《The Lion, the Witch and the War》第30章

he　lifted　one　of　them　and　scratched　himself。　then；　having　caught　sight　of aslan；　he　went　bounding　after　him　and　frisking　round　him　whimpering　with　delight　and jumping　up　to　lick　his　face。
of　course　the　childrens　eyes　turned　to　follow　the　lion；　but　the　sight　they saw　was　so　wonderful　that　they　soon　forgot　about　him。　everywhere　the　statues　were ing　to　life。
the　courtyard　looked　no　longer　like　a　museum；　it　looked　more　like　a　zoo。 creatures　were　running　after　aslan　and　dancing　round　him　till　he　was　almost　hidden　in　the crowd。
instead　of　all　that　deadly　white　the　courtyard　was　now　a　blaze　of　colours； glossy　chestnut　sides　of　centaurs；　indigo　horns　of　unicorns；　dazzling　plumage　of　birds； reddy…brown　of　foxes；　dogs　and　satyrs；　yellow　stockings　and　crimson　hoods　of　dwarfs；　and the　birch…girls　in　silver；　and　the　beech…girls　in　fresh；　transparent　green；　and　the　larch…　girls　in　green　so
bright　that　it　was　almost　yellow。　and　instead　of　the　deadly　silence　the whole　place　rang　with　the　sound　of　happy　roarings；　brayings；　yelpings；　barkings；　squealings； cooings；　neighings；　stampings；　shouts；　hurrahs；　songs　and　laughter。
〃oh！〃　said　susan　in　a　different　tone。　〃look！　i　wonder　…　i　mean；　is　it safe？”
lucy　looked　and　saw　that　aslan　had　just　breathed　on　the　feet　of　the　stone giant。
〃its　all　right！〃　shouted　aslan　joyously。　〃once　the　feet　are　put　right；　all the　rest　of　him　will　follow。”
〃that　wasnt　exactly　what　i　meant；〃　whispered　susan　to　lucy。　but　it　was　too late　to　do　anything　about　it　now　even　if　aslan　would　have　listened　to　her。　the　change was　already　creeping　up　the　giants　legs。　now　he　was　moving　his　feet。　a　moment　later　he lifted　his　club　off　his　shoulder；　rubbed　his　eyes　and　said； 〃bless　me！　i　must　have　been　asleep。　now！　wheres　that　dratted　little　witch that　was　running　about　on　the　ground。　somewhere　just　by　my　feet　it　was。〃　but　when everyone　had　shouted　up　to　him　to　explain　what　had　really　happened；　and　when　the　giant had　put　his　hand　to　his　ear　and　got　them　to　repeat　it　all　again　so　that　at　last　he understood；　then　he　bowed　down　till　his　head　was　no　further　off　than　the　top　of　a　haystack　and touched　his　cap　repeatedly　to　aslan；　beaming　all　over　his　honest　ugly　face。　（giants　of any　sort　are　now　so　rare　in　england　and　so　few　giants　are　good…tempered　that　ten　to　one you　have　never　seen　a　giant　when　his　face　is　beaming。　its　a　sight　well　worth looking　at。） 〃now　for　the　inside　of　this　house！〃　said　aslan。　〃look　alive；　everyone。　up stairs　and　down　stairs　and　in　my　ladys　chamber！　leave　no　corner　unsearched。　you　never know　where　some　poor　prisoner　may　be　concealed。”
and　into　the　interior　they　all　rushed　and　for　several　minutes　the　whole　of that　dark；　horrible；　fusty　old　castle　echoed　with　the　opening　of　windows　and　with everyones　voices　crying　out　at　once；　〃dont　forget　the　dungeons　…　give　us　a　hand　with　this door！　heres　another　little　winding　stair　…　oh！　i　say。　heres　a　poor　kangaroo。　call aslan　…　phew！　how　it　smells　in　here　…　look　out　for　trap…doors　…　up　here！　there　are　a　whole lot　more　on　the　landing！〃　but　the　best　of　all　was　when　lucy　came　rushing　upstairs　shouting out； 〃aslan！　aslan！　ive　found　mr　tumnus。　oh；　do　e　quick。”
a　moment　later　lucy　and　the　little　faun　were　holding　each　other　by　both hands　and　dancing　round　and　round　for　joy。　the　little　chap　was　none　the　worse　for having　been　a　statue　and　was　of　course　very　interested　in　all　she　had　to　tell　him。
but　at　last　the　ransacking　of　the　witchs　fortress　was　ended。　the　whole castle　stood　empty　with　every　door　and　window　open　and　the　light　and　the　sweet　spring air　flooding　into　all　the　dark　and　evil　places　which　needed　them　so　badly。　the　whole crowd　of
liberated　statues　surged　back　into　the　courtyard。　and　it　was　then　that someone　（tumnus；　i　think）　first　said； 〃but　how　are　we　going　to　get　out？〃　for　aslan　had　got　in　by　a　jump　and　the gates　were　still　locked。
〃thatll　be　all　right；〃　said　aslan；　and　then；　rising　on　his　hind…legs；　he bawled　up　at　the　giant。　〃hi！　you　up　there；〃　he　roared。　〃whats　your　name？”
〃giant　rumblebuffin；　if　it　please　your　honour；〃　said　the　giant；　once　more touching　his　cap。
〃well　then；　giant　rumblebuffin；〃　said　aslan；　〃just　let　us　out　of　this；　will you？”
〃certainly；　your　honour。　it　will　be　a　pleasure；〃　said　giant　rumblebuffin。 〃stand　well　away　from　the　gates；　all　you　little　uns。〃　then　he　strode　to　the　gate himself　and　bang　…　bang　…　bang　…　went　his　huge　club。　the　gates　creaked　at　the　first　blow； cracked　at　the　second；　and　shivered　at　the　third。　then　he　tackled　the　towers　on　each　side of　them　and　after　a　few　minutes　of　crashing　and　thudding　both　the　towers　and　a　good　bit of　the　wall　on　each　side　went　thundering　down　in　a　mass　of　hopeless　rubble；　and　when the　dust　cleared　it　was　odd；　standing　in　that　dry；　grim；　stony　yard；　to　see　through the　gap　all　the　grass　and　waving　trees　and　sparkling　streams　of　the　forest；　and　the　blue hills　beyond　that　and　beyond　them　the　sky。
〃blowed　if　i　aint　all　in　a　muck　sweat；〃　said　the　giant；　puffing　like　the largest　railway　engine。　〃es　of　being　out　of　condition。　i　suppose　neither　of　you　young ladies　has　such　a　thing　as　a　pocket…handkerchee　about　you？”
〃yes；　i　have；〃　said　lucy；　standing　on　tip…toes　and　holding　her　handkerchief up　as　far　as　she　could　reach。
〃thank　you；　missie；〃　said　giant　rumblebuffin；　stooping　down。　next　moment lucy　got　rather　a　fright　for　she　found　herself　caught　up　in　mid…air　between　the giants　finger　and　thumb。　but　just　as　she　was　getting　near　his　face　he　suddenly　started　and then　put　her　gently　back　on　the　ground　muttering；　〃bless　me！　ive　picked　up　the　little girl　instead。　i　beg　your　pardon；　missie；　i　thought　you　was　the　handkerchee！”
〃no；　no；〃　said　lucy　laughing；　〃here　it　is！〃　this　time　he　managed　to　get　it but　it　was　only　about　the　same　size　to　him　that　a　saccharine　tablet　would　be　to　you；　so that　when　she　saw　him　solemnly　rubbing　it　to　and　fro　across　his　great　red　face；　she　said； 〃im　afraid　its　not　much　use　to　you；　mr　rumblebuffin。”
〃not　at　all。　not　at　all；〃　said　the　giant　politely。　〃never　met　a　nicer handkerchee。　so　fine；　so　handy。　so　…　i　dont　know　how　to　describe　it。”
〃what　a　nice　giant