csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第7章

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　　At　this　moment　the　Beaver　again　popped　its　head　out　from　behind　the　tree　and　beckoned　earnestly　to　them。
　　
　　〃e　on；〃　said　Peter；〃let's　give　it　a　try。　All　keep　close　together。　We　ought　to　be　a　match　for　one　beaver　if　it　turns　out　to　be　an　enemy。〃
　　
　　So　the　children　all　got　close　together　and　walked　up　to　the　tree　and　in　behind　it；　and　there；　sure　enough；　they　found　the　Beaver；　but　it　still　drew　back；　saying　to　them　in　a　hoarse　throaty　whisper；　〃Further　in；　e　further　in。　Right　in　here。　We're　not　safe　in　the　open！〃
　　
　　Only　when　it　had　led　them　into　a　dark　spot　where　four　trees　grew　so　close　together　that　their　boughs　met　and　the　brown　earth　and　pine　needles　could　be　seen　underfoot　because　no　snow　had　been　able　to　fall　there；　did　it　begin　to　talk　to　them。
　　
　　〃Are　you　the　Sons　of　Adam　and　the　Daughters　of　Eve？〃　it　said。
　　
　　〃We're　some　of　them；〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃S…s…s…sh！〃　said　the　Beaver；　〃not　so　loud　please。　We're　not　safe　even　here。〃
　　
　　〃Why；　who　are　you　afraid　of？〃　said　Peter。　〃There's　no　one　here　but　ourselves。〃
　　
　　〃There　are　the　trees；〃　said　the　Beaver。　〃They're　always　listening。　Most　of　them　are　on　our　side；　but　there　are　trees　that　would　betray　us　to　her；　you　know　who　I　mean；〃　and　it　nodded　its　head　several　times。
　　
　　〃If　it　es　to　talking　about　sides；〃　said　Edmund；　〃how　do　we　know　you're　a　friend？〃
　　
　　〃Not　meaning　to　be　rude；　Mr　Beaver；〃　added　Peter；　〃but　you　see；　we're　strangers。〃
　　
　　〃Quite　right；　quite　right；〃　said　the　Beaver。　〃Here　is　my　token。〃　With　these　words　it　held　up　to　them　a　little　white　object。　They　all　looked　at　it　in　surprise；　till　suddenly　Lucy　said；　〃Oh；　of　course。　It's　my　handkerchief…the　one　I　gave　to　poor　Mr　Tumnus。〃
　　
　　〃That's　right；〃　said　the　Beaver。　〃Poor　fellow；　he　got　wind　of　the　arrest　before　it　actually　happened　and　handed　this　over　to　me。　He　said　that　if　anything　happened　to　him　I　must　meet　you　here　and　take　you　on　to…〃　Here　the　Beaver's　voice　sank　into　silence　and　it　gave　one　or　two　very　mysterious　nods。　Then　signalling　to　the　children　to　stand　as　close　around　it　as　they　possibly　could；　so　that　their　faces　were　actually　tickled　by　its　whiskers；　it　added　in　a　low　whisper…
　　
　　〃They　say　Aslan　is　on　the　move…perhaps　has　already　landed。〃
　　
　　And　now　a　very　curious　thing　happened。　None　of　the　children　knew　who　Aslan　was　any　more　than　you　do；　but　the　moment　the　Beaver　had　spoken　these　words　everyone　felt　quite　different。　Perhaps　it　has　sometimes　happened　to　you　in　a　dream　that　someone　says　something　which　you　don't　understand　but　in　the　dream　it　feels　as　if　it　had　some　enormous　meaning…either　a　terrifying　one　which　turns　the　whole　dream　into　a　nightmare　or　else　a　lovely　meaning　too　lovely　to　put　into　words；　which　makes　the　dream　so　beautiful　that　you　remember　it　all　your　life　and　are　always　wishing　you　could　get　into　that　dream　again。　It　was　like　that　now。　At　the　name　of　Aslan　each　one　of　the　children　felt　something　jump　in　its　inside。　Edmund　felt　a　sensation　of　mysterious　horror。　Peter　felt　suddenly　brave　and　adventurous。　Susan　felt　as　if　some　delicious　smell　or　some　delightful　strain　of　music　had　just　floated　by　her。　And　Lucy　got　the　feeling　you　have　when　you　wake　up　in　the　morning　and　realize　that　it　is　the　beginning　of　the　holidays　or　the　beginning　of　summer。
　　
　　〃And　what　about　Mr　Tumnus；〃　said　Lucy；　〃where　is　he？〃
　　
　　〃S…s…s…sh；〃　said　the　Beaver；　〃not　here。　I　must　bring　you　where　we　can　have　a　real　talk　and　also　dinner。〃
　　
　　No　one　except　Edmund　felt　any　difficulty　about　trusting　the　beaver　now；　and　everyone；　including　Edmund；　was　very　glad　to　hear　the　word　〃dinner〃。
　　
　　They　therefore　all　hurried　along　behind　their　new　friend　who　led　them　at　a　surprisingly　quick　pace；　and　always　in　the　thickest　parts　of　the　forest；　for　over　an　hour。　Everyone　was　feeling　very　tired　and　very　hungry　when　suddenly　the　trees　began　to　get　thinner　in　front　of　them　and　the　ground　to　fall　steeply　downhill。　A　minute　later　they　came　out　under　the　open　sky　（the　sun　was　still　shining）　and　found　themselves　looking　down　on　a　fine　sight。
　　
　　They　were　standing　on　the　edge　of　a　steep；　narrow　valley　at　the　bottom　of　which　ran…at　least　it　would　have　been　running　if　it　hadn't　been　frozen…a　fairly　large　river。　Just　below　them　a　dam　had　been　built　across　this　river；　and　when　they　saw　it　everyone　suddenly　remembered　that　of　course　beavers　are　always　making　dams　and　felt　quite　sure　that　Mr　Beaver　had　made　this　one。　They　also　noticed　that　he　now　had　a　sort　of　modest　expression　on　his；　face…the　sort　of　look　people　have　when　you　are　visiting　a　garden　they've　made　or　reading　a　story　they've　written。　So　it　was　only　mon　politeness　when　Susan　said；　〃What　a　lovely　dam！〃　And　Mr　Beaver　didn't　say　〃Hush〃　this　time　but　〃Merely　a　trifle！　Merely　a　trifle！　And　it　isn't　really　finished！〃
　　
　　Above　the　dam　there　was　what　ought　to　have　been　a　deep　pool　but　was　now；　of　course；　a　level　floor　of　dark　green　ice。　And　below　the　dam；　much　lower　down；　was　more　ice；　but　instead　of　being　smooth　this　was　all　frozen　into　the　foamy　and　wavy　shapes　in　which　the　water　had　been　rushing　along　at　the　very　moment　when　the　frost　came。　And　where　the　water　had　been　trickling　over　and　spurting　through　the　dam　there　was　now　a　glittering　wall　of　icicles；　as　if　the　side　of　the　dam　had　been　covered　all　over　with　flowers　and　wreaths　and　festoons　of　the　purest　sugar。　And　out　in　the　middle；　and　partly　on　top　of　the　dam　was　a　funny　little　house　shaped　rather　like　an　enormous　beehive　and　from　a　hole　in　the　roof　smoke　was　going　up；　so　that　when　you　saw　it　｛especially　if　you　were　hungry）　you　at　once　thought　of　cooking　and　became　hungrier　than　you　were　before。
　　
　　That　was　what　the　others　chiefly　noticed；　but　Edmund　noticed　something　else。　A　little　lower　down　the　river　there　was　another　small　river　which　came　down　another　small　valley　to　join　it。　And　looking　up　that　valley；　Edmund　could　see　two　small　hills；　and　he　was　almost　sure　they　were　the　two　hills　which　the　White　Witch　had　pointed　out　to　him　when　he　parted　from　her　at　the　lamp…post　that　other　day。　And　then　between　them；　he　thought；　must　be　her　palace；　only　a　mile　off　or　less。　And　he　thought　about　Turkish　Delight　and　about　being　a　King　（〃And　I　wonder　how　Peter　will　like　that？〃　he　asked　himself）　and　horrible　ideas　came　into　his　head。
　　
　　〃Here　we　are；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃and　it　looks　as　if　Mrs　Beaver　is　expecting　us。　I'll　lead　the　way。　But　be　careful　and　don't　slip。〃
　　
　　The　top　of　the　dam　was　wide　enough　to　walk　on；　though　not　（for　humans）　a　very　nice　place　to　walk　because　it　was　covered　with　ice；　and　though　the　frozen　pool　was　level　with　it　on　one　side；　there　was　a　nasty　drop　to　the　lower　river　on　the　other。　Along　this　route　Mr　Beaver　led　them　in　single　file　right　out　to　the　middle　where　they　could　look　a　long　way　up　the　river　and　a　long　way　down　it。　And　when　they　had　reached　the　middle　they　were　at　the　door　of　the　house。
　　
　　〃Here　we　are；　Mrs　Beaver；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃I've　found　them。　Here　are　the　Sons　and　Daughters　of　Adam　and　Eve'…and　they　all　went　in。
　　
　　The　first　thing　Lucy　noticed　as　she　went　in　was　a　burring　sound；　and　the　first　thing　she　saw　was　a　kindlooking　old　she…beaver　sitting　in　the　corner　with　a　thread　in　her　mouth　working　busily　at　her　sewing　machine；　and　it　was　from　it　that　the　sound　came。　She　stopped　her　work　and　got　up　as　soon　as　the　children　came　in。
　　
　　〃So　you've　e　at　last！〃　she　said；　holding　out　both　her　wrinkled　old　paws。　〃At　last！　To　think　that　ever　I　should　live　to　see　this　day！　The　potatoes　are　on　boiling　and　the　kettle's　singing　and　I　daresay；　Mr　Beaver；　you'll　get　us　some　fish。〃
　　
　　〃That　I　will；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　and　he　went　out　of　the　house　（Peter　went　with　him）；　and　across　the　ice　of　the　deep　pool　to　where　he　had　a　little　hole　in　the　ice　which　he　kept　open　every　day　with　his　hatchet。　They　took　a　pail　with　them。　Mr　Beaver　sat　down　quietly　at　the　edge　of　the　hole　（he　didn't　seem　to　mind　it　being　so　chilly）；　looked　hard　into　it；　then　suddenly　shot　in　his　paw；　and　before　you　could　say　Jack　Robinson　had　whisked　out　a　beautiful　trout。　Then　he　did　it　all　over　again　until　they　had　a　fine　catch　of　fish。
　　
　　Meanwhile　the　girls　were　helping　Mrs　Beaver　to　fill　the　kettle　and　lay　the　table　and　cut　the　bread　and　put　the　plates　in　the　oven　to　heat　and　draw　a　huge　jug　of　beer　for　Mr　Beaver　from　a　barrel　which　stood　in　one　corner　of　the　house；　and　to　put　on　the　frying…pan　and　get　the　dripping　hot。　Lucy　thought　the　Beavers　had　a　very　snug　little　home　though　it　was　not　at　all　like　Mr　Tumnus's　cave。　There　were　no　books　or　pictures；　and　instead　of　beds　there　were　bunks；　like　on　board　ship；　built　into　the　wall。　And　there　were　hams　and　strings　of　onions　hanging　from　the　roof；　and　against　the　walls　were　gum　boots　and　oilskins　and　hatchets　and　pairs　of　shears　and　spades　and　trowels　and　things　for　carrying　mortar　in　and　fishing…rods　and　fishing…nets　and　sacks。　And　the　cloth　on　the　table；　though　very　clean；　was　very　rough。
　　
　　Just　as　the　frying…pan　was　nicely　hissing　Peter　and　Mr　Beaver　came　in　with　the　fish　which　Mr　Beaver　had　already　opened　with　his　knife　and　cleaned　out　in　the　open　air。　You　can　think　how　good　the　new…caught　fish　smelled　while　they　were　frying　and　how　the　hungry　children　longed　for　them　to　be　done　and　how　very　much　hungrier　still　they　had　bee　before　Mr　Beaver　said；　〃Now　we're　nearly　ready。〃　Susan　drained　the　potatoes　and　then　put　them　all　back　in　the　empty　pot　to　dry　on　the　side　of　the　range　while　Lucy　was　helping　Mrs　Beaver　to　dish　up　the　trout；　so　that　in　a　very　few　minutes　everyone　was　drawing　up　their　stools　（it　was　all　three…legged　stools　in　the　Beavers'　house　except　for　Mrs　Beaver's　own　special　rockingchair　beside　the　fire）　and　preparing　to　enjoy　themselves。　There　was　a　jug　of　creamy　milk　for　the　children　（Mr　Beaver　stuck　to　beer）　and　a　great　big　lump　of　deep　yellow　butter　in　the　middle　of　the　table　from　which　everyone　took　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　go　with　his　potatoes；　and　all　the　children　thought…and　I　agree　with　them…that　there's　nothing　to　beat　good　freshwater　fish　if　you　eat　it　when　it　has　been　alive　half　an　hour　ago　and　has　e　out　of　the　pan　half　a　minute　ago。　And　when　they　had　finished　the　fish　Mrs　Beaver　brought　unexpectedly　out　of　the　oven　a　great　and　gloriously　sticky　marmalade　roll；　steaming　hot；　and　at　the　same　time　moved　the　kettle　on　to　the　fire；　so　that　when　they　had　finished　the　marmalade　roll　the　tea　was　made　and　ready　to　be　poured　out。　And　when　each　person　had　got　his　（or　her）　cup　of　tea；　each　person　shoved　back　his　（or　her）　stool　so　as　to　be　able　to　lean　against　the　wall　and　gave　a　long　sigh　of　contentment。
　　
　　〃And　now；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　pushing　away　his　empty　beer　mug　and　pulling　his　cup　of　tea　towards　him；　〃if　you'll　just　wait　till　I've　got　my　pipe　lit　up　and　going　nicely…why；　now　we　can　get　to　business。　It's　snowing　again；〃　he　added；　cocking　his　eye　at　the　window。　〃That's　all　the　better；　because　it　means　we　shan't　have　any　visitors；　and　if　anyone　should　have　been　trying　to　follow　you；　why　he　won't　find　any　tracks。〃
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　　
　　WHAT　HAPPENED　AFTER　DINNER
　　
　　〃AND　now；〃　said　Lucy；　〃do　please　tell　us　what's　happened　to　Mr　Tumnus。〃