THE SILVER CHAIR-第21章

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ten　while　i　am　master　of　myself。　when　the　fit　is　upon　me；　　it　well　may　be　that　i　shall　beg　and　implore　you；　with　entreaties　and　threatenings；　to　　loosen　my　bonds。

they　say　i　do。　i　shall　call　upon　you　by　all　that　is　most　dear　and　most　　dreadful。　but　do　not　listen　to　me。　harden　your　hearts　and　stop　your　ears。　for　while　i　am　bound　　you　are　safe。

but　if　once　i　were　up　and　out　of　this　chair；　then　first　would　e　my　fury；　　and　after　that”

…　he　shuddered　…　〃the　change　into　a　loathsome　serpent。”

〃theres　no　fear　of　our　loosing　you；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃weve　no　wish　to　　meet　wild　men；　or　serpents　either。”

〃i　should　think　not；〃　said　scrubb　and　jill　together。

〃all　the　same；〃　added　puddleglum　in　a　whisper。　〃dont　lets　be　too　sure。　　lets　be　on　our　guard。　weve　muffed　everything　else；　you　know。　hell　be　cunning；　i　　shouldnt　wonder；　once　he　gets　started。　can　we　trust　one　another？　do　we　all　promise　that　　whatever　he　says　we　dont　touch　those　cords？　whatever　he　says；　mind　you？”

〃rather！〃　said　scrubb。

〃theres　nothing　in　the　world　he　can　say　or　do　thatll　make　me　change　my　　mind；〃　said　jill。

〃hush！　somethings　happening；〃　said　puddleglum。

the　knight　was　moaning。　his　face　was　as　pale　as　putty；　and　he　writhed　in　　his　bonds。　and　whether　because　she　was　sorry　for　him；　or　for　some　other　reason；　jill　　thought　that　he　looked　a　nicer　sort　of　man　than　he　had　looked　before。

〃ah；〃　he　groaned。　〃enchantments；　enchantments　。　。　。　the　heavy；　tangled；　　cold；　clammy　web　of　evil　magic。　buried　alive。　dragged　down　under　the　earth；　down　into　　the　sooty　　

blackness　。　。　。　how　many　years　is　it？　。　。　。　have　i　lived　ten　years；　or　a　　thousand　years；　in　the　pit？　maggotmen　all　around　me。　oh；　have　mercy。　let　me　out；　let　me　go　back。　　let　me　feel　the　wind　and　see　the　sky　。　。　。　there　used　to　be　a　little　pool。　when　you　　looked　down　into　it　you　could　see　all　the　trees　growing　upside…down　in　the　water；　all　green；　　and　below　them；　deep；　very　deep；　the　blue　sky。”

he　had　been　speaking　in　a　low　voice；　now　he　looked　up；　fixed　his　eyes　upon　　them；　and　said　loud　and　clear：　　〃quick！　i　am　sane　now。　every　night　i　am　sane。　if　only　i　could　get　out　of　　this　enchanted　chair；　it　would　last。　i　should　be　a　man　again。　but　every　night　they　bind　　me；　and　so　every　night　my　chance　is　gone。　but　you　are　not　enemies。　i　am　not　your　prisoner。　　quick！　cut　these　cords。”

〃stand　fast！　steady；〃　said　puddleglum　to　the　two　children。

〃i　beseech　you　to　hear　me；〃　said　the　knight；　forcing　himself　to　speak　　calmly。　〃have　they　told　you　that　if　i　am　released　from　this　chair　i　shall　kill　you　and　bee　　a　serpent？　i　see　by　your　faces　that　they　have。　it　is　a　lie。　it　is　at　this　hour　that　i　am　in　　my　right　mind：　it　is　all　the　rest　of　the　day　that　i　am　enchanted。　you　are　not　earthmen　nor　　witches。　why　should　you　be　on　their　side？　of　your　courtesy；　cut　my　bonds。”

〃steady！　steady！　steady！〃　said　the　three　travellers　to　one　another。

〃oh；　you　have　hearts　of　stone；〃　said　the　knight。　〃believe　me；　you　look　upon　　a　wretch　who　has　suffered　almost　more　than　any　mortal　can　bear。　what　wrong　have　i　　ever　done　you；　that　you　should　side　with　my　enemies　to　keep　me　in　such　miseries？　and　　the　minutes　are　slipping　past。　now　you　can　save　me；　when　this　hour　has　passed；　i　shall　　be　witless　again　…　the　toy　and　lap…dog；　nay；　more　likely　the　pawn　and　tool；　of　the　　most　devilish　sorceress　that　ever　planned　the　woe　of　men。　and　this　night；　of　all　nights；　　when　she　is　away！　you　take　from　me　a　chance　that　may　never　e　again。”

〃this　is　dreadful。　i　do　wish　wed　stayed　away　till　it　was　over；〃　said　jill。

〃steady！〃　said　puddleglum。

the　prisoners　voice　was　now　rising　into　a　shriek。　〃let　me　go；　i　say。　give　　me　my　sword。

my　sword！　once　i　am　free　i　shall　take　such　revenge　on　earthmen　that　　underland　will　talk　of　it　for　a　thousand　years！”

〃now　the　frenzy　is　beginning；〃　said　scrubb。　〃i　hope　those　knots　are　all　　right。”

〃yes；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃hed　have　twice　his　natural　strength　if　he　got　　free　now。　and　im　not　clever　with　my　sword。　hed　get　us　both；　i　shouldnt　wonder；　and　then　　pole　on　her　own　would　be　left　to　tackle　the　snake。”

the　prisoner　was　now　so　straining　at　his　bonds　that　they　cut　into　his　　wrists　and　ankles。

〃beware；〃　he　said。　〃beware。　one　night　i　did　break　them。　but　the　witch　was　　there　that　time。　you　will　not　have　her　to　help　you　tonight。　free　me　now；　and　i　am　your　　friend。　im　your　mortal　enemy　else。”

〃cunning；　isnt　he？〃　said　puddleglum。

〃once　and　for　all；〃　said　the　prisoner；　〃i　adjure　you　to　set　me　free。　by　all　　fears　and　all　loves；　by　the　bright　skies　of　overland；　by　the　great　lion；　by　aslan　　himself；　i　charge　you　…“

〃oh！〃　cried　the　three　travellers　as　though　they　had　been　hurt。　〃its　the　　sign；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃it　was　the　words　of　the　sign；〃　said　scrubb　more　cautiously。　　〃oh；　what　are　we　to　do？〃　said　jill。

it　was　a　dreadful　question。　what　had　been　the　use　of　promising　one　another　　that　they　would　not　on　any　account　set　the　knight　free；　if　they　were　now　to　do　so　the　　first　time　he　happened　to　call　upon　a　name　they　really　cared　about？　on　the　other　hand；　　what　had　been　the　use　of　learning　the　signs　if　they　werent　going　to　obey　them？　yet　could　　aslan　have　really　meant　them　to　unbind　anyone　even　a　lunatic　…　who　asked　it　in　his　　name？　could　it　be　a　mere　accident？　or　how　if　the　queen　of　the　underworld　knew　all　about　　the　signs　and　had　made　the　knight　learn　this　name　simply　in　order　to　entrap　them？　but　　then；　supposing　this　was　the　real　sign？　。　。　。　they　had　muffed　three　already；　they　darent　　muff　the　fourth。

〃oh；　if　only　we　knew！〃　said　jill。

〃i　think　we　do　know；〃　said　puddleglum。

〃do　you　mean　you　think　everything　will　e　right　if　we　do　untie　him？〃　said　　scrubb。

〃i　dont　know　about　that；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃you　see；　aslan　didnt　tell　　pole　what　would　happen。　he　only　told　her　what　to　do。　that　fellow　will　be　the　death　of　us　　once　hes　up；　i　shouldnt　wonder。　but　that　doesnt　let　us　off　following　the　sign。”

they　all　stood　looking　at　one　another　with　bright　eyes。　it　was　a　sickening　　moment。　〃all　right！〃　said　jill　suddenly。　〃lets　get　it　over。　good…bye；　everyone　。。。！〃　　they　all　shook　hands。　the　knight　was　screaming　by　now；　there　was　foam　on　his　cheeks。

〃e　on；　scrubb；〃　said　puddleglum。　he　and　scrubb　drew　their　swords　and　　went　over　to　the　captive。

〃in　the　name　of　aslan；〃　they　said　and　began　methodically　cutting　the　cords。　　the　instant　the　prisoner　was　free；　he　crossed　the　room　in　a　single　bound；　seized　his　　own　sword　（which　had　been　taken　from　him　and　laid　on　the　table）；　and　drew　it。

〃you　first！〃　he　cried　and　fell　upon　the　silver　chair。　that　must　have　been　a　　good　sword。

the　silver　gave　way　before　its　edge　like　string；　and　in　a　moment　a　few　　twisted　fragments；　shining　on　the　floor；　were　all　that　was　left。　but　as　the　chair　broke；　there　　came　from　it　a　bright　flash；　a　sound　like　small　thunder；　and　（for　one　moment）　a　loathsome　　smell。

〃lie　there；　vile　engine　of　sorcery；〃　he　said；　〃lest　your　mistress　should　　ever　use　you　for　another　victim。〃　then　he　turned　and　surveyed　his　rescuers；　and　the　　something　wrong；　whatever　it　was；　had　vanished　from　his　face。

〃what？〃　he　cried；　turning　to　puddleglum。　〃do　i　see　before　me　a　marsh…wiggle　　…　a　real；　live；　honest；　narnian　marsh…wiggle？”

〃oh；　so　you　have　heard　of　narnia　after　all？〃　said　jill。

〃had　i　forgotten　it　when　i　was　under　the　spell？〃　asked　the　knight。　〃well；　　that　and　all　other　bedevilments　are　now　over。　you　may　well　believe　that　i　know　narnia；　　for　i　am　rilian；　prince　of　narnia；　and　caspian　the　great　king　is　my　father。”

〃your　royal　highness；〃　said　puddleglum；　sinking　on　one　knee　（and　the　　children　did　the　same）；　〃we　have　e　hither　for　no　other　end　than　to　seek　you。”

〃and　who　are　you；　my　other　deliverers？〃　said　the　prince　to　scrubb　and　jill。

〃we　were　sent　by　aslan　himself　from　beyond　the　worlds　end　to　seek　your　　highness；”

said　scrubb。　〃i　am　eustace　who　sailed　with　him　to　the　island　of　ramandu。”

〃i　owe　all　three　of　you　a　greater　debt　than　i　can　ever　pay；〃　said　prince　　rilian。　〃but　my　father？　is　he　yet　alive？”

〃he　sailed　east　again　before　we　left　narnia；　my　lord；〃　said　puddleglum。　　〃but　your　highness　must　consider　that　the　king　is　very　old。　it　is　ten　to　one　his　　majesty　must　die　on　the　voyage。”

〃he　is　old；　you　say。　how　long　then　have　i　been　in　the　power　of　the　witch？　　〃it　is　more　than　ten　years　since　your　highness　was　lost　in　the　woods　at　the　　north　side　of　narnia。”

〃ten　years！〃　said　the　prince；　drawing　his　hand　across　his　face　as　if　to　rub　　away　the　past。

〃yes；　i　believe　you。　for　now　that　i　am　myself　i　can　remember　that　enchanted　　life；　though　while　i　was　enchanted　i　could　not　remember　my　true　self。　and　now；　fair　　friends　…　but　wait！　i　hear　their　feet　（does　it　not　sicken　a　man；　that　padding　woolly　　tread！　faugh！）　on　the　stairs。　lock　the　door；　boy。　or　stay。　i　have　a　better　thought　than　that。　i　　will　fool　these　earthmen；　if　aslan　gives　me　the　wit。　take　your　cue　from　me。”

he　walked　resolutely　to　the　door　and　flung　it　wide　open。

．co



CHAPTER　TWELVE

？小说、网
the　queen　of　underland　　two　earthmen　entered；　but　instead　of　advancing　into　the　room；　they　placed　　themselves　one　on　each　side　of　the　door；　and　bowed　deeply。　they　were　followed　　immediately　by　the　last　person　whom　anyone　had　e