the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第13部分

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m　every　day。　and　at　　last　theyd　e　out　of　hiding　and　sweep　the　calormenes　（who　would　have　got　careless　by　　then）　out　of　the　country　and　narnia　would　be　revived。　after　all；　something　very　like　　that　had　happened　in　the　time　of　king　miraz！

and　tirian　heard　all　this　and　thought　〃but　what　about　tash？〃　and　felt　in　　his　bones　that　none　of　it　was　going　to　happen。　but　he　didnt　say　so。

when　they　got　nearer　to　stable　hill　of　course　everyone　became　quiet。　then　　the　real　wood…work　began。　from　the　moment　at　which　they　first　saw　the　hill　to　the　　moment　at　which　they　all　arrived　at　the　back　of　the　stable；　it　took　them　over　two　　hours。　its　the　sort　of　thing　one　couldnt　describe　properly　unless　one　wrote　pages　and　pages　　about　it。　the　journey　from　each　bit　of　cover　to　the　next　was　a　separate　adventure；　and　　there　were　very　long　waits　in　between；　and　several　false　alarms。　if　you　are　a　good　scout　or　　a　good　guide　you　will　know　already　what　it　must　have　been　like。　by　about　sunset　they　　were　all　safe　in　a　clump　of　holly　trees　about　fifteen　yards　behind　the　stable。　they　all　　munched　some　biscuit　and　lay　down。

then　came　the　worst　part；　the　waiting。　luckily　for　the　children　they　slept　　for　a　couple　of　hours；　but　of　course　they　woke　up　when　the　night　grew　cold；　and　what　was　　worse；　woke　up　very　thirsty　and　with　no　chance　of　getting　a　drink。　puzzle　just　stood；　　shivering　a　little　with　nervousness；　and　said　nothing。　but　tirian；　with　his　head　against　　jewels　flank；　slept　as　soundly　as　if　he　were　in　his　royal　bed　at　cair　paravel；　till　the　sound　　of　a　gong　beating　awoke　him　and　he　sat　up　and　saw　that　there　was　firelight　on　the　far　side　of　　the　stable　and　knew　that　the　hour　had　e。

〃kiss　me；　jewel；〃　he　said。　〃for　certainly　this　is　our　last　night　on　earth。　　and　if　ever　i　offended　against　you　in　any　matter　great　or　small；　forgive　me　now。鈥�

〃dear　king；〃　said　the　unicorn；　〃i　could　almost　wish　you　had；　so　that　i　　might　forgive　it。

farewell。　we　have　known　great　joys　together。　if　aslan　gave　me　my　choice　i　　would　choose　no　other　life　than　the　life　i　have　had　and　no　other　death　than　the　　one　we　go　to。鈥�

then　they　woke　up　farsight；　who　was　asleep　with　his　head　under　his　wing　（it　　made　him　look　as　if　he　had　no　head　at　all）；　and　crept　forward　to　the　stable。　they　　left　puzzle　（not　without　a　kind　word；　for　no　one　was　angry　with　him　now）　just　behind　it；　　telling　him　not　to　move　till　someone　came　to　fetch　him；　and　took　up　their　position　at　one　　end　of　the　stable。

the　bonfire　had　not　been　lit　for　long　and　was　just　beginning　to　blaze　up。　　it　was　only　a　few　feet　away　from　them；　and　the　great　crowd　of　narnian　creatures　were　on　　the　other　side　of　it；　so　that　tirian　could　not　at　first　see　them　very　well；　though　of　　course　he　saw　dozens　of　eyes　shining　with　the　reflection　of　the　fire；　as　youve　seen　a　rabbits　　or　cats　eyes　in　the　　

headlights　of　a　car。　and　just　as　tirian　took　his　place；　the　gong　stopped　　beating　and　from　somewhere　on　his　left　three　figures　appeared。　one　was　rishda　tarkaan　the　　calormene　captain。　the　second　was　the　ape。　he　was　holding　on　to　the　tarkaans　hand　　with　one　paw　and　kept　whimpering　and　muttering；　〃not　so　fast；　dont　go　so　fast；　im　not　　at　all　well。　oh　my　poor　head！　these　midnight　meetings　are　getting　too　much　for　me。　apes　　arent　meant　to　be　up　at　night：　its　not　as　if　i　was　a　rat　or　a　bat　…　oh　my　poor　head。〃　　on　the　other　side　of　the　ape；　walking　very　soft　and　stately；　with　his　tail　straight　up　in　the　　air；　came　ginger　the　cat。　they　were　heading　for　the　bonfire　and　were　so　close　to　tirian　that　　they　would　have　seen　him　at　once　if　they　had　looked　in　the　right　direction。　fortunately　　they　did　not。　but　tirian　heard　rishda　say　to　ginger　in　a　low　voice：　　〃now；　cat；　to　thy　post。　see　thou　play　thy　part　well。鈥�

〃miaow；　miaow。　count　on　me！〃　said　ginger。　then　he　stepped　away　beyond　the　　bonfire　and　sat　down　in　the　front　row　of　the　assembled　beasts：　in　the　audience；　as　　you　might　say。

for　really；　as　it　happened；　the　whole　thing　was　rather　like　a　theatre。　the　　crowd　of　narnians　were　like　the　people　in　the　seats；　the　little　grassy　place　just　in　　front　of　the　stable；　where　the　bonfire　burned　and　the　ape　and　the　captain　stood　to　talk　to　the　　crowd；　was　like　the　stage；　the　stable　itself　was　like　the　scenery　at　the　back　of　the　stage；　　and　tirian　and　his　friends　were　like　people　peering　round　from　behind　the　scenery。　it　was　a　　splendid　position。　if　any　of　them　stepped　forward　into　the　full　firelight；　all　eyes　　would　be　fixed　on　him　at　once：　on　the　other　hand；　so　long　as　they　stood　still　in　the　shadow　　of　the　end…wall　of　the　stable；　it　was　a　hundred　to　one　against　their　being　noticed。

rishda　tarkaan　dragged　the　ape　up　close　to　the　fire。　the　pair　of　them　　turned　to　face　the　crowd；　and　this　of　course　meant　that　their　backs　were　towards　tirian　and　　his　friends。

〃now；　monkey；〃　said　rishda　tarkaan　in　a　low　voice。　〃say　the　words　that　　wiser　heads　have　put　into　thy　mouth。　and　hold　up　thy　head。〃　as　he　spoke　he　gave　the　ape　　a　little　prod　or　kick　from　behind　with　the　point　of　his　toe。

〃do　leave　me　alone；〃　muttered　shift。　but　he　sat　up　straighter　and　began；　in　　a　louder　voice　…　〃now　listen；　all　of　you。　a　terrible　thing　has　happened。　a　wicked　thing。　　the　wickedest　thing　that　ever　was　done　in　narnia。　and　aslan　…鈥�

〃tashlan；　fool；〃　whispered　rishda　tarkaan。

〃tashlan　i　mean；　of　course；〃　said　the　ape；　〃is　very　angry　about　it。鈥�

there　was　a　terrible　silence　while　the　beasts　waited　to　hear　what　new　　trouble　was　in　store　for　them。　the　little　party　by　the　end…wall　of　the　stable　also　held　their　　breath。　what　on　earth　was　ing　now？

〃yes；〃　said　the　ape。　〃at　this　very　moment；　when　the　terrible　one　himself　is　　among　us　…　there　in　the　stable　just　behind　me　…　one　wicked　beast　has　chosen　to　do　what　　youd　think　　

no　one　would　dare　to　do　even　if　he　were　a　thousand　miles　away。　it　has　　dressed　itself　up　in　a　lion…skin　and　is　wandering　about　in　these　very　woods　pretending　to　be　　aslan。鈥�

jill　wondered　for　a　moment　if　the　ape　had　gone　mad。　was　he　going　to　tell　　the　whole　truth？　a　roar　of　horror　and　rage　went　up　from　the　beasts。　〃grrr！〃　came　the　　growls。　〃who　is　he？　where　is　he？　just　let　me　get　my　teeth　into　him！鈥�

〃it　was　seen　last　night；〃　screamed　the　ape；　〃but　it　got　away。　its　a　　donkey！　a　mon；　miserable　ass！　if　any　of　you　see　that　ass　…鈥�

〃grrr！〃　growled　the　beasts。　〃we　will；　we　will。　hed　better　keep　out　of　our　　way。鈥�

jill　looked　at　the　king：　his　mouth　was　open　and　his　face　was　full　of　　horror。　and　then　she　understood　the　devilish　cunning　of　the　enemies　plan。　by　mixing　a　little　　truth　with　it　they　had　made　their　lie　far　stronger。　what　was　the　good；　now；　of　telling　the　　beasts　that　an　ass　had　been　dressed　up　as　a　lion　to　deceive　them？　the　ape　would　only　say；　　〃thats　just　what　ive　said。〃　what　was　the　good　of　showing　them　puzzle　in　his　lion…skin？　they　　would　only　tear　him　in　pieces。　〃thats　taken　the　wind　out　of　our　sails；〃　whispered　　eustace。　〃the　ground　is　taken　from　under　our　feet；〃　said　tirian。　〃cursed；　cursed　　cleverness！〃　said　poggin。　〃ill　be　sworn　that　this　new　lie　is　of　gingers　making。鈥�

锛凤挤锛贰�xi锛�os锛╱o锛达几锛础�



CHAPTER　TEN

灏�*璇�**t*xt**澶�*鍫�
who　will　go　into　the　stable？

jill　felt　something　tickling　her　ear。　it　was　jewel　the　unicorn；　whispering　　to　her　with　the　wide　whisper　of　a　horses　mouth。　as　soon　as　she　heard　what　he　was　saying　　she　nodded　and　tip…toed　back　to　where　puzzle　was　standing。　quickly　and　quietly　she　cut　　the　last　cords　that　bound　the　lion…skin　to　him。　it　wouldnt　do　for　him　to　be　caught　　with　that　on；　after　what　the　ape　had　said！　she　would　like　to　have　hidden　the　skin　　somewhere　very　far　away；　but　it　was　too　heavy。　the　best　she　could　do　was　to　kick　it　in　among　　the　thickest　bushes。　then　she　made　signs　to　puzzle　to　follow　her　and　they　both　joined　　the　others。

the　ape　was　speaking　again。

〃and　after　a　horrid　thing　like　that；　aslan　…　tashlan　…　is　angrier　than　　ever。　he　says　hes　been　a　great　deal　too　good　to　you；　ing　out　every　night　to　be　looked　at；　　see！　well；　hes　not　ing　out　any　more。鈥�

howls　and　mewings　and　squeals　and　grunts　were　the　animals　answer　to　this；　　but　suddenly　a　quite　different　voice　broke　in　with　a　loud　laugh。

〃hark　what　the　monkey　says；〃　it　shouted。　〃we　know　why　he　isnt　going　to　　bring　his　precious　aslan　out。　ill　tell　you　why：　because　he　hasnt　got　him。　he　never　　had　anything　except　an　old　donkey　with　a　lion…skin　on　its　back。　now　hes　lost　that　and　　he　doesnt　know　what　to　do。鈥�

tirian　could　not　see　the　faces　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire　very　well　but　　he　guessed　this　was　griffle　the　chief　dwarf。　and　he　was　quite　certain　of　it　when；　a　second　　later；　all　the　dwarfs　voices　joined　in；　singing：　〃dont　know　what　to　do！　dont　know　what　　to　do！　dont　know　what　to　do…o…o！鈥�

〃silence！〃　thundered　rishda　tarkaan。　〃silence；　children　of　mud！　listen　to　　me；　you　other　narnians；　lest　i　give　mand　to　my　warriors　to　fall　upon　you　with　the　edge　　of　the　sword。　the　lord　shift　has　already　told　you　of　that　wicked　ass。　do　you　　think；　because　of　him　that　there　is　no　real　tashlan　in　the　stable！　do　you？　beware；　beware。鈥�

〃no；　no；〃　shouted　most　of　the　crowd。　but　the　dwarfs　said；　〃thats　right；　　darkie；　youve　got　it。　e　on；　monkey；　show　us　whats　in　the　stable；　seeing　is　　believing。鈥�

when　next　there　was　a　moments　quiet　the　ape　said：　〃you　dwarfs　think　youre　　very　clever；　dont　you？　but　not　so　fast。　i　never　said　you　couldnt　see　tashlan。　　anyone　who　likes　can　see　him。鈥�

the　whole　assembly　became　silent。　then；　after　nearly　a　minute；　the　bear　　began　in　a　slow；　puzzled　voice：　　〃i　dont　quite　understand　all　this；〃　it　grumbled；　〃i　thought　you　said　…鈥�

〃you　thought！〃　repeated　the　ape。　〃as　if　anyone　could　call　what　goes　on　in　　your　head　thinking。　listen；　you　others。　anyone　can　see　tashlan。　but　hes　not　ing　　out。　you　have　to　go　in　and　see　him。鈥�

〃oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　dozens　of　voices。　〃thats　what　　we　wanted！

we　can　go　in　and　see　him　face　to　face。　and　now　hell　be　kind　and　it　will　　all　be　as　it　used　to　be。〃　and　the　birds　chattered；　and　the　dogs　barked　excitedly。　then　　suddenly；　there　was　a　great　stirring　and　a　noise　of　creatures　rising　to　their　feet；　and　in　a　　second　the　whole　lot　of　them　would　have　been　rushing　forward　and　trying　to　crowd　into　the　stable　　door　all　together。