CHAPTER FIFTEEN
DEEPERMAGIBEFORETHEDAWNOFTIMEWHILEthetwogirlsstillcrouchedinthebusheswiththeirhandsovertheirfaces,theyheardthevoiceoftheWitchcallingout,"Now!Followmeallandwewillsetaboutwhatremainsofthiswar!ItwillnottakeuslongtocrushthehumanverminaraitorsnowthatthegreatFool,thegreatCat,liesdead.”
Atthismomentthechildrenwereforafewsedsinverygreatdanger.Forwithwildcriesandanoiseofskirlingpipesandshrillhornsblowing,thewholeofthatvilerabblecamesweepingoffthehill-topanddowntheslhtpasttheirhiding-place.TheyfelttheSpectresgobythemlikeacoldwindandtheyfeltthegroundshakebehemuhegallopiheMinotaurs;andoverheadtherewentaflurryoffoulwingsandablaessofvulturesandgiantbats.Atanyothertimetheywouldhavetrembledwithfear;butnowthesadnessandshameandhorrorofAslahsofilledtheirmindsthattheyhardlythoughtofit.
AssoonasthewoodwassilentagainSusanandLucycreptoutontotheopenhill-top.
Themoonwasgettinglowandthincloudswerepassingacrossher,butstilltheycouldseetheshapeoftheLionlyingdeadinhisbonds.Anddowhkigrassandkissedhiscoldfadstrokedhisbeautifulfur-whatwasleftofit-andcriedtilltheycouldore.Aheylookedateachotherandheldeachothershandsformerelonelinessandcriedagain;andthenagainweresilent.AtlastLucysaid,"Itbeartolookatthathorriblemuzzle.Iwondercouldwetakeifoff?”
Sotheytried.Andafteralotatit(fortheirfingerswerecoldanditwasnowthedarkestpartofthenight)theysucceeded.Aheysawhisfacewithoutittheyburstagainandkisseditandfoandwipedawaythebloodandthefoamaswellastheycould.AnditwasallmorelonelyandhopelessandhorridthanIknowhowtodescribe.
"Iwondercouldweuntiehimaswell?"saidSusaly.Buttheenemies,outofpurespitefulness,haddrawnthecordssotightthatthegirlsakenothingoftheknots.
IhopenoonewhoreadsthisbookhasbeenquiteasmiserableasSusanandLucywerethatnight;butifyouhavebeen-ifyouvebeenupallnightandcriedtillyouhavenomoretearsleftinyou-youwillknowthatthereesintheendasortofquietness.Youfeelasifnothingwasevergoingtohappenagain.Atanyratethatwashowitfelttothesetwo.Hoursandhoursseemedtogobyinthisdeadcalm,andtheyhardlynoticedthattheyweregettingcolderandcolder.ButatlastLuoticedtwootherthings.Ohattheskyosideofthehillwasalittlelessdarkthanithadbeenanho.
Theotherwassometinymovementgoingoninthegrassatherfeet.Atfirstshetooknoiinthis.Whatdiditmatter?Nothingmatterednow!Butatlastshesawthatwhatever-it-washadbeguntomoveuptheuprightstoheStoable.Andnowwhatever-they-wereweremovingaboutonAslansbody.Shepeeredcloser.Theywerelittlegreythings.
"Ugh!"saidSusanfromtheothersideoftheTable."Howbeastly!Therearehorridlittlemicecrawlingoverhim.Goaway,youlittlebeasts."Andsheraisedherhandthtenthemaway.
"Wait!"saidLucy,whohadbeenlookingatthemmorecloselystill."youseewhattheyredoing?”
Bothgirlsbentdownandstared.
"Idobelieve-"saidSusan."Buthowqueer!Theyrenibblingawayatthecords!”
"ThatswhatIthought,"saidLucy."Ithinktheyrefriendlymice.Poorlittlethings-theydontrealizehesdead.Theythinkitlldosomegooduntyinghim.”
Itwasquitedefinitelylighterbynow.Eachofthegirlsnoticedforthefirsttimethewhitefaceoftheother.Theycouldseethemiibblingaway;dozensanddozens,evenhundreds,oflittlefieldmidatlast,onebyoheropeswereallghrough.
Theskyiwaswhitishbynowaarsweregettingfainter-allexceptoneverybigonelowdownoernhorizon.Theyfeltcolderthantheyhadbeenallnight.Themicecreptawayagain.
Thegirlsclearedawaytheremainsofthegnawedropes.Aslanlookedmorelikehimselfwithoutthem.Everymomenthisdeadfacelookednobler,asthelightgrewandtheycouldseeitbetter.
Inthewoodbehindthemabirdgaveachugsound.Ithadbeensostillforhoursandhoursthatitstartledthem.Thenanotherbirdansweredit.Soontherewerebirdssingingallovertheplace.
Itwasquitedefinitelyearlymnow,notlatenight.
"Imsocold,"saidLucy.
"SoamI,"saidSusan."Letswalkaboutabit.”
Theywalkedtotheeasterhehillandlookeddown.Theonebigstarhadalmostdisappeared.Thetryalllookeddarkgrey,butbeyond,attheveryendoftheworld,theseashowedpale.TheskybegantoturheywalkedtoandsfromoretimesthantheycouldtbetweenthedeadAslanaernridge,tryingtokeepwarm;andoh,howtiredtheirlegsfelt.Thenatlast,astheystoodforamomentlookingouttowardstheyseaandCairParavel(whichtheycouldnowjustmakeout)theredturogoldalongtheliheseaandtheskymetandveryslowlyupcametheedgeofthesun.
Atthatmomenttheyheardfrombehindthemaloudnoise-agreatcrag,deafeningnoiseasifagianthadbrokenagiantsplate.
"Whatsthat?"saidLucy,clutgSusansarm.
"I-Ifeelafraidtoturnround,"saidSusan;"somethingawfulishappening.”
"TheyredoingsomethingworsetoHim,"saidLucy."eon!"Aurned,pullingSusanroundwithher.
Therisingofthesunhadmadeeverythinglooksodifferent-allcoloursandshadowsweregedthatforamomenttheydidheimportantthing.Thentheydid.TheStoablewasbrokenintotwopiecesbyagreatcrackthatrandownitfromendtoend;andtherewasnoAslan.
"Oh,oh,oh!"criedthetwogirls,rushingbacktotheTable.
"Oh,itstoobad,"sobbedLucy;"theymighthaveleftthebodyalone.”
"Whosdo?"criedSusan."Whatdoesitmean?Isitmagic?”
"Yes!"saidagreatvoicebehindtheirbacks."Itismic."Theylookedround.
There,shininginthesunrise,largerthantheyhadseenhimbefore,shakinghismane(forithadapparentlygrownagain)stoodAslanhimself.
"Oh,Aslan!"criedboththechildren,staringupathim,almostasmuchfrighteheywereglad.
"Arentyoudeadthen,dearAslan?"saidLucy.
"Notnow,"saidAslan.
"Yourenot-nota-?"askedSusaninashakyvoice.Shecouldntbringherselftosaythewhost.Aslanstoopedhisgoldenheadandlickedherforehead.Thewarmthofhisbreathandarichsortofsmellthatseemedtohangabouthishaircamealloverher.
"DoIlookit?"hesaid.
"Oh,yourereal,yourereal!Oh,Aslan!"criedLudbothgirlsflungthemselvesuponhimandcoveredhimwithkisses.
"Butwhatdoesitallmean?"askedSusaheyweresomewhatcalmer.
"Itmeans,"saidAslan,"thatthoughtheWitewtheDeepMagic,thereisamagicdeeperstillwhichshedidnotknow:Herknowledgegoesbalytothedawnoftime.
ButifshecouldhavelookedalittlefurtherbatothestillnessandthedarknessbeforeTimedawned,shewouldhavereadthereadifferentintation.Shewouldhaveknownthatwhenawillingvictimwhohadittednotreacherywaskilledinatraitorsstead,theTablewouldcradDeathitselfwouldstartwbackwards.
Andnow-”
"Ohyes.Now?"saidLucy,jumpingupandclappingherhands.
"Oh,children,"saidtheLion,"Ifeelmystrengthingbae.Oh,children,catchmeifyou!"Hestoodforased,hiseyesverybright,hislimbsquivering,lashinghimselfwithhistail.ThenhemadealeaphighovertheirheadsandlaheothersideoftheTable.Laughing,thoughshedidntknowwhy,Lucyscrambledoverittoreachhim.Aslanleapedagain.Amadchasebegan.Roundandroundthehill-topheledthem,nowhopelesslyoutoftheirreaowlettingthemalmostcatchhistail,nowdiviweenthem,nowtossiheairwithhishugeaifullyvelvetedpawsandcatgthemagain,andnowstoppinguedlysothatallthreeofthemrolledetherinahappylaughingheapoffurandarmsandlegs.ItwassupasnoonehaseverhadexceptinNarnia;aheritwasmorelikeplayingwith
athuormorplayingwithakittenLucycouldnevermakeuphermind.Andthefunnythingwasthatwhenallthreefinallylaytogetherpantingihegirlsnolongerfeltintheleasttiredryorthirsty.
"Andnow,"saidAslaly,"tobusiness.IfeelIamgoingtoroar.Youhadbetterputyersinyourears.”
Andtheydid.AndAslanstoodupandwhenheopenedhismouthtoroarhisfacebecamesoterriblethattheydidnotdaretolookatit.Andtheysawallthetreesinfrontofhimbendbeforetheblastofhisrasgrassbendsinameadowbeforethewind.Thenhesaid,"Wehavealongjourogo.Youmustrideonme."Andhecroucheddownandthechildrenclimbedontohiswarm,goldenbadSusansatfirst,holdingontightlytohismaneandLucysatbehindholdingontightlytoSusan.Andwithagreatheaveheroseunderhemandthenshotoff,fasterthananyhorsecouldgo,downhillandintothethickoftheforest.
ThatrideerhapsthemostwonderfulthingthathappeheminNarnia.Haveyoueverhadagalloponahorse?Thinkofthat;aakeawaytheheavyhehoofsandthejihebitsandimagieadthealmostnoiselesspaddingofthegreatpaws.Thenimagieadoftheblackreyorchestnutbackofthehorsetheshnessofgoldenfur,andthemaneflyingbathewind.Andthenimagineyoingabouttwiceasfastasthefastestracehorse.Butthisisamountthatdoesobeguidedandnevergrowstired.Herushesonandon,nevermissinghisfooting,neverhesitating,threadinghiswaywithperfectskillbetweerunks,jumpingoverbushandbriarandthesmallerstreams,wadingthelarger,swimmingthelargestofall.
Andyouareridingnotonaroadnorinaparknorevenonthedowns,butrightacrossNarnia,inspring,downsolemnavenuesofbeedacrosssunnygladesofoak,throughwildorchardsofsnow-whitecherrytrees,pastrwaterfallsandmossyrodegcaverns,upwindyslopesalightwithgorsebushes,andacrosstheshouldersofheatherymountainsandalonggiddyridgesanddown,down,downagainintowildvalleysandoutintoacresofblueflowers.
Itwasnearlymiddaywhentheyfoundthemselveslookingdownasteephillsideatacastle-alittletoycastleitlookedfromwheretheystood-whichseemedtobeallpoiowers.ButtheLionwasrushingdownatsuchaspeedthatitgrewlargereverymomentandbeforetheyhadtimeeventoaskthemselveswhatitwastheywerealreadyonalevelwithit.Andnowitnolongerlookedlikeatoycastlebutrosefrowninginfrontofthem.
Nofacelookedoverthebattlementsaeswerefastshut.AndAslan,notatallslaghispace,rushedstraightasabullettowardsit.
"TheWite!"hecried."Now,children,holdtight.”
momentthewholeworldseemedtoturnupsidedown,andthechildreasiftheyhadlefttheirinsidesbehindthem;fortheLionhadgatheredhimselftogetherfora
greaterleapthananyhehadyetmadeandjumped-oryoumaycallitflyingratherthanjumping-rightoverthecastlewall.Thetwogirls,breathlessbutunhurt,foundthemselvestumblingoffhisbathemiddleofawidestonecourtyardfullofstatues.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
Atthismomentthechildrenwereforafewsedsinverygreatdanger.Forwithwildcriesandanoiseofskirlingpipesandshrillhornsblowing,thewholeofthatvilerabblecamesweepingoffthehill-topanddowntheslhtpasttheirhiding-place.TheyfelttheSpectresgobythemlikeacoldwindandtheyfeltthegroundshakebehemuhegallopiheMinotaurs;andoverheadtherewentaflurryoffoulwingsandablaessofvulturesandgiantbats.Atanyothertimetheywouldhavetrembledwithfear;butnowthesadnessandshameandhorrorofAslahsofilledtheirmindsthattheyhardlythoughtofit.
AssoonasthewoodwassilentagainSusanandLucycreptoutontotheopenhill-top.
Themoonwasgettinglowandthincloudswerepassingacrossher,butstilltheycouldseetheshapeoftheLionlyingdeadinhisbonds.Anddowhkigrassandkissedhiscoldfadstrokedhisbeautifulfur-whatwasleftofit-andcriedtilltheycouldore.Aheylookedateachotherandheldeachothershandsformerelonelinessandcriedagain;andthenagainweresilent.AtlastLucysaid,"Itbeartolookatthathorriblemuzzle.Iwondercouldwetakeifoff?”
Sotheytried.Andafteralotatit(fortheirfingerswerecoldanditwasnowthedarkestpartofthenight)theysucceeded.Aheysawhisfacewithoutittheyburstagainandkisseditandfoandwipedawaythebloodandthefoamaswellastheycould.AnditwasallmorelonelyandhopelessandhorridthanIknowhowtodescribe.
"Iwondercouldweuntiehimaswell?"saidSusaly.Buttheenemies,outofpurespitefulness,haddrawnthecordssotightthatthegirlsakenothingoftheknots.
IhopenoonewhoreadsthisbookhasbeenquiteasmiserableasSusanandLucywerethatnight;butifyouhavebeen-ifyouvebeenupallnightandcriedtillyouhavenomoretearsleftinyou-youwillknowthatthereesintheendasortofquietness.Youfeelasifnothingwasevergoingtohappenagain.Atanyratethatwashowitfelttothesetwo.Hoursandhoursseemedtogobyinthisdeadcalm,andtheyhardlynoticedthattheyweregettingcolderandcolder.ButatlastLuoticedtwootherthings.Ohattheskyosideofthehillwasalittlelessdarkthanithadbeenanho.
Theotherwassometinymovementgoingoninthegrassatherfeet.Atfirstshetooknoiinthis.Whatdiditmatter?Nothingmatterednow!Butatlastshesawthatwhatever-it-washadbeguntomoveuptheuprightstoheStoable.Andnowwhatever-they-wereweremovingaboutonAslansbody.Shepeeredcloser.Theywerelittlegreythings.
"Ugh!"saidSusanfromtheothersideoftheTable."Howbeastly!Therearehorridlittlemicecrawlingoverhim.Goaway,youlittlebeasts."Andsheraisedherhandthtenthemaway.
"Wait!"saidLucy,whohadbeenlookingatthemmorecloselystill."youseewhattheyredoing?”
Bothgirlsbentdownandstared.
"Idobelieve-"saidSusan."Buthowqueer!Theyrenibblingawayatthecords!”
"ThatswhatIthought,"saidLucy."Ithinktheyrefriendlymice.Poorlittlethings-theydontrealizehesdead.Theythinkitlldosomegooduntyinghim.”
Itwasquitedefinitelylighterbynow.Eachofthegirlsnoticedforthefirsttimethewhitefaceoftheother.Theycouldseethemiibblingaway;dozensanddozens,evenhundreds,oflittlefieldmidatlast,onebyoheropeswereallghrough.
Theskyiwaswhitishbynowaarsweregettingfainter-allexceptoneverybigonelowdownoernhorizon.Theyfeltcolderthantheyhadbeenallnight.Themicecreptawayagain.
Thegirlsclearedawaytheremainsofthegnawedropes.Aslanlookedmorelikehimselfwithoutthem.Everymomenthisdeadfacelookednobler,asthelightgrewandtheycouldseeitbetter.
Inthewoodbehindthemabirdgaveachugsound.Ithadbeensostillforhoursandhoursthatitstartledthem.Thenanotherbirdansweredit.Soontherewerebirdssingingallovertheplace.
Itwasquitedefinitelyearlymnow,notlatenight.
"Imsocold,"saidLucy.
"SoamI,"saidSusan."Letswalkaboutabit.”
Theywalkedtotheeasterhehillandlookeddown.Theonebigstarhadalmostdisappeared.Thetryalllookeddarkgrey,butbeyond,attheveryendoftheworld,theseashowedpale.TheskybegantoturheywalkedtoandsfromoretimesthantheycouldtbetweenthedeadAslanaernridge,tryingtokeepwarm;andoh,howtiredtheirlegsfelt.Thenatlast,astheystoodforamomentlookingouttowardstheyseaandCairParavel(whichtheycouldnowjustmakeout)theredturogoldalongtheliheseaandtheskymetandveryslowlyupcametheedgeofthesun.
Atthatmomenttheyheardfrombehindthemaloudnoise-agreatcrag,deafeningnoiseasifagianthadbrokenagiantsplate.
"Whatsthat?"saidLucy,clutgSusansarm.
"I-Ifeelafraidtoturnround,"saidSusan;"somethingawfulishappening.”
"TheyredoingsomethingworsetoHim,"saidLucy."eon!"Aurned,pullingSusanroundwithher.
Therisingofthesunhadmadeeverythinglooksodifferent-allcoloursandshadowsweregedthatforamomenttheydidheimportantthing.Thentheydid.TheStoablewasbrokenintotwopiecesbyagreatcrackthatrandownitfromendtoend;andtherewasnoAslan.
"Oh,oh,oh!"criedthetwogirls,rushingbacktotheTable.
"Oh,itstoobad,"sobbedLucy;"theymighthaveleftthebodyalone.”
"Whosdo?"criedSusan."Whatdoesitmean?Isitmagic?”
"Yes!"saidagreatvoicebehindtheirbacks."Itismic."Theylookedround.
There,shininginthesunrise,largerthantheyhadseenhimbefore,shakinghismane(forithadapparentlygrownagain)stoodAslanhimself.
"Oh,Aslan!"criedboththechildren,staringupathim,almostasmuchfrighteheywereglad.
"Arentyoudeadthen,dearAslan?"saidLucy.
"Notnow,"saidAslan.
"Yourenot-nota-?"askedSusaninashakyvoice.Shecouldntbringherselftosaythewhost.Aslanstoopedhisgoldenheadandlickedherforehead.Thewarmthofhisbreathandarichsortofsmellthatseemedtohangabouthishaircamealloverher.
"DoIlookit?"hesaid.
"Oh,yourereal,yourereal!Oh,Aslan!"criedLudbothgirlsflungthemselvesuponhimandcoveredhimwithkisses.
"Butwhatdoesitallmean?"askedSusaheyweresomewhatcalmer.
"Itmeans,"saidAslan,"thatthoughtheWitewtheDeepMagic,thereisamagicdeeperstillwhichshedidnotknow:Herknowledgegoesbalytothedawnoftime.
ButifshecouldhavelookedalittlefurtherbatothestillnessandthedarknessbeforeTimedawned,shewouldhavereadthereadifferentintation.Shewouldhaveknownthatwhenawillingvictimwhohadittednotreacherywaskilledinatraitorsstead,theTablewouldcradDeathitselfwouldstartwbackwards.
Andnow-”
"Ohyes.Now?"saidLucy,jumpingupandclappingherhands.
"Oh,children,"saidtheLion,"Ifeelmystrengthingbae.Oh,children,catchmeifyou!"Hestoodforased,hiseyesverybright,hislimbsquivering,lashinghimselfwithhistail.ThenhemadealeaphighovertheirheadsandlaheothersideoftheTable.Laughing,thoughshedidntknowwhy,Lucyscrambledoverittoreachhim.Aslanleapedagain.Amadchasebegan.Roundandroundthehill-topheledthem,nowhopelesslyoutoftheirreaowlettingthemalmostcatchhistail,nowdiviweenthem,nowtossiheairwithhishugeaifullyvelvetedpawsandcatgthemagain,andnowstoppinguedlysothatallthreeofthemrolledetherinahappylaughingheapoffurandarmsandlegs.ItwassupasnoonehaseverhadexceptinNarnia;aheritwasmorelikeplayingwith
athuormorplayingwithakittenLucycouldnevermakeuphermind.Andthefunnythingwasthatwhenallthreefinallylaytogetherpantingihegirlsnolongerfeltintheleasttiredryorthirsty.
"Andnow,"saidAslaly,"tobusiness.IfeelIamgoingtoroar.Youhadbetterputyersinyourears.”
Andtheydid.AndAslanstoodupandwhenheopenedhismouthtoroarhisfacebecamesoterriblethattheydidnotdaretolookatit.Andtheysawallthetreesinfrontofhimbendbeforetheblastofhisrasgrassbendsinameadowbeforethewind.Thenhesaid,"Wehavealongjourogo.Youmustrideonme."Andhecroucheddownandthechildrenclimbedontohiswarm,goldenbadSusansatfirst,holdingontightlytohismaneandLucysatbehindholdingontightlytoSusan.Andwithagreatheaveheroseunderhemandthenshotoff,fasterthananyhorsecouldgo,downhillandintothethickoftheforest.
ThatrideerhapsthemostwonderfulthingthathappeheminNarnia.Haveyoueverhadagalloponahorse?Thinkofthat;aakeawaytheheavyhehoofsandthejihebitsandimagieadthealmostnoiselesspaddingofthegreatpaws.Thenimagieadoftheblackreyorchestnutbackofthehorsetheshnessofgoldenfur,andthemaneflyingbathewind.Andthenimagineyoingabouttwiceasfastasthefastestracehorse.Butthisisamountthatdoesobeguidedandnevergrowstired.Herushesonandon,nevermissinghisfooting,neverhesitating,threadinghiswaywithperfectskillbetweerunks,jumpingoverbushandbriarandthesmallerstreams,wadingthelarger,swimmingthelargestofall.
Andyouareridingnotonaroadnorinaparknorevenonthedowns,butrightacrossNarnia,inspring,downsolemnavenuesofbeedacrosssunnygladesofoak,throughwildorchardsofsnow-whitecherrytrees,pastrwaterfallsandmossyrodegcaverns,upwindyslopesalightwithgorsebushes,andacrosstheshouldersofheatherymountainsandalonggiddyridgesanddown,down,downagainintowildvalleysandoutintoacresofblueflowers.
Itwasnearlymiddaywhentheyfoundthemselveslookingdownasteephillsideatacastle-alittletoycastleitlookedfromwheretheystood-whichseemedtobeallpoiowers.ButtheLionwasrushingdownatsuchaspeedthatitgrewlargereverymomentandbeforetheyhadtimeeventoaskthemselveswhatitwastheywerealreadyonalevelwithit.Andnowitnolongerlookedlikeatoycastlebutrosefrowninginfrontofthem.
Nofacelookedoverthebattlementsaeswerefastshut.AndAslan,notatallslaghispace,rushedstraightasabullettowardsit.
"TheWite!"hecried."Now,children,holdtight.”
momentthewholeworldseemedtoturnupsidedown,andthechildreasiftheyhadlefttheirinsidesbehindthem;fortheLionhadgatheredhimselftogetherfora
greaterleapthananyhehadyetmadeandjumped-oryoumaycallitflyingratherthanjumping-rightoverthecastlewall.Thetwogirls,breathlessbutunhurt,foundthemselvestumblingoffhisbathemiddleofawidestonecourtyardfullofstatues.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读