The Last Battle-第15章

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　feet；〃　said　tirian。　〃cursed；　cursed　　cleverness！〃　said　poggin。　〃ill　be　sworn　that　this　new　lie　is　of　gingers　making。”

．．



CHAPTER　TEN

ｄａｕｅｅｎｇｉａｏｕｏａｎｇ
who　will　go　into　the　stable？

jill　felt　something　tickling　her　ear。　it　was　jewel　the　unicorn；　whispering　　to　her　with　the　wide　whisper　of　a　horses　mouth。　as　soon　as　she　heard　what　he　was　saying　　she　nodded　and　tip…toed　back　to　where　puzzle　was　standing。　quickly　and　quietly　she　cut　　the　last　cords　that　bound　the　lion…skin　to　him。　it　wouldnt　do　for　him　to　be　caught　　with　that　on；　after　what　the　ape　had　said！　she　would　like　to　have　hidden　the　skin　　somewhere　very　far　away；　but　it　was　too　heavy。　the　best　she　could　do　was　to　kick　it　in　among　　the　thickest　bushes。　then　she　made　signs　to　puzzle　to　follow　her　and　they　both　joined　　the　others。

the　ape　was　speaking　again。

〃and　after　a　horrid　thing　like　that；　aslan　…　tashlan　…　is　angrier　than　　ever。　he　says　hes　been　a　great　deal　too　good　to　you；　ing　out　every　night　to　be　looked　at；　　see！　well；　hes　not　ing　out　any　more。”

howls　and　mewings　and　squeals　and　grunts　were　the　animals　answer　to　this；　　but　suddenly　a　quite　different　voice　broke　in　with　a　loud　laugh。

〃hark　what　the　monkey　says；〃　it　shouted。　〃we　know　why　he　isnt　going　to　　bring　his　precious　aslan　out。　ill　tell　you　why：　because　he　hasnt　got　him。　he　never　　had　anything　except　an　old　donkey　with　a　lion…skin　on　its　back。　now　hes　lost　that　and　　he　doesnt　know　what　to　do。”

tirian　could　not　see　the　faces　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire　very　well　but　　he　guessed　this　was　griffle　the　chief　dwarf。　and　he　was　quite　certain　of　it　when；　a　second　　later；　all　the　dwarfs　voices　joined　in；　singing：　〃dont　know　what　to　do！　dont　know　what　　to　do！　dont　know　what　to　do…o…o！”

〃silence！〃　thundered　rishda　tarkaan。　〃silence；　children　of　mud！　listen　to　　me；　you　other　narnians；　lest　i　give　mand　to　my　warriors　to　fall　upon　you　with　the　edge　　of　the　sword。　the　lord　shift　has　already　told　you　of　that　wicked　ass。　do　you　　think；　because　of　him　that　there　is　no　real　tashlan　in　the　stable！　do　you？　beware；　beware。”

〃no；　no；〃　shouted　most　of　the　crowd。　but　the　dwarfs　said；　〃thats　right；　　darkie；　youve　got　it。　e　on；　monkey；　show　us　whats　in　the　stable；　seeing　is　　believing。”

when　next　there　was　a　moments　quiet　the　ape　said：　〃you　dwarfs　think　youre　　very　clever；　dont　you？　but　not　so　fast。　i　never　said　you　couldnt　see　tashlan。　　anyone　who　likes　can　see　him。”

the　whole　assembly　became　silent。　then；　after　nearly　a　minute；　the　bear　　began　in　a　slow；　puzzled　voice：　　〃i　dont　quite　understand　all　this；〃　it　grumbled；　〃i　thought　you　said　…”

〃you　thought！〃　repeated　the　ape。　〃as　if　anyone　could　call　what　goes　on　in　　your　head　thinking。　listen；　you　others。　anyone　can　see　tashlan。　but　hes　not　ing　　out。　you　have　to　go　in　and　see　him。”

〃oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　dozens　of　voices。　〃thats　what　　we　wanted！

we　can　go　in　and　see　him　face　to　face。　and　now　hell　be　kind　and　it　will　　all　be　as　it　used　to　be。〃　and　the　birds　chattered；　and　the　dogs　barked　excitedly。　then　　suddenly；　there　was　a　great　stirring　and　a　noise　of　creatures　rising　to　their　feet；　and　in　a　　second　the　whole　lot　of　them　would　have　been　rushing　forward　and　trying　to　crowd　into　the　stable　　door　all　together。　but　the　ape　shouted：　　〃get　back！　quiet！　not　so　fast。”

the　beasts　stopped；　many　of　them　with　one　paw　in　the　with　tails　wagging；　　and　all　of　them　with　heads　on　one　side。

〃i　thought　you　said；〃　began　the　bear；　but　shift　interrupted。

〃anyone　can　go　in；〃　he　said。　〃but；　one　at　a　time。　wholl　go　first？　he　　didnt　say　he　was　feeling　very　kind。　hes　been　licking　his　lips　a　lot　since　he　swallowed　up　　the　wicked　king　the　other　night。　hes　been　growling　a　good　deal　this　morning。　i　wouldnt　　much　like　to　go　into　that　stable　myself　tonight。　but　just　as　you　please。　whod　like　to　go　　in　first？　dont　blame　me　if　he　swallows　you　whole　or　blasts　you　into　a　cinder　with　the　mere　　terror　of　his　eyes。　thats　your　affair。　now　then！　whos　first？　what　about　one　of　you　　dwarfs？”

〃dilly；　dilly；　e　and　be　killed！〃　sneered　griffle。　〃how　do　we　know　what　　youve　got　in　there？”

〃ho…ho！〃　cried　the　ape。　〃so　youre　beginning　to　think　theres　something　　there；　eh？　well；　all　you　beasts　were　making　noise　enough　a　minute　ago。　whats　struck　you　all　　dumb？

whos　going　in　first？”

but　the　beasts　all　stood　looking　at　one　another　and　began　backing　away　from　　the　stable。

very　few　tails　were　wagging　now。　the　ape　waddled　to　and　fro　jeering　at　　them。　〃ho…ho…ho！〃　he　chuckled。　〃i　thought　you　were　all　so　eager　to　see　tashlan　face　to　　face！　changed　your　mind；　eh？”

tirian　bent　his　head　to　hear　something　that　jill　was　trying　to　whisper　in　　his　ear。　〃what　do　you　think　is　really　inside　the　stable？〃　she　said。　〃who　knows？〃　said　tirian。　　〃two　calormenes　with　drawn　swords；　as　likely　as　not；　one　on　each　side　of　the　　door。〃　〃you　dont　think；〃　said　jill；　〃it　might　be　。　。　。　you　know　。　。　。　that　horrid　　thing　we　saw？〃　〃tash　himself？〃　whispered　tirian。　〃theres　no　knowing。　but　courage；　child：　we　are　　all　between　the　paws　of　the　true　aslan。”

then　a　most　surprising　thing　happened。　ginger　the　cat　said　in　a　cool；　clear　　voice；　not　at　all　as　if　he　was　excited；　〃ill　go　in；　if　you　like。”

every　creature　turned　and　fixed　its　eyes　on　the　cat。　〃mark　their　　subtleties；　sire；〃　said　poggin　to　the　king。　〃this　cursed　cat　is　in　the　plot；　in　the　very　centre　of　　it。　whatever　is　in　the　stable　will　not　hurt　him；　ill　be　bound。　then　ginger　will　e　out　　again　and　say　that　he　has　seen　some　wonder。”

but　tirian　had　no　time　to　answer　him。　the　ape　was　calling　the　cat　to　e　　forward。

〃ho…ho！〃　said　the　ape。　〃so　you；　a　pert　puss；　would　look　upon　him　face　to　　face。　e　on；　then！　ill　open　the　door　for　you。　dont　blame　me　if　he　scares　the　whiskers　　off　your　face。

thats　your　affair。”

and　the　cat　got　up　and　came　out　of　its　place　in　the　crowd；　walking　primly　　and　daintily；　with　its　tail　in　the　air；　not　one　hair　on　its　sleek　coat　out　of　place。　it　　came　on　till　it　had　passed　the　fire　and　was　so　close　that　tirian；　from　where　he　stood　with　his　　shoulder　against　the　end…wall　of　the　stable；　could　look　right　into　its　face。　its　big　　green　eyes　never　blinked。　（〃cool　as　a　cucumber；〃　muttered　eustace。　〃it　knows　it　has　nothing　　to　fear。〃）　the　ape；　chuckling　and　making　faces；　shuttled　across　beside　the　cat：　put　up　his　　paw：　drew　　

the　bolt　and　opened　the　door。　tirian　thought　he　could　hear　the　cat　purring　　as　it　walked　into　the　dark　doorway。

〃aii…aii…aouwee！　…〃　the　most　horrible　caterwaul　you　ever　heard　made　　everyone　jump。

you　have　been　wakened　yourself　by　cats　quarrelling　or　making　love　on　the　　roof　in　the　middle　of　the　night：　you　know　the　sound。

this　was　worse。　the　ape　was　knocked　head　over　heels　by　ginger　ing　back　　out　of　the　stable　at　top　speed。　if　you　had　not　known　he　was　a　cat；　you　might　have　　thought　he　was　a　ginger…coloured　streak　of　lightning。　he　shot　across　the　open　grass；　back　　into　the　crowd。

no　one　wants　to　meet　a　cat　in　that　state。　you　could　see　animals　getting　out　　of　his　way　to　left　and　right。　he　dashed　up　a　tree；　whisked　around；　and　hung　head　　downwards。　his　tail　was　bristled　out　till　it　was　nearly　as　thick　as　his　whole　body：　his　eyes　　were　like　saucers　of　green　fire：　along　his　back　every　single　hair　stood　on　end。

〃id　give　my　beard；〃　whispered　poggin；　〃to　know　whether　that　brute　is　only　　acting　or　whether　it　has　really　found　something　in　there　that　frightened　it！”

〃peace；　friend；〃　said　tirian；　for　the　captain　and　the　ape　were　also　　whispering　and　he　wanted　to　hear　what　they　said。　he　did　not　succeed；　except　that　he　heard　the　　ape　once　more　whimpering　〃my　head；　my　head；〃　but　he　got　the　idea　that　those　two　were　　almost　as　puzzled　by　the　cats　behaviour　as　himself。

〃now；　ginger；〃　said　the　captain。　〃enough　of　that　noise。　tell　them　what　thou　　hast　seen。”

〃aii　…　aii　…　aaow　…　awah；〃　screamed　the　cat。

〃art　thou　not　called　a　talking　beast？〃　said　the　captain。　〃then　hold　thy　　devilish　noise　and　talk。”

what　followed　was　rather　horrible。　tirian　felt　quite　certain　（and　so　did　　the　others）　that　the　cat　was　trying　to　say　something：　but　nothing　came　out　of　his　mouth　except　　the　ordinary；　ugly　cat…noises　you　might　hear　from　any　angry　or　frightened　old　tom　in　a　　backyard　in　england。　and　the　longer　he　caterwauled　the　less　like　a　talking　beast　he　　looked。　uneasy　whimperings　and　little　sharp　squeals　broke　out　from　among　the　other　　animals。

〃look；　look！〃　said　the　voice　of　the　bear。　〃it　cant　talk。　it　has　forgotten　　how　to　talk！　it　has　gone　back　to　being　a　dumb　beast。　look　at　its　face。〃　everyone　saw　that　it　　was　true。　and　then　the　greatest　terror　of　all　fell　upon　those　narnians。　for　every　one　of　　them　had　been　taught　…　when　it　was　only　a　chick　or　a　puppy　or　a　cub　…　how　aslan　at　the　　beginning　of　the　world　had　turned　the　beasts　of　narnia　into　talking　beasts　and　warned　them　　that　if　they　werent　good　they　might　one　day　be　turned　back　again　and　be　like　the　poor　　witless　animals　one　meets　in　other　countries。　〃and　now　it　is　ing　upon　us；〃　they　　moaned。

〃mercy！　mercy！〃　wailed　the　beasts。　〃spare　us；　lord　shift；　stand　between　us　　and　aslan；　you　must　always　go　in　and　speak　to　him　for　us。　we　darent；　we　darent。”

ginger　disappeared　further　up　into　the　tree。　no