《The Horse and His Boy》第28章

he　looked　over　his　shoulder。　everything　was　only　too　clear。　a　huge　tawny creature；　its　body　low　to　the　ground；　like　a　cat　streaking　across　the　lawn　to　a　tree　when a　strange　dog　has　got　into　the　garden；　was　behind　them。　and　it　was　nearer　every　second and　half　second。
he　looked　forward　again　and　saw　something　which　he　did　not　take　in；　or　even think　about。　their　way　was　barred　by　a　smooth　green　wall　about　ten　feet　high。　in the　middle　of　that　wall　there　was　a　gate；　open。　in　the　middle　of　the　gateway　stood　a　tall man　dressed；　down　to　his　bare　feet；　in　a　robe　coloured　like　autumn　leaves；　leaning　on　a straight　staff。
his　beard　fell　almost　to　his　knees。
shasta　saw　all　this　in　a　glance　and　looked　back　again。　the　lion　had　almost got　hwin　now。
it　was　making　snaps　at　her　hind　legs；　and　there　was　no　hope　now　in　her foamflecked；　wide…eyed　face。
〃stop；〃　bellowed　shasta　in　brees　ear。　〃must　go　back。　must　help！”
bree　always　said　afterwards　that　he　never　heard；　or　never　understood　this； and　as　he　was　in　general　a　very　truthful　horse　we　must　accept　his　word。
shasta　slipped　his　feet　out　of　the　stirrups；　slid　both　his　legs　over　the left　side；　hesitated　for　one　hideous　hundredth　of　a　second；　and　jumped。　it　hurt　horribly　and　nearly winded　him；　but　before　he　knew　how　it　hurt　him　he　was　staggering　back　to　help　aravis。 he　had　never　done　anything　like　this　in　his　life　before　and　hardly　knew　why　he　was　doing it　now。
one　of　the　most　terrible　noises　in　the　world；　a　horses　scream；　broke　from hwins　lips。
aravis　was　stooping　low　over　hwins　neck　and　seemed　to　be　trying　to　draw her　sword。
and　now　all　three　…　aravis；　hwin；　and　the　lion　were　almost　on　top　of shasta。　before　they　reached　him　the　lion　rose　on　its　hind　legs；　larger　than　you　would　have believed　a　lion　could　be；　and　jabbed　at　aravis　with　its　right　paw。　shasta　could　see　all　the terrible　claws　extended。　aravis　screamed　and　reeled　in　the　saddle。　the　lion　was　tearing her　shoulders。
shasta；　half　mad　with　horror；　managed　to　lurch　towards　the　brute。　he　had　no weapon；　not　even　a　stick　or　a　stone。　he　shouted　out；　idiotically；　at　the　lion　as　one would　at　a　dog。　〃go　home！　go　home！〃　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　he　was　staring　right　into　its wideopened；
raging　mouth。　then；　to　his　utter　astonishment；　the　lion；　still　on　its　hind legs；　checked　itself　suddenly；　turned　head　over　heels；　picked　itself　up；　and　rushed　away。
shasta　did　not　for　a　moment　suppose　it　had　gone　for　good。　he　turned　and raced　for　the　gate　in　the　green　wall　which；　now　for　the　first　time；　he　remembered　seeing。 hwin；　stumbling　and　nearly　fainting；　was　just　entering　the　gate：　aravis　still kept　her　seat　but　her　back　was　covered　with　blood。
〃e　in；　my　daughter；　e　in；〃　the　robed　and　bearded　man　was　saying；　and then　〃e　in；　my　son〃　as　shasta　panted　up　to　him。　he　heard　the　gate　closed behind　him；　and　the　bearded　stranger　was　already　helping　aravis　off　her　horse。
they　were　in　a　wide　and　perfectly　circular　enclosure；　protected　by　a　high wall　of　green　turf。　a　pool　of　perfectly　still　water；　so　full　that　the　water　was　almost exactly　level　with　the　ground；　lay　before　him。　at　one　end　of　the　pool；　pletely overshadowing　it　with　its　branches；　there　grew　the　hugest　and　most　beautiful　tree　that　shasta　had ever　seen。　beyond　the　pool　was　a　little　low　house　of　stone　roofed　with　deep　and　ancient thatch。　there　was　a　sound　of　bleating　and　over　at　the　far　side　of　the　enclosure　there　were　some goats。　the　level　ground　was　pletely　covered　with　the　finest　grass。
〃are　…　are　…　are　you；〃　panted　shasta。　〃are　you　king　lune　of　archenland？”
the　old　man　shook　his　head。　〃no；〃　he　replied　in　a　quiet　voice；　〃i　am　the hermit　of　the　southern　march。　and　now；　my　son；　waste　no　time　on　questions；　but　obey。　this damsel　is　wounded。　your　horses　are　spent。　rabadash　is　at　this　moment　finding　a　ford over　the　winding　arrow。　if　you　run　now；　without　a　moments　rest；　you　will　still　be in　time　to　warn　king　lune。”
shastas　heart　fainted　at　these　words　for　he　felt　he　had　no　strength　left。 and　he　writhed　inside　at　what　seemed　the　cruelty　and　unfairness　of　the　demand。　he　had　not yet　learned　that　if　you　do　one　good　deed　your　reward　usually　is　to　be　set　to　do　another and　harder　and　better　one。　but　all　he　said　out　loud　was： 〃where　is　the　king？”
the　hermit　turned　and　pointed　with　his　staff。　〃look；〃　he　said。　〃there　is another　gate；　right　opposite　to　the　one　you　entered　by。　open　it　and　go　straight　ahead： always　straight　ahead；　over　level　or　steep；　over　smooth　or　rough；　over　dry　or　wet。　i　know by　my　art　that　you　will　find　king　lune　straight　ahead。　but　run；　run：　always　run。”
shasta　nodded　his　head；　ran　to　the　northern　gate　and　disappeared　beyond　it。 then　the　hermit　took　aravis；　whom　he　had　all　this　time　been　supporting　with　his　left arm；　and　half　led；　half　carried　her　into　the　house。　after　a　long　time　he　came　out　again。
〃now；　cousins；〃　he　said　to　the　horses。　〃it　is　your　turn。”
without　waiting　for　an　answer　…　and　indeed　they　were　too　exhausted　to　speak …　he　took　the　bridles　and　saddles　off　both　of　them。　then　he　rubbed　them　both　down；　so well　that　a　groom　in　a　kings　stable　could　not　have　done　it　better。
〃there；　cousins；〃　he　said；　〃dismiss　it　all　from　your　minds　and　be forted。　here　is　water　and　there　is　grass。　you　shall　have　a　hot　mash　when　i　have　milked　my　other cousins；　the　goats。”
〃sir；〃　said　hwin；　finding　her　voice　at　last；　〃will　the　tarkheena　live？　has the　lion　killed　her？”
〃i　who　know　many　present　things　by　my　art；〃　replied　the　hermit　with　a smile；　〃have　yet　little　knowledge　of　things　future。　therefore　i　do　not　know　whether　any　man or　woman　or　beast　in　the　whole　world　will　be　alive　when　the　sun　sets　tonight。　but　be　of good　hope。
the　damsel　is　likely　to　live　as　long　as　any　of　her　age。”
when　aravis　came　to　herself　she　found　that　she　was　lying　on　her　face　on　a low　bed　of　extraordinary　softness　in　a　cool；　bare　room　with　walls　of　undressed　stone。 she　couldnt　understand　why　she　had　been　laid　on　her　face；　but　when　she　tried　to　turn and　felt　the　hot；　burning　pains　all　over　her　back；　she　remembered；　and　realized　why。　she couldnt　understand　what　delightfully　springy　stuff　the　bed　was