csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第9节

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。　And　then　between　them；　he　thought；　must　be　her　palace；　only　a　mile　off　or　less。　And　he　thought　about　Turkish　Delight　and　about　being　a　King　（〃And　I　wonder　how　Peter　will　like　that？〃　he　asked　himself）　and　horrible　ideas　came　into　his　head。
　　
　　〃Here　we　are；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃and　it　looks　as　if　Mrs　Beaver　is　expecting　us。　I'll　lead　the　way。　But　be　careful　and　don't　slip。〃
　　
　　The　top　of　the　dam　was　wide　enough　to　walk　on；　though　not　（for　humans）　a　very　nice　place　to　walk　because　it　was　covered　with　ice；　and　though　the　frozen　pool　was　level　with　it　on　one　side；　there　was　a　nasty　drop　to　the　lower　river　on　the　other。　Along　this　route　Mr　Beaver　led　them　in　single　file　right　out　to　the　middle　where　they　could　look　a　long　way　up　the　river　and　a　long　way　down　it。　And　when　they　had　reached　the　middle　they　were　at　the　door　of　the　house。
　　
　　〃Here　we　are；　Mrs　Beaver；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　〃I've　found　them。　Here　are　the　Sons　and　Daughters　of　Adam　and　Eve'…and　they　all　went　in。
　　
　　The　first　thing　Lucy　noticed　as　she　went　in　was　a　burring　sound；　and　the　first　thing　she　saw　was　a　kindlooking　old　she…beaver　sitting　in　the　corner　with　a　thread　in　her　mouth　working　busily　at　her　sewing　machine；　and　it　was　from　it　that　the　sound　came。　She　stopped　her　work　and　got　up　as　soon　as　the　children　came　in。
　　
　　〃So　you've　e　at　last！〃　she　said；　holding　out　both　her　wrinkled　old　paws。　〃At　last！　To　think　that　ever　I　should　live　to　see　this　day！　The　potatoes　are　on　boiling　and　the　kettle's　singing　and　I　daresay；　Mr　Beaver；　you'll　get　us　some　fish。〃
　　
　　〃That　I　will；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　and　he　went　out　of　the　house　（Peter　went　with　him）；　and　across　the　ice　of　the　deep　pool　to　where　he　had　a　little　hole　in　the　ice　which　he　kept　open　every　day　with　his　hatchet。　They　took　a　pail　with　them。　Mr　Beaver　sat　down　quietly　at　the　edge　of　the　hole　（he　didn't　seem　to　mind　it　being　so　chilly）；　looked　hard　into　it；　then　suddenly　shot　in　his　paw；　and　before　you　could　say　Jack　Robinson　had　whisked　out　a　beautiful　trout。　Then　he　did　it　all　over　again　until　they　had　a　fine　catch　of　fish。
　　
　　Meanwhile　the　girls　were　helping　Mrs　Beaver　to　fill　the　kettle　and　lay　the　table　and　cut　the　bread　and　put　the　plates　in　the　oven　to　heat　and　draw　a　huge　jug　of　beer　for　Mr　Beaver　from　a　barrel　which　stood　in　one　corner　of　the　house；　and　to　put　on　the　frying…pan　and　get　the　dripping　hot。　Lucy　thought　the　Beavers　had　a　very　snug　little　home　though　it　was　not　at　all　like　Mr　Tumnus's　cave。　There　were　no　books　or　pictures；　and　instead　of　beds　there　were　bunks；　like　on　board　ship；　built　into　the　wall。　And　there　were　hams　and　strings　of　onions　hanging　from　the　roof；　and　against　the　walls　were　gum　boots　and　oilskins　and　hatchets　and　pairs　of　shears　and　spades　and　trowels　and　things　for　carrying　mortar　in　and　fishing…rods　and　fishing…nets　and　sacks。　And　the　cloth　on　the　table；　though　very　clean；　was　very　rough。
　　
　　Just　as　the　frying…pan　was　nicely　hissing　Peter　and　Mr　Beaver　came　in　with　the　fish　which　Mr　Beaver　had　already　opened　with　his　knife　and　cleaned　out　in　the　open　air。　You　can　think　how　good　the　new…caught　fish　smelled　while　they　were　frying　and　how　the　hungry　children　longed　for　them　to　be　done　and　how　very　much　hungrier　still　they　had　bee　before　Mr　Beaver　said；　〃Now　we're　nearly　ready。〃　Susan　drained　the　potatoes　and　then　put　them　all　back　in　the　empty　pot　to　dry　on　the　side　of　the　range　while　Lucy　was　helping　Mrs　Beaver　to　dish　up　the　trout；　so　that　in　a　very　few　minutes　everyone　was　drawing　up　their　stools　（it　was　all　three…legged　stools　in　the　Beavers'　house　except　for　Mrs　Beaver's　own　special　rockingchair　beside　the　fire）　and　preparing　to　enjoy　themselves。　There　was　a　jug　of　creamy　milk　for　the　children　（Mr　Beaver　stuck　to　beer）　and　a　great　big　lump　of　deep　yellow　butter　in　the　middle　of　the　table　from　which　everyone　took　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　go　with　his　potatoes；　and　all　the　children　thought…and　I　agree　with　them…that　there's　nothing　to　beat　good　freshwater　fish　if　you　eat　it　when　it　has　been　alive　half　an　hour　ago　and　has　e　out　of　the　pan　half　a　minute　ago。　And　when　they　had　finished　the　fish　Mrs　Beaver　brought　unexpectedly　out　of　the　oven　a　great　and　gloriously　sticky　marmalade　roll；　steaming　hot；　and　at　the　same　time　moved　the　kettle　on　to　the　fire；　so　that　when　they　had　finished　the　marmalade　roll　the　tea　was　made　and　ready　to　be　poured　out。　And　when　each　person　had　got　his　（or　her）　cup　of　tea；　each　person　shoved　back　his　（or　her）　stool　so　as　to　be　able　to　lean　against　the　wall　and　gave　a　long　sigh　of　contentment。
　　
　　〃And　now；〃　said　Mr　Beaver；　pushing　away　his　empty　beer　mug　and　pulling　his　cup　of　tea　towards　him；　〃if　you'll　just　wait　till　I've　got　my　pipe　lit　up　and　going　nicely…why；　now　we　can　get　to　business。　It's　snowing　again；〃　he　added；　cocking　his　eye　at　the　window。　〃That's　all　the　better；　because　it　means　we　shan't　have　any　visitors；　and　if　anyone　should　have　been　trying　to　follow　you；　why　he　won't　find　any　tracks。〃
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　　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　saucer