the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第17部分

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the　only　answer　was　growls。

〃get　on；　warriors；〃　said　the　tarkaan。　〃kill　the　beasts；　but　take　the　two…　legged　ones　alive。鈥�

and　then　the　last　battle　of　the　last　king　of　narnia　began。

what　made　it　hopeless；　even　apart　from　the　numbers　of　the　enemy；　was　the　　spears。　the　calormenes　who　had　been　with　the　ape　almost　from　the　beginning　had　had　no　　spears：　that　was　because　they　had　e　into　narnia　by　ones　and　twos；　pretending　to　　be　peaceful　merchants；　and　of　course　they　had　carried　no　spears　for　a　spear　is　not　a　　thing　you　can　hide。　the　new　ones　must　have　e　in　later；　after　the　ape　was　already　　strong　and　they　could　march　openly。　the　spears　made　all　the　difference。　with　a　long　spear　　you　can　kill　a　boar　before　you　are　in　reach　of　his　tusks　and　a　unicorn　before　you　are　in　　reach　of　his　horn；　if　you　are　very　quick　and　keep　your　head。　and　now　the　levelled　spears　　were　closing　in　on　tirian　and　his　last　friends。　next　minute　they　were　all　fighting　for　　their　lives。

in　a　way　it　wasnt　quite　so　bad　as　you　might　think。

when　you　are　using　every　muscle　to　the　full　…　ducking　under　a　spear…point　　here；　leaping　over　it　there；　lunging　forward；　drawing　back；　wheeling　round　…　you　havent　　much　time　to　feel　either　frightened　or　sad。　tirian　knew　he　could　do　nothing　for　the　　others　now；　they　were　all　doomed　together。　he　vaguely　saw　the　boar　go　down　on　one　side　of　　him；　and　jewel　fighting　furiously　on　the　other。　out　of　the　corner　of　one　eye　he　saw；　　but　only　just　saw；　a　big　calormene　pulling　jill　away　somewhere　by　her　hair。　but　he　hardly　　thought　about　any　of　these　things。　his　only　thought　now　was　to　sell　his　life　as　　dearly　as　he　could。

the　worst　of　it　was　that　he　couldnt　keep　to　the　position　in　which　he　had　　started；　under　the　white　rock。　a　man　who　is　fighting　a　dozen　enemies　at　once　must　take　his　　chances　wherever　he　can；　must　dart　in　wherever　he　sees　an　enemys　breast　or　neck　　unguarded。　in　a　very　few　strokes　this　may　get　you　quite　a　distance　from　the　spot　where　you　　began。　tirian　soon　found　that　he　was　getting　further　and　further　to　the　right；　nearer　to　　the　stable。　he　had　a　vague　idea　in　his　mind　that　there　was　some　good　reason　for　keeping　away　　from　it。　but　he　couldnt　now　remember　what　the　reason　was。　and　anyway；　he　couldnt　help　　it。

all　at　once　everything　came　quite　clear。　he　found　he　was　fighting　the　　tarkaan　himself。

the　bonfire　（what　was　left　of　it）　was　straight　in　front。　he　was　in　fact　　fighting　in　the　very　doorway　of　the　stable；　for　it　had　been　opened　and　two　calormenes　were　　holding　the　door；　ready　to　slam　it　shut　the　moment　he　was　inside。　he　remembered　everything　　now；　and　he　realized　that　the　enemy　had　been　edging　him　to　the　stable　on　purpose　ever　　since　the　fight　began。　and　while　he　was　thinking　this　he　was　still　fighting　the　tarkaan　as　　hard　as　he　could。

a　new　idea　came　into　tirians　head。　he　dropped　his　sword；　darted　forward；　　in　under　the　sweep　of　the　tarkaans　scimitar；　seized　his　enemy　by　the　belt　with　both　　hands；　and　jumped　back　into　the　stable；　shouting：　　〃e　in　and　meet　tash　yourself！鈥�

there　was　a　deafening　noise。　as　when　the　ape　had　been　flung　in；　the　earth　　shook　and　there　was　a　blinding　light。

the　calormene　soldiers　outside　screamed。　〃tash；　tash！〃　and　banged　the　door。　　if　tash　wanted　their　own　captain；　tash　must　have　him。　they；　at　any　rate；　did　not　　want　to　meet　tash。

for　a　moment　or　two　tirian　did　not　know　where　he　was　or　even　who　he　was。　　then　he　steadied　himself；　blinked；　and　looked　around。　it　was　not　dark　inside　the　　stable；　as　he　had　expected。　he　was　in　strong　light：　that　was　why　he　was　blinking。

he　turned　to　look　at　rishda　tarkaan；　but　rishda　was　not　looking　at　him。　　rishda　gave　a　great　wail　and　pointed；　then　he　put　his　hands　before　his　face　and　fell　　flat；　face　downwards；　on　the　ground。　tirian　looked　in　the　direction　where　the　tarkaan　　had　pointed。

and　then　he　understood。

a　terrible　figure　was　ing　towards　them。　it　was　far　smaller　than　the　　shape　they　had　seen　from　the　tower；　though　still　much　bigger　than　a　man；　and　it　was　the　　same。　it　had　a　vultures　head　and　four　arms。　its　beak　was　open　and　its　eyes　blazed。　a　　croaking　voice　came　from　its　beak。

〃thou　hast　called　me　into　narnia；　rishda　tarkaan。　here　i　am。　what　hast　thou　　to　say？鈥�

but　the　tarkaan　neither　lifted　his　face　from　the　ground　nor　said　a　word。　he　　was　shaking　like　a　man　with　a　bad　hiccup。　he　was　brave　enough　in　battle：　but　half　his　　courage　had　left　him　earlier　that　night　when　he　first　began　to　suspect　that　there　might　be　a　　real　tash。　the　rest　of　it　had　left　him　now。

with　a　sudden　jerk　…like　a　hen　stooping　to　pick　up　a　worm　…　tash　pounced　on　　the　miserable　rishda　and　tucked　him　under　the　upper　of　his　two　right　arms。　then　　tash　turned　his　head　sidewise　to　fix　tirian　with　one　of　his　terrible　eyes：　for　of　　course；　having　a　birds　head；　he　couldnt　look　at　you　straight。

but　immediately；　from　behind　tash；　strong　and　calm　as　the　summer　sea；　a　　voice　said：　　〃begone；　monster；　and　take　your　lawful　prey　to　your　own　place：　in　the　name　　of　aslan　and　aslans　great　father　the　emperor…over…the…sea。鈥�

the　hideous　creature　vanished；　with　the　tarkaan　still　under　its　arm。　and　　tirian　turned　to　see　who　had　spoken。

and　what　he　saw　then　set　his　heart　beating　as　it　had　never　beaten　in　any　　fight。

seven　kings　and　queens　stood　before　him；　all　with　crowns　on　their　heads　and　　all　in　glittering　clothes；　but　the　kings　wore　fine　mail　as　well　and　had　their　　swords　drawn　in　their　hands。　tirian　bowed　courteously　and　was　about　to　speak　when　the　　youngest　of　the　queens　laughed。　he　stared　hard　at　her　face；　and　then　gasped　with　amazement；　　for　he　knew　her。　it　was　jill：　but　not　jill　as　he　had　last　seen　her；　with　her　face　　all　dirt　and　tears　and　an　old　drill　dress　half　slipping　off　one　shoulder。　now　she　looked　cool　　and　fresh；　as　fresh　as　if　she　had　just　e　from　bathing。　and　at　first　he　thought　she　　looked　older；　but　then　didnt；　and　he　could　never　make　up　his　mind　on　that　point。　and　then　he　　saw　that　the　youngest　of　the　kings　was　eustace：　but　he　also　was　changed　as　jill　was　　changed。

tirian　suddenly　felt　awkward　about　ing　among　these　people　with　the　blood　　and　dust　and　sweat　of　a　battle　still　on　him。　next　moment　he　realized　that　he　was　not　　in　that　state　at　all。　he　was　fresh　and　cool　and　clean；　and　dressed　in　such　clothes　as　he　　would　have　worn　for　a　great　feast　at　cair　paravel。　（but　in　narnia　your　good　clothes　were　　never　your　unfortable　ones。　they　knew　how　to　make　things　that　felt　beautiful　as　　well　as　looking　beautiful　in　narnia：　and　there　was　no　such　thing　as　starch　or　flannel　or　　elastic　to　be　found　from　one　end　of　the　country　to　the　other。）

〃sire；〃　said　jill　ing　forward　and　making　a　beautiful　curtsey；　〃let　me　　make　you　known　to　peter　the　high　king　over　all　kings　in　narnia。鈥�

tirian　had　no　need　to　ask　which　was　the　high　king；　for　he　remembered　his　　face　（though　here　it　was　far　nobler）　from　his　dream。　he　stepped　forward；　sank　on　one　　knee　and　kissed　peters　hand。

〃high　king；〃　he　said。　〃you　are　wele　to　me。鈥�

and　the　high　king　raised　him　and　kissed　him　on　both　cheeks　as　a　high　king　　should。

then　he　led　him　to　the　eldest　of　the　queens　…　but　even　she　was　not　old；　and　　there　were　no　grey　hairs　on　her　head　and　no　wrinkles　on　her　cheek　…　and　said；　〃sir；　this　　is　that　lady　polly　who　came　into　narnia　on　the　first　day；　when　aslan　made　the　trees　grow　　and　the　beasts　talk。〃　he　brought　him　next　to　a　man　whose　golden　beard　flowed　over　　his　breast　and　whose　face　was　full　of　wisdom。　〃and　this；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　lord　digory　　who　was　with　her　on　that　day。　and　this　is　my　brother；　king　edmund：　and　this　my　　sister；　the　queen　lucy。鈥�

〃sir；〃　said　tirian；　when　he　had　greeted　all　these。　〃if　i　have　read　the　　chronicle　aright；　there　should　be　another。　has　not　your　majesty　two　sisters？　where　is　queen　susan？鈥�

〃my　sister　susan；〃　answered　peter　shortly　and　gravely；　〃is　no　longer　a　　friend　of　narnia。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　eustace；　〃and　whenever　youve　tried　to　get　her　to　e　and　talk　　about　narnia　or　do　anything　about　narnia；　she　says；　‘what　wonderful　memories　you　have！　　fancy　your　still　thinking　about　all　those　funny　games　we　used　to　play　when　we　were　　children。鈥�

〃oh　susan！〃　said　jill。　〃shes　interested　in　nothing　nowadays　except　nylons　　and　lipstick　and　invitations。　she　always　was　a　jolly　sight　too　keen　on　being　grown…up。鈥�

〃grown…up；　indeed；〃　said　the　lady　polly。　〃i　wish　she　would　grow　up。　she　　wasted　all　her　school　time　wanting　to　be　the　age　she　is　now；　and　shell　waste　all　the　rest　　of　her　life　trying　to　stay　that　age。　her　whole　idea　is　to　race　on　to　the　silliest　time　of　　ones　life　as　quick　as　she　can　and　then　stop　there　as　long　as　she　can。鈥�

〃well；　dont　lets　talk　about　that　now；〃　said　peter。　〃look！　here　are　lovely　　fruit…trees。　let　us　taste　them。鈥�

and　then；　for　the　first　time；　tirian　looked　about　him　and　realized　how　very　　queer　this　adventure　was。





CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

澶у�︾敓@灏彙�璇础ㄧ綉
how　the　dwarfs　refused　to　be　taken　in　　　tirian　had　thought　…　or　he　would　have　thought　if　he　had　time　to　think　at　　all　…　that　they　were　inside　a　little　thatched　stable；　about　twelve　feet　long　and　six　feet　　wide。　in　reality　they　stood　on　grass；　the　deep　blue　sky　was　overhead；　and　the　air　which　blew　　gently　on　their　faces　was　that　of　a　day　in　early　summer。　not　far　away　from　them　rose　　a　grove　of　trees；　thickly　leaved；　but　under　every　leaf　there　peeped　out　the　gold　or　　faint　yellow　or　purple　or　glowing　red　of　fruits　such　as　no　one　has　seen　in　our　world。　the　　fruit　made　tirian　feel　that　it　must　be　autumn　but　there　was　something　in　the　feel　of　　the　air　that　told　him　it　could　not　be　later　than　june。　they　all　moved　towards　the　trees。

everyone　raised　his　hand　to　pick　the　fruit　he　best　liked　the　look　of；　and　　then　everyone　paused　for　a　second。　this　fruit　was　so　beautiful　that　each　felt　〃it　cant　　be　meant　for　me。。。　　surely　were　not　allowed　to　pluck　it。鈥�

〃its　all　right；〃　said　peter。　〃i　know　what　were　all　thinking。　but　im　　sure；　quite　sure；　we　neednt。　ive　a　feeling　weve　got　to　the　country　where　everything　is　　allowed。鈥�

〃here　goes；　then！〃　said　eustace。　and　they　all　began　to　eat。

what　was　the　fruit　like？　unfortunately　no　one　can　describe　a　taste。　all　i　　can　say　is　that；　pared　with　those　fruits；　the　freshest　grapefruit　youve　ever　eaten　was