CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THEHUNTINGOFTHEWHITESTAGTHEbattlewasalloverafewmiertheirarrival.MostoftheenemyhadbeenkilledinthefirstchargeofAslanandhis-panions;ahosewhowerestilllivingsawthattheWitchwasdeadtheyeithergavethemselvesuportooktoflight.ThehingthatLuewwasthatPeterandAslanwereshakinghands.ItwasstraohertoseePeterlookingashelookednow-hisfacealeandsternandheseemedsomucholder.
"ItwasallEdmundsdoing,Aslan,"Peterwassaying."Wedhavebeeenifithadntbeenforhim.TheWitchwasturningourtroopsintosthta.Butnothingwouldstophim.Hefoughthiswaythroughthreeogrestowhereshewasjustturningoneofyourleopardsintoastatue.Andwhenhereachedherhehadsehisswordsmashingdownonherwandinsteadtogoforherdirectlyandsimplygettingmadeastatuehimselfforhispains.Thatwasthemistakealltherestweremaking.Onceherwandwasbrokeohavesomece-ifwehadntlostsomanyalready.
Hewasterriblywounded.Wemustgoandseehim.”
TheyfoundEdmundinchargeofMrsBeaveralittlewaybathefightingline.Hewascoveredwithblood,hismouthen,andhisfaastygreencolour.
"Quick,Lucy,"saidAslan.
Andthen,almostforthefirsttime,LucyrememberedthepreciouscordialthathadbeengivenherforaChristmaspresent.Herhandstrembledsomuchthatshecouldhardly
undothestopper,butshemaintheendandpouredafewdropsintoherbrothersmouth.
"Thereareotherpeoplewounded,"saidAslanwhileshewasstilllookingeagerlyintoEdmundspalefadwifthecordialwouldhavea.
"Yes,Iknow,"saidLucycrossly."Waitaminute.”
"DaughterofEve,"saidAslaninagravervoice,"othersalsoareatthepointofdeath.
MustmorepeopledieforEdmund?”
"Imsorry,Aslan,"saidLucy,gettingupandgoingwithhim.Andforthehalf-hourtheywerebusy-sheattendingtothewoundedwhileherestoredthosewhohadbeenturostone.Whenatlastshewasfreetoebaundshefoundhimstandingonhisfeetandnotonlyhealedofhiswoundsbutlookierthanshehadseenhimlook-oh,fes;infacteversincehisfirsttermatthathorridschoolwhichwaswherehehadbegunt.HehadbeehisrealoldselfagainandcouldlookyouinthefadthereonthefieldofbattleAslanmadehimaknight.
"Doesheknow,"whisperedLucytoSusan,"whatAslandidforhim?DoesheknowwhatthearrawiththeWitchreallywas?”
"Hush!No.Ofcoursenot,"saidSusan.
"Oughtobetold?"saidLucy.
"Oh,surelynot,"saidSusan."Itwouldbetooawfulforhim.Thinkhowyoudfeelifyouwerehe.”
"AllthesameIthinkheoughttoknow,"saidLucy.Butatthatmomenttheywereinterrupted.
Thatnighttheysleptwheretheywere.HorovidedfoodforthemallIdontknow;butsomehoworothertheyfoundthemselvesallsittingdownonthegrasstoafinehighteaatabouteightocloextdaytheybeganmargeastwarddownthesideofthegreatriver.Adayafterthat,ataboutteatime,theyactuallyreachedthemouth.ThecastleofCairParavelonitslittlehilltoweredupabovethem;beforethemwerethesands,withrodlittlepoolsofsaltwater,andseaweed,andthesmelloftheseaandlongmilesofbluish-greenwavesbreakingforeverahebeadoh,thecryofthesea-gulls!Haveyouheardit?ember?
Thateveningafterteathefourchildrenallmaogetdowntothebeachagainaheirshoesandstogsoffahesaweeoes.Butdaywasmoresolemn.Forthen,intheGreatHallofCairParavel-thatwonderfulhallwiththeivoryroofawallhungwithpeacocksfeathersaerndoorwhichlookstowardsthesea,inthepresenceofalltheirfriendsandtothesoundoftrumpets,
Aslansolemnlyedthemahemtothefourthronesamiddeafeningshoutsof,"LongLiveKier!LongLiveQueenSusan!LongLiveKingEdmund!LongLiveQueenLucy!”
"OnceakingorqueeninNarnia,alwaysakingorqueewell,SonsofAdam!
Bearitwell,DaughtersofEve!"saidAslan.
Andthroughtheeasterndoor,whichwaswideopen,camethevoicesofthemermenandthemermaidsswimmingclosetotheshoreandsinginginhonouroftheirnewKingsandQueens.
Sothechildrensatohronesareswereputintotheirhandsandtheygaverewardsandhonourstoalltheirfriends,toTumnustheFaun,andtotheBeavers,andGiantRumblebuffin,totheleopards,andthegoodtaurs,andthegooddwarfs,andtothelion.AndthatnighttherewasagreatfeastinCairParavel,andrevelryanddang,andgoldflashedandwineflowed,andansweringtothemusiside,butstranger,sweeter,andmorepierg,camethemusicoftheseapeople.
ButamidstalltheserejoigsAslanhimselfquietlyslippedaway.AheKingsandQueensnoticedthathewasheysaidnothingaboutit.ForMrBeaverhadwarhem,"Hellbeingandgoing,"hehadsaid."Onedayyoullseehimandanotheryouwont.Hedoesntlikebeingtieddownandofcoursehehasothertriestoattendto.Itsquiteallright.Helloftendropin.Onlyyoumustntpresshim.Heswild,youknow.Notlikeatamelion.”
Andnow,asyousee,thisstoryisnearly(butnotquite)atahesetwoKingsandtwoQueensgovernedNarniawell,andlongandhappywastheirreign.AtfirstmuchoftheirtimeentinseekingouttheremnantsoftheWhiteWitchsarmyaroyingthem,andindeedforalongtimetherewouldbenewsofevilthingslurkinginthewilderpartsoftheforest-ahauntinghereandakillingthere,aglimpseofawerewolfohandarumourofahagthe.Butintheendallthatfoulbroodwasstampedout.Andtheymadegoodlawsahepeadsavedgoodtreesfrombeingunnecessarilycutdown,andliberatedyoungdwarfsandyoungsatyrsfrombeioschool,andgenerallystoppedbusybodiesandinterferersandencedordinarypeoplewhowaolivealive.Andtheydrovebackthefiercegiants(quiteadifferentsiantRumblebuffin)ohofNarniawhentheseventuredacrossthefrontier.Aeredintofriendshipandalliahtriesbeyondtheseaandpaidthemvisitsofstateandreceivedvisitsofstatefromthem.Ahemselvesgrewandgedastheyearspassedoverthem.Aerbecameatallanddeep-chestedmanandagreatwarrior,andhewascalledKiheMagnifit.AndSusaoatallandgraciouswomanwithblackhairthatfellalmosttoherfeetandthekingsofthetriesbeyondtheseabegantosendambassadorsaskingforherhandinmarriage.
AndshewascalledSusale.Edmundwasagraverandquietermanthaer,aindjudgement.HewascalledKingEdmu.ButasforLucy,shewasalwaysgayandgolden-haired,andallprihosepartsdesiredhertobetheirQueen,andherownpeoplecalledherQueenLucytheValiant.
Sotheylivedijoyaheyrememberedtheirlifeinthisworlditwasonlyasoneremembersadream.AndofelloutthatTumnus(whowasamiddle-agedFaunbynowandbeginningtobestout)camedownriverandbroughtthemhattheWhiteStaghadoncemoreappearedinhisparts-theWhiteStagwhowouldgiveyouwishesifyoucaughthim.SothesetwoKingsandtwoQueenswiththeprincipalmembersoftheircourt,rodea-huntingwithhornsandhoundsiernWoodstofollowtheWhiteStag.Andtheyhadnothuntedlongbeforetheyhadasightofhim.Ahemagreatpacehandsmoothandthroughthidthin,tillthehorsesofallthecourtiersweretiredoutandthesefourwerestillfollowing.Andtheysawthestageoathicketwheretheirhorsescouldnotfollow.ThensaidKier(fortheytalkedinquiteadifferentstylenow,havingbeenKingsandQueensforsolong),"Fairsorts,letusnowalightfromourhorsesandfollowthisbeastintothethicket;forinallmydaysIneverhuntedanoblerquarry.”
"Sir,"saidtheothers,"eveusdo.”
Sotheyalightedaheirhorsestotreesaonintothethickwoodonfoot.
AndassoonastheyhadeQueenSusansaid,"Fairfriends,hereisagreatmarvel,forIseemtoseeatreeofiron.”
"Madam,"said,KingEdmund,"ifyoulookwelluponityoushallseeitisapillarofironwithalanterhetopthereof.”
"BytheLionsMarangedevice,"saidKier,"tosetalanternherewherethetreesclustersothickaboutitandsohighaboveitthatifitwerelititshouldgivelighttonoman!”
"Sir,"saidQueenLucy."Bylikelihoodwhenthispostandthislampweresetherethereweresmallertreesintheplace,orfewer,ornone.Forthisisayoungwoodandtheironpostisold."Aoodlookinguponit.ThensaidKingEdmund,"Iknownothowitis,butthislampoworkethuporangely.ItrunsinmymindthatIhaveseenthelikebefore;asitwereinadream,orinthedreamofadream.”
"Sir,"aheyall,"itisevensowithusalso.”
"Andmore,"saidQueenLucy,"foritwillnotgooutofmymindthatifwepassthispostandlanterherweshallfindstrangeadventuresorelsesomegreatgeofourfortunes.”
"Madam,"saidKingEdmund,"thelikeforebodingstirrethialso.”
"Andinmine,fairbrother,"saidKier.
"Andioo,"saidQueenSusan."WhereforebymyselweshalllightlyreturntoourhorsesandfollowthisWhiteStagnofurther.”
"Madam,"saidKier,"thereinIpraytheetohavemeexcused.ForneversincewefourwereKingsandQueensinNarniahavewesetourhandstoanyhighmatter,asbattles,quests,featsofarms,actsofjustidthelike,andthengivenover;butalehavetakeninhand,thesamewehaveachieved.”
"Sister,"saidQueenLucy,"myroyalbrotherspeaksrightly.Anditseemstomeweshouldbeshamedifforanyfearingorforebodiurnedbafollowingsonobleabeastasnowwehaveinchase.”
"AndsosayI,"saidKingEdmund."AndIhavesuchdesiretofindthesignificationofthisthingthatIwouldnotbymygoodwillturnbackfortherichestjewelinallNarniaandalltheislands.”
"TheninthenameofAslan,"saidQueenSusan,"ifyewillallhaveitso,letusgoonandtaketheadveshallfalltous.”
SotheseKingsandQueeeredthethicket,andbeforetheyhadgoneascoreofpacestheyallrememberedthatthethingtheyhadseenwascalledalamppost,andbeforetheyhadgoymoretheynoticedthattheywere.makingtheirwaynhbrathroughcoats.Amomenttheyallcametumblingoutofawardrobedoorintotheemptyroom,andTheywerenolsandQueensintheirhuntingarraybutjustPeter,Susan,EdmundandLutheiroldclothes.Itwasthesamedayandthesamehourofthedayonwhichtheyhadallgoothewardrobetohide.MrsMacreadyandthevisitorswerestilltalkinginthepassage;butluckilytheynevercameintotheemptyroomandsothechildrecaught.
AndthatwouldhavebeentheveryendofthestoryifithadhattheyfelttheyreallymustexplaintotheProfessorwhyfourofthecoatsoutofhiswardrobeweremissing.AndtheProfessor,whowasaveryremarkableman,didhemnottobesillyornottotelllies,butbelievedthewholestory."No,"hesaid,"Idontthinkitwillbeanygtogobackthroughthewardrobedetthecoats.YouwooNarniaagainbythatroute.Norwouldthecoatsbemuchusebynowifyoudid!
Eh?Whatsthat?Yes,ofcourseyoullgetbaarniaagainsomeday.OnceaKinginNarnia,alwaysaKinginNarnia.Butdontgtousethesameroutetwice.
Indeed,detthereatall.Itllhappenwhenyourenotlookingforit.Anddonttalktoomuchaboutitevenamongyourselves.Anddoionittoanyoneelseunlessyoufindthattheyvehadadvehesamesortthemselves.Whatsthat?Howwillyouknow?Oh,youllknowallright.Oddthingstheysay-eventheirlooks-willletthesecretout.Keepyour
eyesopen.Blessme,whatdotheyteachthemattheseschools?
Andthatistheveryendoftheadvehewardrobe.
ButiftheProfessorwasrightitwasonlythebeginningoftheadventuresofNarnia.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
"ItwasallEdmundsdoing,Aslan,"Peterwassaying."Wedhavebeeenifithadntbeenforhim.TheWitchwasturningourtroopsintosthta.Butnothingwouldstophim.Hefoughthiswaythroughthreeogrestowhereshewasjustturningoneofyourleopardsintoastatue.Andwhenhereachedherhehadsehisswordsmashingdownonherwandinsteadtogoforherdirectlyandsimplygettingmadeastatuehimselfforhispains.Thatwasthemistakealltherestweremaking.Onceherwandwasbrokeohavesomece-ifwehadntlostsomanyalready.
Hewasterriblywounded.Wemustgoandseehim.”
TheyfoundEdmundinchargeofMrsBeaveralittlewaybathefightingline.Hewascoveredwithblood,hismouthen,andhisfaastygreencolour.
"Quick,Lucy,"saidAslan.
Andthen,almostforthefirsttime,LucyrememberedthepreciouscordialthathadbeengivenherforaChristmaspresent.Herhandstrembledsomuchthatshecouldhardly
undothestopper,butshemaintheendandpouredafewdropsintoherbrothersmouth.
"Thereareotherpeoplewounded,"saidAslanwhileshewasstilllookingeagerlyintoEdmundspalefadwifthecordialwouldhavea.
"Yes,Iknow,"saidLucycrossly."Waitaminute.”
"DaughterofEve,"saidAslaninagravervoice,"othersalsoareatthepointofdeath.
MustmorepeopledieforEdmund?”
"Imsorry,Aslan,"saidLucy,gettingupandgoingwithhim.Andforthehalf-hourtheywerebusy-sheattendingtothewoundedwhileherestoredthosewhohadbeenturostone.Whenatlastshewasfreetoebaundshefoundhimstandingonhisfeetandnotonlyhealedofhiswoundsbutlookierthanshehadseenhimlook-oh,fes;infacteversincehisfirsttermatthathorridschoolwhichwaswherehehadbegunt.HehadbeehisrealoldselfagainandcouldlookyouinthefadthereonthefieldofbattleAslanmadehimaknight.
"Doesheknow,"whisperedLucytoSusan,"whatAslandidforhim?DoesheknowwhatthearrawiththeWitchreallywas?”
"Hush!No.Ofcoursenot,"saidSusan.
"Oughtobetold?"saidLucy.
"Oh,surelynot,"saidSusan."Itwouldbetooawfulforhim.Thinkhowyoudfeelifyouwerehe.”
"AllthesameIthinkheoughttoknow,"saidLucy.Butatthatmomenttheywereinterrupted.
Thatnighttheysleptwheretheywere.HorovidedfoodforthemallIdontknow;butsomehoworothertheyfoundthemselvesallsittingdownonthegrasstoafinehighteaatabouteightocloextdaytheybeganmargeastwarddownthesideofthegreatriver.Adayafterthat,ataboutteatime,theyactuallyreachedthemouth.ThecastleofCairParavelonitslittlehilltoweredupabovethem;beforethemwerethesands,withrodlittlepoolsofsaltwater,andseaweed,andthesmelloftheseaandlongmilesofbluish-greenwavesbreakingforeverahebeadoh,thecryofthesea-gulls!Haveyouheardit?ember?
Thateveningafterteathefourchildrenallmaogetdowntothebeachagainaheirshoesandstogsoffahesaweeoes.Butdaywasmoresolemn.Forthen,intheGreatHallofCairParavel-thatwonderfulhallwiththeivoryroofawallhungwithpeacocksfeathersaerndoorwhichlookstowardsthesea,inthepresenceofalltheirfriendsandtothesoundoftrumpets,
Aslansolemnlyedthemahemtothefourthronesamiddeafeningshoutsof,"LongLiveKier!LongLiveQueenSusan!LongLiveKingEdmund!LongLiveQueenLucy!”
"OnceakingorqueeninNarnia,alwaysakingorqueewell,SonsofAdam!
Bearitwell,DaughtersofEve!"saidAslan.
Andthroughtheeasterndoor,whichwaswideopen,camethevoicesofthemermenandthemermaidsswimmingclosetotheshoreandsinginginhonouroftheirnewKingsandQueens.
Sothechildrensatohronesareswereputintotheirhandsandtheygaverewardsandhonourstoalltheirfriends,toTumnustheFaun,andtotheBeavers,andGiantRumblebuffin,totheleopards,andthegoodtaurs,andthegooddwarfs,andtothelion.AndthatnighttherewasagreatfeastinCairParavel,andrevelryanddang,andgoldflashedandwineflowed,andansweringtothemusiside,butstranger,sweeter,andmorepierg,camethemusicoftheseapeople.
ButamidstalltheserejoigsAslanhimselfquietlyslippedaway.AheKingsandQueensnoticedthathewasheysaidnothingaboutit.ForMrBeaverhadwarhem,"Hellbeingandgoing,"hehadsaid."Onedayyoullseehimandanotheryouwont.Hedoesntlikebeingtieddownandofcoursehehasothertriestoattendto.Itsquiteallright.Helloftendropin.Onlyyoumustntpresshim.Heswild,youknow.Notlikeatamelion.”
Andnow,asyousee,thisstoryisnearly(butnotquite)atahesetwoKingsandtwoQueensgovernedNarniawell,andlongandhappywastheirreign.AtfirstmuchoftheirtimeentinseekingouttheremnantsoftheWhiteWitchsarmyaroyingthem,andindeedforalongtimetherewouldbenewsofevilthingslurkinginthewilderpartsoftheforest-ahauntinghereandakillingthere,aglimpseofawerewolfohandarumourofahagthe.Butintheendallthatfoulbroodwasstampedout.Andtheymadegoodlawsahepeadsavedgoodtreesfrombeingunnecessarilycutdown,andliberatedyoungdwarfsandyoungsatyrsfrombeioschool,andgenerallystoppedbusybodiesandinterferersandencedordinarypeoplewhowaolivealive.Andtheydrovebackthefiercegiants(quiteadifferentsiantRumblebuffin)ohofNarniawhentheseventuredacrossthefrontier.Aeredintofriendshipandalliahtriesbeyondtheseaandpaidthemvisitsofstateandreceivedvisitsofstatefromthem.Ahemselvesgrewandgedastheyearspassedoverthem.Aerbecameatallanddeep-chestedmanandagreatwarrior,andhewascalledKiheMagnifit.AndSusaoatallandgraciouswomanwithblackhairthatfellalmosttoherfeetandthekingsofthetriesbeyondtheseabegantosendambassadorsaskingforherhandinmarriage.
AndshewascalledSusale.Edmundwasagraverandquietermanthaer,aindjudgement.HewascalledKingEdmu.ButasforLucy,shewasalwaysgayandgolden-haired,andallprihosepartsdesiredhertobetheirQueen,andherownpeoplecalledherQueenLucytheValiant.
Sotheylivedijoyaheyrememberedtheirlifeinthisworlditwasonlyasoneremembersadream.AndofelloutthatTumnus(whowasamiddle-agedFaunbynowandbeginningtobestout)camedownriverandbroughtthemhattheWhiteStaghadoncemoreappearedinhisparts-theWhiteStagwhowouldgiveyouwishesifyoucaughthim.SothesetwoKingsandtwoQueenswiththeprincipalmembersoftheircourt,rodea-huntingwithhornsandhoundsiernWoodstofollowtheWhiteStag.Andtheyhadnothuntedlongbeforetheyhadasightofhim.Ahemagreatpacehandsmoothandthroughthidthin,tillthehorsesofallthecourtiersweretiredoutandthesefourwerestillfollowing.Andtheysawthestageoathicketwheretheirhorsescouldnotfollow.ThensaidKier(fortheytalkedinquiteadifferentstylenow,havingbeenKingsandQueensforsolong),"Fairsorts,letusnowalightfromourhorsesandfollowthisbeastintothethicket;forinallmydaysIneverhuntedanoblerquarry.”
"Sir,"saidtheothers,"eveusdo.”
Sotheyalightedaheirhorsestotreesaonintothethickwoodonfoot.
AndassoonastheyhadeQueenSusansaid,"Fairfriends,hereisagreatmarvel,forIseemtoseeatreeofiron.”
"Madam,"said,KingEdmund,"ifyoulookwelluponityoushallseeitisapillarofironwithalanterhetopthereof.”
"BytheLionsMarangedevice,"saidKier,"tosetalanternherewherethetreesclustersothickaboutitandsohighaboveitthatifitwerelititshouldgivelighttonoman!”
"Sir,"saidQueenLucy."Bylikelihoodwhenthispostandthislampweresetherethereweresmallertreesintheplace,orfewer,ornone.Forthisisayoungwoodandtheironpostisold."Aoodlookinguponit.ThensaidKingEdmund,"Iknownothowitis,butthislampoworkethuporangely.ItrunsinmymindthatIhaveseenthelikebefore;asitwereinadream,orinthedreamofadream.”
"Sir,"aheyall,"itisevensowithusalso.”
"Andmore,"saidQueenLucy,"foritwillnotgooutofmymindthatifwepassthispostandlanterherweshallfindstrangeadventuresorelsesomegreatgeofourfortunes.”
"Madam,"saidKingEdmund,"thelikeforebodingstirrethialso.”
"Andinmine,fairbrother,"saidKier.
"Andioo,"saidQueenSusan."WhereforebymyselweshalllightlyreturntoourhorsesandfollowthisWhiteStagnofurther.”
"Madam,"saidKier,"thereinIpraytheetohavemeexcused.ForneversincewefourwereKingsandQueensinNarniahavewesetourhandstoanyhighmatter,asbattles,quests,featsofarms,actsofjustidthelike,andthengivenover;butalehavetakeninhand,thesamewehaveachieved.”
"Sister,"saidQueenLucy,"myroyalbrotherspeaksrightly.Anditseemstomeweshouldbeshamedifforanyfearingorforebodiurnedbafollowingsonobleabeastasnowwehaveinchase.”
"AndsosayI,"saidKingEdmund."AndIhavesuchdesiretofindthesignificationofthisthingthatIwouldnotbymygoodwillturnbackfortherichestjewelinallNarniaandalltheislands.”
"TheninthenameofAslan,"saidQueenSusan,"ifyewillallhaveitso,letusgoonandtaketheadveshallfalltous.”
SotheseKingsandQueeeredthethicket,andbeforetheyhadgoneascoreofpacestheyallrememberedthatthethingtheyhadseenwascalledalamppost,andbeforetheyhadgoymoretheynoticedthattheywere.makingtheirwaynhbrathroughcoats.Amomenttheyallcametumblingoutofawardrobedoorintotheemptyroom,andTheywerenolsandQueensintheirhuntingarraybutjustPeter,Susan,EdmundandLutheiroldclothes.Itwasthesamedayandthesamehourofthedayonwhichtheyhadallgoothewardrobetohide.MrsMacreadyandthevisitorswerestilltalkinginthepassage;butluckilytheynevercameintotheemptyroomandsothechildrecaught.
AndthatwouldhavebeentheveryendofthestoryifithadhattheyfelttheyreallymustexplaintotheProfessorwhyfourofthecoatsoutofhiswardrobeweremissing.AndtheProfessor,whowasaveryremarkableman,didhemnottobesillyornottotelllies,butbelievedthewholestory."No,"hesaid,"Idontthinkitwillbeanygtogobackthroughthewardrobedetthecoats.YouwooNarniaagainbythatroute.Norwouldthecoatsbemuchusebynowifyoudid!
Eh?Whatsthat?Yes,ofcourseyoullgetbaarniaagainsomeday.OnceaKinginNarnia,alwaysaKinginNarnia.Butdontgtousethesameroutetwice.
Indeed,detthereatall.Itllhappenwhenyourenotlookingforit.Anddonttalktoomuchaboutitevenamongyourselves.Anddoionittoanyoneelseunlessyoufindthattheyvehadadvehesamesortthemselves.Whatsthat?Howwillyouknow?Oh,youllknowallright.Oddthingstheysay-eventheirlooks-willletthesecretout.Keepyour
eyesopen.Blessme,whatdotheyteachthemattheseschools?
Andthatistheveryendoftheadvehewardrobe.
ButiftheProfessorwasrightitwasonlythebeginningoftheadventuresofNarnia.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读