csl.themagiciansnephew-第13部分

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…horse；　you　could　now　well　believe　that　its　father　had　been　in　battles。
　　
　　The　eastern　sky　changed　from　white　to　pink　and　from　pink　to　gold。　The　Voice　rose　and　rose；　till　all　the　air　was　shaking　with　it。　And　just　as　it　swelled　to　the　mightiest　and　most　glorious　sound　it　had　yet　produced；　the　sun　arose。
　　
　　Digory　had　never　seen　such　a　sun。　The　sun　above　the　ruins　of　Charn　had　looked　older　than　ours：　this　looked　younger。　You　could　imagine　that　it　laughed　for　joy　as　it　came　up。　And　as　its　beams　shot　across　the　land　the　travellers　could　see　for　the　first　time　what　sort　of　place　they　were　in。　It　was　a　valley　through　which　a　broad；　swift　river　wound　its　way；　flowing　eastward　towards　the　sun。　Southward　there　were　mountains；　northward　there　were　lower　hills。　But　it　was　a　valley　of　mere　earth；　rock　and　water；　there　was　not　a　tree；　not　a　bush；　not　a　blade　of　grass　to　be　seen。　The　earth　was　of　many　colours：　they　were　fresh；　hot　and　vivid。　They　made　you　feel　excited；　until　you　saw　the　Singer　himself；　and　then　you　forgot　everything　else。
　　
　　It　was　a　Lion。　Huge；　shaggy；　and　bright；　it　stood　facing　the　risen　sun。　Its　mouth　was　wide　open　in　song　and　it　was　about　three　hundred　yards　away。
　　
　　〃This　is　a　terrible　world；〃　said　the　Witch。　〃We　must　fly　at　once。　Prepare　the　Magic。〃
　　
　　〃I　quite　agree　with　you；　Madam；〃　said　Uncle　Andrew。　〃A　most　disagreeable　place。　pletely　uncivilized。　If　only　I　were　a　younger　man　and　had　a　gun…〃
　　
　　〃Garn！〃　said　the　Cabby。　〃You　don't　think　you　could　shoot　'im；　do　you？〃
　　
　　〃And　who　would〃　said　Polly。
　　
　　〃Prepare　the　Magic；　old　fool；〃　said　Jadis。
　　
　　〃Certainly；　Madam；〃　said　Uncle　Andrew　cunningly。　〃I　must　have　both　the　children　touching　me。　Put　on　your　homeward　ring　at　once；　Digory。〃　He　wanted　to　get　away　without　the　Witch。
　　
　　〃Oh；　it's　rings；　is　it？〃　cried　Jadis。　She　would　have　had　her　hands　in　Digory's　pocket　before　you　could　say　knife；　but　Digory　grabbed　Polly　and　shouted　out：
　　
　　〃Take　care。　If　either　of　you　e　half　an　inch　nearer；　we　two　will　vanish　and　you'll　be　left　here　for　good。　Yes：　I　have　a　ring　in　my　pocket　that　will　take　Polly　and　me　home。　And　look！　My　hand　is　just　ready。　So　keep　your　distance。　I'm　sorry　about　you　（he　looked　at　the　Cabby）　and　about　the　horse；　but　I　can't　help　that。　As　for　you　two　（he　looked　at　Uncle　Andrew　and　the　Queen）；　you're　both　magicians；　so　you　ought　to　enjoy　living　together。〃
　　
　　〃'Old　your　noise；　everyone；〃　said　the　Cabby。　〃I　want　to　listen　to　the　moosic。〃
　　
　　For　the　song　had　now　changed。
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　NINE
　　
　　THE　FOUNDING　OF　NARNIA
　　
　　THE　Lion　was　pacing　to　and　fro　about　that　empty　land　and　singing　his　new　song。　It　was　softer　and　more　lilting　than　the　song　by　which　he　had　called　up　the　stars　and　the　sun；　a　gentle；　rippling　music。　And　as　he　walked　and　sang　the　valley　grew　green　with　grass。　It　spread　out　from　the　Lion　like　a　pool。　It　ran　up　the　sides　of　the　little　hills　like　a　wave。　In　a　few　minutes　it　was　creeping　up　the　lower　slopes　of　the　distant　mountains；　making　that　young　world　every　moment　softer。　The　light　wind　could　now　be　heard　ruffling　the　grass。　Soon　there　were　other　things　besides　grass。　The　higher　slopes　grew　dark　with　heather。　Patches　of　rougher　and　more　bristling　green　appeared　in　the　valley。　Digory　did　not　know　what　they　were　until　one　began　ing　up　quite　close　to　him。　It　was　a　little；　spiky　thing　that　threw　out　dozens　of　arms　and　covered　these　arms　with　green　and　grew　larger　at　the　rate　of　about　an　inch　every　two　seconds。　There　were　dozens　of　these　things　all　round　him　now。　When　they　were　nearly　as　tall　as　himself　he　saw　what　they　were。　〃Trees！〃　he　exclaimed。
　　
　　The　nuisance　of　it；　as　Polly　said　afterwards；　was　that　you　weren't　left　in　peace　to　watch　it　all。　Just　as　Digory　said　〃Trees！〃　he　had　to　jump　because　Uncle　Andrew　had　sidled　up　to　him　again　and　was　going　to　pick　his　pocket。　It　wouldn't　have　done　Uncle　Andrew　much　good　if　he　had　succeeded；　for　he　was　aiming　at　the　right…hand　pocket　because　he　still　thought　the　green　rings　were　〃homeward〃　rings。　But　of　course　Digory　didn't　want　to　lose　either。
　　
　　〃Stop！〃　cried　the　Witch。　〃Stand　back。　No；　further　back。　If　anyone　goes　within　ten　paces　of　either　of　the　children；　I　will　knock　out　his　brains。〃　She　was　poising　in　her　hand　the　iron　bar　that　she　had　torn　off　the　lamp…post；　ready　to　throw　it。　Somehow　no　one　doubted　that　she　would　be　a　very　good　shot。
　　
　　〃So！〃…she　said。　〃You　would　steal　back　to　your　own　world　with　the　boy　and　leave　me　here。〃
　　
　　Uncle　Andrew's　temper　at　last　got　the　better　of　his　fears。　〃Yes；　Ma'am；　I　would；〃　he　said。　〃Most　undoubtedly　I　would。　I　should　be　perfectly　in　my　rights。　I　have　been　most　shamefully；　most　abominably　treated。　I　have　done　my　best　to　show　you　such　civilities　as　were　in　my　power。　And　what　has　been　my　reward？　You　have　robbed…I　must　repeat　the　word　robbed　a　highly　respectable　jeweller。　You　have　insisted　on　my　entertaining　you　to　an　exceedingly　expensive；　not　to　say　ostentatious；　lunch；　though　I　was　obliged　to　pawn　my　watch　and　chain　in　order　to　do　so　（and　let　me　tell　you；　Ma'am；　that　none　of　our　family　have　been　in　the　habit　of　frequenting　pawnshops；　except　my　cousin　Edward；　and　he　was　in　the　Yeomanry）。　During　that　indigestible　meal…I'm　feeling　the　worse　for　it　at　this　very　moment…your　behaviour　and　conversation　attracted　the　unfavourable　attention　of　everyone　present。　I　feel　I　have　been　publicly　disgraced。　I　shall　never　be　able　to　show　my　face　in　that　restaurant　again。　You　have　assaulted　the　police。　You　have　stolen…〃
　　
　　〃Oh　stow　it；　Guv'nor；　do　stow　it；〃　said　the　Cabby。　〃Watchin'　and　listenin's　the　thing　at　present；　not　talking。〃
　　
　　There　was　certainly　plenty　to　watch　and　to　listen　to。　The　tree　which　Digory　had　noticed　was　now　a　full…grown　beech　whose　branches　swayed　gently　above　his　head。　They　stood　on　cool；　green　grass；　sprinkled　with　daisies　and　buttercups。　A　little　way　off；　along　the　river　bank；　willows　were　growing。　On　the　other　side　tangles　of　flowering　currant；　lilac；　wild　rose；　and　rhododendron　closed　them　in。　The　horse　was　tearing　up　delicious　mouthfuls　of　new　grass。
　　
　　All　this　time　the　Lion's　song；　and　his　stately　prowl；　to　and　fro；　backwards　and　forwards；　was　going　on。　What　was　rather　alarming　was　that　at　each　turn　he　came　a　little　nearer。　Polly　was　finding　the　song　more　and　more　interesting　because　she　thought　she　was　beginning　to　see　the　connection　between　the　music　and　the　things　that　were　happening。　When　a　line　of　dark　firs　sprang　up　on　a　ridge　about　a　hundred　yards　away　she　felt　that　they　were　connected　with　a　series　of　deep；　prolonged　notes　which　the　Lion　had　sung　a　second　before。　And　when　he　burst　into　a　rapid　series　of　lighter　notes　she　was　not　surprised　to　see　primroses　suddenly　appearing　in　every　direction。　Thus；　with　an　unspeakable　thrill；　she　felt　quite　certain　that　all　the　things　were　ing　（as　she　said）　〃out　of　the　Lion's　head〃。　When　you　listened　to　his　song　you　heard　the　things　he　was　making　up：　when　you　looked　round　you；　you　saw　them。　This　was　so　exciting　that　she　had　no　time　to　be　afraid。　But　Digory　and　the　Cabby　could　not　help　feeling　a　bit　nervous　as　each　turn　of　the　Lion's　walk　brought　him　nearer。　As　for　Uncle　Andrew；　his　teeth　were　chattering；　but　his　knees　were　shaking　so　that　he　could　not　run　away。
　　
　　Suddenly　the　Witch　stepped　boldly　out　towards　the　Lion。　It　was　ing　on；　always　singing；　with　a　slow；　heavy　pace。　It　was　only　twelve　yards　away。　She　raised　her　arm　and　flung　the　iron　bar　straight　at　its　head。
　　
　　Nobody；　least　of　all　Jadis；　could　have　missed　at　that　range。　The　bar　struck　the　Lion　fair　between　the　eyes。　It　glanced　off　and　fell　with　a　thud　in　the　grass。　The　Lion　came　on。　Its　walk　was　neither　slower　nor　faster　than　before；　you　could　not　tell　whether　it　even　knew　it　had　been　hit。　Though　its　soft　pads　made　no　noise；　you　could　feel　the　earth　shake　beneath　their　weight。
　　
　　The　Witch　shrieked　and　ran：　in　a　few　moments　she　was　out　of　sight　among　the　trees。　Uncle　Andrew　turned　to　do　likewise；　tripped　over　a　root；　and　fell　flat　on　his　face　in　a　little　brook　that　ran　down　to　join　the　river。　The　children　could　not　move。　They　were　not　even　quite　sure　that　they　wanted　to。　The　Lion　paid　no　attention　to　them。　Its　huge　red　mouth　was　open；　but　open　in　song　not　in　a　snarl。　It　passed　by　them　so　close　that　they　could　have　touched　its　mane。　They　were　terribly　afraid　it　would　turn　and　look　at　them；　yet　in　some　queer　way　they　wished　it　would。　But　for　all　the　notice　it　took　of　them　they　might　just　as　well　have　been　invisible　and　unsmellable。　When　it　had　passed　them　and　gone　a　few　paces　further　it　turned；　passed　them　again；　and　continued　its　march　eastward。
　　
　　Uncle　Andrew；　coughing　and　spluttering；　picked　himself　up。
　　
　　〃Now；　Digory；〃　he　said；　〃we've　got　rid　of　that　woman；　and　the　brute　of　a　lion　is　gone。　Give　me　your　hand　and　put　on　your　ring　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃Keep　off；〃　said　Digory；　backing　away　from　him。　〃Keep　clear　of　him；　Polly。　e　over　here　beside　me。　Now　I　warn　you；　Uncle　Andrew；　don't　e　one　step　nearer；　we'll　just　vanish。〃
　　
　　〃Do　what　you're　told　this　minute；　sir；〃　said　Uncle　Andrew。　〃You're　an　extremely　disobedient；　ill…behaved　little　boy。〃
　　
　　〃No　fear；〃　said　Digory。　〃We　want　to　stay　and　see　what　happens。　I　thought　you　wanted　to　know　about　other　worlds。　Don't　you　like　it　now　you're　here？〃
　　
　　〃Like　it！〃　exclaimed　Uncle　Andrew。　〃Just　look　at　the　state　I'm　in。　And　it　was　my　best　coat　and　waistcoat；　too。〃　He　certainly　was　a　dreadful　sight　by　now：　for　of　course；　the　more　dressed　up　you　were　to　begin　with；　the　worse　you　look　after　you've　crawled　out　of　a　smashed　hansoncab　and　fallen　into　a　muddy　brook。　〃I'm　not　saying；〃　he　added；　〃that　this　is　not　a　most　interesting　place。　If　I　were　a　younger　man；　now…perhaps　I　could　get　some　lively　young　fellow　to　e　here　first。　One　of　those　big…game　hunters。　Something　might　be　made　of　this　country。　The　climate　is　delightful。　I　never　felt　such　air。　I　believe　it　would　have　done　me　good　if…if　circumstances　had　been　more　favourable。　If　only　we'd　had　a　gun。〃
　　
　　〃Guns　be　blowed；〃　said　the　Cabby。　〃I　think　I'll　go　and　see　if　I　can　give　Strawberry　a　rub　down。　That　horse　'as　more　sense　than　some