CHAPTER TEN

  TRAVELSWITHOUTTHESUN"WHOsthere?"shoutedthethreetravellers.

  "IamtheWardenoftheMarchesofUnderland,andwithmestandahundredEarthmeninarms,"camethereply."TellmequicklywhoyouareandwhatisyourerrandintheDeepRealm?”

  "Wefelldownbyact,"saidPuddleglum,truthfullyenough.

  "Manyfalldown,aurntothesunlitlands,"saidthevoice."MakereadynowtoewithmetotheQueenoftheDeepRealm.”

  "Whatdoesshewantwithus?"askedScrubbcautiously.

  "Idonotknow,"saidthevoice."Herwillisnottobequestioobeyed.”

  Whilehesaidthesewordstherewasanoiselikeasoftexplosionandimmediatelyacoldlight,greywithalittleblueinit,floodedthecavern.Allhopethatthespeakerhadbeenidlyboastingwhenhespokeofhishundredarmedfollowersdiedatonce.Jillfoundherselfblinkingandstaringatadensecrowd.Theywereofallsizes,fromlittlegnomesbarelyafoothightostatelyfigurestallerthanmen.Allcarriedthree-prongedspearsintheirhands,andallweredreadfullypale,andallstoodasstillasstatues.Apartfromthat,theywereverydifferent;somehadtailsandothersnot,somewreatbeardsandothershadveryround,smoothfaces,bigaspumpkins.Therewerelong,pointednoses,andlong,softnoseslikesmalltrunks,ablobbynoses.Severalhadsinglehornsinthemiddleoftheirforeheads.Butinonerespecttheywereallalike:everyfathewholehundredwasassadasafacecouldbe.Theyweresosadthat,afterthefirstglance,Jillalmostfottobeafraidofthem.Shefeltshewouldliketocheerthemup.

  "Well!"saidPuddleglum,rubbinghishands."ThisisjustwhatIneeded.Ifthesechapsdontteachmetotakeaseriousviewoflife,Idontknoill.Lookatthatfellowwiththewalrusmoustache-orthatohthe-”

  "Getup,"saidtheleaderoftheEarthmen.

  Therewasnothiobedohethreetravellersscrambledtotheirfeetandjoinedhands.Oedthetouchofafriendshandatamomentlikethat.Ahmencameallroundthem,paddinge,softfeet,onwhiehadtentoes,sometwelve,andothersnone.

  "March,"saidtheWarden:andmarchtheydid.

  Thecoldlightcamefromalargeballoopofalongpole,aallestofthegnomescarriedthisattheheadoftheprocession.Byitscheerlessraystheycouldseethattheywereinanaturalcavern;thewallsandroofwerekwisted,andgashedintoathousandfantasticshapes,aonyfloorslopeddownwardastheyproceeded.ItwasworseforJillthanfortheothers,becauseshehateddark,undergroundplaces.Andwhen,astheywenton,thecavegotlowerandnarrower,alast,thelight-bearerstoodaside,andthegnomes,onebyooopeddown(allexcepttheverysmallestones)andsteppedintoalittledarkcraddisappeared,shefeltshecouldbearitnolonger.

  "Itgointhere,It!It!Iwont,"shepaheEarthmensaidnothingbuttheyallloweredtheirspearsandpoihemather.

  "Steady,Pole,"saidPuddleglum."Thosebigfellowswouldntbecrawlinginthereifitdidwiderlateron.Andtheresohingaboutthisundergroundwork,weshaanyrain.”

  "Oh,youdontuand.It,"wailedJill.

  "Thinkhow1feltonthatcliff,Pole,"saidScrubb."Yougofirst,Puddleglum,andIlleafterher.”

  "Thatsright,"saidtheMarsh-wiggle,gettingdownonhishandsandknees."Youkeepagripofmyheels,Pole,andScrubbwillholdontoyours.Thenwellallbefortable.”

  "fortable!"saidJill.Butshegotdownandtheycrawledinontheirelbows.Itwasanastyplace.Youhadtogoflatonyourfaceforwhatseemedlikehalfanhour,thoughitmayreallyhavebeenonlyfivemiwashot.Jillfeltshewasbeingsmothered.Butatlastadimlightshowedahead,thetunnelgrewwiderandhigher,andtheycameout,hot,dirty,andshaken,intoacavesethatitscarcelyseemedlikeacaveatall.

  Itwasfullofadim,drowsyradiahatheretheyhadheEarthmensstraern.Thefloorwassoftwithsomekindofmossandoutofthisgrewmanystrangeshapes,branchedandtallliketrees,butflabbylikemushrooms.Theystoodtoofaraparttomakeaforest;itwasmorelikeapark.Thelight(agreenishgrey)seemedtoebothfromthemandfromthemoss,anditwasnenoughtoreachtheroof

  ofthecave,whichmusthavebeenalongwayoverhead.Acrossthemild,soft,sleepyplacetheywerenowmadetomarch.Itwasverysad,butwithaquietsortofsadnesslikesoftmusic.

  Heretheypasseddozenseanimalslyingourf,eitherdeadorasleep,Jillcouldnottellwhich.Theseweremostlyonishorbat-likesort;Puddleglumdidnotknowwhatanyofthemwere.

  "Dotheygrowhere?"ScrubbaskedtheWarden.Heseemedverysurprisedatbeingspokento,butreplied,"No.Theyareallbeaststhathavefoundtheirwaydownbychasmsandcaves,outofOverlandintotheDeepRealm.Manyedown,aurntothesunlitlands.Itissaidthattheywillallwakeattheendoftheworld.”

  Hismouthshutlikeaboxwhenhehadsaidthis,andinthegreatsilehatcavethechildrehattheywouldnotdaretospeakagain.Thebarefeetofthegnomes,paddingonthedeepmoss,madenosound.Therewasnowind,therewerenobirds,therewasnosoundofwater.Therewasnosoundofbreathingfromthestras.

  Whentheyhadwalkedforseveralmiles,theycametoawallofrodinitalowarchwayleadingintoanothercavern.Itwasnot,however,sobadasthelastentrandJillcouldghitwithoutbendingherhead.Itbroughtthemintoasmallercave,longandnarrow,abouttheshapeandsizeofacathedral.Andhere,fillingalmostthewholelengthofit,layanenormousmanfastasleep.Hewasfarbiggerthananyofthegiants,andhisfacewasnotlikeagiants,butnobleaiful.Hisbreastroseandfellgentlyuhesnowybeardwhichcoveredhimtothewaist.Apure,silverlight(noonesawwhereitcamefrom)resteduponhim.

  "Whosthat?"askedPuddleglum.Anditwassolongsinyonehadspoken,thatJillwonderedhowhehadthenerve.

  "ThatisoldFatherTime,whooncewasaKinginOverland,"saidtheWarden."AndnowhehassunkdownintotheDeepRealmandliesdreamingofallthethingsthataredoheupperworld.Manysinkdown,aurntothesunlitlands.Theysayhewillwakeattheendoftheworld.”

  Andoutofthatcavetheypassedintoanother,aoanotherandanother,andsoontillJilllostt,butalwaystheyweregoingdownhillandeachcavewaslowertha,tilltheverythoughtoftheweightahofearthaboveyouwassuffog.

  AtlasttheycametoaplacewheretheWardenandedhischeerlesslaobelitagaiheypassedintoacavesowideanddarkthattheycouldseenothingofitexceptthatrightinfrontofthemastripofpalesandrandownintostillwater.Andthere,besidealittlejetty,layashipwithoutmastorsailbutwithmanyoars.Theyweremadetogoonboardherandledforwardtothebowswheretherewasaclearspafrontoftherowersbenchesarunningroundihebulwarks.

  "OhingIdliketoknow,"saidPuddleglum,"iswhetheranyonefromourworld-fromup-a-top,Imeanhaseverdohistripbefore?”

  "Manyhavetakenshipatthepalebeaches,"repliedtheWarden,"and-”

  "Yes,Iknow,"interruptedPuddleglum."Aurntothesunlitlands.Yousayitagain.Youareachapofoneidea,arentyou?”

  ThechildrenhuddledclosetogetheroneachsideofPuddleglum.Theyhadthoughthimawetblawhiletheywerestillaboveground,butdownhereheseemedtheonlyfthingtheyhad.Thenthepalelanternwashungupamidships,theEarthmensattotheoars,andtheshipbegantomove.Thelanterncastitslightonlyaveryshortway.Lookiheycouldseenothingbutsmooth,darkwater,fadingintoabsoluteblaess.

  "Oh,whateverwillbeeofus?"saidJilldespairingly.

  "Nowdontyouletyourspiritsdown,Pole,"saidtheMarsh-wiggle."Theresohingyouvegottoremember.Werebatherightlines.WeweretogouheRuiy,andweareu.Werefollowirusagain.”

  Presentlytheyweregivenfood-flat,flabbycakesofsomesortwhichhadhardlyanytaste.Andafterthat,theygraduallyfellasleep.Butwhentheywoke,everythingwasjustthesame;thegillrowing,theshipstillglidingon,stilldeadblaessahead.

  Howoftentheywokeaandateaagain,hemcouldeverremember.Andtheworstthingaboutitwasthatyoubegantofeelasifyouhadalwayslivedonthatship,inthatdarkness,andtowonderwhethersunandblueskiesandwindandbirdshadnotbeenonlyadream.

  Theyhadalmostgivenuphopingorbeingafraidaboutanythilasttheysawlightsahead:drearylights,likethatoftheirownlahen,quitesuddenly,oheselightscamecloseandtheysawthattheywerepassinganothership.Afterthattheymetseveralships.Then,staringtilltheireyeshurt,theysawthatsomeofthelightsaheadwereshiningonwhatlookedlikewharfs,walls,towers,andmovingcrowds.Butstilltherewashardlyanynoise.

  "ByJove,"saidScrubb."Acity!"andsoontheyallsawthathewasright.

  Butitwasaqueercity.Thelightsweresofewandfarapartthattheywouldhardlyhavedoneforscatteredcottagesinourworld.Butthelittlebitsoftheplacewhichyoucouldseebythelightswerelikeglimpsesofagreatseaport.Youakeoutinoneplaceawholecrowdofshipsloadingorunloading;inanother,balesofstuffandwarehouses;inathird,wallsandpillarsthatsuggestedgreatpalaples;andalways,whereverthelightfell,endlesscrowds-hundredsofEarthmen,jostliherastheypaddedsoftlyabouttheirbusinessinnarrowstreets,broadsquares,reatflightsofsteps.

  Theirtinuedmovementmadeasortofsoft,murmuringheshipdrewnearer

  andnearer;buttherewasnotasongorashoutorabellortherattleofawheelanywhere.

  TheCitywasasquiet,andnearlyasdark,astheinsideofanant-hill.

  Atlasttheirshipwasbroughtalongsideaquayandmadefast.ThethreetravellersweretakenashoreandmarchedupintotheCity.CrowdsofEarthmen,notwoalike,rubbedshoulderswiththeminthecrowdedstreets,andthesadlightfellonmanysadandgrotesquefaces.Butnooneshowedanyiirangers.Everygnomeseemedtobeasbusyasitwassad,thoughJillneverfoundwhattheyweresobusyabout.Buttheendlessmoving,shoving,hurrying,apad-pad-padwenton.

  Atlasttheycametoearedtobeagreatcastle,thoughfewofthewindowsinitwerelighted.Heretheyweretakeninandmadetocrossacourtyard,andtoclimbmanystaircases.Thisbroughtthemioagreatmurkilylitroom.Butinoneerofit-ohjoy!-therewasanarchwayfilledwithaquitedifferentsortoflight;theho,yellowish,warmlightofsuchalampashumansuse.Whatshowedbythislightihearchwaywasthefootofastaircasewhichwoundupwardbetweenwallsofstohelightseemedtoefromthetop.TwoEarthmenstoodoneoneachsideofthearchlikesentries,orfootmen.

  TheWardeuptothesetwo,andsaid,asifitassword:"ManysinkdowntotheUnderworld.”

  "Aurntothesunlitlands,"theyanswered,asifitwerethetersign.Thenallthreeputtheirheadstogetherandtalked.Atlastohetwognomes-in-waitingsaid,"ItellyoutheQueensgraceisgonefromhenhergreataffair.Wehadbestkeepthesetopdwellersinstraitprisontillherhomeiurntothesunlitlands.”

  AtthatmomenttheversationwasinterruptedbywhatseemedtoJillthemostdelightfulheworld.Itcamefromabove,fromthetopofthestaircase;anditwasaclear,ringing,perfectlyhumanvoice,thevoiceofayoungman.

  "Whatcoilareyoukeepingdownthere,Mullugutherum?"itshouted."Overworlders,ha!

  Briome,andthatpresently.”

  "Pleaseityhoremember,"beganMullugutherum,butthevoicecuthimshort.

  "ItpleasesmyHighnessprincipallytobeobeyed,oldmutterer.Bringthemup,"itcalled.

  Mullugutherumshookhishead,motiohetravellerstofollowandbegangoingupthestaircase.Ateverystepthelightincreased.Therewererichtapestrieshangingonthewalls.Thelamplightshonegoldenthroughthincurtainsatthestaircase-head.TheEarthmenpartedthecurtainsandstoodaside.Thethreepassedin.Theywereiifulroom,richlytapestried,withabrightfireonahearth,andredwineandcutglasssparklingoable.Ayoungmanwithfairhairrosetogreetthem.Hewas

  handsomeandlookedbothboldandkind,thoughtherewassomethingabouthisfacethatdidntseemquiteright.HewasdressedinbladaltogetherlookedalittlebitlikeHamlet.

  "Wele,Overworlders,"hecried."Butstayamoment!Iercy!Ihaveseenyoutwofairchildren,andthis,yourstrangegovernor,before.WasitnotyouthreethatmetmebythebridgeonthebordersofEttinsmoorwhenIrodetherebymyLadysside?”

  "Oh...youweretheblaightwhoneverspoke?"exclaimedJill.

  "AndwasthatladytheQueenofUnderland?"askedPuddleglum,innoveryfriendlyvoidScrubb,whowasthinkingthesame,burstout,"Becauseifitwas,Ithinkshewasjollymeantosendusofftoacastleofgiantswhointeoeatus.Whatharmhadweeverdoneher,Ishouldliketoknow?”

  "How?"saidtheBlaightwithafrown."Ifyouwerenotsoyoungawarrior,Boy,youandImusthavefoughttothedeathonthisquarrel.IhearnainstmyLadyshonour.Butofthisyoumaybeassured,thatwhatevershesaidtoyou,shesaidofagoodi.Youdonotknowher.Sheisanosegayofallvirtues,astruth,mercy,stancy,gentleness,ce,a.IsaywhatIknow.Herkiomealone,whonowayrewardher,wouldmakeanadmirablehistory.Butyoushallknowandloveherhereafter.Meanwhile,whatisyourerrandintheDeepLands?”

  AndbeforePuddleglumcouldstopher,Jillblurtedout,"PleasewearetryingtofindPrinceRilianofNarnia."Andthensherealizedwhatafrightfulriskshehadtaken;thesepeoplemightbeenemies.ButtheKnightshowednoi.

  "Rilian?Narnia?"hesaidcarelessly."Narnia?Whatlandisthat?IhaveneverheardthemustbeathousandleaguesfromthosepartsoftheOverworldthatIknow.Butitwasastraasythatbroughtyouseekingthis-howdoyoucallhim?-Billian?

  Trillian?inmyLadysrealm.Iomycertainknowledge,thereisnosuhere."Helaughedveryloudlyatthis,andJillthoughttoherself,"Iwohatwhatswrongwithhisface?Isheabitsilly?”

  "WehadbeentoldtolookforamessageooheCityRuinous,"saidScrubb.

  "AhewordsUNDERME.”

  TheKnightlaughedevenmoreheartilythanbefore."Youwerethemoredeceived,"hesaid."Thosewordsmeantnothingtoyourpurpose.HadyoubutaskedmyLady,shecouldhavegivenyoubettersel.Forthosewordsareallthatisleftofalongerscript,whiaimes,asshewellremembers,expressedthisverse:ThoughuhandthronelessnowIbe,Yet,whileIlived,allEarthwasunderme.

  Fromwhichitisplainthatsomegreatkingoftheagiants,wholiesburiedthere,causedthisboasttobethestoneoverhissepulchre;thoughthebreakingupof

  somestones,andthecarryingawayofothersfornewbuildings,andthefillingupofthecutswithrubble,hasleftonlytwowordsthatstillberead.Isitnotthemerriestjestintheworldthatyoushouldhavethoughttheywerewrittentoyou?”

  ThiswaslikecoldwaterdownthebacktoScrubbandJill;foritseemedtothemverylikelythatthewordshadnothingtodowiththeirquestatall,andthattheyhadbeentakeninbyamereact.

  "Dontyoumindhim,"saidPuddleglum."Therearenoacts.uideisAslan;aherewhenthegiantKingcausedtheletterstobecut,andheknewalreadyallthingsthatwouldeofthem;includingthis.”

  "Thisguideofyoursmustbealongliver,friend,"saidtheKnightwithanotherofhislaughs.

  Jillbegantofindthemalittleirritating.

  "Anditseemstome,Sir,"answeredPuddleglum,"thatthisLadyofyoursmustbealonglivertoo,ifsherememberstheverseasitwaswhentheyfirstcutit.”

  "Veryshrewd,Frog-face,"saidtheKnight,clappingPuddleglumontheshoulderandlaughingagain."Andyouhavehitthetruth.Sheisofdivineradknowsherageh.IamthemorethankfultoherforallherinfinitebountytosuortalwretchasI.Foryoumustknow,Sirs,Iamamanundermoststrangeafflis,andheQueensgracewouldhavehadpatiehme.Patience,saidI?Butitgoesfarbeyondthat.ShehaspromisedmeagreatkingdominOverland,and,whenIamking,herownmostgracioushandinmarriage.Butthetaleistoolongforyoutohearfastingandstanding.Hithere,someofydwellersfouests.Pleaseyou,beseated,gentlemen.Littlemaiden,sitinthischair.Youshallhearitall.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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