CHAPTER NINE

  HOWTHEYDISCOVEREDSOMETHINGWORTHKNOWIhersadmittedafterwardsthatJillhadbeenwonderfulthatday.AssoonastheKingaofthehuntingpartyhadsetoff,shebeganmakingatourofthewholecastleandaskiions,butallinsui,babyishwaythatnoonecouldsuspectherofadesign.Thoughhertonguewasill,youcouldhardlysayshetalked:sheprattledandgiggled.Shemadelovetoeveryohegrooms,theporters,thehousemaids,theladies-in-waiting,andtheelderlygiantlordswhosehuntingdayswerepast.Shesubmittedtobeingkissedandpawedaboutbyanynumberofgiantesses,manyofwhomseemedsorryforherandcalledher"apoorlittlething"thoughhemexplainedwhy.Shemadeespecialfriendswiththecookanddiscoveredtheall-importantfacttherewasascullerydoorwhichletyououtthroughtheouterwall,sothatyoudidnothavetocrossthecourtyardorpassthegreatgatehouse.Ishepreteobegreedy,andateallsortsofscrapswhichthecookandscullionsdelightedtogiveher.Butupstairsamongtheladiessheaskedquestionsabouthowshewouldbedressedfreatfeast,andhowlongshewouldbeallowedtositup,ahershewoulddahsomevery,verysmallgiant.Amadeherhotalloverwhensheremembereditafterwards)shewouldputherheadononesideinanidioticfashionwhichgrown-ups,giantandotherwise,thoughtveryfetg,andshakehercurls,andfidget,andsay,"Oh,Idowishitwastomorrownight,dontyou?Doyouthiimewillgoquicklytillthen?"Andallthegiantessessaidsheerfectlittledarling;andsomeofthemdabbedtheireyeswithenormoushandkerchiefsasiftheyweregoingtocry.

  "Theyredearlittlethingsatthatage,"saidonegiaoanother."Itseemsalmostapity...”

  ScrubbandPuddleglumbothdidtheirbest,butgirlsdothatkindofthierthanboys.EvenboysdoitbetterthanMarsh-wiggles.

  AtlunchtimesomethinghappenedwhichmadeallthreeofthemmoreanxiousthaoleavethecastleoftheGentleGiants.Theyhadlunthegreathallatalittletableoftheirowhefireplace.Atabiggertable,abouttwentyyardsaway,halfadozenoldgiantswerelung.Theirversationwassonoisy,andsohighupintheair,thatthechildrensoontooknomorenoticeofitthanyouwouldofhootersoutsidethewindowortraffioisesireet.Theywereeatingcoldvenison,akindoffoodwhichJillhadastedbefore,andshewaslikingit.

  SuddenlyPuddleglumturhem,andhisfacehadgonesopalethatyoucouldseethepalenessuhenaturalmuddinessofhisplexion.Hesaid:

  "Doae.”

  "Whatswrong?"askedtheothertwoinawhisper.

  "Didntyouhearwhatthosegiantsweresaying?`Thatsaenderhaunchofvenison,saidohem.`Thenthatstagwasaliar,saidanother.`Why?saidthefirstone.`Oh,saidtheother.`Theysaythatwhenhewascaughthesaid,Dontkillme,Imtough.Youwontlikeme."ForamomentJilldidnotrealizethefullmeaningofthis.ButshedidwhenScrubbseyesopenedwidewithhorrorandhesaid:"SowevebeeingaTalkingstag.”

  Thisdiscoverydidnthaveexactlythesameeffeallofthem.Jill,whowashatworld,wassorryforthepandthoughtitrottenofthegiantstohavekilledhim.Scrubb,whohadbeeninthatworldbeforeandhadatleastoalkiashisdearfriehorrified;asyoumightfeelaboutamurder.ButPuddleglum,whowasNarnianborn,wassidfaint,aasyouwouldfeelifyoufoundyouhadeatenababy.

  "WevebroughttheangerofAslanonus,"hesaid."Thatswhatesofnotattendingtothesigns.Wereunderacurse,Iexpect.Ifitwasallowed,itwouldbethebestthingwecoulddo,totaketheseknivesanddrivethemintoourows.”

  AndgraduallyevenJillcametoseeitfromhispointofview.Atanyrate,hemwantedanymorelundassoonastheythoughtitsafetheycreptquietlyoutofthehall.

  Itwasnowdrawiothattimeofthedayonwhichtheirhopesofescapedepended,andallbeervous.Theyhungaboutinpassagesandwaitedforthingstobeequiet.Thegiantsinthehallsatonadreadfullylongtimeafterthemealwasover.Thebaldoellingastory.Whenthatwasover,thethreetravellersdawdleddowntothekit.Buttherewerestillplentyofgiantsthere,oratleastinthescullery,washingupandputtingthingsaway.Itwasagonizing,waitingtillthesefiheirjobsand,onebyone,wipedtheirhandsaaway.Atlastonlyoneoldgiantesswasleftintheroom.Shepotteredabout,andpotteredabout,andatlastthethreetravellersrealizedwithhorrorthatshedidnotiogoawayatall.

  "Well,dearies,"shesaidtothem."Thatjobsaboutthrough.Letsputthekettlethere.

  Thatllmakeanicecupofteapresently.NowIhavealittlebitofarest.Justlookintothescullery,likegoodpoppets,andtellmeifthebackdoorisopen.”

  "Yes,itis,"saidScrubb.

  "Thatsright.IalwaysleaveitopensoasPussgetinandout,thepoorthing.”

  Thedownononechairandputherfeetuponanother.

  "IdontknowasImightnthavefortywinks,"saidthegiantess."Ifonlythatblarneyhuntingpartydoesntebacktoosoon.”

  Alltheirspiritsleapedupwheionedfortywinks,andfloppeddownagainwheiohereturnofthehuntingparty.

  "Whendotheyusuallyeback?"askedJill.

  "Younevertell,"saidthegiantess."Butthere;goandbequietforabit,mydearies.”

  Theyretreatedtothefarendofthekit,andwouldhaveslippedoutintothescullerythereahegiantesshadnotsatup,openedhereyes,andbrushedawayafly.

  "Donttryittillweresureshesreallyasleep,"whisperedScrubb."Oritllspoileverything."Sotheyallhuddledatthekitend,waitingandwatg.Thethoughtthatthehuntersmightebackatanymomentwasterrible.Andthegiantesswasfidgety.Wheheythoughtshehadreallygoosleep,shemoved.

  "Itbearthis,"thoughtJill.Todistracthermind,shebeganlookingabouther.Justinfrontofherwasawidetablewithtwopie-dishesonit,andanopenbook.

  Theyweregiantpie-dishesofcourse.Jillthoughtthatshecouldliedownjustfortablyihem.Thensheclimbeduponthebenchbesidethetabletolookatthebook.Sheread:MALLARD.Thisdeliciousbirdbecookedinavarietyofways.

  "Itsacookerybook,"thoughtJillwithoutmuterest,andglancedoverhershoulder.

  Thegiantessseyeswereshutbutshedidntlookasifshewereproperlyasleep.Jillglancedbackatthebook.Itwasarrangedalphabetically:andattheveryryherheartseemedtostopbeating;ItranMAN.Thiselegantlittlebipedhaslongbeenvaluedasadelicacy.ItformsatraditionalpartoftheAutum,andisservedbetweenthefishandthejoint.Ea...

  butshecouldoreadanymore.Sheturnedround.Thegiantesshadwakenedupandwashavingafitofcoughing.Jillheothertoihebook.Theyalsomouhebendbehehugepages.ScrubbwasstillreadingabouthowtoenwhenPuddleglumpoiherybelowit.Itwaslikethis:MARSH-WIGGLE.Someauthoritiesrejectthisanimalaltogetherasunfitfiantsptionbecauseofitsstringysistendmuddyflavour.Theflavour,however,begreatlyreducedif-Jilltouchedhisfeet,andScrubbs,gently.Allthreelookedbackatthegiantess.Hermouthwasslightlyopenandfromherherecameasoundwhichatthatmomentwas

  moreweletothemthananymusic;shesnored.Andnowitwasaquestionoftiptoework,ntogotoofast,hardlydaringtobreathe,outthroughthescullery(giantsculleriessmellhorrid),outatlastintothepalesunlightofawiernoon.

  Theywereatthetophlittlepathwhisteeplydown.And,thankheavens,ontherightsideofthecastle;theCityRuinouswasinsight.Inafewmiheywerebathebroad,steeproadwhichleddownfromthemaihecastle.Theywerealsoinfullviewfromeverysinglewindowonthatside.Ifithadbeewo,orfivewindowstheredbeareasonablecethatnoonemightbelookingout.Buttherewerenearerfiftythaheynowrealized,too,thattheroadonwhichtheywere,andindeedallthegrouweenthemayRuinous,didntofferasmuchcoveraswouldhideafox;itwasallcrassandpebblesandflatstoomakemattersworse,theywerenowihesthatthegiantshadprovidedforthemlastnight:exceptPuddleglum,whomnothingwouldfit.Jillworeavividgreehertoolongforher,ahatascarletmantlefrihwhitefur.Scrubbhadscarletstogs,bluetunidcloak,agold-hiltedsword,aheredbo.

  "sofcolour,youtwoare,"mutteredPuddleglum."Showupveryprettilyonawinterday.Theworstarcherintheworldcouldntmisseitherofyouifyouwereinrange.Andtalkingofarchers,wellbesorrynottohaveourownbowsbeforelong,Ishouldntwonder.Bitthin,too,thoseclothesofyours,arethey?”

  "Yes,Imfreezingalready,"saidJill.

  Afewminutesagowhentheyhadbeeni,shehadthoughtthatifonlytheycouldoofthecastle,theirescapewouldbealmostplete.Shenowrealizedthatthemostdangerouspartofitwasstilltoe.

  "Steady,steady,"saidPuddleglum."Dontlookback.Dontwalktooquickly.Whateveryoudo,dontrun.Lookasifwewerejusttakingastroll,andthen,ifanyoneseesus,hemight,justpossibly,notbother.Themomentwelooklikepeoplerunningaway,weredone.”

  ThedistaheCityRuinousseemedlohanJillwouldhavebelievedpossible.

  Butbitbybittheywerecit.Thencameaheasped.Jill,whodidntknowwhatitwas,said,"Whatsthat?”

  "Huntinghorn,"whisperedScrubb.

  "Butdontrunevennow,"saidPuddleglum."NotuntilIgivetheword.”

  ThistimeJillcouldnthelpglangoverhershoulder.There,abouthalfamileaway,wasthehuurningfrombehiheleft.

  Theywalkedon.Suddenlyagreatclamiantvoicesarose:thenshoutsandhollas.

  "Theyveseenus.Run,"saidPuddleglum.

  Jillgatheredupherlongskirts-horriblethingsforrunningin-andran.Therewasnomistakingthedangernow.Shecouldhearthemusicofthehounds.ShecouldheartheKingsvoicerout,"Afterthem,afterthem,orwellhavenomaomorrow.”

  Shewaslastofthethreenow,cumberedwithherdress,slippingonloosestones,herhairgettinginhermouth,running-painsacrossherchest.Thehoundsweremuearer.Nowshehadtorunuphill,upthestonyslopewhichledtotheloweststepofthegiantstairway.Shehadnoideawhattheywoulddowhethere,orhowtheywouldbeaeroffeveniftheyreachedthetop.

  Butshedidntthinkaboutthat.Shewaslikeahuntedanimalnow;aslongasthepackwasafterher,shemustruntillshedropped.

  TheMarsh-wigglewasahead.Ashecametotheloweststephestopped,lookedalittletht,andallofasuddendartedintoalittleholeorcreviceatthebottomofit.Hislonglegs,disappearingintoit,lookedverylikethoseofaspider.Scrubbhesitatedandthenvaerhim.Jill,breathlessandreeling,cametotheplaier.Itwasanunattractivehole-acrackbetweehaoneaboutthreefeetlongandhardlymorethanafoothigh.Youhadtoflingyourselfflatonyourfadcrawlin.Youcouldntdoitsoveryquicklyeither.Shefeltsurethatadogsteethwouldcloseonherheelbeforeshehadgotinside.

  "Quick,quick.Stones.Filluptheopening,"camePuddleglumsvoithedarknessbesideher.Ititchblathere,exceptfreylightintheopeningbywhichtheyhadcrawlediherthard.ShecouldseeScrubbssmallhandsandtheMarshwigglesbig,frog-likehandsblackagainstthelight,wdesperatelytopileupstohensherealizedhowimportantthiswasandbegangropingfestonesherself,andhandiheothers.Beforethedogswerebayingandyelpingatthecavemouth,theyhaditprettywellfilled;andnow,ofcourse,therewasnolightatall.

  "Fartherin,quick,"saidPuddleglumsvoice.

  "Letsallholdhands,"saidJill.

  "Goodidea,"saidScrubb.Butittookthemquitealongtimetofihershandsinthedarkhedogsweresniffingattheothersideofthebarriernow.

  "Tryifwestandup,"suggestedScrubb.Theydidandfoundthattheycould.Then,PuddleglumholdingoutahandbehindhimtoScrubb,andScrubbholdingahandoutbehindhimtoJill(whowishedverymuchthatshewasthemiddleohepartyandnotthelast),theybegangropingwiththeirfeetandstumblingforwardsintotheblaess.Itwasallloosestonesunderfoot.ThenPuddleglumcameuptoawallofrock.

  Theyturnedalittletotheirrightaon.Therewereagoodmanymoretwistsand

  turns.Jillhadnownosenseofdireatall,andnoideawherethemouthofthecavelay.

  "Thequestionis,"camePuddleglumsvoiceoutofthedarknessahead,"whether,takihingwithawouldertogoback(ifwe)andgivethegiantsatreatatthatfeastoftheirs,insteadoflosingourwayisofahillwhere,tentooheresdragonsanddeepholesandgasesandwaterand-Ow!Letgo!Saveyourselves.

  Im-”

  Afterthatallhappenedquickly.Therewasawildcry,aswishing,dusty,gravellynoise,arattleofstones,andJillfoundherselfsliding,sliding,hopelesslysliding,andslidingquickereverymomentdoethatgrewsteepereverymoment.Itwasnotasmooth,firmslope,butaslopeofsmallstonesandrubbish.Evenifyoucouldhavestoodup,itwouldhavebeennouse.Anybitofthatslopeyouhadputyourfootonwouldhaveslidawayfromunderyouandcarriedyoudownwithit.ButJillwasmorelyingthanstanding.Ahertheyallslid,themoretheydisturbedallthestonesah,sothatthegeneraldownwardrushofeverything(includingthemselves)gotfasterandlouderanddustieranddirtier.Fromthesharpcriesandswearingoftheothertwo,JillgottheideathatmanyofthestoneswhichshewasdislodgingwerehittingScrubbandPuddleglumprettyhard.Andnowshewasgoingatafuriousrateasureshewouldbebrokentobitsatthebottom.

  Yetsomehowtheywerent.Theywereamassofbruises,astickystuffonherfaceappearedtobeblood.Andsuchamassoflooseearth,shingle,andlargerstonesileduproundher(andpartlyoverher)thatshecouldup.Thedarknesswassopletethatitmadenodiffereallwhetheryouhadyoureyesopenorshut.Therewasnonoise.AndthatwastheveryworstmomentJillhadeverknowninherlife.

  Supposingshewasalone:supposihers...Thensheheardmovementsaroundher.Alyallthree,inshakenvoices,wereexplainingthathemseemedtohaveanybrokenbones.

  "Weevergetupthatagain,"saidScrubbsvoice.

  "Andhaveyounoticedhowwarmitis?"saidthevoiceofPuddleglum."Thatmeanswerealongwaydown.Mightbenearlyamile.”

  Noonesaidanything.SometimelaterPuddleglumadded:"Mytinder-boxhasgone.”

  AfteranpauseJillsaid,"Imterriblythirsty.”

  Noonesuggesteddoinganything.Therewassoobviouslynothingtobedone.Forthemoment,theydidquitesobadlyasonemighthaveexpected;thatwasbecausetheyweresotired.

  Long,longafterwards,withouttheslightestwarning,anutterlystrangevoicespoke.Theykoitwasnottheonevoithewholeworldforwhicheachhadsecretlybeenhoping;thevoiceofAslan.Itwasadark,flatvoice-almost,ifyouknowwhatthatmeans,apitch-blackvoice.Itsaid:"Whatmakeyouhere,creaturesoftheOverworld?”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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