the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第16部分

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of　course　one　tried　all　sorts　of　games　with　oneself　to　try　to　make　the　time　　pass：　and　of　course　they　were　all　no　good。　and　one　tried　very　hard　not　to　think　of　　drinks…iced　sherbet　in　a　palace　in　tashbaan；　clear　spring　water　tinkling　with　a　dark　earthy　　sound；　cold；　smooth　milk　just　creamy　enough　and　not　too　creamy　…　and　the　harder　you　　tried　not　to　think；　the　more　you　thought。

at　last　there　was　something　different　…　a　mass　of　rock　sticking　up　out　of　　the　sand　about　fifty　yards　long　and　thirty　feet　high。　it　did　not　cast　much　shadow；　for　the　　sun　was　now　very　high；　but　it　cast　a　little。　into　that　shade　they　crowded。　there　they　　ate　some　food　and　drank　a　little　water。　it　is　not　easy　giving　a　horse　a　drink　out　of　a　skin　　bottle；　but　bree　and　hwin　were　clever　with　their　lips。　no　one　had　anything　like　enough。　no　one　　spoke。　the　horses　were　flecked　with　foam　and　their　breathing　was　noisy。　the　children　　were　pale。

after　a　very　short　rest　they　went　on　again。　same　noises；　same　smells；　same　　glare；　till　at　last　their　shadows　began　to　fall　on　their　right；　and　then　got　longer　and　　longer　till　they　seemed　to　stretch　out　to　the　eastern　end　of　the　world。　very　slowly　the　sun　　drew　nearer　to　the　western　horizon。　and　now　at　last　he　was　down　and；　thank　goodness；　the　　merciless　glare　was　gone；　though　the　heat　ing　up　from　the　sand　was　still　as　bad　as　　ever。　four　pairs　of　eyes　were　looking　out　eagerly　for　any　sign　of　the　valley　that　　sallowpad　the　raven　had　spoken　about。　but；　mile　after　mile；　there　was　nothing　but　level　　sand。　and　now　the　day　was　quite　definitely　done；　and　most　of　the　stars　were　out；　and　　still　the　horses　thundered　on　and　the　children　rose　and　sank　in　their　saddles；　miserable　　with　thirst　and　weariness。　not　till　the　moon　had　risen　did　shasta　…　in　the　strange；　barking　　voice　of　someone　whose　mouth　is　perfectly　dry…shout　out：　　〃there　it　is！鈥�

there　was　no　mistaking　it　now。　ahead；　and　a　little　to　their　right；　there　　was　at　last　a　slope：　a　slope　downward　and　hummocks　of　rock　on　each　side。　the　horses　were　far　too　　tired　to　speak　but　they　swung　round　towards　it　and　in　a　minute　or　two　they　were　　entering　the　gully。　at　first　it　was　worse　in　there　than　it　had　been　out　in　the　open　　desert；　for　there　was　a　breathless　stuffiness　between　the　rocky　walls　and　less　moonlight。　the　slope　　continued　　

steeply　downwards　and　the　rocks　on　either　hand　rose　to　the　height　of　　cliffs。　then　they　began　to　meet　vegetation　…　prickly　cactus…like　plants　and　coarse　grass　of　　the　kind　that　would　prick　your　fingers。　soon　the　horse…hoofs　were　falling　on　pebbles　and　　stones　instead　of　sand。　round　every　bend　of　the　valley　…　and　it　had　many　bends　…　　they　looked　eagerly　for　water。　the　horses　were　nearly　at　the　end　of　their　strength　now；　　and　hwin；　stumbling　and　panting；　was　lagging　behind　bree。　they　were　almost　in　despair　　before　at　last　they　came　to　a　little　muddiness　and　a　tiny　trickle　of　water　through　　softer　and　better　grass。　and　the　trickle　became　a　brook；　and　the　brook　became　a　stream　with　　bushes　on　each　side；　and　the　stream　became　a　river　and　there　came　（after　more　　disappointments　than　i　could　possibly　describe）　…a　moment　when　shasta；　who　had　been　in　a　kind　of　　doze；　suddenly　realized　that　bree　had　stopped　and　found　himself　slipping　off。　　before　them　a　little　cataract　of　water　poured　into　a　broad　pool：　and　both　the　horses　were　　already　in　the　pool　with　their　heads　down；　drinking；　drinking；　drinking。　〃o…o…oh；〃　said　　shasta　and　plunged　in　…　it　was　about　up　to　his　knees　…　and　stooped　his　head　right　into　　the　cataract。　it　was　perhaps　the　loveliest　moment　in　his　life。

it　was　about　ten　minutes　later　when　all　four　of　them　（the　two　children　wet　　nearly　all　over）

came　out　and　began　to　notice　their　surroundings。　the　moon　was　now　high　　enough　to　peep　down　into　the　valley。　there　was　soft　grass　on　both　sides　of　the　river；　and　　beyond　the　grass；　trees　and　bushes　sloped　up　to　the　bases　of　the　cliffs。　there　must　　have　been　some　wonderful　flowering　shrubs　hidden　in　that　shadowy　undergrowth　for　the　whole　　glade　was　full　of　the　coolest　and　most　delicious　smells。　and　out　of　the　darkest　　recess　among　the　trees　there　came　a　sound　shasta　had　never　heard　beforea　nightingale。

everyone　was　much　too　tired　to　speak　or　to　eat。　the　horses；　without　waiting　　to　be　unsaddled；　lay　down　at　once。　so　did　aravis　and　shasta。

about　ten　minutes　later　the　careful　hwin　said；　〃but　we　mustnt　go　to　sleep。　　weve　got　to　keep　ahead　of　that　rsh。鈥�

〃no；〃　said　bree　very　slowly。　〃mustnt　go　sleep。　just　a　little　rest。鈥�

shasta　knew　（for　a　moment）　that　they　would　all　go　to　sleep　if　he　didnt　get　　up　and　do　something　about　it；　and　felt　that　he　ought　to。　in　fact　he　decided　that　he　　would　get　up　and　persuade　them　to　go　on。　but　presently；　not　yet：　not　just　yet。。。

very　soon　the　moon　shone　and　the　nightingale　sang　over　two　horses　and　two　　human　children；　all　fast　asleep。

it　was　aravis　who　awoke　first。　the　sun　was　already　high　in　the　heavens　and　　the　cool　morning　hours　were　already　wasted。　〃its　my　fault；〃　she　said　to　herself　　furiously　as　she　jumped　up　and　began　rousing　the　others。　〃one　wouldnt　expect　horses　to　keep　　awake　after　a　days　work　like　that；　even　if　they　can　talk。　and　of　course　that　boy　　wouldnt；　hes　had　no　decent　training。　but　i　ought　to　have　known　better。鈥�

the　others　were　dazed　and　stupid　with　the　heaviness　of　their　sleep。

〃neigh…ho　…　broo…hoo；〃　said　bree。　〃been　sleeping　in　my　saddle；　eh？　ill　　never　do　that　again。　most　unfortable…鈥�

〃oh　e　on；　e　on；〃　said　aravis。　〃weve　lost　half　the　morning　already。　　there　isnt　a　moment　to　spare。鈥�

〃a　fellows　got　to　have　a　mouthful　of　grass；〃　said　bree。

im　afraid　we　cant　wait；〃　said　aravis。

〃whats　the　terrible　hurry？〃　said　bree。　〃weve　crossed　the　desert；　havent　　we？鈥�

〃but　were　not　in　archenland　yet；〃　said　aravis。　〃and　weve　got　to　get　there　　before　rsh。鈥�

〃oh；　we　must　be　miles　ahead　of　him；〃　said　bree。　〃havent　we　been　ing　a　　shorter　way？　didnt　that　raven　friend　of　yours　say　this　was　a　short　cut；　shasta？鈥�

〃he　didnt　say　anything　about　shorter；〃　answered　shasta。　〃he　only　said　　better；　because　you　got　to　a　river　this　way。　if　the　oasis　is　due　north　of　tashbaan；　then　　im　afraid　this　may　be　longer。鈥�

〃well　i　cant　go　on　without　a　snack；〃　said　bree。　〃take　my　bridle　off；　　shasta。鈥�

〃p…please；〃　said　hwin；　very　shyly；　〃i　feel　just　like　bree　that　i　cant　go　　on。　but　when　horses　have　humans　（with　spurs　and　things）　on　their　backs；　arent　they　　often　made　to　go　on　when　theyre　feeling　like　this？　and　then　they　find　they　can。　i　m…mean　…　　oughtnt　we　to　be　able　to　do　even　more；　now　that　were　free。　its　all　for　narnia。鈥�

〃i　think；　maam；〃　said　bree　very　crushingly；　〃that　i　know　a　little　more　　about　campaigns　and　forced　marches　and　what　a　horse　can　stand　than　you　do。鈥�

to　this　hwin　made　no　answer；　being；　like　most　highly　bred　mares；　a　very　　nervous　and　gentle　person　who　was　easily　put　down。　in　reality　she　was　quite　right；　and　　if　bree　had　had　a　tarkaan　on　his　back　at　that　moment　to　make　him　go　on；　he　would　have　found　　that　he　was　good　for　several　hours　hard　going。　but　one　of　the　worst　results　of　　being　a　slave　and　being　forced　to　do　things　is　that　when　there　is　no　one　to　force　you　any　　more　you　find　you　have　almost　lost　the　power　of　forcing　yourself。

so　they　had　to　wait　while　bree　had　a　snack　and　a　drink；　and　of　course　hwin　　and　the　children　had　a　snack　and　a　drink　too。　it　must　have　been　nearly　eleven　　oclock　in　the　morning　before　they　finally　got　going　again。　and　even　then　bree　took　things　　much　more　gently　than　yesterday。　it　was　really　hwin；　though　she　was　the　weaker　and　　more　tired　of　the　two；　who　set　the　pace。

the　valley　itself；　with　its　brown；　cool　river；　and　grass　and　moss　and　wild　　flowers　and　rhododendrons；　was　such　a　pleasant　place　that　it　made　you　want　to　ride　　slowly。

　



CHAPTER　TEN

銆�灏彙�/璇淬�倀xt澶╁爞
the　hermit　of　the　southern　march　　after　they　had　ridden　for　several　hours　down　the　valley；　it　widened　out　and　　they　could　see　what　was　ahead　of　them。　the　river　which　they　had　been　following　here　　joined　a　broader　river；　wide　and　turbulent；　which　flowed　from　their　left　to　their　　right；　towards　the　east。　beyond　this　new　river　a　delightful　country　rose　gently　in　low　hills；　　ridge　beyond　ridge；　to　the　northern　mountains　themselves。　to　the　right　there　were　rocky　　pinnacles；　one　or　two　of　them　with　snow　clinging　to　the　ledges。　to　the　left；　pine…clad　　slopes；　frowning　cliffs；　narrow　gorges；　and　blue　peaks　stretched　away　as　far　as　the　　eye　could　reach。　he　could　no　longer　make　out　mount　pire。　straight　ahead　the　mountain　　range　sank　to　a　wooded　saddle　which　of　course　must　be　the　pass　from　archenland　into　　narnia。

〃broo…hoo…hoo；　the　north；　the　green　north！〃　neighed　bree：　and　certainly　the　　lower　hills　looked　greener　and　fresher　than　anything　that　aravis　and　shasta；　with　their　　southern…bred　eyes；　had　ever　imagined。　spirits　rose　as　they　clattered　down　to　the　　waters…meet　of　the　two　rivers。

the　eastern…flowing　river；　which　was　pouring　from　the　higher　mountains　at　　the　western　end　of　the　range；　was　far　too　swift　and　too　broken　with　rapids　for　them　to　　think　of　swimming　it；　but　after　some　casting　about；　up　and　down　the　bank；　they　found　　a　place　shallow　enough　to　wade。　the　roar　and　clatter　of　water；　the　great　swirl　　against　the　horses　fetlocks；　the　cool；　stirring　air　and　the　darting　dragon…flies；　filled　　shasta　with　a　strange　excitement。

〃friends；　we　are　in　archenland！〃　said　bree　proudly　as　he　splashed　and　　churned　his　way　out　on　the　northern　bank。　〃i　think　that　river　weve　just　crossed　is　called　　the　winding　arrow。鈥�

〃i　hope　were　in　time；〃　murmured　hwin。

then　they　began　going　up；　slowly　and　zigzagging　a　good　deal；　for　the　hills　　were　steep。　it　was　all　open　park…like　country　with　no　roads　or　houses　in　sight。　scattered　　trees；　never　thick　enough　to　be　a　forest；　were　everywhere。　shasta；　who　had　lived　all　his　　life　in　an　almost　tree…less　grassland；　had　never　seen　so　many　or　so　many　kinds。　if　you　　had　been　there　you　would　probably　have　known　（he　didnt）　that　he　was　seeing　oaks；　　beeches；　silver　birches；　rowans；　and　sweet　chestnuts。　rabbits　scurried　away　in　every　　direction　as　they　advanced；　and　presently　they　saw　a　whole　herd　of　fallow　deer　making　off　　among　the　trees。

〃isnt　it　simply　glorious！〃　said