csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第15章

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　　It　was　still　afternoon　when　they　came　down　to　a　place　where　the　river　valley　had　widened　out　and　the　river　was　broad　and　shallow。　This　was　the　Fords　of　Beruna　and　Aslan　gave　orders　to　halt　on　this　side　of　the　water。　But　Peter　said；
　　
　　〃Wouldn't　it　be　better　to　camp　on　the　far　side…for　fear　she　should　try　a　night　attack　or　anything？〃
　　
　　Aslan；　who　seemed　to　have　been　thinking　about　something　else；　roused　himself　with　a　shake　of　his　magnificent　mane　and　said；　〃Eh？　What's　that？〃　Peter　said　it　all　over　again。
　　
　　〃No；〃　said　Aslan　in　a　dull　voice；　as　if　it　didn't　matter。　〃No。　She　will　not　make　an　attack　to…night。〃　And　then　he　sighed　deeply。　But　presently　he　added；　〃All　the　same　it　was　well　thought　of。　That　is　how　a　soldier　ought　to　think。　But　it　doesn't　really　matter。〃　So　they　proceeded　to　pitch　their　camp。
　　
　　Aslan's　mood　affected　everyone　that　evening。　Peter　was　feeling　unfortable　too　at　the　idea　of　fighting　the　battle　on　his　own；　the　news　that　Aslan　might　not　be　there　had　e　as　a　great　shock　to　him。　Supper　that　evening　was　a　quiet　meal。　Everyone　felt　how　different　it　had　been　last　night　or　even　that　morning。　It　was　as　if　the　good　times；　having　just　begun；　were　already　drawing　to　their　end。
　　
　　This　feeling　affected　Susan　so　much　that　she　couldn't　get　to　sleep　when　she　went　to　bed。　And　after　she　had　lain　counting　sheep　and　turning　over　and　over　she　heard　Lucy　give　a　long　sigh　and　turn　over　just　beside　her　in　the　darkness。
　　
　　〃Can't　you　get　to　sleep　either？〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　〃No；〃　said　Lucy。　〃I　thought　you　were　asleep。　I　say；　Susan！〃
　　
　　〃What？〃
　　
　　〃I've　a　most　Horrible　feeling…as　if　something　were　hanging　over　us。〃
　　
　　〃Have　you？　Because；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　so　have　I。〃
　　
　　〃Something　about　Aslan；〃　said　Lucy。　〃Either　some　dreadful　thing　is　going　to　happen　to　him；　or　something　dreadful　that　he's　going　to　do。〃
　　
　　〃There's　been　something　wrong　with　him　all　afternoon；〃　said　Susan。　〃Lucy！　What　was　that　he　said　about　not　being　with　us　at　the　battle？　You　don't　think　he　could　be　stealing　away　and　leaving　us　tonight；　do　you？〃
　　
　　〃Where　is　he　now？〃　said　Lucy。　〃Is　he　here　in　the　pavilion？〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　　
　　〃Susan！　let's　go　outside　and　have　a　look　round。　We　might　see　him。〃
　　
　　〃All　right。　Let's；〃　said　Susan；　〃we　might　just　as　well　be　doing　that　as　lying　awake　here。〃
　　
　　Very　quietly　the　two　girls　groped　their　way　among　the　other　sleepers　and　crept　out　of　the　tent。　The　moonlight　was　bright　and　everything　was　quite　still　except　for　the　noise　of　the　river　chattering　over　the　stones。　Then　Susan　suddenly　caught　Lucy's　arm　and　said；　〃Look！〃　On　the　far　side　of　the　camping　ground；　just　where　the　trees　began；　they　saw　the　Lion　slowly　walking　away　from　them　into　the　wood。　Without　a　word　they　both　followed　him。
　　
　　He　led　them　up　the　steep　slope　out　of　the　river　valley　and　then　slightly　to　the　right…apparently　by　the　very　same　route　which　they　had　used　that　afternoon　in　ing　from　the　Hill　of　the　Stone　Table。　On　and　on　he　led　them；　into　dark　shadows　and　out　into　pale　moonlight；　getting　their　feet　wet　with　the　heavy　dew。　He　looked　somehow　different　from　the　Aslan　they　knew。　His　tail　and　his　head　hung　low　and　he　walked　slowly　as　if　he　were　very；　very　tired。　Then；　when　they　were　crossing　a　wide　open　place　where　there　where　no　shadows　for　them　to　hide　in；　he　stopped　and　looked　round。　It　was　no　good　trying　to　run　away　so　they　came　towards　him。　When　they　were　closer　he　said；
　　
　　〃Oh；　children；　children；　why　are　you　following　me？〃
　　
　　〃We　couldn't　sleep；〃　said　Lucy…and　then　felt　sure　that　she　need　say　no　more　and　that　Aslan　knew　all　they　had　been　thinking。
　　
　　〃Please；　may　we　e　with　you…wherever　you're　going？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃Well…〃　said　Aslan；　and　seemed　to　be　thinking。　Then　he　said；　〃I　should　be　glad　of　pany　tonight。　Yes；　you　may　e；　if　you　will　promise　to　stop　when　I　tell　you；　and　after　that　leave　me　to　go　on　alone。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you。　And　we　will；〃　said　the　two　girls。
　　
　　Forward　they　went　again　and　one　of　the　girls　walked　on　each　side　of　the　Lion。　But　how　slowly　he　walked！　And　his　great；　royal　head　drooped　so　that　his　nose　nearly　touched　the　grass。　Presently　he　stumbled　and　gave　a　low　moan。
　　
　　〃Aslan！　Dear　Aslan！〃　said　Lucy；　〃what　is　wrong？　Can't　you　tell　us？〃
　　
　　〃Are　you　ill；　dear　Aslan？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃No；〃　said　Aslan。　〃I　am　sad　and　lonely。　Lay　your　hands　on　my　mane　so　that　I　can　feel　you　are　there　and　let　us　walk　like　that。〃
　　
　　And　so　the　girls　did　what　they　would　never　have　dared　to　do　without　his　permission；　but　what　they　had　longed　to　do　ever　since　they　first　saw　him　buried　their　cold　hands　in　the　beautiful　sea　of　fur　and　stroked　it　and；　so　doing；　walked　with　him。　And　presently　they　saw　that　they　were　going　with　him　up　the　slope　of　the　hill　on　which　the　Stone　Table　stood。　They　went　up　at　the　side　where　the　trees　came　furthest　up；　and　when　they　got　to　the　last　tree　（it　was　one　that　had　some　bushes　about　it）　Aslan　stopped　and　said；
　　
　　〃Oh；　children；　children。　Here　you　must　stop。　And　whatever　happens；　do　not　let　yourselves　be　seen。　Farewell。〃
　　
　　And　both　the　girls　cried　bitterly　（though　they　hardly　knew　why）　and　clung　to　the　Lion　and　kissed　his　mane　and　his　nose　and　his　paws　and　his　great；　sad　eyes。　Then　he　turned　from　them　and　walked　out　on　to　the　top　of　the　hill。　And　Lucy　and　Susan；　crouching　in　the　bushes；　looked　after　him；　and　this　is　what　they　saw。
　　
　　A　great　crowd　of　people　were　standing　all　round　the　Stone　Table　and　though　the　moon　was　shining　many　of　them　carried　torches　which　burned　with　evil…looking　red　flames　and　black　smoke。　But　such　people！　Ogres　with　monstrous　teeth；　and　wolves；　and　bull…headed　men；　spirits　of　evil　trees　and　poisonous　plants；　and　other　creatures　whom　I　won't　describe　because　if　I　did　the　grownups　would　probably　not　let　you　read　this　book…Cruels　and　Hags　and　Incubuses；　Wraiths；　Horrors；　Efreets；　Sprites；　Orknies；　Wooses；　and　Ettins。　In　fact　here　were　all　those　who　were　on　the　Witch's　side　and　whom　the　Wolf　had　summoned　at　her　mand。　And　right　in　the　middle；　standing　by　the　Table；　was　the　Witch　herself。
　　
　　A　howl　and　a　gibber　of　dismay　went　up　from　the　creatures　when　they　first　saw　the　great　Lion　pacing　towards　them；　and　for　a　moment　even　the　Witch　seemed　to　be　struck　with　fear。　Then　she　recovered　herself　and　gave　a　wild　fierce　laugh。
　　
　　〃The　fool！〃　she　cried。　〃The　fool　has　e。　Bind　him　fast。〃
　　
　　Lucy　and　Susan　held　their　breaths　waiting　for　Aslan's　roar　and　his　spring　upon　his　enemies。　But　it　never　came。　Four　Hags；　grinning　and　leering；　yet　also　（at　first）　hanging　back　and　half　afraid　of　what　they　had　to　do；　had　approached　him。　〃Bind　him；　I　say！〃　repeated　the　White　Witch。　The　Hags　made　a　dart　at　him　and　shrieked　with　triumph　when　they　found　that　he　made　no　resistance　at　all。　Then　others…evil　dwarfs　and　apes…rushed　in　to　help　them；　and　between　them　they　rolled　the　huge　Lion　over　on　his　back　and　tied　all　his　four　paws　together；　shouting　and　cheering　as　if　they　had　done　something　brave；　though；　had　the　Lion　chosen；　one　of　those　paws　could　have　been　the　death　of　them　all。　But　he　made　no　noise；　even　when　the　enemies；　straining　and　tugging；　pulled　the　cords　so　tight　that　they　cut　into　his　flesh。　Then　they　began　to　drag　him　towards　the　Stone　Table。
　　
　　〃Stop！〃　said　the　Witch。　〃Let　him　first　be　shaved。〃
　　
　　Another　roar　of　mean　laughter　went　up　from　her　followers　as　an　ogre　with　a　pair　of　shears　came　forward　and　squatted　down　by　Aslan's　head。　Snip…snip…snip　went　the　shears　and　masses　of　curling　gold　began　to　fall　to　the　ground。　Then　the　ogre　stood　back　and　the　children；　watching　from　their　hiding…place；　could　see　the　face　of　Aslan　looking　all　small　and　different　without　its　mane。　The　enemies　also　saw　the　difference。
　　
　　〃Why；　he's　only　a　great　cat　after　all！〃　cried　one。
　　
　　〃Is　that　what　we　were　afraid　of？〃　said　another。
　　
　　And　they　surged　round　Aslan；　jeering　at　him；　saying　things　like　〃Puss；　Puss！　Poor　Pussy；〃　and　〃How　many　mice　have　you　caught　today；　Cat？〃　and　〃Would　you　like　a　saucer　of　milk；　Pussums？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　how　can　they？〃　said　Lucy；　tears　streaming　down　her　cheeks。　〃The　brutes；　the　brutes！〃　for　now　that　the　first　shock　was　over　the　shorn　face　of　Aslan　looked　to　her　braver；　and　more　beautiful；　and　more　patient　than　ever。
　　
　　〃Muzzle　him！〃　said　the　Witch。　And　even　now；　as　they　worked　about　his　face　putting　on　the　muzzle；　one　bite　from　his　jaws　would　have　cost　two　or　three　of　them　their　hands。　But　he　never　moved。　And　this　seemed　to　enrage　all　that　rabble。　Everyone　was　at　him　now。　Those　who　had　been　afraid　to　e　near　him　even　after　he　was　bound　began　to　find　their　courage；　and　for　a　few　minutes　the　two　girls　could　not　even　see　him…so　thickly　was　he　surrounded　by　the　whole　crowd　of　creatures　kicking　him；　hitting　him；　spitting　on　him；　jeering　at　him。
　　
　　At　last　the　rabble　had　had　enough　of　this。　They　began　to　drag　the　bound　and　muzzled　Lion　to　the　Stone　Table；　some　pulling　and　some　pushing。　He　was　so　huge　that　even　when　they　got　him　there　it　took　all　their　efforts　to　hoist　him　on　to　the　surface　of　it。　Then　there　was　more　tying　and　tightening　of　cords。
　　
　　〃The　cowards！　The　cowards！〃　sobbed　Susan。　〃Are　they　still　afraid　of　him；　even　now？〃
　　
　　When　once　Aslan　had　been　tied　（and　tied　so　that　he　was　really　a　mass　of　cords）　on　the　flat　stone；　a　hush　fell　on　the　crowd。　Four　Hags；　holding　four　torches；　stood　at　the　corners　of　the　Table。　The　Witch　bared　her　arms　as　she　had　bared　them　the　previous　night　when　it　had　been　Edmund　instead　of　Aslan。　Then　she　began　to　whet　her　knife。　It　looked　to　the　children；　when　the　gleam　of　the　torchlight　fell　on　it；　as　if　the　knife　were　made　of　stone；　not　of　steel；　and　it　was　of　a　strange　and　evil　shape。
　　
　　As　last　she　drew　near。　She　stood　by　Aslan's　head。　Her　face　was　working　and　twitching　with　passion；　but　his　looked　up　at　the　sky；　still　quiet；　neither　angry　nor　afraid；　but　a　little　sad。　Then；　just　before　she　gave　the　blow；　she　stooped　down　and　said　in　a　quivering　voice；
　　
　　〃And　now；　who　has　won？　Fool；　did　you　think　that　by　all　this　you　would　save　the　human　traitor？　Now　I　will　kill　you　instead　of　him　as　our　pact　was　and　so　the　Deep　Magic　will　be　appeased。　But　when　you　are　dead　what　will　prevent　me　from　killing　him　as　well？　And　who　will　take　him　out　of　my　hand　then？　Understand　that　you　have　given　me　Narnia　forever；　you　have　lost　your　own　life　and　you　have　not　saved　his。　In　that　knowledge；　despair　and　die。〃
　　
　　The　children　did　not　see　the　actual　moment　of　the　killing。　They　couldn't　bear　to　look　and　had　covered　their　eyes。
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　　
　　DEEPER　MAGIC　FROM　BEFORE　THE　DAWN　OF　TIME
　　
　　WHILE　the　two　girls　still　crouched　in　the　bushes　with　their　hands　over　their　faces；　they　heard　the　voice　of　the　Witch　calling　out；
　　
　　〃Now！　Follow　me　all　and　we　will　set　about　what　remains　of　this　war！　It　will　not　take　us　long　to　crush　the　human　vermin　and　the　traitors　now　that　the　great　Fool；　the　great　Cat；　lies　dead。〃
　　
　　At　this　moment　the　children　were　for　a　few　seconds　in　very　great　danger。　For　with　wild　cr