the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第23部分

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inutes　or　so　shasta　realized　suddenly　that　there　were　no　longer　any　horses　　stamping　about　in　the　immediate　neighbourhood　and　that　the　noise　（for　there　were　　still　a　good　many　noises　going　on）　was　no　longer　that　of　a　battle。　he　sat　up　and　stared　　about　him。

even　he；　little　as　he　knew　of　battles；　could　soon　see　that　the　　archenlanders　and　narnians　had　won。　the　only　living　calormenes　he　could　see　were　prisoners；　the　castle　　gates　were　wide　open；　and　king　lune　and　king　edmund　were　shaking　hands　across　the　　battering　ram。　from　the　circle　of　lords　and　warriors　around　them　there　arose　a　sound　　of　breathless　and　excited；　but　obviously　cheerful　conversation。　and　then；　suddenly；　it　　all　united　and　swelled　into　a　great　roar　of　laughter。

shasta。　picked　himself　up；　feeling　unmonly　stiff；　and　ran　towards　the　　sound　to　see　what　the　joke　was。　a　very　curious　sight　met　his　eyes。　the　unfortunate　　rsh　appeared　to　be　suspended　from　the　castle　walls。　his　feet；　which　were　about　two　feet　　from　the　ground；　were　kicking　wildly。　his　chain…shirt　was　somehow　hitched　up　so　that　　it　was　horribly　tight　under　the　arms　and　came　half　way　over　his　face。　in　fact　he　　looked　just　as　a　man　looks　if　you　catch　him　in　the　very　act　of　getting　into　a　stiff　shirt　　that　is　a　little　too　small　for　him。　as　far　as　could　be　made　out　afterwards　（and　you　may　be　sure　　the　story　was　well　talked　over　for　many　a　day）　what　happened　was　something　like　this。　　early　in　the　battle　one　of　the　giants　had　made　an　unsuccessful　stamp　at　rsh　with　　his　spiked　boot：　unsuccessful　because　it　didnt　crush　rsh；　which　was　what　the　　giant　had　intended；　but　not　quite　useless　because　one　of　the　spikes　tore　the　chain　　mail；　just　as　you　or　i　might　tear　an　ordinary　shirt。　so　rsh；　by　the　time　he　encountered　　edmund　at　the　gate；　had　a　hole　in　the　back　of　his　hauberk。　and　when　edmund　pressed　him　　back　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　wall；　he　jumped　up　on　a　mounting　block　and　stood　there　　raining　down　blows　on　edmund　from　above。　but　then；　finding　that　this　position；　by　　raising　him　above　the　heads　of　everyone　else；　made　him　a　mark　for　every　arrow　from　the　　narnian　bows；　he　decided　to　jump　down　again。　and　he　meant　to　look　and　sound　…　no　doubt　for　a　　moment　he　did　look　and　sound　…　very　grand　and　very　dreadful　as　he　jumped；　crying；　　〃the　bolt　of　tash　falls　from　above。〃　but　he　had　to　jump　sideways　because　the　crowd　in　　front　of　him　left　him　no　landing　place　in　that　direction。　and　then；　in　the　neatest　way　　you　could　wish；　the　tear　in　the　back　of　his　hauberk　caught　on　a　hook　in　the　wall。　（ages　ago　　this　hook　had　had　a　ring　in　it　for　tying　horses　to。）　and　there　he　found　himself；　like　a　　piece　of　washing　hung　up　to　dry；　with　everyone　laughing　at　him。

〃let　me　down；　edmund；〃　howled　rsh。　〃let　me　down　and　fight　me　like　a　　king　and　a　man；　or　if　you　are　too　great　a　coward　to　do　that；　kill　me　at　once。鈥�

〃certainly；〃　began　king　edmund；　but　king　lune　interrupted。

〃by　your　majestys　good　leave；〃　said　king　lune　to　edmund。　〃not　so。〃　then　　turning　to　rsh　he　said；　〃your　royal　highness；　if　you　had　given　that　challenge　a　　week　ago；　ill　answer　for　it　there　was　no　one　in　king　edmunds　dominion；　from　the　high　　king　down　to　the　smallest　talking　mouse；　who　would　have　refused　it。　but　by　attacking　our　　castle　of　anvard　in　time　of　peace　without　defiance　sent；　you　have　proved　yourself　no　　knight；　but　a　traitor；　and　one　rather　to　be　whipped　by　the　hangman　than　to　be　suffered　to　　cross　swords　with　any　person　of　honour。　take　him　down；　bind　him；　and　carry　him　within　　till　our　pleasure　is　further　known。鈥�

strong　hands　wrenched　rshs　sword　from　him　and　he　was　carried　away　　into　the　castle；　shouting；　threatening；　cursing；　and　even　crying。　for　though　he　　could　have　faced　torture　he　couldnt　bear　being　made　ridiculous。　in　tashbaan　everyone　had　　always　taken　him　seriously。

at　that　moment　corin　ran　up　to　shasta；　seized　his　hand　and　started　dragging　　him　towards　king　lune。　〃here　he　is；　father；　here　he　is；〃　cried　corin。

〃aye；　and　here　thou　art；　at　last；〃　said　the　king　in　a　very　gruff　voice。　　〃and　bast　been　in　the　battle；　clean　contrary　to　your　obedience。　a　boy　to　break　a　fathers　heart！　　at　your　age　a　rod　to　your　breech　were　fitter　than　a　sword　in　your　fist；　ha！〃　but　everyone；　　including　corin；　could　see　that　the　king　was　very　proud　of　him。

〃chide　him　no　more；　sire；　if　it　please　you；〃　said　lord　darrin。　〃his　　highness　would　not　be　your　son　if　he　did　not　inherit　your　conditions。　it　would　grieve　your　　majesty　more　if　he　had　to　be　reproved　for　the　opposite　fault。鈥�

〃well；　well；〃　grumbled　the　king。　〃well　pass　it　over　for　this　time。　and　now　　…〃　　　what　came　next　surprised　shasta　as　much　as　anything　that　had　ever　happened　　to　him　in　his　life。　he　found　himself　suddenly　embraced　inn　bear…like　hug　by　king　lune　　and　kissed　on　both　cheeks。　then　the　king　set　him　down　again　and　said；　〃stand　here　　together；　boys；　and　let　all　the　court　see　you。　hold　up　your　heads。　now；　gentlemen；　look　on　　them　both。

has　any　man　any　doubts？鈥�

and　still　shasta　could　not　understand　why　everyone　stared　at　him　and　at　　corin　nor　what　all　the　cheering　was　about。

xi锛�oshuotx锛础�c锛�锛�



CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

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how　bree　became　a　wiser　horse　　we　must　now　return　to　aravis　and　the　horses。　the　hermit；　watching　his　pool；　　was　able　to　tell　them　that　shasta　was　not　killed　or　even　seriously　wounded；　for　he　　saw　him　get　up　and　saw　how　affectionately　he　was　greeted　by　king　lune。　but　as　he　could　　only　see；　not　hear；　he　did　not　know　what　anyone　was　saying　and；　once　the　fighting　had　　stopped　and　the　talking　had　begun；　it　was　not　worth　while　looking　in　the　pool　any　longer。

next　morning；　while　the　hermit　was　indoors；　the　three　of　them　discussed　　what　they　should　do　next。

〃ive　had　enough　of　this；〃　said　hwin。　〃the　hermit　has　been　very　good　to　us　　and　im　very　much　obliged　to　him　im　sure。　but　im　getting　as　fat　as　a　pet　pony；　eating　　all　day　and　getting　no　exercise。　lets　go　on　to　narnia。鈥�

〃oh　not　today；　maam；〃　said　bree。　〃i　wouldnt　hurry　things。　some　other　day；　　dont　you　think？鈥�

〃we　must　see　shasta　first　and　say　good…bye　to　him　…　and　…　and　apologize；〃　　said　aravis。

〃exactly！〃　said　bree　with　great　enthusiasm。　〃just　what　i　was　going　to　say。鈥�

〃oh；　of　course；〃　said　hwin。　〃i　expect　he　is　in　anvard。　naturally　wed　look　　in　on　him　and　say　good…bye。　but　thats　on　our　way。　and　why　shouldnt　we　start　at　once？　　after　all；　i　thought　it　was　narnia　we　all　wanted　to　get　to？鈥�

〃i　suppose　so；〃　said　aravis。　she　was　beginning　to　wonder　what　exactly　she　　would　do　when　she　got　there　and　was　feeling　a　little　lonely。

〃of　course；　of　course；〃　said　bree　hastily。　〃but　theres　no　need　to　rush　　things；　if　you　know　what　i　mean。鈥�

〃no；　i　dont　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　hwin。　〃why　dont　you　want　to　go？鈥�

〃m…m…m；　broo…hoo；〃　muttered　bree。　〃well；　dont　you　see；　maam　…　its　an　　important　occasion　…　returning　to　ones　country　…　entering　society　…　the　best　society　　…　it　is　so　essential　to　make　a　good　impression　…　not　perhaps　looking　quite　ourselves；　yet；　eh？鈥�

hwin　broke　out　into　a　horse…laugh。　〃its　your　tail；　bree！　i　see　it　all　now。　　you　want　to　wait　till　your　tails　grown　again！　and　we　dont　even　know　if　tails　are　worn　long　　in　narnia。

really；　bree；　youre　as　vain　as　that　tarkheena　in　tashbaan！鈥�

〃you　are　silly；　bree；〃　said　aravis。

〃by　the　lions　mane；　tarkheena；　im　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　bree　　indignantly。　〃i　have　a　proper　respect　for　myself　and　for　my　fellow　horses；　thats　all。鈥�

〃bree；〃　said　aravis；　who　was　not　very　interested　in　the　cut　of　his　tail；　　〃ive　been　wanting　to　ask　you　something　for　a　long　time。　why　do　you　keep　on　swearing　by　the　　lion　and　by　the　lions　mane？　i　thought　you　hated　lions。鈥�

〃so　i　do；〃　answered　bree。　〃but　when　i　speak　of　the　lion　of　course　i　mean　　aslan；　the　great　deliverer　of　narnia　who　drove　away　the　witch　and　the　winter。　all　　narnians　swear　by　him。鈥�

〃but　is　he　a　lion？鈥�

〃no；　no；　of　course　not；〃　said　bree　in　a　rather　shocked　voice。

〃all　the　stories　about　him　in　tashbaan　say　he　is；〃　replied　aravis。　〃and　if　　he　isnt　a　lion　why　do　you　call　him　a　lion？鈥�

〃well；　youd　hardly　understand　that　at　your　age；〃　said　bree。　〃and　i　was　　only　a　little　foal　when　i　left　so　i　dont　quite　fully　understand　it　myself。鈥�

（bree　was　standing　with　his　back　to　the　green　wall　while　he　said　this；　and　　the　other　two　were　facing　him。　he　was　talking　in　rather　a　superior　tone　with　his　eyes　　half　shut；　that　was　why　he　didnt　see　the　changed　expression　in　the　faces　of　hwin　and　aravis。　　they　had　good　reason　to　have　open　mouths　and　staring　eyes；　because　while　bree　spoke　they　　saw　an　enormous　lion　leap　up　from　outside　and　balance　itself　on　the　top　of　the　　green　wall；　only　it　was　a　brighter　yellow　and　it　was　bigger　and　more　beautiful　and　more　　alarming　than　any　lion　they　had　ever　seen。　and　at　once　it　jumped　down　inside　the　wall　and　　began　approaching　bree　from　behind。　it　made　no　noise　at　all。　and　hwin　and　aravis　　couldnt　make　any　noise　themselves；　no　more　than　if　they　were　frozen。）

〃no　doubt；〃　continued　bree；　〃when　they　speak　of　him　as　a　lion　they　only　　mean　hes　as　strong　as　a　lion　or　（to　our　enemies；　of　course）　as　fierce　as　a　lion。　or　　something　of　that　kind。　even　a　little　girl　like　you；　aravis；　must　see　that　it　would　be　quite　　absurd　to　suppose　he　is　a　real　lion。　indeed　it　would　be　disrespectful。　if　he　was　a　lion　hed　　have　to　be　a　beast　just　like　the　rest　of　us。　why！〃　（and　here　bree　began　to　laugh）　〃if　he　was　a　　lion　hed　have　four　paws；　and　a　tail；　and　whiskers！　。　。　。　aie；　ooh；　hoo…hoo！　help！鈥�

for　just　as　he　said　the　word　whiskers　one　of　aslans　had　actually　tickled　　his　ear。　bree　shot　away　like　an　arrow　to　the　other　side　of　the　enclosure　and　there　　turned；　the　wall　was　too　high　for　him　to　jump　and　he　could　fly　no　farther。　aravis　and　hwin　both　　started　back。

there　was　about　a　second　of　intense　silence。

then　hwin；　though　shaking　all　over；　gave　a　strange　little　neigh；　and　　trotted　across　to　the　lion。

〃please；〃　she　said；　〃youre　so　beautiful。　you　may　eat　me　if　you　like。　id　　sooner　be　eaten　by　you　than　fed　by　anyone　else。鈥�

〃dearest　daughter；〃　said　aslan；　planting　a　lions　kiss　on　her　twitching；　　velvet　nose；　〃i　knew　you　would　not　be　long　in　ing　to　me。　joy　shall　be　yours。鈥�

then　he　lifted　his　head　and　spoke　in　a　louder　voice。

〃now；