prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第12部分

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〃thats　right。　cross　it　and　strike　uphill；　and　well　be　at　the　stone　table　　（aslans　how；　i　mean）　by　eight　or　nine　oclock。　i　hope　king　caspian　will　give　us　a　good　　breakfast！鈥�

〃i　hope　youre　right；〃　said　susan。　〃i　cant　remember　all　that　at　all。鈥�

〃thats　the　worst　of　girls；〃　said　edmund　to　peter　and　the　dwarf。　〃they　　never　carry　a　map　in　their　heads。鈥�

〃thats　because　our　heads　have　something　inside　them；〃　said　lucy。

at　first　things　seemed　to　be　going　pretty　well。　they　even　…thought　they　had　　struck　an　old　path；　but　if　you　know　anything　about　woods；　you　will　know　that　one　is　　always　finding　imaginary　paths。　they　disappear　after　about　five　minutes　and　then　you　think　　you　have　found　another　（and　hope　it　is　not　another　but　more　of　the　same　one）　and　it　　also　disappears；　and　after　you　have　been　well　lured　out　of　your　right　direction　　you　realize　that　none　of　them　were　pats　at　all。　the　boys　and　the　dwarf；　however；　were　used　　to　woods　and　were　not　taken　in　for　more　than　a　few　seconds。

they　had　plodded　on　for　about　half　an　hour　（three　of　them　very　stiff　from　　yesterdays　rowing）　when　trumpkin　suddenly　whispered；　〃stop。〃　they　all　stopped。　　〃theres　something　following　us；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃or　rather；　something　　keeping　up　with　us：　over　there　on　the　left。〃　they　all　stood　still；　listening　and　staring　　till　their　ears　and　eyes　ached。　〃you　and　id　better　each　have　an　arrow　on　the　string；〃　said　susan　to　　trumpkin。

the　dwarf　nodded；　and　when　both　bows　were　ready　for　action　the　party　went　　on　again。

they　went　a　few　dozen　yards　through　fairly　open　woodland；　keeping　a　sharp　　look…out。

then　they　came　to　a　place　where　the　undergrowth　thickened　and　they　had　to　　pass　nearer　to　it。　just　as　they　were　passing　the　place；　there　came　a　sudden　something　　that　snarled　and　flashed；　rising　out　from　the　breaking　twigs　like　a　thunderbolt。　lucy　was　　knocked　down　and　winded；　hearing　the　twang　of　a　bowstring　as　she　fell。　when　she　was　able　　to　take　notice　of　things　again；　she　saw　a　great　grim…looking　grey　bear　lying　dead　　with　trumpkins　arrow　in　its　side。

〃the　d。l。f。　beat　you　in　that　shooting　match；　su；〃　said　#peter；　with　a　　slightly　forced　smile。　even　he　had　been　shaken　by　this　adventure。

〃i　…　i　left　it　too　late；〃　said　susan；　in　an　embarrassed　voice。　〃i　was　so　　afraid　it　might　be；　you　know　…　one　of　our　kind　of　bears；　a　talking　bear。〃　she　hated　killing　　things。

〃thats　the　trouble　of　it；〃　said　trumpkin；　〃when　most　of　the　beasts　have　　gone　enemy　and　gone　dumb；　but　there　are　still　some　of　the　other　kind　left。　you　never　know；　　and　you　darent　wait　to　see。鈥�

〃poor　old　bruin；〃　said　susan。　〃you　dont　think　he　was？鈥�

〃not　he；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃i　saw　the　face　and　i　heard　the　snarl。　he　only　　wanted　little　girl　for　his　breakfast。　and　talking　of　breakfast；　i　didnt　want　to　discourage　　your　majesties　when　you　said　you　hoped　king　caspian　would　give　you　a　good　one：　but　meats　　precious　scarce　in　camp。　and　theres　good　eating　on　a　bear。　it　would　be　a　shame　to　　leave　the　carcass　without　taking　a　bit；　and　it　wont　delay　us　more　than　half　an　hour。　　i　dare　say　you　two　youngsters　…　kings；　i　should　say　…　know　how　to　skin　a　bear？鈥�

〃lets　go　and　sit　down　a　fair　way　off；〃　said　susan　to　lucy。　〃i　know　what　a　　horrid　messy　business　that　will　be。〃　lucy　shuddered　and　nodded。　when　they　had　sat　down　　she　said：　〃such　a　horrible　idea　has　e　into　my　head；　su。　鈥�

〃whats　that？鈥�

〃wouldnt　it　be　dreadful　if　some　day；　in　our　own　world；　at　home；　men　　started　going　wild　inside；　like　the　animals　here；　and　still　looked　like　men；　so　that　youd　　never　know　which　were　which？鈥�

〃weve　got　enough　to　bother　about　here　and　now　in　narnia；〃　said　the　　practical　susan；　〃without　imagining　things　like　that。鈥�

when　they　rejoined　the　boys　and　the　dwarf；　as　much　as　they　thought　they　　could　carry　of　the　best　meat　had　been　cut　off。　raw　meat　is　not　a　nice　thing　to　fill　ones　　pockets　with；　but　they　folded　it　up　in　fresh　leaves　and　made　the　best　of　it。　they　were　all　　experienced　enough　to　know　that　they　would　feel　quite　differently　about　these　squashy　　and　unpleasant　parcels　when　they　had　walked　long　enough　to　be　really　hungry。

on　they　trudged　again　（stopping　to　wash　three　pairs　of　hands　that　needed　it　　in　the　first　stream　they　passed）　until　the　sun　rose　and　the　birds　began　to　sing；　and　　more　flies　than　they　wanted　were　buzzing　in　the　bracken。　the　stiffness　from　yesterdays　　rowing　began　to　wear　off。　everybodys　spirits　rose。　the　sun　grew　warmer　and　they　took　their　　helmets　off　and　carried　them。

〃i　suppose　we　are　going　right？〃　said　edmund　about　an　hour　later。

〃i　dont　see　how　we　can　go　wrong　as　long　as　we　dont　bear　too　much　to　the　　left；〃　said　peter。　〃if　we　bear　too　much　to　the　right；　the　worst　that　can　happen　is　　wasting　a　little　time　by　striking　the　great　river　too　soon　and　not　cutting　off　the　corner。鈥�

and　again　they　trudged　on　with　no　sound　except　the　thud　of　their　feet　and　　the　jingle　of　their　chain　shirts。

〃wheres　this　bally　rush　got　to？〃　said　edmund　a　good　deal　later。

〃i　certainly　thought　wed　have　struck　it　by　now；〃　said　peter。　〃but　theres　　nothing　to　do　but　keep　on。〃　they　both　knew　that　the　dwarf　was　looking　anxiously　at　them；　but　　he　said　nothing。

and　still　they　trudged　on　and　their　mail　shirts　began　to　feel　very　hot　and　　heavy。

〃what　on　earth？〃　said　peter　suddenly。

they　had　e；　without　seeing　it；　almost　to　the　edge　of　a　small　precipice　　from　which　they　looked　down　into　a　gorge　with　a　river　at　the　bottom。　on　the　far　side　　the　cliffs　rose　much　higher。　none　of　the　party　except　edmund　（and　perhaps　trumpkin）　was　a　　rock　climber。

〃im　sorry；〃　said　peter。　〃its　my　fault　for　ing　this　way。　were　lost。　　ive　never　seen　this　place　in　my　life　before。鈥�

the　dwarf　gave　a　low　whistle　between　his　teeth。

〃oh；　do　lets　go　back　and　go　the　other　way；〃　said　susan。　〃i　knew　all　along　　wed　get　lost　in　these　woods。鈥�

〃susan！〃　said　lucy；　reproachfully；　〃dont　nag　at　peter　like　that。　its　so　　rotten；　and　hes　doing　all　he　can。鈥�

〃and　dont　you　snap　at　su　like　that；　either；〃　said　edmund。　〃i　think　shes　　quite　right。鈥�

〃tubs　and　tortoiseshells！〃　exclaimed　trumpkin。　〃if　weve　got　lost　ing；　　what　chance　have　we　of　finding　our　way　back？　and　if　were　to　go　back　to　the　island　and　　begin　all　over　again　…　even　supposing　we　could　…　we　might　as　well　give　the　whole　thing　up。　　miraz　will　have　finished　with　caspian　before　we　get　there　at　that　rate。鈥�

〃you　think　we　ought　to　go　on？〃　said　lucy。

〃im　not　sure　the　high　king　is　lost；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃whats　to　hinder　this　　river　being　the　rush？鈥�

〃because　the　rush　is　not　in　a　gorge；〃　said　peter；　keeping　his　temper　with　　some　difficulty。

〃your　majesty　says　is；〃　replied　the　dwarf；　〃but　oughtnt　you　to　say　was？　　you　knew　this　country　hundreds　…　it　may　be　a　thousand　…　years　ago。　maynt　it　have　　changed？　a　landslide　might　have　pulled　off　half　the　side　of　that　hill；　leaving　bare　rock；　and　　there　are　your　precipices　beyond　the　gorge。　then　the　rush　might　go　on　deepening　its　course　　year　after　　

year　till　you　get　the　little　precipices　this　side。　or　there　might　have　been　　an　earthquake；　or　anything。鈥�

〃i　never　thought　of　that；〃　said　peter。

〃and　anyway；〃　continued　trumpkin；　〃even　if　this　is　not　the　rush；　its　　flowing　roughly　north　and　so　it　must　fall　into　the　great　river　anyway。　i　think　i　passed　　something　that　might　have　been　it；　on　my　way　down。　so　if　we　go　downstream；　to　our　right；　　well　hit　the　great　river。　perhaps　not　so　high　as　wed　hoped；　but　at　least　well　be　no　　worse　off　than　if　youd　e　my　way。鈥�

〃trumpkin；　youre　a　brick；〃　said　peter。　〃e　on；　then。　down　this　side　of　　the　gorge。鈥�

〃look！　look！　look！〃　cried　lucy。

〃where？　what？〃　said　everyone。

〃the　lion；〃　said　lucy。　〃aslan　himself。　didnt　you　see？〃　her　face　had　　changed　pletely　and　her　eyes　shone。

〃do　you　really　mean　…？〃　began　peter。

〃where　did　you　think　you　saw　him？〃　asked　susan。

〃dont　talk　like　a　grown…up；〃　said　lucy；　stamping　her　foot。　〃i　didnt　think　　i　saw　him。　i　saw　him。鈥�

〃where；　lu？〃　asked　peter。

〃right　up　there　between　those　mountain　ashes。　no；　this　side　of　the　gorge。　　and　up；　not　down。　just　the　opposite　of　the　way　you　want　to　go。　and　he　wanted　us　to　go　　where　he　was　…　up　there。鈥�

〃how　do　you　know　that　was　what　he　wanted？〃　asked　edmund。

〃he　…　i　…　i　just　know；〃　said　lucy；　〃by　his　face。鈥�

the　others　all　looked　at　each　other　in　puzzled　silence。

〃her　majesty　may　well　have　seen　a　lion；〃　put　in　trumpkin。　〃there　are　lions　　in　these　woods；　ive　been　told。　but　it　neednt　have　been　a　friendly　and　talking　lion　　any　more　than　the　bear　was　a　friendly　and　talking　bear。鈥�

〃oh；　dont　be　so　stupid；〃　said　lucy。　〃do　you　think　i　dont　know　aslan　when　　i　see　him？鈥�

〃hed　be　a　pretty　elderly　lion　by　now；〃　said　trumpkin；　〃if　hes　one　you　　knew　when　you　were　here　before！　and　if　it　could　be　the　same　one；　whats　to　prevent　him　　having　gone　wild　and　witless　like　so　many　others？鈥�

lucy　turned　crimson　and　i　think　she　would　have　flown　at　trumpkin；　if　peter　　had　not　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm。　〃the　d。l。f。　doesnt　understand。　how　could　he？　you　must　　just　take　it；　trumpkin；　that　we　do　really　know　about　aslan；　a　little　bit　about　him；　i　　mean。　and　you　mustnt　talk　about　him　like　that　again。　it　isnt　lucky　for　one　thing：　and　　its　all　nonsense　for　another。　the　only　question　is　whether　aslan　was　really　there。鈥�

〃but　i　know　he　was；〃　said　lucy；　her　eyes　filling　with　tears。

〃yes；　lu；　but　we　dont；　you　see；〃　said　peter。

〃theres　nothing　for　it　but　a　vote；〃　said　edmund。

〃all　right；〃　replied　peter。　〃youre　the　eldest；　d。l。f。　what　do　you　vote　　for？　up　or　down？鈥�

〃down；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃i　know　nothing　about　aslan。　but　i　do　know　that　if　　we　turn　left　and　follow　the　gorge　up；　it　might　lead　us　all　day　before　we　found　a　place　　where　we　could　cross　it。　whereas　if　we　turn　right　and　go　down；　were　bound　to　reach　the　　great　river　in　about　a　couple　of　hours。　and　if　there　are　any　real　lions　about；　we　want　to　　go　away　from　them；　not　towards　them。鈥�

〃what　do　you　say；　susan？鈥�

〃dont　be　angry；　lu；〃　said　susan；　〃but　i　do　think　we　should　go　down。　im　　dead　tired。　do　lets　get　out　of　this　wretched　wood　into　the　open　as　quick　as　we　can。　and　　none　of　us　except　you　saw　anything。鈥�

〃edmund？〃　said　peter。

〃well；　theres　just　this；〃　said　edmund；　speaking　quickly　and　turnin