the　　summer　festival；　and　therell　be　bonfires　and　all…night　dances　of　fauns　and　dryads　　in　the　heart　of　the　woods　and；　who　knows？…we　might　see　aslan　himself！鈥�

when　the　meal　was　over　the　faun　told　shasta　to　stay　quietly　where　he　was。　　〃and　it　wouldnt　do　you　any　harm　to　have　a　little　sleep；〃　he　added。　〃ill　call　you　　in　plenty　of　time　to　get　on　board。　and　then；　home。　narnia　and　the　north！鈥�

shasta　had　so　enjoyed　his　dinner　and　all　the　things　tumnus　had　been　telling　　him　that　when　he　was　left　alone　his　thoughts　took　a　different　turn。　he　only　hoped　　now　that　the　real　prince　corin　would　not　turn　up　until　it　was　too　late　and　that　he　would　be　　taken　away　to　narnia　by　ship。　i　am　afraid　he　did　not　think　at　all　of　what　might　happen　to　　the　real　corin　when　he　was　left　behind　in　tashbaan。　he　was　a　little　worried　about　aravis　　and　bree　waiting　for　him　at　the　tombs。　but　then　he　said　to　himself；　〃well；　how　can　i　　help　it？〃　and；　〃anyway；　that　aravis　thinks　shes　too　good　to　go　about　with　me；　so　she　can　　jolly　well　go　alone；〃　and　at　the　same　time　he　couldnt　help　feeling　that　it　would　be　much　　nicer　going　to　narnia　by　sea　than　toiling　across　the　desert。

when　he　had　thought　all　this　he　did　wha