The Lion, the Witch and the War-第11章

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llen　tree…trunks；　and　　sliding　down　steep　banks；　and　barking　his　shins　against　rocks；　till　he　was　wet　and　cold　and　　bruised　all　over。

the　silence　and　the　loneliness　were　dreadful。　in　fact　i　really　think　he　　might　have　given　up　the　whole　plan　and　gone　back　and　owned　up　and　made　friends　with　the　others；　　if　he　hadnt　happened　to　say　to　himself；　〃when　im　king　of　narnia　the　first　thing　　i　shall　do　will　be　to　make　some　decent　roads。〃　and　of　course　that　set　him　off　thinking　　about　being　a　king　and　all　the　other　things　he　would　do　and　this　cheered　him　up　a　good　　deal。　he　had　just　settled　in　his　mind　what　sort　of　palace　he　would　have　and　how　many　　cars　and　all　about　his　private　cinema　and　where　the　principal　railways　would　run　and　　what　laws　he　would　make　against　beavers　and　dams　and　was　putting　the　finishing　touches　　to　some　schemes　for　keeping　peter　in　his　place；　when　the　weather　changed。　first　the　　snow　stopped。　then　a　wind　sprang　up　and　it　became　freezing　cold。　finally；　the　　clouds　rolled　　

away　and　the　moon　came　out。　it　was　a　full　moon　and；　shining　on　all　that　　snow；　it　made　everything　almost　as　bright　as　day　…　only　the　shadows　were　rather　　confusing。

he　would　never　have　found　his　way　if　the　moon　hadnt　e　out　by　the　time　　he　got　to　the　other　river　you　remember　he　had　seen　（when　they　first　arrived　at　the　　beavers）　a　smaller　river　flowing　into　the　great　one　lower　down。　he　now　reached　this　and　turned　　to　follow　it　up。　but　the　little　valley　down　which　it　came　was　much　steeper　and　rockier　　than　the　one　he　had　just　left　and　much　overgrown　with　bushes；　so　that　he　could　not　have　　managed　it　at　all　in　the　dark。　even　as　it　was；　he　got　wet　through　for　he　had　to　stoop　under　　branches　and　great　loads　of　snow　came　sliding　off　on　to　his　back。　and　every　time　this　　happened　he　thought　more　and　more　how　he　hated　peter　…　just　as　if　all　this　had　been　　peters　fault。

but　at　last　he　came　to　a　part　where　it　was　more　level　and　the　valley　opened　　out。　and　there；　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　quite　close　to　him；　in　the　middle　of　　a　little　plain　between　two　hills；　he　saw　what　must　be　the　white　witchs　house。　and　the　　moon　was　shining　brighter　than　ever。　the　house　was　really　a　small　castle。　it　seemed　　to　be　all　towers；　little　towers　with　long　pointed　spires　on　them；　sharp　as　needles。　　they　looked　like　huge　dunces　caps　or　sorcerers　caps。　and　they　shone　in　the　moonlight　and　　their　long　shadows　looked　strange　on　the　snow。　edmund　began　to　be　afraid　of　the　house。

but　it　was　too　late　to　think　of　turning　back　now。

he　crossed　the　river　on　the　ice　and　walked　up　to　the　house。　there　was　　nothing　stirring；　not　the　slightest　sound　anywhere。　even　his　own　feet　made　no　noise　on　the　　deep　newly　fallen　snow。　he　walked　on　and　on；　past　corner　after　corner　of　the　house；　　and　past　turret　after　turret　to　find　the　door。　he　had　to　go　right　round　to　the　far　side　　before　he　found　it。　it　was　a　huge　arch　but　the　great　iron　gates　stood　wide　open。

edmund　crept　up　to　the　arch　and　looked　inside　into　the　courtyard；　and　there　　he　saw　a　sight　that　nearly　made　his　heart　stop　beating。　just　inside　the　gate；　with　　the　moonlight　shining　on　it；　stood　an　enormous　lion　crouched　as　if　it　was　ready　to　　spring。　and　edmund　stood　in　the　shadow　of　the　arch；　afraid　to　go　on　and　afraid　to　go　back；　　with　his　knees　knocking　together。　he　stood　there　so　long　that　his　teeth　would　have　been　　chattering　with　cold　even　if　they　had　not　been　chattering　with　fear。　how　long　this　really　　lasted　i　dont　know；　but　it　seemed　to　edmund　to　last　for　hours。

then　at　last　he　began　to　wonder　why　the　lion　was　standing　so　still　…　for　it　　hadnt　moved　one　inch　since　he　first　set　eyes　on　it。　edmund　now　ventured　a　little　　nearer；　still　keeping　in　the　shadow　of　the　arch　as　much　as　he　could。　he　now　saw　from　the　way　the　　lion　was　standing　that　it　couldnt　have　been　looking　at　him　at　all。　（〃but　supposing　　it　turns　its　head？〃　thought　edmund。）　in　fact　it　was　staring　at　something　else　namely　a　　little：　dwarf　who　stood　with　his　back　to　it　about　four　feet　away。　〃aha！〃　thought　edmund。　　〃when　it　springs　at　the　dwarf　then　will　be　my　chance　to　escape。〃　but　still　the　lion　　never　moved；　nor　did　the　dwarf。　and　now　at　last　edmund　remembered　what　the　others　had　　said　about　the　white　witch　turning　people　into　stone。　perhaps　this　was　only　a　stone　　lion。　and　as　soon　as　he　had　thought　of　that　he　noticed　that　the　lions　back　and　the　top　　of　its　head　were　　

covered　with　snow。　of　course　it　must　be　only　a　statue！　no　living　animal　　would　have　let　itself　get　covered　with　snow。　then　very　slowly　and　with　his　heart　beating　　as　if　it　would　burst；　edmund　ventured　to　go　up　to　the　lion。　even　now　he　hardly　dared　to　　touch　it；　but　at　last　he　put　out　his　hand；　very　quickly；　and　did。　it　was　cold　stone。　he　had　　been　frightened　of　a　mere　statue！

the　relief　which　edmund　felt　was　so　great　that　in　spite　of　the　cold　he　　suddenly　got　warm　all　over　right　down　to　his　toes；　and　at　the　same　time　there　came　into　his　　head　what　seemed　a　perfectly　lovely　idea。　〃probably；〃　he　thought；　〃this　is　the　great　　lion　aslan　that　they　were　all　talking　about。　shes　caught　him　already　and　turned　him　into　　stone。　so　thats　the　end　of　all　their　fine　ideas　about　him！　pooh！　whos　afraid　of　aslan？”

and　he　stood　there　gloating　over　the　stone　lion；　and　presently　he　did　　something　very　silly　and　childish。　he　took　a　stump　of　lead　pencil　out　of　his　pocket　and　　scribbled　a　moustache　on　the　lions　upper　lip　and　then　a　pair　of　spectacles　on　its　eyes。　then　he　　said；　〃yah！　silly　old　aslan！　how　do　you　like　being　a　stone？　you　thought　yourself　mighty　fine；　　didnt　you？〃　but　in　spite　of　the　scribbles　on　it　the　face　of　the　great　stone　beast　　still　looked　so　terrible；　and　sad；　and　noble；　staring　up　in　the　moonlight；　that　edmund　　didnt　really　get　any　fun　out　of　jeering　at　it。　he　turned　away　and　began　to　cross　the　courtyard。

as　he　got　into　the　middle　of　it　he　saw　that　there　were　dozens　of　statues　　all　about　…　standing　here　and　there　rather　as　the　pieces　stand　on　a　chess…board　when　it　　is　half…way　through　the　game。　there　were　stone　satyrs；　and　stone　wolves；　and　bears　and　　foxes　and　cat…amountains　of　stone。　there　were　lovely　stone　shapes　that　looked　like　　women　but　who　were　really　the　spirits　of　trees。　there　was　the　great　shape　of　a　centaur　　and　a　winged　horse　and　a　long　lithe　creature　that　edmund　took　to　be　a　dragon。　they　all　looked　　so　strange　standing　there　perfectly　life…like　and　also　perfectly　still；　in　the　bright　　cold　moonlight；　that　it　was　eerie　work　crossing　the　courtyard。　right　in　the　very　middle　stood　a　　huge　shape　like　a　man；　but　as　tall　as　a　tree；　with　a　fierce　face　and　a　shaggy　beard　and　a　　great　club　in　its　right　hand。　even　though　he　knew　that　it　was　only　a　stone　giant　and　not　a　　live　one；　edmund　did　not　like　going　past　it。

he　now　saw　that　there　was　a　dim　light　showing　from　a　doorway　on　the　far　　side　of　the　courtyard。　he　went　to　it；　there　was　a　flight　of　stone　steps　going　up　to　an　　open　door。

edmund　went　up　them。　across　the　threshold　lay　a　great　wolf。

〃its　all　right；　its　all　right；〃　he　kept　saying　to　himself；　〃its　only　a　　stone　wolf。　it　cant　hurt　me〃；　and　he　raised　his　leg　to　step　over　it。　instantly　the　huge　creature　　rose；　with　all　the　hair　bristling　along　its　back；　opened　a　great；　red　mouth　and　said　in　a　growling　　voice：　　〃whos　there？　whos　there？　stand　still；　stranger；　and　tell　me　who　you　are。”

〃if　you　please；　sir；〃　said　edmund；　trembling　so　that　he　could　hardly　speak；　　〃my　name　is　edmund；　and　im　the　son　of　adam　that　her　majesty　met　in　the　wood　the　other　　day　and　ive　e　to　bring　her　the　news　that　my　brother　and　sisters　are　now　in　　narnia　…　quite　close；　in　the　beavers　house。　she　…　she　wanted　to　see　them。”

〃i　will　tell　her　majesty；〃　said　the　wolf。　〃meanwhile；　stand　still　on　the　　threshold；　as　you　value　your　life。〃　then　it　vanished　into　the　house。

edmund　stood　and　waited；　his　fingers　aching　with　cold　and　his　heart　　pounding　in　his　chest；　and　presently　the　grey　wolf；　maugrim；　the　chief　of　the　witchs　　secret　police；　came　bounding　back　and　said；　〃e　in！　e　in！　fortunate　favourite　of　the　queen　　…　or　else　not　so　fortunate。”

and　edmund　went　in；　taking　great　care　not　to　tread　on　the　wolfs　paws。

he　found　himself　in　a　long　gloomy　hall　with　many　pillars；　full；　as　the　　courtyard　had　been；　of　statues。　the　one　nearest　the　door　was　a　little　faun　with　a　very　sad　　expression　on　its　face；　and　edmund　couldnt　help　wondering　if　this　might　be　lucys　friend。　　the　only　light　came　from　a　single　lamp　and　close　beside　this　sat　the　white　witch。

〃im　e；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　rushing　eagerly　forward。

〃how　dare　you　e　alone？〃　said　the　witch　in　a　terrible　voice。　〃did　i　not　　tell　you　to　bring　the　others　with　you？”

〃please；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　〃ive　done　the　best　i　can。　ive　　brought　them　quite　close。　theyre　in　the　little　house　on　top　of　the　dam　just　up　the　riverwith　　mr　and　mrs　beaver。”

a　slow　cruel　smile　came　over　the　witchs　face。

〃is　this　all　your　news？〃　she　asked。

〃no；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　and　proceeded　to　tell　her　all　he　had　heard　　before　leaving　the　beavers　house。

〃what！　aslan？〃　cried　the　queen；　〃aslan！　is　this　true？　if　i　find　you　have　　lied　to　me　…”

〃please；　im　only　repeating　what　they　said；〃　stammered　edmund。

but　the　queen；　who　was　no　longer　attending　t