prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第25部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


us　one　by　one　most　　likely；〃　they　muttered。　and　the　more　they　talked　to　one　another　the　sulkier　and　more　　suspicious　they　became。　but　on　the　appointed　day　more　than　half　of　them　turned　up。

at　one　end　of　the　glade　aslan　had　caused　to　be　set　up　two　stakes　of　wood；　　higher　than　a　mans　head　and　about　three　feet　apart。　a　third；　and　lighter；　piece　of　wood　　was　bound　across　them　at　the　top；　uniting　them；　so　that　the　whole　thing　looked　like　a　　doorway　from　nowhere　into　nowhere。　in　front　of　this　stood　aslan　himself　with　peter　on　　his　right　and　caspian　on　his　left。　grouped　round　them　were　susan　and　lucy；　trumpkin　and　trufflehunter；　the　lord　cornelius；　glenstorm；　reepicheep；　and　others。　the　　children　and　the　dwarfs　had　made　good　use　of　the　royal　wardrobes　in　what　had　been　the　　castle　of　miraz　and　was　now　the　castle　of　caspian；　and　what　with　silk　and　cloth　of　　gold；　with　snowy　linen　glancing　through　slashed　sleeves；　with　silver　mail　shirts　and　　jewelled　sword…hilts；　with　gilt　helmets　and　feathered　bonnets；　they　were　almost　too　bright　　to　look　at。

even　the　beasts　wore　rich　chains　about　their　necks。　yet　nobodys　eyes　were　　on　them　or　the　children。　the　living　and　strokable　gold　of　aslans　mane　outshone　them　　all。　the　rest　of　the　old　narnians　stood　down　each　side　of　the　glade。　at　the　far　end　stood　　the　telmarines。

the　sun　shone　brightly　and　pennants　fluttered　in　the　light　wind。

〃men　of　telmar；〃　said　aslan；　〃you　who　seek　a　new　land；　hear　my　words。　i　　will　send　you　all　to　your　own　country；　which　i　know　and　you　do　not。鈥�

〃we　dont　remember　telmar。　we　dont　know　where　it　is。　we　dont　know　what　it　　is　like；鈥�

grumbled　the　telmarines。

〃you　came　into　narnia　out　of　telmar；〃　said　aslan。　〃but　you　came　into　telmar　　from　another　place。　you　do　not　belong　to　this　world　at　all。　you　came　hither；　　certain　generations　ago；　out　of　that　same　world　to　which　the　high　king　peter　　belongs。鈥�

at　this；　half　the　telmarines　began　whimpering；　〃there　you　are。　told　you　so。　　hes　going　to　kill　us　all；　send　us　right　out　of　the　world；〃　and　the　other　half　began　　throwing　out　their　chests　and　slapping　one　another　on　the　back　and　whispering；　〃there　you　are。　　might　have　guessed　we　didnt　belong　to　this　place　with　all　its　queer；　nasty；　unnatural　　creatures。　were　of　royal　blood；　youll　see。〃　and　even　caspian　and　cornelius　and　the　　children　turned　to　aslan　with　looks　of　amazement　on　their　faces。

〃peace；〃　said　aslan　in　the　low　voice　which　was　nearest　to　his　growl。　the　　earth　seemed　to　shake　a　little　and　every　living　thing　in　the　grove　became　still　as　stone。

〃you；　sir　caspian；〃　said　aslan；　〃might　have　known　that　you　could　be　no　true　　king　of　narnia　unless；　like　the　kings　of　old；　you　were　a　son　of　adam　and　came　from　　the　world　of　adams　sons。　and　so　you　are。　many　years　ago　in　that　world；　in　a　deep　sea　of　　that　world　which　is　called　the　south　sea；　a　shipload　of　pirates　were　driven　by　storm　　on　an　island。

and　there　they　did　as　pirates　would：　killed　the　natives　and　took　the　native　　women　for　wives；　and　made　palm　wine；　and　drank　and　were　drunk；　and　lay　in　the　shade　　of　the　palm　trees；　and　woke　up　and　quarrelled；　and　sometimes　killed　one　another。　and　in　　one　of　these　frays　six　were　put　to　flight　by　the　rest　and　fled　with　their　women　into　the　　centre　of　the　island　and　up　a　mountain；　and　went；　as　they　thought；　into　a　cave　to　hide。　　but　it　was　one　of　the　magical　places　of　that　world；　one　of　the　chinks　or　chasms　between　chat　　world　and　this。　there　were　many　chinks　or　chasms　between　worlds　in　old　times；　but　　they　have　grown　rarer。　this　was　one　of　the　last：　i　do　not　say　the　last。　and　so　they　　fell；　or　rose；　or　blundered；　or　dropped　right　through；　and　found　themselves　in　this　world；　in　　the　land　of　telmar　which　was　then　unpeopled。　but　why　it　was　unpeopled　is　a　long　story：　　i　will　not　tell　it　now。　and　in　telmar　their　descendants　lived　and　became　a　fierce　and　　proud　people；　and　after　many　generations　there　was　a　famine　in　telmar　and　they　invaded　　narnia；　which　was　then　in　some　disorder　（but　that　also　would　be　a　long　story）；　and　　conquered　it　and　ruled　it。　do　you　mark　all　this　well；　king　caspian？鈥�

〃i　do　indeed；　sir；〃　said　caspian。　〃i　was　wishing　that　i　came　of　a　more　　honourable　lineage。鈥�

〃you　e　of　the　lord　adam　and　the　lady　eve；〃　said　aslan。　〃and　that　is　both　　honour　enough　to　erect　the　head　of　the　poorest　beggar；　and　shame　enough　to　bow　the　　shoulders　of　the　greatest　emperor　on　earth。　be　content。鈥�

caspian　bowed。

〃and　now；〃　said　aslan；　〃you　men　and　women　of　telmar；　will　you　go　back　to　　that　island　in　the　world　of　men　from　which　your　fathers　first　came？　it　is　no　bad　place。　　the　race　of　those　pirates　who　first　found　it　has　died　out；　and　it　is　without　　inhabitants。　there　are　good　wells　of　fresh　water；　and　fruitful　soil；　and　timber　for　building；　and　fish　　in　the　lagoons；　and　the　other　men　of　that　world　have　not　yet　discovered　it。　the　chasm　is　open　　for　your　return；　but　this　i　must　warn　you；　that　once　you　have　gone　through；　it　will　close　　behind　you　for　ever。　there　will　be　no　more　merce　between　the　worlds　by　that　door。鈥�

there　was　silence　for　a　moment。　then　a　burly；　decent　looking　fellow　among　　the　telmarine　soldiers　pushed　forward　and　said：　　〃well；　ill　take　the　offer。鈥�

〃it　is　well　chosen；〃　said　aslan。　〃and　because　you　have　spoken　first；　strong　　magic　is　upon　you。　your　future　in　that　world　shall　be　good。　e　forth。鈥�

the　man；　now　a　little　pale；　came　forward。　aslan　and　his　court　drew　aside；　　leaving　him　free　access　to　the　empty　doorway　of　the　stakes。

〃go　through　it；　my　son；〃　said　aslan；　bending　towards　him　and　touching　the　　mans　nose　with　his　own。　as　soon　as　the　lions　breath　came　about　him；　a　new　look　came　　into　the　mans　eyes　…　startled；　but　not　unhappy　…　as　if　he　were　trying　to　remember　　something。　then　he　squared　his　shoulders　and　walked　into　the　door。

everyones　eyes　were　fixed　on　him。　they　saw　the　three　pieces　of　wood；　and　　through　them　the　trees　and　grass　and　sky　of　narnia。　they　saw　the　man　between　the　　doorposts：　then；　in　one　second；　he　had　vanished　utterly。

from　the　other　end　of　the　glade　the　remaining　telmarines　set　up　a　wailing。　　〃ugh！　whats　happened　to　him？　do　you　mean　to　murder　us？　we　wont　go　that　way。〃　and　then　　one　of　the　clever　telmarines　said：　　〃we　dont　see　any　other　world　through　those　sticks。　if　you　want　us　to　　believe　in　it；　why　doesnt　one　of　you　go？　all　your　own　friends　are　keeping　well　away　from　the　　sticks。鈥�

instantly　reepicheep　stood　forward　and　bowed。　〃if　my　example　can　be　of　any　　service；　aslan；〃　he　said；　〃i　will　take　eleven　mice　through　that　arch　at　your　bidding　　without　a　moments　delay。鈥�

〃nay；　little　one；〃　said　aslan；　laying　his　velvety　paw　ever　so　lightly　on　　reepicheeps　head。

〃they　would　do　dreadful　things　to　you　in　that　world。　they　would　show　you　at　　fairs。　it　is　others　who　must　lead。鈥�

〃e　on；〃　said　peter　suddenly　to　edmund　and　lucy。　〃our　times　up。鈥�

〃what　do　you　mean？〃　said　edmund。

〃this　way；〃　said　susan；　who　seemed　to　know　all　about　it。　〃back　into　the　　trees。　weve　got　to　change。鈥�

〃change　what？〃　asked　lucy。

〃our　clothes；　of　course；〃　said　susan。　〃nice　fools　wed　look　on　the　platform　　of　an　english　station　in　these。鈥�

〃but　our　other　things　are　at　caspians　castle；〃　said　edmund。

〃no；　theyre　not；〃　said　peter；　still　leading　the　way　into　the　thickest　　wood。　〃theyre　all　here。　they　were　brought　down　in　bundles　this　morning。　its　all　arranged。鈥�

〃was　that　what　aslan　was　talking　to　you　and　susan　about　this　morning？〃　　asked　lucy。

〃yes　…　that　and　other　things；〃　said　peter；　his　face　very　solemn。　〃i　cant　　tell　it　to　you　all。

there　were　things　he　wanted　to　say　to　su　and　me　because　were　not　ing　　back　to　narnia。鈥�

〃never？〃　cried　edmund　and　lucy　in　dismay。

〃oh；　you　two　are；〃　answered　peter。　〃at　least；　from　what　he　said；　im　pretty　　sure　he　means　you　to　get　back　some　day。　but　not　su　and　me。　he　says　were　getting　too　　old。鈥�

〃oh；　peter；〃　said　lucy。　〃what　awful　bad　luck。　can　you　bear　it？鈥�

〃well；　i　think　i　can；〃　said　peter。　〃its　all　rather　different　from　what　i　　thought。　youll　understand　when　it　es　to　your　last　time。　but；　quick；　here　are　our　　things。鈥�

it　was　odd；　and　not　very　nice；　to　take　off　their　royal　clothes　and　to　e　　back　in　their　school　things　（not　very　fresh　now）　into　that　great　assembly。　one　or　two　of　　the　nastier　telmarines　jeered。　but　the　other　creatures　all　cheered　and　rose　up　in　　honour　of　peter　the　high　king；　and　queen　susan　of　the　horn；　and　king　edmund；　and　queen　lucy。　　there　were　affectionate　and　（on　lucys　part）　tearful　farewells　with　all　their　old　　friends　…　animal　kisses；　and　hugs　from　bulgy　bears；　and　hands　wrung　by　trumpkin；　and　a　last　　tickly；　whiskerish　embrace　with　trufflehunter。　and　of　course　caspian　offered　the　　horn　back　to　susan　and　of　course　susan　told　him　to　keep　it。　and　then；　wonderfully　and　　terribly；　it　was　farewell　to　aslan　himself；　and　peter　took　his　place　with　susans　hands　on　　his　shoulders　and　edmunds　on　hers　and　lucys　on　his　and　the　first　of　the　telmarines　on　　lucys；　and　so　in　a　long　line　they　moved　forward　to　the　door。　after　that　came　a　moment　　which　is　hard　to　describe；　for　the　children　seemed　to　be　seeing　three　things　at　once。　one　　was　the　mouth　of　a　cave　opening　into　the　glaring　green　and　blue　of　an　island　in　the　　pacific；　where　all　the　telma