prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第7部分

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ought　this　a　very　good　　idea　and　gave　pattertwig　messages　to　all　sorts　of　people　with　queer　names　telling　them　　all　to　e　to　a　　

feast　and　council　on　dancing　lawn　at　midnight　three　nights　ahead。　〃and　　youd　better　tell　the　three　bulgies　too；〃　added　trumpkin。　〃we　forgot　to　mention　it　to　them。鈥�

their　next　visit　was　to　the　seven　brothers　of　shuddering　wood。　trumpkin　led　　the　way　back　to　the　saddle　and　then　down　eastward　on　the　northern　slope　of　the　　mountains　till　they　came　to　a　very　solemn　place　among　rocks　and　fir　trees。　they　went　very　　quietly　and　presently　caspian　could　feel　the　ground　shake　under　his　feet　as　if　someone　　were　hammering　down　below。　trumpkin　went　to　a　flat　stone　about　the　size　of　the　　top　of　a　water…butt；　and　stamped　on　it　with　his　foot。　after　a　long　pause　it　was　　moved　away　by　someone　or　something　underneath；　and　there　was　a　dark；　round　hole　with　a　　good　deal　of　heat　and　steam　ing　out　of　it　and　in　the　middle　of　the　hole　the　head　of　a　　dwarf　very　like　trumpkin　himself。　there　was　a　long　talk　here　and　the　dwarf　seemed　more　　suspicious　than　the　squirrel　or　the　bulgy　bears　had　been；　but　in　the　end　the　whole　　party　were　invited　to　e　down。　caspian　found　himself　descending　a　dark　stairway　into　the　　earth；　but　when　he　came　to　the　bottom　he　saw　firelight。　it　was　the　light　of　a　furnace。　　the　whole　place　was　a　smithy。　a　subterranean　stream　ran　past　on　one　side　of　it。　two　　dwarfs　were　at　the　bellows；　another　was　holding　a　piece　of　red…hot　metal　on　the　anvil　with　　a　pair　of　tongs；　a　fourth　was　hammering　it；　and　two；　wiping　their　horny　little　hands　　on　a　greasy　cloth；　were　ing　forward　to　meet　the　visitors。　it　took　some　time　to　　satisfy　them　that　caspian　was　a　friend　and　not　an　enemy；　but　when　they　did；　they　all　cried；　　〃long　live　the　king；〃　and　their　gifts　were　noble　…　mail　shirts　and　helmets　and　swords　for　　caspian　and　trumpkin　and　nikabrik。　the　badger　could　have　had　the　same　if　he　had　liked；　　but　he　said　he　was　a　beast；　he　was；　and　if　his　claws　and　teeth　could　not　keep　his　skin　　whole；　it　wasnt　worth　keeping。　the　workmanship　of　the　arms　was　far　finer　than　any　caspian　　had　ever　seen；　and　he　gladly　accepted　the　dwarf…made　sword　instead　of　his　own；　which　　looked；　in　parison；　as　feeble　as　a　toy　and　as　clumsy　as　a　stick。　the　seven　brothers　　（who　were　all　red　dwarfs）　promised　to　e　to　the　feast　at　dancing　lawn。

a　little　farther　on；　in　a　dry；　rocky　ravine　they　reached　the　cave　of　five　　black　dwarfs。

they　looked　suspiciously　at　caspian；　but　in　the　end　the　eldest　of　them　　said；　〃if　he　is　against　miraz；　well　have　him　for　king。〃　and　the　next　oldest　said；　〃shall　　we　go　farther　up　for　you；　up　to　the　crags？　theres　an　ogre　or　two　and　a　hag　that　we　could　　introduce　you　to；　up　there。鈥�

〃certainly　not；〃　said　caspian。

〃i　should　think　not；　indeed；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃we　want　none　of　that　　sort　on　our　side。鈥�

nikabrik　disagreed　with　this；　but　trumpkin　and　the　badger　overruled　him。　it　　gave　caspian　a　shock　to　realize　that　the　horrible　creatures　out　of　the　old　　stories；　as　well　as　the　nice　ones；　had　some　descendants　in　narnia　still。

〃we　should　not　have　aslan　for　friend　if　we　brought　in　that　rabble；〃　said　　trufflehunter　as　they　came　away　from　the　cave　of　the　black　dwarfs。

〃oh；　aslan！〃　said　trumpkin；　cheerily　but　contemptuously。　〃what　matters　much　　more　is　that　you　wouldnt　have　me。鈥�

〃do　you　believe　in　aslan？〃　said　caspian　to　nikabrik。

〃ill　believe　in　anyone　or　anything；〃　said　nikabrik；　〃thatll　batter　these　　cursed　telmarine　barbarians　to　pieces　or　drive　them　out　of　narnia。　anyone　or　anything；　aslan　　or　the　white　witch；　do　you　understand？鈥�

〃silence；　silence；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃you　do　not　know　what　you　are　　saying。　she　was　a　worse　enemy　than　miraz　and　all　his　race。鈥�

〃not　to　dwarfs；　she　wasnt；〃　said　nikabrik。

their　next　visit　was　a　pleasanter　one。　as　they　came　lower　down；　the　　mountains　opened　out　into　a　great　glen　or　wooded　gorge　with　a　swift　river　running　at　the　　bottom。　the　open　places　near　the　rivers　edge　were　a　mass　of　foxgloves　and　wild　roses　and　　the　air　was　buzzing　with　bees。　here　trufflehunter　called　again；　〃glenstorm！　glenstorm！〃　　and　after　a　pause　caspian　heard　the　sound　of　hoofs。　it　grew　louder　till　the　valley　　trembled　and　at　last；　breaking　and　trampling　the　thickets；　there　came　in　sight　the　noblest　　creatures　that　caspian　had　yet　seen；　the　great　centaur　glenstorm　and　his　three　sons。　his　flanks　　were　glossy　chestnut　and　the　beard　that　covered　his　broad　chest　was　goldenred。　he　was　a　　prophet　and　a　star…gazer　and　knew　what　they　had　e　about。

〃long　live　the　king；〃　he　cried。　〃i　and　my　sons　are　ready　for　war。　when　is　　the　battle　to　be　joined？鈥�

up　till　now　neither　caspian　nor　the　others　had　really　been　thinking　of　a　　war。　they　had　some　vague　idea；　perhaps；　of　an　occasional　raid　on　some　human　farmstead　or　　of　attacking　a　party　of　hunters；　if　it　ventured　too　far　into　these　southern　　wilds。　but；　in　the　main；　they　had　thought　only　of　living　to　themselves　in　woods　and　caves　and　　building　up　an　attempt　at　old　narnia　in　hiding。　as　soon　as　glenstorm　had　spoken　　everyone　felt　much　more　serious。

〃do　you　mean　a　real　war　to　drive　miraz　out　of　narnia？〃　asked　caspian。

〃what　else？〃　said　the　centaur。　〃why　else　does　your　majesty　go　clad　in　mail　　and　girt　with　sword？鈥�

〃is　it　possible；　glenstorm？〃　said　the　badger。

〃the　time　is　ripe；〃　said　glenstorm。　〃i　watch　the　skies；　badger；　for　it　is　　mine　to　watch；　as　it　is　yours　to　remember。　tarva　and　alambil　have　met　in　the　halls　of　high　　heaven；　and　on　earth　a　son　of　adam　has　once　more　arisen　to　rule　and　name　the　creatures。　　the　hour　has　struck。　our　council　at　the　dancing　lawn　must　be　a　council　of　war。〃　he　spoke　　in　such　a　voice　that　neither　caspian　nor　the　others　hesitated　for　a　moment：　it　now　　seemed　to　them　quite　possible　that　they　might　win　a　war　and　quite　certain　that　they　must　　wage　one。

as　it　was　now　past　the　middle　of　the　day；　they　rested　with　the　centaurs　and　　ate　such　food　as　the　centaurs　provided　cakes　of　oaten　meal；　and　apples；　and　herbs；　and　　wine；　and　cheese。

the　next　place　they　were　to　visit　was　quite　near　at　hand；　but　they　had　to　　go　a　long　way　round　in　order　to　avoid　a　region　in　which　men　lived。　it　was　well　into　the　　afternoon　before　they　found　themselves　in　level　fields；　warm　between　hedgerows。　there　　trufflehunter　called　at　the　mouth　of　a　little　hole　in　a　green　bank　and　out　popped　the　　last　thing　caspian　expected　…　a　talking　mouse。　he　was　of　course　bigger　than　a　mon　mouse；　　well　over　a　foot　high　when　he　stood　on　his　hind　legs；　and　with　ears　nearly　as　long　as　　（though　broader　than）　a　rabbits。　his　name　was　reepicheep　and　he　was　a　gay　and　martial　　mouse。　he　wore　a　tiny　little　rapier　at　his　side　and　twirled　his　long　whiskers　as　if　they　　were　a　moustache。

〃there　are　twelve　of　us；　sire；〃　he　said　with　a　dashing　and　graceful　bow；　　〃and　i　place　all　the　resources　of　my　people　unreservedly　at　your　majestys　disposal。〃　　caspian　tried　hard　（and　successfully）　not　to　laugh；　but　he　couldnt　help　thinking　that　　reepicheep　and　all　his　people　could　very　easily　be　put　in　a　washing　basket　and　carried　home　on　　ones　back。

it　would　take　too　long　to　mention　all　the　creatures　whom　caspian　met　that　　day　…　clodsley　shovel　the　mole；　the　three　hardbiters　（who　were　badgers　like　　trufflehunter）；　camillo　the　hare；　and　hogglestock　the　hedgehog。　they　rested　at　last　beside　a　well　at　　the　edge　of　a　wide　and　level　circle　of　grass；　bordered　with　tall　elms　which　now　threw　　long　shadows　across　it；　for　the　sun　was　setting；　the　daisies　closing；　and　the　rooks　　flying　home　to　bed。

here　they　supped　on　food　they　had　brought　with　them　and　trumpkin　lit　his　　pipe　（nikabrik　was　not　a　smoker）。

〃now；〃　said　the　badger；　〃if　only　we　could　wake　the　spirits　of　these　trees　　and　this　well；　we　should　have　done　a　good　days　work。鈥�

〃cant　we？〃　said　caspian。

〃no；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃we　have　no　power　over　them。　since　the　humans　　came　into　the　land；　felling　forests　and　defiling　streams；　the　dryads　and　naiads　have　sunk　　into　a　deep　sleep。　who　knows　if　ever　they　will　stir　again？　and　that　is　a　great　loss　to　　our　side。　the　telmarines　are　horribly　afraid　of　the　woods；　and　once　the　trees　moved　in　　anger；　our　enemies　would　go　mad　with　fright　and　be　chased　out　of　narnia　as　quick　as　　their　legs　could　carry　them。鈥�

〃what　imaginations　you　animals　have！〃　said　trumpkin；　who　didnt　believe　in　　such　things。　〃but　why　stop　at　trees　and　waters？　wouldnt　it　be　even　nicer　if　the　　stones　started　throwing　themselves　at　old　miraz？鈥�

the　badger　only　grunted　at　this；　and　after　that　there　was　such　a　silence　　that　caspian　had　nearly　dropped　off　to　sleep　when　he　thought　he　heard　a　faint　musical　sound　　from　the　depth　of　the　woods　at　his　back。　then　he　thought　it　was　only　a　dream　and　　turned　over　again；　but　as　soon　as　his　ear　touched　the　ground　he　felt　or　heard　（it　was　　hard　to　tell　which）　a　faint　beating　or　drumming。　he　raised　his　head。　the　beating　noise　　at　once　　

became　fainter；　but　the　music　returned；　clearer　this　time。　it　was　like　　flutes。　he　saw　that　trufflehunter　was　sitting　up　staring　into　the　wood。　the　moon　was　bright；　　caspian　had　been　asleep　longer　than　he　thought。　nearer　and　nearer　came　the　music；　a　　tune　wild　and　yet　dreamy；　and　the　noise　of　many　light　feet；　till　at　last；　out　from　the　　wood　into　the　moonlight；　came　dancing　shapes　such　as　caspian　had　been　thinking　of　all　his　　life。　they　were　not　much　taller　than　dwarfs；　but　far　slighter　and　more　graceful。　their　　curly　heads　had　little　horns；　the　upper　part　of　their　bodies　gleamed　naked　in　the　pale　　light；　but　their　legs　and　feet　were　those　of　goats。

〃fauns！〃　cried　caspian；　jumping　up；　and　in　a　moment　they　were　all　round　　him。　it　took　next　to　no　time　to　explain　the　whole　situation　to　them　and　they　accepted　　caspian　at　once。

before　he　knew　what　he　was　doing　he　found　himself　joining　in　the　dance。　　trumpkin；　with　heavier　and　jerkier　movements；　did　likewise　and　even　trufflehunter　　hopped　and　lumbered　about　as　best　he　could。　only　nikabrik　stayed　where　he　was；　looking　　on　in　silence。　the　fauns　footed　it　all　round　caspian　to　their　reedy　pipes。　their　　strange　faces；　which　seemed　mournful　and　merry　all　at　once；　looked　into　his；　dozens　of　　fauns；　mentius　and　obentinus　and　dumnus；　voluns；　voltinus；　girbius；　nimienus；　nausus；　and　　oscuns。

pattertwig