THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER-第24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！



lucy　leant　her　head　on　the　edge　of　the　fighting　top　and　whispered；　〃aslan；　　aslan；　if　ever　you　loved　us　at　all；　send　us　help　now。〃　the　darkness　did　not　grow　any　less；　　but　she　began　to　feel　a　little　…　a　very；　very　little　…　better。　〃after　all；　nothing　has　　really　happened　to　us　yet；〃　she　thought。

〃look！〃　cried　rynelfs　voice　hoarsely　from　the　bows。　there　was　a　tiny　speck　　of　light　ahead；　and　while　they　watched　a　broad　beam　of　light　fell　from　it　upon　the　　ship。　it　did　not　alter　the　surrounding　darkness；　but　the　whole　ship　was　lit　up　as　if　by　　searchlight。　caspian　blinked；　stared　round；　saw　the　faces　of　his　panions　all　with　wild；　fixed　　expressions。

everyone　was　staring　in　the　same　direction：　behind　everyone　lay　his　black；　　sharply…edged　shadow。

lucy　looked　along　the　beam　and　presently　saw　something　in　it。　at　first　it　　looked　like　a　cross；　then　it　looked　like　an　aeroplane；　then　it　looked　like　a　kite；　and　at　　last　with　a　whirring　of　wings　it　was　right　overhead　and　was　an　albatross。　it　circled　　three　times　round　the　mast　and　then　perched　for　an　instant　on　the　crest　of　the　gilded　dragon　　at　the　prow。　it　called　out　in　a　strong　sweet　voice　what　seemed　to　be　words　though　no　one　　understood　them。　after　that　it　spread　its　wings；　rose；　and　began　to　fly　slowly　ahead；　　bearing　a　little　to　starboard。　drinian　steered　after　it　not　doubting　that　it　offered　good　　guidance。　but　no　one　except　lucy　knew　that　as　it　circled　the　mast　it　had　whispered　to　her；　　〃courage；　dear　heart；〃　and　the　voice；　she　felt　sure；　was　aslans；　and　with　the　voice　a　　delicious　smell　breathed　in　her　face。

in　a　few　moments　the　darkness　turned　into　a　greyness　ahead；　and　then；　　almost　before　they　dared　to　begin　hoping；　they　had　shot　out　into　the　sunlight　and　were　in　the　　warm；　blue　world　again。　and　all　at　once　everybody　realized　that　there　was　nothing　to　　be　afraid　of　and　　

never　had　been。　they　blinked　their　eyes　and　looked　about　them。　the　　brightness　of　the　ship　herself　astonished　them：　they　had　half　expected　to　find　that　the　　darkness　would　cling　to　the　white　and　the　green　and　the　gold　in　the　form　of　some　grime　or　scum。　　and　then　first　one；　and　then　another；　began　laughing。

〃i　reckon　weve　made　pretty　good　fools　of　ourselves；〃　said　rynelf。

lucy　lost　no　time　in　ing　down　to　the　deck；　where　she　found　the　others　　all　gathered　round　the　newer。　for　a　long　time　he　was　too　happy　to　speak；　and　could　　only　gaze　at　the　sea　and　the　sun　and　feel　the　bulwarks　and　the　ropes；　as　if　to　make　sure　　he　was　really　awake；　while　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。

〃thank　you；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃you　have　saved　me　from　。　。　。　but　i　wont　　talk　of　that。　and　now　let　me　know　who　you　are。　i　am　a　telmarine　of　narnia；　and　when　i　was　　worth　anything　men　called　me　the　lord　rhoop。”

〃and　i；〃　said　caspian；　〃am　caspian；　king　of　narnia；　and　i　sail　to　find　you　　and　your　panions　who　were　my　fathers　friends。”

lord　rhoop　fell　on　his　knees　and　kissed　the　kings　hand。　〃sire；〃　he　said；　　〃you　are　the　man　in　all　the　world　i　most　wished　to　see。　grant　me　a　boon。”

〃what　is　it？〃　asked　caspian。

〃never　to　bring　me　back　there；〃　he　said。　he　pointed　astern。　they　all　　looked。　but　they　saw　only　bright　blue　sea　and　bright　blue　sky。　the　dark　island　and　the　darkness　　had　vanished　for　ever。

〃why！〃　cried　lord　rhoop。　〃you　have　destroyed　it！”

〃i　dont　think　it　was　us；〃　said　lucy。

〃sire；〃　said　drinian；　〃this　wind　is　fair　for　the　southeast。　shall　i　have　　our　poor　fellows　up　and　set　sail？　and　after　that；　every　man　who　can　be　spared；　to　his　hammock。”

〃yes；〃　said　caspian；　〃and　let　there　be　grog　all　round。　heigh…ho；　i　feel　i　　could　sleep　the　clock　round　myself。”

so　all　afternoon　with　great　joy　they　sailed　south…east　with　a　fair　wind。　　but　nobody　noticed　when　the　albatross　had　disappeared。

。。



CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

。
the　three　sleepers　　the　wind　never　failed　but　it　grew　gentler　every　day　till　at　length　the　　waves　were　little　more　than　ripples；　and　the　ship　glided　on　hour　after　hour　almost　as　if　they　　were　sailing　on　a　lake。　and　every　night　they　saw　that　there　rose　in　the　east　new　　constellations　which　no　one　had　ever　seen　in　narnia　and　perhaps；　as　lucy　thought　with　a　mixture　of　　joy　and　fear；　no　living　eye　had　seen　at　all。　those　new　stars　were　big　and　bright　and　the　　nights　were　warm。　most　of　them　slept　on　deck　and　talked　far　into　the　night　or　hung　over　　the　ships　side　watching　the　luminous　dance　of　the　foam　thrown　up　by　their　bows。

on　an　evening　of　startling　beauty；　when　the　sunset　behind　them　was　so　　crimson　and　purple　and　widely　spread　that　the　very　sky　itself　seemed　to　have　grown　　larger；　they　came　in　sight　of　land　on　their　starboard　bow。　it　came　slowly　nearer　and　the　　light　behind　them　made　it　look　as　if　the　capes　and　headlands　of　this　new　country　were　all　on　　fire。　but　presently　they　were　sailing　along　its　coast　and　its　western　cape　now　rose　　up　astern　of　them；　black　against　the　red　sky　and　sharp　as　if　it　was　cut　out　of　　cardboard；　and　then　they　could　see　better　what　this　country　was　like。　it　had　no　mountains　but　many　　gentle　hills　with　slopes　like　pillows。　an　attractive　smell　came　from　it　…　what　lucy　　called　〃a　dim；　purple　kind　of　smell〃；　which　edmund　said　（and　rhince　thought）　was　rot；　but　　caspian　said；　〃i　know　what　you　mean。”

they　sailed　on　a　good　way；　past　point　after　point；　hoping　to　find　a　nice　　deep　harbour；　but　had　to　content　themselves　in　the　end　with　a　wide　and　shallow　bay。　though　it　　had　seemed　calm　out　at　sea　there　was　of　course　surf　breaking　on　the　sand　and　they　　could　not　bring　the　dawn　treader　as　far　in　as　they　would　have　liked。　they　dropped　anchor　a　good　　way　from　the　beach　and　had　a　wet　and　tumbling　landing　in　the　boat。　the　lord　rhoop　　remained　on　board　the　dawn　treader。　he　wished　to　see　no　more　islands。　all　the　time　that　　they　remained　in　this　country　the　sound　of　the　long　breakers　was　in　their　ears。

two　men　were　left　to　guard　the　boat　and　caspian　led　the　others　inland；　but　　not　far　because　it　was　too　late　for　exploring　and　the　light　would　soon　go。　but　　there　was　no　need　to　go　far　to　find　an　adventure。　the　level　valley　which　lay　at　the　head　of　　the　bay　showed　no　road　or　track　or　other　sign　of　habitation。　underfoot　was　tine　springy　　turf　dotted　here　and　there　with　a　low　bushy　growth　which　edmund　and　lucy　took　for　heather。　　eustace；　who　was　really　rather　good　at　botany；　said　it　wasnt；　and　he　was　probably　　right；　but　it　was　something　of　very　much　the　same　kind。

when　they　had　gone　less　than　a　bowshot　from　the　shore；　drinian　said；　〃look！　　whats　that？〃　and　everyone　stopped。

〃are　they　great　trees？〃　said　caspian。

〃towers；　l　think；〃　said　eustace。

〃it　might　be　giants；〃　said　edmund　in　a　lower　voice。

〃the　way　to　find　out　is　to　go　right　iv　among　them；〃　said　reepicheep；　　drawing　his　sword　and　pattering　off　ahead　of　everyone　else。

〃i　think　its　a　ruin；〃　said　lucy　when　they　had　got　a　good　deal　nearer；　and　　her　guess　was　the　best　so　far。　what　they　now　saw　was　a　wide　oblong　space　flagged　with　　smooth　stones　and　surrounded　by　grey　pillars　but　unroofed。　and　from　end　to　end　of　it　ran　　a　long　table　laid　with　a　rich　crimson　cloth　that　came　down　nearly　to　the　pavement。　at　　either　side　of　it　were　many　chairs　of　stone　richly　carved　and　with　silken　cushions　upon　the　　seats。　but　on　the　table　itself　there　was　set　out　such　a　banquet　as　had　never　been　seen；　　not　even　when　peter　the　high　king　kept　his　court　at　cair　paravel。　there　were　turkeys　and　　geese　and　peacocks；　there　were　boars　heads　and　sides　of　venison；　there　were　pies　　shaped　like　ships　under　full　sail　or　like　dragons　and　elephants；　there　were　ice　puddings　and　　bright　lobsters　and　gleaming　salmon；　there　were　nuts　and　grapes；　pineapples　and　peaches；　　pomegranates　and　melons　and　tomatoes。　there　were　flagons　of　gold　and　silver　and　　curiouslywrought　glass；　and　the　smell　of　the　fruit　and　the　wine　blew　towards　them　like　a　　promise　of　all　happiness。

〃i　say！〃　said　lucy。

they　came　nearer　and　nearer；　all　very　quietly。

〃but　where　are　the　guests？〃　asked　eustace。

〃we　can　provide　that；　sir；〃　said　rhince。

〃look！〃　said　edmund　sharply。　they　were　actually　within　the　pillars　now　and　　standing　on　the　pavement。　everyone　looked　where　edmund　had　pointed。　the　chairs　were　not　　all　empty。　at　the　head　of　the　table　and　in　the　two　places　beside　it　there　was　　something…　or　possibly　three　somethings。

〃what　are　those？〃　asked　lucy　in　a　whisper。　〃it　looks　like　three　beavers　　sitting　on　the　table。”

〃or　a　huge　birds　nest；〃　said　edmund。

〃it　looks　more　like　a　haystack　to　me；〃　said　caspian。

reepicheep　ran　forward；　jumped　on　a　chair　and　thence　on　to　the　table；　and　　ran　along　it；　threading　his　way　as　nimbly　as　a　dancer　between　jewelled　cups　and　pyramids　　of　fruit　and　…ivory　salt…cellars。　he　ran　right　up　to　the　mysterious　grey　mass　at　the　　end：　peered；　touched；　and　then　called　out：　　〃these　will　not　fight；　i　think。”

everyone　now　came　close　and　saw　that　what　sat　in　those　three　chairs　was　　three　men；　though　hard　to　recognize　as　men　till　you　looked　closely。　their　hair；　which　　was　grey；　had　　

grown　over　their　eyes　till　it　almost　concealed　their；　faces；　and　their　　beards　had　grown　over　the　table；　climbing　pound　and　entwining　plates　and　goblets　as　　brambles；　entwine　a　fence；　until；　all　mixed　in　one　great　mat　of　hair；　they　flowed　over　the　e