prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第15部分

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〃no；　of　course　i　cant；〃　snapped　susan。　〃because　there　isnt　anything　to　　see。　shes　been　dreaming。　do　lie　down　and　go　to　sleep；　lucy。鈥�

〃and　i　do　hope；〃　said　lucy　in　a　tremulous　voice；　〃that　you　will　all　e　　with　me。

because　…　because　ill　have　to　go　with　him　whether　anyone　else　does　or　　not。鈥�

〃dont　talk　nonsense；　lucy；〃　said　susan。　〃of　course　you　cant　go　off　on　　your　own。　dont　let　her；　peter。　shes　being　downright　naughty。鈥�

〃ill　go　with　her；　if　she　must　go；〃　said　edmund。　〃shes　been　right　before。鈥�

〃i　know　she　has；〃　said　peter。　〃and　she　may　have　been　right　this　morning。　we　　certainly　had　no　luck　going　down　the　gorge。　still　…　at　this　hour　of　the　night。　and　　why　should　aslan　be　invisible　to　us？　he　never　used　to　be。　its　not　like　him。　what　does　the　　d。l。f。　say？鈥�

〃oh；　i　say　nothing　at　all；〃　answered　the　dwarf。　〃if　you　all　go；　of　course；　　ill　go　with　you；　and　if　your　party　splits　up；　ill　go　with　the　high　king。　thats　my　duty　to　　him　and　king　caspian。　but；　if　you　ask　my　private　opinion；　im　a　plain　dwarf　who　doesnt　　think　theres　much　chance　of　finding　a　road　by　night　where　you　couldnt　find　one　by　day。　　and　i　have　no　use　for　magic　lions　which　are　talking　lions　and　dont　talk；　and　friendly　　lions　though　they　dont　do　us　any　good；　and　whopping　big　lions　though　nobody　can　see　　them。　its　all　bilge　and　beanstalks　as　far　as　i　can　see。鈥�

〃hes　beating　his　paw　on　the　ground　for　us　to　hurry；〃　said　lucy。　〃we　must　　go　now。　at　least　i　must。鈥�

〃youve　no　right　to　try　to　force　the　rest　of　us　like　that。　its　four　to　one　　and　youre　the　youngest；〃　said　susan。

〃oh；　e　on；〃　growled　edmund。　〃weve　got　to　go。　therell　be　no　peace　till　　we　do。〃　he　fully　intended　to　back　lucy　up；　but　he　was　annoyed　at　losing　his　nights　　sleep　and　was　making　up　for　it　by　doing　everything　as　sulkily　as　possible。

〃on　the　march；　then；〃　said　peter；　wearily　fitting　his　arm　into　his　shield…　strap　and　putting　his　helmet　on。　at　any　other　time　he　would　have　said　something　nice　to　lucy；　　who　was　his　favourite　sister；　for　he　knew　how　wretched　she　must　be　feeling；　and　he　knew　　that；　　

whatever　had　happened；　it　was　not　her　fault。　but　he　couldnt　help　being　a　　little　annoyed　with　her　all　the　same。

susan　was　the　worst。　〃supposing　i　started　behaving　like　lucy；〃　she　said。　〃i　　might　threaten　to　stay　here　whether　the　rest　of　you　went　on　or　not。　i　jolly　well　　think　i　shall。鈥�

〃obey　the　high　king；　your　majesty；〃　said　trumpkin；　〃and　lets　be　off。　if　　im　not　to　be　allowed　to　sleep；　id　as　soon　march　as　stand　here　talking。鈥�

and　so　at　last　they　got　on　the　move。　lucy　went　first；　biting　her　lip　and　　trying　not　to　say　all　the　things　she　thought　of　saying　to　susan。　but　she　forgot　them　when　she　　fixed　her　eyes　on　aslan。　he　turned　and　walked　at　a　slow　pace　about　thirty　yards　ahead　of　　them。　the　others　had　only　lucys　directions　to　guide　them；　for　aslan　was　not　only　　invisible　to　them　but　silent　as　well。　his　big　cat…like　paws　made　no　noise　on　the　grass。

he　led　them　to　the　right　of　the　dancing　trees　…　whether　they　were　still　　dancing　nobody　knew；　for　lucy　had　her　eyes　on　the　lion　and　the　rest　had　their　eyes　on　lucy　　…　and　nearer　the　edge　of　the　gorge。　〃cobbles　and　kettledrums！〃　thought　trumpkin。　〃i　hope　　this　madness　isnt　going　to　end　in　a　moonlight　climb　and　broken　necks。鈥�

for　a　long　way　aslan　went　along　the　top　of　the　precipices。　then　they　came　　to　a　place　where　some　little　trees　grew　right　on　the　edge。　he　turned　and　disappeared　　among　them。

lucy　held　her　breath；　for　it　looked　as　if　he　had　plunged　over　the　cliff；　　but　she　was　too　busy　keeping　him　in　sight　to　stop　and　think　about　this。　she　quickened　her　　pace　and　was　soon　among　the　trees　herself。　looking　down；　she　could　see　a　steep　and　　narrow　path　going　slantwise　down　into　the　gorge　between　rocks；　and　aslan　descending　it。　he　　turned　and　looked　at　her　with　his　happy　eyes。　lucy　clapped　her　hands　and　began　to　　scramble　down　after　him。　from　behind　her　she　heard　the　voices　of　the　others　shouting；　　〃hi！　lucy！　look　out；　for　goodness　sake。　youre　right　on　the　edge　of　the　gorge。　e　back　…　　〃and　then；　a　moment　later；　edmunds　voice　saying；　〃no；　shes　right。　there　is　a　way　　down。鈥�

half…way　down　the　path　edmund　caught　up　with　her。

〃look！〃　he　said　in　great　excitement。　〃look！　whats　that　shadow　crawling　　down　in　front　of　us？鈥�

〃its　his　shadow；〃　said　lucy。

〃i　do　believe　youre　right；　lu；〃　said　edmund。　〃i　cant　think　how　i　didnt　　see　it　before。　but　where　is　he？鈥�

〃with　his　shadow；　of　course。　cant　you　see　him？鈥�

〃well；　i　almost　thought　i　did　…　for　a　moment。　its　such　a　rum　light。鈥�

〃get　on；　king　edmund；　get　on；〃　came　trumpkins　voice　from　behind　and　above：　　and　then；　farther　behind　and　still　nearly　at　the　top；　peters　voice　saying；　　〃oh；　buck　up；　susan。

give　me　your　hand。　why；　a　baby　could　get　down　here。　and　do　stop　grousing。鈥�

in　a　few　minutes　they　were　at　the　bottom　and　the　roaring　of　water　filled　　their　ears。

treading　delicately；　like　a　cat；　aslan　stepped　from　stone　to　stone　across　　the　stream。　in　the　middle　he　stopped；　bent　down　to　drink；　and　as　he　raised　his　shaggy　head；　　dripping　from　the　water；　he　turned　to　face　them　again。　this　time　edmund　saw　him。　〃oh；　　aslan！〃　he　cried；　darting　forward。　but　the　lion　whisked　round　and　began　padding　up　the　　slope　on　the　far　side　of　the　rush。

〃peter；　peter；〃　cried　edmund。　〃did　you　see？鈥�

〃i　saw　something；〃　said　peter。　〃but　its　so　tricky　in　this　moonlight。　on　we　　go；　though；　and　three　cheers　for　lucy。　i　dont　feel　half　so　tired　now；　either。鈥�

aslan　without　hesitation　led　them　to　their　left；　farther　up　the　gorge。　the　　whole　journey　was　odd　and　dream…like　the　roaring　stream；　the　wet　grey　grass；　the　　glimmering　cliffs　which　they　were　approaching；　and　always　the　glorious；　silently　pacing　beast　　ahead。

everyone　except　susan　and　the　dwarf　could　see　him　now。

presently　they　came　to　another　steep　path；　up　the　face　of　the　farther　　precipices。　these　were　far　higher　than　the　ones　they　had　just　descended；　and　the　journey　up　　them　was　a　long　and　tedious　zig…zag。　fortunately　the　moon　shone　right　above　the　gorge　　so　that　neither　side　was　in　shadow。

lucy　was　nearly　blown　when　the　tail　and　hind　legs　of　aslan　disappeared　over　　the　top：　but　with　one　last　effort　she　scrambled　after　him　and　came　out；　rather　shaky…　legged　and　breathless；　on　the　hill　they　had　been　trying　to　reach　ever　since　they　left　　glasswater。　the　long　gentle　slope　（heather　and　grass　and　a　few　very　big　rocks　that　shone　　white　in　the　moonlight）　stretched　up　to　where　it　vanished　in　a　glimmer　of　trees　about　　half　a　mile　away。　she　knew　it。　it　was　the　hill　of　the　stone　table：　　with　a　jingling　of　mail　the　others　climbed　up　behind　her。　aslan　glided　on　　before　them　and　they　walked　after　him。

〃lucy；〃　said　susan　in　a　very　small　voice。

〃yes？〃　said　lucy。

〃i　see　him　now。　im　sorry。鈥�

〃thats　all　right。鈥�

〃but　ive　been　far　worse　than　you　know。　i　really　believed　it　was　him　…　he；　　i　mean　…　yesterday。　when　he　warned　us　not　to　go　down　to　the　fir　wood。　and　i　really　　believed　it　　

was　him　tonight；　when　you　woke　us　up。　i　mean；　deep　down　inside。　or　i　could　　have；　if　id　let　myself。　but　i　just　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　woods　and　…　and　…　oh；　i　　dont　know。　and　what　ever　am　i　to　say　to　him？鈥�

〃perhaps　you　wont　need　to　say　much；〃　suggested　lucy。

soon　they　reached　the　trees　and　through　them　the　children　could　see　the　　great　mound；　aslans　how；　which　had　been　raised　over　the　table　since　their　days。

〃our　side　dont　keep　very　good　watch；〃　muttered　trumpkin。　〃we　ought　to　have　　been　challenged　before　now　…鈥�

〃hush！〃　said　the　other　four；　for　now　aslan　had　stopped　and　turned　and　stood　　facing　them；　looking　so　majestic　that　they　felt　as　glad　as　anyone　can　who　feels　afraid；　　and　as　afraid　as　anyone　can　who　feels　glad。　the　boys　strode　forward：　lucy　made　way　for　them：　　susan　and　the　dwarf　shrank　back。

〃oh；　aslan；〃　said　king　peter；　dropping　on　one　knee　and　raising　the　lions　　heavy　paw　to　his　face；　〃im　so　glad。　and　im　so　sorry。　ive　been　leading　them　wrong　ever　　since　we　started　and　especially　yesterday　morning。鈥�

〃my　dear　son；〃　said　aslan。

then　he　turned　and　weled　edmund。　〃well　done；〃　were　his　words。

then；　after　an　awful　pause；　the　deep　voice　said；　〃susan。〃　susan　made　no　　answer　but　the　others　thought　she　was　crying。　〃you　have　listened　to　fears；　child；〃　said　　aslan。　〃e；　let　me　breathe　on　you。　forget　them。　are　you　brave　again？鈥�

〃a　little；　aslan；〃　said　susan。

〃and　now！〃　said　aslan　in　a　much　louder　voice　with　just　a　hint　of　roar　in　　it；　while　his　tail　lashed　his　flanks。　〃and　now；　where　is　this　little　dwarf；　this　famous　　swordsman　and　archer；　who　doesnt　believe　in　lions？　e　here；　son　of　earth；　e　here！〃　　…　and　the　last　word　was　no　longer　the　hint　of　a　roar　but　almost　the　real　thing。

〃wraiths　and　wreckage！〃　gasped　trumpkin　in　the　ghost　of　a　voice。　the　　children；　who　knew　aslan　well　enough　to　see　that　he　liked　the　dwarf　very　much；　were　not　　disturbed；　but　it　was　quite　another　thing　for　trumpkin；　who　had　never　seen　a　lion　　before；　let　alone　this　lion。　he　did　the　only　sensible　thing　he　could　have　done；　that　is；　　instead　of　bolting；　he　tottered　towards　aslan。

aslan　pounced。　have　you　ever　seen　a　very　young　kitten　being　carried　in　the　　mother　cats　mouth？　it　was　like　that。　the　dwarf；　hunched　up　in　a　little；　miserable　ball；　　hung　from　aslans　mouth。　the　lion　gave　him　one　shake　and　all　his　armour　rattled　like　　a　tinkers　pack　and　then　…　heypresto　…　the　dwarf　flew　up　in　the　air。　he　was　as　safe　as　　if　he　had　been　　

in　bed；　though　he　did　not　feel　so。　as　he　came　down　the　huge　velvety　paws　　caught　him　as　gently　as　a　mothers　arms　and　set　him　（right　way　up；　too）　on　the　ground。

〃son　of　earth；　shall　we　be　friends？〃　asked　aslan。

〃ye　…　he　…　he　…　hes；〃　panted　the　dwarf；　for　it　had　not　yet　got　its　breath　　back。

〃now；〃　said　aslan。　〃the　moon　is　setting。　look　behind　you：　there　is　the　dawn　　beginning。

we　have　no　time　to　lose。　you　three；　you　sons　of　adam　and　son　of　earth；　　hasten　into　the　mound　and　deal　with　what　you　will　find　there。鈥�

the　dwarf　was　still　speechless　and　neither　of　the　boys　dared　to　ask　if　　aslan　would　follow　them。　all　three　drew　their　swords　and　saluted；　then　turned　and　jingled　away　　into　the　dusk。

lucy　noticed　that　there　was　no　sign　of　weariness　in　their　faces：　both　the　　high　king　and　king　e