csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第8章

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　　　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　　
　　WHAT　HAPPENED　AFTER　DINNER
　　
　　〃AND　now；〃　said　Lucy；　〃do　please　tell　us　what's　happened　to　Mr　Tumnus。〃
　　
　　〃Ah；　that's　bad；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　shaking　his　head。　〃That's　a　very；　very　bad　business。　There's　no　doubt　he　was　taken　off　by　the　police。　I　got　that　from　a　bird　who　saw　it　done。〃
　　
　　〃But　where's　he　been　taken　to？〃　asked　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Well；　they　were　heading　northwards　when　they　were　last　seen　and　we　all　know　what　that　means。〃
　　
　　〃No；　we　don't；〃　said　Susan。　Mr　Beaver　shook　his　head　in　a　very　gloomy　fashion。
　　
　　〃I'm　afraid　it　means　they　were　taking　him　to　her　House；〃　he　said。
　　
　　〃But　what'll　they　do　to　him；　Mr　Beaver？〃　gasped　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃you　can't　exactly　say　for　sure。　But　there's　not　many　taken　in　there　that　ever　es　out　again。　Statues。　All　full　of　statues　they　say　it　is…in　the　courtyard　and　up　the　stairs　and　in　the　hall。　People　she's　turned〃…（he　paused　and　shuddered）　〃turned　into　stone。〃
　　
　　〃But；　Mr　Beaver；〃　said　Lucy；　〃can't　we…I　mean　we　must　do　something　to　save　him。　It's　too　dreadful　and　it's　all　on　my　account。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　doubt　you'd　save　him　if　you　could；　dearie；〃　said　Mrs　Beaver；　〃but　you've　no　chance　of　getting　into　that　House　against　her　will　and　ever　ing　out　alive。〃
　　
　　〃Couldn't　we　have　some　stratagem？〃　said　Peter。　〃I　mean　couldn't　we　dress　up　as　something；　or　pretend　to　be…oh；　pedlars　or　anything…or　watch　till　she　was　gone　out…or…oh；　hang　it　all；　there　must　be　some　way。　This　Faun　saved　my　sister　at　his　own　risk；　Mr　Beaver。　We　can't　just　leave　him　to　be…to　be…to　have　that　done　to　him。〃
　　
　　〃It's　no　good；　Son　of　Adam；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃no　good　your　trying；　of　all　people。　But　now　that　Aslan　is　on　the　move…〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes！　Tell　us　about　Aslan！〃　said　several　voices　at　once；　for　once　again　that　strange　feeling…like　the　first　signs　of　spring；　like　good　news；　had　e　over　them。
　　
　　〃Who　is　Aslan？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃Aslan？〃　said　Mr　Beaver。　〃Why；　don't　you　know？　He's　the　King。　He's　the　Lord　of　the　whole　wood；　but　not　often　here；　you　understand。　Never　in　my　time　or　my　father's　time。　But　the　word　has　reached　us　that　he　has　e　back。　He　is　in　Narnia　at　this　moment。　He'll　settle　the　White　Queen　all　right。　It　is　he；　not　you；　that　will　save　Mr　Tumnus。〃
　　
　　〃She　won't　turn　him　into　stone　too？〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　〃Lord　love　you；　Son　of　Adam；　what　a　simple　thing　to　say！〃　answered　Mr　Beaver　with　a　great　laugh。　〃Turn　him　into　stone？　If　she　can　stand　on　her　two　feet　and　look　him　in　the　face　it'll　be　the　most　she　can　do　and　more　than　I　expect　of　her。　No；　no。　He'll　put　all　to　rights　as　it　says　in　an　old　rhyme　in　these　parts：
　　
　　Wrong　will　be　right；　when　Aslan　es　in　sight；
　　
　　At　the　sound　of　his　roar；　sorrows　will　be　no　more；
　　
　　When　he　bares　his　teeth；　winter　meets　its　death；
　　
　　And　when　he　shakes　his　mane；　we　shall　have　spring　again。
　　
　　You'll　understand　when　you　see　him。〃
　　
　　〃But　shall　we　see　him？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃Why；　Daughter　of　Eve；　that's　what　I　brought　you　here　for。　I'm　to　lead　you　where　you　shall　meet　him；〃　said　Mr　Beaver。
　　
　　〃Is…is　he　a　man？〃　asked　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Aslan　a　man！〃　said　Mr　Beaver　sternly。　〃Certainly　not。　I　tell　you　he　is　the　King　of　the　wood　and　the　son　of　the　great　Emperor…beyond…the…Sea。　Don't　you　know　who　is　the　King　of　Beasts？　Aslan　is　a　lion…the　Lion；　the　great　Lion。〃
　　
　　〃Ooh！〃　said　Susan；　〃I'd　thought　he　was　a　man。　Is　he…quite　safe？　I　shall　feel　rather　nervous　about　meeting　a　lion。〃
　　
　　〃That　you　will；　dearie；　and　no　mistake；〃　said　Mrs　Beaver；　〃if　there's　anyone　who　can　appear　before　Aslan　without　their　knees　knocking；　they're　either　braver　than　most　or　else　just　silly。〃
　　
　　〃Then　he　isn't　safe？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Safe？〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃don't　you　hear　what　Mrs　Beaver　tells　you？　Who　said　anything　about　safe？　'Course　he　isn't　safe。　But　he's　good。　He's　the　King；　I　tell　you。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　longing　to　see　him；〃　said　Peter；　〃even　if　I　do　feel　frightened　when　it　es　to　the　point。〃
　　
　　〃That's　right；　Son　of　Adam；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　bringing　his　paw　down　on　the　table　with　a　crash　that　made　all　the　cups　and　saucers　rattle。　〃And　so　you　shall。　Word　has　been　sent　that　you　are　to　meet　him；　tomorrow　if　you　can；　at　the　Stone　Table。'
　　
　　〃Where's　that？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃I'll　show　you；〃　said　Mr　Beaver。　〃It's　down　the　river；　a　good　step　from　here。　I'll　take　you　to　it！〃
　　
　　〃But　meanwhile　what　about　poor　Mr　Tumnus？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃The　quickest　way　you　can　help　him　is　by　going　to　meet　Aslan；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃once　he's　with　us；　then　we　can　begin　doing　things。　Not　that　we　don't　need　you　too。　For　that's　another　of　the　old　rhymes：
　　
　　When　Adam's　flesh　and　Adam's　bone
　　
　　Sits　at　Cair　Paravel　in　throne；
　　
　　The　evil　time　will　be　over　and　done。
　　
　　So　things　must　be　drawing　near　their　end　now　he's　e　and　you've　e。　We've　heard　of　Aslan　ing　into　these　parts　before…long　ago；　nobody　can　say　when。　But　there's　never　been　any　of　your　race　here　before。〃
　　
　　〃That's　what　I　don't　understand；　Mr　Beaver；〃　said　Peter；　〃I　mean　isn't　the　Witch　herself　human？〃
　　
　　〃She'd　like　us　to　believe　it；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃and　it's　on　that　that　she　bases　her　claim　to　be　Queen。　But　she's　no　Daughter　of　Eve。　She　es　of　your　father　Adam's〃…（here　Mr　Beaver　bowed）　〃your　father　Adam's　first　wife；　her　they　called　Lilith。　And　she　was　one　of　the　Jinn。　That's　what　she　es　from　on　one　side。　And　on　the　other　she　es　of　the　giants。　No；　no；　there　isn't　a　drop　of　real　human　blood　in　the　Witch。〃
　　
　　〃That's　why　she's　bad　all　through；　Mr　Beaver；〃　said　Mrs　Beaver。
　　
　　〃True　enough；　Mrs　Beaver；〃　replied　he；　〃there　may　be　two　views　about　humans　（meaning　no　offence　to　the　present　pany）。　But　there's　no　two　views　about　things　that　look　like　humans　and　aren't。〃
　　
　　〃I've　known　good　Dwarfs；〃　said　Mrs　Beaver。
　　
　　〃So've　I；　now　you　e　to　speak　of　it；〃　said　her　husband；　〃but　precious　few；　and　they　were　the　ones　least　like　men。　But　in　general；　take　my　advice；　when　you　meet　anything　that's　going　to　be　human　and　isn't　yet；　or　used　to　be　human　once　and　isn't　now；　or　ought　to　be　human　and　isn't；　you　keep　your　eyes　on　it　and　feel　for　your　hatchet。　And　that's　why　the　Witch　is　always　on　the　lookout　for　any　humans　in　Narnia。　She's　been　watching　for　you　this　many　a　year；　and　if　she　knew　there　were　four　of　you　she'd　be　more　dangerous　still。〃
　　
　　〃What's　that　to　do　with　it？〃　asked　Peter。
　　
　　〃Because　of　another　prophecy；〃　said　Mr　Beaver。　〃Down　at　Cair　Paravel…that's　the　castle　on　the　sea　coast　down　at　the　mouth　of　this　river　which　ought　to　be　the　capital　of　the　whole　country　if　all　was　as　it　should　be…down　at　Cair　Paravel　there　are　four　thrones　and　it's　a　saying　in　Narnia　time　out　of　mind　that　when　two　Sons　of　Adam　and　two　Daughters　of　Eve　sit　in　those　four　thrones；　then　it　will　be　the　end　not　only　of　the　White　Witch's　reign　but　of　her　life；　and　that　is　why　we　had　to　be　so　cautious　as　we　came　along；　for　if　she　knew　about　you　four；　your　lives　wouldn't　be　worth　a　shake　of　my　whiskers！〃
　　
　　All　the　children　had　been　attending　so　hard　to　what　Mr　Beaver　was　telling　them　that　they　had　noticed　nothing　else　for　a　long　time。　Then　during　the　moment　of　silence　that　followed　his　last　remark；　Lucy　suddenly　said：
　　
　　〃I　say…where's　Edmund？〃
　　
　　There　was　a　dreadful　pause；　and　then　everyone　began　asking　〃Who　saw　him　last？　How　long　has　he　been　missing？　Is　he　outside？　and　then　all　rushed　to　the　door　and　looked　out。　The　snow　was　falling　thickly　and　steadily；　the　green　ice　of　the　pool　had　vanished　under　a　thick　white　blanket；　and　from　where　the　little　house　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　dam　you　could　hardly　see　either　bank。　Out　they　went；　plunging　well　over　their　ankles　into　the　soft　new　snow；　and　went　round　the　house　in　every　direction。　〃Edmund！　Edmund！〃　they　called　till　they　were　hoarse。　But　the　silently　falling　snow　seemed　to　muffle　their　voices　and　there　was　not　even　an　echo　in　answer。
　　
　　〃How　perfectly　dreadful！〃　said　Susan　as　they　at　last　came　back　in　despair。　〃Oh；　how　I　wish　we'd　never　e。〃
　　
　　〃What　on　earth　are　we　to　do；　Mr　Beaver？〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃Do？〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　who　was　already　putting　on　his　snow…boots；　〃do？　We　must　be　off　at　once。　We　haven't　a　moment　to　spare！〃
　　
　　〃We'd　better　divide　into　four　search　parties；〃　said　Peter；　〃and　all　go　in　different　directions。　Whoever　finds　him　must　e　back　here　at　once　and…〃
　　
　　〃Search　parties；　Son　of　Adam？〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃what　for？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　to　look　for　Edmund；　of　course！〃
　　
　　〃There's　no　point　in　looking　for　him；〃　said　Mr　Beaver。
　　
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Susan。　〃He　can't　be　far　away　yet。　And　we've　got　to　find　him。　What　do　you　mean　when　you　say　there's　no　use　looking　for　him？〃
　　
　　〃The　reason　there's　no　use　looking；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃is　that　we　know　already　where　he's　gone！〃　Everyone　stared　in　amazement。　〃Don't　you　understand？〃　said　Mr　Beaver。　〃He's　gone　to　her；　to　the　White　Witch。　He　has　betrayed　us　all。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　surely…oh；　really！〃　said　Susan；　〃he　can't　have　done　that。〃
　　
　　〃Can't　he？〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　looking　very　hard　at　the　three　children；　and　everything　they　wanted　to　say　died　on　their　lips；　for　each　felt　suddenly　quite　certain　inside　that　this　was　exactly　what　Edmund　had　done。
　　
　　〃But　will　he　know　the　way？〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃Has　he　been　in　this　country　before？〃　asked　Mr　Beaver。　〃Has　he　ever　been　here　alone？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Lucy；　almost　in　a　whisper。　〃I'm　afraid　he　has。〃
　　
　　〃And　did　he　tell　you　what　he'd　done　or　who　he'd　met？〃
　　
　　〃Well；　no；　he　didn't；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Then　mark　my　words；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃he　has　already　met　the　White　Witch　and　joined　her　side；　and　been　told　where　she　lives。　I　didn't　like　to　mention　it　before　（he　being　your　brother　and　all）　but　the　moment　I　set　eyes　on　that　brother　of　yours　I　said　to　myself　‘Treacherous'。　He　had　the　look　of　one　who　has　been　with　the　Witch　and　eaten　her　food。　You　can　always　tell　them　if　you've　lived　long　in　Narnia；　something　about　their　eyes。〃
　　
　　〃All　the　same；〃　said　Peter　in　a　rather　choking　sort　of　voice；　〃we'll　still　have　to　go　and　look　for　him。　He　is　our　brother　after　all；　even　if　he　is　rather　a　little　beast。　And　he's　only　a　kid。〃
　　
　　〃Go　to　the　Witch's　House？〃　said　Mrs　Beaver。　〃Don't　you　see　that　the　only　chance　of　saving　either　him　or　yourselves　is　to　keep　away　from　her？〃
　　
　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Why；　all　she　wants　is　to　get　all　four　of　you　（she's　thinking　all　the　time　of　those　four　thrones　at　Cair　Paravel）。　Once　you　were　all　four　inside　her　House　her　job　would　be　done…and　there'd　be　four　new　statues　in　her　collection　before　you'd　had　time　to　speak。　But　she'll　keep　him　alive　as　long　as　he's　the　only　one　she's　got；　because　she'll　want　to　use　him　as　a　decoy；　as　bait　to　catch　the　rest　of　you　with。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　can　no　one　help　us？〃　wailed　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Only　Aslan；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃we　must　go　on　and　meet　him。　That's　our　only　chance　now。〃
　　
　　〃It　seems　to　me；　my　dears；〃　said　Mrs　Beaver；　〃that　it　is　very　important　to　know　just　when　he　slipp