The Lion, the Witch and the War-第20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！



and　you　are　riding　not　on　a　road　nor　in　a　park　nor　even　on　the　downs；　but　　right　across　narnia；　in　spring；　down　solemn　avenues　of　beech　and　across　sunny　glades　of　　oak；　through　wild　orchards　of　snow…white　cherry　trees；　past　roaring　waterfalls　　and　mossy　rocks　and　echoing　caverns；　up　windy　slopes　alight　with　gorse　bushes；　and　　across　the　shoulders　of　heathery　mountains　and　along　giddy　ridges　and　down；　down；　down　　again　into　wild　valleys　and　out　into　acres　of　blue　flowers。

it　was　nearly　midday　when　they　found　themselves　looking　down　a　steep　　hillside　at　a　castle　…　a　little　toy　castle　it　looked　from　where　they　stood　…　which　seemed　　to　be　all　pointed　towers。　but　the　lion　was　rushing　down　at　such　a　speed　that　it　grew　larger　　every　moment　and　before　they　had　time　even　to　ask　themselves　what　it　was　they　were　　already　on　a　level　with　it。　and　now　it　no　longer　looked　like　a　toy　castle　but　rose　frowning　in　　front　of　them。

no　face　looked　over　the　battlements　and　the　gates　were　fast　shut。　and　　aslan；　not　at　all　slacking　his　pace；　rushed　straight　as　a　bullet　towards　it。

〃the　witchs　home！〃　he　cried。　〃now；　children；　hold　tight。”

next　moment　the　whole　world　seemed　to　turn　upside　down；　and　the　children　　felt　as　if　they　had　left　their　insides　behind　them；　for　the　lion　had　gathered　himself　　together　for　a　　

greater　leap　than　any　he　had　yet　made　and　jumped　…　or　you　may　call　it　　flying　rather　than　jumping　…　right　over　the　castle　wall。　the　two　girls；　breathless　but　unhurt；　　found　themselves　tumbling　off　his　back　in　the　middle　of　a　wide　stone　courtyard　　full　of　statues。

．．



CHAPTER　SIXTEEN


what　happened　about　the　statues　　〃what　an　extraordinary　place！〃　cried　lucy。　〃all　those　stone　animals　…and　　people　too！

its　…its　like　a　museum。”

〃hush；〃　said　susan；　〃aslans　doing　something。”

he　was　indeed。　he　had　bounded　up　to　the　stone　lion　and　breathed　on　him。　　then　without　waiting　a　moment　he　whisked　round　…　almost　as　if　he　had　been　a　cat　chasing　　its　tail　…and　breathed　also　on　the　stone　dwarf；　which　（as　you　remember）　was　standing　a　　few　feet　from　the　lion　with　his　back　to　it。　then　he　pounced　on　a　tall　stone　dryad　which　　stood　beyond　the　dwarf；　turned　rapidly　aside　to　deal　with　a　stone　rabbit　on　his　right；　and　　rushed　on　to　two　centaurs。　but　at　that　moment　lucy　said；　　〃oh；　susan！　look！　look　at　the　lion。”

i　expect　youve　seen　someone　put　a　lighted　match　to　a　bit　of　newspaper　　which　is　propped　up　in　a　grate　against　an　unlit　fire。　and　for　a　second　nothing　seems　to　have　　happened；　and　then　you　notice　a　tiny　streak　of　flame　creeping　along　the　edge　of　the　　newspaper。　it　was　like　that　now。　for　a　second　after　aslan　had　breathed　upon　him　the　stone　　lion　looked　just　the　same。　then　a　tiny　streak　of　gold　began　to　run　along　his　white　marble　　back　then　it　spread　…　then　the　colour　seemed　to　lick　all　over　him　as　the　flame　licks　all　　over　a　bit　of　paper　…　then；　while　his　hindquarters　were　still　obviously　stone；　the　lion　　shook　his　mane　and　all　the　heavy；　stone　folds　rippled　into　living　hair。　then　he　opened　a　　great　red　mouth；　warm　and　living；　and　gave　a　prodigious　yawn。　and　now　his　hind　legs　had　e　　to　life。

he　lifted　one　of　them　and　scratched　himself。　then；　having　caught　sight　of　　aslan；　he　went　bounding　after　him　and　frisking　round　him　whimpering　with　delight　and　　jumping　up　to　lick　his　face。

of　course　the　childrens　eyes　turned　to　follow　the　lion；　but　the　sight　they　　saw　was　so　wonderful　that　they　soon　forgot　about　him。　everywhere　the　statues　were　　ing　to　life。

the　courtyard　looked　no　longer　like　a　museum；　it　looked　more　like　a　zoo。　　creatures　were　running　after　aslan　and　dancing　round　him　till　he　was　almost　hidden　in　the　　crowd。

instead　of　all　that　deadly　white　the　courtyard　was　now　a　blaze　of　colours；　　glossy　chestnut　sides　of　centaurs；　indigo　horns　of　unicorns；　dazzling　plumage　of　birds；　　reddy…brown　of　foxes；　dogs　and　satyrs；　yellow　stockings　and　crimson　hoods　of　dwarfs；　and　　the　birch…girls　in　silver；　and　the　beech…girls　in　fresh；　transparent　green；　and　the　larch…　girls　in　green　so　　

bright　that　it　was　almost　yellow。　and　instead　of　the　deadly　silence　the　　whole　place　rang　with　the　sound　of　happy　roarings；　brayings；　yelpings；　barkings；　squealings；　　cooings；　neighings；　stampings；　shouts；　hurrahs；　songs　and　laughter。

〃oh！〃　said　susan　in　a　different　tone。　〃look！　i　wonder　…　i　mean；　is　it　　safe？”

lucy　looked　and　saw　that　aslan　had　just　breathed　on　the　feet　of　the　stone　　giant。

〃its　all　right！〃　shouted　aslan　joyously。　〃once　the　feet　are　put　right；　all　　the　rest　of　him　will　follow。”

〃that　wasnt　exactly　what　i　meant；〃　whispered　susan　to　lucy。　but　it　was　too　　late　to　do　anything　about　it　now　even　if　aslan　would　have　listened　to　her。　the　change　　was　already　creeping　up　the　giants　legs。　now　he　was　moving　his　feet。　a　moment　later　he　　lifted　his　club　off　his　shoulder；　rubbed　his　eyes　and　said；　　〃bless　me！　i　must　have　been　asleep。　now！　wheres　that　dratted　little　witch　　that　was　running　about　on　the　ground。　somewhere　just　by　my　feet　it　was。〃　but　when　　everyone　had　shouted　up　to　him　to　explain　what　had　really　happened；　and　when　the　giant　　had　put　his　hand　to　his　ear　and　got　them　to　repeat　it　all　again　so　that　at　last　he　　understood；　then　he　bowed　down　till　his　head　was　no　further　off　than　the　top　of　a　haystack　and　　touched　his　cap　repeatedly　to　aslan；　beaming　all　over　his　honest　ugly　face。　（giants　of　　any　sort　are　now　so　rare　in　england　and　so　few　giants　are　good…tempered　that　ten　to　one　　you　have　never　seen　a　giant　when　his　face　is　beaming。　its　a　sight　well　worth　　looking　at。）　　〃now　for　the　inside　of　this　house！〃　said　aslan。　〃look　alive；　everyone。　up　　stairs　and　down　stairs　and　in　my　ladys　chamber！　leave　no　corner　unsearched。　you　never　　know　where　some　poor　prisoner　may　be　concealed。”

and　into　the　interior　they　all　rushed　and　for　several　minutes　the　whole　of　　that　dark；　horrible；　fusty　old　castle　echoed　with　the　opening　of　windows　and　with　　everyones　voices　crying　out　at　once；　〃dont　forget　the　dungeons　…　give　us　a　hand　with　this　　door！　heres　another　little　winding　stair　…　oh！　i　say。　heres　a　poor　kangaroo。　call　　aslan　…　phew！　how　it　smells　in　here　…　look　out　for　trap…doors　…　up　here！　there　are　a　whole　　lot　more　on　the　landing！〃　but　the　best　of　all　was　when　lucy　came　rushing　upstairs　shouting　　out；　　〃aslan！　aslan！　ive　found　mr　tumnus。　oh；　do　e　quick。”

a　moment　later　lucy　and　the　little　faun　were　holding　each　other　by　both　　hands　and　dancing　round　and　round　for　joy。　the　little　chap　was　none　the　worse　for　　having　been　a　statue　and　was　of　course　very　interested　in　all　she　had　to　tell　him。

but　at　last　the　ransacking　of　the　witchs　fortress　was　ended。　the　whole　　castle　stood　empty　with　every　door　and　window　open　and　the　light　and　the　sweet　spring　　air　flooding　into　all　the　dark　and　evil　places　which　needed　them　so　badly。　the　whole　　crowd　of　　

liberated　statues　surged　back　into　the　courtyard。　and　it　was　then　that　　someone　（tumnus；　i　think）　first　said；　　〃but　how　are　we　going　to　get　out？〃　for　aslan　had　got　in　by　a　jump　and　the　　gates　were　still　locked。

〃thatll　be　all　right；〃　said　aslan；　and　then；　rising　on　his　hind…legs；　he　　bawled　up　at　the　giant。　〃hi！　you　up　there；〃　he　roared。　〃whats　your　name？”

〃giant　rumblebuffin；　if　it　please　your　honour；〃　said　the　giant；　once　more　　touching　his　cap。

〃well　then；　giant　rumblebuffin；〃　said　aslan；　〃just　let　us　out　of　this；　will　　you？”

〃certainly；　your　honour。　it　will　be　a　pleasure；〃　said　giant　rumblebuffin。　　〃stand　well　away　from　the　gates；　all　you　little　uns。〃　then　he　strode　to　the　gate　　himself　and　bang　…　bang　…　bang　…　went　his　huge　club。　the　gates　creaked　at　the　first　blow；　　cracked　at　the　second；　and　shivered　at　the　third。　then　he　tackled　the　towers　on　each　side　　of　them　and　after　a　few　minutes　of　crashing　and　thudding　both　the　towers　and　a　good　bit　　of　the　wall　on　each　side　went　thundering　down　in　a　mass　of　hopeless　rubble；　and　when　　the　dust　cleared　it　was　odd；　standing　in　that　dry；　grim；　stony　yard；　to　see　through　　the　gap　all　the　grass　and　waving　trees　and　sparkling　streams　of　the　forest；　and　the　blue　　hills　beyond　that　and　beyond　them　the　sky。

〃blowed　if　i　aint　all　in　a　muck　sweat；〃　said　the　giant；　puffing　like　the　　largest　railway　engine。　〃es　of　being　out　of　condition。　i　suppose　neither　of　you　young　　ladies　has　such　a　thing　as　a　pocket…handkerchee　about　you？”

〃yes；　i　have；〃　said　lucy；　standing　on　tip…toes　and　holding　her　handkerchief　　up　as　far　as　she　could　reach。

〃thank　you；　missie；〃　said　giant　rumblebuffin；　stooping　down。　next　moment　　lucy　got　rather　a　fright　for　she　found　herself　caught　up　in　mid…air　between　the　　giants　finger　and　thumb。　but　just　as　she　was　getting　near　his　face　he　suddenly　started　and　　then　put　her　gently　back　on　the　ground　muttering；　〃bless　me！　ive　picked　up　the　little　　girl　instead。　i　beg　your　pardon；　missie；　i　thought　you　was　the　handkerchee！”

〃no；　no；〃　said　lucy　laughing；　〃here　it　is！〃　this　time　he　managed　to　get　it　　but　it　was　only　about　the　same　size　to　him　that　a　saccharine　tablet　would　be　to　you；　so　　that　when　she　saw　him　solemnly　rubbing　it　to　and　fro　across　his　great　red　face；　she　said；　　〃im　afraid　its　not　much　use　to　you；　mr　rumblebuffin。”

〃not　at　all。　not　at　all；〃　said　the　giant　politely。　〃never　met　a　nicer　　handk