CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  THEHEALINGOFHARMSWHENJillwokemandfoundherselfinacave,shethoughtforonehorridmomentthatshewasbatheUnderworld.Butwheicedthatshewaslyingonabedofheatherwithafurrymantleoverher,andsawacheeryfirecrag(asifnewlylit)onastohand,fartheroff,msunlightinginthroughthecavesmouth,sherememberedallthehappytruth.Theyhadhadadelightfulsupper,allcrowdedintothatcave,inspiteofbeingsosleepybeforeitroperlyover.ShehadavagueimpressionofDwarfscrowdingroundthefirewithfrying-pansratherbiggerthanthemselves,andthehissing,anddeliellofsausages,andmore,andmore,andmoresausages.Andnotwretchedsausageshalffullofbreadandsoyabeaher,but

  realmeaty,spies,fatandpipinghotandburstandjustthetibitburnt.Amugsoffrothychocolate,androastpotatoesandroastchestnuts,andbakedappleswithraisinsstuwherethecoreshadbeen,andthenicesjusttofreshenyouupafterallthehotthings.

  Jillsatupandlookedaround.Puddleglumaacewerelyingnotfaraway,bothfastasleep.

  "Hi,youtwo!"shoutedJillinaloudvoice."Arentyouevergoingtogetup?”

  "Shoo,shoo!"saidasleepyvoiewhereaboveher."Timetobesettlingdown.Haveagoodsnooze,do,do.Dontmakeato-do.Tu-whoo!”

  "Why,Idobelieve,"saidJill,glangupatawhitebundleoffluffyfeatherswhicherchedontopofagrandfatherclooneerofthecave,"IdobelieveitsGlimfeather!”

  "True,true,"whirredtheOwl,liftingitsheadoutfromuseningoneeye."IcameupwithamessageforthePriabouttwo.Thesquirrelsbroughtusthegoodnews.MessageforthePrince.Hesgone.Youretofollowtoo.Good-day-"andtheheaddisappearedagain.

  AsthereseemednofurtherhopeofgettinganyinformationfromtheOwl,Jillgotupandbeganlookingroundforanyceofawashandsomebreakfast.ButalmostatotleFautingintothecavewithasharpclick-clackofhisgoatyhoofsoonefloor.

  "Ah!Youvewokenupatlast,DaughterofEve,"hesaid."PerhapsyoudbetterwaketheSonofAdam.YouvegottobeoffinafewminutesandtwotaurshaveverykindlyofferedtoletyourideontheirbacksdowntoCairParavel."Headdedinalowervoice.

  "Ofcourse,yourealizeitisamostspecialandunheard-ofhonourtobeallowedtorideataur.IdontknowthatIeverheardofanyonedoingitbefore.Itwouldntdotokeepthemwaiting.”

  "WheresthePrince?"wasthefirstquestioadPuddleglumassoonastheyhadbeenwakened.

  "HesgonedowheKing,hisfather,atCairParavel,"aheFaun,whosenamewasOrruns."HisMajestysshipisexpectedinharbouranymoment.ItseemsthattheKiAslan-Idontknowwhetheritwasinavisionorfacetoface-beforehehadsailedfar,andAslanturnedhimbadtoldhimhewouldfindhislong-lostsonawaitinghimwhenhereaarnia.”

  EustacewasnowupandheandJillsetabouthelpingOrrunstogetthebreakfast.

  Puddleglumwastoldtostayinbed.AtaurcalledCloudbirth,afamoushealer,or(asOrrunscalledit)aleech,wasingtoseetohisburntfoot.

  "Ah!"saidPuddlegluminatonealmostofte,"hellwanttohavethelegoffattheknee,Ishouldntwonder.Youseeifhedoesnt."Buthewasquitegladtostayinbed.

  Breakfastwasscrambledeggsandtoastaacetackleditjustasifhehadnothadaverylargesupperinthemiddleofthenight.

  "Isay,SonofAdam,"saidtheFaun,lookingwithacertaiEustacesmouthfuls.

  "Theresohurryquitesodreadfullyasthat.Idontthiaurshavequitefiheirbreakfastsyet.”

  "Thentheymusthavegotupverylate,"saidEustace."Ibetitsaftertenoclock.”

  "Ohno,"saidOrruns."Theygotupbeforeitwaslight.”

  "Thentheymusthavewaitedthedisofatimeforbreakfast,"saidEustace.

  "No,theydidnt,"saidOrruns."Theybegaingthemiheyawoke.”

  "Golly!"saidEustace."Dotheyeataverybigbreakfast?”

  "Why,SonofAdam,dontyouuand?Ataurhasaman-stomadahorse-stomadofcoursebothwantbreakfast.Sofirstofallhehaspeandpavendersandkidneysandbadomeletteandcoldhamandtoastandmarmaladeandcoffeeandbeer.Andafterthatheattendstothehorsepartofhimselfbygrazingforanhourorsoandfinishingupwithahotmash,someoats,andabagofsugar.Thatswhyitssuchaseriousthingtoaskataurtostayfortheweek-end.Averyseriousthingindeed.”

  Atthatmomenttherewasasoundofhorse-hoofstappingonrothemouthofthecave,andthechildrenlookedup.Thetwotaurs,ohabladohagoldenbeardflowiheirmagnifitbarechests,stoodwaitingforthem,bendingtheirheadsalittlesoastolookintothecave.Thenthechildrenbecameverypoliteandfiheirbreakfastveryquickly.hinksataurfunnywhe.

  Theyaresolemn,majesticpeople,fullofawisdomwhichtheylearnfromthestars,noteasilymadeeithermerryry;buttheiraerribleasatidalwavewhenites.

  "Good-bye,dearPuddleglum,"saidJill,goiheMarsh-wigglesbed."Imsorrywecalledyouawetbla.”

  "SomI,"saidEustace."Youvebeefriendintheworld.”

  "AndIdohopewellmeetagain,"addedJill.

  "Notmuchceofthat,Ishouldsay,"repliedPuddleglum."1dontreverylikelytoseemyoldwigwamagaiher.AndthatPrince-hesanicechap-butdoyou

  thinkhesverystrong?stitutionruihlivingunderground,Ishouldntwonder.

  Looksthesortthatmightgooffanyday.”

  "Puddleglum!"saidJill."Yourearegularoldhumbug.YousoundasdolefulasafuneralandIbelieveyoureperfectlyhappy.Andyoutalkasifyouwereafraidofeverything,whenyourereallyasbraveas-asalion.”

  "Now,speakingoffunerals,"beganPuddleglum,butJill,whoheardthetaurstappingwiththeirhoofsbehindher,surprisedhimverymuchbyflingingherarmsroundhisthinnedkissinghismuddy-lookingface,whileEustacewrunghishand.Thehrushedawaytothetaurs,andtheMarsh-wiggle,sinkingbahisbed,remarkedtohimself,"Well,Iwouldnthavedreamtofherdoingthat.EventhoughIamagood-lookingchap.”

  Torideoauris,nodoubt,agreathonour(andexceptJillaacethereisprobablynoonealiveintheworldtodaywhohashadit)butitisveryunfortable.Fornoonewhovaluedhislifewouldsuggestputtingasaddleoaur,andridingbare-baofun;especiallyif,likeEustace,youhaveneverlearorideatall.Thetaurswereverypoliteinagrave,gracious,grown-upkindofway,andastheyteredthroughtheNarnianwoodstheyspoke,withoutturningtheirheads,tellingthechildrenaboutthepropertiesofherbsandroots,theinflueheplaheninenamesofAslanwiththeirmeanings,andthingsofthatsort.Buthoweversoreandjoltedthetwohumaheywouldnowgiveanythingtohavethatjourneyain:toseethosegladesandslopessparklingwithlastnightssnow,tobemetbyrabbitsandsquirrelsandbirdsthatwishedyougo,tobreatheagaintheairofNarniaahevoicesoftheNarniantrees.

  Theycamedowntotheriver,flowingbrightandblueinwintersunshine,farbelowthelastbridge(whichisatthesnug,red-roofedlittletownofBeruna)andwereferriedacrossinaflatbargebytheferryman;orrather,bytheferry-wiggle,foritisMarsh-wiggleswhodomostofthewateryandfishykindsofworkinNarnia.AheyhadcrossedtheyrodealohbankoftheriveralycametoCairParavelitself.AndattheverymomentoftheirarrivaltheysawthatsamebrightshipwhichtheyhadseeheyfirstsetfootinNarnia,glidinguptheriverlikeahugebird.AllthecourtwereoncemoreassembledonthegreeweeleandthequaytoweleKingCaspianhomeagain.Rilian,whohadgedhisblackclothesandwasnowdressedinascarletcloakoversilvermail,stoodclosetothewatersedge,bare-headed,toreceivehisfather;andtheDwarfTrumpkinsatbesidehiminhislittledonkey-chair.ThechildrensawtherewouldbenoceofreagthePrihroughallthatcrowd,and,anyway,theyrathershy.Sotheyaskedthetaursiftheymightgoonsittingontheirbacksalittlelongerandthusseeeverythiheheadsofthecourtiers.Aaurssaidtheymight.

  Aflourishofsilvertrumpetscameoverthewaterfromtheshipsdeck:thesailorsthree;rats(TalkingRats,ofcourse)andMarsh-wigglesmadeitfastashore;andtheshipedin.Musis,hiddensomewhereinthecrowd,begantoplaysolemn,

  triumphalmusidsoontheKingsgalleonwasalongsideasranthegangwayonboardher.

  JillexpectedtoseetheoldKingedownit.Butthereappearedtobesomehitch.ALordalefacecameashoreaothePrioTrumpkihreeweretalkingwiththeirheadsclosetogetherforafewminutes,butnoonecouldhearwhattheysaid.Themusicplayedon,butyoucouldfeelthateveryonewasbeinguneasy.Thenfhts,carryingsomethingandgoingverysloearedondeck.

  Wheartedtoedownthegangwayyoucouldseewhattheywerecarrying:itwastheoldKingonabed,verypaleandstill.Theysethimdown.ThePrineltbesidehimandembracedhim.TheycouldseeKingCaspianraisinghishandtoblesshisson.Andeveryonecheered,butitwasahalf-heartedcheer,fortheyallfeltthatsomethingwasgoingwrong.ThensuddenlytheKingsheadfellbackuponhispillows,themusisstoppedandtherewasadeadsilehePrineelingbytheKingsbed,laiddownhisheaduponita.

  Therewerewhisperingsandgoingstoandfro.ThenJillnoticedthatallwhoworehats,bos,helmets,orhoodsweretakingthemoff-Eustacluded.Thensheheardarustlingandflappingnoiseupabovethecastle;whenshelookedshesawthatthegreatbahthegoldenLiononitwasbeingbroughtdowntohalf-mast.Andafterthat,slowly,mercilessly,withwailingstringsanddissolateblowingofhorns,themusicbeganagain:thistime,atuobreakyourheart.

  Theybothslippedofftheirtaurs(whotooknonoticeofthem).

  "IwishIwasathome,"saidJill.

  Eustaodded,sayingnothing,andbithislip.

  "Ihavee,"saidadeepvoicebehiheyturnedandsawtheLionhimself,shtandrealandstrongthateverythingelsebeganatoolookpaleandshadowyparedwithhim.AndiimethanittakestobreatheJillfotaboutthedeadKingofNarniaandrememberedonlyhowshehadmadeEustacefalloverthecliff,andhowshehadhelpedtomuffnearlyallthesigns,andaboutallthesnappingsandquarrellings.Aedtosay"Imsorry"butshecouldnotspeak.ThentheLiohemtowardshimwithhiseyes,adownandtouchedtheirpalefaceswithhistongue,andsaid:"Thinkofthatnomore.Iwillnotalwaysbescolding.YouhavedoheworkforwhichIsentyouintoNarnia.”

  "Please,Aslan,"saidJill,"maywegohomenow?”

  "Yes.IhaveetyouHome,"saidAslan.Thenheopenedhismouthwideandblew.Butthistimetheyhadnosenseofflyingthroughtheair:instead,itseemedthattheyremaiill,andthewildbreathofAslanblewawaytheshipandthedeadKing

  aleandthesnowaersky.Forallthesethingsfloatedoffintotheairlikewreathsofsmoke,andsuddenlytheywerestandingibrightnessofmid-summersunshine,onsmoothturf,amongmightytrees,andbesideafair,freshstream.

  ThentheysawthattheywereoncemoreontheMountainofAslan,highupaboveandbeyondtheendofthatworldinwhiarnialies.ButthestrahingwasthatthefuneralmusicfCaspianstillwenton,thoughnoonecouldtellwhereitcamefrom.TheywerewalkingbesidethestreamandtheLiobeforethem:andhebecamesobeautiful,andthemusicsodespairing,thatJilldidnotknowwhichofthemitwasthatfilledhereyeswithtears.

  ThenAslanstopped,andthechildrenlookedintothestream.Andthere,onthegoldengravelofthebedofthestream,layKingCaspian,dead,withthewaterflowingoverhimlikeliquidglass.Hislongwhitebeardswayedinitlikewater-weed.Andallthreestooda.EventheLio:greatLion-tears,eachtearmorepreciousthahwouldbeifitwasasinglesoliddiamond.AndJillnoticedthatEustacelookedherlikeachildg,norlikeabandwantingtohideit,butlikeagrownupg.Atleast,thatistheshecouldgettoit;butreally,asshesaid,peopledoohaveanyparticularagesonthatmountain.

  "SonofAdam,"saidAslan,"gointothatthicketandpluckthethornthatyouwillfindthere,andbringittome.”

  Eustaceobeyed.Thethornwasafootlongandsharpasarapier.

  "Driveitintomypaw,SonofAdam,"saidAslan,holdinguphisrightfore-pareadingoutthegreatpadtowardsEustace.

  "MustI?"saidEustace.

  "Yes,"saidAslan.

  TheacesethisteethanddrovethethornintotheLionspad.Andtherecameoutagreatdropofblood,redderthanallredhatyouhaveeverseenined.

  AnditsplashedintothestreamoverthedeadbodyoftheKing.Atthesamemomentthedolefulmusicstopped.AndthedeadKiobeged.Hiswhitebeardturogrey,andfromgreytoyellow,andgotshorterandvaogether;andhissunkencheeksgrewroundandfresh,andthewrinklesweresmoothed,andhiseyesopened,andhiseyesandlipsbothlaughed,andsuddenlyheleapedupandstoodbeforethem-averyyoungman,oraboy.(ButJillcouldntsaywhich,becauseofpeoplehavingnoparticularagesinAslanstry.Eveninthisworld,ofcourse,itisthestupidestchildrenwhoaremostchildishaupidestgrown-upswhoaremostgrownup.)AndherushedtoAslanandflunghisarmsasfarastheywouldgoroundthehugenedhegaveAslarongkissesofaKing,andAslahewildkissesofaLion.

  AtlastCaspianturheothers.Hegaveagreatlaughofastonishedjoy.

  "Why!Eustace!"hesaid."Eustace!Soyoudidreachtheendoftheworldafterall.Whataboutmysed-bestswordthatyoubrokeonthesea-serpent?”

  Eustacemadeasteptowardshimwithbothhandsheldout,butthendrewbackwithasomewhatstartledexpression.

  "Lookhere!Isay,"hestammered."Itsallverywell.Butarentyou?-Imeandidntyou-?”

  "Oh,dontbesuass,"saidCaspian.

  "But,"saidEustace,lookingatAslan."Hasnthe-erdied?”

  "Yes,"saidtheLioninaveryquietvoice,almost(Jillthought)asifhewerelaughing.

  "Hehasdied.Mostpeoplehave,youknow.EvenIhave.Thereareveryfewwhohavent.”

  "Oh,"saidCaspian."Iseewhatsbyou.YouthinkImaghost,orsomenonsedontyousee?IwouldbethatifIappearedinNarnianow:becauseIdontbelongthereanymore.Butobeaghostinonesowntry.ImightbeaghostifIgotintoyourworld.Idontknow.ButIsupposeitisntyourseither,nowyourehere.”

  Agreathoperoseinthechildres.ButAslanshookhisshaggyhead."No,mydears,"hesaid."Whenyoumeetmehereagain,youwillhaveetostay.Butnotnow.

  Youmustgobacktoyourownworldforawhile.”

  "Sir,"saidCaspian,"Ivealwayswaohavejustoneglimpseoftheirworld.Isthatwrong?”

  "Youotwantwrongthingsanymore,nowthatyouhavedied,myson,"saidAslan.

  "Andyoushallseetheirworld-forfivemiheirtime.Itwilltakenolongerforyoutosetthingsrightthere."ThenAslanexplaioCaspianwhatJillaaceweregoingbacktoandallaboutExperimentHouse:heseemedtoknowitquiteaswellastheydid.

  "Daughter,"saidAslantoJill,"pluckaswitchoffthatbush."Shedid;andassoonasitwasinherhanditturoafinenewridingcrop.

  "Now,SonsofAdam,drawyourswords,"saidAslan."Butuseonlytheflat,foritiscowardsandchildren,notwarriainstwhom1sendyou.”

  "Areyouingwithus,Aslan?"saidJill.

  "Theyshallseeonlymyback,"saidAslan.

  Heledthemrapidlythroughthewood,andbeforetheyhadgonemanypaces,thewallofExperimentHouseappcaredbeforethem.ThenAslanroaredsothatthesunshookintheskyandthirtyfeetofthewallfelldownbeforethem.Theylookedthroughthegap,downintotheschoolshrubberyandontotheroofofthegym,alluhesamedullautumnskywhichtheyhadseenbeforetheiradventuresbegan.AslanturoJillaadbreatheduponthemandtouchedtheirforeheadswithhistohenhelaydownamidthegaphehadmadeinthewallandturnedhisgoldenbacktoEngland,andhislordlyfacetowardshisownlands.AtthesamemomentJillsawfigureswhomsheknewonlytoowellrunningupthroughthelaurelstowardsthem.MostofthegahereAdelaPennyfatherandondelyMajor,EdithWinterblott,`SpottySorrier,bigBannister,awoloathsomeGarretttwins.Butsuddenlytheystopped.Theirfacesged,andallthemeanness,ceit,cruelty,andsneakishnessalmostdisappearedinonesingleexpressionofterror.Fortheysawthewallfallendown,andalionaslargeasayoungelephantlyinginthegap,andthreefiguresinglitteringclotheswithonsintheirhandsrushingdownuponthem.For,withthestrengthofAslaninthem,JillpliedhercroponthegirlsandCaspiaacepliedtheflatsoftheirswordsontheboyssowellthatintwominutesallthebullieswererunninglikemad,gout,`Murder!

  Fascists!Lions!Itisntfair.AheHead(whowas,bytheway,awoman)camerunningouttoseewhatening.AndwhehelionandthebrokenwallandCaspianandJillaace(whomshequitefailedtnize)shehadhysteridwentbacktothehouseandbeganringingupthepolicewithstoriesaboutalionescapedfromacircus,andescapedvictswhobrokedownwallsandcarrieddrawnswords.InthemidstofallthisfussJillaaceslippedquietlyindoorsandgedoutoftheirbrightclothesintoordinarythings,andCaspiabatohisownworld.Andthewall,atAslansword,wasmadewholeagaihepolicearrivedandfoundnolion,nobrokenwall,andnovicts,andtheHeadbehavinglikealunatic,therewasaninquiryintothewholething.AndintheinquiryallsortsofthingsaboutExperimentHousecameout,andabouttenpeoplegotexpelled.Afterthat,theHeadsfriendssawthattheHeadwasnouseasaHead,sotheygothermadeanIortointerferewithotherHeads.Aheyfoundshewasntmuchgoodevenatthat,theygotherintoParliamentwhereshelivedhappilyeverafter.

  Eustaceburiedhisfihessecretlyonenightintheschoolgrounds,butJillsmuggledhershomeandworethematafancy-dressballholidays.AndfromthatdayforththingsgedforthebetteratExperimentHouse,anditbecamequiteagoodschool.

  AndJillaacewerealwaysfriends.

  ButfaroffinNarnia,KingRilianburiedhisfather,CaspiantheNavigator,Tenthofthatname,andmournedforhim.HehimselfruledNarniawellandthelandyinhisdays,thoughPuddleglum(whosefootwasasgoodashreeweeks)oftenpoithatbrightmsbroughtoernoons,andthatyoucouldntexpeestolast.Theopeningintothehillsidewasleftopen,andofteninhotsummerdaystheNarniansgointherewithshipsandlanternsanddowntothewaterandsailtoandfro,singing,onthecool,darkundergrouellingeachotherstoriesofthecitiesthatlie

  fathomsdeepbelow.IfeveryouhavethelucktogotoNarniayourself,donettohavealookatthosecaves.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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