《The Lion, the Witch and the War》第17章

stone。　there　were　lovely　stone　shapes　that　looked　like women　but　who　were　really　the　spirits　of　trees。　there　was　the　great　shape　of　a　centaur and　a　winged　horse　and　a　long　lithe　creature　that　edmund　took　to　be　a　dragon。　they　all　looked so　strange　standing　there　perfectly　life…like　and　also　perfectly　still；　in　the　bright cold　moonlight；　that　it　was　eerie　work　crossing　the　courtyard。　right　in　the　very　middle　stood　a huge　shape　like　a　man；　but　as　tall　as　a　tree；　with　a　fierce　face　and　a　shaggy　beard　and　a great　club　in　its　right　hand。　even　though　he　knew　that　it　was　only　a　stone　giant　and　not　a live　one；　edmund　did　not　like　going　past　it。
he　now　saw　that　there　was　a　dim　light　showing　from　a　doorway　on　the　far side　of　the　courtyard。　he　went　to　it；　there　was　a　flight　of　stone　steps　going　up　to　an open　door。
edmund　went　up　them。　across　the　threshold　lay　a　great　wolf。
〃its　all　right；　its　all　right；〃　he　kept　saying　to　himself；　〃its　only　a stone　wolf。　it　cant　hurt　me〃；　and　he　raised　his　leg　to　step　over　it。　instantly　the　huge　creature rose；　with　all　the　hair　bristling　along　its　back；　opened　a　great；　red　mouth　and　said　in　a　growling voice： 〃whos　there？　whos　there？　stand　still；　stranger；　and　tell　me　who　you　are。”
〃if　you　please；　sir；〃　said　edmund；　trembling　so　that　he　could　hardly　speak； 〃my　name　is　edmund；　and　im　the　son　of　adam　that　her　majesty　met　in　the　wood　the　other day　and　ive　e　to　bring　her　the　news　that　my　brother　and　sisters　are　now　in narnia　…　quite　close；　in　the　beavers　house。　she　…　she　wanted　to　see　them。”
〃i　will　tell　her　majesty；〃　said　the　wolf。　〃meanwhile；　stand　still　on　the threshold；　as　you　value　your　life。〃　then　it　vanished　into　the　house。
edmund　stood　and　waited；　his　fingers　aching　with　cold　and　his　heart pounding　in　his　chest；　and　presently　the　grey　wolf；　maugrim；　the　chief　of　the　witchs secret　police；　came　bounding　back　and　said；　〃e　in！　e　in！　fortunate　favourite　of　the　queen …　or　else　not　so　fortunate。”
and　edmund　went　in；　taking　great　care　not　to　tread　on　the　wolfs　paws。
he　found　himself　in　a　long　gloomy　hall　with　many　pillars；　full；　as　the courtyard　had　been；　of　statues。　the　one　nearest　the　door　was　a　little　faun　with　a　very　sad expression　on　its　face；　and　edmund　couldnt　help　wondering　if　this　might　be　lucys　friend。 the　only　light　came　from　a　single　lamp　and　close　beside　this　sat　the　white　witch。
〃im　e；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　rushing　eagerly　forward。
〃how　dare　you　e　alone？〃　said　the　witch　in　a　terrible　voice。　〃did　i　not tell　you　to　bring　the　others　with　you？”
〃please；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　〃ive　done　the　best　i　can。　ive brought　them　quite　close。　theyre　in　the　little　house　on　top　of　the　dam　just　up　the　riverwith mr　and　mrs　beaver。”
a　slow　cruel　smile　came　over　the　witchs　face。
〃is　this　all　your　news？〃　she　asked。
〃no；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　and　proceeded　to　tell　her　all　he　had　heard before　leaving　the　beavers　house。
〃what！　aslan？〃　cried　the　queen；　〃aslan！　is　this　true？　if　i　find　you　have lied　to　me　…”
〃please；　im　only　repeating　what　they　said；〃　stammered　edmund。
but　the　queen；　who　was　no　longer　attending　to　him；　clapped　her　hands。 instantly　the　same　dwarf　whom　edmund　had　seen　with　her　before　appeared。
〃make　ready　our　sledge；〃　ordered　the　witch；　〃and　use　the　harness　without bells。”
CHAPTER　TEN
the　spell　begins　to　break now　we　must　go　back　to　mr　and　mrs　beaver　and　the　three　other　children。　as soon　as　mr　beaver　said；　〃theres　no　time　to　lose；〃　everyone　began　bundling　themselves into　coats；　except　mrs　beaver；　who　started　picking　up　sacks　and　laying　them　on　the table　and　said：　〃now；　mr　beaver；　just　reach　down　that　ham。　and　heres　a　packet　of　tea；　and theres　sugar；　and　some　matches。　and　if　someone　will　get　two　or　three　loaves　out　of　the crock　over　there　in　the　corner。”
〃what　are　you　doing；　mrs　beaver？〃　exclaimed　susan。
〃packing　a　load　for　each　of　us；　dearie；〃　said　mrs　beaver　very　coolly。　〃you didnt　think　wed　set　out　on　a　journey　with　nothing　to　eat；　did　you？”
〃but　we　havent　time！〃　said　susan；　buttoning　the　collar　of　her　coat。　〃she may　be　here　any　minute。”
〃thats　what　i　say；〃　chimed　in　mr　beaver。
〃get　along　with　you　all；〃　said　his　wife。　〃think　it　over；　mr　beaver。　she cant　be　here　for　quarter　of　an　hour　at　least。”
〃but　dont　we　want　as　big　a　start　as　we　can　possibly　get；〃　said　peter；　〃if were　to　reach　the　stone　table　before　her？”
〃youve　got　to　remember　that；　mrs　beaver；〃　said　susan。　〃as　soon　as　she　has looked　in　here　and　finds　were　gone　shell　be　off　at　top　speed。”
〃that　she　will；〃　said　mrs　beaver。　〃but　we　cant　get　there　before　her whatever　we　do；　for　shell　be　on　a　sledge　and　well　be　walking。”
〃then　…　have　we　no　hope？〃　said　susan。
〃now　dont　you　get　fussing；　theres　a　dear；〃　said　mrs　beaver；　〃but　just　get half　a　dozen　clean　handkerchiefs　out　of　the　drawer。　course　weve　got　a　hope。　we　cant get　there　before　her　but　we　can　keep　under　cover　and　go　by　ways　she　wont　expect　and perhaps　well　get　through。”
〃thats　true　enough；　mrs　beaver；〃　said　her　husband。　〃but　its　time　we　were out　of　this。”
〃and　dont　you　start　fussing　either；　mr　beaver；〃　said　his　wife。　〃there。 thats　better。
theres　five　loads　and　the　smallest　for　the　smallest　of　us：　thats　you；　my dear；〃　she　added；　looking　at　lucy。
〃oh；　do　please　e　on；〃　said　lucy。
〃well；　im　nearly　ready　now；〃　answered　mrs　beaver　at　last；　allowing　her husband　to　help　her　into；　her　snow…boots。　〃i　suppose　the　sewing　machines　took　heavy　to bring？”
〃yes。　it　is；〃　said　mr　beaver。　〃a　great　deal　too　heavy。　and　you　dont　think youll　be　able　to　use　it　while　were　on　the　run；　i　suppose？”
〃i　cant　abide　the　thought　of　that　witch　fiddling　with　it；〃　said　mrs beaver；　〃and　breaking　it　or　stealing　it；　as　likely　as　not。”
〃oh；　please；　please；　please；　do　hurry！〃　said　the　three　children。　and　so　at last　they　all　got　outside　and　mr　beaver　locked　the　door　（〃itll　delay　her　a　bit；〃　he　said） and　they　set　off；　all　carrying　their　loads　over　their　shoulders。
the　snow　had　stopped　and　the　moon　had　e　out　when　they　began　their journey。　they　went　in　single　file　…　first　mr　beaver；　then　lucy；　then　peter；　then　susan； and　mrs　beaver　l