the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯- 第12部分

〃go　on；　do　go　on；〃　whispered　aravis；　whose　heart　was　beating　terribly　and　　who　still　felt　that　her　father　might　run　into　them　at　any　corner。

〃im　just　wondering。。。〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃im　not　absolutely　sure　which　way　　we　go　from　here。　i　think　its　the　left。　yes；　im　almost　sure　its　the　left。　what　fun　　this　is！鈥�

they　took　the　left　hand　way　and　found　themselves　in　a　passage　that　was　　hardly　lighted　at　all　and　which　soon　began　going　down　steps。

〃its　all　right；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃im　sure　were　right　now。　i　remember　　these　steps。〃　but　at　that　moment　a　moving　light　appeared　ahead。　a　second　later　there　appeared　　from　round　a　distant　corner；　the　dark　shapes　of　two　men　walking　backwards　and　carrying　　tall　candles。

and　of　course　it　is　only　before　royalties　that　people　walk　backwards。　　aravis　felt　lasaraleen　grip　her　arm　…　that　sort　of　sudden　grip　which　is　almost　a　pinch　　and　which　means　that　the　person　who　is　gripping　you　is　very　frightened　indeed。　aravis　　thought　it　odd　that　lasaraleen　should　be　so　afraid　of　the　tisroc　if　he　were　really　　such　a　friend　of　hers；　but　there　was　no　time　to　go　on　thinking。　lasaraleen　was　hurrying　her　　back　to　the　top　of　the　steps；　on　tiptoes；　and　groping　wildly　along　the　wall。

〃heres　a　door；〃　she　whispered。　〃quick。鈥�

they　went　in；　drew　the　door　very　softly　behind　them；　and　found　themselves　　in　pitch　darkness。　aravis　could　hear　by　lasaraleens　breathing　that　she　was　　terrified。

〃tash　preserve　us！〃　whispered　lasaraleen。　〃what　shall　we　do　if　he　es　in　　here。　can　we　hide？鈥�

there　was　a　soft　carpet　under　their　feet。　they　groped　forward　into　the　room　　and　blundered　on　to　a　sofa。

〃lets　lie　down　behind　it；〃　whimpered　lasaraleen。　〃oh；　i　do　wish　we　hadnt　　e。鈥�

there　was　just　room　between　the　sofa　and　the　curtained　wall　and　the　two　　girls　got　down。

lasaraleen　managed　to　get　the　better　position　and　was　pletely　covered。　　the　upper　part　of　araviss　face　stuck　out　beyond　the　sofa；　so　that　if　anyone　came　　into　that　room　with　a　light　and　happened　to　look　in　exactly　the　right　place　they　would　see　her。　　but　of　course；　because　she　was　wearing　a　veil；　what　they　saw　would　not　at　once　look　like　a　　forehead　and　　

a　pair　of　eyes。　aravis　shoved　desperately　to　try　to　make　lasaraleen　give　　her　a　little　more　room。　but　lasaraleen；　now　quite　selfish　in　her　panic；　fought　back　and　　pinched　her　feet。

they　gave　it　up　and　lay　still；　panting　a　little。　their　own　breath　semed　　dreadfully　noisy；　but　there　was　no　other　noise。

〃is　it　safe？〃　said　aravis　at　last　in　the　tiniest　possible　whisper。

〃i　…　i　…　think　so；〃　began　lasaraleen。　〃but　my　poor　nerves　…〃　and　then　came　　the　most　terrible　noise　they　could　have　heard　at　that　moment：　the　noise　of　the　door　　opening。　and　then　came　light。　and　because　aravis　couldnt　get　her　head　any　further　in　　behind　the　sofa；　she　saw　everything。

first　came　the　two　slaves　（deaf　and　dumb；　as　aravis　rightly　guessed；　and　　therefore　used　at　the　most　secret　councils）　walking　backwards　and　carrying　the　candles。　　they　took　up　their　stand　one　at　each　end　of　the　sofa。　this　was　a　good　thing；　for　of　　course　it　was　now　harder　for　anyone　to　see　aravis　once　a　slave　was　in　front　of　her　and　she　　was　looking　between　his　heels。　then　came　an　old　man；　very　fat；　wearing　a　curious　　pointed　cap　by　which　she　immediately　knew　that　he　was　the　tisroc。　the　least　of　the　jewels　　with　which　he　was　covered　was　worth　more　than　all　the　clothes　and　weapons　of　the　　narnian　lords　put　together：　but　he　was　so　fat　and　such　a　mass　of　frills　and　pleats　and　　bobbles　and　buttons　and　tassels　and　talismans　that　aravis　couldnt　help　thinking　the　narnian　　fashions　（at　any　rate　for　men）　looked　nicer。　after　him　came　a　tall　young　man　with　a　　feathered　and　jewelled　turban　on　his　head　and　an　ivory…sheathed　scimitar　at　his　side。　he　　seemed　very　excited　and　his　eyes　and　teeth　flashed　fiercely　in　the　candlelight。　last　of　　all　came　a　little　hump…backed；　wizened　old　man　in　whom　she　recognized　with　a　shudder　the　new　　grand　vizier　and　her　own　betrothed　husband；　ahoshta　tarkaan　himself。

as　soon　as　all　three　had　entered　the　room　and　the　door　was　shut；　the　tisroc　　seated　himself　on　the　divan　with　a　sigh　of　contentment；　the　young　man　took　his　　place；　standing　before　him；　and　the　grand　vizier　got　down　on　his　knees　and　elbows　and　laid　　his　face　flat　on　the　carpet。

w　w　w。x　iaoshu　otx　t。c　o　m



CHAPTER　EIGHT

銆傚皬％璇碸t*xt…澶�。鍫�
in　the　house　of　the　tisroc　　〃oh…my…father…and…oh…the…delight…of…my…eyes；〃　began　the　young　man；　　muttering　the　words　very　quickly　and　sulkily　and　not　at　all　as　if　the　tisroc　were　the　　delight　of　his　eyes。

〃may　you　live　for　ever；　but　you　have　utterly　destroyed　me。　if　you　had　given　　me　the　swiftest　of　the　galleys　at　sunrise　when　i　first　saw　that　the　ship　of　the　　accursed　barbarians　was　gone　from　her　place　i　would　perhaps　have　overtaken　them。　but　you　　persuaded　me　to　send　first　and　see　if　they　had　not　merely　moved　round　the　point　into　better　　anchorage。

and　now　the　whole　day　has　been　wasted。　and　they　are　gone　…　gone　…　out　of　my　　reach！

the　false　jade；　the…〃　and　here　he　added　a　great　many　descriptions　of　queen　　susan　which　would　not　look　at　all　nice　in　print。　for　of　course　this　young　man　was　　prince　rsh　and　of　course　the　false　jade　was　susan　of　narnia。

〃pose　yourself；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃for　the　departure　of　guests　　makes　a　wound　that　is　easily　healed　in　the　heart　of　a　judicious　host。鈥�

〃but　i　want　her；〃　cried　the　prince。　〃i　must　have　her。　i　shall　die　if　i　do　　not　get　her…　false；　proud；　black…hearted　daughter　of　a　dog　that　she　is！　i　cannot　sleep　and　my　　food　has　no　savour　and　my　eyes　are　darkened　because　of　her　beauty。　i　must　have　the　　barbarian　queen。鈥�

〃how　well　it　was　said　by　a　gifted　poet；〃　observed　the　vizier；　raising　his　　face　（in　a　somewhat　dusty　condition）　from　the　carpet；　〃that　deep　draughts　from　the　　fountain　of　reason　are　desirable　in　order　to　extinguish　the　fire　of　youthful　love。鈥�

this　seemed　to　exasperate　the　prince。　〃dog；〃　he　shouted；　directing　a　series　　of　well…aimed　kicks　at　the　hindquarters　of　the　vizier；　〃do　not　dare　to　quote　the　poets　to　　me。　i　have　had　maxims　and　verses　flung　at　me　all　day　and　i　can　endure　them　no　more。〃　i　am　　afraid　aravis　did　not　feel　at　all　sorry　for　the　vizier。

the　tisroc　was　apparently　sunk　in　thought；　but　when；　after　a　long　pause；　he　　noticed　what　was　happening；　he　said　tranquilly：　　〃my　son；　by　all　means　desist　from　kicking　the　venerable　and　enlightened　　vizier：　for　as　a　costly　jewel　retains　its　value　even　if　hidden　in　a　dung…hill；　so　old　age　　and　discretion　are　to　be　respected　even　in　the　vile　persons　of　our　subjects。　desist　therefore；　　and　tell　us　what　you　desire　and　propose。鈥�

〃i　desire　and　propose；　o　my　father；〃　said　rsh；　〃that　you　immediately　　call　out　your　invincible　armies　and　invade　the　thrice…accursed　land　of　narnia　and　waste　　it　with　fire　and　sword　and　add　it　to　your　illimitable　empire；　killing　their　high　king　and　　all　of　his　blood　except　the　queen　susan。　for　i　must　have　her　as　my　wife；　though　she　shall　　learn　a　sharp　lesson　first。鈥�

〃understand；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃that　no　words　you　can　speak　will　　move　me　to　open　war　against　narnia。鈥�

〃if　you　were　not　my　father；　o　ever…living　tisroc；　〃　said　the　prince；　　grinding　his　teeth；　〃i　should　say　that　was　the　word　of　a　coward。鈥�

〃and　if　you　were　not　my　son；　o　most　inflammable　rsh；〃　replied　his　　father；　〃your　life　would　be　short　and　your　death　slow　when　you　had　said　it。〃　（the　cool；　　placid　voice　in　which　he　spoke　these　words　made　araviss　blood　run　cold。）

〃but　why；　o　my　father；〃　said　the　prince　…　this　time　in　a　much　more　　respectful　voice；　〃why　should　we　think　twice　about　punishing　narnia　any　more　than　about　hanging　an　　idle　slave　or　sending　a　worn…out　horse　to　be　made　into　dogsmeat？　it　is　not　the　fourth　　size　of　one　of　your　least　provinces。　a　thousand　spears　could　conquer　it　in　five　weeks。　it　　is　an　unseemly　blot　on　the　skirts　of　your　empire。鈥�

〃most　undoubtedly；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃these　little　barbarian　countries　that　　call　themselves　free　（which　is　as　much　as　to　say；　idle；　disordered；　and　unprofitable）　are　　hateful　to　the　gods　and　to　all　persons　of　discernment。鈥�

〃then　why　have　we　suffered　such　a　land　as　narnia　to　remain　thus　long　　unsubdued？鈥�

〃know；　o　enlightened　prince；〃　said　the　grand　vizier；　〃that　until　the　year　　in　which　your　exalted　father　began　his　salutary　and　unending　reign；　the　land　of　narnia　　was　covered　with　ice　and　snow　and　was　moreover　ruled　by　a　most　powerful　enchantress。鈥�

〃this　i　know　very　well；　o　loquacious　vizier；〃　answered　the　prince。　〃but　i　　know　also　that　the　enchantress　is　dead。　and　the　ice　and　snow　have　vanished；　so　that　narnia　　is　now　wholesome；　fruitful；　and　delicious。鈥�

〃and　this　change；　o　most　learned　prince；　has　doubtless　been　brought　to　pass　　by　the　powerful　incantations　of　those　wicked　persons　who　now　call　themselves　kings　　and　queens　of　narnia。鈥�

〃i　am　rather　of　the　opinion；〃　said　rsh；　〃that　it　has　e　about　by　the　　alteration　of　the　stars　and　the　operation　of　natural　causes。鈥�

〃all　this；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃is　a　question　for　the　disputations　of　learned　　men。　i　will　never　believe　that　so　great　an　alteration；　and　the　killing　of　the　old　　enchantress；　were　effected　without　the　aid　of　strong　magic。　and　such　things　are　to　be　expected　in　that　　land；　which　is　chiefly　inhabited　by　demons　in　the　shape　of　beasts　that　talk　like　men；　and　　monsters　that　are　half　man　and　half　beast。　it　is　monly　reported　that　the　high　king　of　　narnia　（whom　may　the　gods　utterly　reject）　is　supported　by　a　demon　of　hideous　aspect　and　　irresistible　maleficence　who　appears　in　the　shape　of　a　lion。　therefore　the　attacking　of　　narnia　is　a　dark　and　doubtful　enterprise；　and　i　am　determined　not　to　put　my　hand　out　　farther　than　i　can　draw　it　back。鈥�

〃how　blessed　is　calormen；〃　said　the　vizier；　popping　up　his　face　again；　〃on　　whose　ruler　the　gods　have　been　pleased　to　bestow　prudence　and　circumspection！　yet　as　　the　irrefutable　and　sapient　tisroc　has　said　it　is　very　grievous　to　be　constrained　to　keep　　our　hands　off　such　a　dainty　dish　as　narnia。　gifted　was　that　poet　who　said　…〃　but　at　this　　point　ahoshta　noticed　an　impatient　movement　of　the　princes　toe　and　became　suddenly　　silent。

〃it　is　very　grievous；〃　said　the　tisroc　in　his　deep；　quiet　voice。　〃every　　morning　the　sun　is　darkened　in　my　eyes；　and　every　night　my　sleep　is　the　less　refreshing；　　because　i　remember　that　narnia　is　still　free。鈥�

〃o　my　father；〃　said　rsh。　〃how　if　i　show　you　a　way　by　which　you　can　　stretch　out　your　arm　to　take　narnia　and　yet　draw　it　back　unharmed　if　the　attempt　prove　　unfortunate？鈥�

〃if　you　can　show　me　that；　o　rsh；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃you　will　be　the　　best　of　sons。鈥�

〃hear　then；　0　father。　this　very　night　and　in　this　hour　i　will　take　but　two　　hundred　horse　and　ride　across　the　desert。　and　it　shall　seem　to　all　men　that　you　know　　nothing　of　my　going。　on　the　second　morning　i　shall　be　at　the　gates　of　king　lunes　castle　　of　anvard　in　archenland。　they　are　at　peace　with　us　and　unprepared　and　i　shall　take　　anvard　before　they　have　bestirred　themselves。　then　i　will　ride　through　the　pass　above　　anvard　and　down　through　narnia　to　cair　paravel。　the　high　king　will　not　be　there；　when　i　　left　them　he　was　already　preparing　a　raid　against　the　giants　on　his　northern　border。　i　shall　　find　cair　p