The two Calormene soldiers at the head of the column, seeing what they took for a Tarkaan or great lord with two armed pages, came to a halt and raised their spears in salute.
“O My Master,” said one of them, “we lead these manikins to Calormen to work in the mines of The Tisroc, may-he-live-forever.”
“By the great god Tash, they are very obedient,” said Tirian. Then suddenly he turned to the Dwarfs themselves. About one in six of them carried a torch and by that flickering light he could see their bearded faces all looking at him with grim and dogged expressions.
“Has The Tisroc fought a great battle, Dwarfs, and conquered your land?” he asked, “that thus you go patiently to die in the salt-pits of Pugrahan?”
The two soldiers glared at him in surprise but the Dwarfs all answered, “Aslan's orders, Aslan's orders. He's sold us. What can we do against him?”
“Tisroc indeed!” added one and spat. “I'd like to see him try it!”
“Silence, dogs!” said the chief soldier.
“Look!” said Tirian, pulling Puzzle forward into the light. “It has all been a lie. Aslan has not come to Narnia at all. You have been cheated by the Ape. This is the thing he brought out of the stable to show you. Look at it.”
What the Dwarfs saw, now that they could see it close, was certainly enough to make them wonder how they had ever been taken in. The lion-skin had got pretty untidy already during Puzzle's imprisonment in the stable and it had been knocked crooked during his journey through the dark wood. Most of it was in a big lump on one shoulder. The head, besides being pushed sideways, had somehow got very far back so that anyone could now see his silly, gentle, donkeyish face gazing out of it. Some grass stuck out of one corner of his mouth, for he'd been doing a little quiet nibbling as they brought him along. And he was muttering, “It wasn't my fault, I'm not clever. I never said I was.”
For one second all the Dwarfs were staring at Puzzle with wide open mouths and then one of the soldiers said sharply, “Are you mad, My Master? What are you doing to the slaves?” and the other said, “And who are you?” Neither of their spears was at the salute now—both were down and ready for action.
“Give the password,” said the chief soldier.
“This is my password,” said the King as he drew his sword. “The light is dawning, the lie broken. Now guard thee, miscreant, for I am Tirian of Narnia.”
He flew upon the chief soldier like lightning. Eustace, who had drawn his sword when he saw the King draw his, rushed at the other one: his face was deadly pale, but I wouldn't blame him for that. And he had the luck that beginners sometimes do have. He forgot all that Tirian had tried to teach him that afternoon, slashed wildly (indeed I'm not sure his eyes weren't shut) and suddenly found, to his own great surprise, that the Calormene lay dead at his feet. And though that was a great relief, it was, at the moment, rather frightening. The King's fight lasted a second or two longer: then he too had killed his man and shouted to Eustace, “'Ware the other two.”
But the Dwarfs had settled the two remaining Calormenes. There was no enemy left.
“Well struck, Eustace!” cried Tirian, clapping him on the back. “Now, Dwarfs, you are free. Tomorrow I will lead you to free all Narnia. Three cheers for Aslan!”
But the result which followed was simply wretched. There was a feeble attempt from a few Dwarfs (about five) which died away all at once: from several others there were sulky growls. Many said nothing at all.
“Don't they understand?” said Jill impatiently. “What's wrong with all you Dwarfs? Don't you hear what the King says? It's all over. The Ape isn't going to rule Narnia any longer. Everyone can go back to ordinary life. You can have fun again. Aren't you glad?”
After a pause of nearly a minute a not-very-nice-looking Dwarf with hair and beard as black as soot said: “And who might you be, Missie?”
“I'm Jill,” she said. “The same Jill who rescued King Rilian from the enchantment and this is Eustace who did it too—and we've come back from another world after hundreds of years. Aslan sent us.”
The Dwarfs all looked at one another with grins; sneering grins, not merry ones.
“Well,” said the Black Dwarf (whose name was Griffle), “I don't know how all you chaps feel, but I feel I've heard as much about Aslan as I want to for the rest of my life.”
“That's right, that's right,” growled the other Dwarfs. “It's all a plant, all a blooming plant.”
“What do you mean?” said Tirian. He had not been pale when he was fighting but he was pale now. He had thought this was going to be a beautiful moment, but it was turning out more like a bad dream.
“You must think we're blooming soft in the head, that you must,” said Griffle. “We've been taken in once and now you expect us to be taken in again the next minute. We've no more use for stories about Aslan, see! Look at him! An old moke with long ears!”
“By heaven, you make me mad,” said Tirian. “Which of us said that was Aslan? That is the Ape's imitation of the real Aslan. Can't you understand?”
“And you've got a better imitation, I suppose!” said Griffle. “No thanks. We've been fooled once and we're not going to be fooled again.”
“I have not,” said Tirian angrily, “I serve the real Aslan.”
“Where's he? Who's he? Show him to us!” said several Dwarfs.“Do you think I keep him in my wallet, fools?” said Tirian. “Who am I that I could make Aslan appear at my bidding? He's not a tame lion.”
The moment those words were out of his mouth he realized that he had made a false move. The Dwarfs at once began repeating “not a tame lion, not a tame lion,” in a jeering sing-song. “That's what the other lot kept on telling us,” said one.
“Do you mean you don't believe in the real Aslan?” said Jill. “But I've seen him. And he has sent us two here out of a different world.”
“Ah,” said Griffle with a broad smile. “So you say. They've taught you your stuff all right. Saying your lessons, ain't you?”
“Churl,” cried Tirian, “will you give a lady the lie to her very face?”
“You keep a civil tongue in your head, Mister,” replied the Dwarf. “I don't think we want any more Kings—if you are Tirian, which you don't look like him—no more than we want any Aslans. We're going to look after ourselves from now on and touch our caps to nobody. See?”
“That's right,” said the other Dwarfs. “We're on our own now. No more Aslan, no more Kings, no more silly stories about other worlds. The Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs.” And they began to fall into their places and to get ready for marching back to wherever they had come from.
“Little beasts!” said Eustace. “Aren't you even going to say thank you for being saved from the salt-mines?”
“Oh, we know all about that,” said Griffle over his shoulder. “You wanted to make use of us, that's why you rescued us. You're playing some game of your own. Come on you chaps.”
And the Dwarfs struck up the queer little marching song which goes with the drum-beat, and off they tramped into the darkness.
Tirian and his friends stared after them. Then he said the single word “Come,” and they continued their journey.
They were a silent party. Puzzle felt himself to be still in disgrace, and also he didn't really quite understand what had happened. Jill, besides being disgusted with the Dwarfs, was very impressed with Eustace's victory over the Calormene and felt almost shy. As for Eustace, his heart was still beating rather quickly.
Tirian and Jewel walked sadly together in the rear. The King had his arm on the Unicorn's shoulder and sometimes the Unicorn nuzzled the King's cheek with his soft nose. They did not try to comfort one another with words. It wasn't very easy to think of anything to say that would be comforting. Tirian had never dreamed that one of the results of an Ape's setting up as a false Aslan would be to stop people from believing in the real one. He had felt quite sure that the Dwarfs would rally to his side the moment he showed them how they had been deceived. And then next night he would have led them to Stable Hill and shown Puzzle to all the creatures and everyone would have turned against the Ape and, perhaps after a scuffle with the Calormenes, the whole thing would have been over. But now, it seemed, he could count on nothing. How many other Narnians might turn the same way as the Dwarfs?
“Somebody's coming after us, I think,” said Puzzle suddenly.
They stopped and listened. Sure enough, there was a thump-thump of small feet behind them.
“Who goes there!” shouted the King.
“Only me, Sire,” came a voice. “Me, Poggin the Dwarf. I've only just managed to get away from the others. I'm on your side, Sire: and on Aslan's. If you can put a Dwarfish sword in my fist, I'd gladly strike a blow on the right side before all's done.”
Everyone crowded round him and welcomed him and praised him and slapped him on the back. Of course one single Dwarf could not make a very great difference, but it was somehow very cheering to have even one. The whole party brightened up. But Jill and Eustace didn't stay bright for very long, for they were now yawning their heads off and too tired to think about anything but bed.
It was at the coldest hour of the night, just before dawn, that they got back to the Tower. If there had been a meal ready for them they would have been glad enough to eat, but the bother and delay of getting one was not to be thought of. They drank from a stream, splashed their faces with water, and tumbled into their bunks, except for Puzzle and Jewel who said they'd be more comfortable outside. This perhaps was just as well, for a Unicorn and a fat, full-grown Donkey indoors always make a room feel rather crowded.
Narnian Dwarfs, though less than four feet high, are for their size about the toughest and strongest creatures there are, so that Poggin, in spite of a heavy day and a late night, woke fully refreshed before any of the others. He at once took Jill's bow, went out and shot a couple of wood pigeons. Then he sat plucking them on the doorstep and chatting to Jewel and Puzzle.
Puzzle looked and felt a good deal better this morning. Jewel, being a Unicorn and therefore one of the noblest and delicatest of beasts, had been very kind to him, talking to him about things of the sort they could both understand like grass and sugar and the care of one's hoofs.
When Jill and Eustace came out of the Tower yawning and rubbing their eyes at almost half past ten, the Dwarf showed them where they could gather plenty of a Narnian weed called Wild Fresney, which looks rather like our wood-sorrel but tastes a good deal nicer when cooked. (It needs a little butter and pepper to make it perfect, but they hadn't got these.) So that what with one thing and another, they had the makings of a capital stew for their breakfast or dinner, whichever you choose to call it. Tirian went a little further off into the wood with an axe and brought back some branches for fuel.
While the meal was cooking—which seemed a very long time, especially as it smelled nicer and nicer the nearer it came to being done—the King found a complete Dwarfish outfit for Poggin: mail shirt, helmet, shield, sword, belt, and dagger. Then he inspected Eustace's sword and found that Eustace had put it back in the sheath all messy from killing the Calormene. He was scolded for that and made to clean and polish it.
All this while Jill went to and fro, sometimes stirring the pot and sometimes looking out enviously at the Donkey and the Unicorn who were contentedly grazing. How many times that morning she wished she could eat grass!
But when the meal came everyone felt it had been worth waiting for, and there were second helpings all round.
When everyone had eaten as much as he could, the three humans and the Dwarf came and sat on the doorstep, the four-footed ones lay down facing them, the Dwarf (with permission both from Jill and from Tirian) lit his pipe, and the King said:
“Now, friend Poggin, you have more news of the enemy, belike, than we. Tell us all you know. And first, what tale do they tell of my escape?”
“As cunning a tale, Sire, as ever was devised,” said Poggin. “It was the Cat, Ginger, who told it, and most likely made it up too. This Ginger, Sire—oh, he's a slyboots if ever a cat was—said he was walking past the tree to which those villains bound your Majesty. And he said (saving your reverence) that you were howling and swearing and cursing Aslan: ‘language I wouldn't like to repeat’ were the words he used, looking ever so prim and proper you know the way a Cat can when it pleases. And then, says Ginger, Aslan himself suddenly appeared in a flash of lightning and swallowed your Majesty up at one mouthful.
“All the Beasts trembled at this story and some fainted right away. And of course the Ape followed it up. There, he says, see what Aslan does to those who don't respect him. Let that be a warning to you all. And the poor creatures wailed and whined and said, it will, it will. So that in the upshot your Majesty's escape has not set them thinking whether you still have loyal friends to aid you, but only made them more afraid and more obedient to the Ape.”
“What devilish policy!” said Tirian. “This Ginger, then, is close in the Ape's counsels.”
“It's more a question by now, Sire, if the Ape is in his counsels,” replied the Dwarf. “The Ape has taken to drinking, you see. My belief is that the plot is now mostly carried on by Ginger or Rishda—that's the Calormene captain. And I think some words that Ginger has scattered among the Dwarfs are chiefly to blame for the scurvy return they made you. And I'll tell you why.
“One of those dreadful midnight meetings had just broken up the night before last and I'd gone a bit of the way home when I found I'd left my pipe behind. It was a real good 'un, an old favourite, so I went back to look for it. But before I got to the place where I'd been sitting (it was black as pitch there) I heard a cat's voice say Mew and a Calormene voice say ‘here…speak softly,’ so I just stood as still as if I was frozen. And these two were Ginger and Rishda Tarkaan as they call him.
“‘Noble Tarkaan,’ said the Cat in that silky voice of his, ‘I just wanted to know exactly what we both meant today about Aslan meaning no more than Tash.’
“‘Doubtless, most sagacious of cats,’ says the other, ‘you have perceived my meaning.’ ‘You mean,’ says Ginger, ‘that there's no such person as either.’
“‘All who are enlightened know that,’ said the Tarkaan.
“‘Then we can understand one another,’ purrs the Cat. ‘Do you, like me, grow a little weary of the Ape?’
“‘A stupid, greedy brute,’ says the other, ‘but we must use him for the present. Thou and I must provide for all things in secret and make the Ape do our will.’
“‘And it would be better, wouldn't it,’ said Ginger, ‘to let some of the more enlightened Narnians into our counsels: one by one as we find them apt. For the Beasts who really believe in Aslan may turn at any moment: and will, if the Ape's folly betrays his secret. But those who care neither for Tash nor Aslan but have only an eye to their own profit and such reward as The Tisroc may give them when Narnia is a Calormene province, will be firm.’
“‘Excellent Cat,’ said the Captain. ‘But choose which ones carefully.’”
While the Dwarf had been speaking the day seemed to have changed. It had been sunny when they sat down. Now Puzzle shivered. Jewel shifted his head uneasily. Jill looked up.
“It's clouding over,” she said.
“And it's so cold,” said Puzzle.
“Cold enough, by the Lion!” said Tirian, blowing on his hands. “And faugh! What foul smell is this?”
“Phew!” gasped Eustace. “It's like something dead. Is there a dead bird somewhere about? And why didn't we notice it before?”
With a great upheaval Jewel scrambled to his feet and pointed with his horn.
“Look!” he cried. “Look at it! Look, look!”
Then all six of them saw; and over all their faces there came an expression of uttermost dismay.
走在隊列前面的兩個卡樂門士兵看見提里安,一開始還當他是帶著兩個衛(wèi)士的卡樂門王爺,便趕緊停下腳步,舉起手中的長矛向他致敬。
“我的主人,”一個士兵說,“我們帶這班小矮人去卡樂門,到提斯羅克的礦山去做工——愿提斯羅克萬壽無疆?!?/p>
“我憑塔什大神發(fā)誓,他們倒真聽話,”提里安說。然后他突然轉向小矮人們。他們每六個人就有一人舉著火炬,借著閃閃爍爍的火光,他能看見那一張張胡子拉碴的臉在盯著他看,表情嚴肅而固執(zhí)。
“小矮人們,你們如此心甘情愿地去普格拉漢的鹽坑送死,是不是提斯羅克打了一個大勝仗,征服了你們的國土?”
兩個士兵驚訝地看著他。小矮人七嘴八舌地回答說:“阿斯蘭的命令,阿斯蘭的命令。他賣掉了我們,我們怎么能反對他???”
“其實是提斯羅克的命令!”其中一個小矮人一邊說,一邊還吐了口唾沫,“我倒要看看他是怎樣騙人的。”
“閉嘴,你這狗東西!”為首的士兵呵斥說。
“你們看!”提里安將帕塞爾拉到火光底下,“這全是一個騙局。阿斯蘭根本沒有來納尼亞。你們都上了猿猴的當了。他從馬廄里帶出來讓你們看的就是這頭畜生。好好看看他吧?!?/p>
小矮人現(xiàn)在能就近看個仔細了,他們親眼所見的景象足以使他們相信自己受到了愚弄。由于長時間被囚禁在馬廄里,驢子身上的獅皮已經(jīng)很不整潔;這次穿過黑暗的樹林,一路上少不了磕磕碰碰,更使獅皮變得皺皺巴巴,大部分皮毛都擠到一側的肩膀上。獅頭上的皮毛不僅擠歪了,而且還往后縮了一大截,現(xiàn)在誰都能看見那張愚蠢而溫和的驢臉從偽裝中露出。他的嘴角上還掛著幾根青草,因為這一路過來,他一直在偷偷地啃吃路邊的青草。他現(xiàn)在還在一個勁地嘮叨:“這不是我的錯。我不聰明。我從來沒說過自己是聰明的?!?/p>
小矮人們張大嘴巴注視了帕塞爾片刻。一個卡樂門士兵尖叫起來:“我的長官,你瘋了嗎?你對這些奴隸說了什么呀?”另一個士兵說:“你是誰?”他們的長矛不再向提里安致敬;兩人都將武器從肩膀上放下,準備戰(zhàn)斗了。
“說出口令!”為首的士兵說。
國王抽出彎刀,說:“我的口令是‘天亮了,謊言破滅了’。渾蛋,保護好你自己吧,我是納尼亞的提里安。”
說完,他便閃電般地撲向為首的士兵。尤斯塔斯一見國王拔劍在手,也趕緊把他的劍拔出,沖向另一個士兵。他的臉蒼白得像一張紙,但我們不應該因此責備他。像某些初上戰(zhàn)場的人一樣,他也是吉星高照。他完全忘記了當天下午提里安教過他的技法,只知道亂砍一氣(我不敢肯定他是否閉著眼睛),但大大出乎意外的是,那個卡樂門人已經(jīng)躺在地上一命嗚呼了。雖然這是很大的安慰,但當時的情形,也真讓人膽戰(zhàn)心驚。國王的戰(zhàn)斗延續(xù)了一兩秒鐘,最后也將那人殺了。他朝尤斯塔斯呼喊:“還有兩個呢?!?/p>
剩下的兩個卡樂門人被小矮人解決了。敵人已經(jīng)全部斃命。
“打得好,尤斯塔斯!”提里安拍了拍他的背,歡呼說,“小矮人們,你們自由了。明天我要帶你們去解放整個納尼亞。勝利屬于阿斯蘭!”
但隨后的情況卻十分糟糕。只有少數(shù)幾個小矮人(大約五個)響應他,聲音微弱,很快消逝了。好幾個小矮人在憤怒地吼叫。更多的小矮人保持沉默。
“他們沒有聽清楚嗎?”吉爾不耐煩地說,“你們這班小矮人腦子有病嗎?你們沒有聽見國王說的話嗎?一切都過去了。猿猴不會再統(tǒng)治納尼亞了。每個人都恢復了正常的生活。你們又可以玩了。這你們還不高興嗎?”
安靜了好一會兒,隨后有個長相不那么好看,頭發(fā)和胡子黑得像煤煙的小矮人說:“你是什么人啊,小姐?”
“我是吉爾,”她說,“就是從巫婆手里救過瑞廉國王的那個吉爾——這是尤斯塔斯,當年我們是在一起的——幾百年過去了,我們又從另一個世界回到這里。阿斯蘭派我們來的?!?/p>
小矮人們你看看我,我看看你,都笑了起來,那是一種輕蔑的嘲笑,不是歡笑。
“好了,”黑胡子小矮人(他的名字叫格里佛爾)說,“我不知道你們是怎樣想的,但關于阿斯蘭,我已經(jīng)聽過太多,今生今世不想再聽了?!?/p>
“說得好,說得好,”其他的小矮人呼叫起來,“這只是一個騙局,一個十足的騙局?!?/p>
“你們說什么?”提里安說。剛才作戰(zhàn)時,他的臉色沒有發(fā)白,這會卻發(fā)白了。他原以為現(xiàn)在該是無比美好的時刻,結果卻像一場噩夢。
“你一定以為我們都是十足的笨蛋,你一定是這樣想的,”格里佛爾說,“我們已經(jīng)上當過一次,現(xiàn)在你又想讓我們上第二次當。聽我說,關于阿斯蘭的故事,對我們已經(jīng)沒有用處??纯此?!一頭長耳朵的老驢!”
“天哪,你把我氣瘋了,”提里安說,“我們誰說過他就是阿斯蘭?那是猿猴想冒充阿斯蘭。這你都不明白嗎?”
“你們冒充得更高明,我覺得!”格里佛爾說,“不謝了。我們已經(jīng)被愚弄了一次,不想再被你們愚弄。”
“我沒有愚弄你們,”提里安說,“我聽從真正的阿斯蘭的召喚?!?/p>
“那他在哪里?他是誰?讓我們看看他!”好幾個小矮人說。
“你們以為我可以把他藏在口袋里嗎,你們這班傻瓜?”提里安說,“如果阿斯蘭能按我的吩咐現(xiàn)身,那我成了什么人?他不是一只溫馴的獅子?!?/p>
這話一出口,他便意識到自己說了一句沒用的話。小矮人即刻以嘲笑的怪腔怪調重復著這句話:“不是一只溫馴的獅子,不是一只溫馴的獅子。早就有人跟我們反復說過這句話了?!?/p>
“你們這是說,你們并不相信真正的阿斯蘭?”吉爾說,“但我見過他。是他派我們兩人從另一個世界到這兒來的。”
“哈哈,”格里佛爾狂笑起來,“你是這樣說的嗎?他們教了你這一切。你是給我們上課,是不是?”
“混賬東西!”提里安呵斥著,“你竟敢當著一個高貴女子的面胡說八道!”
“把你的禮貌留在你自己的腦子里吧,先生,”小矮人回答,“我覺得,我們并不需要太多的國王——如果你是提里安,但我總覺得你并不像他——我們也不需要什么阿斯蘭。從今往后,我們要照顧好自己,再不向別人脫帽致敬。你懂我的意思嗎?”
“說得好,”其他的小矮人說,“我們現(xiàn)在只相信自己。不再相信阿斯蘭,不再相信國王,不再相信有關其他世界的愚蠢故事。小矮人擁護小矮人?!彼麄冮_始回到隊列之中,準備返回自己的居地。
“小畜生!”尤斯塔斯說,“把你們從鹽礦救出來,你們連句‘謝謝’也不說嗎?”
“我們全知道的,”格里佛爾回過頭來說,“你們想利用我們,這就是你們救我們的原因。你們在玩你們的把戲?;镉媯?,走啊。”
小矮人們伴隨著鼓聲唱起怪腔怪調的進行曲,很快踏進夜色之中。
提里安和他的朋友們看著他們遠去,隨后他只簡單地說了一個字:“走?!贝蠹冶憷^續(xù)上路了。
誰都一言不發(fā)。帕塞爾依然覺得自己很丟人,但他同時也弄不懂究竟發(fā)生了什么事。吉爾厭惡那班小矮人,尤斯塔斯戰(zhàn)勝卡樂門人取得勝利令她感動,同時也令她慚愧。至于尤斯塔斯,他的心仍在怦怦地跳。
提里安和珠厄兒心情沉重地走在后面。國王將自己的手臂擱在獨角獸的肩膀上,獨角獸則時不時地用鼻子溫柔地擦碰國王的臉。他們沒有用語言安慰對方;他們一時也想不出什么樣的話能安慰對方。提里安做夢也沒有想到猿猴假冒阿斯蘭最后會導致他的子民懷疑起真正的阿斯蘭。他原以為,只要他向小矮人們說清楚他們如何受了騙,他們一定會站在他這一邊。這樣,明天晚上他就可以帶領他們回到馬廄山,向所有的動物揭示帕塞爾的本來面目。到那時,人人都會轉而反對猿猴,也許還會再跟卡樂門人打上一仗,所有的事情就一了百了。但現(xiàn)在,他的如意算盤顯然落空了。還有多少納尼亞的子民會像小矮人那樣對待他呢?
“好像有人在追趕我們,陛下,”帕塞爾突然說。
他們停下腳步聽了聽。確實,他們的背后響起了小小的腳步聲。
“那邊是誰?”國王大聲喝問。
“是我,陛下,”一個聲音說,“我是小矮人波金。我剛剛想辦法脫離了他們。我站在您和阿斯蘭這一邊,陛下。只要你給我一把小矮人的刀,我一定樂意為正義的一方血戰(zhàn)到底?!?/p>
大家都圍住他,向他表示歡迎,稱贊他,拍了拍他的肩膀。當然,僅一個小矮人對局勢不會有多大改觀,但畢竟是件開心的事。大伙都振奮起來。但吉爾和尤斯塔斯并沒有高興多久,因為他們打起了哈欠,腦袋耷拉下來:他們太累了,只想早點兒上床睡覺。
黎明前是晚上最寒冷的時刻,他們終于回到堡壘。如果這時有一頓現(xiàn)成的飯,他們一定會吃得很開心;但沒有想到的是,要想吃到這一頓飯,既費力又費時。他們喝的是小溪里的水,還用水拍了拍臉,然后便倒在床上睡了。帕塞爾和珠厄兒卻說待在室外比室內更舒服。這倒也好,因為讓獨角獸和一只長得肥肥胖胖的驢子留在室內,確實會有擁擠不堪的感覺。
納尼亞的小矮人雖然身高不到四英尺,卻是最能吃苦耐勞、最強壯有力的,波金就是這樣的小矮人。盡管勞累了一整天,晚上又睡得晚,但第二天他比誰都起得早,而且精神十分飽滿。他拿了吉爾的弓出去,射殺了兩只鴿子。然后他在門口坐下來,一邊給鴿子拔毛,一邊跟珠厄兒和帕塞爾閑談。
那天早上,帕塞爾的情緒比以前好多了。珠厄兒身為獨角獸,是最高貴優(yōu)雅的一種動物,他對驢子十分友好。他們所談的話題也是雙方都能理解的,如青草啦,糖啦,蹄子的保養(yǎng)啦,等等。
上午十點半左右,吉爾和尤斯塔斯才打著哈欠、揉著眼睛從堡壘出來。小矮人指給他們看什么地方能采集到一種叫弗雷斯尼的納尼亞野草,它的形狀很像我們英格蘭的酢漿草,但煮熟后吃起來比酢漿草的味道好得多(要想烹調得美味可口,最好放一點兒黃油和胡椒,可惜這些配料他們沒有)。他們就這樣東拼西湊,在忙著做一頓豐盛的飯食,你可以叫它早餐,也可以叫它午餐,隨你怎么叫都行,就看你高興。提里安還帶了斧子進入樹林,砍了一些樹枝回來當柴火。
在飯做好以前——做飯的時間顯得很長,尤其是聞上去越來越香,接近做好時,時間就顯得更漫長了——國王為波金找來了一套適合小矮人用的裝備:一副鎖子甲、一個頭盔、一面盾、一把劍、一根皮帶和一把匕首。然后他檢查了尤斯塔斯的寶劍,發(fā)現(xiàn)他沒有擦去卡樂門人留下的血污就將劍插回鞘里,便批評了他,責成他揩干血跡,擦亮劍面。
吉爾一直在走來走去,她時而攪攪鍋里煮著的食物,時而羨慕地朝外面正在心滿意足地吃著草的驢子和獨角獸看看。那天上午,不知有多少回,她真恨不得自己也能那樣愜意地吃草!
但當食物終于上來時,人人都覺得這漫長的等待是值得的;吃完了一份,每人還能再續(xù)一份。
等到吃飽喝足,三個人類和一個小矮人便在門口坐了下來,兩只四足動物則在他們對面躺下;小矮人得到吉爾和提里安的允許,還點上了他的煙斗。這時國王對小矮人說:“波金朋友,有關敵人的情況,你比我們了解。請你詳細通報一下。先說說關于我脫險以后的謠言吧?!?/p>
“陛下,他們所編的謠言,是再狡猾不過了,”波金說,“都是那只大黃貓,謠言都是他說的,很可能就是他編的。這只大黃貓,陛下——他是滑頭的貓當中最滑頭的一只——他說他當時正好從那些惡棍綁陛下的那棵樹旁邊走過。他說(恕我直言相告)您正在罵罵咧咧,詛咒著阿斯蘭?!捨揖筒恢貜土恕?,這是他使用的措辭,神態(tài)一本正經(jīng),煞有介事——您知道,貓是能玩這樣的花招的,只要他愿意。大黃貓然后說,阿斯蘭這時突然在閃電中現(xiàn)身,一口吞下了陛下您。
“所有的動物聽了大黃貓的故事都瑟瑟發(fā)抖,有的當場暈倒。當然,猿猴也在幫腔。猿猴說:‘看看阿斯蘭是怎樣對待不尊敬他的動物的吧;讓這件事成為對大家的警告吧。’可憐的動物們哭哭啼啼地說:‘是啊,是啊?!瓦@樣,陛下這次脫險,誰都沒有想過是由于貴人相助,而是讓大家對猿猴更害怕,更俯首帖耳?!?/p>
“多可惡的詭計!”提里安說,“看來這只大黃貓是猿猴的同謀了?!?/p>
“現(xiàn)在的情況是倒過來了,陛下,可以說猿猴是大黃貓的同謀,”小矮人回答,“你知道,猿猴酗酒。我相信,他們的陰謀現(xiàn)在主要由大黃貓和卡樂門人的頭領利什達來實行。大黃貓散布的謠言針對的就是他們強加于您的不體面的逃離。我可以把其中的原因告訴您。
“前天晚上的深夜,那個可怕的會議剛剛開完,我正走在回家的路上,突然想起我把煙斗遺忘在開會的地方了。這是一個很好的煙斗,多年的心愛之物,我于是回去尋找。還沒有走到剛才坐過的地方(當時一團漆黑),我便聽見一聲貓叫,隨后是一個卡樂門人在說:‘這兒——聲音輕點?!耶敃r就一動不動地站住了。這兩個家伙就是大黃貓和那個稱作‘王爺’的利什達。
“‘高貴的王爺,’大黃貓以奉承的口吻說,‘今天我們說到阿斯蘭并不強于塔什,我很想知道我們雙方的真實意思?!?/p>
“‘眾貓中最有悟性的貓啊,’另一個聲音說,‘你顯然已經(jīng)懂得我的意思了?!?/p>
“‘你的意思是,’大黃貓說,‘無論阿斯蘭或塔什,兩者都不存在。’
“‘只要是有覺悟的人,誰都知道這一點?!鯛斦f。
“‘那我們就是知己了,’大黃貓喵喵地叫起來,‘你是否跟我一樣,也有點討厭那只猿猴呢?’
“‘一只愚蠢而貪婪的野獸,’另一個說,‘但眼下我們還得利用他。我們必須暗中布置一切,讓猿猴按我們的意志去做?!?/p>
“‘讓更多有覺悟的納尼亞人參與我們的計劃,’大黃貓說,‘豈不更好嗎?我們應該一個一個去爭取。真正相信阿斯蘭的動物是靠不住的:猿猴一旦因愚蠢暴露了自己的機密,他們隨時會轉變立場。只有那些既不關心塔什也不關心阿斯蘭的動物,即那些眼睛只盯著自己的利益,只關心當納尼亞成為卡樂門的一個省份時,提斯羅克會給他們什么好處的動物,才是靠得住的。”
“‘說得好,老貓,’利什達說,‘我們確實應該謹慎行事?!?/p>
小矮人回顧了他所聽到的一切,這時,天色似乎忽然變了。他們剛才坐下時,天還是晴朗的?,F(xiàn)在帕塞爾感到冷了。珠厄兒不安地晃動著腦袋。吉爾抬頭看了看天。
“烏云密布起來了,”她說。
“天真冷,”帕塞爾說。
“獅王在上,確實有點冷,”提里安一邊說,一邊呵了呵手,“呸!這是什么氣味?。刻y聞了?!?/p>
“咦!”尤斯塔斯喘著氣說,“好像是死了什么東西。什么地方有鳥的尸體?剛才我們?yōu)槭裁礇]有注意到呢?”
獨角獸忽地從地上站起,向前舉起他的獨角。
“看!”他驚叫起來,“看那里!看,快看!”
他們都看見了;他們的臉上都露出驚愕的神情。