CHAPTER ELEVEN THE LION ROARS
第十一章 獅王的長嘯
WHEN the whole party was finally awake Lucy had to tell her story for the fourth time.The blank silence which followed it was as discouraging as anything could be.
終于所有人都醒了,露茜第四遍重復她的話。大家沉默了許久,這讓她失去了信心。
"I can't see anything,"said Peter after he had stared his eyes sore."Can you,Susan?"
"我什么都看不見,"彼得看著前方的林子,眼睛都酸了,"你呢,蘇珊?"
"No,of course I can't,"snapped Susan."Because there isn't anything to see.She's been dreaming.Do lie down and go to sleep,Lucy."
"沒有,當然也沒看不見。"蘇珊有些不耐煩,"本來就什么都沒有,她在說夢話。睡吧,露茜。"
"And I do hope,"said Lucy in a tremulous voice,"that you will all come with me.Because-because I'll have to go with him whether anyone else does or not."
"我非常希望,"露茜的聲音有些發(fā)抖,"你們跟我走。因為......因為不管你們走不走,我都要跟他走。"
"Don't talk nonsense,Lucy,"said Susan."Of course you can't go off on your own.Don't let her,Peter.She's being downright naughty."
"別瞎說,露茜,"蘇珊說,"不可能,你絕對不能一個人離開。別讓她去,彼得,她在胡鬧。"
"I'll go with her,if she must go,"said Edmund."She's been right before."
"如果她堅決去,我和她一起,"愛德蒙說,"她之前一直都是對的。"
"I know she has,"said Peter."And she may have been right this morning.We certainly had no luck going down the gorge.Still-at this hour of the night.And why should Aslan be invisible to us? He never used to be.It's not like him.What does the D.L.F.say?"
"我知道,"彼得說,"而且可能今天凌晨她說的話也是對的。但是,從下游的后角不好走出峽谷,何況是夜里,都這個時候了。再說,阿斯蘭為什么不讓我們看到他?他以前不這樣,從來不這樣,這不是他的風格。小不點,你說呢?"
"Oh,I say nothing at all,"answered the Dwarf."If you all go,of course,I'll go with you; and if your party splits up,I'll go with the High King.That'smy duty to him and King Caspian.But,if you ask my private opinion,I'm a plain dwarf who doesn't think there's much chance of finding a road by night where you couldn't find one by day.And I have no use for magic lions which are talking lions and don't talk,and friendly lions though they don't do us any good,and whopping big lions though nobody can see them.It's all bilge and beanstalks as far as I can see."
"哦,沒什么好說的,"小矮人說,"如果都去的話,那我也一起去。如果兵分兩路,我就跟隨至尊王,這是我應盡的職責。你們別問我個人意見,我只是個沒有頭腦的小矮人,白天都迷路,更別說晚上了。何況,我根本不喜歡那個無所不能的獅子。會說話卻不說話,友好卻不來幫我們。我想說的就這么多,都說完了。"
"He's beating his paw on the ground for us to hurry,"said Lucy."We must go now.At least I must."
"他在跺腳,叫我們趕緊的。"露茜說,"我們必須馬上走。你們不走,我可要自己走了。"
"You've no right to try to force the rest of us like that.It's four to one and you're the youngest,"said Susan.
"你不能勉強我們聽你的胡話。現(xiàn)在是四比一,而且你最小。"蘇珊說。
"Oh,come on,"growled Edmund."We've got to go.There'll be no peace till we do."He fully intended to back Lucy up,but he was annoyed at losing his night's sleep and was making up for it by doing everything as sulkily as possible.
"哦,快走吧,"愛德蒙有點不耐煩了,"都去吧,在這兒只會不停地爭吵。"他心里非常支持露茜,但是因為沒睡好所以不太高興,結(jié)果就像跟大家慪氣一樣。
"On the march,then,"said Peter,wearily fitting his arm into his shield-strap and putting his helmet on.At any other time he would have said something nice to Lucy,who was his favourite sister,for he knew how wretched she must be feeling,and he knew that,whatever had happened,it was not her fault.But he couldn't help being a little annoyed with her all the same.
"那就動身吧。"彼得懶懶地穿上盔甲。如果換個場合,他會安慰安慰或者鼓勵一下露茜,因為她畢竟是他的小妹妹。他心里清楚露茜現(xiàn)在一定很傷心,無論事情到底怎樣都不是她的錯。但是,他還是情不自禁地發(fā)火。
Susan was the worst."Supposing I started behaving like Lucy,"she said."I might threaten to stay here whether the rest of you went on or not.I jolly well think I shall."
蘇珊心情糟透了。"如果我學露茜我就賴在這兒不動,你們愛去哪兒去哪兒!你們不知道我多想這么做!"
"Obey the High King,your Majesty,"said Trumpkin,"and let's be off.If I'm not to be allowed to sleep,I'd as soon march as stand here talking."
"女王陛下,請服從至尊王,"杜魯普金說,"那現(xiàn)在走吧。既然不能睡覺,我也不想說話,快點走吧。"
And so at last they got on the move.Lucy went first,biting her lip and trying not to say all the things she thought of saying to Susan.But she forgot them when she fixed her eyes on Aslan.He turned and walked at a slow pace about thirty yards ahead of them.The others had only Lucy's directions to guide them,for Aslan was not only invisible to them but silent as well.His big cat-like paws made no noise on the grass.
最后,大家終于出發(fā)了。露茜帶著所有人走在前面,咬著嘴唇,竭力把責備蘇珊的話都咽在肚子里。說來也奇怪只要看到阿斯蘭,她就沒有了抱怨的情緒,阿斯蘭在他們前面三十碼開外的地方淡定地帶路,他的巨爪像貓爪一樣落在地上,沒有一點聲音。剩下的人跟著露茜,他們看不到阿斯蘭也聽不到他說話。
He led them to the right of the dancing trees-whether they were still dancing nobody knew,for Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy-and nearer the edge of the gorge."Cobbles and kettledrums!"thought Trumpkin."I hope this madness isn't going to end in a moonlight climb and broken necks."
他們跟著阿斯蘭從會跳舞的樹林右邊穿過。沒人注意那些樹是不是還在跳,露茜緊跟著阿斯蘭,其他人緊跟著露茜,加上腳下是峽谷,大家都小心翼翼的。"這算怎么回事!"杜魯普金想道,"希望不要以掉下懸崖、全身摔得粉碎而告終。"
For a long way Aslan went along the top of the precipices.Then they came to a place where some little trees grew right on the edge.He turned and disappeared among them.Lucy held her breath,for it looked as if he had plunged over the cliff; but she was too busy keeping him in sight to stop and think about this.She quickened her pace and was soon among the trees herself.Looking down,she could see a steep and narrow path going slantwise down into the gorge between rocks,and Aslan descending it.He turned and looked at her with his happy eyes.Lucy clapped her hands and began to scramble down after him.From behind her she heard the voices of the others shouting,"Hi! Lucy! Look out,for goodness' sake.You're right on the edge of the gorge.Come back-"and then,a moment later,Edmund's voice saying,"No,she's right.There is a way down."
在阿斯蘭帶領下,他們走到長著一些小樹的懸崖邊。阿斯蘭一拐彎,人就不見了。露茜嚇得倒抽一口氣,難道要直接跳到懸崖下面?可是她只能跟隨阿斯蘭,不然更麻煩。容不得多想,她三步并作兩步,也消失在樹叢中。朝下面一看,下面的路彎彎曲曲通往峽谷底部,阿斯蘭正沿著小路往下走,忽然回過身對她會心一笑。露茜拍了拍手,趕緊跟上去。這時候后面有人喊:"露茜!小心,天哪,你走到懸崖邊了、趕快回來......"可是又聽見愛德蒙說:"不,她沒錯,這兒有一條路可以下去。"
Half-way down the path Edmund caught up with her.
愛德蒙很快在下山的半路上追上了露茜。
"Look!"he said in great excitement."Look! What's that shadow crawling down in front of us?"
"看!"他大聲喊,"看!看我們前面的影子是誰的?"
"It's his shadow,"said Lucy.
"是他的。"露茜說。
"I do believe you're right,Lu,"said Edmund."I can't think how I didn't see it before.But where is he?"
"我就知道你沒錯,露茜。"愛德蒙說,"可是之前為什么我就看不見他呢?現(xiàn)在他在哪兒?"
"With his shadow,of course.Can't you see him?"
"當然和影子連在一起。你還看不見?"
"Well,I almost thought I did-for a moment.It's such a rum light."
"好吧,我看到了......只有一會兒。光線不好。"
"Get on,King Edmund,get on,"came Trumpkin's voice from behind and above: and then,farther behind and still nearly at the top,Peter's voice saying,"Oh,buck up,Susan.Give me your hand.Why,a baby could get down here.And do stop grousing."
"繼續(xù),愛德蒙國王,繼續(xù)走。"杜魯普金催促。然后在靠近崖頂?shù)牡胤?,彼得說:"哦,勇敢點,蘇珊。我拉著你。看你,小孩子都能走得過來,你竟然嚇成那個樣子。"
In a few minutes they were at the bottom and the roaring of water filled their ears.Treading delicately,like a cat,Aslan stepped from stone to stone across the stream.In the middle he stopped,bent down to drink,and as he raised his shaggy head,dripping from the water,he turned to face them again.This time Edmund saw him."Oh,Aslan!"he cried,darting forward.But the Lion whisked round and began padding up the slope on the far side of the Rush.
不一會兒,所有人都到了谷底。河流發(fā)出嘩嘩的聲音,阿斯蘭在小溪里露出來的大石頭上敏捷地跳來跳去,像只貓一樣最后在小河中間停下來喝水。他仰起蓬松的頭,轉(zhuǎn)過臉看孩子們,臉上還滴著水。這時候,愛德蒙能看見他了。"啊,阿斯蘭!"他大叫著撲上去??砂⑺固m一轉(zhuǎn)身,跳到了對岸,向河上游走去。
"Peter,Peter,"cried Edmund."Did you see?"
"彼得,彼得,"愛德蒙喊,"你看見了嗎?"
"I saw something,"said Peter."But it's so tricky in this moonlight.On we go,though,and three cheers for Lucy.I don't feel half so tired now,either."
"我看見一點了。"彼得說,"不過在月光下看不清。接著走吧,我現(xiàn)在不怎么累。感謝露茜,幸虧有她。"
Aslan without hesitation led them to their left,farther up the gorge.The whole journey was odd and dream-like the roaring stream,the wet grey grass,the glimmering cliffs which they were approaching,and always the glorious,silently pacing Beast ahead.Everyone except Susan and the Dwarf could see him now.
阿斯蘭毫不猶豫地帶他們走向左邊上游。大家都有像夢一樣的感覺--那奔騰不息的河水、濕漉漉的草地、影影綽綽的峭壁,還有前面一直沉默的獅王?,F(xiàn)在除了蘇珊和小矮人,所有人都看到阿斯蘭了。
Presently they came to another steep path,up the face of the farther precipices.These were far higher than the ones they had just descended,and the journey up them was a long and tedious zig-zag.Fortunately the Moon shone right above the gorge so that neither side was in shadow.
很快他們走上另外一條崎嶇的小路,面對著遠處的山崖。這里比之前的山崖還高,更加坎坷不平。幸運的是月亮高懸在天空中,把周圍的山崖照得像白天一樣沒有陰影。
Lucy was nearly blown when the tail and hind legs of Aslan disappeared over the top: but with one last effort she scrambled after him and came out,rather shaky-legged and breathless,on the hill they had been trying to reach ever since they left Glasswater.The long gentle slope (heather and grass and a few very big rocks that shone white in the moonlight) stretched up to where it vanished in a glimmer of trees about half a mile away.She knew it.It was the hill of the Stone Table:
阿斯蘭的尾巴和兩條后腿在崖頂不見之后,露茜就沒了信心。她費了好大力氣,盡力跟在他身后才爬到山頂。她累得兩腿發(fā)抖,氣喘吁吁。他們離開清水溪之后吃盡了苦頭,一想到就要到達目的地了,自然是一陣狂喜。一段平緩的山坡長滿了石南花和青草叢,月光下,山坡上的石頭泛著白光,向前延伸有幾百米,盡頭是一個山丘長滿了綠色的樹。露茜知道,那就是石臺的所在。
With a jingling of mail the others climbed up behind her.
伴著盔甲的叮當聲,所有人都到了山頂。
Aslan glided on before them and they walked after him.
阿斯蘭帶領大家走向山丘,仍然一言不發(fā)。
"Lucy,"said Susan in a very small voice.
"露茜。"蘇珊輕聲叫她。
"Yes?"said Lucy.
"什么事?"露茜說。
"I see him now.I'm sorry."
"我現(xiàn)在看見了。對不起,我向你道歉。"
"That's all right."
"沒關系。"
"But I've been far worse than you know.I really believed it was him-he,I mean-yesterday.When he warned us not to go down to the fir wood.And I really believed it was him tonight,when you woke us up.I mean,deep down inside.Or I could have,if I'd let myself.But I just wanted to get out of the woods and-and-oh,I don't know.And what ever am I to say to him?"
"其實,我比你想的還糟糕。昨天你第一次說阿斯蘭不讓我們到下游的時候,我就相信你見到阿斯蘭了。今晚你叫我們時,我心里也是相信的??晌蚁肟禳c離開,而且......而且......噢,我也說不清?,F(xiàn)在我見到他了可不知道該怎么對他說了?"
"Perhaps you won't need to say much,"suggested Lucy.
"其實你沒必要說。"露茜建議道。
Soon they reached the trees and through them the children could see the Great Mound,Aslan's How,which had been raised over the Table since their days.
很快他們來到樹林,他們看到了阿斯蘭的堡壘。在他們統(tǒng)治的那個時代之后,才建在石桌上的。
"Our side don't keep very good watch,"muttered Trumpkin."We ought to have been challenged before now-"
"我們的人警惕性不行,"小矮人小聲說,"這樣警戒,早就該被攻下......"
"Hush!"said the other four,for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them,looking so majestic that they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid,and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.The boys strode forward: Lucy made way for them: Susan and the Dwarf shrank back.
"噓!"孩子們說。這時阿斯蘭停下來轉(zhuǎn)身,望著他們。他的目光讓他們既興奮又害怕。兩個男孩先向他走去,然后是露茜,最后是蘇珊和小矮人。
"Oh,Aslan,"said King Peter,dropping on one knee and raising the Lion's heavy paw to his face,"I'm so glad.And I'm so sorry.I've been leading them wrong ever since we started and especially yesterday morning."
"哦,阿斯蘭!"彼得走近雄獅單膝跪下,抬起一只獅爪親吻,然后說,"見到你真高興。抱歉,我?guī)Т蠹易吡撕芏嘣┩髀罚⒄`了很久。特別是從昨天早晨開始。"
"My dear son,"said Aslan.
"親愛的孩子,"阿斯蘭說道。
Then he turned and welcomed Edmund."Well done,"were his words.
他轉(zhuǎn)向愛德蒙說,"你很棒。"
Then,after an awful pause,the deep voice said,"Susan."Susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying."You have listened to fears,child,"said Aslan."Come,let me breathe on you.Forget them.Are you brave again?"
他沉默了一會,然后用那深沉的聲音喚道:"蘇珊。"蘇珊沒有回應,大家都以為她在哭。"你被嚇著了吧,孩子。過來,我?guī)湍恪?quot;阿斯蘭說著,向蘇珊吹了一口氣。"忘記吧。現(xiàn)在,好點了嗎?"
"A little,Aslan,"said Susan.
"好點了,阿斯蘭。"蘇珊回答。
"And now!"said Aslan in a much louder voice with just a hint of roar in it,while his tail lashed his flanks."And now,where is this little Dwarf,this famous swordsman and archer,who doesn't believe in lions? Come here,son of Earth,come HERE!"-and the last word was no longer the hint of a roar but almost the real thing.
"那么現(xiàn)在!"阿斯蘭忽然提高嗓門,用尾巴拍打著自己,"現(xiàn)在,請告訴我,那位小矮人,著名的騎士,不相信阿斯蘭的朋友,在哪兒?到這兒來,大地之子,快過來!"他最后幾個字像是吼出來的,震人心魄。
"Wraiths and wreckage!"gasped Trumpkin in the ghost of a voice.The children,who knew Aslan well enough to see that he liked the Dwarf very much,were not disturbed; but it was quite another thing for Trumpkin,who had never seen a lion before,let alone this Lion.He did the only sensible thing he could have done; that is,instead of bolting,he tottered toward Aslan.
"啊,我的天!"杜魯普金小聲顫動著。幾個孩子都了解阿斯蘭,知道他肯定會非常喜歡杜魯普金,于是乖乖讓到一邊,觀看接下來將要發(fā)生的事情。杜魯普金此刻心里很不是滋味了。他從來沒見過獅王,更沒有和獅王待在一起過。不過他并沒有被嚇跑,而是顫巍巍地一點一點挪向阿斯蘭,這才是明智之舉。
Aslan pounced.Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat's mouth? It was like that.The Dwarf,hunched up in a little,miserable ball,hung from Aslan's mouth.The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker's pack and then-heypresto-the Dwarf flew up in the air.He was as safe as if he had been in bed,though he did not feel so.As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother's arms and set him (right way up,too) on the ground.
阿斯蘭撲向他,把他咬住,然后翻身一跳。不就像貓媽媽銜著小貓玩耍的場景嗎?現(xiàn)在就是這樣。杜魯普金被阿斯蘭咬在嘴里,可憐兮兮地縮成一團。阿斯蘭頭一甩,小矮人的盔甲就叮叮當當作響,非常好聽。然后像變魔術(shù)一般把小矮人拋了起來。他其實非常安全,不過他的感覺卻不是這樣了。他落下來時,阿斯蘭天鵝絨般柔軟的的爪子輕輕地把他接住,像落在母親的懷抱里一樣穩(wěn)穩(wěn)地把他頭朝上放在地上。
"Son of Earth,shall we be friends?"asked Aslan.
"大地之子,我可以做你的朋友嗎?"阿斯蘭問。
"Ye-he-he-hes,"panted the Dwarf,for it had not yet got its breath back.
"可......可......可......可以。"小矮人還大聲喘著氣,神魂根本沒定下來。
"Now,"said Aslan."The Moon is setting.Look behind you: there is the dawn beginning.We have no time to lose.You three,you sons of Adam and son of Earth,hasten into the Mound and deal with what you will find there."
"聽著,"阿斯蘭說,"月亮就要下去了,你們看身后,黎明就要到來。我們沒有時間了。你們?nèi)齻€亞當之子和大地之子們,現(xiàn)在馬上進入堡壘,看看里面的情況。"
The Dwarf was still speechless and neither of the boys dared to ask if Aslan would follow them.All three drew their swords and saluted,then turned and jingled away into the dusk.Lucy noticed that there was no sign of weariness in their faces: both the High King and King Edmund looked more like men than boys.
小矮人沒有說話,兩個男孩也沒敢問阿斯蘭是不是也一起來。三人抽出寶劍,向阿斯蘭行了禮,然后就消失在夜色中。露茜看到他們并無倦意,有的是男子漢一往無前的堅定和勇敢。
The girls watched them out of sight,standing close beside Aslan.The light was changing.Low down in the east,Aravir,the morning star of Narnia,gleamed like a little moon.Aslan,who seemed larger than before,lifted his head,shook his mane,and roared.
兩個女孩在阿斯蘭身旁目送三人遠去。東方的天色發(fā)生了變化,阿羅維爾這顆納尼亞的晨星像月亮一樣閃著明亮卻柔和的光。此時的阿斯蘭尤其威風,他甩著長尾昂起頭仰天長嘯。
The sound,deep and throbbing at first like an organ beginning on a low note,rose and became louder,and then far louder again,till the earth and air were shaking with it.It rose up from that hill and floated across all Narnia.Down in Miraz's camp men woke,stared palely in one another's faces,and grasped their weapons.Down below that in the Great River,now at its coldest hour,the heads and shoulders of the nymphs,and the great weedy-bearded head of the river-god,rose from the water.Beyond it,in every field and wood,the alert ears of rabbits rose from their holes,the sleepy heads of birds came out from under wings,owls hooted,vixens barked,hedgehogs grunted,the trees stirred.In towns and villages mothers pressed babies close to their breasts,staring with wild eyes,dogs whimpered,and men leaped up groping for lights.Far away on the northern frontier the mountain giants peered from the dark gateways of their castles.
那聲音悶而有力像風琴一樣從低音奏起,然后聲音越來越大,大地也開始顫抖。獅吼從腳下的山丘傳到每一個角落,撼動了整個納尼亞。彌若茲的部下被嚇得面如土色,不明所以,過了很久才在慌亂中拿起武器。在這一天中最寒冷的時刻,下游的水仙女仰起頭,水神從河水里站了起來。遠處的田野和樹林里兔子豎起耳朵,小鳥從翅膀下探出頭來,貓頭鷹在咕叫,狐貍在嗷叫,刺猬在咕嚕,樹森在騷動。各種聲音交織在一起,就像交響曲一樣。城鎮(zhèn)和鄉(xiāng)村的母親們都抱緊自己的孩子,睜大眼聽著。狗叫個沒完沒了,男人們抓起自己的獵槍。北部的山上巨人們?nèi)嘀圩叱龀潜げ恢赖降装l(fā)生了什么。
What Lucy and Susan saw was a dark something coming to them from almost every direction across the hills.It looked first like a black mist creeping on the ground,then like the stormy waves of a black sea rising higher and higher as it came on,and then,at last,like what it was-woods on the move.All the trees of the world appeared to be rushing towards Aslan.But as they drew nearer they looked less like trees; and when the whole crowd,bowing and curtsying and waving thin long arms to Aslan,were all around Lucy,she saw that it was a crowd of human shapes.Pale birch-girls were tossing their heads,willowwomen pushed back their hair from their brooding faces to gaze on Aslan,the queenly beeches stood still and adored him,shaggy oak-men,lean and melancholy elms,shock-headed hollies (dark themselves,but their wives all bright with berries) and gay rowans,all bowed and rose again,shouting,"Aslan,Aslan!"in their various husky or creaking or wave-like voices.
周圍的黑影向露茜和蘇珊涌來。乍一看像黑影掃過來,之后又像黑色的海浪,一浪蓋過一浪,不停地涌過來氣勢澎湃。再去看,好像全世界的樹林都朝阿斯蘭跑來。直到它們跑到跟前時,那些樹突然都不見了,露茜環(huán)顧四周,面前竟然都是人的模樣,全部都在向阿斯蘭鞠躬行禮,揮舞著細長的手臂向阿斯蘭表達敬意。面色白凈的白樺姑娘揚起自己漂亮的長脖子;楊柳姑娘甩著自己的長發(fā),不然就會看不清阿斯蘭;山毛櫸姑娘亭亭玉立,像皇后一樣高貴。它們都注視著阿斯蘭。毛發(fā)濃密的櫟樹老人表皮粗糙的橡樹,清瘦憂郁的榆樹,枝葉散漫的冬青樹,漂亮的花楸樹也向阿斯蘭俯首致意。所有的樹都喊著:"阿斯蘭!阿斯蘭!"喊聲一浪又一浪,像洶涌的波濤,經(jīng)久不息。
The crowd and the dance round Aslan (for it had become a dance once more) grew so thick and rapid that Lucy was confused.She never saw where certain other people came from who were soon capering about among the trees.One was a youth,dressed only in a fawn-skin,with vine-leaves wreathed in his curly hair.His face would have been almost too pretty for a boy's,if it had not looked,so extremely wild.You felt,as Edmund said when he saw him a few days later,"There's a chap who might do anything-absolutely anything."He seemed to have a great many names-Bromios,Bassareus,and the Ram were three of them.There were a lot of girls with him,as wild as he.There was even,unexpectedly,someone on a donkey.And everybody was laughing: and everybody was shouting out,"Euan,euan,eu-oi-oi-oi."
阿斯蘭周圍的人越發(fā)多起來,舞蹈越來越熱烈,這讓露茜感到難以置信。她從來沒見過這樣的場面。她根本沒有看到其他人是從哪里來的,只看到樹林間突然涌出許多歡快的人。一個樹皮作衣服的年輕人,頭上戴著樹葉編的草環(huán)。如果不是一臉塵土,肯定帥呆了。你會發(fā)現(xiàn)就像愛德蒙幾天后見到他時說的:"這個人,應該什么事情都會。"他好像有好多名字:布洛來歐斯、巴薩和歐斯、拉姆等等就是其中三個。他身邊圍繞著許多女孩,也是到處透著野性。來了個騎在驢背上的人,所有人都情緒高漲,熱烈地歡叫著,"喲咿,喲咿,嘿......嘿......嘿!"
"Is it a Romp,Aslan?"cried the youth.And apparently it was.But nearly everyone seemed to have a different idea as to what they were playing.It may have been Tig,but Lucy never discovered who was It.It was rather like Blind Man's Buff,only everyone behaved as if they were blindfolded.It was not unlike Hunt the Slipper,but the slipper was never found.What made it more complicated was that the man on the donkey,who was old and enormously fat,began calling out at once,"Refreshments! Time for refreshments,"and falling off his donkey and being bundled on to it again by the others,while the donkey was under the impression that the whole thing was a circus and tried to give a display of walking on its hind legs.And all the time there were more and more vine leaves everywhere.And soon not only leaves but vines.They were climbing up everything.They were running up the legs of the tree people and circling round their necks.Lucy put up her hands to push back her hair and found she was pushing back vine branches.The donkey was a mass of them.His tail was completely entangled and something dark was nodding between his ears.Lucy looked again and saw it was a bunch of grapes.After that it was mostly grapes-overhead and underfoot and all around.
"這是一場游戲吧,阿斯蘭?"那年輕人喊道。大家的確是在做游戲,雖然每個人對這場游戲都有不同理解。這可能是個躲貓貓游戲,可露茜怎么也搞不明白大家在躲什么。又有點像蒙眼抓人,不過大家的動作都好像是扮演蒙眼人。也有點像是小孩子玩的找拖鞋游戲,不過沒有人找到什么。更難懂的是身材肥胖騎著毛驢的矮個子老人最引人注目。他大叫著:"茶點!茶點時間到了!" 毛驢便以為這是大顯身手的好時機,于是抬起前腿給大家表演。老人被毛驢掀下來好多次,每次都被人們扶上去。四處出現(xiàn)越來越多的葡萄葉,很快又垂下葡萄藤。到處都有人去爬葡萄藤,爬上樹精的腿,抱住它們的脖子。露茜抬起手把頭發(fā)撥到腦后,結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)撥到后面的是葡萄藤。那頭驢子把所有都弄得亂了。它尾巴被藤枝纏住,兩只耳朵中間碰到個黑黑的東西。露茜仔細一看,原來是一串葡萄。然后懸掛下來的,落在腳邊的,身體周圍四處都出現(xiàn)了葡萄。
"Refreshments! Refreshments,"roared the old man.
"茶點!茶點!"老人開始咆哮了。
Everyone began eating,and whatever hothouses your people may have,you have never tasted such grapes.Really good grapes,firm and tight on the outside,but bursting into cool sweetness when you put them into your mouth,were one of the things the girls had never had quite enough of before.Here,there were more than anyone could possibly want,and rib table-manners at all.One saw sticky and stained fingers everywhere,and,though mouths were full,the laughter never ceased nor the yodelling cries of Euan,euan,eu-oi-oi-oi-oi,till all of a sudden everyone felt at the same moment that the game (whatever it was),and the feast,ought to be over,and everyone flopped down breathless on the ground and turned their faces to Aslan to hear what he would say next.
不知道是誰拿來很多吃的,也沒人講究禮儀了,拿著就吃。不論你有多好的溫室,都種不出這么好吃的葡萄。這真是好葡萄,表皮光澤有彈性,放進嘴里即化成汁,女孩們怎么吃都還有。周圍的葡萄多得根本吃不完,人人手指里都是黏黏的。一邊吃一邊手舞足蹈,還大聲喊,"喲咿,喲咿,嘿......嘿......嘿!"突然間不知道什么原因,大家都感到狂歡應該結(jié)束了。他們都氣喘吁吁地坐到草地上,把面孔面向阿斯蘭等待阿斯蘭講話。
At that moment the sun was just rising and Lucy remembered something and whispered to Susan,
旭日東升,露茜想起件事眼前一亮,小聲地對蘇珊說:
"I say,Su,I know who they are."
"我說,蘇珊,我知道他們是誰了。"
"Who?"
"誰?"
"The boy with the wild face is Bacchus and the old one on the donkey is Silenus.Don't you remember Mr.. Tumnus telling us about them long ago?"
"一臉野性的那個男孩是酒神巴庫斯,騎毛驢的那個老人是森林之神塞利努斯。你還記得不,以前圖姆納斯先生講過他們的故事。"
"Yes,of course.But I say,Lu"
"是的,當然記得。但是,露西......"
"What?"
"什么?"
"I wouldn't have felt safe with Bacchus and all his wild girls if we'd met them without Aslan."
"若是阿斯蘭不在的話,我覺得和巴庫斯以及他的野姑娘們在一起不安全。"
"I should think not,"said Lucy.
"我不這么認為。"露茜回答。
CHAPTER ELEVEN THE LION ROARS
WHEN the whole party was finally awake Lucy had to tell her story for the fourth time.The blank silence which followed it was as discouraging as anything could be.
"I can't see anything,"said Peter after he had stared his eyes sore."Can you,Susan?"
"No,of course I can't,"snapped Susan."Because there isn't anything to see.She's been dreaming.Do lie down and go to sleep,Lucy."
"And I do hope,"said Lucy in a tremulous voice,"that you will all come with me.Because-because I'll have to go with him whether anyone else does or not."
"Don't talk nonsense,Lucy,"said Susan."Of course you can't go off on your own.Don't let her,Peter.She's being downright naughty."
"I'll go with her,if she must go,"said Edmund."She's been right before."
"I know she has,"said Peter."And she may have been right this morning.We certainly had no luck going down the gorge.Still-at this hour of the night.And why should Aslan be invisible to us? He never used to be.It's not like him.What does the D.L.F.say?"
"Oh,I say nothing at all,"answered the Dwarf."If you all go,of course,I'll go with you; and if your party splits up,I'll go with the High King.That'smy duty to him and King Caspian.But,if you ask my private opinion,I'm a plain dwarf who doesn't think there's much chance of finding a road by night where you couldn't find one by day.And I have no use for magic lions which are talking lions and don't talk,and friendly lions though they don't do us any good,and whopping big lions though nobody can see them.It's all bilge and beanstalks as far as I can see."
"He's beating his paw on the ground for us to hurry,"said Lucy."We must go now.At least I must."
"You've no right to try to force the rest of us like that.It's four to one and you're the youngest,"said Susan.
"Oh,come on,"growled Edmund."We've got to go.There'll be no peace till we do."He fully intended to back Lucy up,but he was annoyed at losing his night's sleep and was making up for it by doing everything as sulkily as possible.
"On the march,then,"said Peter,wearily fitting his arm into his shield-strap and putting his helmet on.At any other time he would have said something nice to Lucy,who was his favourite sister,for he knew how wretched she must be feeling,and he knew that,whatever had happened,it was not her fault.But he couldn't help being a little annoyed with her all the same.
Susan was the worst."Supposing I started behaving like Lucy,"she said."I might threaten to stay here whether the rest of you went on or not.I jolly well think I shall."
"Obey the High King,your Majesty,"said Trumpkin,"and let's be off.If I'm not to be allowed to sleep,I'd as soon march as stand here talking."
And so at last they got on the move.Lucy went first,biting her lip and trying not to say all the things she thought of saying to Susan.But she forgot them when she fixed her eyes on Aslan.He turned and walked at a slow pace about thirty yards ahead of them.The others had only Lucy's directions to guide them,for Aslan was not only invisible to them but silent as well.His big cat-like paws made no noise on the grass.
He led them to the right of the dancing trees-whether they were still dancing nobody knew,for Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy-and nearer the edge of the gorge."Cobbles and kettledrums!"thought Trumpkin."I hope this madness isn't going to end in a moonlight climb and broken necks."
For a long way Aslan went along the top of the precipices.Then they came to a place where some little trees grew right on the edge.He turned and disappeared among them.Lucy held her breath,for it looked as if he had plunged over the cliff; but she was too busy keeping him in sight to stop and think about this.She quickened her pace and was soon among the trees herself.Looking down,she could see a steep and narrow path going slantwise down into the gorge between rocks,and Aslan descending it.He turned and looked at her with his happy eyes.Lucy clapped her hands and began to scramble down after him.From behind her she heard the voices of the others shouting,"Hi! Lucy! Look out,for goodness' sake.You're right on the edge of the gorge.Come back-"and then,a moment later,Edmund's voice saying,"No,she's right.There is a way down."
Half-way down the path Edmund caught up with her.
"Look!"he said in great excitement."Look! What's that shadow crawling down in front of us?"
"It's his shadow,"said Lucy.
"I do believe you're right,Lu,"said Edmund."I can't think how I didn't see it before.But where is he?"
"With his shadow,of course.Can't you see him?"
"Well,I almost thought I did-for a moment.It's such a rum light."
"Get on,King Edmund,get on,"came Trumpkin's voice from behind and above: and then,farther behind and still nearly at the top,Peter's voice saying,"Oh,buck up,Susan.Give me your hand.Why,a baby could get down here.And do stop grousing."
In a few minutes they were at the bottom and the roaring of water filled their ears.Treading delicately,like a cat,Aslan stepped from stone to stone across the stream.In the middle he stopped,bent down to drink,and as he raised his shaggy head,dripping from the water,he turned to face them again.This time Edmund saw him."Oh,Aslan!"he cried,darting forward.But the Lion whisked round and began padding up the slope on the far side of the Rush.
"Peter,Peter,"cried Edmund."Did you see?"
"I saw something,"said Peter."But it's so tricky in this moonlight.On we go,though,and three cheers for Lucy.I don't feel half so tired now,either."
Aslan without hesitation led them to their left,farther up the gorge.The whole journey was odd and dream-like the roaring stream,the wet grey grass,the glimmering cliffs which they were approaching,and always the glorious,silently pacing Beast ahead.Everyone except Susan and the Dwarf could see him now.
Presently they came to another steep path,up the face of the farther precipices.These were far higher than the ones they had just descended,and the journey up them was a long and tedious zig-zag.Fortunately the Moon shone right above the gorge so that neither side was in shadow.
Lucy was nearly blown when the tail and hind legs of Aslan disappeared over the top: but with one last effort she scrambled after him and came out,rather shaky-legged and breathless,on the hill they had been trying to reach ever since they left Glasswater.The long gentle slope (heather and grass and a few very big rocks that shone white in the moonlight) stretched up to where it vanished in a glimmer of trees about half a mile away.She knew it.It was the hill of the Stone Table:
With a jingling of mail the others climbed up behind her.
Aslan glided on before them and they walked after him.
"Lucy,"said Susan in a very small voice.
"Yes?"said Lucy.
"I see him now.I'm sorry."
"That's all right."
"But I've been far worse than you know.I really believed it was him-he,I mean-yesterday.When he warned us not to go down to the fir wood.And I really believed it was him tonight,when you woke us up.I mean,deep down inside.Or I could have,if I'd let myself.But I just wanted to get out of the woods and-and-oh,I don't know.And what ever am I to say to him?"
"Perhaps you won't need to say much,"suggested Lucy.
Soon they reached the trees and through them the children could see the Great Mound,Aslan's How,which had been raised over the Table since their days.
"Our side don't keep very good watch,"muttered Trumpkin."We ought to have been challenged before now-"
"Hush!"said the other four,for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them,looking so majestic that they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid,and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.The boys strode forward: Lucy made way for them: Susan and the Dwarf shrank back.
"Oh,Aslan,"said King Peter,dropping on one knee and raising the Lion's heavy paw to his face,"I'm so glad.And I'm so sorry.I've been leading them wrong ever since we started and especially yesterday morning."
"My dear son,"said Aslan.
Then he turned and welcomed Edmund."Well done,"were his words.
Then,after an awful pause,the deep voice said,"Susan."Susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying."You have listened to fears,child,"said Aslan."Come,let me breathe on you.Forget them.Are you brave again?"
"A little,Aslan,"said Susan.
"And now!"said Aslan in a much louder voice with just a hint of roar in it,while his tail lashed his flanks."And now,where is this little Dwarf,this famous swordsman and archer,who doesn't believe in lions? Come here,son of Earth,come HERE!"-and the last word was no longer the hint of a roar but almost the real thing.
"Wraiths and wreckage!"gasped Trumpkin in the ghost of a voice.The children,who knew Aslan well enough to see that he liked the Dwarf very much,were not disturbed; but it was quite another thing for Trumpkin,who had never seen a lion before,let alone this Lion.He did the only sensible thing he could have done; that is,instead of bolting,he tottered toward Aslan.
Aslan pounced.Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat's mouth? It was like that.The Dwarf,hunched up in a little,miserable ball,hung from Aslan's mouth.The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker's pack and then-heypresto-the Dwarf flew up in the air.He was as safe as if he had been in bed,though he did not feel so.As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother's arms and set him (right way up,too) on the ground.
"Son of Earth,shall we be friends?"asked Aslan.
"Ye-he-he-hes,"panted the Dwarf,for it had not yet got its breath back.
"Now,"said Aslan."The Moon is setting.Look behind you: there is the dawn beginning.We have no time to lose.You three,you sons of Adam and son of Earth,hasten into the Mound and deal with what you will find there."
The Dwarf was still speechless and neither of the boys dared to ask if Aslan would follow them.All three drew their swords and saluted,then turned and jingled away into the dusk.Lucy noticed that there was no sign of weariness in their faces: both the High King and King Edmund looked more like men than boys.
The girls watched them out of sight,standing close beside Aslan.The light was changing.Low down in the east,Aravir,the morning star of Narnia,gleamed like a little moon.Aslan,who seemed larger than before,lifted his head,shook his mane,and roared.
The sound,deep and throbbing at first like an organ beginning on a low note,rose and became louder,and then far louder again,till the earth and air were shaking with it.It rose up from that hill and floated across all Narnia.Down in Miraz's camp men woke,stared palely in one another's faces,and grasped their weapons.Down below that in the Great River,now at its coldest hour,the heads and shoulders of the nymphs,and the great weedy-bearded head of the river-god,rose from the water.Beyond it,in every field and wood,the alert ears of rabbits rose from their holes,the sleepy heads of birds came out from under wings,owls hooted,vixens barked,hedgehogs grunted,the trees stirred.In towns and villages mothers pressed babies close to their breasts,staring with wild eyes,dogs whimpered,and men leaped up groping for lights.Far away on the northern frontier the mountain giants peered from the dark gateways of their castles.
What Lucy and Susan saw was a dark something coming to them from almost every direction across the hills.It looked first like a black mist creeping on the ground,then like the stormy waves of a black sea rising higher and higher as it came on,and then,at last,like what it was-woods on the move.All the trees of the world appeared to be rushing towards Aslan.But as they drew nearer they looked less like trees; and when the whole crowd,bowing and curtsying and waving thin long arms to Aslan,were all around Lucy,she saw that it was a crowd of human shapes.Pale birch-girls were tossing their heads,willowwomen pushed back their hair from their brooding faces to gaze on Aslan,the queenly beeches stood still and adored him,shaggy oak-men,lean and melancholy elms,shock-headed hollies (dark themselves,but their wives all bright with berries) and gay rowans,all bowed and rose again,shouting,"Aslan,Aslan!"in their various husky or creaking or wave-like voices.
The crowd and the dance round Aslan (for it had become a dance once more) grew so thick and rapid that Lucy was confused.She never saw where certain other people came from who were soon capering about among the trees.One was a youth,dressed only in a fawn-skin,with vine-leaves wreathed in his curly hair.His face would have been almost too pretty for a boy's,if it had not looked,so extremely wild.You felt,as Edmund said when he saw him a few days later,"There's a chap who might do anything-absolutely anything."He seemed to have a great many names-Bromios,Bassareus,and the Ram were three of them.There were a lot of girls with him,as wild as he.There was even,unexpectedly,someone on a donkey.And everybody was laughing: and everybody was shouting out,"Euan,euan,eu-oi-oi-oi."
"Is it a Romp,Aslan?"cried the youth.And apparently it was.But nearly everyone seemed to have a different idea as to what they were playing.It may have been Tig,but Lucy never discovered who was It.It was rather like Blind Man's Buff,only everyone behaved as if they were blindfolded.It was not unlike Hunt the Slipper,but the slipper was never found.What made it more complicated was that the man on the donkey,who was old and enormously fat,began calling out at once,"Refreshments! Time for refreshments,"and falling off his donkey and being bundled on to it again by the others,while the donkey was under the impression that the whole thing was a circus and tried to give a display of walking on its hind legs.And all the time there were more and more vine leaves everywhere.And soon not only leaves but vines.They were climbing up everything.They were running up the legs of the tree people and circling round their necks.Lucy put up her hands to push back her hair and found she was pushing back vine branches.The donkey was a mass of them.His tail was completely entangled and something dark was nodding between his ears.Lucy looked again and saw it was a bunch of grapes.After that it was mostly grapes-overhead and underfoot and all around.
"Refreshments! Refreshments,"roared the old man.
Everyone began eating,and whatever hothouses your people may have,you have never tasted such grapes.Really good grapes,firm and tight on the outside,but bursting into cool sweetness when you put them into your mouth,were one of the things the girls had never had quite enough of before.Here,there were more than anyone could possibly want,and rib table-manners at all.One saw sticky and stained fingers everywhere,and,though mouths were full,the laughter never ceased nor the yodelling cries of Euan,euan,eu-oi-oi-oi-oi,till all of a sudden everyone felt at the same moment that the game (whatever it was),and the feast,ought to be over,and everyone flopped down breathless on the ground and turned their faces to Aslan to hear what he would say next.
At that moment the sun was just rising and Lucy remembered something and whispered to Susan,
"I say,Su,I know who they are."
"Who?"
"The boy with the wild face is Bacchus and the old one on the donkey is Silenus.Don't you remember Mr.. Tumnus telling us about them long ago?"
"Yes,of course.But I say,Lu"
"What?"
"I wouldn't have felt safe with Bacchus and all his wild girls if we'd met them without Aslan."
"I should think not,"said Lucy.
第十一章 獅王的長嘯
終于所有人都醒了,露茜第四遍重復她的話。大家沉默了許久,這讓她失去了信心。
"我什么都看不見,"彼得看著前方的林子,眼睛都酸了,"你呢,蘇珊?"
"沒有,當然也沒看不見。"蘇珊有些不耐煩,"本來就什么都沒有,她在說夢話。睡吧,露茜。"
"我非常希望,"露茜的聲音有些發(fā)抖,"你們跟我走。因為......因為不管你們走不走,我都要跟他走。"
"別瞎說,露茜,"蘇珊說,"不可能,你絕對不能一個人離開。別讓她去,彼得,她在胡鬧。"
"如果她堅決去,我和她一起,"愛德蒙說,"她之前一直都是對的。"
"我知道,"彼得說,"而且可能今天凌晨她說的話也是對的。但是,從下游的后角不好走出峽谷,何況是夜里,都這個時候了。再說,阿斯蘭為什么不讓我們看到他?他以前不這樣,從來不這樣,這不是他的風格。小不點,你說呢?"
"哦,沒什么好說的,"小矮人說,"如果都去的話,那我也一起去。如果兵分兩路,我就跟隨至尊王,這是我應盡的職責。你們別問我個人意見,我只是個沒有頭腦的小矮人,白天都迷路,更別說晚上了。何況,我根本不喜歡那個無所不能的獅子。會說話卻不說話,友好卻不來幫我們。我想說的就這么多,都說完了。"
"他在跺腳,叫我們趕緊的。"露茜說,"我們必須馬上走。你們不走,我可要自己走了。"
"你不能勉強我們聽你的胡話。現(xiàn)在是四比一,而且你最小。"蘇珊說。
"哦,快走吧,"愛德蒙有點不耐煩了,"都去吧,在這兒只會不停地爭吵。"他心里非常支持露茜,但是因為沒睡好所以不太高興,結(jié)果就像跟大家慪氣一樣。
"那就動身吧。"彼得懶懶地穿上盔甲。如果換個場合,他會安慰安慰或者鼓勵一下露茜,因為她畢竟是他的小妹妹。他心里清楚露茜現(xiàn)在一定很傷心,無論事情到底怎樣都不是她的錯。但是,他還是情不自禁地發(fā)火。
蘇珊心情糟透了。"如果我學露茜我就賴在這兒不動,你們愛去哪兒去哪兒!你們不知道我多想這么做!"
"女王陛下,請服從至尊王,"杜魯普金說,"那現(xiàn)在走吧。既然不能睡覺,我也不想說話,快點走吧。"
最后,大家終于出發(fā)了。露茜帶著所有人走在前面,咬著嘴唇,竭力把責備蘇珊的話都咽在肚子里。說來也奇怪只要看到阿斯蘭,她就沒有了抱怨的情緒,阿斯蘭在他們前面三十碼開外的地方淡定地帶路,他的巨爪像貓爪一樣落在地上,沒有一點聲音。剩下的人跟著露茜,他們看不到阿斯蘭也聽不到他說話。
他們跟著阿斯蘭從會跳舞的樹林右邊穿過。沒人注意那些樹是不是還在跳,露茜緊跟著阿斯蘭,其他人緊跟著露茜,加上腳下是峽谷,大家都小心翼翼的。"這算怎么回事!"杜魯普金想道,"希望不要以掉下懸崖、全身摔得粉碎而告終。"
在阿斯蘭帶領下,他們走到長著一些小樹的懸崖邊。阿斯蘭一拐彎,人就不見了。露茜嚇得倒抽一口氣,難道要直接跳到懸崖下面?可是她只能跟隨阿斯蘭,不然更麻煩。容不得多想,她三步并作兩步,也消失在樹叢中。朝下面一看,下面的路彎彎曲曲通往峽谷底部,阿斯蘭正沿著小路往下走,忽然回過身對她會心一笑。露茜拍了拍手,趕緊跟上去。這時候后面有人喊:"露茜!小心,天哪,你走到懸崖邊了、趕快回來......"可是又聽見愛德蒙說:"不,她沒錯,這兒有一條路可以下去。"
愛德蒙很快在下山的半路上追上了露茜。
"看!"他大聲喊,"看!看我們前面的影子是誰的?"
"是他的。"露茜說。
"我就知道你沒錯,露茜。"愛德蒙說,"可是之前為什么我就看不見他呢?現(xiàn)在他在哪兒?"
"當然和影子連在一起。你還看不見?"
"好吧,我看到了......只有一會兒。光線不好。"
"繼續(xù),愛德蒙國王,繼續(xù)走。"杜魯普金催促。然后在靠近崖頂?shù)牡胤?,彼得說:"哦,勇敢點,蘇珊。我拉著你。看你,小孩子都能走得過來,你竟然嚇成那個樣子。"
不一會兒,所有人都到了谷底。河流發(fā)出嘩嘩的聲音,阿斯蘭在小溪里露出來的大石頭上敏捷地跳來跳去,像只貓一樣最后在小河中間停下來喝水。他仰起蓬松的頭,轉(zhuǎn)過臉看孩子們,臉上還滴著水。這時候,愛德蒙能看見他了。"啊,阿斯蘭!"他大叫著撲上去??砂⑺固m一轉(zhuǎn)身,跳到了對岸,向河上游走去。
"彼得,彼得,"愛德蒙喊,"你看見了嗎?"
"我看見一點了。"彼得說,"不過在月光下看不清。接著走吧,我現(xiàn)在不怎么累。感謝露茜,幸虧有她。"
阿斯蘭毫不猶豫地帶他們走向左邊上游。大家都有像夢一樣的感覺--那奔騰不息的河水、濕漉漉的草地、影影綽綽的峭壁,還有前面一直沉默的獅王?,F(xiàn)在除了蘇珊和小矮人,所有人都看到阿斯蘭了。
很快他們走上另外一條崎嶇的小路,面對著遠處的山崖。這里比之前的山崖還高,更加坎坷不平。幸運的是月亮高懸在天空中,把周圍的山崖照得像白天一樣沒有陰影。
阿斯蘭的尾巴和兩條后腿在崖頂不見之后,露茜就沒了信心。她費了好大力氣,盡力跟在他身后才爬到山頂。她累得兩腿發(fā)抖,氣喘吁吁。他們離開清水溪之后吃盡了苦頭,一想到就要到達目的地了,自然是一陣狂喜。一段平緩的山坡長滿了石南花和青草叢,月光下,山坡上的石頭泛著白光,向前延伸有幾百米,盡頭是一個山丘長滿了綠色的樹。露茜知道,那就是石臺的所在。
伴著盔甲的叮當聲,所有人都到了山頂。
阿斯蘭帶領大家走向山丘,仍然一言不發(fā)。
"露茜。"蘇珊輕聲叫她。
"什么事?"露茜說。
"我現(xiàn)在看見了。對不起,我向你道歉。"
"沒關系。"
"其實,我比你想的還糟糕。昨天你第一次說阿斯蘭不讓我們到下游的時候,我就相信你見到阿斯蘭了。今晚你叫我們時,我心里也是相信的??晌蚁肟禳c離開,而且......而且......噢,我也說不清。現(xiàn)在我見到他了可不知道該怎么對他說了?"
"其實你沒必要說。"露茜建議道。
很快他們來到樹林,他們看到了阿斯蘭的堡壘。在他們統(tǒng)治的那個時代之后,才建在石桌上的。
"我們的人警惕性不行,"小矮人小聲說,"這樣警戒,早就該被攻下......"
"噓!"孩子們說。這時阿斯蘭停下來轉(zhuǎn)身,望著他們。他的目光讓他們既興奮又害怕。兩個男孩先向他走去,然后是露茜,最后是蘇珊和小矮人。
"哦,阿斯蘭!"彼得走近雄獅單膝跪下,抬起一只獅爪親吻,然后說,"見到你真高興。抱歉,我?guī)Т蠹易吡撕芏嘣┩髀?,耽誤了很久。特別是從昨天早晨開始。"
"親愛的孩子,"阿斯蘭說道。
他轉(zhuǎn)向愛德蒙說,"你很棒。"
他沉默了一會,然后用那深沉的聲音喚道:"蘇珊。"蘇珊沒有回應,大家都以為她在哭。"你被嚇著了吧,孩子。過來,我?guī)湍恪?quot;阿斯蘭說著,向蘇珊吹了一口氣。"忘記吧?,F(xiàn)在,好點了嗎?"
"好點了,阿斯蘭。"蘇珊回答。
"那么現(xiàn)在!"阿斯蘭忽然提高嗓門,用尾巴拍打著自己,"現(xiàn)在,請告訴我,那位小矮人,著名的騎士,不相信阿斯蘭的朋友,在哪兒?到這兒來,大地之子,快過來!"他最后幾個字像是吼出來的,震人心魄。
"啊,我的天!"杜魯普金小聲顫動著。幾個孩子都了解阿斯蘭,知道他肯定會非常喜歡杜魯普金,于是乖乖讓到一邊,觀看接下來將要發(fā)生的事情。杜魯普金此刻心里很不是滋味了。他從來沒見過獅王,更沒有和獅王待在一起過。不過他并沒有被嚇跑,而是顫巍巍地一點一點挪向阿斯蘭,這才是明智之舉。
阿斯蘭撲向他,把他咬住,然后翻身一跳。不就像貓媽媽銜著小貓玩耍的場景嗎?現(xiàn)在就是這樣。杜魯普金被阿斯蘭咬在嘴里,可憐兮兮地縮成一團。阿斯蘭頭一甩,小矮人的盔甲就叮叮當當作響,非常好聽。然后像變魔術(shù)一般把小矮人拋了起來。他其實非常安全,不過他的感覺卻不是這樣了。他落下來時,阿斯蘭天鵝絨般柔軟的的爪子輕輕地把他接住,像落在母親的懷抱里一樣穩(wěn)穩(wěn)地把他頭朝上放在地上。
"大地之子,我可以做你的朋友嗎?"阿斯蘭問。
"可......可......可......可以。"小矮人還大聲喘著氣,神魂根本沒定下來。
"聽著,"阿斯蘭說,"月亮就要下去了,你們看身后,黎明就要到來。我們沒有時間了。你們?nèi)齻€亞當之子和大地之子們,現(xiàn)在馬上進入堡壘,看看里面的情況。"
小矮人沒有說話,兩個男孩也沒敢問阿斯蘭是不是也一起來。三人抽出寶劍,向阿斯蘭行了禮,然后就消失在夜色中。露茜看到他們并無倦意,有的是男子漢一往無前的堅定和勇敢。
兩個女孩在阿斯蘭身旁目送三人遠去。東方的天色發(fā)生了變化,阿羅維爾這顆納尼亞的晨星像月亮一樣閃著明亮卻柔和的光。此時的阿斯蘭尤其威風,他甩著長尾昂起頭仰天長嘯。
那聲音悶而有力像風琴一樣從低音奏起,然后聲音越來越大,大地也開始顫抖。獅吼從腳下的山丘傳到每一個角落,撼動了整個納尼亞。彌若茲的部下被嚇得面如土色,不明所以,過了很久才在慌亂中拿起武器。在這一天中最寒冷的時刻,下游的水仙女仰起頭,水神從河水里站了起來。遠處的田野和樹林里兔子豎起耳朵,小鳥從翅膀下探出頭來,貓頭鷹在咕叫,狐貍在嗷叫,刺猬在咕嚕,樹森在騷動。各種聲音交織在一起,就像交響曲一樣。城鎮(zhèn)和鄉(xiāng)村的母親們都抱緊自己的孩子,睜大眼聽著。狗叫個沒完沒了,男人們抓起自己的獵槍。北部的山上巨人們?nèi)嘀圩叱龀潜げ恢赖降装l(fā)生了什么。
周圍的黑影向露茜和蘇珊涌來。乍一看像黑影掃過來,之后又像黑色的海浪,一浪蓋過一浪,不停地涌過來氣勢澎湃。再去看,好像全世界的樹林都朝阿斯蘭跑來。直到它們跑到跟前時,那些樹突然都不見了,露茜環(huán)顧四周,面前竟然都是人的模樣,全部都在向阿斯蘭鞠躬行禮,揮舞著細長的手臂向阿斯蘭表達敬意。面色白凈的白樺姑娘揚起自己漂亮的長脖子;楊柳姑娘甩著自己的長發(fā),不然就會看不清阿斯蘭;山毛櫸姑娘亭亭玉立,像皇后一樣高貴。它們都注視著阿斯蘭。毛發(fā)濃密的櫟樹老人表皮粗糙的橡樹,清瘦憂郁的榆樹,枝葉散漫的冬青樹,漂亮的花楸樹也向阿斯蘭俯首致意。所有的樹都喊著:"阿斯蘭!阿斯蘭!"喊聲一浪又一浪,像洶涌的波濤,經(jīng)久不息。
阿斯蘭周圍的人越發(fā)多起來,舞蹈越來越熱烈,這讓露茜感到難以置信。她從來沒見過這樣的場面。她根本沒有看到其他人是從哪里來的,只看到樹林間突然涌出許多歡快的人。一個樹皮作衣服的年輕人,頭上戴著樹葉編的草環(huán)。如果不是一臉塵土,肯定帥呆了。你會發(fā)現(xiàn)就像愛德蒙幾天后見到他時說的:"這個人,應該什么事情都會。"他好像有好多名字:布洛來歐斯、巴薩和歐斯、拉姆等等就是其中三個。他身邊圍繞著許多女孩,也是到處透著野性。來了個騎在驢背上的人,所有人都情緒高漲,熱烈地歡叫著,"喲咿,喲咿,嘿......嘿......嘿!"
"這是一場游戲吧,阿斯蘭?"那年輕人喊道。大家的確是在做游戲,雖然每個人對這場游戲都有不同理解。這可能是個躲貓貓游戲,可露茜怎么也搞不明白大家在躲什么。又有點像蒙眼抓人,不過大家的動作都好像是扮演蒙眼人。也有點像是小孩子玩的找拖鞋游戲,不過沒有人找到什么。更難懂的是身材肥胖騎著毛驢的矮個子老人最引人注目。他大叫著:"茶點!茶點時間到了!" 毛驢便以為這是大顯身手的好時機,于是抬起前腿給大家表演。老人被毛驢掀下來好多次,每次都被人們扶上去。四處出現(xiàn)越來越多的葡萄葉,很快又垂下葡萄藤。到處都有人去爬葡萄藤,爬上樹精的腿,抱住它們的脖子。露茜抬起手把頭發(fā)撥到腦后,結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)撥到后面的是葡萄藤。那頭驢子把所有都弄得亂了。它尾巴被藤枝纏住,兩只耳朵中間碰到個黑黑的東西。露茜仔細一看,原來是一串葡萄。然后懸掛下來的,落在腳邊的,身體周圍四處都出現(xiàn)了葡萄。
"茶點!茶點!"老人開始咆哮了。
不知道是誰拿來很多吃的,也沒人講究禮儀了,拿著就吃。不論你有多好的溫室,都種不出這么好吃的葡萄。這真是好葡萄,表皮光澤有彈性,放進嘴里即化成汁,女孩們怎么吃都還有。周圍的葡萄多得根本吃不完,人人手指里都是黏黏的。一邊吃一邊手舞足蹈,還大聲喊,"喲咿,喲咿,嘿......嘿......嘿!"突然間不知道什么原因,大家都感到狂歡應該結(jié)束了。他們都氣喘吁吁地坐到草地上,把面孔面向阿斯蘭等待阿斯蘭講話。
旭日東升,露茜想起件事眼前一亮,小聲地對蘇珊說:
"""我說,蘇珊,我知道他們是誰了。"""
"誰?"
"一臉野性的那個男孩是酒神巴庫斯,騎毛驢的那個老人是森林之神塞利努斯。你還記得不,以前圖姆納斯先生講過他們的故事。"
"是的,當然記得。但是,露西......"
"什么?"
"若是阿斯蘭不在的話,我覺得和巴庫斯以及他的野姑娘們在一起不安全。"
"我不這么認為。"露茜回答。