THE SILVER CHAIR-第7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！


rey；　and　the　trees　black。　there　was　a　certain　amount　of　wind　…　　a　hushing；　ruffling　sort　of　wind　which　meant　that　rain　was　ing　soon。

the　owl　wheeled　round　so　that　the　castle　was　now　ahead　of　them。　very　few　of　　the　windows　showed　lights。　they　flew　right　over　it；　northwards；　crossing　the　　river：　the　air　grew　colder；　and　jill　thought　she　could　see　the　white　reflection　of　the　owl　　in　the　water　beneath　her。　but　soon　they　were　on　the　north　bank　of　the　river；　flying　　above　wooded　country。

the　owl　snapped　at　something　which　jill　couldnt　see。

〃oh；　dont；　please！〃　said　jill。　〃dont　jerk　like　that。　you　nearly　threw　me　　off。”

〃i　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　owl。　〃i　was　just　nabbing　a　bat。　theres　　nothing　so　sustaining；　in　a　small　way；　as　a　nice　plump　little　bat。　shall　i　catch　you　　one？”

〃no；　thanks；〃　said　jill　with　a　shudder。

he　was　flying　a　little　lower　now　and　a　large；　black　looking　object　was　　looming　up　towards　them。　jill　had　just　time　to　see　that　it　was　a　tower　…　a　partly　　ruinous　tower；　with　a　lot　of　ivy　on　it；　she　thought　…　when　she　found　herself　ducking　to　avoid　the　　archway　of　a　window；　as　the　owl　squeezed　with　her　through　the　ivied　cobwebby　opening；　　out　of　the　fresh；　grey　night　into　a　dark　place　inside　the　top　of　the　tower。　it　was　　rather　fusty　inside　　

and；　the　moment　she　slipped　off　the　owls　back；　she　knew　（as　one　usually　　does　somehow）

that　it　was　quite　crowded　and　when　voices　began　saying　out　of　the　darkness　　from　every　direction　〃tuwhoo！　tu…whoo！〃　she　knew　it　was　crowded　with　owls。　she　was　　rather　relieved　when　a　very　different　voice　said：　　〃is　that　you；　pole？”

〃is　that　you；　scrubb？〃　said　jill。

〃now；〃　said　glimfeather；　〃i　think　were　all　here。　let　us　hold　a　parliament　　of　owls。”

〃tu…whoo；　tu…whoo。　true　for　you。　thats　the　right　thing　to　do；〃　said　　several　voices。

〃half　a　moment；〃　said　scrubbs　voice。　〃theres　something　i　want　to　say　　first。”

〃do；　do；　do；〃　said　the　owls；　and　jill　said；　〃fire　ahead。”

〃i　suppose　all　you　chaps…owls；　i　mean；〃　said　scrubb；　〃i　suppose　you　all　　know　that　king　caspian　the　tenth；　in　his　young　days；　sailed　to　the　eastern　end　of　the　　world。　well；　i　was　with　him　on　that　journey：　with　him　and　reepicheep　the　mouse；　and　the　lord　　drinian　and　all　of　them。　i　know　it　sounds　hard　to　believe；　but　people　dont　grow　older　　in　our　world　at　the　same　speed　as　they　do　in　yours。　and　what　i　want　to　say　is　this；　that　　im　the　kings　man；　and　if　this　parliament　of　owls　is　any　sort　of　plot　against　the　king；　　im　having　nothing　to　do　with　it。”

〃tu…whoo；　tu…whoo；　were　all　the　kings　owls　too；〃　said　the　owls。

〃whats　it　all　about　then？〃　said　scrubb。

〃its　only　this；〃　said　glimfeather。　〃that　if　the　lord　regent；　the　dwarf　　trumpkin；　hears　you　are　going　to　look　for　the　lost　prince；　he　wont　let　you　start。　hed　　keep　you　under　lock　and　key　sooner。”

〃great　scott！〃　said　scrubb。　〃you　dont　mean　that　trumpkin　is　a　traitor？　i　　used　to　hear　a　lot　about　him　in　the　old　days；　at　sea。　caspian　…　the　king；　i　mean　…　trusted　　him　absolutely。”

〃oh　no；〃　said　a　voice。　〃trumpkins　no　traitor。　but　more　than　thirty　　champions　（knights；　centaurs；　good　giants；　and　all　sorts）　have　at　one　time　or　another　set　out　　to　look　for　the　lost　prince；　and　none　of　them　have　ever　e　back。　and　at　last　the　king　said　he　　was　not　going　to　have　all　the　bravest　narnians　destroyed　in　the　search　for　his　son。　　and　now　nobody　is　allowed　to　go。”

〃but　surely　hed　let　us　go；〃　said　scrubb。　〃when　he　knew　who　i　was　and　who　　had　sent　me。”

（〃sent　both　of　us；〃　put　in　jill。）

〃yes；〃　said　glimfeather；　〃i　think；　very　likely；　he　would。　but　the　kings　　away。　and　trumpkin　will　stick　to　the　rules。　hes　as　true　as　steel；　but　hes　deaf　as　a　　post　and　very　peppery。　you　could　never　make　him　see　that　this　might　be　the　time　for　　making　an　exception　to　the　rule。”

〃you　might　think　hed　take　some　notice　of　us；　because　were　owls　and　　everyone　knows　how　wise　owls　are；〃　said　someone　else。　〃but　hes　so　old　now　hed　only　say；　　‘youre　a　mere　chick。　i　remember　you　when　you　were　an　egg。　dont　e　trying　to　teach　　me；　sir。

crabs　and　crumpets！“

this　owl　imitated　trumpkins　voice　rather　well；　and　there　were　sounds　of　　owlish　laughter　all　round。　the　children　began　to　see　that　the　narnians　all　felt　about　　trumpkin　as　people　feel　at　school　about　some　crusty　teacher；　whom　everyone　is　a　little　afraid　　of　and　everyone　makes　fun　of　and　nobody　really　dislikes。

〃how　long　is　the　king　going　to　be　away？〃　asked　scrubb。

〃if　only　we　knew！〃　said　glimfeather。　〃you　see；　there　has　been　a　rumour　　lately　that　aslan　himself　has　been　seen　in　the　islands　…　in　terebinthia；　i　think　it　was。　and　　the　king　said　he　would　make　one　more　attempt　before　he　died　to　see　aslan　face　to　face　again；　　and　ask　his　advice　about　who　is　to　be　king　after　him。　but　were　all　afraid　that；　if　he　　doesnt　meet　aslan　in　terebinthia；　hell　go　on　east；　to　seven　isles　and　lone　islands　…　　and　on　and　on。　he　never　talks　about　it；　but　we　all　know　he　has　never　forgotten　that　voyage　to　　the　worlds　end。　im　sure　in　his　heart　of　hearts　he　wants　to　go　there　again。”

〃then　theres　no　good　waiting　for　him　to　e　back？〃　said　jill。

〃no；　no　good；〃　said　the　owl。　〃oh；　what　a　to…do！　if　only　you　two　had　known　　and　spoken　to　him　at　once！　hed　have　arranged　everything　…　probably　given　you　an　army　　to　go　with　you　in　search　of　the　prince。”

jill　kept　quiet　at　this　and　hoped　scrubb　would　be　sporting　enough　not　to　　tell　all　the　owls　why　this　hadnt　happened。　he　was；　or　very　nearly。　that　is；　he　only　muttered　　under　his　breath；　〃well；　it　wasnt　my　fault；〃　before　saying　out　loud：　　〃very　well。　well　have　to　manage　without　it。　but　theres　just　one　thing　　more　i　want　to　know。　if　this　owls　parliament；　as　you　call　it；　is　all　fair　and　above　board　　and　means　no　mischief；　why　does　it　have　to　be　so　jolly　secret…　meeting　in　a　ruin　in　dead　　of　night；　and　all　that？”

〃tu…whoo！　tu…whoo！〃　hooted　several　owls。　〃where　should　we　meet？　when　would　anyone　meet　except　at　night？”

〃you　see；〃　explained　glimfeather；　〃most　of　the　creatures　in　narnia　have　　such　unnatural　habits。　they　do　things　by　day；　in　broad　blazing　sunlight　（ugh！）　when　　everyone　ought　to　　

be　asleep。　and；　as　a　result；　at　night　theyre　so　blind　and　stupid　that　you　　cant　get　a　word　out　of　them。　so　we　owls　have　got　into　the　habit　of　meeting　at　sensible　　hours；　on　our　own；　when　we　want　to　talk　about　things。”

〃i　see；〃　said　scrubb。　〃well　now；　lets　get　on。　tell　us　all　about　the　lost　　prince。〃　then　an　old　owl；　not　glimfeather；　related　the　story。

about　ten　years　ago；　it　appeared；　when　rilian；　the　son　of　caspian；　was　a　　very　young　knight；　he　rode　with　the　queen　his　mother　on　a　may　morning　in　the　north　　parts　of　narnia。

they　had　many　squires　and　ladies　with　them　and　all　wore　garlands　of　fresh　　leaves　on　their　heads；　and　horns　at　their　sides；　but　they　had　no　hounds　with　them；　　for　they　were　maying；　not　hunting。　in　the　warm　part　of　the　day　they　came　to　a　pleasant　　glade　where　a　fountain　flowed　freshly　out　of　the　earth；　and　there　they　dismounted　and　ate　　and　drank　and　were　merry。　after　a　time　the　queen　felt　sleepy；　and　they　spread　cloaks　for　　her　on　the　grassy　bank；　and　prince　rilian　with　the　rest　of　the　party　went　a　little　way　　from　her；　that　their　tales　and　laughter　might　not　wake　her。　and　so；　presently；　a　great　　serpent　came　out　of　the　thick　wood　and　stung　the　queen　in　her　hand。　all　heard　her　cry　out　and　　rushed　towards　her；　and　rilian　was　first　at　her　side。　he　saw　the　worm　gliding　away　from　　her　and　made　after　it　with　his　sword　drawn。　it　was　great；　shining；　and　as　green　as　　poison；　so　that　he　could　see　it　well：　but　it　glided　away　into　thick　bushes　and　he　could　not　　e　at　it。　so　he　returned　to　his　mother；　and　found　them　all　busy　about　her。

but　they　were　busy　in　vain；　for　at　the　first　glance　of　her　face　rilian　knew　　that　no　physic　in　the　world　would　do　her　good。　as　long　as　the　life　was　in　her　she　seemed　　to　be　trying　hard　to　tell　him　something。　but　she　could　not　speak　clearly　and；　whatever　　her　message　was；　she　died　without　delivering　it。　it　was　then　hardly　ten　minutes　since　　they　had　first　heard　her　cry。

they　carried　the　dead　queen　back　to　cair　paravel；　and　she　was　bitterly　　mourned　by　rilian　and　by　the　king；　and　by　all　narnia。　she　had　been　a　great　lady；　wise　　and　gracious　and　happy；　king　caspians　bride　whom　he　had　brought　home　from　the　eastern　　end　of　the　world。　and　men　said　that　the　blood　of　the　stars　flowed　in　her　veins。　the　　prince　took　his　mothers　death　very　hardly；　as　well　he　might。　after　that；　he　was　always　　riding　on　the　northern　marches　of　narnia；　hunting　for　that　venomous　worm；　to　kill　it　and　　be　avenged。

no　one　remarked　much　on　this；　though　the　prince　came　home　from　these　　wanderings　looking　tired　and　distraught。　but　about　a　month　after　the　queens　death；　　some　said　they　could　see　a　change　in　him。　there　was　a　look　in　his　eyes　as　of　a　man　who　has　　seen　visions；　and　though　he　would　be　out　all　day；　his　horse　did　not　bear　the　signs　of　　hard　riding。　his　chief　friend　among　the　older　courtiers　was　the　lord　driman；　he　who　had　been　　his　fathers　captain　on　that　great　voyage　to　the　east　parts　of　the　earth。

one　evening　drinian　said　to　the　prince；　〃your　highness　must　soon　give　over　　seeking　the　worm。　there　is　no　true　vengeance　on　a　witless　brute　as　there　might　be　on　a　　man。　you　weary