CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THETRIUMPHOFTHEWITCHAssoonastheWitchhadgoneAslansaid,"Wemustmovefromthisplaceatowillbewantedforotherpurposes.WeshallencamptonightattheFordsofBeruna.
Ofcourseeveryonewasdyingtoaskhimhowhehadarraterswiththewitch;buthisfacewassternandeveryonesearswerestillringingwiththesoundofhisroarandsonobodydared.
Afterameal,whichwastakenintheopenaironthehill-top(forthesunhadgbynowanddriedthegrass),theywerebusyforawhiletakingthepaviliondownand
pagthingsup.Beforetwooclocktheywereonthemardsetoffinanortheasterlydire,walkingataneasypacefortheyhadno.
DuringthefirstpartofthejourneyAslanexplaioPeterhisplanofcampaign."Assoonasshehasfinishedherbusinessintheseparts,"hesaid,"theWitdhercrewwillalmostcertainlyfallbacktoherHouseandprepareforasiege.Youmayormaynotbeabletocutheroffaherfromreagit."Hetheontooutliwoplansofbattle-onefhtidherpeopleinthewoodandanotherforassaultinghercastle.Andallthetimehewasadvisierhowtoducttheoperations,sayingthingslike,"Youmustputyourtaursinsudsuchaplace"or"Youmustpostscoutstoseethatshedoesntdoso-and-so,"tillatlastPetersaid,"Butyouwillbethereyourself,Aslan.”
"Igiveyounopromiseofthat,"aheLion.Ainuedgivierhisinstrus.
ForthelastpartofthejourwasSusanandLuostofhim.Hedidnottalkverymudseemedtothemtobesad.
Itwasstillafternooheycamedolacewheretherivervalleyhadwideandtheriverwasbroadandshallow.ThiswastheFordsofBerunaandAslangaveorderstohaltonthissideofthewater.ButPetersaid,"Wouldntitbebettertocamponthefarside-forfearsheshouldtryanightattackoranything?”
Aslan,whoseemedtohavebeenthinkingaboutsomethingelse,rousedhimselfwithashakeofhismagnifitmaneandsaid,"Eh?Whatsthat?"Petersaiditallain.
"No,"saidAslaninadullvoice,asifitdidntmatter."No.Shewillnotmakeanattackto-night."Andthenhesigheddeeply.Butpresentlyheadded,"Allthesameitwaswellthoughtof.Thatishowasoldieroughttothink.Butitdoesntreallymatter."Sotheyproceededtopitchtheircamp.
Aslansmoodaffectedeveryoevenierwasfeelingunfortabletooattheideaoffightileonhisown;thehatAslanmightherehadeasagreatsho.Supperthateveningwasaquietmeal.Everyohowdifferentithadbeenlastnightoreventhatm.Itwasasifthegoodtimes,havingjustbegun,werealreadydrawingtotheirend.
ThisfeelingaffectedSusansomuchthatshecouldosleepwhetobed.
AndaftershehadlaintingsheepandturningoverandoversheheardLucygivealongsighandturnoverjustbesideherinthedarkness.
"tyougettosleepeither?"saidSusan.
"No,"saidLucy."Ithoughtyouwereasleep.Isay,Susan!”
"What?”
"IveamostHorriblefeeling-asifsomethingwerehangingoverus.”
"Haveyou?Because,asamatteroffact,sohaveI.”
"SomethingaboutAslan,"saidLucy."Eithersomedreadfulthingisgoingtohappentohim,orsomethingdreadfulthathesgoingtodo.”
"Theresbeehingwrongwithhimallafternoon,"saidSusan."Lucy!Whatwasthathesaidaboutnotbeingwithusatthebattle?Youdontthinkhecouldbestealingawayandleavingustonight,doyou?”
"Whereishenow?"saidLucy."Ishehereinthepavilion?”
"Idontthinkso.”
"Susasgooutsideandhavealookround.Wemightseehim.”
"Allright.Lets,"saidSusan;"wemightjustaswellbedoingthataslyingawakehere.”
Veryquietlythetwropedtheirwayamohersleepersaoutofthetent.ThemoonlightwasbrightahingwasquitestillexceptfortheheriverchatterihestohenSusansuddenlycaughtLucysarmandsaid,"Look!"Onthefarsideofthecampingground,justwherethetreesbegan,theysawtheLionslowlywalkingawayfromthemintothewood.Withoutawordtheybothfollowedhim.
Heledthemupthesteepslopeoutoftherivervalleyandthenslightlytht-apparentlybytheverysameroutewhichtheyhadusedthatafternooniningfromtheHilloftheStoable.Onandohem,intodarkshadowsandoutintopalemoonlight,gettingtheirfeetwetwiththeheavydew.HelookedsomehowdifferentfromtheAslantheyknew.Histailandhisheadhunglowandhewalkedslowlyasifhewerevery,verytired.Theheywerecrossingawideopenplacewheretherewherenoshadowsforthemtohideioppedandlookedround.Itwasnogtorunawaysotheycametowardshim.Whentheywerecloserhesaid,"Oh,children,children,whyareyoufollowingme?”
"Wecouldntsleep,"saidLudthesurethatsheneedsaynomoreandthatAslanknewalltheyhadbeenthinking.
"Please,mayweewithyou-whereveryoing?"askedSusan.
"Well-"saidAslan,aobethinking.Thenhesaid,"Ishouldbegladofpanytonight.Yes,youmaye,ifyouwillpromisetostopwhenItellyou,andafterthatleavemetogoonalone.”
"Oh,thankyou,thankyou.Andwewill,"saidthetwogirls.
ForwardtheywentagainahegirlswalkedoneachsideoftheLion.Buthowslowlyhewalked!Andhisgreat,royalheaddroopedsothathisnosenearlytouchedthegrass.Presentlyhestumbledandgavealowmoan.
"Aslan!DearAslan!"saidLucy,"whatiswrong?tyoutellus?”
"Areyouill,dearAslan?"askedSusan.
"No,"saidAslan."Iamsadandlonely.LayyourhandsonmymahatIfeelyouarethereauswalklikethat.”
Andsothegirlsdidwhattheywouldneverhavedaredtodowithouthispermission,butwhattheyhadloodoeversiheyfirstsawhimburiedtheircoldhandsinthebeautifulseaoffurandstrokeditand,sodoing,walkedwithhim.AlytheysawthattheyweregoingwithhimuptheslopeofthehillonwhichtheStoablestood.Theywentupatthesidewherethetreescamefurthestup,aheygottothelasttree(itwasohadsomebushesaboutit)Aslanstoppedandsaid,"Oh,children,children.Hereyoumuststop.Andwhateverhappens,doyourselvesbeseen.Farewell.”
Andboththegirlscriedbitterly(thoughtheyhardlyknewwhy)andgtotheLionandkissedhismaneandhisnoseandhispawsandhisgreat,sadeyes.Theurnedfromthemandwalkedoutontothetopofthehill.AndLudSusan,crouginthebushes,lookedafterhim,andthisiswhattheysaw.
Agreatcrowdofpeoplewerestandingallrouoableandthoughthemoonwasshiningmanyofthemcarriedtorcheswhichburhevil-lookingredflamesandblacksmoke.Butsuchpeople!Ogreswithmonstrousteeth,andwolves,andbull-headedmen;spiritsofeviltreesandpoisonousplants;andothercreatureswhomIwontdescribebecauseifIdidthegrownupswouldprobablyyoureadthisbook-CruelsandHagsandIncubuses,Wraiths,Horrors,Efreets,Sprites,Orknies,Wooses,ains.InfactherewereallthosewhowereochssideandwhomtheWolfhadsummoherand.Andrightinthemiddle,standingbytheTable,wastheWitchherself.
AhowlandagibberofdismaywentupfromthecreatureswhentheyfirstsawthegreatLionpagtowardsthem,andforamomeheWitchseemedtobestruckwithfear.Thensherecoveredherselfandgaveawildfiercelaugh.
"Thefool!"shecried."Thefoolhase.Bindhimfast.”
LudSusaheirbreathswaitingforAslansroarandhisspringuponhisenemies.Butitnevercame.Fs,grinningandleerialso(atfirst)hangingbadhalfafraidofwhattheyhadtodo,hadapproachedhim."Bindhim,Isay!”
repeatedtheWhiteWitch.TheHagsmadeadartathimandshriekedwithtriumphwhentheyfoundthathemadeaall.Thenothers-evildwarfsandapes-rushedihem,aweeheyrolledthehugeLionoveronhisbadtiedallhisfourpawstogether,shoutingandcheeringasiftheyhaddonesomethingbrave,though,hadtheLionchosehosepawscouldhavebeehofthemall.
Buthemadenonoise,eveheerainingandtugging,pulledthecordssotightthattheytohisflesh.ThentheybeganthimtowardstheStoable.
"Stop!"saidtheWitch."Lethimfirstbeshaved.”
AnotherroarofmeanlaughterwentupfromherfollowersasahapairofshearscameforwardandsquatteddownbyAslanshead.Snip-snip-sheshearsandmassesgoldbegantofalltotheground.Thentheogrestoodbadthechildren,watgfromtheirhiding-place,couldseethefaceofAslanlookingallsmallanddifferentwithoutitsmaheenemiesalsosawthedifference.
"Why,hesonlyagreatcatafterall!"criedone.
"Isthatereafraidof?"saidanother.
AndtheysurgedroundAslan,jeeringathim,sayingthingslike"Puss,Puss!PoorPussy,”
and"Howmanymicehaveyoucaughttoday,Cat?"and"Wouldyoulikeasauilk,Pussums?”
"Oh,howthey?"saidLucy,tearsstreamingdownhercheeks."Thebrutes,thebrutes!"fornowthatthefirstshockwasovertheshornfaceofAslanlookedtoherbraver,andmorebeautiful,andmorepatientthanever.
"Muzzlehim!"saidtheWitdevennow,astheyworkedabouthisfaceputtingonthemuzzle,oefromhisjawswouldhavecosttwoorthreeofthemtheirhands.Buthenevermoved.Andthisseemedteallthatrabble.Everyonewasathimnow.
Thosewhohadbeenafraidtoenearhimevenafterhewasbouofindtheirce,andforafewmihetwogirlscouldnotevenseehim-sothicklywashesurrouhewholecrowdofcreatureskighim,hittinghim,spittingonhim,jeeringathim.
Atlasttherabblehadhadenoughofthis.TheybeganttheboundandmuzzledLiontotheStoable,somepullingandsomepushing.Hewassohugethateveheygothimthereittookalltheireffortstohoisthimontothesurfaceofit.Thentherewasmoretyingandtighteningofcords.
"Thecowards!Thecowards!"sobbedSusan."Aretheystillafraidofhim,evennow?”
WhenonceAslanhadbeentied(ahathewasreallyamassofcords)ostone,ahushfellonthecrowd.Fs,holdingfourtorches,stoodattheersoftheTable.TheWitchbaredherarmsasshehadbaredthemthepreviousnightwhenithadbeenEdmundinsteadofAslan.Thenshebegantowhetherklookedtothechildrehegleamofthetorchlightfellonit,asiftheknifeweremadeofstoofsteel,anditwasofastrangeandevilshape.
Aslastshedrewnear.ShestoodbyAslanshead.Herfacewaswandtwitgwithpassion,buthislookedupatthesky,stillquiet,herangrynorafraid,butalittlesad.Then,justbeforeshegavetheblow,shestoopeddownandsaidinaquiveringvoice,"Andnow,whohaswon?Fool,didyouthinkthatbyallthisyouwouldsavethehumantraitor?NowIwillkillyouinsteadofhimasourpactwasandsotheDeepMagicwillbeappeased.Butwhenyouaredeadwhatwillpreventmefromkillinghimaswell?Andwhowilltakehimoutofmyhandthen?UandthatyouhavegivenmeNarniaforever,youhavelostyourownlifeandyouhavenotsavedhis.Inthatknowledge,despairanddie.”
Thechildrendidheactualmomentofthekilling.Theycouldolookandhadcoveredtheireyes.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
Ofcourseeveryonewasdyingtoaskhimhowhehadarraterswiththewitch;buthisfacewassternandeveryonesearswerestillringingwiththesoundofhisroarandsonobodydared.
Afterameal,whichwastakenintheopenaironthehill-top(forthesunhadgbynowanddriedthegrass),theywerebusyforawhiletakingthepaviliondownand
pagthingsup.Beforetwooclocktheywereonthemardsetoffinanortheasterlydire,walkingataneasypacefortheyhadno.
DuringthefirstpartofthejourneyAslanexplaioPeterhisplanofcampaign."Assoonasshehasfinishedherbusinessintheseparts,"hesaid,"theWitdhercrewwillalmostcertainlyfallbacktoherHouseandprepareforasiege.Youmayormaynotbeabletocutheroffaherfromreagit."Hetheontooutliwoplansofbattle-onefhtidherpeopleinthewoodandanotherforassaultinghercastle.Andallthetimehewasadvisierhowtoducttheoperations,sayingthingslike,"Youmustputyourtaursinsudsuchaplace"or"Youmustpostscoutstoseethatshedoesntdoso-and-so,"tillatlastPetersaid,"Butyouwillbethereyourself,Aslan.”
"Igiveyounopromiseofthat,"aheLion.Ainuedgivierhisinstrus.
ForthelastpartofthejourwasSusanandLuostofhim.Hedidnottalkverymudseemedtothemtobesad.
Itwasstillafternooheycamedolacewheretherivervalleyhadwideandtheriverwasbroadandshallow.ThiswastheFordsofBerunaandAslangaveorderstohaltonthissideofthewater.ButPetersaid,"Wouldntitbebettertocamponthefarside-forfearsheshouldtryanightattackoranything?”
Aslan,whoseemedtohavebeenthinkingaboutsomethingelse,rousedhimselfwithashakeofhismagnifitmaneandsaid,"Eh?Whatsthat?"Petersaiditallain.
"No,"saidAslaninadullvoice,asifitdidntmatter."No.Shewillnotmakeanattackto-night."Andthenhesigheddeeply.Butpresentlyheadded,"Allthesameitwaswellthoughtof.Thatishowasoldieroughttothink.Butitdoesntreallymatter."Sotheyproceededtopitchtheircamp.
Aslansmoodaffectedeveryoevenierwasfeelingunfortabletooattheideaoffightileonhisown;thehatAslanmightherehadeasagreatsho.Supperthateveningwasaquietmeal.Everyohowdifferentithadbeenlastnightoreventhatm.Itwasasifthegoodtimes,havingjustbegun,werealreadydrawingtotheirend.
ThisfeelingaffectedSusansomuchthatshecouldosleepwhetobed.
AndaftershehadlaintingsheepandturningoverandoversheheardLucygivealongsighandturnoverjustbesideherinthedarkness.
"tyougettosleepeither?"saidSusan.
"No,"saidLucy."Ithoughtyouwereasleep.Isay,Susan!”
"What?”
"IveamostHorriblefeeling-asifsomethingwerehangingoverus.”
"Haveyou?Because,asamatteroffact,sohaveI.”
"SomethingaboutAslan,"saidLucy."Eithersomedreadfulthingisgoingtohappentohim,orsomethingdreadfulthathesgoingtodo.”
"Theresbeehingwrongwithhimallafternoon,"saidSusan."Lucy!Whatwasthathesaidaboutnotbeingwithusatthebattle?Youdontthinkhecouldbestealingawayandleavingustonight,doyou?”
"Whereishenow?"saidLucy."Ishehereinthepavilion?”
"Idontthinkso.”
"Susasgooutsideandhavealookround.Wemightseehim.”
"Allright.Lets,"saidSusan;"wemightjustaswellbedoingthataslyingawakehere.”
Veryquietlythetwropedtheirwayamohersleepersaoutofthetent.ThemoonlightwasbrightahingwasquitestillexceptfortheheriverchatterihestohenSusansuddenlycaughtLucysarmandsaid,"Look!"Onthefarsideofthecampingground,justwherethetreesbegan,theysawtheLionslowlywalkingawayfromthemintothewood.Withoutawordtheybothfollowedhim.
Heledthemupthesteepslopeoutoftherivervalleyandthenslightlytht-apparentlybytheverysameroutewhichtheyhadusedthatafternooniningfromtheHilloftheStoable.Onandohem,intodarkshadowsandoutintopalemoonlight,gettingtheirfeetwetwiththeheavydew.HelookedsomehowdifferentfromtheAslantheyknew.Histailandhisheadhunglowandhewalkedslowlyasifhewerevery,verytired.Theheywerecrossingawideopenplacewheretherewherenoshadowsforthemtohideioppedandlookedround.Itwasnogtorunawaysotheycametowardshim.Whentheywerecloserhesaid,"Oh,children,children,whyareyoufollowingme?”
"Wecouldntsleep,"saidLudthesurethatsheneedsaynomoreandthatAslanknewalltheyhadbeenthinking.
"Please,mayweewithyou-whereveryoing?"askedSusan.
"Well-"saidAslan,aobethinking.Thenhesaid,"Ishouldbegladofpanytonight.Yes,youmaye,ifyouwillpromisetostopwhenItellyou,andafterthatleavemetogoonalone.”
"Oh,thankyou,thankyou.Andwewill,"saidthetwogirls.
ForwardtheywentagainahegirlswalkedoneachsideoftheLion.Buthowslowlyhewalked!Andhisgreat,royalheaddroopedsothathisnosenearlytouchedthegrass.Presentlyhestumbledandgavealowmoan.
"Aslan!DearAslan!"saidLucy,"whatiswrong?tyoutellus?”
"Areyouill,dearAslan?"askedSusan.
"No,"saidAslan."Iamsadandlonely.LayyourhandsonmymahatIfeelyouarethereauswalklikethat.”
Andsothegirlsdidwhattheywouldneverhavedaredtodowithouthispermission,butwhattheyhadloodoeversiheyfirstsawhimburiedtheircoldhandsinthebeautifulseaoffurandstrokeditand,sodoing,walkedwithhim.AlytheysawthattheyweregoingwithhimuptheslopeofthehillonwhichtheStoablestood.Theywentupatthesidewherethetreescamefurthestup,aheygottothelasttree(itwasohadsomebushesaboutit)Aslanstoppedandsaid,"Oh,children,children.Hereyoumuststop.Andwhateverhappens,doyourselvesbeseen.Farewell.”
Andboththegirlscriedbitterly(thoughtheyhardlyknewwhy)andgtotheLionandkissedhismaneandhisnoseandhispawsandhisgreat,sadeyes.Theurnedfromthemandwalkedoutontothetopofthehill.AndLudSusan,crouginthebushes,lookedafterhim,andthisiswhattheysaw.
Agreatcrowdofpeoplewerestandingallrouoableandthoughthemoonwasshiningmanyofthemcarriedtorcheswhichburhevil-lookingredflamesandblacksmoke.Butsuchpeople!Ogreswithmonstrousteeth,andwolves,andbull-headedmen;spiritsofeviltreesandpoisonousplants;andothercreatureswhomIwontdescribebecauseifIdidthegrownupswouldprobablyyoureadthisbook-CruelsandHagsandIncubuses,Wraiths,Horrors,Efreets,Sprites,Orknies,Wooses,ains.InfactherewereallthosewhowereochssideandwhomtheWolfhadsummoherand.Andrightinthemiddle,standingbytheTable,wastheWitchherself.
AhowlandagibberofdismaywentupfromthecreatureswhentheyfirstsawthegreatLionpagtowardsthem,andforamomeheWitchseemedtobestruckwithfear.Thensherecoveredherselfandgaveawildfiercelaugh.
"Thefool!"shecried."Thefoolhase.Bindhimfast.”
LudSusaheirbreathswaitingforAslansroarandhisspringuponhisenemies.Butitnevercame.Fs,grinningandleerialso(atfirst)hangingbadhalfafraidofwhattheyhadtodo,hadapproachedhim."Bindhim,Isay!”
repeatedtheWhiteWitch.TheHagsmadeadartathimandshriekedwithtriumphwhentheyfoundthathemadeaall.Thenothers-evildwarfsandapes-rushedihem,aweeheyrolledthehugeLionoveronhisbadtiedallhisfourpawstogether,shoutingandcheeringasiftheyhaddonesomethingbrave,though,hadtheLionchosehosepawscouldhavebeehofthemall.
Buthemadenonoise,eveheerainingandtugging,pulledthecordssotightthattheytohisflesh.ThentheybeganthimtowardstheStoable.
"Stop!"saidtheWitch."Lethimfirstbeshaved.”
AnotherroarofmeanlaughterwentupfromherfollowersasahapairofshearscameforwardandsquatteddownbyAslanshead.Snip-snip-sheshearsandmassesgoldbegantofalltotheground.Thentheogrestoodbadthechildren,watgfromtheirhiding-place,couldseethefaceofAslanlookingallsmallanddifferentwithoutitsmaheenemiesalsosawthedifference.
"Why,hesonlyagreatcatafterall!"criedone.
"Isthatereafraidof?"saidanother.
AndtheysurgedroundAslan,jeeringathim,sayingthingslike"Puss,Puss!PoorPussy,”
and"Howmanymicehaveyoucaughttoday,Cat?"and"Wouldyoulikeasauilk,Pussums?”
"Oh,howthey?"saidLucy,tearsstreamingdownhercheeks."Thebrutes,thebrutes!"fornowthatthefirstshockwasovertheshornfaceofAslanlookedtoherbraver,andmorebeautiful,andmorepatientthanever.
"Muzzlehim!"saidtheWitdevennow,astheyworkedabouthisfaceputtingonthemuzzle,oefromhisjawswouldhavecosttwoorthreeofthemtheirhands.Buthenevermoved.Andthisseemedteallthatrabble.Everyonewasathimnow.
Thosewhohadbeenafraidtoenearhimevenafterhewasbouofindtheirce,andforafewmihetwogirlscouldnotevenseehim-sothicklywashesurrouhewholecrowdofcreatureskighim,hittinghim,spittingonhim,jeeringathim.
Atlasttherabblehadhadenoughofthis.TheybeganttheboundandmuzzledLiontotheStoable,somepullingandsomepushing.Hewassohugethateveheygothimthereittookalltheireffortstohoisthimontothesurfaceofit.Thentherewasmoretyingandtighteningofcords.
"Thecowards!Thecowards!"sobbedSusan."Aretheystillafraidofhim,evennow?”
WhenonceAslanhadbeentied(ahathewasreallyamassofcords)ostone,ahushfellonthecrowd.Fs,holdingfourtorches,stoodattheersoftheTable.TheWitchbaredherarmsasshehadbaredthemthepreviousnightwhenithadbeenEdmundinsteadofAslan.Thenshebegantowhetherklookedtothechildrehegleamofthetorchlightfellonit,asiftheknifeweremadeofstoofsteel,anditwasofastrangeandevilshape.
Aslastshedrewnear.ShestoodbyAslanshead.Herfacewaswandtwitgwithpassion,buthislookedupatthesky,stillquiet,herangrynorafraid,butalittlesad.Then,justbeforeshegavetheblow,shestoopeddownandsaidinaquiveringvoice,"Andnow,whohaswon?Fool,didyouthinkthatbyallthisyouwouldsavethehumantraitor?NowIwillkillyouinsteadofhimasourpactwasandsotheDeepMagicwillbeappeased.Butwhenyouaredeadwhatwillpreventmefromkillinghimaswell?Andwhowilltakehimoutofmyhandthen?UandthatyouhavegivenmeNarniaforever,youhavelostyourownlifeandyouhavenotsavedhis.Inthatknowledge,despairanddie.”
Thechildrendidheactualmomentofthekilling.Theycouldolookandhadcoveredtheireyes.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读