THE SILVER CHAIR-第23章

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inds；　all　four　of　them　said　together。　〃you　are　right。　　there　is　no　sun。〃　it　was　such　a　relief　to　give　in　and　say　it。

〃there　never　was　a　sun；〃　said　the　witch。

〃no。　there　never　was　a　sun；〃　said　the　prince；　and　the　marsh…wiggle；　and　the　　children。

for　the　last　few　minutes　jill　had　been　feeling　that　there　was　something　she　　must　remember　at　all　costs。　and　now　she　did。　but　it　was　dreadfully　hard　to　say　　it。　she　felt　as　if　　

huge　weights　were　laid　on　her　lips。　at　last；　with　an　effort　that　seemed　to　　take　all　the　good　out　of　her；　she　said：　　〃theres　aslan。”

〃aslan？〃　said　the　witch；　quickening　ever　so　slightly　the　pace　of　her　　thrumming。　〃what　a　pretty　name！　what　does　it　mean？”

〃he　is　the　great　lion　who　called　us　out　of　our　own　world；〃　said　scrubb；　　〃and　sent　us　into　this　to　find　prince　rilian。”

〃what　is　a　lion？〃　asked　the　witch。

〃oh；　hang　it　all！〃　said　scrubb。　〃dont　you　know？　how　can　we　describe　it　to　　her？　have　you　ever　seen　a　cat？”

〃surely；〃　said　the　queen。　〃i　love　cats。”

〃well；　a　lion　is　a　little　bit　…　only　a　little　bit；　mind　you　like　a　huge　cat　　…　with　a　mane。　at　least；　its　not　like　a　horses　mane；　you　know；　its　more　like　a　judges　　wig。　and　its　yellow。

and　terrifically　strong。”

the　witch　shook　her　head。　〃i　see；〃　she　said；　〃that　we　should　do　no　better　　with　your　lion；　as　you　call　it；　than　we　did　with　your　sun。　you　have　seen　lamps；　and　so　you　　imagined　a　bigger　and　better　lamp　and　called　it　the　sun。　youve　seen　cats；　and　now　you　　want　a　bigger　and　better　cat；　and　its　to　be　called　a　lion。　well；　tis　a　pretty　　makebelieve；　though；　to　say　truth；　it　would　suit　you　all　better　if　you　were　younger。　and　look　how　you　　can　put　nothing　into　your　make…believe　without　copying　it　from　the　real　world；　this　world　　of　mine；　which　is　the　only　world。　but　even　you　children　are　too　old　for　such　play。　as　for　　you；　my　lord　prince；　that　art　a　man　full　grown；　fie　upon　you！　are　you　not　ashamed　of　　such　toys？

e；　all　of　you。　put　away　these　childish　tricks。　i　have　work　for　you　all　　in　the　real　world。

there　is　no　narnia；　no　overworld；　no　sky；　no　sun；　no　aslan。　and　now；　to　bed　　all。　and　let　us　begin　a　wiser　life　tomorrow。　but；　first；　to　bed；　to　sleep；　deep　sleep；　　soft　pillows；　sleep　without　foolish　dreams。”

the　prince　and　the　two　children　were　standing　with　their　heads　hung　down；　　their　cheeks　flushed；　their　eyes　half　closed；　the　strength　all　gone　from　them；　the　　enchantment　almost　plete。　but　puddleglum；　desperately　gathering　all　his　strength；　walked　　over　to　the　fire。

then　he　did　a　very　brave　thing。　he　knew　it　wouldnt　hurt　him　quite　as　much　　as　it　would　hurt　a　human；　for　his　feet　（which　were　bare）　were　webbed　and　hard　and　　coldblooded　like　a　ducks。　but　he　knew　it　would　hurt　him　badly　enough；　and　so　it　did。　with　　his　bare　foot　he　stamped　on　the　fire；　grinding　a　large　part　of　it　into　ashes　on　the　flat　　hearth。　and　three　things　happened　at　once。

first；　the　sweet　heavy　smell　grew　very　much　less。　for　though　the　whole　fire　　had　not　been　put　out；　a　good　bit　of　it　had；　and　what　remained　smelled　very　largely　of　　burnt　marsh…　

wiggle；　which　is　not　at　all　an　enchanting　smell。　this　instantly　made　　everyones　brain　far　clearer。　the　prince　and　the　children　held　up　their　heads　again　and　opened　　their　eyes。

secondly；　the　witch；　in　a　loud；　terrible　voice；　utterly　different　from　all　　the　sweet　tones　she　had　been　using　up　till　now；　called　out；　〃what　are　you　doing？　dare　to　　touch　my　fire　again；　mud…filth；　and　ill　turn　the　blood　to　fire　inside　your　veins。”

thirdly；　the　pain　itself　made　puddleglums　head　for　a　moment　perfectly　　clear　and　he　knew　exactly　what　he　really　thought。　there　is　nothing　like　a　good　shock　of　　pain　for　dissolving　certain　kinds　of　magic。

〃one　word；　maam；〃　he　said；　ing　back　from　the　fire；　limping；　because　of　　the　pain。

〃one　word。　all　youve　been　saying　is　quite　right；　i　shouldnt　wonder。　im　a　　chap　who　always　liked　to　know　the　worst　and　then　put　the　best　face　i　can　on　it。　so　i　　wont　deny　any　of　what　you　said。　but　theres　one　thing　more　to　be　said；　even　so。　suppose　　we　have　only　dreamed；　or　made　up；　all　those　things　…　trees　and　grass　and　sun　and　moon　　and　stars　and　aslan　himself。　suppose　we　have。　then　all　i　can　say　is　that；　in　that　case；　　the　made…up　things　seem　a　good　deal　more　important　than　the　real　ones。　suppose　this　　black　pit　of　a　kingdom　of　yours　is　the　only　world。　well；　it　strikes　me　as　a　pretty　poor　　one。　and　thats　a　funny　thing；　when　you　e　to　think　of　it。　were　just　babies　making　up　a　　game；　if　youre　right。　but　four　babies　playing　a　game　can　make　a　playworld　which　licks　your　　real　world　hollow。　thats　why　im　going　to　stand　by　the　play…world。　im　on　aslans　　side　even　if　there　isnt　any　aslan　to　lead　it。　im　going　to　live　as　like　a　narnian　as　i　can　　even　if　there　isnt　any　narnia。　so；　thanking　you　kindly　for　our　supper；　if　these　two　gentlemen　and　　the　young　lady　are　ready；　were　leaving　your　court　at　once　and　setting　out　in　the　　dark　to　spend　our　lives　looking　for　overland。　not　that　our　lives　will　be　very　long；　i　should　　think；　but　thats　a　small　loss　if　the　worlds　as　dull　a　place　as　you　say。”

〃oh；　hurrah！　good　old　puddleglum！〃　cried　scrubb　and　jill。　but　the　prince　　shouted　suddenly；　〃ware！　look　to　the　witch。”

when　they　did　look　their　hair　nearly　stood　on　end。

the　instrument　dropped　from　her　hands。　her　arms　appeared　to　be　fastened　to　　her　sides。

her　legs　were　intertwined　with　each　other；　and　her　feet　had　disappeared。　　the　long　green　train　of　her　skirt　thickened　and　grew　solid；　and　seemed　to　be　all　one　piece　　with　the　writhing　green　pillar　of　her　interlocked　legs。　and　that　writhing　green　　pillar　was　curving　and　swaying　as　if　it　had　no　joints；　or　else　were　all　joints。　her　head　was　　thrown　far　back　and　while　her　nose　grew　longer　and　longer；　every　other　part　of　her　face　　seemed　to　disappear；　except　her　eyes。　huge　flaming　eyes　they　were　now；　without　brows　　or　lashes。

all　this　takes　time　to　write　down；　it　happened　so　quickly　that　there　was　　only　just　time　to　see　it。　long　before　there　was　time　to　do　anything；　the　change　was　plete；　　and　the　great　serpent　which　the　witch　had　bee；　green　as　poison；　thick　as　jills　waist；　　had　flung　two　or　three　coils　of　its　loathsome　body　round　the　princes　legs。　quick　as　　lightning　another　great　loop　darted　round；　intending　to　pinion　his　sword…arm　to　his　side。　but　　the　prince　was　　

just　in　time。　he　raised　his　arms　and　got　them　clear：　the　living　knot　closed　　only　round　his　chest　…　ready　to　crack　his　ribs　like　firewood　when　it　drew　tight。

the　prince　caught　the　creatures　neck　in　his　left　hand；　trying　to　squeeze　　it　till　it　choked。

this　held　its　face　（if　you　could　call　it　a　face）　about　five　inches　from　his　　own。　the　forked　tongue　flickered　horribly　in　and　out；　but　could　not　reach　him。　with　his　　right　hand　he　drew　back　his　sword　for　the　strongest　blow　he　could　give。　meanwhile　scrubb　and　　puddleglum　had　drawn　their　weapons　and　rushed　to　his　aid。　all　three　blows　fell　at　　once：　scrubbs　（which　did　not　even　pierce　the　scales　and　did　no　good）　on　the　body　of　the　　snake　below　the　princes　hand；　but　the　princes　own　blow　and　puddleglums　both　on　its　　neck。　even　that　did　not　quite　kill　it；　though　it　began　to　loosen　its　hold　on　rilians　legs　　and　chest。　with　repeated　blows　they　hacked　off　its　head。　the　horrible　thing　went　on　coiling　　and　moving　like　a　bit　of　wire　long　after　it　had　died；　and　the　floor；　as　you　may　　imagine；　was　a　nasty　mess。

the　prince；　when　he　had　breath；　said；　〃gentlemen；　i　thank　you。〃　then　the　　three　conquerors　stood　staring　at　one　another　and　panting；　without　another　word；　　for　a　long　time。　jill　had　very　wisely　sat　down　and　was　keeping　quiet；　she　was　saying　　to　herself；　〃i　do　hope　i　dont　faint　or　blub　…　or　do　anything　idiotic。”

〃my　royal　mother　is　avenged；〃　said　rilian　presently。　〃this　is　undoubtedly　　the　same　worm　that　i　pursued　in　vain　by　the　fountain　in　the　forest　of　narnia；　so　　many　years　ago。

all　these　years　i　have　been　the　slave　of　my　mothers　slayer。　yet　i　am　glad；　　gentlemen；　that　the　foul　witch　took　to　her　serpent　form　at　the　last。　it　would　not　have　　suited　well　either　with　my　heart　or　with　my　honour　to　have　slain　a　woman。　but　look　to　　the　lady。〃　he　meant　jill。

〃im　all　right；　thanks；〃　said　she。

〃damsel；〃　said　the　prince；　bowing　to　her。　〃you　are　of　a　high　courage；　and　　therefore；　i　doubt　not；　you　e　of　a　noble　blood　in　your　own　world。　but　e；　friends。　　here　is　some　wine　left。　let　us　refresh　ourselves　and　each　pledge　his　fellows。　after　　that；　to　our　plans。”

〃a　jolly　good　idea；　sir；〃　said　scrubb。

d　　



CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

小？说网
underland　without　the　queen　　　all　felt　that　they　had　earned　what　scrubb　called　a　〃breather〃。　the　witch　　had　locked　the　door　and　told　the　earthmen　not　to　disturb　her；　so　there　was　no　danger　of　　interruption　for　　

the　present。　their　first　business　was；　of　course；　puddleglums　burnt　foot。　　a　couple　of　clean　shirts　from　the　princes　bedroom；　torn　into　strips；　and　well　greased　　on　the　inside　with　butter　and　salad　oil　off　the　supper　table；　made　a　fairly　good　　dressing。　when　this　had　been　applied；　they　all　sat　down　and　had　a　little　refreshment；　and　discussed　　plans　for　escaping　from　the　underworld。

rilian　explained　that　there　were　quite　a　lot　of　outlets　by　which　one　could　　get　to　the　surface；　he　had　been　take