prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第16部分

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ly　came　to　life？　isnt　it　much　more　likely　that　he　didnt；　and　that　the　　stories　say　nothing　more　about　him　because　there　was　nothing　more　to　say？鈥�

〃he　established　the　kings　and　queens；〃　said　caspian。

〃a　king　who　has　just　won　a　great　battle　can　usually　establish　himself　　without　the　help　of　a　performing　lion；〃　said　nikabrik。　there　was　a　fierce　growl；　probably　from　　trufflehunter。

〃and　anyway；〃　nikabrik　continued；　〃what　came　of　the　kings　and　their　reign？　　they　faded　too。　but　its　very　different　with　the　witch。　they　say　she　ruled　for　a　　hundred　years：　a　hundred　years　of　winter。　theres　power；　if　you　like。　theres　something　　practical。鈥�

〃but；　heaven　and　earth！〃　said　the　king；　〃havent　we　always　been　told　that　　she　was　the　worst　enemy　of　all？　wasnt　she　a　tyrant　ten　times　worse　than　miraz？鈥�

〃perhaps；〃　said　nikabrik　in　a　cold　voice。　〃perhaps　she　was　for　you　humans；　　if　there　were　any　of　you　in　those　days。　perhaps　she　was　for　some　of　the　beasts。　she　　stamped　out　the　beavers；　i　dare　say；　at　least　there　are　none　of　them　in　narnia　now。　but　she　　got　on　all　right　with　us　dwarfs。　im　a　dwarf　and　i　stand　by　my　own　people。　were　not　afraid　　of　the　witch。鈥�

〃but　youve　joined　with　us；〃　said　trufflehunter。

〃yes；　and　a　lot　of　good　it　has　done　my　people；　so　far；〃　snapped　nikabrik。　　〃who　is　sent　on　all　the　dangerous　！；　raids？　the　dwarfs。　who　goes　short　when　the　rations　　fail？　the　dwarfs。　who　…？鈥�

〃lies！　all　lies！〃　said　the　badger。

〃and　so；〃　said　nikabrik；　whose　voice　now　rose　to　a　scream；　〃if　you　cant　　help　my　people；　ill　go　to　someone　who　can。鈥�

〃is　this　open　treason；　dwarf？〃　asked　the　king。

〃put　that　sword　back　in　its　sheath；　caspian；〃　said　nikabrik。　〃murder　at　　council；　eh？　is　that　your　game？　dont　be　fool　enough　to　try　it。　do　you　think　im　afraid　of　　you？　theres　three　on　my　side；　and　three　on　yours。鈥�

〃e　on；　then；〃　snarled　trufflehunter；　but　he　was　immediately　interrupted。

〃stop；　stop；　stop；〃　said　doctor　cornelius。　〃you　go　on　too　fast。　the　witch　　is　dead。　all　the　stories　agree　on　that。　what　does　nikabrik　mean　by　calling　on　the　witch？鈥�

that　grey　and　terrible　voice　which　had　spoken　only　once　before　said；　〃oh；　　is　she？鈥�

and　then　the　shrill；　whining　voice　began；　〃oh；　bless　his　heart；　his　dear　　little　majesty　neednt　mind　about　the　white　lady　…　thats　what　we　call　her　…　being　dead。　　the　worshipful　master　doctor　is　only　making　game　of　a　poor　old　woman　like　me　when　he　says　　that。

sweet　mastery　doctor；　learned　master　doctor；　who　ever　heard　of　a　witch　that　　really　died？　you　can　always　get　them　back。鈥�

〃call　her　up；〃　said　the　grey　voice。　〃we　are　all　ready。　draw　the　circle。　　prepare　the　blue　fire。鈥�

above　the　steadily　increasing　growl　of　the　badger　and　corneliuss　sharp　　〃what？〃　rose　the　voice　of　king　caspian　like　thunder。

〃so　that　is　your　plan；　nikabrik！　black　sorcery　and　the　calling　up　of　an　　accursed　ghost。

and　i　see　who　your　panions　are…a　hag　and　a　werewolf！鈥�

the　next　minute　or　so　was　very　confused。　there　was　an　animal　roaring；　a　　clash　of　steel；　the　boys　and　trumpkin　rushed　in；　peter　had　a　glimpse　of　a　horrible；　grey；　　gaunt　creature；　half　man　and　half　wolf；　in　the　very　act　of　leaping　upon　a　boy　about　his　own　　age；　and　edmund　saw　a　badger　and　a　dwarf　rolling　on　the　floor　in　a　sort　of　cat　　fight。　trumpkin　found　himself　face　to　face　with　the　hag。　her　nose　and　chin　stuck　out　like　a　　pair　of　nut…crackers；　her　dirty　grey　hair　was　flying　about　her　face　and　she　had　just　　got　doctor　cornelius　by　the　throat。　at　one　slash　of　trumpkins　sword　her　head　rolled　　on　the　floor。

then　the　light　was　knocked　over　and　it　was　all　swords；　teeth；　claws；　fists；　　and　boots　for　about　sixty　seconds。　then　silence。

〃are　you　all　right；　ed？鈥�

〃i　…　i　think　so；〃　panted　edmund。　〃ive　got　that　brute　nikabrik；　but　hes　　still　alive。鈥�

〃weights　and　water…bottles！〃　came　an　angry　voice。　〃its　me　youre　sitting　　on。　get　off。

youre　like　a　young　elephant。鈥�

〃sorry；　d。l。f。；〃　said　edmund。　〃is　that　better？鈥�

〃ow！　no！〃　bellowed　trumpkin。　〃youre　putting　your　　boot　in　my　mouth。　go　　away。〃　　‘　　〃is　king　caspian　anywhere？〃　asked　peter。

〃im　here；〃　said　a　rather　faint　voice。　〃something　bit　me。鈥�

they　all　heard　the　noise　of　someone　striking　a　match。　it　was　edmund。　the　　little　flame　showed　his　face；　looking　pale　and　dirty。　he　blundered　about　for　a　little；　　found　the　candle　（they　were　no　longer　using　the　lamp；　for　they　had　run　out　of　oil）；　set　it　　on　the　table；　and　lit　　

it。　when　the　flame　rose　clear；　several　people　scrambled　to　their　feet。　six　　faces　blinked　at　one　another　in　the　candlelight。

〃we　dont　seem　to　have　any　enemies　left；〃　said　peter。　〃theres　the　hag；　　dead。〃　（he　turned　his　eyes　quickly　away　from　her。）　〃and　nikabrik；　dead　too。　and　i　suppose　　this　thing　is　a　werewolf。　its　so　long　since　ive　seen　one。　wolfs　head　and　mans　body。　　that　means　he　was　just　turning　from　man　into　wolf　at　the　moment　he　was　killed。　and　you；　i　　suppose；　are　king　caspian？鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　the　other　boy。　〃but　ive　no　idea　who　you　are。鈥�

〃its　the　high　king；　king　peter；〃　said　trumpkin。

〃your　majesty　is　very　wele；〃　said　caspian。

〃and　so　is　your　majesty；〃　said　peter。　〃i　havent　e　to　take　your　place；　　you　know；　but　to　put　you　into　it。〃　；　　〃your　majesty；〃　said　another　voice　at　peters　elbow。　he　turned　and　found　　himself　face　to　face　with　the　badger。

peter　leaned　forward；　put　his　arms　round　the　beast　and　kissed　the　furry　　head：　it　wasnt　a　girlish　thing　for　him　to　do；　because　he　was　the　high　king。

〃best　of　badgers；〃　he　said。　〃you　never　doubted　us　all　through。鈥�

〃no　credit　to　me；　your　majesty；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃1m　a　beast　and　we　　dont　change。

im　a　badger；　whats　more；　and　we　hold　on。鈥�

〃i　am　sorry　for　nikabrik；〃　said　caspian；　〃though　he　hated　me　from　the　first　　moment　he　saw　me。　he　had　gone　sour　inside　from　long　suffering　and　hating。　if　we　had　　won　quickly　he　might　have　bee　a　good　dwarf　in　the　days　of　peace。　i　dont　know　which　　of　us　killed　him。　im　glad　of　that。鈥�

〃youre　bleeding；〃　said　peter。

〃yes；　im　bitten；〃　said　caspian。　〃it　was　that　…　that　wolf　thing。〃　cleaning　　and　bandaging　the　wound　took　a　long　time；　and　when　it　was　done　trumpkin　said；　〃now。　　before　everything　else　we　want　some　breakfast。鈥�

〃but　not　here；〃　said　peter。

〃no；〃　said　caspian　with　a　shudder。　〃and　we　must　send　someone　to　take　away　　the　bodies。鈥�

〃let　the　vermin　be　flung　into　a　pit；〃　said　peter。　〃but　the　dwarf　we　will　　give　to　his　people　to　be　buried　in　their　own　fashion。鈥�

they　breakfasted　at　last　in　another　of　the　dark　cellars　of　aslans　how。　it　　was　not　such　a　breakfast　as　they　would　have　chosen；　for　caspian　and　cornelius　were　　thinking　of　venison　pasties；　and　peter　and　edmund　of　buttered　eggs　and　hot　coffee；　but　what　　everyone　got　was　a　little　bit　of　cold　bear…meat　（out　of　the　boys　pockets）；　a　lump　of　　hard　cheese；　an　onion；　and　a　mug　of　water。　but；　from　the　way　they　fell　to；　anyone　would　　have　supposed　it　was　delicious。

w锛穡锛氾紵



CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

锝涘皬锝濓經璇达綕锝泃锝濓經xt锝濓經澶╋綕锝涘爞
the　high　king　in　mand　　〃now；〃　said　peter；　as　they　finished　their　meal；　〃aslan　and　the　girls　　（thats　queen　susan　and　queen　lucy；　caspian）　are　somewhere　close。　we　dont　know　when　he　will　　act。　in　his　time；　no　doubt；　not　ours。　in　the　meantime　he　would　like　us　to　do　what　we　　can　on　our　own。

you　say；　caspian；　we　are　not　strong　enough　to　meet　miraz　in　pitched　　battle？鈥�

〃im　afraid　not；　high　king；〃　said　caspian。　he　was　liking　peter　very　much；　　but　was　rather　tongue…tied。　it　was　much　stranger　for　him　to　meet　the　great　kings　out　of　　the　old　stories　than　it　was　for　them　to　meet　him。

〃very　well；　then；〃　said　peter；　〃ill　send　him　a　challenge　to　single　　bat。〃　no　one　had　thought　of　this　before。

〃please；〃　said　caspian；　〃could　it　not　be　me？　i　want　to　avenge　my　father。鈥�

〃youre　wounded；〃　said　peter。　〃and　anyway；　wouldnt　he　just　laugh　at　a　　challenge　from　you？　i　mean；　we　have　seen　that　you　are　a　king　and　a　warrior　but　he　thinks　　of　you　as　a　kid。鈥�

〃but；　sire；〃　said　the　badger；　who　sat　very　close　to　peter　and　never　took　　his　eyes　off　him。

〃will　he　accept　a　。　challenge　even　from　you？　he　knows　he　has　the　stronger　。　　army。鈥�

〃very　likely　he　wont；〃　said　peter；　〃but　theres　always　the　chance。　and　　even　if　he　doesnt；　we　shall　spend　the　best　part　of　the　day　sending　heralds　to　and　fro　and　all　　that。　by　then　aslan　may　have　done　something。　and　at　least　i　can　inspect　the　army　and　　strengthen　the　position。　i　will　send　the　challenge。　in　fact　i　will　write　it　at　once。　have　　you　pen　and　ink；　master　doctor？鈥�

〃a　scholar　is　never　without　them；　your　majesty；〃　answered　doctor　cornelius。

〃very　well；　i　will　dictate；〃　said　peter。　and　while　the　doctor　spread　out　a　　parchment　and　opened　his　ink…horn　and　sharpened　his　pen；　peter　leant　back　with　half…　closed　eyes　and　recalled　to　his　mind　the　language　in　which　he　had　written　such　things　long　　ago　in　narnias　golden　age。

〃right；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃and　now；　if　you　are　ready；　doctor？鈥�

doctor　cornelius　dipped　his　pen　and　waited。　peter　dictated　as　follows：　　〃peter；　by　the　gift　of　aslan；　by　election；　by　prescription；　and　by　　conquest；　high　king　over　all　kings　in　narnia；　emperor　of　the　lone　islands　and　lord　of　cair　paravel；　　knight　of　the　most　noble　order　of　the　lion；　to　miraz；　son　of　caspian　the　eighth；　sometime　　lord　protector　of　narnia　and　now　styling　himself　king　of　narnia；　greeting。　have　　you　got　that？鈥�

〃narnia；　ma；　greeting；〃　muttered　the　doctor。　〃yes；　sire。鈥�

〃then　begin　a　new　paragraph；〃　said　peter。　〃for　to　prevent　the　effusion　of　　blood；　and　for　the　avoiding　all　other　inconveniences　likely　to　grow　from　the　wars　now　　levied　in　our　realm　of　narnia；　it　is　our　pleasure　to　adventure　our　royal　person　on　behalf　　of　our　trusty　and　well…beloved　caspian　in　clean　wager　of　battle　to　prove　upon　your　　lordships　body　that　the　said　caspian　is　lawful　king　under　us　in　narnia　both　by　our　gift　　and　by　the　laws　of　the　telmarines；　and　your　lordship　twice　guilty　of　treachery　both　in　　withholding　the　dominion　of　narnia　from　the　said　caspian　and　in　the　most　abhominable；　…　　dont　forget　to　spell　it　with　an　h；　doctor　…　bloody；　and　unnatural　murder　of　your　kindly　　lord　and　brother　king　caspian　ninth　of　that　name。　wherefore　we　most　heartily　provoke；　　challenge；　and　defy　your　lordship　to　the　said　bat　and　monomachy；　and　have　sent　these　　letters　by　the　hand　of　our　well　beloved　and　royal　brother　edmund；　sometime　king　under　us　　in　narnia；　duke　of　lantern　waste　and　count　of　the　western　march；　knight　of　the　noble　　order　of　the　table；　to　whom　we　have　given　full　power　of　determining　with　your　　lordship　all　the　conditions　of　the　said　battle。　given　at　our　lodging　in　aslans　how　this　xii　　day　of　the　month　greenroof　in　the　first　year　of　caspian　tenth　of　narnia。

〃that　ought　to　do；〃　said　peter；　drawing　a　deep　breath。

〃and　now　we　must　send　two　others　with　king　edmund。　i　think　the　giant　ought　　to　be　one。鈥�

〃hes　…　hes　not　very　clever；　you　know；〃　said　caspian。

〃of　course　not；〃　said　peter。　〃but　any　giant　looks　impressive　if　only　he　　will　keep　quiet。

and　it　will　cheer　him　up。　but　who　for　the　other？鈥�

〃upon　my　word；〃　said　trumpkin；　〃if　you　want　someone　who　can　kill　with　　looks；　reepicheep　would　be　the　best。鈥�

〃he　would　indeed；　from　all　i　hear；〃　said　peter　with　a　laugh。　〃if　only　he　　wasnt　so　small。

they　w