CHAPTER NINE
THEISLANDOFTHEVOIDnowthewindswhichhadsolongbeenfromthenorth-westbegantoblowfromthewestitselfandeverymwhenthesuoftheseathecurvedprowoftheDawnTreaderstohtacrossthemiddleofthesun.SomethoughtthatthesunlookedlargerthanitlookedfromNarnia,butothersdisagreed.Andtheysailedandsailedbefesteadybreezeandsawherfishnull-norshipnorshore.Andstoresbegalowagain,anditcreptintotheirheartsthatperhapstheymighthaveetoaseawhitonforever.Butwhentheverylastdayonwhichtheythoughttheycouldrisktinuingtheireastwardvoyagedawshowed,rightaheadbetweenthemandthesunrise,alowlandlyinglikeacloud.
Theymadeharbourinawidebayaboutthemiddleoftheafternoonandlawasaverydifferenttryfromanytheyhadyetseen.Forwhentheyhadcrossedthesaheyfoundallsilentayasifitwereanuninhabitedland,butbeforethemtherewerelevellawnsinwhichthegrasswasassmoothandshortasitusedtobeinthegroundsofagreatEnglishhousewheretengardenerswerekept.Thetrees,ofwhichthereweremany,allstoodartfromoher,andtherewerenobrokenbranchesandnoleaveslyingontheground.Pigeonssometimescooedbuttherewasnoothernoise.
Presentlytheycametoalong,straight,sahwithnotaweedgrowingonitandtreesoherhand.Faroffattheotherendofthisaveheynowcaughtsightofahouse-verylongandgreyandquiet-lookingiernoonsun.
AlmostassoonastheyehispathLuoticedthatshehadalittlestoneinhershoe.Inthatunknownplaceitmighthavebeenwiserforhertoasktheotherstowaitwhileshetookitout.Butshedidnt;shejustdroppedquietlybehindandsatdowntotakeoffhershoe.Herlacehadgotintoaknot.
Beforeshehaduheknottheotherswereafairdistanceahead.Bythetimeshehadgotthestoanduttingtheshoeonagainshecouldnolongerhearthem.Butalmostatoncesheheardsomethingelse.Itwasnotingfromthedireofthehouse.
Whatsheheardwasathumping.Itsoundedasifdozensworkmeingthegroundashardastheycouldwithgreatwoodenmallets.Anditwasveryquicklyingnearer.Shewasalreadysittingwithherbacktoatree,andasthetreewasnotoneshecouldclimb,therewasreallynothingtodobuttositdeadstillandpressherselfagainstthetreeandhopeshewouldntbeseen.
Thump,thump,thump...andwhateveritwasmustbeveryclosenowforshecouldfeelthegroundshaking.Butshecouldseenothing.Shethoughtthething-orthingsmustbejustbehindher.Butthentherecameathumpohrightinfrontofher.Shekwasohnotonlybythesoundbutbecauseshesawthesandscatterasifithadbeenstruckaheavyblow.Butshecouldseenothingthathadstruckit.Thenallthethumpingnoisesdrewtogetherabouttweawayfromherandsuddenlyceased.
TheheVoice.
Itwasreallyverydreadfulbecauseshecouldstillseenobodyatall.Thewholeofthatpark-liketrystilllookedasquietayasithadlookedwhentheyfirstlanded.
heless,onlyafewfeetawayfromher,avoicespoke.Andwhatitsaidwas:"Mates,nowsource.”
Instantlyawholechorusofothervoicesreplied,"Hearhim.Hearhim.`Nowsource,hesaid.Welldone,Chief.Youneversaidatruerword.”
"WhatIsay,"tihefirstvoice,"is,getdowntotheshorebetweenthemandtheirboat,aeverymotherssonlooktohisons.Catchemwherytoputtosea.”
"Eh,thatstheway,"shoutedalltheothervoices."Younevermadeabetterplan,Chief.
Keepitup,Chief.Youcouldnthaveabetterplanthanthat.”
"Lively,then,mates,lively,"saidthefirstvoice."Offwego.
&quhtagain,Chief,"saidtheothers."Couldnthaveabetterorder.Justeregoingtosayourselves.Offwego.”
Immediatelythethumpingbeganagain-veryloudatfirstbutsoonfainterandfaiillitdiedoutinthedireofthesea.
Luewtherewasnotimetositpuzzlingastowhattheseinvisiblecreaturesmightbe.
Assoonasthethumpingnoisehaddiedawayshegotupandranalohaftertheothersasquicklyasherlegswouldcarryher.Theymustatallcostsbewarned.
Whilethishadbeenhappenihershadreachedthehouse.Itwasalowbuilding-onlytwostorieshighmadeofabeautifulmellowstone,many-windoartiallycoveredwithivy.EverythingwassostillthatEustacesaid,"Ithinkitsempty,"butCaspialypoihenofsmokewhichrosefromoneey.
Theyfoundawidegateenandpassedthroughitintoapavedcourtyard.Anditwasherethattheyhadtheirfirstindicationthattherewassomethingoddaboutthisisland.Inthemiddleofthecourtyardstoodapump,ahthepumpabucket.
Therewasnothingoddaboutthat.Butthepumphandlewasmovingupanddown,thoughthereseemedtobenoonemovingit.
"Theressomemagicatworkhere,"saidCaspian.
"Maery!"saidEustace."Idobelieveweveetoacivilizedtryatlast.”
AtthatmomentLucy,hotahless,rushedintothecourtyardbehindthem.Inalowvoiceshetriedtomakethemuandwhatshehadoverheard.Aheyhadpartlyuooditeventhebravestofthemdidnotlookveryhappy.
"Invisibleenemies,"mutteredCaspian."Andcuttingusofffromtheboat.Thisisanuglyfurrowtoplough.”
"Youvenoideawhatsortofcreaturestheyare,Lu?"askedEdmund.
"HowI,Ed,whenIcouldhem?”
"Didtheysoundlikehumansfromtheirfootsteps?”
"Ididnthearanynoiseoffeet-onlyvoidthisfrightfulthuddingandthumping-likeamallet.”
"Iwonder,"saidReepicheep,"dotheybeevisiblewhenyoudriveaswordintothem?”
"Itlooksasifweshallfindout,"saidCaspian."Butletsgetoutofthisgateway.Theresohesegentryatthatpumplisteningtoallwesay.”
Theycameoutabatothepathwherethetreesmightpossiblymakethemlessspicuous."Notthatitsanygoodreally,"saidEustace,&qutohidefrompeopleyoutsee.Theymaybeallroundus.”
"Now,Drinian,"saidCaspian."Howwoulditbeiftheboatforlost,wentdowntoanotherpartofthebay,andsigheDawnTreadertostandinandtakeusaboard?”
"hforher,Sire,"saidDrinian.
"Wecouldswim,"saidLucy.
"YourMajestiesall,"saidReepicheep,"hearme.Itisfollytothinkofavoidinganinvisibleenemybyanyamountofcreepingandskulking.Ifthesecreaturesmeantustobattle,besuretheywillsucceed.AndwhateveresofitIdsoohemfacetofacethanbecaughtbythetail.”
"IreallythinkReepisintherightthistime,"saidEdmund.
"Surely,"saidLucy,"ifRhiheothersontheDawnTreaderseeusfightingontheshoretheyllbeabletodosomething.”
"Buttheywontseeusfightingiftheytseeanyenemy,"saidEustacemiserably.
"Theyllthinkwerejustswingingourswordsintheairforfun.”
Therewasanunfortablepause.
"Well,"saidCaspianatlast,"letsgetonwithit.Wemustgoandfacethem.Shakehandsallround-arroworing,Lucy-swordsout,everyoneelse-andnowforit.Perhapstheyllparley.”
Itwasstraoseethelawnsandthegreattreeslookingsopeacefulastheymarchedbacktothebeadwhentheyarrivedthere,andsawtheboatlyiheyhadlefther,andthesmoothsandwithobeseenonit,morethanonedoubtedwhetherLucyhadnotmerelyimaginedallshehadtoldthem.Butbeforetheyreachedthesand,avoicespokeoutoftheair.
"Nofurther,masters,nofurthernow,"itsaid."Wevegottotalkwithyoufirst.Theresfiftyofusandmoreherewithonsinourfists.”
"Hearhim,hearhim,"camethechorus."ThatsourChief.Youdependonwhathesays.Hestellingyouthetruth,heis.”
"Idohesefiftywarriors,"observedReepicheep.
"Thatsright,thatsright,"saidtheChiefVoice."Youdontseeus.Andwhynot?
Becausewereinvisible.”
"Keepitup,Chief,keepitup,"saidtheOtherVoices."Youretalkinglikeabook.Theycouldntaskforabetterahanthat.”
"Bequiet,Reep,"saidCaspian,andthenaddedinaloudervoice,"Youinvisiblepeople,whatdoyouwantwithus?Andwhathavewedooearnyourenmity?”
"Wewantsomethingthatlittlegirldoforus,"saidtheChiefVoice.(Theothersexplaihatthiswasjustwhattheywouldhavesaidthemselves.)
"Littlegirl!"saidReepicheep."Theladyisaqueen.”
"Wedontknowaboutqueens,"saidtheChiefVoice.
("Nomorewedo,nomorewedo,"chimedihers.)"Butwewantsomethingshedo.”
"Whatisit?"saidLucy.
"AndifitisanythingagainstherMajestyshonourorsafety,"addedReepicheep,"youwillwooseehowmanywekillbeforewedie.”
"Well,"saidtheChiefVoice."Itsalongstory.Supposeweallsitdown?",TheproposalwaswarmlyapprovedbytheothervoicesbuttheNarniansremaianding.
"Well,"saidtheChiefVoice."Itslikethis.Thisislandhasbeenthepropertyofagreatmagitimeoutofmind.Andweallare-orperhapsinamannerofspeaking,Imightsay,wewere-hisservants.Well,tocutalongstoryshort,thismagithatIeakingabout,hetoldustodosomethingwedidntlike.Andwhynot?Becausewedidntwantto.Well,then,thissamemagihefellintoagreatrage;fhttotellyouheowheislandandhewasobeingcrossed.Hewasterriblydht,youknow.Butletmesee,whereamI?Ohyes,thismagithen,hegoesupstairs(foryoumustkallhismagigsupthereandweallliveddownbelow),Isayhegoesupstairsandputsaspellonus.Anuglifyingspell.Ifyousawusnow,whimyopinionyoumaythankyourstarsyout,youwouldntbelievewhatwelookedlikebeforewewereuglified.Youwouldntreally.Sothereweallweresouglywecouldolookatoher.Sothenwhatdidwedo?Well,Illtellyouwhatwedid.Wewaitedtillwethoughtthissamemagiwouldbeasleepiernoonandwecreepupstairsandgotohismagicbook,asboldasbrass,toseeifwedoanythingaboutthisuglification.Butwewereallofasweatandatremble,soIwontdeceiveyou.But,believemeorbelievemenot,Idoassureyouthatwecouldntfindanythinginthewayofaspellfortakingofftheugliness.Andwhatwithtimegettingonandbeingafraidthat
theoldgentlemanmightanyminute-Iwasallofamucksweat,soIwontdeceiveyou-well,tocutalongstoryshort,whetherwedidrightorwhetherwedidwrong,intheendweseeaspellformakingpeopleinvisible.Ahoughtwedratherbeinvisiblethangoonbeingasuglyasallthat.Andwhy?Becausewedlikeitbetter.Somylittlegirl,whosjustaboutyourlittlegirlsage,andasweetchildshewasbeforeshewasuglified,thoughnow-butleastsaidsoomended-Isay,mylittlegirlshesaysthespell,fottobealittlegirlorelsethemagihimself,ifyouseemymeaning,forotherwiseitwontwork.Andwhynot?Becausenothinghappens.SomyClipsiesaysthespell,fhttohavetoldyoushereadsbeautifully,andthereweallwereasinvisibleasyoucouldwishtosee.AndIdoassureyouitwasareliefnottoseeohersfaces.Atfirst,anyway.Butthelongandtheshortofitisweremortaltiredofbeinginvisible.Andtheresahing.Weneverreedonthismagi(theoneIwastellingyouaboutbefoinginvisibletoo.Butwehaventeverseenhimsince.Sowedontknowifhesdead,one.away,orwhetherhesjustsittingupstairsbeinginvisible,andperhapsingdownandbeinginvisiblethere.And,believeme,itsnomannerofuselisteningbecausehealwaysdidgoaboutwithhisbarefeeton,makingnomorehabigcat.AndIlltellallyougentlemenstraight,itsgettingmorethanwhatournervesstand.”
SuchwastheChiefVoicesstory,butverymuchshortened,becauseIhaveleftoutwhattheOtherVoicessaid.Actuallyheoutmorethansixorsevenwordswithoutbeinginterruptedbytheiragreementsandencements,whichdrovetheNarniansnearlyoutoftheirmindswithimpatience.Whenitwasovertherewasaverylongsilence.
"But,"saidLucyatlast,"whatsallthisgottodowithus?Idontuand.”
"Why,blessme,ifIhaventgoneaoutthewholepoint,"saidtheChiefVoice.
"Thatyouhave,thatyouhave,"roaredtheOtherVoiceswithgreatenthusiasm."Noonecouldnthaveleftitouteraer.Keepitup,Chief,keepitup.”
"Well,Igooverthewholestain,"begantheChiefVoice.
"ainlynot,"saidCaspianandEdmund.
"Well,then,toputitinanutshell,"saidtheChiefVoice,"wevebeenwaitingforeversolongforalegirlfrnparts,likeitmightbeyou,Missie-thatwouldgoupstairsandgotothemagicbookandfindthespellthattakesofftheinvisibleness,andsayit.Andweallsworethatthefirststrangersaslahisisland(havingalegirlwiththem,Imean,foriftheyhadntitdbeater)wewouldhemgoawayaliveuheyddoheneedfulforus.Andthatswhy,gentlemen,ifyourlittlegirldoesnteuptoscratch,itwillbeourpainfuldutytocutallyourthroats.
Merelyinthewayofbusiness,asyoumightsay,andnooffence,Ihope.”
"Idontseeallyourons,"saidReepicheep."Aretheyinvisibletoo?"Thewordswerescarcelyoutofhismouthbeforetheyheardawhizzingsoundamomentaspearhadstuck,quivering,ihetreesbehindthem.
"Thatsaspear,thatis,"saidtheChiefVoice.
"Thatitis,Chief,thatitis,"saidtheothers."Youcouldnthaveputitbetter.”
"Anditcamefrommyhand,"theChiefVoitinued."Theygetvisiblewhentheyleaveus.”
"Butwhydoyouwaodothis?"askedLucy.
"Whytoneofyourownpeople?Haventyougotanygirls?”
"Wedursent,wedursent,"saidalltheVoices."Werenotgoingupstairsagain.”
"Inotherwords,"saidCaspian,"youareaskingthisladytofaedangerwhichyoudarentaskyourownsistersanddaughterstoface!”
"Thatsright,thatsright,"saidalltheVoicescheerfully."Youcouldnthavesaiditbetter.
Eh,youvehadsomeeducation,youhave.Anyoneseethat.”
"Well,ofalltheeous-"beganEdmund,butLuterrupted.
"WouldIhavetogoupstairsatnight,orwoulditdoindaylight?”
"Oh,daylight,daylight,tobesure,"saidtheChiefVoice."Notatnight.Noonesaskingyoutodothat.Goupstairsinthedark?Ugh.”
"Allright,then,Illdoit,"saidLucy."No,"shesaid,turningtotheothers,"donttrytostopme.tyouseeitsherearedozensofthemthere.Wetfightthem.
Aherwaythereisace.”
"Butamagi!"saidCaspian.
"Iknow,"saidLucy."Buthemayntbeasbadastheymakeout.Dontyougettheideathatthesepeoplearenotverybrave?”
"Theyrecertainlynotveryclever,"saidEustace.
"Lookhere,Lu,"saidEdmund."Wereallytletyoudoathinglikethis.AskReep,Imsurehellsayjustthesame.”
"Butitstosavemyownlifeaswellasyours,"saidLucy."Idontwanttobecuttobitswithinvisibleswordsanymorethananyoneelse.”
"HerMajestyisintheright,"saidReepicheep."Ifwehadanyassuranceofsavingherbybattle,ourdutywouldbevery-plain.Itappearstomethatwehavenone.AndtheservicetheyaskofherisinnowaytrarytoherMajestyshonour,butanobleandheroicalact.IftheQueemoveshertoriskthemagi,Iwillnotspeakagainstit.”
AsnoonehadeverknownReepicheeptobeafraidofanything,hecouldsaythiswithoutfeelingatallawkward.Buttheboys,whohadallbeenafraidquiteoften,grewveryred.
heless,itwassuchobvioussetheyhadtogivein.Loudcheersbrokefromtheinvisiblepeoplewhentheirdecisionwasannounced,andtheChiefVoice(warmlysupportedbyalltheothers)iheNarnianstoetosupperahenight.
Eustacedidntwanttoaccept,butLucysaid,"Imsuretheyrenottreacherous.Theyrenotlikethatatall,"ahersagreed.Andso,apaniedbyanenormoushumpings(whichbecamelouderwhentheyreachedtheflaggedandegcourtyard)
theyallwentbacktothehouse.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
Theymadeharbourinawidebayaboutthemiddleoftheafternoonandlawasaverydifferenttryfromanytheyhadyetseen.Forwhentheyhadcrossedthesaheyfoundallsilentayasifitwereanuninhabitedland,butbeforethemtherewerelevellawnsinwhichthegrasswasassmoothandshortasitusedtobeinthegroundsofagreatEnglishhousewheretengardenerswerekept.Thetrees,ofwhichthereweremany,allstoodartfromoher,andtherewerenobrokenbranchesandnoleaveslyingontheground.Pigeonssometimescooedbuttherewasnoothernoise.
Presentlytheycametoalong,straight,sahwithnotaweedgrowingonitandtreesoherhand.Faroffattheotherendofthisaveheynowcaughtsightofahouse-verylongandgreyandquiet-lookingiernoonsun.
AlmostassoonastheyehispathLuoticedthatshehadalittlestoneinhershoe.Inthatunknownplaceitmighthavebeenwiserforhertoasktheotherstowaitwhileshetookitout.Butshedidnt;shejustdroppedquietlybehindandsatdowntotakeoffhershoe.Herlacehadgotintoaknot.
Beforeshehaduheknottheotherswereafairdistanceahead.Bythetimeshehadgotthestoanduttingtheshoeonagainshecouldnolongerhearthem.Butalmostatoncesheheardsomethingelse.Itwasnotingfromthedireofthehouse.
Whatsheheardwasathumping.Itsoundedasifdozensworkmeingthegroundashardastheycouldwithgreatwoodenmallets.Anditwasveryquicklyingnearer.Shewasalreadysittingwithherbacktoatree,andasthetreewasnotoneshecouldclimb,therewasreallynothingtodobuttositdeadstillandpressherselfagainstthetreeandhopeshewouldntbeseen.
Thump,thump,thump...andwhateveritwasmustbeveryclosenowforshecouldfeelthegroundshaking.Butshecouldseenothing.Shethoughtthething-orthingsmustbejustbehindher.Butthentherecameathumpohrightinfrontofher.Shekwasohnotonlybythesoundbutbecauseshesawthesandscatterasifithadbeenstruckaheavyblow.Butshecouldseenothingthathadstruckit.Thenallthethumpingnoisesdrewtogetherabouttweawayfromherandsuddenlyceased.
TheheVoice.
Itwasreallyverydreadfulbecauseshecouldstillseenobodyatall.Thewholeofthatpark-liketrystilllookedasquietayasithadlookedwhentheyfirstlanded.
heless,onlyafewfeetawayfromher,avoicespoke.Andwhatitsaidwas:"Mates,nowsource.”
Instantlyawholechorusofothervoicesreplied,"Hearhim.Hearhim.`Nowsource,hesaid.Welldone,Chief.Youneversaidatruerword.”
"WhatIsay,"tihefirstvoice,"is,getdowntotheshorebetweenthemandtheirboat,aeverymotherssonlooktohisons.Catchemwherytoputtosea.”
"Eh,thatstheway,"shoutedalltheothervoices."Younevermadeabetterplan,Chief.
Keepitup,Chief.Youcouldnthaveabetterplanthanthat.”
"Lively,then,mates,lively,"saidthefirstvoice."Offwego.
&quhtagain,Chief,"saidtheothers."Couldnthaveabetterorder.Justeregoingtosayourselves.Offwego.”
Immediatelythethumpingbeganagain-veryloudatfirstbutsoonfainterandfaiillitdiedoutinthedireofthesea.
Luewtherewasnotimetositpuzzlingastowhattheseinvisiblecreaturesmightbe.
Assoonasthethumpingnoisehaddiedawayshegotupandranalohaftertheothersasquicklyasherlegswouldcarryher.Theymustatallcostsbewarned.
Whilethishadbeenhappenihershadreachedthehouse.Itwasalowbuilding-onlytwostorieshighmadeofabeautifulmellowstone,many-windoartiallycoveredwithivy.EverythingwassostillthatEustacesaid,"Ithinkitsempty,"butCaspialypoihenofsmokewhichrosefromoneey.
Theyfoundawidegateenandpassedthroughitintoapavedcourtyard.Anditwasherethattheyhadtheirfirstindicationthattherewassomethingoddaboutthisisland.Inthemiddleofthecourtyardstoodapump,ahthepumpabucket.
Therewasnothingoddaboutthat.Butthepumphandlewasmovingupanddown,thoughthereseemedtobenoonemovingit.
"Theressomemagicatworkhere,"saidCaspian.
"Maery!"saidEustace."Idobelieveweveetoacivilizedtryatlast.”
AtthatmomentLucy,hotahless,rushedintothecourtyardbehindthem.Inalowvoiceshetriedtomakethemuandwhatshehadoverheard.Aheyhadpartlyuooditeventhebravestofthemdidnotlookveryhappy.
"Invisibleenemies,"mutteredCaspian."Andcuttingusofffromtheboat.Thisisanuglyfurrowtoplough.”
"Youvenoideawhatsortofcreaturestheyare,Lu?"askedEdmund.
"HowI,Ed,whenIcouldhem?”
"Didtheysoundlikehumansfromtheirfootsteps?”
"Ididnthearanynoiseoffeet-onlyvoidthisfrightfulthuddingandthumping-likeamallet.”
"Iwonder,"saidReepicheep,"dotheybeevisiblewhenyoudriveaswordintothem?”
"Itlooksasifweshallfindout,"saidCaspian."Butletsgetoutofthisgateway.Theresohesegentryatthatpumplisteningtoallwesay.”
Theycameoutabatothepathwherethetreesmightpossiblymakethemlessspicuous."Notthatitsanygoodreally,"saidEustace,&qutohidefrompeopleyoutsee.Theymaybeallroundus.”
"Now,Drinian,"saidCaspian."Howwoulditbeiftheboatforlost,wentdowntoanotherpartofthebay,andsigheDawnTreadertostandinandtakeusaboard?”
"hforher,Sire,"saidDrinian.
"Wecouldswim,"saidLucy.
"YourMajestiesall,"saidReepicheep,"hearme.Itisfollytothinkofavoidinganinvisibleenemybyanyamountofcreepingandskulking.Ifthesecreaturesmeantustobattle,besuretheywillsucceed.AndwhateveresofitIdsoohemfacetofacethanbecaughtbythetail.”
"IreallythinkReepisintherightthistime,"saidEdmund.
"Surely,"saidLucy,"ifRhiheothersontheDawnTreaderseeusfightingontheshoretheyllbeabletodosomething.”
"Buttheywontseeusfightingiftheytseeanyenemy,"saidEustacemiserably.
"Theyllthinkwerejustswingingourswordsintheairforfun.”
Therewasanunfortablepause.
"Well,"saidCaspianatlast,"letsgetonwithit.Wemustgoandfacethem.Shakehandsallround-arroworing,Lucy-swordsout,everyoneelse-andnowforit.Perhapstheyllparley.”
Itwasstraoseethelawnsandthegreattreeslookingsopeacefulastheymarchedbacktothebeadwhentheyarrivedthere,andsawtheboatlyiheyhadlefther,andthesmoothsandwithobeseenonit,morethanonedoubtedwhetherLucyhadnotmerelyimaginedallshehadtoldthem.Butbeforetheyreachedthesand,avoicespokeoutoftheair.
"Nofurther,masters,nofurthernow,"itsaid."Wevegottotalkwithyoufirst.Theresfiftyofusandmoreherewithonsinourfists.”
"Hearhim,hearhim,"camethechorus."ThatsourChief.Youdependonwhathesays.Hestellingyouthetruth,heis.”
"Idohesefiftywarriors,"observedReepicheep.
"Thatsright,thatsright,"saidtheChiefVoice."Youdontseeus.Andwhynot?
Becausewereinvisible.”
"Keepitup,Chief,keepitup,"saidtheOtherVoices."Youretalkinglikeabook.Theycouldntaskforabetterahanthat.”
"Bequiet,Reep,"saidCaspian,andthenaddedinaloudervoice,"Youinvisiblepeople,whatdoyouwantwithus?Andwhathavewedooearnyourenmity?”
"Wewantsomethingthatlittlegirldoforus,"saidtheChiefVoice.(Theothersexplaihatthiswasjustwhattheywouldhavesaidthemselves.)
"Littlegirl!"saidReepicheep."Theladyisaqueen.”
"Wedontknowaboutqueens,"saidtheChiefVoice.
("Nomorewedo,nomorewedo,"chimedihers.)"Butwewantsomethingshedo.”
"Whatisit?"saidLucy.
"AndifitisanythingagainstherMajestyshonourorsafety,"addedReepicheep,"youwillwooseehowmanywekillbeforewedie.”
"Well,"saidtheChiefVoice."Itsalongstory.Supposeweallsitdown?",TheproposalwaswarmlyapprovedbytheothervoicesbuttheNarniansremaianding.
"Well,"saidtheChiefVoice."Itslikethis.Thisislandhasbeenthepropertyofagreatmagitimeoutofmind.Andweallare-orperhapsinamannerofspeaking,Imightsay,wewere-hisservants.Well,tocutalongstoryshort,thismagithatIeakingabout,hetoldustodosomethingwedidntlike.Andwhynot?Becausewedidntwantto.Well,then,thissamemagihefellintoagreatrage;fhttotellyouheowheislandandhewasobeingcrossed.Hewasterriblydht,youknow.Butletmesee,whereamI?Ohyes,thismagithen,hegoesupstairs(foryoumustkallhismagigsupthereandweallliveddownbelow),Isayhegoesupstairsandputsaspellonus.Anuglifyingspell.Ifyousawusnow,whimyopinionyoumaythankyourstarsyout,youwouldntbelievewhatwelookedlikebeforewewereuglified.Youwouldntreally.Sothereweallweresouglywecouldolookatoher.Sothenwhatdidwedo?Well,Illtellyouwhatwedid.Wewaitedtillwethoughtthissamemagiwouldbeasleepiernoonandwecreepupstairsandgotohismagicbook,asboldasbrass,toseeifwedoanythingaboutthisuglification.Butwewereallofasweatandatremble,soIwontdeceiveyou.But,believemeorbelievemenot,Idoassureyouthatwecouldntfindanythinginthewayofaspellfortakingofftheugliness.Andwhatwithtimegettingonandbeingafraidthat
theoldgentlemanmightanyminute-Iwasallofamucksweat,soIwontdeceiveyou-well,tocutalongstoryshort,whetherwedidrightorwhetherwedidwrong,intheendweseeaspellformakingpeopleinvisible.Ahoughtwedratherbeinvisiblethangoonbeingasuglyasallthat.Andwhy?Becausewedlikeitbetter.Somylittlegirl,whosjustaboutyourlittlegirlsage,andasweetchildshewasbeforeshewasuglified,thoughnow-butleastsaidsoomended-Isay,mylittlegirlshesaysthespell,fottobealittlegirlorelsethemagihimself,ifyouseemymeaning,forotherwiseitwontwork.Andwhynot?Becausenothinghappens.SomyClipsiesaysthespell,fhttohavetoldyoushereadsbeautifully,andthereweallwereasinvisibleasyoucouldwishtosee.AndIdoassureyouitwasareliefnottoseeohersfaces.Atfirst,anyway.Butthelongandtheshortofitisweremortaltiredofbeinginvisible.Andtheresahing.Weneverreedonthismagi(theoneIwastellingyouaboutbefoinginvisibletoo.Butwehaventeverseenhimsince.Sowedontknowifhesdead,one.away,orwhetherhesjustsittingupstairsbeinginvisible,andperhapsingdownandbeinginvisiblethere.And,believeme,itsnomannerofuselisteningbecausehealwaysdidgoaboutwithhisbarefeeton,makingnomorehabigcat.AndIlltellallyougentlemenstraight,itsgettingmorethanwhatournervesstand.”
SuchwastheChiefVoicesstory,butverymuchshortened,becauseIhaveleftoutwhattheOtherVoicessaid.Actuallyheoutmorethansixorsevenwordswithoutbeinginterruptedbytheiragreementsandencements,whichdrovetheNarniansnearlyoutoftheirmindswithimpatience.Whenitwasovertherewasaverylongsilence.
"But,"saidLucyatlast,"whatsallthisgottodowithus?Idontuand.”
"Why,blessme,ifIhaventgoneaoutthewholepoint,"saidtheChiefVoice.
"Thatyouhave,thatyouhave,"roaredtheOtherVoiceswithgreatenthusiasm."Noonecouldnthaveleftitouteraer.Keepitup,Chief,keepitup.”
"Well,Igooverthewholestain,"begantheChiefVoice.
"ainlynot,"saidCaspianandEdmund.
"Well,then,toputitinanutshell,"saidtheChiefVoice,"wevebeenwaitingforeversolongforalegirlfrnparts,likeitmightbeyou,Missie-thatwouldgoupstairsandgotothemagicbookandfindthespellthattakesofftheinvisibleness,andsayit.Andweallsworethatthefirststrangersaslahisisland(havingalegirlwiththem,Imean,foriftheyhadntitdbeater)wewouldhemgoawayaliveuheyddoheneedfulforus.Andthatswhy,gentlemen,ifyourlittlegirldoesnteuptoscratch,itwillbeourpainfuldutytocutallyourthroats.
Merelyinthewayofbusiness,asyoumightsay,andnooffence,Ihope.”
"Idontseeallyourons,"saidReepicheep."Aretheyinvisibletoo?"Thewordswerescarcelyoutofhismouthbeforetheyheardawhizzingsoundamomentaspearhadstuck,quivering,ihetreesbehindthem.
"Thatsaspear,thatis,"saidtheChiefVoice.
"Thatitis,Chief,thatitis,"saidtheothers."Youcouldnthaveputitbetter.”
"Anditcamefrommyhand,"theChiefVoitinued."Theygetvisiblewhentheyleaveus.”
"Butwhydoyouwaodothis?"askedLucy.
"Whytoneofyourownpeople?Haventyougotanygirls?”
"Wedursent,wedursent,"saidalltheVoices."Werenotgoingupstairsagain.”
"Inotherwords,"saidCaspian,"youareaskingthisladytofaedangerwhichyoudarentaskyourownsistersanddaughterstoface!”
"Thatsright,thatsright,"saidalltheVoicescheerfully."Youcouldnthavesaiditbetter.
Eh,youvehadsomeeducation,youhave.Anyoneseethat.”
"Well,ofalltheeous-"beganEdmund,butLuterrupted.
"WouldIhavetogoupstairsatnight,orwoulditdoindaylight?”
"Oh,daylight,daylight,tobesure,"saidtheChiefVoice."Notatnight.Noonesaskingyoutodothat.Goupstairsinthedark?Ugh.”
"Allright,then,Illdoit,"saidLucy."No,"shesaid,turningtotheothers,"donttrytostopme.tyouseeitsherearedozensofthemthere.Wetfightthem.
Aherwaythereisace.”
"Butamagi!"saidCaspian.
"Iknow,"saidLucy."Buthemayntbeasbadastheymakeout.Dontyougettheideathatthesepeoplearenotverybrave?”
"Theyrecertainlynotveryclever,"saidEustace.
"Lookhere,Lu,"saidEdmund."Wereallytletyoudoathinglikethis.AskReep,Imsurehellsayjustthesame.”
"Butitstosavemyownlifeaswellasyours,"saidLucy."Idontwanttobecuttobitswithinvisibleswordsanymorethananyoneelse.”
"HerMajestyisintheright,"saidReepicheep."Ifwehadanyassuranceofsavingherbybattle,ourdutywouldbevery-plain.Itappearstomethatwehavenone.AndtheservicetheyaskofherisinnowaytrarytoherMajestyshonour,butanobleandheroicalact.IftheQueemoveshertoriskthemagi,Iwillnotspeakagainstit.”
AsnoonehadeverknownReepicheeptobeafraidofanything,hecouldsaythiswithoutfeelingatallawkward.Buttheboys,whohadallbeenafraidquiteoften,grewveryred.
heless,itwassuchobvioussetheyhadtogivein.Loudcheersbrokefromtheinvisiblepeoplewhentheirdecisionwasannounced,andtheChiefVoice(warmlysupportedbyalltheothers)iheNarnianstoetosupperahenight.
Eustacedidntwanttoaccept,butLucysaid,"Imsuretheyrenottreacherous.Theyrenotlikethatatall,"ahersagreed.Andso,apaniedbyanenormoushumpings(whichbecamelouderwhentheyreachedtheflaggedandegcourtyard)
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