csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


attlements　and　the　gates　were　fast　shut。　And　Aslan；　not　at　all　slacking　his　pace；　rushed　straight　as　a　bullet　towards　it。
　　
　　〃The　Witch's　home！〃　he　cried。　〃Now；　children；　hold　tight。〃
　　
　　Next　moment　the　whole　world　seemed　to　turn　upside　down；　and　the　children　felt　as　if　they　had　left　their　insides　behind　them；　for　the　Lion　had　gathered　himself　together　for　a　greater　leap　than　any　he　had　yet　made　and　jumped…or　you　may　call　it　flying　rather　than　jumping…right　over　the　castle　wall。　The　two　girls；　breathless　but　unhurt；　found　themselves　tumbling　off　his　back　in　the　middle　of　a　wide　stone　courtyard　full　of　statues。
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　　
　　WHAT　HAPPENED　ABOUT　THE　STATUES
　　
　　〃WHAT　an　extraordinary　place！〃　cried　Lucy。　〃All　those　stone　animals…and　people　too！　It's…it's　like　a　museum。〃
　　
　　〃Hush；〃　said　Susan；　〃Aslan's　doing　something。〃
　　
　　He　was　indeed。　He　had　bounded　up　to　the　stone　lion　and　breathed　on　him。　Then　without　waiting　a　moment　he　whisked　round…almost　as　if　he　had　been　a　cat　chasing　its　tail…and　breathed　also　on　the　stone　dwarf；　which　（as　you　remember）　was　standing　a　few　feet　from　the　lion　with　his　back　to　it。　Then　he　pounced　on　a　tall　stone　dryad　which　stood　beyond　the　dwarf；　turned　rapidly　aside　to　deal　with　a　stone　rabbit　on　his　right；　and　rushed　on　to　two　centaurs。　But　at　that　moment　Lucy　said；
　　
　　〃Oh；　Susan！　Look！　Look　at　the　lion。〃
　　
　　I　expect　you've　seen　someone　put　a　lighted　match　to　a　bit　of　newspaper　which　is　propped　up　in　a　grate　against　an　unlit　fire。　And　for　a　second　nothing　seems　to　have　happened；　and　then　you　notice　a　tiny　streak　of　flame　creeping　along　the　edge　of　the　newspaper。　It　was　like　that　now。　For　a　second　after　Aslan　had　breathed　upon　him　the　stone　lion　looked　just　the　same。　Then　a　tiny　streak　of　gold　began　to　run　along　his　white　marble　back　then　it　spread…then　the　colour　seemed　to　lick　all　over　him　as　the　flame　licks　all　over　a　bit　of　paper…then；　while　his　hindquarters　were　still　obviously　stone；　the　lion　shook　his　mane　and　all　the　heavy；　stone　folds　rippled　into　living　hair。　Then　he　opened　a　great　red　mouth；　warm　and　living；　and　gave　a　prodigious　yawn。　And　now　his　hind　legs　had　e　to　life。　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　children's　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。
　　
　　〃It's　all　right！〃　shouted　Aslan　joyously。　〃Once　the　feet　are　put　right；　all　the　rest　of　him　will　follow。〃
　　
　　〃That　wasn't　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　Giant's　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！　Where's　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。　It's　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　lady's　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　everyone's　voices　crying　out　at　once；　〃Don't　forget　the　dungeons…Give　us　a　hand　with　this　door！　Here's　another　little　winding　stair…Oh！　I　say。　Here's　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！　I've　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　Witch's　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。
　　
　　〃That'll　be　all　right；〃　said　Aslan；　and　then；　rising　on　his　hind…legs；　he　bawled　up　at　the　Giant。　〃Hi！　You　up　there；〃　he　roared。　〃What's　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　ain't　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　Giant's　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！　I've　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；　〃I'm　afraid　it's　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　don't　know　how　to　describe　it。〃
　　
　　〃What　a　nice　giant　he　is！〃　said　Lucy　to　Mr　Tumnus。
　　
　　〃Oh　yes；〃　replied　the　Faun。　〃All　the　Buffins　always　were。　One　of　the　most　respected　of　all　the　giant　families　in　Narnia。　Not　very　clever；　perhaps　（I　never　knew　a　giant　that　was）；　but　an　old　family。　With　traditions；　you　know。　If　he'd　been　the　other　sort　she'd　never　have　turned　him　into　stone。〃
　　
　　At　this　point　Aslan　clapped　his　paws　together　and　called　for　silence。
　　
　　〃Our　day's　work　is　not　yet　over；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　the　Witch　is　to　be　finally　defeated　before　bed…time　we　must　find　the　battle　at　once。〃
　　
　　〃And　join　in；　I　hope；　sir！〃　added　the　largest　of　the　Centaurs。
　　
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　Aslan。　〃And　now！　Those　who　can't　keep　up…that　is；　children；　dwarfs；　and　small　animals…must　ride　on　the　backs　of　those　who　can…that　is；　lions；　centaurs；　unicorns；　horses；　giants　and　eagles。　Those　who　are　good　with　their　noses　must　e　in　front　with　us　lions　to　smell　out　where　the　battle　is。　Look　lively　and　sort　yourselves。〃
　　
　　And　with　a　great　deal　of　bustle　and　cheering　they　did。　The　most　pleased　of　the　lot　was　the　other　lion　who　kept　running　about　everywhere　pretending　to　be　very　busy　but　really　in　order　to　say　to　everyone　he　met。　〃Did　you　hear　what　he　said？　Us　Lions。　That　means　him　and　me。　Us　Lions。　That's　what　I　like　about　Aslan。　No　side；　no　stand…off…ishness。　Us　Lions。　That　meant　him　and　me。〃　At　least　he　went　on　saying　this　till　Aslan　had　loaded　him　up　with　three　dwarfs；　one　dryad；　two　rabbits；　and　a　hedgehog。　That　steadied　him　a　bit。
　　
　　When　all　were　ready　（it　was　a　big　sheep…dog　who　actually　helped　Aslan　most　in　getting　them　sorted　into　their　proper　order）　they　set　out　through　the　gap　in　the　castle　wall。　At　first　the　lions　and　dogs　went　nosing　about　in　all　directions。　But　then　suddenly　one　great　hound　picked　up　the　scent　and　gave　a　bay。　There　was　no　time　lost　after　that。　Soon　all　the　dogs　and　lions　and　wolves　and　other　hunting　animals　were　going　at　full　speed　with　their　noses　to　the　ground；　and　all　the　others；　streaked　out　for　about　half　a　mile　behind　them；　were　following　as　fast　as　they　could。　The　noise　was　like　an　English　fox…hunt　only　better　because　every　now　and　then　with　the　music　of　the　hounds　was　mixed　the　roar　of　the　other　lion　and　sometimes　the　far　deeper　and　more　awful　roar　of　Aslan　himself。　Faster　and　faster　they　went　as　the　scent　became　easier　and　easier　to　follow。　And　then；　just　as　they　came　to　the　last　curve　in　a　narrow；　winding　valley；　Lucy　heard　above　all　these　noises　another　noise…a　different　one；　which　gave　her　a　queer　feeling　inside。　It　was　a　noise　of　shouts　and　shrieks　and　of　the　clashing　of　metal　against　metal。
　　
　　Then　they　came　out　of　the　narrow　valley　and　at　once　she　saw　the　reason。　There　stood　Peter　and　Edmund　and　all　the　rest　of