CHAPTER SIX

  THEWILDWASTELANDSOFTHENORTHATaboutnineocloextmthreelonelyfiguresmighthavebeenseenpigtheirwayacrosstheShribblebytheshoalsandstepping-stowasashallow,noisystream,andevenJillwasaboveherkneeswhentheyreachedthenorthernbank.

  Aboutfiftyyardsahead,thelandroseuptothebeginningofthemoor,everywheresteeply,andoftenincliffs.

  "Isupposethatsourway!"saidScrubb,pointiaowhereastreamfloweddownfromthemohashalle.ButtheMarsh-wiggleshookhishead.

  "Thegiantsmainlylivealongthesideofthatge,"hesaid."Youmightsaythegewaslikeastreettothem.Welldobetterstraightahead,eventhoughitsabitsteep.”

  Theyfoundaplacewheretheycouldscrambleup,andinabouttenmioodpantingatthetop.Theycastalonginglookbackatthevalley-landofNarniaaurheirfacestotheNorth.Thevast,lonelymoorstretchedonandupasfarastheycouldsee.Ontheirleftwasrockierground.Jillthoughtthatmustbetheedgeofthegiantsgeanddidnotmuchcareaboutlookinginthatdire.Theysetout.

  Itwasgood,springygroundforwalking,andadayofpalewintersunlight.Astheygotdeeperintothemoor,thelonelinessincreased:onecouldhearpeewitsandseeanoccasionalhawk.Whentheyhaltedinthemiddleofthemforarestandadrinkinalittlehollowbyastream,Jillwasbeginningtofeelthatshemightenjoyadveerall,andsaidso.

  "Wehaventhada,"saidtheMarsh-wiggle.

  Walksafterthefirsthalt-likessafterbreakorrailwayjourneysaftergingtrains-nevergoonastheywerebefore.Wheoutagain,Jillnoticedthattherockyedgeofthegehaddrawnnearer.Andtherockswerelessflat,moreupright,thantheyhadbeen.Infacttheywerelikelittletowersofrodwhatfunnyshapestheywere!

  "Idobelieve,"thoughtJill,"thatallthestoriesaboutgiantsmighthaveefromthosefunnyrocks.Ifyouwereingalongherewhenitwashalfdark,youcouldeasilythinkthosepilesofrockweregiants.Lookatthatone,now!Youcouldalmostimagithelumpontopwasahead.Itwouldberathertoobigforthebody,butitwoulddowellenoughflygiant.Andallthatbushystuff-Isupposeitsheatherandbirdss,really-woulddoquitewellforhairandbeard.Ahingsstigoutoneachsidearequitelikeears.Theydbehorriblybig,butthenIdaresaygiantswouldhavebigears,likeelephants.And-o-o-o-h!-”

  Herbloodfroze.Thethingmoved.Itwasarealgiant.Therewasnomistakingit;shehadseenitturnitshead.Shehadcaughtaglimpseofthegreat,stupid,puffcheekedface.Allthethingsweregiants,notrocks.Therewerefortyorfiftyofthem,allinarow;obviouslystandingwiththeirfeetoomofthegeandtheirelbowsrestingontheedgeofthege,justasmenmightstandleaningonawall-lazymen,onafinemafterbreakfast.

  "Keepstraighton,"whisperedPuddleglum,whohadnoticedthemtoo."Dontlookatthem.Andwhateveryoudo,dontrun.Theydbeafterusinamoment.”

  Sotheykeptoendingnottohaveseenthegiants.Itwaslikewalkingpastthegateofahousewherethereisafiercedog,onlyfarworse.Thereweredozensanddozensofthesegiants.Theydidntlookangry-orkindoriedatall.Therewasnosignthattheyhadseeravellers.

  Then-whizz-whizz-whizz-someheavyobjectcamehurtlingthroughtheair,andwithacrashabigboulderfellabouttwentypacesaheadofthem.Ahud!-anotherfelltwebehind.

  "Aretheyaimingatus?"askedScrubb.

  "No,"saidPuddleglum."Wedbeagooddealsaferiftheywere.Theyretryingtohitthat-thatovertheretht.Theywonthitit,youknow.Itssafeenough;theyresuchverybadshots.Theyplaycock-shiesmostfinems.Abouttheonlygametheyrecleverenoughtouand.”

  Itwasahorribletime.Thereseemedothelineofgiants,andtheyneverceasedhurlingstones,someofwhichfellextremelyclose.Quiteapartfromtherealdaheverysightandsoundoftheirfadvoiceswereenoughtoscareanyone.Jilltriednottolookatthem.

  Afterabouttwenty-fivemihegiantsapparentlyhadaquarrel.Thisputaothecock-shies,butitisnotpleasanttobewithinamileofquarrellinggiants.Theystormedandjeeredatoherinlong,meaninglesswordsofabouttwentysyllableseach.Theyfoamedandgibberedandjumpedintheirrage,andeachjumpshooktheearthlikeabomb.Theylammedeachotherontheheadwithgreat,clumsystonehammers;buttheirskullsweresohardthatthehammersbouncedoffagain,ahemonsterwho

  hadgiventheblowwoulddrophishammerandhowlwithpainbecauseithadstunghisfingers.Buthewassostupidthathewoulddoexactlythesamethingamier.Thiswasagoodthinginthelongrun,forbytheendofanhourallthegiantsweresohurtthattheysatdownaocry.Whedown,theirheadswerebelowtheedgeofthege,sothatyousawthemnomore;butJillcouldhearthemhowlingandblubberingandboo-booinglikegreatbabieseveheplacewasamilebehind.

  Thatnighttheybivouackedonthebaremoor,andPuddleglumshowedthechildrenhowtomakethebestoftheirblasbysleepingbacktoback.(Thebackskeepeachotherwarmandyouthehblasontop.)Butitwaschillyevenso,andthegroundwashardandlumpy.TheMarsh-wiggletoldthemtheywouldfeelmorefortableifonlytheythoughthowverymuchcolderitwouldbelateronandfarthernorth;butthisdidhemupatall.

  TheytravelledacrossEttinsmoorformanydays,savingthebadlivingchieflyonthemoor-fowl(theywerenot,ofcourse,talkingbirds)whichEustadthewiggleshot.JillratherenviedEustaceforbeingabletoshoot;hehadlearonhisvoyagewithKingCaspian.Asthereweretlessstreamsonthemoor,theywerenevershortofwater.Jillthoughtthatwhen,inbooks,peopleliveonwhattheyshoot,itellsyouwhatalong,smelly,messyjobitisplugandingdeadbirds,andhowcolditmakesyers.Butthegreatthingwasthattheymethardlyanygiants.Onegiantsawthem,butheonlyroaredwithlaughterandstumpedawayabouthisownbusiness.

  Aboutthetenthday,theyreachedaplacewherethetryged.Theycametothenortherhemoorandlookeddownalong,steepslopeintoadifferent,andgrimmer,land.Atthebottomoftheslopewerecliffs:beyondthese,atryofhighmountains,darkprecipices,stonyvalleys,ravinessodeepandnarrowthatonecouldnotseefarintothem,andriversthatpouredoutofeggestoplungesullenlyintoblackdepths.Needlesstosay,ituddleglumwhopoiasprinklingofsnowonthemoredistantslopes.

  "Buttherellbemoreohsideofthem,Ishouldntwonder,"headded.

  Ittookthemsometimetoreachthefootoftheslopeand,whentheydid,theylookeddownfromthetopofthecliffsatariverrunnihemfromwesttoeast.Itwaswalledinbyprecipithefarsideaswellasontheirown,anditwasgreenandsunless,fullofrapidsandwaterfalls.Theroarofitshooktheeartheveheystood.

  "Thebrightsideofitis,"saidPuddleglum,"thatifwebreakournecksgettingdownthecliff,thenweresafefrombeingdrowheriver.”

  "Whataboutthat?"saidScrubbsuddenly,pointingupstreamtotheirleft.Thentheyalllookedandsawthelastthingtheywereexpeg-abridge.Andwhatabridge,too!Itwasahuge,singlearchthatspahegefromcliff-toptocliff-top;andtheofthatarchwasashighabovethecliff-topsasthedomeofStPaulsisabovethestreet.

  "Why,itmustbeagiantsbridge!"saidJill.

  "Orasorcerers,morelikely,"saidPuddleglum."Wevegottolookoutforentmentsinaplacelikethis.Ithinkitsatrap.Ithinkitllturnintomistaawayjustwheonthemiddleofit.”

  "Oh,foodnesssake,dontbesuchawetbla,"saidScrubb."Whyohshouldntitbeaproperbridge?”

  "Doyouthinkanyofthegiantsweveseenwouldhaveseobuildathinglikethat?”

  saidPuddleglum.

  "Butmightntithavebeenbuiltbyiants?"saidJill."Imean,bygiantswholivedhundredsofyearsago,andwerefarclevererthanthemodernkind.Itmighthavebeenbuiltbythesameoneswhobuiltthegiantcitywerelookingfor.Andthatwouldmeanwewereontherighttrack-theeleadingtotheoldcity!”

  "Thatsarealbrain-ole,"saidScrubb."Itmustbethat.eon.”

  Sotheyturnedaothebridge.Aheyreachedit,itcertainlyseemedsolidenough.ThesioneswereasbigasthoseatStonehengeandmusthavebeensquaredbygoodmasonsohoughnowtheywerecrackedandcrumbled.Thebalustradehadapparentlybeencoveredwithrichcarvings,ofwhietracesremained;moulderingfadformsofgiants,minotaurs,squids,tipedes,anddreadfulgods.Puddleglumstilldidnttrustit,butheseocrossitwiththechildren.

  Theclimbuptotheofthearchwaslongandheavy.Inmanyplacesthegreatstoneshaddroppedout,leavinghorriblegapsthroughwhichyoulookeddownontheriverfoamingthousandsoffeetbelow.Theysawaneagleflythroughuheirfeet.

  Andthehighertheywent,thecrew,andthewihattheycouldhardlykeeptheirfooting.Itseemedtoshakethebridge.

  Whentheyreachedthetopandcouldlookdowherslopeofthebridge,theysawwhatlookedliketheremainsofanagiantroadstretgawaybeforethemintotheheartofthemountains.Manystonesofitspavementweremissingandtherewerewidepatchesofgrassbetweenthosethatremained.Andridingtowardsthemonthataroadweretwopeoplerown-uphumansize.

  "Keepon.Movetowardsthem,"saidPuddleglum."Anyoneyoumeetinaplacelikethisisaslikelyasnottobeanenemy,butwemusthemthinkwereafraid.”

  Bythetimetheyhadsteppedofftheendofthebridgeontothegrass,thetwerswerequiteclose.Onewasaknightinpletearmourwithhisvisordown.Hisarmourandhishorsewereblack;therewasnodevihisshieldandnobaonhisspear.

  Theotherwasaladyonawhitehorse,ahorsesolovelythatyouwaokissitsnoseandgiveitalumpofsugaratothelady,whorodeside-saddleandworealong,flutteringdressofdazzlinggreen,waslovelierstill.

  "Goodday,t-r-r-avellers,"shecriedoutinavoiceassweetasthesweetestbirdssong,trillingherRsdelightfully."Someofyouareyoungpilgrimstowalkthisroughwaste.”

  "Thatsasmaybe,Maam,"saidPuddleglumverystifflyandonhisguard.

  "Werelookingfortheruiyofthegiants,"saidJill.

  "Ther-r-ruiy?"saidtheLady."Thatisastrangeplacetobeseeking.Whatwillyoudoifyoufindit?”

  "Wevegotto-"beganJill,butPuddlegluminterrupted.

  "Beggingyourpardon,Maam.Butwedontknowyouoryourfriend-asilentchap,isnthe?-andyoudontknowus.Andwedassoonnottalktersaboutourbusiness,ifyoudontmind.Shallwehavealittlerainsoon,doyouthink?”

  TheLadylaughed:therichest,mostmusicallaughyouimagine."Well,children,"shesaid,"youhaveawise,solemnoldguidewithyou.Ithinkheworseofhimforkeepinghisownsel,butIllbefreewithmine.IhaveoftehehegiantishCityRuinous,butanywhowouldtellmethewaythither.Thisroadleadstotheburghandcastle,wheredwellthegentlegiants.Theyareasmild,civil,prudent,andcourteousasthoseofEttinsmoorarefoolish,fierce,savage,andgiventoallbeastliness.AndinHarfangyoumayormayidingsoftheCityRuinous,butcertainlyyoushallfindgoodlodgingsandmerryhosts.Youwouldbewisetowihere,or,attheleast,totarrycertaindaysforyoureaseandrefreshment.Thereyoushallhavesteamingbaths,softbeds,andbrighthearths;andtheroastandthebakedandthesweetarongwillbeoablefourtimesinaday.”

  "Isay!"exclaimedScrubb."Thatssomethinglike!Thinkofsleepinginabedagain.”

  "Yes,andhavingahotbath,"saidJill."Doyouthinktheyllaskustostay?Wedontknowthem,yousee.”

  "Ohem,"aheLady,"thatSheoftheGreenKirtlesalutesthembyyou,andhassewofairSouthernchildrenfortheAutum.”

  "Oh,thankyou,thankyoueversomuch,"saidJillandScrubb.

  "Buthaveacare,"saidtheLady."OnwhateverdayyoureachHarfang,thatyouenottothedoortoolate.Fortheyshuttheirgatesafewhoursafternoon,anditistheofthecastlethattheyopentononewheheyhavedrawnbolt,howhardsoeverheknock.”

  Thechildrenthankedheragain,withshiningeyes,andtheLadywavedtothem.TheMarsh-wiggletookoffhissteeple-hatandbowedverystiffly.ThenthesilentKnightandtheLadystartedwalkingtheirhorsesuptheslopeofthebridgewithagreatclatterofhoofs.

  "Well!"saidPuddleglum."Idgiveagooddealtoknowwhereshesingfromandwhereshesgoing.NotthesortyouexpeeetinthewildsofGiantland,isshe?Uptonogood,Illbebound.”

  "Ohrot!"saidScrubb."Ithoughtshewassimplysuper.Andthinkofhotmealsandwarmrooms.IdohopeHarfangisntalongwayoff.”

  "Samehere,"saidJill."Andhadntsheascrumptiousdress.Andthehorse!”

  "Allthesame,"saidPuddleglum,"Iwishweknewabitmoreabouther.”

  "Iwasgoingtoaskherallaboutherself,"saidJill."ButhowcouldIwhenyouwouldnttellheranythingaboutus?”

  "Yes,"saidScrubb."Andwhywereyousostiffandunpleasant.Didntyoulikethem?”

  "Them?"saidthewiggle."Whosthem?Ionlysawone.”

  "DidntyouseetheKnight?"askedJill.

  "Isawasuitofarmour,"saidPuddleglum."Whydidnthespeak?”

  "Iexpecthewasshy,"saidJill."Orperhapshejustwantstolookatherandlistentoherlovelyvoice.ImsureIwouldifIwashim.”

  "Iwasw,"remarkedPuddleglum,"whatyoudreallyseeifyouliftedupthevisorofthathelmetandlookedinside.”

  "Hangitall,"saidScrubb."Thinkoftheshapeofthearmour!Whatcouldbeiexceptaman?”

  "Howaboutaskeleton?"askedtheMarsh-wigglewithghastlycheerfulness."Orperhaps,"headdedasahought,"nothingatall.Imean,nothingyoucouldsee.

  Someoneinvisible.”

  "Really,Puddleglum,"saidJillwithashudder,"youdohavethemosthorribleideas.

  Howdoyouthinkofthemall?”

  "Oh,botherhisideas!"saidScrubb."Hesalwaysexpegtheworst,andhesalwayswrohinkaboutthoseGentleGiantsaasquicklyaswe.

  IwishIknewhowfaritis.”

  AndnowtheynearlyhadthefirstofthosequarrelswhichPuddleglumhadforetold:notthatJillandScrubbhadntbeensparringandsnappingateachooddealbefore,butthiswasthefirstreallyseriousdisagreement.Puddleglumdidntwaogotatall.Hesaidthathedidntknowwhatagiantsideaofbeing"gentle"mightbe,andthat,anyway,Aslanssignshadsaidnothingaboutstayingwithgiants,geherwise.Thechildren,oherhand,whoweresickofwindandrain,andskinnyfowlroastedovercampfires,andhard,coldearthtosleepon,wereabsolutelydeadsettovisittheGentleGiants.Intheend,Puddleglumagreedtodoso,butonlyononeditiohersmustgiveanabsolutepromisethat,unlesshegavethemleave,theywouldheGentleGiantsthattheycamefromNarniaorthattheywerelookingforPrinceRilian.Andtheygavehimthispromise,aon.

  AfterthattalkwiththeLadythingsgotworseintwodifferentways.Inthefirstplacethetrywasmuchharder.Theroadledthroughendless,narrowvalleysdownwhichacruelnorthwindwasalwaysblowingintheirfaces.Therewasnothingthatcouldbeusedforfirewood,andtherewerenolehollowstocampin,astherehadbeenonthemoor.Andthegroundwasallstony,andmadeyourfeetsorebydayandeverybitofyousorebynight.

  Inthesedplace,whatevertheLadyhadinteellingthemaboutHarfang,theactualeffethechildrenwasabadoheycouldthinkaboutnothingbutbedsandbathsandhotmealsandhowlovelyitwouldbetogetindoors.TheyalkedaboutAslan,orevenaboutthelostprinow.AndJillgaveupherhabitofrepeatingthesigoherselfeverynightandm.Shesaidtoherself,atfirst,thatshewastootired,butshesootallaboutit.AndthoughyoumighthaveexpectedthattheideaofhavingagoodtimeatHarfangwouldhavemadethemmorecheerful,itreallymadethemmoresorryforthemselvesandmrumpyandsnappywitheachotherandwithPuddleglum.

  Atlasttheycameoernoontoaplacewherethegeinwhichtheyweretravellingwideanddarkfirwoodsroseoherside.Theylookedaheadandsawthattheyhadethroughthemountains.Beforethemlayadesolate,rockyplain:beyondit,furthermountainscappedwithsnow.Butbetweenthemandthosefurthermountainsrosealowhillwithanirregularflattishtop.

  "Look!Look!"criedJill,andpointedacrosstheplain;ahroughthegatheringdusk,frombeyohill,everyonesawlights.Lights!Notmoonlight,norfires,butahomelycheeringrowoflightedwindows.Ifyouhaveneverbeeninthewildwilderness,dayandnight,forweeks,youwillhardlyuandhowtheyfelt.

  "Harfang!"criedScrubbandJillinglad,excitedvoices;and"Harfang,"repeatedPuddlegluminadull,gloomyvoice.Butheadded,"Hullo!Wildgeese!"andhadthebow

  offhisshoulderinased.Hebroughtdownagoodfatgoose.ItwasfartoolatetothinkofreagHarfangthatday.Buttheyhadahotmealandafire,andstartedthenightwarmerthantheyhadbeenforoveraweek.Afterthefirehadgo,thenightgrewbitterlycold,aheywokem,theirblaswerestiffwithfrost.

  "Nevermind!"saidJill,stampingherfeet."Hotbathstonight!”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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