the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第5部分

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it　was　a　ginger　cat　…　a　great　big　tom　in　the　prime　of　life　…　who　sat　bolt　　upright　with　his　tail　curled　round　his　toes；　in　the　very　front　row　of　all　the　beasts。　he　had　　been　staring　hard　at　the　ape　and　the　calormene　captain　all　the　time　and　had　never　once　　blinked　his　eyes。

〃excuse　me；〃　said　the　cat　very　politely；　〃but　this　interests　me。　does　your　　friend　from　calormen　say　the　same？鈥�

〃assuredly；〃　said　the　calormene。　〃the　enlightened　ape　…　man；　i　mean　…　is　in　　the　right。

aslan　means　neither　less　nor　more　than　tash。鈥�

〃especially；　aslan　means　no　more　than　tash？〃　suggested　the　cat。

〃no　more　at　all；〃　said　the　calormene；　looking　the　cat　straight　in　the　face。

〃is　that　good　enough　for　you；　ginger？〃　said　the　ape。

〃oh　certainly；〃　said　ginger　coolly。　〃thank　you　very　much。　i　only　wanted　to　　be　quite　clear。　i　think　i　am　beginning　to　understand。鈥�

up　till　now　the　king　and　jewel　had　said　nothing：　they　were　waiting　until　　the　ape　should　bid　them　speak；　for　they　thought　it　was　no　use　interrupting。　but　now；　as　　tirian　looked　round　on　the　miserable　faces　of　the　narnians；　and　saw　how　they　would　all　　believe　that　aslan　and　tash　were　one　and　the　same；　he　could　bear　it　no　longer。

〃ape；〃　he　cried　with　a　great　voice；　〃you　lie　damnably。　you　lie　like　a　　calormene。　you　lie　like　an　ape。鈥�

he　meant　to　go　on　and　ask　how　the　terrible　god　tash　who　fed　on　the　blood　of　　his　people　could　possibly　be　the　same　as　the　good　lion　by　whose　blood　all　narnia　was　　saved。　if　he　had　been　allowed　to　speak；　the　rule　of　the　ape　might　have　ended　that　day；　　the　beasts　might　have　seen　the　truth　and　thrown　the　ape　down。　but　before　he　could　say　　another　word　two　calormenes　struck　him　in　the　mouth　with　all　their　force；　and　a　　third；　from　behind；　kicked　his　feet　from　under　him。　and　as　he　fell；　the　ape　squealed　in　　rage　and　terror。

〃take　him　away。　take　him　away。　take　him　where　he　cannot　hear　us；　nor　we　　hear　him。

there　tie　him　to　a　tree。　i　will　…　i　mean；　aslan　will　…　do　justice　on　him　　later。鈥�

w锛穡锛氾紵



CHAPTER　FOUR

锝炲皬　　璇磘　　xt　澶�；鍫�
what　happened　that　night

the　king　was　so　dizzy　from　being　knocked　down　that　he　hardly　knew　what　was　happening　until　the　calormenes　untied　his　wrists　and　put　his　arms　straight　　down　by　his　sides　and　set　him　with　his　back　against　an　ash　tree。　then　they　bound　ropes　　round　his　ankles　and　his　knees　and　his　waist　and　his　chest　and　left　him　there。　what　　worried　him　worst　at　the　moment　…　for　it　is　often　little　things　that　are　hardest　to　　stand　…　was　that　his　lip　was　bleeding　where　they　had　hit　him　and　he　couldnt　wipe　the　little　trickle　　of　blood　away　although　it　tickled　him。

from　where　he　was　he　could　still　see　the　little　stable　on　the　top　of　the　　hill　and　the　ape　sitting　in　front　of　it。　he　could　just　hear　the　apes　voice　still　going　on　　and；　every　now　and　then；　some　answer　from　the　crowd；　but　he　could　not　make　out　the　words。

〃i　wonder　what　theyve　done　to　jewel；〃　thought　the　king。

presently　the　crowd　of　beasts　broke　up　and　began　going　away　in　different　　directions。

some　passed　close　to　tirian。　they　looked　at　him　as　if　they　were　both　　frightened　and　sorry　to　see　him　tied　up　but　none　of　them　spoke。　soon　they　had　all　gone　and　　there　was　silence　in　the　wood。　then　hours　and　hours　went　past　and　tirian　became　first　　very　thirsty　and　then　very　hungry；　and　as　the　afternoon　dragged　on　and　turned　into　　evening；　he　became　cold　too。　his　back　was　very　sore。　the　sun　went　down　and　it　began　to　　be　twilight。

when　it　was　almost　dark　tirian　heard　a　light　pitter…patter　of　feet　and　saw　　some　small　creatures　ing　towards　him。　the　three　on　the　left　were　mice；　and　there　　was　a　rabbit　in　the　middle：　on　the　right　were　two　moles。　both　these　were　carrying　little　　bags　on　their　backs　which　gave　them　a　curious　look　in　the　dark　so　that　at　first　he　　wondered　what　kind　of　beasts　they　were。　then；　in　a　moment；　they　were　all　standing　up　on　their　　hind　legs；　laying　their　cool　paws　on　his　knees　and　giving　his　knees　snuffly　animal　　kisses。　（they　could　reach　his　knees　because　narnian　talking　beasts　of　that　sort　are　　bigger　than　the　dumb　beasts　of　the　same　kind　in　england。）

〃lord　king！　dear　lord　king；〃　said　their　shrill　voices；　〃we　are　so　sorry　for　　you。　we　darent　untie　you　because　aslan　might　be　angry　with　us。　but　weve　brought　　you　your　supper。鈥�

at　once　the　first　mouse　climbed　nimbly　up　till　he　was　perched　on　the　rope　　that　bound　tirians　chest　and　was　wrinkling　his　blunt　nose　in　front　of　tirians　face。　　then　the　second　mouse　climbed　up　and　hung　on　just　below　the　first　mouse。　the　other　beasts　　stood　on　the　ground　and　began　handing　things　up。

〃drink；　sire；　and　then　youll　find　you　are　able　to　eat；〃　said　the　topmost　　mouse；　and　tirian　found　that　a　little　wooden　cup　was　being　held　to　his　lips。　it　was　only　the　　size　of　an　egg　cup　so　that　he　had　hardly　tasted　the　wine　in　it　before　it　was　empty。　but　　then　the　mouse　passed　it　down　and　the　others　re…filled　it　and　it　was　passed　up　again　and　　tirian　emptied　it　a　second　time。　in　this　way　they　went　on　till　he　had　quite　a　good　drink；　　which　was　all　the　better　for　ing　in　little　doses；　for　that　is　more　thirst…quenching　than　　one　long　draught。

〃here　is　cheese；　sire；〃　said　the　first　mouse；　〃but　not　very　much；　for　fear　　it　would　make　you　too　thirsty。〃　and　after　the　cheese　they　fed　him　with　oat…cakes　and　　fresh　butter；　and　then　with　some　more　wine。

〃now　hand　up　the　water；〃　said　the　first　mouse；　〃and　ill　wash　the　kings　　face。　there　is　blood　on　it。鈥�

then　tirian　felt　something　like　a　tiny　sponge　dabbing　his　face；　and　it　was　　most　refreshing。

〃little　friends；〃　said　tirian；　〃how　can　i　thank　you　for　all　this？鈥�

〃you　neednt；　you　neednt；〃　said　the　little　voices。　〃what　else　could　we　do？　　we　dont　want　any　other　king。　were　your　people。　if　it　was　only　the　ape　and　the　　calormenes　who　were　against　you　we　would　have　fought　till　we　were　cut　into　pieces　before　wed　　let　them　tie　you　up。　we　would；　we　would　indeed。　but　we　cant　go　against　aslan。鈥�

〃do　you　think　it　really　is　aslan？〃　asked　the　king。

〃oh　yes；　yes；〃　said　the　rabbit。　〃he　came　out　of　the　stable　last　night。　we　　all　saw　him。鈥�

〃what　was　he　like？〃　said　the　king。

〃like　a　terrible；　great　lion；　to　be　sure；〃　said　one　of　the　mice。

〃and　you　think　it　is　really　aslan　who　is　killing　the　wood…nymphs　and　making　　you　all　slaves　to　the　king　of　calormen？鈥�

〃ah；　thats　bad；　isnt　it？〃　said　the　second　mouse。　〃it　would　have　been　　better　if　wed　died　before　all　this　began。　but　theres　no　doubt　about　it。　everyone　says　it　is　　aslans　orders。

and　weve　seen　him。　we　didnt　think　aslan　would　be　like　that。　why；　we　…　we　　wanted　him　to　e　back　to　narnia。鈥�

〃he　seems　to　have　e　back　very　angry　this　time；〃　said　the　first　mouse。　　〃we　must　all　have　done　something　dreadfully　wrong　without　knowing　it。　he　must　be　　punishing　us　for　something。　but　i　do　think　we　might　be　told　what　it　was！鈥�

〃i　suppose　what　were　doing　now　may　be　wrong；〃　said　the　rabbit。

〃i　dont　care　if　it　is；〃　said　one　of　the　moles。　〃id　do　it　again。鈥�

but　the　others　said；　〃oh　hush；〃　and　〃do　be　careful；〃　and　then　they　all　　said；　〃were　sorry；　dear　king；　but　we　must　go　back　now。　it　would　never　do　for　us　to　be　caught　　here。鈥�

〃leave　me　at　once；　dear　beasts；〃　said　tirian。　〃i　would　not　for　all　narnia　　bring　any　of　you　into　danger。鈥�

〃goodnight；　goodnight；〃　said　the　beasts；　rubbing　their　noses　against　his　　knees。　〃we　will　e　back　…　if　we　can。〃　then　they　all　pattered　away　and　the　wood　seemed　　darker　and　colder　and　lonelier　than　it　had　been　before　they　came。

the　stars　came　out　and　time　went　slowly　on　…　imagine　how　slowly　…　while　　that　last　king　of　narnia　stood　stiff　and　sore　and　upright　against　the　tree　in　his　bonds。　　but　at　last　something　happened。

far　away　there　appeared　a　red　light。　then　it　disappeared　for　a　moment　and　　came　back　again；　bigger　and　stronger。　then　he　could　see　dark　shapes　going　to　and　fro　　on　this　side　of　the　light　and　carrying　bundles　and　throwing　them　down。　he　knew　now　what　he　　was　looking　at。　it　was　a　bonfire；　newly　lit；　and　people　were　throwing　bundles　　of　brushwood　on　to　it。　presently　it　blazed　up　and　tirian　could　see　that　it　was　on　the　　very　top　of　the　hill。

he　could　see　quite　clearly　the　stable　behind　it；　all　lit　up　in　the　red　　glow；　and　a　great　crowd　of　beasts　and　men　between　the　fire　and　himself。　a　small　figure；　hunched　up　　beside　the　fire；　must　be　the　ape。　it　was　saying　something　to　the　crowd；　but　he　could　　not　hear　what。

then　it　went　and　bowed　three　times　to　the　ground　in　front　of　the　door　of　　the　stable。　then　it　got　up　and　opened　the　door。　and　something　on　four　legs　…　something　that　　walked　rather　stiffly　…　came　out　of　the　stable　and　stood　facing　the　crowd。

a　great　wailing　or　howling　went　up；　so　loud　that　tirian　could　hear　some　of　　the　words。

〃aslan！　aslan！　aslan！〃　cried　the　beasts。　〃speak　to　us。　fort　us。　be　angry　　with　us　no　more。鈥�

from　where　tirian　was　he　could　not　make　out　very　clearly　what　the　thing　　was；　but　he　could　see　that　it　was　yellow　and　hairy。　he　had　never　seen　the　great　lion。　　he　had　never　seen　a　mon　lion。　he　couldnt　be　sure　that　what　he　saw　was　not　the　real　　aslan。　he　had　not　expected　aslan　to　look　like　that　stiff　thing　which　stood　and　said　　nothing。　but　how　could　one　be　sure？　for　a　moment　horrible　thoughts　went　through　his　mind：　　then　he　remembered　the　nonsense　about　tash　and　aslan　being　the　same　and　knew　that　　the　whole　thing　must　be　a　cheat。

the　ape　put　his　head　close　up　to　the　yellow　things　head　as　if　he　were　　listening　to　something　it　was　whispering　to　him。　then　he　turned　and　spoke　to　the　crowd；　　and　the　crowd　wailed　again。　then　the　yellow　thing　turned　clumsily　round　and　walked　　…　you　might　almost　say；　waddled　…　back　into　the　stable　and　the　ape　shut　the　door　behind　　it。　after　that　the　fire　must　have　been　put　out　for　the　light　vanished　quite　suddenly；　and　　tirian　was　once　more　alone　with　the　cold　and　the　darkness。

he　thought　of　other　kings　who　had　lived　and　died　in　narnia　in　old　times　and　　it　seemed　to　him　that　none　of　them　had　ever　been　so　unlucky　as　himself。　he　thought　of　　his　great…grandfathers　great…grandfather　king　rilian　who　had　been　stolen　away　by　a　　witch　when　he　was　only　a　young　prince　and　kept　hidden　for　years　in　the　dark　caves　　beneath　the　land　of　the　northern　giants。　but　then　it　had　all　e；　right