inds； all four of them said together。 〃you are right。 there is no sun。〃 it was such a relief to give in and say it。
〃there never was a sun；〃 said the witch。
〃no。 there never was a sun；〃 said the prince； and the marsh…wiggle； and the children。
for the last few minutes jill had been feeling that there was something she must remember at all costs。 and now she did。 but it was dreadfully hard to say it。 she felt as if
huge weights were laid on her lips。 at last； with an effort that seemed to take all the good out of her； she said： 〃theres aslan。”
〃aslan？〃 said the witch； quickening ever so slightly the pace of her thrumming。 〃what a pretty name！ what does it mean？”
〃he is the great lion who called us out of our own world；〃 said scrubb； 〃and sent us into this to find prince rilian。”
〃what is a lion？〃 asked the witch。
〃oh； hang it all！〃 said scrubb。 〃dont you know？ how can we describe it to her？ have you ever seen a cat？”
〃surely；〃 said the queen。 〃i love cats。”
〃well； a lion is a little bit … only a little bit； mind you like a huge cat … with a mane。 at least； its not like a horses mane； you know； its more like a judges wig。 and its yellow。
and terrifically strong。”
the witch shook her head。 〃i see；〃 she said； 〃that we should do no better with your lion； as you call it； than we did with your sun。 you have seen lamps； and so you imagined a bigger and better lamp and called it the sun。 youve seen cats； and now you want a bigger and better cat； and its to be called a lion。 well； tis a pretty makebelieve； though； to say truth； it would suit you all better if you were younger。 and look how you can put nothing into your make…believe without copying it from the real world； this world of mine； which is the only world。 but even you children are too old for such play。 as for you； my lord prince； that art a man full grown； fie upon you！ are you not ashamed of such toys？
e； all of you。 put away these childish tricks。 i have work for you all in the real world。
there is no narnia； no overworld； no sky； no sun； no aslan。 and now； to bed all。 and let us begin a wiser life tomorrow。 but； first； to bed； to sleep； deep sleep； soft pillows； sleep without foolish dreams。”
the prince and the two children were standing with their heads hung down； their cheeks flushed； their eyes half closed； the strength all gone from them； the enchantment almost plete。 but puddleglum； desperately gathering all his strength； walked over to the fire。
then he did a very brave thing。 he knew it wouldnt hurt him quite as much as it would hurt a human； for his feet （which were bare） were webbed and hard and coldblooded like a ducks。 but he knew it would hurt him badly enough； and so it did。 with his bare foot he stamped on the fire； grinding a large part of it into ashes on the flat hearth。 and three things happened at once。
first； the sweet heavy smell grew very much less。 for though the whole fire had not been put out； a good bit of it had； and what remained smelled very largely of burnt marsh…
wiggle； which is not at all an enchanting smell。 this instantly made everyones brain far clearer。 the prince and the children held up their heads again and opened their eyes。
secondly； the witch； in a loud； terrible voice； utterly different from all the sweet tones she had been using up till now； called out； 〃what are you doing？ dare to touch my fire again； mud…filth； and ill turn the blood to fire inside your veins。”
thirdly； the pain itself made puddleglums head for a moment perfectly clear and he knew exactly what he really thought。 there is nothing like a good shock of pain for dissolving certain kinds of magic。
〃one word； maam；〃 he said； ing back from the fire； limping； because of the pain。
〃one word。 all youve been saying is quite right； i shouldnt wonder。 im a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face i can on it。 so i wont deny any of what you said。 but theres one thing more to be said； even so。 suppose we have only dreamed； or made up； all those things … trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and aslan himself。 suppose we have。 then all i can say is that； in that case； the made…up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones。 suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world。 well； it strikes me as a pretty poor one。 and thats a funny thing； when you e to think of it。 were just babies making up a game； if youre right。 but four babies playing a game can make a playworld which licks your real world hollow。 thats why im going to stand by the play…world。 im on aslans side even if there isnt any aslan to lead it。 im going to live as like a narnian as i can even if there isnt any narnia。 so； thanking you kindly for our supper； if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready； were leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for overland。 not that our lives will be very long； i should think； but thats a small loss if the worlds as dull a place as you say。”
〃oh； hurrah！ good old puddleglum！〃 cried scrubb and jill。 but the prince shouted suddenly； 〃ware！ look to the witch。”
when they did look their hair nearly stood on end。
the instrument dropped from her hands。 her arms appeared to be fastened to her sides。
her legs were intertwined with each other； and her feet had disappeared。 the long green train of her skirt thickened and grew solid； and seemed to be all one piece with the writhing green pillar of her interlocked legs。 and that writhing green pillar was curving and swaying as if it had no joints； or else were all joints。 her head was thrown far back and while her nose grew longer and longer； every other part of her face seemed to disappear； except her eyes。 huge flaming eyes they were now； without brows or lashes。
all this takes time to write down； it happened so quickly that there was only just time to see it。 long before there was time to do anything； the change was plete； and the great serpent which the witch had bee； green as poison； thick as jills waist； had flung two or three coils of its loathsome body round the princes legs。 quick as lightning another great loop darted round； intending to pinion his sword…arm to his side。 but the prince was
just in time。 he raised his arms and got them clear： the living knot closed only round his chest … ready to crack his ribs like firewood when it drew tight。
the prince caught the creatures neck in his left hand； trying to squeeze it till it choked。
this held its face （if you could call it a face） about five inches from his own。 the forked tongue flickered horribly in and out； but could not reach him。 with his right hand he drew back his sword for the strongest blow he could give。 meanwhile scrubb and puddleglum had drawn their weapons and rushed to his aid。 all three blows fell at once： scrubbs （which did not even pierce the scales and did no good） on the body of the snake below the princes hand； but the princes own blow and puddleglums both on its neck。 even that did not quite kill it； though it began to loosen its hold on rilians legs and chest。 with repeated blows they hacked off its head。 the horrible thing went on coiling and moving like a bit of wire long after it had died； and the floor； as you may imagine； was a nasty mess。
the prince； when he had breath； said； 〃gentlemen； i thank you。〃 then the three conquerors stood staring at one another and panting； without another word； for a long time。 jill had very wisely sat down and was keeping quiet； she was saying to herself； 〃i do hope i dont faint or blub … or do anything idiotic。”
〃my royal mother is avenged；〃 said rilian presently。 〃this is undoubtedly the same worm that i pursued in vain by the fountain in the forest of narnia； so many years ago。
all these years i have been the slave of my mothers slayer。 yet i am glad； gentlemen； that the foul witch took to her serpent form at the last。 it would not have suited well either with my heart or with my honour to have slain a woman。 but look to the lady。〃 he meant jill。
〃im all right； thanks；〃 said she。
〃damsel；〃 said the prince； bowing to her。 〃you are of a high courage； and therefore； i doubt not； you e of a noble blood in your own world。 but e； friends。 here is some wine left。 let us refresh ourselves and each pledge his fellows。 after that； to our plans。”
〃a jolly good idea； sir；〃 said scrubb。
d
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
小？说网
underland without the queen all felt that they had earned what scrubb called a 〃breather〃。 the witch had locked the door and told the earthmen not to disturb her； so there was no danger of interruption for
the present。 their first business was； of course； puddleglums burnt foot。 a couple of clean shirts from the princes bedroom； torn into strips； and well greased on the inside with butter and salad oil off the supper table； made a fairly good dressing。 when this had been applied； they all sat down and had a little refreshment； and discussed plans for escaping from the underworld。
rilian explained that there were quite a lot of outlets by which one could get to the surface； he had been take