prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第9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！


ng　miraz　in　his　own　castle　that　very　　night。

pattertwig　and　the　other　squirrels　said　they　could　talk　and　eat　at　the　same　　time；　so　why　not　have　the　council　and　feast　all　at　once？　the　moles　proposed　throwing　up　entrenchments　round　the　lawn　before　they　did　anything　else。　the　fauns　　thought　it　would　be　better　to　begin　with　a　solemn　dance。　the　old　raven；　while　agreeing　with　　the　bears　that　it　would　take　too　long　to　have　a　full　council　before　supper；　begged　to　　be　allowed　to　give　a　brief　address　to　the　whole　pany。　but　caspian　and　the　centaurs　and　　the　dwarfs　overruled　all　these　suggestions　and　insisted　on　holding　a　real　council　of　　war　at　once。

when　all　the　other　creatures　had　been　persuaded　to　sit　down　quietly　in　a　　great　circle；　and　when　（with　more　difficulty）　they　had　got　pattertwig　to　stop　running　to　and　　fro　and　saying　〃silence！　silence；　everyone；　for　the　kings　speech〃；　caspian；　feeling　a　　little　nervous；　got　up。　〃narnians！〃　he　began；　but　he　never　got　any　further；　for　at　that　very　　moment　camillo　the　hare　said；　〃hush！　theres　a　man　somewhere　near。鈥�

they　were　all　creatures　of　the　wild；　accustomed　to　being　hunted；　and　they　　all　became　still　as　statues。　the　beasts　all　turned　their　noses　in　the　direction　which　　camillo　had　indicated。

〃smells　like　man　and　yet　not　quite　like　man；〃　whispered　trufflehunter。

〃its　getting　steadily　nearer；〃　said　camillo。

〃two　badgers　and　you　three　dwarfs；　with　your　bows　at　the　…　ready；　go　softly　　off　to　meet　it；〃　said　caspian。

〃well　settle　un；〃　said　a　black　dwarf　grimly；　fitting　a　shaft　to　his　　bowstring。

〃dont　shoot　if　it　is　alone；〃　said　caspian。　〃catch　it。鈥�

〃why？〃　asked　the　dwarf。

〃do　as　youre　told；〃　said　glenstorm　the　centaur。

everyone　waited　in　silence　while　the　three　dwarfs　and　two　badgers　trotted　　stealthily　across　to　the　trees　on　the　northwest　side　of　the　lawn。　then　came　a　sharp　　dwarfish　cry；　〃stop！　who　goes　there？〃　and　a　sudden　spring。　a　moment　later　a　voice；　which　　caspian　knew　well；　could　he　heard　saying；　〃all　right；　all　right；　im　unarmed。　take　　my　wrists　if　you　like；　worthy　badgers；　but　dont　bite　right　through　them。　i　want　to　　speak　to　the　king。鈥�

〃doctor　cornelius！〃　cried　caspian　with　joy；　and　rushed　forward　to　greet　his　　old　tutor。

everyone　else　crowded　round。

〃pah！〃　said　nikabrik。　〃a　renegade　dwarf。　a　half…and…halfer！　shall　i　pass　my　　sword　through　its　throat？鈥�

〃be　quiet；　nikabrik；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃the　creature　cant　help　its　　ancestry。鈥�

〃this　is　my　greatest　friend　and　the　saviour　of　my　life；〃　said　caspian。　〃and　　anyone　who　doesnt　like　his　pany　may　leave　my　army：　at　once。　dearest　doctor；　i　am　　glad　to　see　you　again。　how　ever　did　you　find　us　out？鈥�

〃by　a　little　use　of　simple　magic；　your　majesty；〃　said　the　doctor；　who　was　　still　puffing　and　blowing　from　having　walked　so　fast。　〃but　theres　no　time　to　go　into　　that　now。　we　must　all　fly　from　this　place　at　once。　you　are　already　betrayed　and　miraz　is　　on　the　move。

before　midday　tomorrow　you　will　be　surrounded。鈥�

〃betrayed！〃　said　caspian。　〃and　by　whom？鈥�

〃another　renegade　dwarf；　no　doubt；〃　said　nikabrik。

〃by　your　horse　destrier；〃　said　doctor　cornelius。　〃the　poor　brute　knew　no　　better。　when　you　were　knocked　off；　of　course；　he　went　dawdling　back　to　his　stable　in　the　　castle。　then　the　secret　of　your　flight　was　known。　i　made　myself　scarce；　having　no　wish　　to　be　questioned　about　it　in　mirazs　torture　chamber。　i　had　a　pretty　good　guess　　from　my　crystal　as　to　where　i　should　find　you。　but　all　day　…　that　was　the　day　before　　yesterday　…　i　saw　mirazs　tracking　parties　out　in　the　woods。　yesterday　i　learned　that　his　　army　is　out。　i　dont　think　some　of　your　…　um　…　pure…blooded　dwarfs　have　as　much　woodcraft　as　　might　be　expected。　youve　left　tracks　all　over　the　place。　great　carelessness。　at　any　　rate　something　has　warned　miraz　that　old　narnia　is　not　so　dead　as　he　had　hoped；　and　he　is　　on　the　move。鈥�

〃hurrah！〃　said　a　very　shrill　and　small　voice　from　somewhere　at　the　doctors　　feet。　〃let　them　e！　all　i　ask　is　that　the　king　will　put　me　and　my　people　in　the　　front。鈥�

〃what　on　earth？〃　said　doctor　cornelius。　〃has　your　majesty　got　grasshoppers　　…　or　mosquitoes　…　in　your　army？〃　then　after　stooping　down　and　peering　carefully　　through　his　spectacles；　he　broke　into　a　laugh。

〃by　the　lion；〃　he　swore；　〃its　a　mouse。　signior　mouse；　i　desire　your　better　　acquaintance。

i　am　honoured　by　meeting　so　valiant　a　beast。鈥�

〃my　friendship　you　shall　have；　learned　man；〃　piped　reepicheep。　〃and　any　　dwarf　…　or　giant　…　in　the　army　who　does　not　give　you　good　language　shall　have　my　sword　　to　reckon　with。鈥�

〃is　there　time　for　this　foolery？〃　asked　nikabrik。　〃what　are　our　plans？　　battle　or　flight？鈥�

〃battle　if　need　be；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃but　we　are　hardly　ready　for　it　yet；　　and　this　is　no　very　defensible　place。鈥�

〃i　dont　like　the　idea　of　running　away；〃　said　caspian。

〃hear　him！　hear　him！〃　said　the　bulgy　bears。　〃whatever　we　do；　dont　lets　　have　any　running。　especially　not　before　supper；　and　not　too　soon　after　it　neither。鈥�

〃those　who　run　first　do　not　always　run　last；〃　said　the　centaur。　〃and　why　　should　we　let　the　enemy　choose　our　position　instead　of　choosing　it　ourselves？　let　us　find　　a　strong　place。鈥�

〃thats　wise；　your　majesty；　thats　wise；〃　said　trufflehunter。

〃but　where　are　we　to　go？〃　asked　several　voices。

〃your　majesty；〃　said　doctor　cornelius；　〃and　all　you　variety　of　creatures；　i　　think　we　must　fly　east　and　down　the　river　to　the　great　woods。　the　telmarines　hate　that　　region。　they　have　always　been　afraid　of　the　sea　and　of　something　that　may　e　over　the　　sea。　that　is　why　they　have　let　the　great　woods　grow　up。　if　traditions　speak　true；　the　　ancient　cair　paravel　was　at　the　river…mouth。　all　that　part　is　friendly　to　us　and　hateful　　to　our　enemies。

we　must　go　to　aslans　how。鈥�

〃aslans　how？〃　said　several　voices。　〃we　do　not　know　what　it　is。鈥�

〃it　lies　within　the　skirts　of　the　great　woods　and　it　is　a　huge　mound　which　　narnians　raised　in　very　ancient　times　over　a　very　magical　place；　where　there　stood　…　and　　perhaps　still　stands　…　a　very　magical　stone。　the　mound　is　all　hollowed　out　within　into　　galleries　and　caves；　and　the　stone　is　in　the　central　cave　of　all。　there　is　room　in　the　　mound　for　all　our　stores；　and　those　of　us　who　have　most　need　of　cover　and　are　most　accustomed　　to　underground　life　can　be　lodged　in　the　caves。　the　rest　of　us　can　lie　in　the　　wood。　at　a　pinch　all　of　us　（except　this　worthy　giant）　could　retreat　into　the　mound　itself；　　and　there　we　should　be　beyond　the　reach　of　every　danger　except　famine。鈥�

〃it　is　a　good　thing　we　have　a　learned　man　among　us；〃　said　trufflehunter；　　but　trumpkin　muttered　under　his　breath；　〃soup　and　celery！　i　wish　our　leaders　would　think　　less　about　these　old　wives　tales　and　more　about　victuals　and　arms。〃　but　all　approved　　of　corneliuss　proposal　and　that　very　night；　half　an　hour　later；　they　were　on　the　march。　　before　sunrise　they　arrived　at　aslans　how。

it　was　certainly　an　awesome　place；　a　round　green　hill　on　top　of　another　　hill；　long　since　grown　over　with　trees；　and　one　little；　low　doorway　leading　into　it。　the　　tunnels　inside　were　a　perfect　maze　till　you　got　to　know　them；　and　they　were　lined　and　　roofed　with　smooth　stones；　and　on　the　stones；　peering　in　the　twilight；　caspian　saw　　strange　characters　and　snaky　patterns；　and　pictures　in　which　the　form　of　a　lion　was　repeated　　again　and　　

again。　it　all　seemed　to　belong　to　an　even　older　narnia　than　the　narnia　of　　which　his　nurse　had　told　him。

it　was　after　they　had　taken　up　their　quarters　in　and　around　the　how　that　　fortune　began　to　turn　against　them。　king　mirazs　scouts　soon　found　their　new　lair；　and　he　　and　his　army　arrived　on　the　edge　of　the　woods。　and　as　so　often　happens；　the　enemy　turned　　out　stronger　than　they　had　reckoned。　caspians　heart　sank　as　he　saw　pany　after　　pany　arriving。

and　though　mirazs　men　may　have　been　afraid　of　going　into　the　wood；　they　　were　even　more　afraid　of　miraz；　and　with　him　in　mand　they　carried　battle　deeply　　into　it　and　sometimes　almost　to　the　how　itself。　caspian　and　other　captains　of　course　　made　many　sorties　into　the　open　country。　thus　there　was　fighting　on　most　days　and　　sometimes　by　night　as　well；　but　caspians　party　had　on　the　whole　the　worst　of　it。

at　last　there　came　a　night　when　everything　had　gone　as　badly　as　possible；　　and　the　rain　which　had　been　falling　heavily　all　day　had　ceased　at　nightfall　only　to　give　　place　to　raw　cold。　that　morning　caspian　had　arranged　what　was　his　biggest　battle　yet；　　and　all　had　hung　their　hopes　on　it。　he；　with　most　of　the　dwarfs；　was　to　have　fallen　on　　the　kings　right　wing　at　daybreak；　and　then；　when　they　were　heavily　engaged；　giant　wimbleweather；　with　the　centaurs　and　some　of　the　fiercest　beasts；　was　to　　have　broken　out　from　another　place　and　endeavoured　to　cut　the　kings　right　off　from　the　　rest　of　the　army。　but　it　had　all　failed。　no　one　had　warned　caspian　（because　no　one　in　　these　later　days　of　　narnia　remembered）　that　giants　are　not　at　all　clever。　poor　wimbleweather；　　though　as　brave　as　a　lion；　was　a　true　giant　in　that　respect。　he　had　broken　out　at　the　　wrong　time　and　from　the　wrong　place；　and　both　his　party　and　caspians　had　suffered　badly　　and　done　the　enemy　little　harm。　the　best　of　the　bears　had　been　hurt；　a　centaur　terribly　　wounded；　and　t