The Last Battle-第9章

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stars　even　when　the　　spear…head　was　hidden。　as　soon　as　tirian　saw　that　she　was　the　best　pathfinder　of　the　three　　of　them　he　put　her　in　front。　and　then　he　was　astonished　to　find　how　silently　and　almost　　invisibly　she　glided　on　before　them。

〃by　the　mane！〃　he　whispered　to　eustace。　〃this　girl　is　a　wondrous　wood…maid。　　if　she　had　dryads　blood　in　her　she　could　scarce　do　it　better。”

〃shes　so　small；　thats　what　helps；〃　whispered　eustace。　but　jill　from　in　　front　said：　〃s…s…s…h；　less　noise。”

all　round　them　the　wood　was　very　quiet。　indeed　it　was　far　too　quiet。　on　an　　ordinary　narnia　night　there　ought　to　have　been　noises　…　an　occasional　cheery　　〃goodnight〃　from　a　hedgehog；　the　cry　of　an　owl　overhead；　perhaps　a　flute　in　the　distance　to　　tell　of　fauns　dancing；　or　some　throbbing；　hammering　noises　from　dwarfs　underground。　all　　that　was　silenced：　gloom　and　fear　reigned　over　narnia。

after　a　time　they　began　to　go　steeply　uphill　and　the　trees　grew　further　　apart。　tirian　could　dimly　make　out　the　wellknown　hill…top　and　the　stable。　jill　was　now　going　　with　more　and　more　caution：　she　kept　on　making　signs　to　the　others　with　her　hand　to　do　　the　same。　then　she　stopped　dead　still　and　tirian　saw　her　gradually　sink　down　into　the　　grass　and　disappear　without　a　sound。　a　moment　later　she　rose　again；　put　her　mouth　　close　to　tirians　ear；　and　said　in　the　lowest　possible　whisper；　〃get　down。　thee　better。〃　she　　said　thee　for　see　not　because　she　had　a　lisp　but　because　she　knew　the　hissing　letter　s　is　　the　part　of　a　whisper　most　likely　to　be　overheard。　tirian　at　once　lay　down；　almost　as　　silently　as　jill；　but　not　quite；　for　he　was　heavier　and　older。　and　once　they　were　down；　he　　saw　how　from　that　position　you　could　see　the　edge　of　the　hill　sharp　against　the　star…　strewn　sky。　two　black　shapes　rose　against　it：　one　was　the　stable；　and　the　other；　a　few　feet　　in　front　of　it；　was　a　calormene　sentry。　he　was　keeping　very　ill　watch：　not　walking　or　even　　standing　but　sitting　with　his　spear　over　his　shoulder　and　his　chin　on　his　chest。　〃well　　done；〃　said　tirian　to　jill。　she　had　shown　him　exactly　what　he　needed　to　know。

they　got　up　and　tirian　now　took　the　lead。　very　slowly；　hardly　daring　to　　breathe；　they　made　their　way　up　to　a　little　clump　of　trees　which　was　not　more　than　forty　　feet　away　from　the　sentinel。

〃wait　here　till　i　e　again；〃　he　whispered　to　the　other　two。　〃if　i　　miscarry；　fly。〃　then　he　sauntered　out　boldly　in　full　view　of　the　enemy。　the　man　started　when　he　saw　　him　and　was　just　going　to　jump　to　his　feet：　he　was　afraid　tirian　might　be　one　of　　his　own　officers　and　that　he　would　get　into　trouble　for　sitting　down。　but　before　he　could　　get　up　tirian　had　dropped　on　one　knee　beside　him；　saying：　　〃art　thou　a　warrior　of　the　tisrocs；　may　he　live　for　ever？　it　cheers　my　　heart　to　meet　thee　among　all　these　beasts　and　devils　of　narnians。　give　me　thy　hand；　friend。”

before　he　well　knew　what　was　happening　the　calormene　sentry　found　his　right　　hand　seized　in　a　mighty　grip。　next　instant　someone　was　kneeling　on　his　legs　and　　a　dagger　was　pressed　against　his　neck。

〃one　noise　and　thou　art　dead；〃　said　tirian　in　his　ear。　〃tell　me　where　the　　unicorn　is　and　thou　shalt　live。”

〃b　…　behind　the　stable；　o　my　master；〃　stammered　the　unfortunate　man。

〃good。　rise　up　and　lead　me　to　him。”

as　the　man　got　up　the　point　of　the　dagger　never　left　his　neck。　it　only　　travelled　round　（cold　and　rather　ticklish）　as　tirian　got　behind　him　and　settled　it　at　a　　convenient　place　under　his　ear。　trembling　he　went　round　to　the　back　of　the　stable。

though　it　was　dark　tirian　could　see　the　white　shape　of　jewel　at　once。

〃hush！〃　he　said。　〃no；　do　not　neigh。　yes；　jewel；　it　is　i。　how　have　they　tied　　thee？”

〃hobbled　by　all　four　legs　and　tied　with　a　bridle　to　a　ring　in　the　stable　　wall；〃　came　jewels　voice。

〃stand　here；　sentry；　with　your　back　to　the　wall。　so。　now；　jewel：　set　the　　point　of　your　horn　against　this　calormenes　breast。”

〃with　a　good　will；　sire；〃　said　jewel。

〃if　he　moves；　rive　him　to　the　heart。〃　then　in　a　few　seconds　tirian　cut　the　　ropes。　with　the　remains　of　them　he　bound　the　sentry　hand　and　foot。　finally　he　made　him　open　　his　mouth；　stuffed　it　full　of　grass　and　tied　him　up　from　scalp　to　chin　so　that　he　　could　make　no　noise；　lowered　the　man　into　a　sitting　position　and　set　him　against　the　wall。

〃i　have　done　thee　some　discourtesy；　soldier；〃　said　tirian。　〃but　such　was　my　　need。　if　we　meet　again　i　may　happen　to　do　thee　a　better　turn。　now；　jewel；　let　us　go　　softly。”

he　put　his　left　arm　round　the　beasts　neck　and　bent　and　kissed　its　nose　and　　both　had　great　joy。　they　went　back　as　quietly　as　possible　to　the　place　where　he　had　left　　the　children。　it　was　darker　in　there　under　the　trees　and　he　nearly　ran　into　eustace　before　　he　saw　him。

〃alls　well；〃　whispered　tirian。　〃a　good　nights　work。　now　for　home。”

they　turned　and　had　gone　a　few　paces　when　eustace　said；　〃where　are　you；　　pole？〃　there　was　no　answer。　〃is　jill　on　the　other　side　of　you；　sire？〃　he　asked。

〃what？〃　said　tirian。　〃is　she　not　on　the　other　side　of　your”

it　was　a　terrible　moment。　they　dared　not　shout　but　they　whispered　her　name　　in　the　loudest　whisper　they　could　manage。　there　was　no　reply。

〃did　she　go　from　you　while　i　was　away？〃　asked　tirian。

〃i　didnt　see　or　hear　her　go；〃　said　eustace。　〃but　she　could　have　gone　　without　my　knowing。　she　can　be　as　quiet　as　a　cat；　youve　seen　for　yourself。”

at　that　moment　a　far　off　drum　beat　was　heard。　jewel　moved　his　ears　forward。　　〃dwarfs；”

he　said。

〃and　treacherous　dwarfs；　enemies；　as　likely　as　not；〃　muttered　tirian。

〃and　here　es　something　on　hoofs；　much　nearer；〃　said　jewel。

the　two　humans　and　the　unicorn　stood　dead　still。　there　were　now　so　many　　different　things　to　worry　about　that　they　didnt　know　what　to　do。　the　noise　of　hoofs　　came　steadily　nearer。　and　then；　quite　close　to　them；　a　voice　whispered：　　〃hallo！　are　you　all　there？”

thank　heaven；　it　was　jills。

〃where　the　devil　have　you　been　to？〃　said　eustace　in　a　furious　whisper；　for　　he　had　been　very　frightened。

〃in　the　stable；〃　gasped　jill；　but　it　was　the　sort　of　gasp　you　give　when　　youre　struggling　with　suppressed　laughter。

〃oh；〃　growled　eustace；　〃you　think　it　funny；　do　you？　well　all　i　can　say　is　　…”

〃have　you　got　jewel；　sire？〃　asked　jill。

〃yes。　here　he　is。　what　is　that　beast　with　you？”

〃thats　him；〃　said　jill。　〃but　lets　be　off　home　before　anyone　wakes　up。〃　　and　again　there　came　little　explosions　of　laughter。

the　others　obeyed　at　once　for　they　had　already　lingered　long　enough　in　that　　dangerous　place　and　the　dwarf　drums　seemed　to　have　e　a　little　nearer。　it　was　only　　after　they　had　been　walking　southward　for　several　minutes　that　eustace　said：　　〃got　him？　what　do　you　mean？”

〃the　false　aslan；〃　said　jill。

〃what？〃　said　tirian。　〃where　have　you　been？　what　have　you　done？”

〃well；　sire；〃　said　jill。　〃as　soon　as　i　saw　that　youd　got　the　sentry　out　of　　the　way　i　thought　hadnt　i　better　have　a　look　inside　the　stable　and　see　what　really　is　there？　　so　i　crawled　along。　it　was　as　easy　as　anything　to　draw　the　bolt。

of　course　it　was　pitch　black　inside　and　smelled　like　any　other　stable。　then　　i　struck　a　light　and　…　would　you　believe　it？　…　there　was　nothing　at　all　there　but　this　old　　donkey　with　a　bundle　of　lion…skin　tied　on　to　his　back。　so　i　drew　my　knife　and　told　him　　hed　have　to　e　along　with　me。　as　a　matter　of　fact　i　neednt　have　threatened　him　with　　the　knife　at　all。　he　was　very　fed　up　with　the　stable　and　quite　ready　to　e　…　werent　　you；　puzzle　dear？”

〃great　scott！〃　said　eustace。　〃well　im　…　jiggered。　i　was　jolly　angry　with　　you　a　moment　ago；　and　i　still　think　it　was　mean　of　you　to　sneak　off　without　the　rest　of　　us：　but　i　must　admit　…　well；　i　mean　to　say　…　well　it　was　a　perfectly　gorgeous　thing　to　do。　　if　she　was　a　boy　shed　have　to　be　knighted；　wouldnt　she；　sire？”

〃if　she　was　a　boy；〃　said　tirian；　〃shed　be　whipped　for　disobeying　orders。〃　　and　in　the　dark　no　one　could　see　whether　he　said　this　with　a　frown　or　a　smile。　next　minute　　there　was　a　sound　of　rasping　metal。

〃what　are　you　doing；　sire？〃　asked　jewel　sharply。

〃drawing　my　sword　to　smite　off　the　head　of　the　accursed　ass；〃　said　tirian　　in　a　terrible　voice。　〃stand　clear；　girl。”

〃oh　dont；　please　dont；〃　said　jill。　〃really；　you　mustnt。　it　wasnt　his　　fault。　it　was　all　the　ape。　he　didnt　know　any　better。　and　hes　very　sorry。　and　hes　a　nice　　donkey。　his　names　puzzle。　and　ive　got　my　arms　round　his　neck。”

〃jill；〃　said　tirian；　〃you　are　the　bravest　and　most　woodwise　of　all　my　　subjects；　but　also　the　most　malapert　and　disobedient。　well：　let　the　ass　live。　what　have　you　to　say　　for　yourself；　ass？”

〃me；　sire？〃　came　the　donkeys　voice。　〃im　sure　im　very　sorry　if　ive　done　　wrong。　the　ape　said　aslan　wanted　me　to　dress　up　like　that。　and　i　thought　hed　know。　　im　not　clever　like　him。　i　only　did　what　i　was　told。　it　wasnt　any　fun　for　me　living　in　　that　stable。　i　dont　even　know　whats　been　going　on　outside。　he　never　let　me　out　except　for　a　　minute　or　two　at　night。　some　days　they　forgot　to　give　me　any　water　too。”

〃sire；〃　said　jewel。　〃those　dwarfs　are　ing　nearer　and　nearer。　do　we　want　　to　meet　them？”

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　a