the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第15部分

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not　so　tall；　with　a　big　　beard。

〃ho…ho…ho；〃　chuckled　the　ape。　〃any　more？　anyone　else　want　to　go　in？　well；　　as　youre　all　shy；　ill　choose　the　next。　you；　you　boar！　on　you　e。　drive　him　up；　　calormenes。　he　shall　see　tashlan　face　to　face。鈥�

〃o…o…mph；〃　grunted　the　boar；　rising　heavily　to　his　feet。　〃e　on；　then。　　try　my　tusks。鈥�

when　tirian　saw　that　brave　beast　getting　ready　to　fight　for　its　life　…　and　　calormene　soldiers　beginning　to　close　in　on　it　with　their　drawn　scimitars　…　and　no　　one　going　to　its　help　…　something　seemed　to　burst　inside　him。　he　no　longer　cared　if　this　was　　the　best　moment　to　interfere　or　not。

〃swords　out；〃　he　whispered　to　the　others。　〃arrow　on　string。　follow。鈥�

next　moment　the　astonished　narnians　saw　seven　figures　leap　forth　in　front　　of　the　stable；　four　of　them　in　shining　mail。　the　kings　sword　flashed　in　the　firelight　as　　he　waved　it　above　his　head　and　cried　in　a　great　voice：　　〃here　stand　i；　tirian　of　narnia；　in　aslans　name；　to　prove　with　my　body　　that　tash　is　a　foul　fiend；　the　ape　a　manifold　traitor；　and　these　calormenes　worthy　of　　death。　to　my　side；　all　true　narnians。　would　you　wait　till　your　new　masters　have　killed　you　all　　one　by　one？鈥�

　ww銆�w。x锛゛oshuotxt。銆�



CHAPTER　ELEVEN

灏忥伎璇矗�txt=锛垮ぉ。鍫�
the　pace　quickens　　　quick　as　lightning；　rishda　tarkaan　leaped　back　out　of　reach　of　the　kings　　sword。　he　was　no　coward；　and　would　have　fought　single…handed　against　tirian　and　the　　dwarf　if　need　were。　but　he　could　not　take　on　the　eagle　and　the　unicorn　as　well。　he　　knew　how　eagles　can　fly　into　your　face　and　peck　at　your　eyes　and　blind　you　with　　their　wings。　and　he　had　heard　from　his　father　（who　had　met　narnians　in　battle）　that　no　man；　　except　with　arrows；　or　a　long　spear；　can　match　a　unicorn；　for　it　rears　on　its　hind　legs　　as　it　falls　upon　you　and　then　you　have　its　hoofs　and　its　horn　and　its　teeth　to　deal　with　all　　at　once。　so　he　rushed　into　the　crowd　and　stood　calling　out：　　〃to　me；　to　me；　warriors　of　the　tisroc；　may…he…liveforever。　to　me；　all　loyal　　narnians；　lest　the　wrath　of　tashlan　fall　upon　you！鈥�

while　this　was　happening　two　other　things　happened　as　well。　the　ape　had　not　　realized　his　danger　as　quickly　as　the　tarkaan。　for　a　second　or　so　he　remained　　squatting　beside　the　fire　staring　at　the　newers。　then　tirian　rushed　upon　the　wretched　　creature；　picked　it　up　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　and　dashed　back　to　the　stable　shouting；　〃open　　the　door！鈥�

poggin　opened　it。　〃go　and　drink　your　own　medicine；　shift！〃　said　tirian　and　　hurled　the　ape　through　into　the　darkness。　but　as　the　dwarf　banged　the　door　shut　again；　　a　blinding　greenish…blue　light　shone　out　from　the　inside　of　the　stable；　the　earth　　shook；　and　there　was　a　strange　noise　…　a　clucking　and　screaming　as　if　it　was　the　hoarse　voice　of　　some　monstrous　bird。　the　beasts　moaned　and　howled　and　called　out　〃tashlan！　hide　　us　from　him！〃　and　many　fell　down；　and　many　hid　their　faces　in　their　wings　or　paws。　　no　one　except　farsight　the　eagle；　who　has　the　best　eyes　of　all　living　things；　　noticed　the　face　of　rishda　tarkaan　at　that　moment。　and　from　what　farsight　saw　there　he　knew　at　　once　that　rishda　was　just　as　surprised；　and　nearly　frightened；　as　everyone　else。　　〃there　goes　one；鈥�

thought　farsight；　〃who　has　called　on　gods　he　does　not　believe　in。　how　will　　it　be　with　him　if　they　have　really　e？鈥�

the　third　thing　…　which　also　happened　at　the　same　moment　…　was　the　only　　really　beautiful　thing　that　night。　every　single　talking　dog　in　the　whole　meeting　（there　were　　fifteen　of　　

them）　came　bounding　and　barking　joyously　to　the　kings　side。　they　were　　mostly　great　big　dogs　with　thick　shoulders　and　heavy　jaws。　their　ing　was　like　the　　breaking　of　a　great　wave　on　the　seabeach：　it　nearly　knocked　you　down。　for　though　they　　were　talking　dogs　they　were　just　as　doggy　as　they　could　be：　and　they　all　stood　up　and　　put　their　front　paws　on　the　shoulders　of　the　humans　and　licked　their　faces；　all　saying　at　　once：　〃wele！　wele！　well　help；　well　help；　help；　help。　show　us　how　to　help；　　show　us　how；　how。　how…how…how？鈥�

it　was　so　lovely　that　it　made　you　want　to　cry。　this；　at　last；　was　the　sort　　of　thing　they　had　been　hoping　for。　and　when；　a　moment　later；　several　little　animals　（mice　and　　moles　and　a　squirrel　or　so）　came　pattering　up；　squealing　with　joy；　and　saying　〃see；　　see。　were　here；鈥�

and　when；　after　that；　the　bear　and　the　boar　came　too；　eustace　began　to　feel　　that　perhaps；　after　all；　everything　might　be　going　to　e　right。　but　tirian　gazed　round　　and　saw　how　very　few　of　the　animals　had　moved。

〃to　me！　to　me！〃　he　called。　〃have　you　all　turned　cowards　since　i　was　your　　king？鈥�

〃we　darent；〃　whimpered　dozens　of　voices。　〃tashlan　would　be　angry。　shield　　us　from　tashlan。鈥�

〃where　are　all　the　talking　horses？〃　said　tirian　to　the　boar。

〃weve　seen；　weve　seen；〃　squealed　the　mice。　〃the　ape　has　made　them　work。　　theyre　all　tied　…　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill。鈥�

〃then　all　you　little　ones；〃　said　tirian；　〃you　nibblers　and　gnawers　and　　nutcrackers；　away　with　you　as　fast　as　you　can　scamper　and　see　if　the　horses　are　on　our　side。　　and　if　they　are；　get　your　teeth　into　the　ropes　and　gnaw　till　the　horses　are　free　and　bring　　them　hither。鈥�

〃with　a　good　will；　sire；〃　came　the　small　voices；　and　with　a　whisk　of　tails　　those　sharp…eyed　and　sharp…toothed　folk　were　off。　tirian　smiled　for　mere　love　as　he　saw　　them　go。　but　it　was　already　time　to　be　thinking　of　other　things。　rishda　tarkaan　was　　giving　his　orders。

〃forward；〃　he　said。　〃take　all　of　them　alive　if　you　can　and　hurl　them　into　　the　stable　or　drive　them　into　it。　when　they　are　all　in　we　will　put　fire　to　it　and　make　　them　an　offering　to　the　great　god　tash。鈥�

〃ha！〃　said　farsight　to　himself。　〃so　that　is　how　he　hopes　to　win　tashs　　pardon　for　his　unbelief。鈥�

the　enemy　line　…　about　half　of　rishdas　force　…　was　now　moving　forward；　and　　tirian　had　barely　time　to　give　his　orders。

〃out　on　the　left；　jill；　and　try　to　shoot　all　you　may　before　they　reach　us。　　boar　and　bear　next　to　her。　poggin　on　my　left；　eustace　on　my　right。　hold　the　right　wing；　　jewel。　stand　by　　

him；　puzzle；　and　use　your　hoofs。　hover　and　strike；　farsight。　you　dogs；　just　　behind　us。

go　in　among　them　after　the　sword…play　has　begun。　aslan　to　our　aid！鈥�

eustace　stood　with　his　heart　beating　terribly；　hoping　and　hoping　that　he　　would　be　brave。

he　had　never　seen　anything　（though　he　had　seen　both　a　dragon　and　a　　seaserpent）　that　made　his　blood　run　so　cold　as　that　line　of　dark…faced　bright…eyed　men。　　there　were　fifteen　calormenes；　a　talking　bull　of　narnia；　slinkey　the　fox；　and　wraggle　the　　satyr。　then　he　heard　twang…and…zipp　on　his　left　and　one　calormene　fell：　then　twang…andzipp　　again　and　the　satyr　was　down。　〃oh；　well　done；　daughter！〃　came　tirians　voice；　and　　then　the　enemy　were　upon　them。

eustace　could　never　remember　what　happened　in　the　next　two　minutes。　it　was　　all　like　a　dream　（the　sort　you　have　when　your　temperature　is　over　100）　until　he　heard　　rishda　tarkaans　voice　calling　out　from　the　distance：　　〃retire。　back　hither　and　re…form。鈥�

then　eustace　came　to　his　senses　and　saw　the　calormenes　scampering　back　to　　their　friends。　but　not　all　of　them。　two　lay　dead；　pierced　by　jewels　horn；　one　by　　tirians　sword。　the　fox　lay　dead　at　his　own　feet；　and　he　wondered　if　it　was　he　who　　had　killed　it。

the　bull　also　was　down；　shot　through　the　eye　by　an　arrow　from　jill　and　　gashed　in　his　side　by　the　boars　tusk。　but　our　side　had　its　losses　too。　three　dogs　were　　killed　and　a　fourth　was　hobbling　behind　the　line　on　three　legs　and　whimpering。　the　bear　　lay　on　the　ground；　moving　feebly。　then　it　mumbled　in　its　throaty　voice；　bewildered　to　　the　last；　〃i　…　i　dont　understand；〃　laid　its　big　head　down　on　the　grass　as　quietly　as　a　　child　going　to　sleep；　and　never　moved　again。

in　fact；　the　first　attack　had　failed。　eustace　didnt　seem　able　to　be　glad　　about　it：　he　was　so　terribly　thirsty　and　his　arm　ached　so。

as　the　defeated　calormenes　went　back　to　their　mander；　the　dwarfs　began　　jeering　at　them。

〃had　enough；　darkies？〃　they　yelled。　〃dont　you　like　it？　why　doesnt　your　　great　tarkaan　go　and　fight　himself　instead　of　sending　you　to　be　killed？　poor　darkies！鈥�

〃dwarfs；〃　cried　tirian。　〃e　here　and　use　your　swords；　not　your　tongues。　　there　is　still　time。　dwarfs　of　narnia！　you　can　fight　well；　i　know。　e　back　to　your　　allegiance。鈥�

〃yah！〃　sneered　the　dwarfs。　〃not　likely。　youre　just　as　big　humbugs　as　the　　other　lot。　we　dont　want　any　kings。　the　dwarfs　are　for　the　dwarfs。　boo！鈥�

then　the　drum　began：　not　a　dwarf　drum　this　time；　but　a　big　bulls　hide　　calormene　drum。

the　children　from　the　very　first　hated　the　sound。　boom　…　boom　…　ba…ba…boom　　it　went。　but　they　would　have　hated　it　far　worse　if　they　had　known　what　it　meant。　tirian　　did。　it　meant　that　there　were　other　calormene　troops　somewhere　near　and　that　rishda　　tarkaan　was　　

calling　them　to　his　aid。　tirian　and　jewel　looked　at　one　another　sadly。　they　　had　just　begun　to　hope　that　they　might　win　that　night：　but　it　would　be　all　over　with　them　　if　new　enemies　appeared。

tirian　gazed　despairingly　round。　several　narnians　were　standing　with　the　　calormenes；　whether　through　treachery　or　in　honest　fear　of　〃tashlan〃。　others　were　　sitting　still；　staring；　not　likely　to　join　either　side。　but　there　were　fewer　animals　now：　the　crowd　　was　much　smaller。　clearly；　several　of　them　had　just　crept　quietly　away　during　the　　fighting。

boom　…　boom　…　ba…ba…boom　went　the　horrible　drum。　then　another　sound　began　　to　mix　with　it。　〃listen！〃　said　jewel：　and　then　〃look！〃　said　farsight。　a　moment　　later　there　was　no　doubt　what　it　was。　with　a　thunder　of　hoofs；　with　tossing　heads；　widened　　nostrils；　and　waving　manes；　over　a　score　of　talking　horses　of　narnia　came　charging　up　the　　hill。　the　gnawers　and　nibblers　had　done　their　work。

poggin　the　dwarf　and　the　children　opened　their　mouths　to　cheer　but　that　　cheer　never　came。　suddenly　the　air　was　full　of　the　sound　of　twanging　bow…strings　and　　hissing　arrows。

it　was　the　dwarfs　who　were　shooting　and　…　for　a　moment　jill　could　hardly　　believe　her　eyes　…　they　were　shooting　the　horses。　dwarfs　are　deadly　archers。　horse　　after　horse　rolled　over。　not　one　of　those　noble　beasts　ever　reached　the　king。

〃little　swine；〃　shrieked　eustace；　dancing　in　his　rage。　〃dirty；　filthy；　　treacherous　little　brutes。〃　even