《The Lion, the Witch and the War》第23章

s　the　sea；　and　beyond　the　sea　the　sky；　full of　clouds　which　were　just　turning　rose　colour　with　the　reflection　of　the　sunset。　but　just where　the　land　of　narnia　met　the　sea　…　in　fact；　at　the　mouth　of　the　great　river　…　there　was something　on　a　little　hill；　shining。　it　was　shining　because　it　was　a　castle　and　of　course the　sunlight　was　reflected　from　all　the　windows　which　looked　towards　peter　and　the　sunset； but　to　peter　it　looked　like　a　great　star　resting　on　the　seashore。
〃that；　o　man；〃　said　aslan；　〃is　cair　paravel　of　the　four　thrones；　in　one　of which　you　must　sit　as　king。　i　show　it　to　you　because　you　are　the　first…born　and　you　will be　high　king　over　all　the　rest。”
and　once　more　peter　said　nothing；　for　at　that　moment　a　strange　noise　woke the　silence　suddenly。　it　was　like　a　bugle；　but　richer。
〃it　is　your　sisters　horn；〃　said　aslan　to　peter　in　a　low　voice；　so　low　as to　be　almost　a　purr；　if　it　is　not　disrespectful　to　think　of　a　lion　purring。
for　a　moment　peter　did　not　understand。　then；　when　he　saw　all　the　other creatures　start　forward　and　heard　aslan　say　with　a　wave　of　his　paw；　〃back！　let　the　prince win　his　spurs；〃　he　did　understand；　and　set　off　running　as　hard　as　he　could　to　the pavilion。　and　there　he　saw　a　dreadful　sight。
the　naiads　and　dryads　were　scattering　in　every　direction。　lucy　was　running towards　him　as　fast　as　her　short　legs　would　carry　her　and　her　face　was　as　white　as paper。　then　he　saw　susan　make　a　dash　for　a　tree；　and　swing　herself　up；　followed　by　a　huge　grey beast。　at　first　peter　thought　it　was　a　bear。　then　he　saw　that　it　looked　like　an alsatian；　though　it　was　far　too　big　to　be　a　dog。　then　he　realized　that　it　was　a　wolf　…　a　wolf standing　on　its　hind　legs；　with　its　front　paws　against　the　tree…trunk；　snapping　and　snarling。 all　the　hair　on　its　back　stood　up　on　end。　susan　had　not　been　able　to　get　higher　than　the　second big　branch。
one　of　her　legs　hung　down　so　that　her　foot　was　only　an　inch　or　two　above the　snapping　teeth。　peter　wondered　why　she　did　not　get　higher　or　at　least　take　a　better grip；　then　he　realized　that　she　was　just　going　to　faint　and　that　if　she　fainted　she　would fall　off。
peter　did　not　feel　very　brave；　indeed；　he　felt　he　was　going　to　be　sick。　but that　made　no　difference　to　what　he　had　to　do。　he　rushed　straight　up　to　the　monster　and aimed　a　slash　of　his　sword　at　its　side。　that　stroke　never　reached　the　wolf。　quick　as lightning　it　turned　round；　its　eyes　flaming；　and　its　mouth　wide　open　in　a　howl　of　anger。　if　it had　not　been　so　angry　that　it　simply　had　to　howl　it　would　have　got　him　by　the　throat　at once。　as　it　was　…
though　all　this　happened　too　quickly　for　peter　to　think　at　all　…　he　had just　time　to　duck　down　and　plunge　his　sword；　as　hard　as　he　could；　between　the　brutes forelegs　into　its　heart。　then　came　a　horrible；　confused　moment　like　something　in　a　nightmare。 he　was　tugging　and　pulling　and　the　wolf　seemed　neither　alive　nor　dead；　and　its bared　teeth　knocked　against　his　forehead；　and　everything　was　blood　and　heat　and　hair。　a moment　later　he　found　that　the　monster　lay　dead　and　he　had　drawn　his　sword　out　of it　and　was　straightening　his　back　and　rubbing　the　sweat　off　his　face　and　out　of　his eyes。　he　felt　tired　all　over。
then；　after　a　bit；　susan　came　down　the　tree。　she　and　peter　felt　pretty shaky　when　they　met　and　i　wont　say　there　wasnt　kissing　and　crying　on　both　sides。　but　in narnia　no　one　thinks　any　the　worse　of　you　for　that。
〃quick！　quick！〃　shouted　the　voice　of　aslan。　〃centaurs！　eagles！　i　see another　wolf　in　the　thickets。　there　…　behind　you。　he　has　just　darted　away。　after　him；　all　of you。　he　will　be　going　to　his　mistress。　now　is　your　chance　to　find　the　witch　and　rescue　the fourth　son　of　adam。〃　and　instantly　with　a　thunder　of　hoofs　and　beating　of　wings　a　dozen or　so　of　the　swiftest　creatures　disappeared　into　the　gathering　darkness。
peter；　still　out　of　breath；　turned　and　saw　aslan　close　at　hand。
〃you　have　forgotten　to　clean　your　sword；〃　said　aslan。
it　was　true。　peter　blushed　when　he　looked　at　the　bright　blade　and　saw　it all　smeared　with　the　wolfs　hair　and　blood。　he　stooped　down　and　wiped　it　quite　clean　on　the grass；　and　then　wiped　it　quite　dry　on　his　coat。
〃hand　it　to　me　and　kneel；　son　of　adam；〃　said　aslan。　and　when　peter　had　done so　he　struck　him　with　the　flat　of　the　blade　and　said；　〃rise　up；　sir　peter　wolfs　…bane。　and；　whatever　happens；　never　forget　to　wipe　your　sword。”
now　we　must　get　back　to　edmund。　when　he　had　been　made　to　walk　far　further than　he　had　ever　known　that　anybody　could　walk；　the　witch　at　last　halted　in　a　dark valley　all　overshadowed　with　fir　trees　and　yew　trees。　edmund　simply　sank　down　and　lay on　his　face　doing　nothing　at　all　and　not　even　caring　what　was　going　to　happen　next provided　they　would　let　him　lie　still。　he　was　too　tired　even　to　notice　how　hungry and　thirsty　he　was。　the　witch　and　the　dwarf　were　talking　close　beside　him　in　low　tones。
〃no；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃it　is　no　use　now；　o　queen。　they　must　have　reached the　stone　table　by　now。”
〃perhaps　the　wolf　will　smell　us　out　and　bring　us　news；〃　said　the　witch。
〃it　cannot　be　good　news　if　he　does；〃　said　the　dwarf。
〃four　thrones　in　cair　paravel；〃　said　the　witch。　〃how　if　only　three　were filled？　that　would　not　fulfil　the　prophecy。”
〃what　difference　would　that　make　now　that　he　is　here？〃　said　the　dwarf。　he did　not　dare；　even　now；　to　mention　the　name　of　aslan　to　his　mistress。
〃he　may　not　stay　long。　and　then　…　we　would　fall　upon　the　three　at　cair。”
〃yet　it　might　be　better；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃to　keep　this　one〃　（here　he kicked　edmund）　〃for　bargaining　with。”
．．
CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
（／小｜说｜网）
deep　magic　from　the　dawn　of　time 〃yes！　and　have　him　rescued；〃　said　the　witch　scornfully。
〃then；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃we　had　better　do　what　we　have　to　do　at　once。”
〃i　would　like　to　have　it　done　on　the　stone　table　itself；〃　said　the　witch。 〃that　is　the　proper　place。　that　is　where　it　has　always　been　done　before。”
〃it　will　be　a　long　time　now　before　the　stone　table　can　again　be　put　to　its proper　use；”
said　the　dwarf。
〃true；〃　said　the　witch；　and　then；　〃well；　i　will　begin。”
at　that　moment　with　a　rush　and　a　snarl　a　wolf　r