《The Lion, the Witch and the War》第13章

r　again　until　they　had　a　fine　catch of　fish。
meanwhile　the　girls　were　helping　mrs　beaver　to　fill　the　kettle　and　lay　the table　and　cut　the　bread　and　put　the　plates　in　the　oven　to　heat　and　draw　a　huge　jug　of beer　for　mr　beaver　from　a　barrel　which　stood　in　one　corner　of　the　house；　and　to　put　on　the frying…pan　and　get　the　dripping　hot。　lucy　thought　the　beavers　had　a　very　snug　little　home though　it　was　not　at　all　like　mr　tumnuss　cave。　there　were　no　books　or　pictures；　and　instead of　beds　there　were　bunks；　like　on　board　ship；　built　into　the　wall。　and　there　were　hams and　strings　of　onions　hanging　from　the　roof；　and　against　the　walls　were　gum　boots　and oilskins　and　hatchets　and　pairs　of　shears　and　spades　and　trowels　and　things　for　carrying mortar　in　and　fishing…rods　and　fishing…nets　and　sacks。　and　the　cloth　on　the　table；　though very　clean；　was　very　rough。
just　as　the　frying…pan　was　nicely　hissing　peter　and　mr　beaver　came　in　with the　fish　which　mr　beaver　had　already　opened　with　his　knife　and　cleaned　out　in　the open　air。　you　can　think　how　good　the　new…caught　fish　smelled　while　they　were　frying　and how　the　hungry　children　longed　for　them　to　be　done　and　how　very　much　hungrier　still they　had　bee　before　mr　beaver　said；　〃now　were　nearly　ready。〃　susan　drained　the potatoes　and　then　put　them　all　back　in　the　empty　pot　to　dry　on　the　side　of　the　range while　lucy　was　helping　mrs　beaver　to　dish　up　the　trout；　so　that　in　a　very　few　minutes everyone　was　drawing　up　their　stools　（it　was　all　three…legged　stools　in　the　beavers house　except　for　mrs　beavers　own　special　rockingchair　beside　the　fire）　and　preparing　to enjoy　themselves。　there　was　a　jug　of　creamy　milk　for　the　children　（mr　beaver stuck　to　beer）　and　a　great　big　lump　of　deep　yellow　butter　in　the　middle　of　the　table　from which　everyone　took　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　go　with　his　potatoes；　and　all　the children　thought　…　and　i　agree　with　them　…　that　theres　nothing　to　beat　good　freshwater　fish if　you　eat　it　when　it　has　been　alive　half　an　hour　ago　and　has　e　out　of　the　pan　half　a minute　ago。
and　when　they　had　finished　the　fish　mrs　beaver　brought　unexpectedly　out　of the　oven　a　great　and　gloriously　sticky　marmalade　roll；　steaming　hot；　and　at　the　same time　moved　the　kettle　on　to　the　fire；　so　that　when　they　had　finished　the　marmalade　roll the　tea　was　made　and　ready　to　be　poured　out。　and　when　each　person　had　got　his　（or　her）　cup of　tea；　each　person　shoved　back　his　（or　her）　stool　so　as　to　be　able　to　lean　against　the wall　and　gave　a　long　sigh　of　contentment。
〃and　now；〃　said　mr　beaver；　pushing　away　his　empty　beer　mug　and　pulling　his cup　of　tea　towards　him；　〃if　youll　just　wait　till　ive　got　my　pipe　lit　up　and　going nicely　…　why；　now　we　can　get　to　business。　its　snowing　again；〃　he　added；　cocking　his　eye　at the　window。
〃thats　all　the　better；　because　it　means　we　shant　have　any　visitors；　and if　anyone　should　have　been　trying　to　follow　you；　why　he　wont　find　any　tracks。”
。。！
CHAPTER　EIGHT
。
what　happened　after　dinner
〃and　now；〃　said　lucy；　〃do　please　tell　us　whats　happened　to　mr　tumnus。”
〃ah；　thats　bad；〃　said　mr　beaver；　shaking　his　head。　〃thats　a　very；　very bad　business。
theres　no　doubt　he　was　taken　off　by　the　police。　i　got　that　from　a　bird　who saw　it　done。”
〃but　wheres　he　been　taken　to？〃　asked　lucy。
〃well；　they　were　heading　northwards　when　they　were　last　seen　and　we　all know　what　that　means。”
〃no；　we　dont；〃　said　susan。　mr　beaver　shook　his　head　in　a　very　gloomy fashion。
〃im　afraid　it　means　they　were　taking　him　to　her　house；〃　he　said。
〃but　whatll　they　do　to　him；　mr　beaver？〃　gasped　lucy。
〃well；〃　said　mr　beaver；　〃you　cant　exactly　say　for　sure。　but　theres　not many　taken　in　there　that　ever　es　out　again。　statues。　all　full　of　statues　they　say　it is　…　in　the　courtyard　and　up　the　stairs　and　in　the　hall。　people　shes　turned〃　…　（he　paused　and shuddered）　〃turned　into　stone。”
〃but；　mr　beaver；〃　said　lucy；　〃cant　we　…　i　mean　we　must　do　something　to save　him。　its　too　dreadful　and　its　all　on　my　account。”
〃i　dont　doubt　youd　save　him　if　you　could；　dearie；〃　said　mrs　beaver；　〃but youve　no　chance　of　getting　into　that　house　against　her　will　and　ever　ing　out alive。”
〃couldnt　we　have　some　stratagem？〃　said　peter。　〃i　mean　couldnt　we　dress　up as　something；　or　pretend　to　be　…　oh；　pedlars　or　anything　…　or　watch　till　she was　gone　out　…　or…　oh；　hang　it　all；　there　must　be　some　way。　this　faun　saved　my　sister　at　his own　risk；　mr　beaver。　we　cant　just　leave　him　to　be　…　to　be　…　to　have　that　done　to　him。”
〃its　no　good；　son　of　adam；〃　said　mr　beaver；　〃no　good　your　trying；　of　all people。　but　now　that　aslan　is　on　the　move…”
〃oh；　yes！　tell　us　about　aslan！〃　said　several　voices　at　once；　for　once　again that　strange　feeling　…　like　the　first　signs　of　spring；　like　good　news；　had　e　over them。
〃who　is　aslan？〃　asked　susan。
〃aslan？〃　said　mr　beaver。　〃why；　dont　you　know？　hes　the　king。　hes　the　lord of　the　whole　wood；　but　not　often　here；　you　understand。　never　in　my　time　or　my fathers　time。
but　the　word　has　reached　us　that　he　has　e　back。　he　is　in　narnia　at　this moment。　hell　settle　the　white　queen　all　right。　it　is　he；　not　you；　that　will　save　mr tumnus。”
〃she　wont　turn　him　into　stone　too？〃　said　edmund。
〃lord　love　you；　son　of　adam；　what　a　simple　thing　to　say！〃　answered　mr beaver　with　a　great　laugh。　〃turn　him　into　stone？　if　she　can　stand　on　her　two　feet　and look　him　in　the　face　itll　be　the　most　she　can　do　and　more　than　i　expect　of　her。　no；　no。 hell　put　all　to　rights　as　it　says　in　an　old　rhyme　in　these　parts： wrong　will　be　right；　when　aslan　es　in　sight； at　the　sound　of　his　roar；　sorrows　will　be　no　more； when　he　bares　his　teeth；　winter　meets　its　death； and　when　he　shakes　his　mane；　we　shall　have　spring　again。
youll　understand　when　you　see　him。”
〃but　shall　we　see　him？〃　asked　susan。
〃why；　daughter　of　eve；　thats　what　i　brought　you　here　for。　im　to　lead　you where　you　shall　meet　him；〃　said　mr　beaver。
〃is…is　he　a　man？〃　asked　lucy。
〃aslan　a　man！〃　said　mr　beaver　sternly。　〃certainly　not。　i　tell　you　he　is　the king　of　the　wood　and　the　son　of　the　great　emperor…beyond…the…sea。　dont　you　know　who　is the　king　of　beasts？　aslan　is　a　li