CHAPTER SIX

  AGOODNIGHTSWORKABOUTfourhourslaterTirianflunghimselfintoohebunkstosnatchalittlesleep.Thetwochildrenwerealreadysn:hehadmadethemgotobedbeforehedidbecausetheywouldhavetobeupmostofthenightandhekhatattheiragetheycouldntdowithoutsleep.Also,hehadtiredthemout.FirsthehadgivenJillsomepractiarcheryandfoundthat,thoughnotuptoNarnianstandards,shewasreallynottoobad.Indeedshehadsucceededinshootingarabbit(notaTalkingrabbit,ofcourse:therearelotsoftheordinarykindaboutiernNarnia)anditwasalreadyskinned,ed,andhangingup.Hehadfoundthatboththechildrenknewallaboutthischillyandsmellyjob;theyhadlearhatkindofthingontheirgreatjourhroughGiant-LandinthedaysofPrinceRilian.TheriedtoteachEustacehowtousehisswordandshield.EustacehadlearnedquitealotaboutswhtingonhisearlieradvethathadbeenallwithastraightNarniansword.Hehadneverhandledacurvedenescimitarandthatmadeithard,formanyofthestrokesarequitedifferentandsomeofthehabitshehadlearhthelongswordhadnowtobeunlearnedagain.ButTirianfoundthathehadagoodeyeandwasveryquihisfeet.

  Hewassurprisedatthestrengthofbothchildren:infacttheybothseemedtobealreadymuchstrongerandbiggerandmrown-upthantheyhadbeenwhenhefirstmetthemafewho.Itisoheeffectswhiarnianairoftenhasonvisitorsfromourworld.

  AllthreeofthemagreedthattheveryfirstthingtheymustdowastogobacktoStableHillandtrytorescueJeweltheUni.Afterthat,iftheysucceeded,theywouldtrytogetawayEastwardahelittlearmywhichRoonwitthetaurwouldbebringingfromCairParavel.

  Anexperiencedwarriorandhuntsmairianalwaysatthetimehewants.Sohegavehimselftillnineoclockthatnightaallworriesoutofhisheadandfellasleepatoseemedonlyamomentlaterwhenhewokebuthekhelightandtheveryfeelofthingsthathehadtimedhissleepexactly.Hegotup,putonhishelmet-and-turban(hehadsleptinhismailshirt),andthenshooktheothertwotilltheywokeup.Theylooked,totellthetruth,verygreyanddismalastheyclimbedoutoftheirbunksandtherewasagooddealofyawning.

  "Now,"saidTirian,"wegodueNorthfromhere-bygoodfortuisastarrynight-anditwillbemuchshorterthanourjourhism,fortheround-aboutbutnowweshallght.IfwearechallehendoyoutwoholdyourpeadIwilldomybesttotalklikeacurst,cruel,proudlordofen.IfIdrawmyswordthenthou,Eustace,mustdolikewiseaJillleapbehindusandstandwithanarroworing.ButifIcry`Home,thenflyfortheTowerbothofyou.Aofighton-noteverokeafterIhavegivereat:suchfalsevalourhasspoiledmanynotableplansinthewars.Andnow,friends,inthenameofAslausgoforward.”

  Outtheywentintotheight.AllthegreatNorthernstarswereburningabovethetree-tops.TheNorth-StarofthatworldiscalledtheSpear-Head:itisbrighterthanourPoleStar.

  ForatimetheycouldghttowardstheSpear-Headbutpresentlytheycametoadehicketsothattheyhadtogooutoftheircoursetogetroundit.Andafterthat-fortheywerestillovershadowedbybrawashardtopickuptheirbearings.ItwasJillwhosetthemrightagain:shehadbeenanexcellentGuideinEngland.AndofcoursesheknewherNarnianstarsperfectly,havingtravelledsomuthewildNorthernLands,andcouldworkoutthedirefromotherstarseveheSpear-Headwashidden.AssoonasTiriansawthatshewasthebestpathfihethreeofthemheputherinfront.Andthenhewasastoofindhowsilentlyandalmostinvisiblysheglidedonbeforethem.

  "BytheMane!"hewhisperedtoEustace."Thisgirlisawondrouswood-maid.IfshehadDryadsbloodinhershecouldscarcedoitbetter.”

  "Shessosmall,thatswhathelps,"whisperedEustace.ButJillfrominfrontsaid:"S-s-s-h,lessnoise.”

  Allrouhewoodwasveryquiet.Iwasfartooquiet.OnanordinaryNarnianightthereoughttohavebeennoises-anoccasionalcheery"Goodnight"fromaHedgehog,thecryofanOwloverhead,perhapsafluteiaellofFaunsdang,orsomethrobbing,hammeringnoisesfromDwarfsunderground.Allthatwassilenced:gloomandfearreignedoverNarnia.

  Afteratimetheybegantogosteeplyuphillareesgrewfurtherapart.Tiriancoulddimlymakeoutthewellknownhill-topaable.Jillwasnowgoingwithmoreandmorecautioonmakingsignstotheotherswithherhandtodothesame.TheoppeddeadstillandTiriansawhergraduallysinkdownintothegrassanddisappearwithoutasound.Amomentlatersheroseagain,puthermouthclosetoTiriansear,andsaidinthelowestpossiblewhisper,"Getdowter."ShesaidtheeforseenotbecauseshehadalispbutbecauseshekhehissierSisthepartofawhispermostlikelytobeoverheard.Tirianatoncelaydown,almostassilentlyasJill,butnotquite,forhewasheavierandolder.Andoheyweredown,hesawhowfromthatpositionyoucouldseetheedgeofthehillsharpagainstthestar-strewnsky.Twoblackshapesroseagainstit:ohestable,aher,afewfeetinfrontofit,wasaery.Hewaskeepingveryillwatotwalkingorevenstandingbutsittingwithhisspearoverhisshoulderandhisonhischest."Welldone,"saidTiriantoJill.Shehadshowlywhatheoknow.

  TheygotupandTiriannowtookthelead.Veryslowly,hardlydaringtobreathe,theymadetheirtoalittleclumpoftreeswhichwasnotmorethanfortyfeetawayfromthesentinel.

  "WaitheretillIeagain,"hewhisperedtotheothertwo."IfImiscarry,fly."Thenhesauboldlyinfullviewoftheehemanstartedwhenhesawhimandwasjustgoingtojumptohisfeet:hewasafraidTirianmightbeoneofhisownofficersandthathewouldgetintotroubleforsittingdown.ButbeforehecouldgetupTirianhaddroppedononekneebesidehim,saying:"ArtthouawarrioroftheTisrocs,mayheliveforever?ItcheersmyhearttomeettheeamongallthesebeastsanddevilsofNarnians.Givemethyhand,friend.”

  Beforehewellkneashappeningtheeryfoundhisrighthandseizedinamightygrip.instantsomeonewaskneelingonhislegsandadaggerressedagainsthisneck.

  "Onehouartdead,"saidTirianinhisear."TellmewheretheUniisandthoushaltlive.”

  "B-behiable,OMyMaster,"stammeredtheunfortunateman.

  "Good.Riseupandleadmetohim.”

  Asthemangotupthepointofthedaggerneverlefthisneck.Itonlytravelledround(coldandratherticklish)asTiriangotbehindhimaleditatavepladerhisear.Trembliroundtothebackofthestable.

  ThoughitwasdarkTiriancouldseethewhiteshapeofJewelatonce.

  "Hush!"hesaid."No,donotneigh.Yes,Jewel,itisI.Howhavetheytiedthee?”

  "Hobbledbyallfsahabridletiablewall,"cameJewelsvoice.

  "Standhere,sentry,withyourbacktothewall.So.Now,Jewel:setthepointofyourhainstthisenesbreast.”

  "Withagoodwill,Sire,"saidJewel.

  "Ifhemoves,rivehimtotheheart."TheninafewsedsTiriancuttheropes.Withtheremainsofthemhebouryhandandfoot.Finallyhemadehimopenhismouth,stuffeditfullofgrassandtiedhimupfromscalptosothatheakenonoise,loweredthemanintoasittingpositionahimagainstthewall.

  "Ihavedoheesomediscourtesy,soldier,"saidTirian."Butsuchwasmyneed.IfwemeetagainImayhappentodotheeabetterturn.Now,Jewel,letusgosoftly.”

  Heputhisleftarmroundthebeastsnedbentandkisseditsnoseandbothhadgreatjoy.Theywentbackasquietlyaspossibletotheplacewherehehadleftthechildren.Itwasdarkerinthereuhetreesandhenearlyraniacebeforehesawhim.

  "Allswell,"whisperedTirian."Agoodnightswork.Nowforhome.”

  Theyturnedandhadgoneafewpaceswheacesaid,"Whereareyou,Pole?"Therewasnoanswer."IsJillohersideofyou,Sire?"heasked.

  "What?"saidTirian."Isshenotohersideofyour”

  Itwasaterriblemoment.Theydarednotshoutbuttheywhisperedherheloudestwhispertheyaherewasnoreply.

  "DidshegofromyouwhileIwasaway?"askedTirian.

  "Ididntseeorhearhergo,"saidEustace."Butshecouldhavegohoutmyknowing.Shebeasquietasacat;youveseenforyourself.”

  Atthatmomentafaroffdrumbeatwasheard.Jewelmovedhisearsforward."Dwarfs,”

  hesaid.

  "AndtreacherousDwarfs,enemies,aslikelyasnot,"mutteredTirian.

  "Andhereessomethingonhoofs,muearer,"saidJewel.

  ThetwohumansandtheUnistooddeadstill.Therewerenowsomanydifferentthingstoworryaboutthattheydidntknowwhattodo.Thenoiseofhoofscamesteadilynearer.Andthen,quiteclosetothem,avoicewhispered:"Hallo!Areyouallthere?”

  Thankheaven,itwasJills.

  "Wherethedevilhaveyoubeento?"saidEustaafuriouswhisper,forhehadbeenveryfrightened.

  "Iable,"gaspedJill,butitwasthesaspyougivewhenyourestrugglingwithsuppressedlaughter.

  "Oh,"growledEustace,"youthinkitfunny,doyou?WellallIsayis-”

  "HaveyougotJewel,Sire?"askedJill.

  "Yes.Hereheis.Whatisthatbeastwithyou?”

  "Thatshim,"saidJill."Butletsbeoffhomebeforeanyonewakesup."Andagaintherecamelittleexplosionsoflaughter.

  TheothersobeyedatoheyhadalreadylingeredlongenoughinthatdangerouspladtheDwarfdrumsseemedtohaveealittlewasonlyaftertheyhadbeenwalkingSouthwardforseveralmihatEustacesaid:"Gothim?Whatdoyoumean?”

  "ThefalseAslan,"saidJill.

  "What?"saidTirian."Wherehaveyoubeen?Whathaveyoudone?”

  "Well,Sire,"saidJill."AssoonasIsawthatyoudgotthesentryoutofthewayIthoughthaderhavealookihestableareallyisthere?SoIcrawledalong.Itwasaseasyasanythingtodrawthebolt.

  Ofcourseititchblasideandsmelledlikeanyotherstable.ThenIstruckalightand-wouldyoubelieveit?-therewasnothingatalltherebutthisolddohabundleoflion-skiohisback.SoIdrewmykoldhimhedhavetoealongwithme.Asamatteroffaeednthavethreatenedhimwiththekall.Hewasveryfedupwiththestableandquitereadytoe-werentyou,Puzzledear?”

  "GreatScott!"saidEustace."WellIm-jiggered.Iwasjollyangrywithyouamomentago,andIstillthinkitwasmeanofyoutosneakoffwithouttherestofus:butImustadmit-well,Imeantosay-welliterfectlygeousthingtodo.Ifshewasaboyshedhavetobeknighted,wouldntshe,Sire?”

  "Ifshewasaboy,"saidTirian,"shedbewhippedfordisobeyingorders."Andinthedarknoonecouldseewhetherhesaidthiswithafrownorasmile.miherewasasoundofraspial.

  "Whatareyoudoing,Sire?"askedJewelsharply.

  "DrawingmyswordtosmiteofftheheadoftheaccursedAss,"saidTirianinaterriblevoice."Standclear,girl.”

  "Ohdont,pleasedont,"saidJill."Really,youmustnt.Itwasnthisfault.ItwasalltheApe.Hedidntknowaer.Andhesverysorry.Andhesanikey.HisnamesPuzzle.Amyarmsroundhisneck.”

  "Jill,"saidTirian,"youarethebravestandmostwoodwiseofallmysubjects,butalsothemostmalapertanddisobedient.Well:lettheAsslive.Whathaveyoutosayforyourself,Ass?”

  "Me,Sire?"cametheDonkeysvoice."ImsureImverysorryifIved.TheApesaidAslanwaodressuplikethat.AndIthoughthedknow.Imnotcleverlikehim.IonlydidwhatIwastold.Itwasntanyfunformelivinginthatstable.Idontevenknowwhatsbeengoingonoutside.Hemeoutexceptforamiwoatnight.Somedaystheyfottogivemeanywatertoo.”

  "Sire,"saidJewel."ThoseDwarfsareingnearerandnearer.Dowewanttomeetthem?”

  Tirianthoughtforamomentandthensuddenlygaveagreatlaughoutloud.Thenhespoke,notthistimeinawhisper."BytheLion,"hesaid,"Iamgrowingslowwitted!

  Meetthem?Certainlywewillmeetthem.Wewillmeetanyonenow.WehavethisAsstoshowthem.Letthemseethethingtheyhavefearedandbowedto.WeshowthemthetruthoftheApesvileplot.Hissecretsout.ThetidesturomorrowweshallhangthatApeonthehighesttreeinNarnia.Nomorewhisperingandskulkinganddisguises.

  WherearethesehoDwarfs?Wehavegoodnewsforthem.”

  Whenyouhavebeenwhisperingforhoursthemeresoundofaalkingoutloudhasawonderfullystirringeffect.Thewholepartybegantalkingandlaughing:evenPuzzlelifteduphisheadandgaveagrandHaw-hee-haw-hee-hee;athingtheApehadntallowedhimtodofordays.Theoffinthedireofthedrumming.Itgrewsteadilylouderandsoontheycouldseetorchlightaswell.Theycameoutohhroads(weshouldhardlycallthemroadsatallinEngland)whithroughLanternWaste.Andthere,margsturdilyalong,wereaboutthirtyDwarfs,allwiththeirlittlespadesandmattocksovertheirshoulders.Twoarmedehenandtwomhtuptherear.

  "Stay!"thuiriaeppedoutontheroad."Stay,soldiers.WhitherdoyouleadtheseNarnianDwarfsandbywhoseorders?”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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