The Last Battle- 第4部分

but　as　that　savage　blow　fell　the　horse　reared　up　and　said；　half　screaming：　　〃fool　and　tyrant！　do　you　not　see　i　am　doing　all　i　can？”

when　tirian　knew　that　the　horse　was　one　of　his　own　narnians；　there　came　　over　him　and　over　jewel　such　a　rage　that　they　did　not　know　what　they　were　doing。　the　　kings　sword　went　up；　the　unicorns　horn　went　down。　they　rushed　forward　together。　next　　moment　both　the　calormenes　lay　dead；　the　one　beheaded　by　tirians　sword　and　the　　other　gored　through　the　heart　by　jewels　horn。

　％％。



CHAPTER　THREE

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the　ape　in　its　glory　　　〃master　horse；　master　horse；〃　said　tirian　as　he　hastily　cut　its　traces；　　〃how　came　these　aliens　to　enslave　you？　is　narnia　conquered？　has　there　been　a　battle？”

〃no；　sire；〃　panted　the　horse；　〃aslan　is　here。　it　is　all　by　his　orders。　he　　has　manded　…”

〃ware　danger；　king；〃　said　jewel。　tirian　looked　up　and　saw　that　calormenes　　（mixed　with　a　few　talking　beasts）　were　beginning　to　run　towards　them　from　every　　direction。　the　two　dead　men　had　died　without　a　cry　and　so　it　had　taken　a　moment　before　the　　rest　of　the　crowd　knew　what　had　happened。　but　now　they　did。　most　of　them　had　naked　　scimitars　in　their　hands。

〃quick。　on　my　back；〃　said　jewel。

the　king　flung　himself　astride　of　his　old　friend　who　turned　and　galloped　　away。　he　changed　direction　twice　or　thrice　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　sight　of　　their　enemies；　crossed　a　stream；　and　shouted　without　slackening　his　pace；　〃whither　away；　　sire？　to　cair　paravel？”

〃hold　hard；　friend；〃　said　tirian。　〃let　me　off。〃　he　slid　off　the　unicorns　　back　and　faced　him。

〃jewel；〃　said　the　king。　〃we　have　done　a　dreadful　deed。”

〃we　were　sorely　provoked；〃　said　jewel。

〃but　to　leap　on　them　unawares　…　without　defying　them　while　they　were　　unarmed　…　faugh！

we　are　two　murderers；　jewel。　i　am　dishonoured　forever。”

jewel　drooped　his　head。　he　too　was　ashamed。

〃and　then；〃　said　the　king；　〃the　horse　said　it　was　by　aslans　orders。　the　　rat　said　the　same。　they　all　say　aslan　is　here。　how　if　it　were　true？”

〃but；　sire；　how　could　aslan　be　manding　such　dreadful　things？”

〃he　is　not　a　tame　lion；〃　said　tirian。　〃how　should　we　know　what　he　would　do？　　we；　who　are　murderers。　jewel；　i　will　go　back。　i　will　give　up　my　sword　and　put　　myself　in　the　hands　of　these　calormenes　and　ask　that　they　bring　me　before　aslan。　let　him　do　　justice　on　me。”

〃you　will　go　to　your　death；　then；〃　said　jewel。

〃do　you　think　i　care　if　aslan　dooms　me　to　death？〃　said　the　king。　〃that　　would　be　nothing；　nothing　at　all。　would　it　not　be　better　to　be　dead　than　to　have　　this　horrible　fear　that　aslan　has　e　and　is　not　like　the　aslan　we　have　believed　in　and　　longed　for？　it　is　as　if　the　sun　rose　one　day　and　were　a　black　sun。”

〃i　know；〃　said　jewel。　〃or　as　if　you　drank　water　and　it　were　dry　water。　you　　are　in　the　right；　sire。　this　is　the　end　of　all　things。　let　us　go　and　give　ourselves　　up。”

〃there　is　no　need　for　both　of　us　to　go。”

〃if　ever　we　loved　one　another；　let　me　go　with　you　now；〃　said　the　unicorn。　　〃if　you　are　dead　and　if　aslan　is　not　aslan；　what　life　is　left　for　me？”

they　turned　and　walked　back　together；　shedding　bitter　tears。

as　soon　as　they　came　to　the　place　where　the　work　was　going　on　the　　calormenes　raised　a　cry　and　came　towards　them　with　their　weapons　in　hand。　but　the　king　held　out　　his　sword　with　the　hilt　towards　them　and　said：　　〃i　who　was　king　of　narnia　and　am　now　a　dishonoured　knight　give　myself　up　to　　the　justice　of　aslan。　bring　me　before　him。”

〃and　i　give　myself　up　too；〃　said　jewel。

then　the　dark　men　came　round　them　in　a　thick　crowd；　smelling　of　garlic　and　　onions；　their　white　eyes　flashing　dreadfully　in　their　brown　faces。　they　put　a　rope　halter　　round　jewels　neck。　they　took　the　kings　sword　away　and　tied　his　hands　behind　his　back。　　one　of　the　calormenes；　who　had　a　helmet　instead　of　a　turban　and　seemed　to　be　in　　mand；　snatched　the　gold　circlet　off　tirians　head　and　hastily　put　it　away　　somewhere　among　his　clothes。　they　led　the　two　prisoners　uphill　to　a　place　where　there　was　a　big　　clearing。　and　this　was　what　the　prisoners　saw。　　　at　the　centre　of　the　clearing；　which　was　　also　the　highest　point　of　the　hill；　there　was　a　little　hut　like　a　stable；　with　a　　thatched　roof。　its　door　was　shut。　on　the　grass　in　front　of　the　door　there　sat　an　ape。　tirian　and　　jewel；　who　had　been　expecting　to　see　aslan　and　had　heard　nothing　about　an　ape　yet；　were　　very　bewildered　when　they　saw　it。　the　ape　was　of　course　shift　himself；　but　he　　looked　ten　times　uglier　than　when　he　lived　by　caldron　pool；　for　he　was　now　dress…　ed　　up。　he　was　wearing　a　scarlet　jacket　which　did　not　fit　him　very　well；　having　been　made　　for　a　dwarf。

he　had　jewelled　slippers　on　his　hind　paws　which　would　not　stay　on　properly　　because；　as　you　know；　the　hind　paws　of　an　ape　are　really　like　hands。　he　wore　what　　seemed　to　be　a　paper　crown　on　his　head。　there　was　a　great　pile　of　nuts　beside　him　and　he　　kept　cracking　nuts　with　his　jaws　and　spitting　out　the　shells。　and　he　also　kept　on　pulling　　up　the　scarlet　jacket　to　scratch　himself。　a　great　number　of　talking　beasts　stood　facing　　him；　and　nearly　every　face　in　that　crowd　looked　miserably　worried　and　bewildered。　when　they　　saw　who　the　prisoners　were　they　all　groaned　and　whimpered。

〃o　lord　shift；　mouthpiece　of　aslan；〃　said　the　chief　calormene。　〃we　bring　　you　prisoners。

by　our　skill　and　courage　and　by　the　permission　of　the　great　god　tash　we　　have　taken　alive　these　two　desperate　murderers。”

〃give　me　that　mans　sword；〃　said　the　ape。　so　they　took　the　kings　sword　and　　handed　it；　with　the　sword…belt　and　all；　to　the　monkey。　and　he　hung　it　round　his　own　　neck：　and　it　made　him　look　sillier　than　ever。

〃well　see　about　those　two　later；〃　said　the　ape；　spitting　out　a　shell　in　　the　direction　of　the　two　prisoners。　〃i　got　some　other　business　first。　they　can　wait。　now　listen　　to　me；　everyone。　the　first　thing　i　want　to　say　is　about　nuts。　wheres　that　head　　squirrel　got　to？”

〃here；　sir；〃　said　a　red　squirrel；　ing　forward　and　making　a　nervous　　little　bow。

〃oh　you　are；　are　you？〃　said　the　ape　with　a　nasty　look。　〃now　attend　to　me。　i　　want　…　i　mean；　aslan　wants　…　some　more　nuts。　these　youve　brought　arent　anything　　like　enough。

you　must　bring　some　more；　do　you　hear？　twice　as　many。　and　theyve　got　to　be　　here　by　sunset　tomorrow；　and　there　mustnt　be　any　bad　ones　or　any　small　ones　among　　them。”

a　murmur　of　dismay　ran　through　the　other　squirrels；　and　the　head　squirrel　　plucked　up　courage　to　say：　　〃please；　would　aslan　himself　speak　to　us　about　it？　if　we　might　be　allowed　　to　see　him　…”

〃well　you　wont；〃　said　the　ape。　〃he　may　be　very　kind　（though　its　a　lot　　more　than　most　of　you　deserve）　and　e　out　for　a　few　minutes　tonight。　then　you　can　all　　have　a　look　at　him。　but　he　will　not　have　you　all　crowding　round　him　and　pestering　him　with　　questions。

anything　you　want　to　say　to　him　will　be　passed　on　through　me：　if　i　think　　its　worth　bothering　him　about。　in　the　meantime　all　you　squirrels　had　better　go　and　　see　about　the　nuts。　and　make　sure　they　are　here　by　tomorrow　evening　or；　my　word！　youll　　catch　it。”

the　poor　squirrels　all　scampered　away　as　if　a　dog　were　after　them。　this　new　　order　was　terrible　news　for　them。　the　nuts　they　had　carefully　hoarded　for　the　winter　　had　nearly　all　been　eaten　by　now；　and　of　the　few　that　were　left　they　had　already　given　the　　ape　far　more　than　they　could　spare。

then　a　deep　voice　…　it　belonged　to　a　great　tusked　and　shaggy　boar　…　spoke　　from　another　part　of　the　crowd。

〃but　why　cant　we　see　aslan　properly　and　talk　to　him？〃　it　said。　〃when　he　　used　to　appear　in　narnia　in　the　old　days　everyone　could　talk　to　him　face　to　face。”

〃dont　you　believe　it；〃　said　the　ape。　〃and　even　if　it　was　true；　times　have　　changed。　aslan　says　hes　been　far　too　soft　with　you　before；　do　you　see？　well；　he　isnt　　going　to　be　soft　any　more。　hes　going　to　lick　you　into　shape　this　time。　hell　teach　you　to　think　　hes　a　tame　lion！”

a　low　moaning　and　whimpering　was　heard　among　the　beasts；　and；　after　that；　a　　dead　silence　which　was　more　miserable　still。

〃and　now　theres　another　thing　you　got　to　learn；〃　said　the　ape。　〃i　hear　　some　of　you　are　saying　im　an　ape。　well；　im　not。　im　a　man。　if　i　look　like　an　ape；　thats　　because　im　so　very　old：　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　years　old。　and　its　because　im　so　old　　that　im　so　wise。　and　its　because　im　so　wise　that　im　the　only　one　aslan　is　ever　　going　to　speak　to。

he　cant　be　bothered　talking　to　a　lot　of　stupid　animals。　hell　tell　me　what　　youve　got　to　do；　and　ill　tell　the　rest　of　you。　and　take　my　advice；　and　see　you　do　it　in　　double　quick　time；　for　he　doesnt　mean　to　stand　any　nonsense。”

there　was　a　dead　silence　except　for　the　noise　of　a　very　young　badger　crying　　and　its　mother　trying　to　make　it　keep　quiet。

〃and　now　heres　another　thing；〃　the　ape　went　on；　fitting　a　fresh　nut　into　　its　cheek；　〃i　hear　some　of　the　horses　are　saying；　lets　hurry　up　and　get　this　job　of　carting　　timber　over　as　quickly　as　we　can；　and　then　well　be　free　again。　well；　you　can　get　that　　idea　out　of　your　heads　at　once。　and　not　only　the　horses　either。　everybody　who　can　work　is　　going　to　be　made　to　work　in　future。　aslan　has　it　all　settled　with　the　king　of　calormen　　…　the　tisroc；　as　our　dark　faced　friends　the　calormenes　call　him。　all　you　horses　and　bulls　　and　donkeys　a