csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第6章

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　　〃They're　not　ours；〃　said　Peter　doubtfully。
　　
　　〃I　am　sure　nobody　would　mind；〃　said　Susan；　〃it　isn't　as　if　we　wanted　to　take　them　out　of　the　house；　we　shan't　take　them　even　out　of　the　wardrobe。〃
　　
　　〃I　never　thought　of　that；　Su；〃　said　Peter。　〃Of　course；　now　you　put　it　that　way；　I　see。　No　one　could　say　you　had　bagged　a　coat　as　long　as　you　leave　it　in　the　wardrobe　where　you　found　it。　And　I　suppose　this　whole　country　is　in　the　wardrobe。〃
　　
　　They　immediately　carried　out　Susan's　very　sensible　plan。　The　coats　were　rather　too　big　for　them　so　that　they　came　down　to　their　heels　and　looked　more　like　royal　robes　than　coats　when　they　had　put　them　on。　But　they　all　felt　a　good　deal　warmer　and　each　thought　the　others　looked　better　in　their　new　get…up　and　more　suitable　to　the　landscape。
　　
　　〃We　can　pretend　we　are　Arctic　explorers；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃This　is　going　to　be　exciting　enough　without　pretending；〃　said　Peter；　as　he　began　leading　the　way　forward　into　the　forest。　There　were　heavy　darkish　clouds　overhead　and　it　looked　as　if　there　might　be　more　snow　before　night。
　　
　　〃I　say；〃　began　Edmund　presently；　〃oughtn't　we　to　be　bearing　a　bit　more　to　the　left；　that　is；　if　we　are　aiming　for　the　lamp…post？〃　He　had　forgotten　for　the　moment　that　he　must　pretend　never　to　have　been　in　the　wood　before。　The　moment　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth　he　realized　that　he　had　given　himself　away。　Everyone　stopped；　everyone　stared　at　him。　Peter　whistled。
　　
　　〃So　you　really　were　here；〃　he　said；　〃that　time　Lu　said　she'd　met　you　in　here…and　you　made　out　she　was　telling　lies。〃
　　
　　There　was　a　dead　silence。　〃Well；　of　all　the　poisonous　little　beasts…〃　said　Peter；　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　said　no　more。　There　seemed；　indeed；　no　more　to　say；　and　presently　the　four　resumed　their　journey；　but　Edmund　was　saying　to　himself；　〃I'll　pay　you　all　out　for　this；　you　pack　of　stuck…up；　selfsatisfied　prigs。〃
　　
　　〃Where　are　we　going　anyway？〃　said　Susan；　chiefly　for　the　sake　of　changing　the　subject。
　　
　　〃I　think　Lu　ought　to　be　the　leader；〃　said　Peter；　〃goodness　knows　she　deserves　it。　Where　will　you　take　us；　Lu？〃
　　
　　〃What　about　going　to　see　Mr　Tumnus？〃　said　Lucy。　〃He's　the　nice　Faun　I　told　you　about。〃
　　
　　Everyone　agreed　to　this　and　off　they　went　walking　briskly　and　stamping　their　feet。　Lucy　proved　a　good　leader。　At　first　she　wondered　whether　she　would　be　able　to　find　the　way；　but　she　recognized　an　oddlooking　tree　on　one　place　and　a　stump　in　another　and　brought　them　on　to　where　the　ground　became　uneven　and　into　the　little　valley　and　at　last　to　the　very　door　of　Mr　Tumnus's　cave。　But　there　a　terrible　surprise　awaited　them。
　　
　　The　door　had　been　wrenched　off　its　hinges　and　broken　to　bits。　Inside；　the　cave　was　dark　and　cold　and　had　the　damp　feel　and　smell　of　a　place　that　had　not　been　lived　in　for　several　days。　Snow　had　drifted　in　from　the　doorway　and　was　heaped　on　the　floor；　mixed　with　something　black；　which　turned　out　to　be　the　charred　sticks　and　ashes　from　the　fire。　Someone　had　apparently　flung　it　about　the　room　and　then　stamped　it　out。　The　crockery　lay　smashed　on　the　floor　and　the　picture　of　the　Faun's　father　had　been　slashed　into　shreds　with　a　knife。
　　
　　〃This　is　a　pretty　good　wash…out；〃　said　Edmund；　〃not　much　good　ing　here。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　this？〃　said　Peter；　stooping　down。　He　had　just　noticed　a　piece　of　paper　which　had　been　nailed　through　the　carpet　to　the　floor。
　　
　　〃Is　there　anything　written　on　it？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃Yes；　I　think　there　is；〃　answered　Peter；　〃but　I　can't　read　it　in　this　light。　Let's　get　out　into　the　open　air。〃
　　
　　They　all　went　out　in　the　daylight　and　crowded　round　Peter　as　he　read　out　the　following　words：
　　
　　The　former　occupant　of　these　premises；　the　Faun　Tumnus；　is　under　arrest　and　awaiting　his　trial　on　a　charge　of　High　Treason　against　her　Imperial　Majesty　Jadis；　Queen　of　Narnia；　Chatelaine　of　Cair　Paravel；　Empress　of　the　Lone　Islands；　etc。；　also　of　forting　her　said　Majesty's　enemies；　harbouring　spies　and　fraternizing　with　Humans。
　　
　　signed　MAUGRIM；　Captain　of　the　Secret　Police；　LONG　LIVE　THE　QUEEN
　　
　　The　children　stared　at　each　other。
　　
　　〃I　don't　know　that　I'm　going　to　like　this　place　after　all；〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　〃Who　is　this　Queen；　Lu？〃　said　Peter。　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　her？〃
　　
　　〃She　isn't　a　real　queen　at　all；〃　answered　Lucy；　〃she's　a　horrible　witch；　the　White　Witch。　Everyone　all　the　wood　people…hate　her。　She　has　made　an　enchantment　over　the　whole　country　so　that　it　is　always　winter　here　and　never　Christmas。〃
　　
　　〃I…I　wonder　if　there's　any　point　in　going　on；〃　said　Susan。　〃I　mean；　it　doesn't　seem　particularly　safe　here　and　it　looks　as　if　it　won't　be　much　fun　either。　And　it's　getting　colder　every　minute；　and　we've　brought　nothing　to　eat。　What　about　just　going　home？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　but　we　can't；　we　can't；〃　said　Lucy　suddenly；　〃don't　you　see？　We　can't　just　go　home；　not　after　this。　It　is　all　on　my　account　that　the　poor　Faun　has　got　into　this　trouble。　He　hid　me　from　the　Witch　and　showed　me　the　way　back。　That's　what　it　means　by　forting　the　Queen's　enemies　and　fraternizing　with　Humans。　We　simply　must　try　to　rescue　him。〃
　　
　　〃A　lot　we　could　do！　said　Edmund；　〃when　we　haven't　even　got　anything　to　eat！〃
　　
　　〃Shut　up…you！〃　said　Peter；　who　was　still　very　angry　with　Edmund。　〃What　do　you　think；　Susan？〃
　　
　　〃I've　a　horrid　feeling　that　Lu　is　right；〃　said　Susan。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　a　step　further　and　I　wish　we'd　never　e。　But　I　think　we　must　try　to　do　something　for　Mr　Whatever…his…name　is…I　mean　the　Faun。〃
　　
　　〃That's　what　I　feel　too；〃　said　Peter。　〃I'm　worried　about　having　no　food　with　us。　I'd　vote　for　going　back　and　getting　something　from　the　larder；　only　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　certainty　of　getting　into　this　country　again　when　once　you've　got　out　of　it。　I　think　we'll　have　to　go　on。〃
　　
　　〃So　do　I；〃　said　both　the　girls。
　　
　　〃If　only　we　knew　where　the　poor　chap　was　imprisoned！〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　They　were　all　still　wondering　what　to　do　next；　when　Lucy　said；　〃Look！　There's　a　robin；　with　such　a　red　breast。　It's　the　first　bird　I've　seen　here。　I　say！…I　wonder　can　birds　talk　in　Narnia？　It　almost　looks　as　if　it　wanted　to　say　something　to　us。〃　Then　she　turned　to　the　Robin　and　said；　〃Please；　can　you　tell　us　where　Tumnus　the　Faun　has　been　taken　to？〃　As　she　said　this　she　took　a　step　towards　the　bird。　It　at　once　flew　away　but　only　as　far　as　to　the　next　tree。　There　it　perched　and　looked　at　them　very　hard　as　if　it　understood　all　they　had　been　saying。　Almost　without　noticing　that　they　had　done　so；　the　four　children　went　a　step　or　two　nearer　to　it。　At　this　the　Robin　flew　away　again　to　the　next　tree　and　once　more　looked　at　them　very　hard。　（You　couldn't　have　found　a　robin　with　a　redder　chest　or　a　brighter　eye。）
　　
　　〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Lucy；　〃I　really　believe　he　means　us　to　follow　him。〃
　　
　　〃I've　an　idea　he　does；〃　said　Susan。　〃What　do　you　think；　Peter？〃
　　
　　〃Well；　we　might　as　well　try　it；〃　answered　Peter。
　　
　　The　Robin　appeared　to　understand　the　matter　thoroughly。　It　kept　going　from　tree　to　tree；　always　a　few　yards　ahead　of　them；　but　always　so　near　that　they　could　easily　follow　it。　In　this　way　it　led　them　on；　slightly　downhill。　Wherever　the　Robin　alighted　a　little　shower　of　snow　would　fall　off　the　branch。　Presently　the　clouds　parted　overhead　and　the　winter　sun　came　out　and　the　snow　all　around　them　grew　dazzlingly　bright。　They　had　been　travelling　in　this　way　for　about　half　an　hour；　with　the　two　girls　in　front；　when　Edmund　said　to　Peter；　〃if　you're　not　still　too　high　and　mighty　to　talk　to　me；　I've　something　to　say　which　you'd　better　listen　to。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Peter。
　　
　　〃Hush！　Not　so　loud；〃　said　Edmund；　〃there's　no　good　frightening　the　girls。　But　have　you　realized　what　we're　doing？〃
　　
　　〃What？〃　said　Peter；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　whisper。
　　
　　〃We're　following　a　guide　we　know　nothing　about。　How　do　we　know　which　side　that　bird　is　on？　Why　shouldn't　it　be　leading　us　into　a　trap？〃
　　
　　〃That's　a　nasty　idea。　Still…a　robin；　you　know。　They're　good　birds　in　all　the　stories　I've　ever　read。　I'm　sure　a　robin　wouldn't　be　on　the　wrong　side。〃
　　
　　
　　〃It　if　es　to　that；　which　is　the　right　side？　How　do　we　know　that　the　Fauns　are　in　the　right　and　the　Queen　（yes；　I　know　we've　been　told　she's　a　witch）　is　in　the　wrong？　We　don't　really　know　anything　about　either。〃
　　
　　〃The　Faun　saved　Lucy。〃
　　
　　〃He　said　he　did。　But　how　do　we　know？　And　there's　another　thing　too。　Has　anyone　the　least　idea　of　the　way　home　from　here？〃
　　
　　〃Great　Scott！〃　said　Peter；　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that。〃
　　
　　〃And　no　chance　of　dinner　either；〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　SEVEN
　　
　　A　DAY　WITH　THE　BEAVERS
　　
　　WHILE　the　two　boys　were　whispering　behind；　both　the　girls　suddenly　cried　〃Oh！〃　and　stopped。
　　
　　〃The　robin！〃　cried　Lucy；　〃the　robin。　It's　flown　away。〃　And　so　it　had…right　out　of　sight。
　　
　　〃And　now　what　are　we　to　do？〃　said　Edmund；　giving　Peter　a　look　which　was　as　much　as　to　say　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃
　　
　　〃Sh！　Look！〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　〃What？〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃There's　something　moving　among　the　trees　over　there　to　the　left。〃
　　
　　They　all　stared　as　hard　as　they　could；　and　no　one　felt　very　fortable。
　　
　　〃There　it　goes　again；〃　said　Susan　presently。
　　
　　〃I　saw　it　that　time　too；〃　said　Peter。　〃It's　still　there。　It's　just　gone　behind　that　big　tree。〃
　　
　　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Lucy；　trying　very　hard　not　to　sound　nervous。
　　
　　〃Whatever　it　is；〃　said　Peter；　〃it's　dodging　us。　It's　something　that　doesn't　want　to　be　seen。〃
　　
　　〃Let's　go　home；〃　said　Susan。　And　then；　though　nobody　said　it　out　loud；　everyone　suddenly　realized　the　same　fact　that　Edmund　had　whispered　to　Peter　at　the　end　of　the　last　chapter。　They　were　lost。
　　
　　〃What's　it　like？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃It's…it's　a　kind　of　animal；〃　said　Susan；　and　then；　〃Look！　Look！　Quick！　There　it　is。〃
　　
　　They　all　saw　it　this　time；　a　whiskered　furry　face　which　had　looked　out　at　them　from　behind　a　tree。　But　this　time　it　didn't　immediately　draw　back。　Instead；　the　animal　put　its　paw　against　its　mouth　just　as　humans　put　their　finger　on　their　lips　when　they　are　signalling　to　you　to　be　quiet。　Then　it　disappeared　again。　The　children；　all　stood　holding　their　breath。
　　
　　A　moment　later　the　stranger　came　out　from　behind　the　tree；　glanced　all　round　as　if　it　were　afraid　someone　was　watching；　said　〃Hush〃；　made　signs　to　them　to　join　it　in　the　thicker　bit　of　wood　where　it　was　standing；　and　then　once　more　disappeared。
　　
　　〃I　know　what　it　is；〃　said　Peter；　〃it's　a　beaver。　I　saw　the　tail。〃
　　
　　〃It　wants　us　to　go　to　it；〃　said　Susan；　〃and　it　is　warning　us　not　to　make　a　noise。〃
　　
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Peter。　〃The　question　is；　are　we　to　go　to　it　or　not？　What　do　you　think；　Lu？〃
　　
　　〃I　think　it's　a　nice　beaver；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Yes；　but　how　do　we　know？〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　〃Shan't　we　have　to　risk　it？〃　said　Susan。　〃I　mean；　it's　no　good　just　standing　here　and　I　feel　I　want　some　dinner。〃
　　
　　At　this　moment　the　Beaver　again　popped　its　head　out　from　behind　the　tree