The Last Battle-第10章

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！



tirian　thought　for　a　moment　and　then　suddenly　gave　a　great　laugh　out　loud。　　then　he　spoke；　not　this　time　in　a　whisper。　〃by　the　lion；〃　he　said；　〃i　am　growing　　slow　witted！

meet　them？　certainly　we　will　meet　them。　we　will　meet　anyone　now。　we　have　　this　ass　to　show　them。　let　them　see　the　thing　they　have　feared　and　bowed　to。　we　can　　show　them　the　truth　of　the　apes　vile　plot。　his　secrets　out。　the　tides　turned。　tomorrow　　we　shall　hang　that　ape　on　the　highest　tree　in　narnia。　no　more　whispering　and　skulking　and　　disguises。

where　are　these　honest　dwarfs？　we　have　good　news　for　them。”

when　you　have　been　whispering　for　hours　the　mere　sound　of　anyone　talking　　out　loud　has　a　wonderfully　stirring　effect。　the　whole　party　began　talking　and　laughing：　　even　puzzle　lifted　up　his　head　and　gave　a　grand　haw…hee…haw…hee…hee；　a　thing　the　ape　　hadnt　allowed　him　to　do　for　days。　then　they　set　off　in　the　direction　of　the　drumming。　it　　grew　steadily　louder　and　soon　they　could　see　torchlight　as　well。　they　came　out　on　one　of　　those　rough　roads　（we　should　hardly　call　them　roads　at　all　in　england）　which　ran　　through　lantern　waste。　and　there；　marching　sturdily　along；　were　about　thirty　dwarfs；　all　　with　their　little　spades　and　mattocks　over　their　shoulders。　two　armed　calormenes　led　the　　column　and　two　more　brought　up　the　rear。

〃stay！〃　thundered　tirian　as　he　stepped　out　on　the　road。　〃stay；　soldiers。　　whither　do　you　lead　these　narnian　dwarfs　and　by　whose　orders？”

　．．



CHAPTER　SEVEN

［。小＾说）网）
mainly　about　dwarfs　　　the　two　calormene　soldiers　at　the　head　of　the　column；　seeing　what　they　took　　for　a　tarkaan　or　great　lord　with　two　armed　pages；　came　to　a　halt　and　raised　their　　spears　in　salute。

〃o　my　master；〃　said　one　of　them；　〃we　lead　these　manikins　to　calormen　to　　work　in　the　mines　of　the　tisroc；　may…he…live…forever。　“

〃by　the　great　god　tash；　they　are　very　obedient；〃　said　tirian。　then　suddenly　　he　turned　to　the　dwarfs　themselves。　about　one　in　six　of　them　carried　a　torch　and　by　that　　flickering　light　he　could　see　their　bearded　faces　all　looking　at　him　with　grim　and　　dogged　expressions。　〃has　the　tisroc　fought　a　great　battle；　dwarfs；　and　conquered　　your　land？〃　he　asked；　〃that　thus　you　go　patiently　to　die　in　the　salt…pits　of　pugrahan？”

the　two　soldiers　glared　at　him　in　surprise　but　the　dwarfs　all　answered；　　〃aslans　orders；　aslans　orders。　hes　sold　us。　what　can　we　do　against　him？”

〃tisroc　indeed！〃　added　one　and　spat。　〃id　like　to　see　him　try　it！”

〃silence；　dogs！〃　said　the　chief　soldier。

〃look！〃　said　tirian；　pulling　puzzle　forward　into　the　light。　〃it　has　all　　been　a　lie。　aslan　has　not　e　to　narnia　at　all。　you　have　been　cheated　by　the　ape。　this　is　the　　thing　he　brought　out　of　the　stable　to　show　you。　look　at　it。”

what　the　dwarfs　saw；　now　that　they　could　see　it　close；　was　certainly　enough　　to　make　them　wonder　how　they　had　ever　been　taken　in。　the　lion…skin　had　got　pretty　　untidy　already　during　puzzles　imprisonment　in　the　stable　and　it　had　been　knocked　　crooked　during　his　journey　through　the　dark　wood。　most　of　it　was　in　a　big　lump　on　　one　shoulder。

the　head；　besides　being　pushed　sideways；　had　somehow　got　very　far　back　so　　that　anyone　could　now　see　his　silly；　gentle；　donkeyish　face　gazing　out　of　it。　some　　grass　stuck　out　of　one　corner　of　his　mouth；　for　hed　been　doing　a　little　quiet　nibbling　as　　they　brought　him　along。　and　he　was　muttering；　〃it　wasnt　my　fault；　im　not　clever。　i　never　　said　i　was。”

for　one　second　all　the　dwarfs　were　staring　at　puzzle　with　wide　open　mouths　　and　then　one　of　the　soldiers　said　sharply；　〃are　you　mad；　my　master？　what　are　you　　doing　to　the　slaves？〃　and　the　other　said；　〃and　who　are　you？〃　neither　of　their　spears　was　　at　the　salute　now　…　both　were　down　and　ready　for　action。

〃give　the　password；〃　said　the　chief　soldier。

〃this　is　my　password；〃　said　the　king　as　he　drew　his　sword。　〃the　light　is　　dawning；　the　lie　broken。　now　guard　thee；　miscreant；　for　i　am　tirian　of　narnia。”

he　flew　upon　the　chief　soldier　like　lightning。　eustace；　who　had　drawn　his　　sword　when　he　saw　the　king　draw　his；　rushed　at　the　other　one：　his　face　was　deadly　pale；　　but　i　wouldnt　blame　him　for　that。　and　he　had　the　luck　that　beginners　sometimes　do　have。　　he　forgot　all　that　tirian　had　tried　to　teach　him　that　afternoon；　slashed　wildly　（indeed　　im　not　sure　his　eyes　werent　shut）　and　suddenly　found；　to　his　own　great　surprise；　that　the　　calormene　lay　dead　at　his　feet。　and　though　that　was　a　great　relief；　it　was；　at　the　　moment；　rather　frightening。　the　kings　fight　lasted　a　second　or　two　longer：　then　he　too　　had　killed　his　man　and　shouted　to　eustace；　〃ware　the　other　two。”

but　the　dwarfs　had　settled　the　two　remaining　calormenes。　there　was　no　enemy　　left。

〃well　struck；　eustace！〃　cried　tirian；　clapping　him　on　the　back。　〃now；　　dwarfs；　you　are　free。　tomorrow　i　will　lead　you　to　free　all　narnia。　three　cheers　for　aslan！”

but　the　result　which　followed　was　simply　wretched。　there　was　a　feeble　　attempt　from　a　few　dwarfs　（about　five）　which　died　away　all　at　once：　from　several　others　　there　were　sulky　growls。　many　said　nothing　at　all。

〃dont　they　understand？〃　said　jill　impatiently。　〃whats　wrong　with　all　you　　dwarfs？　dont　you　hear　what　the　king　says？　its　all　over。　the　ape　isnt　going　to　rule　　narnia　any　longer。

everyone　can　go　back　to　ordinary　life。　you　can　have　fun　again。　arent　you　　glad？”

after　a　pause　of　nearly　a　minute　a　not…very…nice…looking　dwarf　with　hair　　and　beard　as　black　as　soot　said：　〃and　who　might　you　be；　missie？”

〃im　jill；〃　she　said。　〃the　same　jill　who　rescued　king　rilian　from　the　　enchantment　and　this　is　eustace　who　did　it　too　…　and　weve　e　back　from　another　world　　after　hundreds　of　years。　aslan　sent　us。”

the　dwarfs　all　looked　at　one　another　with　grins；　sneering　grins；　not　merry　　ones。

〃well；〃　said　the　black　dwarf　（whose　name　was　griffle）；　〃i　dont　know　how　　all　you　chaps　feel；　but　i　feel　ive　heard　as　much　about　aslan　as　i　want　to　for　the　rest　　of　my　life。”

〃thats　right；　thats　right；〃　growled　the　other　dwarfs。　〃its　all　a　plant；　　all　a　blooming　plant。”

〃what　do　you　mean？〃　said　tirian。　he　had　not　been　pale　when　he　was　fighting　　but　he　was　pale　now。　he　had　thought　this　was　going　to　be　a　beautiful　moment；　but　it　　was　turning　out　more　like　a　bad　dream。

〃you　must　think　were　blooming　soft　in　the　head；　that　you　must；〃　said　　griffle。　〃weve　been　taken　in　once　and　now　you　expect　us　to　be　taken　in　again　the　next　　minute。　weve　no　more　use　for　stories　about　aslan；　see！　look　at　him！　an　old　moke　with　long　　ears！”

〃by　heaven；　you　make　me　mad；〃　said　tirian。　〃which　of　us　said　that　was　　aslan？　that　is　the　apes　imitation　of　the　real　aslan。　cant　you　understand？”

〃and　youve　got　a　better　imitation；　i　suppose！〃　said　griffle。　〃no　thanks。　　weve　been　fooled　once　and　were　not　going　to　be　fooled　again。”

〃i　have　not；〃　said　tirian　angrily；　〃i　serve　the　real　aslan。”

〃wheres　he？　whos　he？　show　him　to　us！〃　said　several　dwarfs。

〃do　you　think　i　keep　him　in　my　wallet；　fools？〃　said　tirian。　〃who　am　i　that　　i　could　make　aslan　appear　at　my　bidding？　hes　not　a　tame　lion。”

the　moment　those　words　were　out　of　his　mouth　he　realized　that　he　had　made　a　　false　move。　the　dwarfs　at　once　began　repeating　〃not　a　tame　lion；　not　a　tame　　lion；〃　in　a　jeering　sing…song。　〃thats　what　the　other　lot　kept　on　telling　us；〃　said　one。

〃do　you　mean　you　dont　believe　in　the　real　aslan？〃　said　jill。　〃but　ive　　seen　him。　and　he　has　sent　us　two　here　out　of　a　different　world。”

〃ah；〃　said　griffle　with　a　broad　smile。　〃so　you　say。　theyve　taught　you　your　　stuff　all　right。　saying　your　lessons；　aint　you？”

〃churl；〃　cried　tirian；　〃will　you　give　a　lady　the　lie　to　her　very　face？”

〃you　keep　a　civil　tongue　in　your　head；　mister；〃　replied　the　dwarf。　〃i　dont　　think　we　want　any　more　kings　…　if　you　are　tirian；　which　you　dont　look　like　him　…　no　more　　than　we　want　any　aslans。　were　going　to　look　after　ourselves　from　now　on　and　touch　our　　caps　to　nobody。　see？”

〃thats　right；〃　said　the　other　dwarfs。　〃were　on　our　own　now。　no　more　　aslan；　no　more　kings；　no　more　silly　stories　about　other　worlds。　the　dwarfs　are　for　the　　dwarfs。〃　and　they　began　to　fall　into　their　places　and　to　get　ready　for　marching　back　to　　wherever　they　had　e　from。

〃little　beasts！〃　said　eustace。　〃arent　you　even　going　to　say　thank　you　for　　being　saved　from　the　salt…mines？”

〃oh；　we　know　all　about　that；〃　said　griffle　over　his　shoulder。　〃you　wanted　　to　make　use　of　us；　thats　why　you　rescued　us。　youre　playing　some　game　of　your　own。　e　　on　you　chaps。”

and　the　dwarfs　struck　up　the　queer　little　marching　song　which　goes　with　the　　drum…beat；　and　off　they　tramped　into　the　darkness。

tirian　and　his　friends　stared　after　them。　then　he　said　the　single　word　　〃e；〃　and　they　continued　their　journey。

they　were　a　silent　party。　puzzle　felt　himself　to　be　still　in　disgrace；　and　　also　he　didnt　really　quite　understand　what　had　happened。　jill；　besides　being　disgusted　　with　the　dwarfs；　was　very　impressed　with　eustaces　victory　over　the　calormene　and　felt　　almost　shy。　as　for　eustace；　his　heart　was　still　beating　rather　quickly。　tirian　and　jewel　　walked　sadly　together　in　the　rear。　the　king　had　his　arm　on　the　unicorns　shoulder　and　sometimes　　the　unicorn　nuzzled　the　kings　cheek　with　his　soft　nose。　they　did　not　try　to　for