the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第4部分

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their　left　from　the　direction　of　the　forest。

〃two　of　them；〃　moaned　bree。

when　they　had　galloped　for　several　minutes　without　any　further　noise　from　　the　lions　shasta　said；　〃i　say！　that　other　horse　is　galloping　beside　us　now。　only　a　　stones　throw　away。鈥�

〃all　the　b…better；〃　panted　bree。　〃tarkaan　on　it　…　will　have　a　sword　…　　protect　us　all。鈥�

〃but；　bree！〃　said　shasta。　〃we　might　just　as　well　be　killed　by　lions　as　　caught。　or　1　might。

theyll　hang　me　for　horsestealing。〃　he　was　feeling　less　frightened　of　lions　　than　bree　because　he　had　never　met　a　lion；　bree　had。

bree　only　snorted　in　answer　but　he　did　sheer　away　to　his　right。　oddly　　enough　the　other　horse　seemed　also　to　be　sheering　away　to　the　left；　so　that　in　a　few　seconds　　the　space　between　them　had　widened　a　good　deal。　but　as　soon　as　it　did　so　there　came　　two　more　lions　roars；　immediately　after　one　another；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other　　on　the　left；　the　horses　began　drawing　nearer　together。　so；　apparently；　did　the　lions。　the　　roaring　of　the　brutes　on　each　side　was　horribly　close　and　they　seemed　to　be　keeping　up　　with　the　galloping　horses　quite　easily。　then　the　cloud　rolled　away。　the　moonlight；　　astonishingly　bright；　showed　up　everything　almost　as　if　it　were　broad　day。　the　two　horses　　and　two　riders　were　galloping　neck　to　neck　and　knee　to　knee　just　as　if　they　were　in　　a　race。　indeed　bree　said　（afterwards）　that　a　finer　race　had　never　been　seen　in　calormen。

shasta　now　gave　himself　up　for　lost　and　began　to　wonder　whether　lions　　killed　you　quickly　or　played　with　you　as　a　cat　plays　with　a　mouse　and　how　much　it　　would　hurt。　at　the　same　time　（one　sometimes　does　this　at　the　most　frightful　moments）　he　　noticed　everything。　he　saw　that　the　other　rider　was　a　very　small；　slender　person；　　mail…clad　（the　moon　shone　on　the　mail）　and　riding　magnificently。　he　had　no　beard。

something　flat　and　shining　was　spread　out　before　them。　before　shasta　had　　time　even　to　guess　what　it　was　there　was　　a　great　splash　and　he　found　his　mouth　half　full　of　salt　water。　the　shining　　thing　had　been　a　long　inlet　of　the　sea。　both　horses　were　swimming　and　the　water　was　up　to　　shastas　knees。

there　was　an　angry　roaring　behind　them　and　looking　back　shasta　saw　a　great；　　shaggy；　and　terrible　shape　crouched　on　the　waters　edge；　but　only　one。　〃we　must　　have　shaken　off　the　other　lion；〃　he　thought。

the　lion　apparently　did　not　think　its　prey　worth　a　wetting；　at　any　rate　it　　made　no　attempt　to　take　the　water　in　pursuit。　the　two　horses；　side　by　side；　were　now　well　　out　into　the　middle　of　the　creek　and　the　opposite　shore　could　be　clearly　seen。　the　　tarkaan　had　not　yet　spoken　a　word。　〃but　he　will；〃　thought　shasta。　〃as　soon　as　we　have　landed。　　what　am　i　to　say？　i　must　begin　thinking　out　a　story。鈥�

then；　suddenly；　two　voices　spoke　at　his　side。

〃oh；　i　am　so　tired；〃　said　the　one。　〃hold　your　tongue；　hwin；　and　dont　be　a　　fool；〃　said　the　other。

〃im　dreaming；〃　thought　shasta。　〃i　could　have　sworn　that　other　horse　　spoke。鈥�

soon　the　horses　were　no　longer　swimming　but　walking　and　soon　with　a　great　　sound　of　water　running　off　their　sides　and　tails　and　with　a　great　crunching　of　　pebbles　under　eight　hoofs；　they　came　out　on　the　farther　beach　of　the　inlet。　the　tarkaan；　to　　shastas　surprise；　showed　no　wish　to　ask　questions。　he　did　not　even　look　at　shasta　but　seemed　　anxious　to　urge　his　horse　straight　on。　bree；　however；　at　once　shouldered　himself　in　　the　other　horses　way。

〃broo…hoo…hah！〃　he　snorted。　〃steady　there！　i　heard　you；　i　did。　theres　no　　good　pretending；　maam。　1　heard　you。　youre　a　talking　horse；　a　narnian　horse　　just　like　me。鈥�

〃whats　it　got　to　do　with　you　if　she　is？〃　said　the　strange　rider　fiercely；　　laying　hand　on　sword…hilt。　but　the　voice　in　which　the　words　were　spoken　had　already　told　　shasta　something。

〃why；　its　only　a　girl！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃and　what　business　is　it　of　yours　if　i　am　only　a　girl？〃　snapped　the　　stranger。　〃youre　probably　only　a　boy：　a　rude；　mon　little　boy　…　a　slave　probably；　whos　　stolen　his　masters　horse。鈥�

〃thats　all　you　know；〃　said　shasta。

〃hes　not　a　thief；　little　tarkheena；〃　said　bree。　〃at　least；　if　theres　been　　any　stealing；　you　might　just　as　well　say　i　stole　him。　and　as　for　its　not　being　my　business；　　you　wouldnt　expect　me　to　pass　a　lady　of　my　own　race　in　this　strange　country　without　　speaking　to　her？

its　only　natural　i　should。鈥�

〃i　think　its　very　natural　too；〃　said　the　mare。

〃i　wish　youd　held　your　tongue；　hwin；〃　said　the　girl。　〃look　at　the　trouble　　youve　got　us　into。鈥�

〃i　dont　know　about　trouble；〃　said　shasta。　〃you　can　clear　off　as　soon　as　　you　like。　we　shant　keep　you。鈥�

〃no；　you　shant；〃　said　the　girl。

〃what　quarrelsome　creatures　these　humans　are；〃　said　bree　to　the　mare。　　〃theyre　as　bad　as　mules。　lets　try　to　talk　a　little　sense。　i　take　it；　maam；　your　story　is　　the　same　as　mine？

captured　in　early　youth　…　years　of　slavery　among　the　calormenes？鈥�

〃too　true；　sir；〃　said　the　mare　with　a　melancholy　whinny。

〃and　now；　perhaps　…　escape？鈥�

〃tell　him　to　mind　his　own　business；　hwin；〃　said　the　girl。

〃no；　i　wont；　aravis；〃　said　the　mare　putting　her　ears　back。　〃this　is　my　　escape　just　as　much　as　yours。　and　im　sure　a　noble　war…horse　like　this　is　not　going　to　　betray　us。　we　are　trying　to　escape；　to　get　to　narnia。鈥�

〃and　so；　of　course；　are　we；〃　said　bree。　〃of　course　you　guessed　that　at　　once。　a　little　boy　in　rags　riding　（or　trying　to　ride）　a　war…horse　at　dead　of　night　couldnt　　mean　anything　but　an　escape　of　some　sort。　and；　if　i　may　say　so；　a　highborn　tarkheena　riding　　alone　at　night　…　dressed　up　in　her　brothers　armour　…　and　very　anxious　for　everyone　to　mind　　their　own　business　and　ask　her　no　questions　…　well；　if　thats　not　fishy；　call　me　a　　cob！鈥�

〃all　right　then；〃　said　aravis。　〃youve　guessed　it。　hwin　and　i　are　running　　away。　we　are　trying　to　get　to　narnia。　and　now；　what　about　it？鈥�

〃why；　in　that　case；　what　is　to　prevent　us　all　going　together？〃　said　bree。　　〃i　trust；　madam　hwin；　you　will　accept　such　assistance　and　protection　as　i　may　be　able　to　　give　you　on　the　journey？鈥�

〃why　do　you　keep　talking　to　my　horse　instead　of　to　me？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃excuse　me；　tarkheena；〃　said　bree　（with　just　the　slightest　backward　tilt　of　　his　ears）；　〃but　thats　calormene　talk。　were　free　narnians；　hwin　and　i；　and　i　suppose；　if　　youre　running　away　to　narnia；　you　want　to　be　one　too。　in　that　case　hwin　isnt　your　horse　　any　longer。

one　might　just　as　well　say　youre　her　human。鈥�

the　girl　opened　her　mouth　to　speak　and　then　stopped。　obviously　she　had　not　　quite　seen　it　in　that　light　before。

〃still；〃　she　said　after　a　moments　pause；　〃i　dont　know　that　theres　so　　much　point　in　all　going　together。　arent　we　more　likely　to　be　noticed？鈥�

〃less；〃　said　bree；　and　the　mare　said；　〃oh　do　lets。　i　should　feel　much　more　　fortable。

were　not　even　certain　of　the　way。　im　sure　a　great　charger　like　this　knows　　far　more　than　we　do。鈥�

〃oh　e　on；　bree；〃　said　shasta；　〃and　let　them　go　their　own　way。　cant　you　　see　they　dont　want　us？鈥�

〃we　do；〃　said　hwin。

〃look　here；〃　said　the　girl。　〃i　dont　mind　going　with　you；　mr　war…horse；　but　　what　about　this　boy？　how　do　i　know　hes　not　a　spy？鈥�

〃why　dont　you　say　at　once　that　you　think　im　not　good　enough　for　you？〃　　said　shasta。

〃be　quiet；　shasta；〃　said　bree。　〃the　tarkheenas　question　is　quite　　reasonable。　ill　vouch　for　the　boy；　tarkheena。　hes　been　true　to　me　and　a　good　friend。　and　hes　　certainly　either　a　narnian　or　an　archenlander。鈥�

〃all　right；　then。　lets　go　together。〃　but　she　didnt　say　anything　to　shasta　　and　it　was　obvious　that　she　wanted　bree；　not　him。

〃splendid！〃　said　bree。　〃and　now　that　weve　got　the　water　between　us　and　　those　dreadful　animals；　what　about　you　two　humans　taking　off　our　saddles　and　our　all　　having　a　rest　and　hearing　one　anothers　stories。鈥�

both　the　children　unsaddled　their　horses　and　the　horses　had　a　little　grass　　and　aravis　produced　rather　nice　things　to　eat　from　her　saddle…bag？　but　shasta　sulked　　and　said　no　thanks；　and　that　he　wasnt　hungry。　and　he　tried　to　put　on　what　he　thought　　very　grand　and　stiff　manners；　but　as　a　fishermans　but　is　not　usually　a　good　place　for　　learning　grand　　

manners；　the　result　was　dreadful。　and　he　half　knew　that　it　wasnt　a　success　　and　then　became　sulkier　and　more　awkward　than　ever。　meanwhile　the　two　horses　were　　getting　on　splendidly。　they　remembered　the　very　same　places　in　narnia　…　〃the　　grasslands　up　above　beaversdam〃　and　found　that　they　were　some　sort　of　second　cousins　once　　removed。　this　made　things　more　and　more　unfortable　for　the　humans　until　at　last　bree　　said；　〃and　now；　tarkheena；　tell　us　your　story。　and　dont　hurry　it　…　im　feeling　　fortable　now。鈥�

aravis　immediately　began；　sitting　quite　still　and　using　a　rather　different　　tone　and　style　from　her　usual　one。　for　in　calormen；　story…telling　（whether　the　stories　are　　true　or　made　up）　is　a　thing　youre　taught；　just　as　english　boys　and　girls　are　taught　　essay…writing。　the　difference　is　that　people　want　to　hear　the　stories；　whereas　i　never　heard　　of　anyone　who　wanted　to　read　the　essays。

銆�



CHAPTER　THREE

澶В诲�︼紝鐢燂紝灏忥紝璇�'缃�
at　the　gates　of　tashbaan　　〃mr　name；〃　said　the　girl　at　once；　〃is　aravis　tarkheena　and　i　am　the　only　　daughter　of　kidrash　tarkaan；　the　son　of　rishti　tarkaan；　the　son　of　kidrash　tarkaan；　the　　son　of　ilsombreh　tisroc；　the　son　of　ardeeb　tisroc　who　was　descended　in　a　right　　line　from　the　god　tash。　my　father　is　the　lord　of　the　province　of　calavar　and　is　one　who　　has　the　right　of　standing　on　his　feet　in　his　shoes　before　the　face　of　tisroc　himself　（may　he　　live　for　ever）。

my　mother　（on　whom　be　the　peace　of　the　gods）　is　dead　and　my　father　has　　married　another　wife。　one　of　my　brothers　has　fallen　in　battle　against　the　rebels　in　　the　far　west　and　the　other　is　a　child。　now　it　came　to　pass　that　my　fathers　wife；　my　step…　mother；　hated　me；　and　the　sun　appeared　dark　in　her　eyes　as　long　as　i　lived　in　my　fathers　　house。　and　so　she　persuaded　my　father　to　promise　me　in　marriage　to　ahoshta　tarkaan。　now　this　　ahoshta　is　of　base　birth；　though　in　these　latter　years　he　has　won　the　favour　of　the　　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　by　flattery　and　evil　counsels；　and　is　now　made　a　tarkaan　and　the　　lord　of　many　cities　and　is　likely　to　be　chosen　as　the　grand　vizier　when　the　present　　grand　vizier　dies。

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