prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第2部分

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it　was。　they　panted　up　the　steep　bank；　forced　their　way　through　some　　brambles；　and　found　themselves　standing　round　an　old　tree　that　was　heavy　with　large　　yellowishgolden　apples　as　firm　and　juicy　as　you　could　wish　to　see。

〃and　this　is　not　the　only　tree；〃　said　edmund　with　his　mouth　full　of　apple。　　〃look　there…and　there。鈥�

〃why；　there　are　dozens　of　them；〃　said　susan；　throwing　away　the　core　of　her　　first　apple　and　picking　her　second。　〃this　must　have　been　an　orchard　…　long；　long　ago；　　before　the　place　went　wild　and　the　wood　grew　up。鈥�

〃then　this　was　once　an　inhabited　island；〃　said　peter。

〃and　whats　that？〃　said　lucy；　pointing　ahead。

〃by　jove；　its　a　wall；〃　said　peter。　〃an　old　stone　wall。鈥�

pressing　their　way　between　the　laden　branches　they　reached　the　wall。　it　was　　very　old；　and　broken　down　in　places；　with　moss　and　wallflowers　growing　on　it；　but　it　was　　higher　than　all　but　the　tallest　trees。　and　when　they　came　quite　close　to　it　they　found　　a　great　arch　which　must　once　have　had　a　gate　in　it　but　was　now　almost　filled　up　with　the　　largest　of　all　the　apple　trees。　they　had　to　break　some　of　the　branches　to　get　past；　and　　when　they　had　done　so　they　all　blinked　because　the　daylight　became　suddenly　much　　brighter。　they　found　themselves　in　a　wide　open　place　with　walls　all　round　it。　in　here　　there　were　no　trees；　only　level　grass　and　daisies；　and　ivy；　and　grey　walls。　it　was　a　bright；　　secret；　quiet　place；　　

and　rather　sad；　and　all　four　stepped　out　into　the　middle　of　it；　glad　to　be　　able　to　straighten　their　backs　and　move　their　limbs　freely。

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CHAPTER　TWO

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the　ancient　treasure　house　　〃this　wasnt　a　garden；〃　said　susan　presently。　〃it　was　a　castle　and　this　　must　have　been　the　courtyard。鈥�

〃i　see　what　you　mean；〃　said　peter。　〃yes。　that　is　the　remains　of　a　tower。　　and　there　is　what　used　to　be　a　flight　of　steps　going　up　to　the　top　of　the　walls。　and　look　at　　those　other　steps　…　the　broad；　shallow　ones　…　going　up　to　that　doorway。　it　must　have　been　the　　door　into　the　great　hall。鈥�

〃ages　ago；　by　the　look　of　it；〃　said　edmund。

〃yes；　ages　ago；〃　said　peter。　〃i　wish　we　could　find　out　who　the　people　were　　that　lived　in　this　castle；　and　how　long　ago。鈥�

〃it　gives　me　a　queer　feeling；〃　said　lucy。

〃does　it；　lu？〃　said　peter；　turning　and　looking　hard　at　her。　〃because　it　　does　the　same　to　me。　it　is　the　queerest　thing　that　has　happened　this　queer　day。　i　wonder　　where　we　are　and　what　it　all　means？鈥�

while　they　were　talking　they　had　crossed　the　courtyard　and　gone　through　the　　other　doorway　into　what　had　once　been　the　hall。　this　was　now　very　like　the　　courtyard；　for　the　roof　had　long　since　disappeared　and　it　was　merely　another　space　of　grass　　and　daisies；　except　that　it　was　shorter　and　narrower　and　the　walls　were　higher。　across　　the　far　end　there　was　a　kind　of　terrace　about　three　feet　higher　than　the　rest。

〃i　wonder；　was　it　really　the　hall？〃　said　susan。　〃what　is　that　terrace　kind　　of　thing？鈥�

〃why；　you　silly；〃　said　peter　（who　had　bee　strangely　excited）；　〃dont　you　　see？　that　was　the　dais　where　the　high　table　was；　where　the　king　and　the　great　lords　　sat。　anyone　would　think　you　had　forgotten　that　we　ourselves　were　once　kings　and　queens　　and　sat　on　a　dais　just　like　that；　in　our　great　hall。鈥�

〃in　our　castle　of　cair　paravel；〃　continued　susan　in　a　dreamy　and　rather　　sing…song　voice；　〃at　the　mouth　of　the　great　river　of　narnia。　how　could　i　forget？鈥�

〃how　it　all　es　back！〃　said　lucy。　〃we　could　pretend　we　were　in　cair　　paravel　now。

this　hall　must　have　been　very　like　the　great　hall　we　feasted　in。鈥�

〃but　unfortunately　without　the　feast；〃　said　edmund。　〃its　getting　late；　you　　know。　look　how　long　the　shadows　are。　and　have　you　noticed　that　it　isnt　so　hot？鈥�

〃we　shall　need　a　camp…fire　if　weve　got　to　spend　the　night　here；〃　said　　peter。　〃ive　got　matches。　lets　go　and　see　if　we　can　collect　some　dry　wood。鈥�

everyone　saw　the　sense　of　this；　and　for　the　next　halfhour　they　were　busy。　　the　orchard　through　which　they　had　first　e　into　the　ruins　turned　out　not　to　be　a　　good　place　for　firewood。　they　tried　the　other　side　of　the　castle；　passing　out　of　the　hall　　by　a　little　side　door　into　a　maze　of　stony　humps　and　hollows　which　must　once　have　been　　passages　and　smaller　rooms　but　was　now　all　nettles　and　wild　roses。　beyond　this　they　　found　a　wide　gap　in　the　castle　wall　and　stepped　through　it　into　a　wood　of　darker　and　bigger　　trees　where　they　found　dead　branches　and　rotten　wood　and　sticks　and　dry　leaves　and　fir　…cones　in　plenty。　they　went　to　and　fro　with　bundles　until　they　had　a　good　pile　on　the　　dais。　at　the　fifth　journey　they　found　the　well；　just　outside　the　hall；　hidden　in　weeds；　　but　clean　and　fresh　and　deep　when　they　had　cleared　these　away。

the　remains　of　a　stone　pavement　ran　half…way　round　it。　then　the　girls　went　　out　to　pick　some　more　apples　and　the　boys　built　the　fire；　on　the　dais　and　fairly　close　　to　the　corner　between　two　walls；　which　they　thought　would　be　the　snuggest　and　warmest　　place。　they　had　great　difficulty　in　lighting　it　and　used　a　lot　of　matches；　but　they　　succeeded　in　the　end。

finally；　all　four　sat　down　with　their　backs　to　the　wall　and　their　faces　to　　the　fire。　they　tried　roasting　some　of　the　apples　on　the　ends　of　sticks。　but　roast　apples　　are　not　much　good　without　sugar；　and　they　are　too　hot　to　eat　with　your　fingers　till　they　　are　too　cold　to　be　worth　eating。　so　they　had　to　content　themselves　with　raw　apples；　which；　　as　edmund　said；　made　one　realize　that　school　suppers　werent　so　bad　after　all　…　〃i　　shouldnt　mind　a　good　thick　slice　of　bread　and　margarine　this　minute；〃　he　added。　but　the　　spirit　of　adventure　was　rising　in　them　all；　and　no　one　really　wanted　to　be　back　at　　school。

shortly　after　the　last　apple　had　been　eaten；　susan　went　out　to　the　well　to　　get　another　drink。　when　she　came　back　she　was　carrying　something　in　her　hand。

〃look；〃　she　said　in　a　rather　choking　kind　of　voice。　〃i　found　it　by　the　　well。〃　she　handed　it　to　peter　and　sat　down。　the　others　thought　she　looked　and　sounded　as　if　she　　might　be　going　to　cry。　edmund　and　lucy　eagerly　bent　forward　to　see　what　was　in　　peters　hand　…　a　little；　bright　thing　that　gleamed　in　the　firelight。

〃well；　im　…　im　jiggered；〃　said　peter；　and　his　voice　also　sounded　queer。　　then　he　handed　it　to　the　others。

all　now　saw　what　it　was　…　a　little　chess…knight；　ordinary　in　size　but　　extraordinarily　heavy　because　it　was　made　of　pure　gold；　and　the　eyes　in　the　horses　head　were　two　　tiny　little　rubies　or　rather　one　was；　for　the　other　had　been　knocked　out。

〃why！〃　said　lucy；　〃its　exactly　like　one　of　the　golden　chessmen　we　used　to　　play　with　when　we　were　kings　and　queens　at　cair　paravel。鈥�

〃cheer　up；　su；〃　said　peter　to　his　other　sister。

〃i　cant　help　it；〃　said　susan。　〃it　brought　back　…　oh；　such　lovely　times。　　and　i　remembered　playing　chess　with　fauns　and　good　giants；　and　the　mer…people　singing　in　the　　sea；　and　my　beautiful　horse　…　and　…　and　…鈥�

〃now；〃　said　peter　in　a　quite　different　voice；　〃its　about　time　we　four　　started　using　our　brains。鈥�

〃what　about？〃　asked　edmund。

〃have　none　of　you　guessed　where　we　are？〃　said　peter。

〃go　on；　go　on；〃　said　lucy。　〃ive　felt　for　hours　that　there　was　some　　wonderful　mystery　hanging　over　this　place。鈥�

〃fire　ahead；　peter；〃　said　edmund。　〃were　all　listening。鈥�

〃we　are　in　the　ruins　of　cair　paravel　itself；〃　said　peter。

〃but；　i　say；〃　replied　edmund。　〃i　mean；　how　do　you　make　that　out？　this　place　　has　been　ruined　for　ages。　look　at　all　those　big　trees　growing　right　up　to　the　gates。　　look　at　the　very　stones。　anyone　can　see　that　nobody　has　lived　here　for　hundreds　of　years。鈥�

〃i　know；〃　said　peter。　〃that　is　the　difficulty。　but　lets　leave　that　out　for　　the　moment。　i　want　to　take　the　points　one　by　one。　first　point：　this　hall　is　exactly　the　same　　shape　and　size　as　the　hall　at　cair　paravel。　just　picture　a　roof　on　this；　and　a　coloured　　pavement　instead　of　grass；　and　tapestries　on　the　walls；　and　you　get　our　royal　banqueting　hall。鈥�

no　one　said　anything。

〃second　point；〃　continued　peter。　〃the　castle　well　is　exactly　where　our　well　　was；　a　little　to　the　south　of　the　great　hall；　and　it　is　exactly　the　same　size　and　shape。鈥�

again　there　was　no　reply。

〃third　point：　susan　has　just　found　one　of　our　old　chessmen　…　or　something　　as　like　one　of　them　as　two　peas。鈥�

still　nobody　answered。

〃fourth　point。　dont　you　remember　…　it　was　the　very　day　before　the　　ambassadors　came　from　the　king　of　calormen　dont　you　remember　planting　the　orchard　outside　　the　north　gate　of　cair　paravel？　the　greatest　of　all　the　wood…people；　pomona　herself；　　came　to　put　good　spells　on　it。　it　was　those　very　decent　little　chaps　the　moles　who　did　　the　actual　digging。　can　you　have　forgotten　that　funny　old　lilygloves；　the　chief　mole；　　leaning　on　his　spade　and　saying；　‘believe　me；　your　majesty；　youll　be　glad　of　these　fruit　　trees　one　day。　and　by　jove　he　was　right。鈥�

〃i　do！　i　do！〃　said　lucy；　and　clapped　her　hands。

〃but　look　here；　peter；〃　said　edmund。　〃this　must　be　all　rot。　to　begin　with；　　we　didnt　plant　the　orchard　slap　up　against　the　gate。　we　wouldnt　have　been　such　fools。鈥�

〃no；　of　course　not；〃　said　peter。　〃but　it　has　grown　up　to　the　gate　since。鈥�

〃and　for　another　thing；〃　said　edmund；　〃cair　paravel　wasnt　on　an　island。鈥�

〃yes；　ive　been　wondering　about　that。　but　it　was　a　what…do…you…call…it；　a　　peninsula。　jolly　nearly　an　island。　couldnt　it　have　been　made　an　island　since　our　time？　　somebody　has　dug　a　channel。鈥�

〃but　half　a　moment！〃　said　edmund。　〃you　keep　on　saying　since　our　time。　but　　its　only　a　year　ago　since　we　came　back　from　narnia。　and　you　want　to　make　out　that　in　　one　year　castles　have　fallen　down；　and　great　forests　have　grown　up；　and　little　trees　　we　saw　planted　ourselves　have　turned　into　a　big　old　orchard；　and　goodness　knows　what　else。　　its　all　impossible。鈥�

〃theres　one　thing；〃　said　lucy。　〃if　this　is　cair　paravel　there　ought　to　be　　a　door　at　this　end　of　the　dais。　in　fact　we　ought　to　be　sitting　with　our　backs　against　it　at　　this　moment。　you　know　…　the　door　that　led　down　to　the　treasure　chamber。鈥�

〃i　suppose　there　isnt　a　door；〃　said　peter；　getting　up。

the　wall　behind　them　was　a　mass　of　ivy。

〃we　can　soon　find　out；〃　said　edmund；　taking　up　one　of　the　sticks　that　they　　had　laid　ready　for　putting　on　the　fire。　he　began　beating　the　ivied　wall。　tap…tap　went　the　　stick　against　the　stone；　and　again；　tap…tap；　and　then；　all　at　once；　boomboom；　with　a　quite　　different　sound；　a　hollow；　wooden　sound。

〃great　scott！〃　said　edmund。

〃we　must　clear　this　ivy　away；〃　said　peter。

〃oh；　do　lets　leave　it　alone；〃　said　susan。　〃we　can　try　it　in　the　morning。　　if　weve　got　to　spend　the　night　here　i　dont　want　an　open　door　at　my　back　and　a　great　big　　black　hole　that　anything　might　e　out　of；　besides　the　draught　and　the　damp。　and　itll　　soon　be　dark。鈥�

〃susan！　how　can　you？〃　said　lucy　with　a　reproachful　glance。　but　both　the　　boys　were　too　much　excited　to　take　any　notice　of　susans　advice。　they　worked　at　the　ivy　　with　their　hands　and　with　peters　pocket…knife　till　the　knife　broke。　after　that　they　　used　edmunds。

soon　the　whole　place　where　they　had　been　sitting　was　covered　with　ivy；　and　　at　last　they　had　the　door　cleared。

〃locked；　of　course；〃　said　peter。

〃but　the　woods　all　rotten；〃　said　edmund。　〃we　can　pull　it