prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第15部分

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their　necks。　lucy　put　up　her　hands　to　push　back　her　hair　and　found　she　was　　pushing　back　vine　branches。　the　donkey　was　a　mass　of　them。　his　tail　was　pletely　entangled　　and　something　dark　was　nodding　between　his　ears。　lucy　looked　again　and　saw　it　　was　a　bunch　of　grapes。　after　that　it　was　mostly　grapes　overhead　and　underfoot　and　all　　around。

〃refreshments！　refreshments；〃　roared　the　old　man。

everyone　began　eating；　and　whatever　hothouses　your　people　may　have；　you　　have　never　tasted　such　grapes。　really　good　grapes；　firm　and　tight　on　the　outside；　but　　bursting　into　cool　sweetness　when　you　put　them　into　your　mouth；　were　one　of　the　things　　the　girls　had　never　had　quite　enough　of　before。　here；　there　were　more　than　anyone　could　　possibly　want；　and　rib　table…manners　at　all。　one　saw　sticky　and　stained　fingers　　everywhere；　and；　though　mouths　were　full；　the　laughter　never　ceased　nor　the　yodelling　cries　　of　euan；　euan；　eu…oi…oi…oi…oi；　till　all　of　a　sudden　everyone　felt　at　the　same　moment　that　　the　game　（whatever　it　was）；　and　the　feast；　ought　to　be　over；　and　everyone　flopped　　down　breathless　on　the　ground　and　turned　their　faces　to　aslan　to　hear　what　he　would　say　　next。

at　that　moment　the　sun　was　just　rising　and　lucy　remembered　something　and　　whispered　to　susan；　　〃i　say；　su；　i　know　who　they　are。鈥�

〃who？鈥�

〃the　boy　with　the　wild　face　is　bacchus　and　the　old　one　on　the　donkey　is　　silenus。　dont　you　remember　mr　tumnus　telling　us　about　them　long　ago？鈥�

〃yes；　of　course。　but　i　say；　lu　鈥�

〃what？鈥�

〃i　wouldnt　have　felt　safe　with　bacchus　and　all　his　wild　girls　if　wed　met　　them　without　aslan。鈥�

〃i　should　think　not；〃　said　lucy。

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CHAPTER　TWELVE

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sorcery　and　sudden　vengeance　　meanwhile　trumpkin　and　the　two　boys　arrived　at　the　dark　little　stone　　archway　which　led　into　the　inside　of　the　mound；　and　two　sentinel　badgers　（the　white　　patches　on　their　cheeks　were　all　edmund　could　see　of　them）　leaped　up　with　bared　teeth　and　　asked　them　in　snarling　voices；　〃who　goes　there？鈥�

〃trumpkin；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃bringing　the　high　king　of　narnia　out　of　the　　far　past。鈥�

the　badgers　nosed　at　the　boys　hands。　〃at　last；〃　they　said。　〃at　last。鈥�

〃give　us　a　light；　friends；〃　said　trumpkin。

the　badgers　found　a　torch　just　inside　the　arch　and　peter　lit　it　and　handed　　it　to　trumpkin。

〃the　d。l。f。　had　better　lead；〃　he　said。　〃we　dont　know　our　way　about　this　　place。鈥�

trumpkin　took　the　torch　and　went　ahead　into　the　dark　tunnel。　it　was　a　cold；　　black；　musty　place；　with　an　occasional　bat　fluttering　in　the　torchlight；　and　plenty　of　　cobwebs。　the　boys；　who　had　been　mostly　in　the　open　air　since　that　morning　at　the　railway　　station；　felt　as　if　they　were　going　into　a　trap　or　a　prison。

〃i　say；　peter；〃　whispered　edmund。　〃look　at　those　carvings　on　the　walls。　　dont　they　look　old？　and　yet　were　older　than　that。　when　we　were　last　here；　they　hadnt　　been　made。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　peter。　〃that　makes　one　think。鈥�

the　dwarf　went　on　ahead　and　then　turned　to　the　right；　and　then　to　the　left；　　and　then　down　some　steps；　and　then　to　the　left　again。　then　at　last　they　saw　a　light　ahead　　…　light　from　under　a　door。　and　now　for　the　first　time　they　heard　voices；　for　they　had　　e　to　the　door　　

of　the　central　chamber。　the　voices　inside　were　angry　ones。　someone　was　　talking　so　loudly　that　the　approach　of　the　boys　and　the　dwarf　had　not　been　heard。

〃dont　like　the　sound　of　that；〃　whispered　trumpkin　to　peter。　〃lets　listen　　for　a　moment。鈥�

all　three　stood　perfectly　still　on　the　outside　of　the　door。

〃you　know　well　enough；〃　said　a　voice　（〃thats　the　king；〃　whispered　　trumpkin）；　〃why　the　horn　was　not　blown　at　sunrise　this　morning。　have　you　forgotten　that　　miraz　fell　upon　us　almost　before　trumpkin　had　gone；　and　we　were　fighting　for　our　lives　for　　the　space　of　three　hours　and　more？　i　blew　it　when　first　i　had　a　breathing　space。鈥�

〃im　not　likely　to　forget　it；〃　came　the　angry　voice；　〃when　my　dwarfs　bore　　the　brunt　of　the　attack　and　one　in　five　of　them　fell。〃　（〃thats　nikabrik；〃　whispered　　trumpkin。）

〃for　shame；　dwarf；〃　came　a　thick　voice　（〃trufflehunters；〃　said　trumpkin）。　　〃we　all　did　as　much　as　the　dwarfs　and　none　more　than　the　king。鈥�

〃tell　that　tale　your　own　way　for　all　i　care；〃　answered　nikabrik。　〃but　　whether　it　was　that　the　horn　was　blown　too　late；　or　whether　there　was　no　magic　in　it；　no　help　　has　e。　you；　you　great　clerk；　you　master　magician；　you　know…all；　are　you　still　asking　us　　to　hang　our　hopes　on　aslan　and　king　peter　and　all　the　rest　of　it？鈥�

〃i　must　confess　…　i　cannot　deny　it　…　that　i　am　deeply　disappointed　in　the　　result　of　the　operation；〃　came　the　answer。　（〃thatll　be　doctor　cornelius；〃　said　　trumpkin。）

〃to　speak　plainly；〃　said　nikabrik；　〃your　wallets　empty；　your　eggs　addled；　　your　fish　uncaught；　your　promises　broken。　stand　aside　then　and　let　others　work。　and　　that　is　why　…鈥�

〃the　help　will　e；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃i　stand　by　aslan。　have　patience；　　like　us　beasts。　the　help　will　e。　it　may　be　even　now　at　the　door。鈥�

〃pah！〃　snarled　nikabrik。　〃you　badgers　would　have　us　wait　till　the　sky　falls　　and　we　can　all　catch　larks。　i　tell　you　we　cant　wait。　food　is　running　short；　we　lose　　more　than　we　can　afford　at　every　encounter；　our　followers　are　slipping　away。鈥�

〃and　why？〃　asked　trufflehunter。　〃ill　tell　you　why。　because　it　is　noised　　among　them　that　we　have　called　on　the　kings　of　old　and　the　kings　of　old　have　not　answered。　　the　last　words　trumpkin　spoke　before　he　went　（and　went；　most　likely；　to　his　death）　　were；　‘if　you　must　blow　the　horn；　do　not　let　the　army　know　why　you　blow　it　or　what　you　　hope　from　it。　but　that　same　evening　everyone　seemed　to　know。鈥�

〃youd　better　have　shoved　your　grey　snout　in　a　hornets　nest；　badger；　than　　suggest　that　i　am　the　blab；〃　said　nikabrik。　〃take　it　back；　or…鈥�

〃oh；　stop　it；　both　of　you；〃　said　king　caspian。　〃i　want　to　know　what　it　is　　that　nikabrik　keeps　on　hinting　we　should　do。　but　before　that；　i　want　to　know　who　those　　two　strangers　　

are　whom　he　has　brought　into　our　council　and　who　stand　there　with　their　　ears　open　and　their　mouths　shut。鈥�

〃they　are　friends　of　mine；〃　said　nikabrik。　〃and　what　better　right　have　you　　yourself　to　be　here　than　that　you　are　a　friend　of　trumpkins　and　the　badgers？　and　what　　right　has　that　old　dotard　in　the　black　gown　to　be　here　except　that　he　is　your　friend？　why　　am　i　to　be　the　only　one　who　cant　bring　in　his　friends？鈥�

〃his　majesty　is　the　king　to　whom　you　have　sworn　allegiance；〃　said　　trufflehunter　sternly。

〃court　manners；　court　manners；〃　sneered　nikabrik。　〃but　in　this　hole　we　may　　talk　plainly。

you　know　…　and　he　knows　that　this　telmarine　boy　will　be　king　of　nowhere　and　　nobody　in　a　week　unless　we　can　help　him　out　of　the　trap　in　which　he　sits。鈥�

〃perhaps；〃　said　cornelius；　〃your　new　friends　would　like　to　speak　for　　themselves？　you　there；　who　and　what　are　you？鈥�

〃worshipful　master　doctor；〃　came　a　thin；　whining　voice。　〃so　please　you；　im　　only　a　poor　old　woman；　i　am；　and　very　obliged　to　his　worshipful　dwarfship　for　his　　friendship；　im　sure。　his　majesty；　bless　his　handsome　face；　has　no　need　to　be　afraid　of　an　　old　woman　thats　nearly　doubled　up　with　the　rheumatics　and　hasnt　two　sticks　to　put　　under　her　kettle。

i　have　some　poor　little　skill　…　not　like　yours；　master　doctor；　of　course　…　　in　small　spells　and　cantrips　that　id　be　glad　to　use　against　our　enemies　if　it　was　　agreeable　to　all　concerned。　for　i　hate　em。　oh　yes。　no　one　hates　better　than　me。鈥�

〃that　is　all　most　interesting　and　…　er　…　satisfactory；〃　said　doctor　　cornelius。　〃i　think　i　now　know　what　you　are；　madam。　perhaps　your　other　friend；　nikabrik；　would　give　　some　account　of　himself？鈥�

a　dull；　grey　voice　at　which　peters　flesh　crept　replied；　〃im　hunger。　im　　thirst。　where　i　bite；　i　hold　till　i　die；　and　even　after　death　they　must　cut　out　my　mouthful　　from　my　enemys　body　and　bury　it　with　me。　i　can　fast　a　hundred　years　and　not　die。　i　　can　lie　a　hundred　nights　on　the　ice　and　not　freeze。　i　can　drink　a　river　of　blood　and　　not　burst。　show　me　your　enemies。鈥�

〃and　it　is　in　the　presence　of　these　two　that　you　wish　to　disclose　your　　plan？〃　said　caspian。

〃yes；〃　said　nikabrik。　〃and　by　their　help　that　i　mean　to　execute　it。鈥�

there　was　a　minute　or　two　during　which　trumpkin　and　the　boys　could　hear　　caspian　and　his　two　friends　speaking　in　low　voices　but　could　not　make　out　what　they　　were　saying。

then　caspian　spoke　aloud。

〃well；　nikabrik；〃　he　said；　〃we　will　hear　your　plan。鈥�

there　was　a　pause　so　long　that　the　boys　began　to　wonder　if　nikabrik　was　　ever　going　to　begin；　when　he　did；　it　was　in　a　lower　voice；　as　if　he　himself　did　not　much　　like　what　he　was　saying。

〃all　said　and　done；〃　he　muttered；　〃none　of　us　knows　the　truth　about　the　　ancient　days　in　narnia。　trumpkin　believed　none　of　the　stories。　i　was　ready　to　put　them　to　　the　trial。　we　tried　first　the　horn　and　it　has　failed。　if　there　ever　was　a　high　king　peter　　and　a　queen　susan　and　a　king　edmund　and　a　queen　lucy；　then　either　they　have　not　heard　　us；　or　they　cannot　e；　or　they　are　our　enemies　…鈥�

〃or　they　are　on　the　way；〃　put　in　trufflehunter。

〃you　can　go　on　saying　that　till　miraz　has　fed　us　all　to　his　dogs。　as　i　was　　saying；　we　have　tried　one　link　in　the　chain　of　old　legends；　and　it　has　done　us　no　good。　　well。　but　when　your　sword　breaks；　you　draw　your　dagger。　the　stories　tell　of　other　powers　　beside　the　ancient　kings　and　queens。　how　if　we　could　call　them　up？鈥�

〃if　you　mean　aslan；〃　said　trufflehunter；　〃its　all　one　calling　on　him　and　　on　the　kings。

they　were　his　servants。　if　he　will　not　send　them　（but　i　make　no　doubt　he　　will）；　is　he　more　likely　to　e　himself？鈥�

〃no。　youre　right　there；〃　said　nikabrik。　〃aslan　and　the　kings　go　together。　　either　aslan　is　dead；　or　he　is　not　on　our　side。　or　else　something　stronger　than　himself　　keeps　him　back。

and　if　he　did　e　…　how　do　we　know　hed　be　our　friend？　he　was　not　always　a　　good　friend　to　dwarfs　by　all　thats　told。　not　even　to　all　beasts。　ask　the　　wolves。　and　anyway；　he　was　in　narnia　only　once　that　i　ever　heard　of；　and　he　didnt　stay　long。　　you　may　drop　aslan　out　of　the　reckoning。　i　was　thinking　of　someone　else。鈥�

there　was　no　answer；　and　for　a　few　minutes　it　was　so　still　that　edmund　　could　hear　the　wheezy　and　snuffling　breath　of　the　badger。

〃who　do　you　mean？〃　said　caspian　at　last。

〃i　mean　a　power　so　much　greater　than　aslans　that　it　held　narnia　spellbound　　for　years　and　years；　if　the　stories　are　true。鈥�

〃the　white　witch！〃　cried　three　voices　all　at　once；　and　from　the　noise　peter　　guessed　that　three　people　had　leaped　to　their　feet。

〃yes；〃　said　nikabrik　very　slowly　and　distinctly；　〃i　mean　the　witch。　sit　　down　again。　dont　all　take　fright　at　a　name　as　if　you　were　children。　we　want　power：　and　we　　want　a　power　that　will　be　on　our　side。　as　for　power；　do　not　the　stories　say　that　the　　witch　defeated　aslan；　and　bound　him；　and　killed　him　on　that　very　stone　which　is　over　　there；　just　beyond　the　light？鈥�

〃but　they　also　say　that　he　came　to　life　again；〃　said　the　badger　sharply。

〃yes；　they　say；〃　answered　nikabrik；　〃but　youll　notice　that　we　hear　　precious　little　about　anything　he　did　afterwards。　he　just　fades　out　of　the　story。　how　do　you　　explain　that；　if　he　really　came　to　life？　isnt　it　much　more　likely　that　he　didnt；　and　that　the　　stories　say　nothing　more　abou