the lion, the witch and the war_c·s·刘易斯-第4部分

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　susan　was　〃it〃　and　as　soon　as　　the　others　scattered　to　hide；　lucy　went　to　the　room　where　the　wardrobe　was。　she　did　　not　mean　to　hide　in　the　wardrobe；　because　she　knew　that　would　only　set　the　others　　talking　again　about　the　whole　wretched　business。　but　she　did　want　to　have　one　more　look　inside　　it；　for　by　this　time　she　was　beginning　to　wonder　herself　whether　narnia　and　the　faun　had　　not　been　a　dream。　the　house　was　so　large　and　plicated　and　full　of　hiding…places　　that　she　thought　she　would　have　time　to　have　one　look　into　the　wardrobe　and　then　hide　　somewhere　else。

but　as　soon　as　she　reached　it　she　heard　steps　in　the　passage　outside；　and　　then　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　jump　into　the　wardrobe　and　hold　the　door　closed　　behind　her。　she　did　　

not　shut　it　properly　because　she　knew　that　it　is　very　silly　to　shut　oneself　　into　a　wardrobe；　even　if　it　is　not　a　magic　one。

now　the　steps　she　had　heard　were　those　of　edmund；　and　he　came　into　the　room　　just　in　time　to　see　lucy　vanishing　into　the　wardrobe。　he　at　once　decided　to　get　　into　it　himself　…　not　because　he　thought　it　a　particularly　good　place　to　hide　but　because　he　　wanted　to　go　on　teasing　her　about　her　imaginary　country。　he　opened　the　door。　there　were　the　　coats　hanging　up　as　usual；　and　a　smell　of　mothballs；　and　darkness　and　silence；　　and　no　sign　of　lucy。　〃she　thinks　im　susan　e　to　catch　her；〃　said　edmund　to　himself；　　〃and　so　shes　keeping　very　quiet　in　at　the　back。〃　he　jumped　in　and　shut　the　door；　　forgetting　what　a　very　foolish　thing　this　is　to　do。　then　he　began　feeling　about　for　lucy　in　the　　dark。　he　had　expected　to　find　her　in　a　few　seconds　and　was　very　surprised　when　he　did　　not。　he　decided　to　open　the　door　again　and　let　in　some　light。　but　he　could　not　find　the　　door　either。　he　didnt　like　this　at　all　and　began　groping　wildly　in　every　direction；　he　　even　shouted　out；　〃lucy！　lu！　where　are　you？　i　know　youre　here。鈥�

there　was　no　answer　and　edmund　noticed　that　his　own　voice　had　a　curious　　sound　…　not　the　sound　you　expect　in　a　cupboard；　but　a　kind　of　open…air　sound。　he　also　　noticed　that　he　was　unexpectedly　cold；　and　then　he　saw　a　light。

〃thank　goodness；〃　said　edmund；　〃the　door　must　have　swung　open　of　its　own　　accord。〃　he　forgot　all　about　lucy　and　went　towards　the　light；　which　he　thought　was　the　　open　door　of　the　wardrobe。　but　instead　of　finding　himself　stepping　out　into　the　spare　　room　he　found　himself　stepping　out　from　the　shadow　of　some　thick　dark　fir　trees　into　an　　open　place　in　the　middle　of　a　wood。

there　was　crisp；　dry　snow　under　his　feet　and　more　snow　lying　on　the　　branches　of　the　trees。　overhead　there　was　pale　blue　sky；　the　sort　of　sky　one　sees　on　a　fine　　winter　day　in　the　morning。　straight　ahead　of　him　he　saw　between　the　tree…trunks　the　sun；　　just　rising；　very　red　and　clear。　everything　was　perfectly　still；　as　if　he　were　the　only　　living　creature　in　that　country。　there　was　not　even　a　robin　or　a　squirrel　among　the　trees；　and　　the　wood　stretched　as　far　as　he　could　see　in　every　direction。　he　shivered。

he　now　remembered　that　he　had　been　looking　for　lucy；　and　also　how　　unpleasant　he　had　been　to　her　about　her　〃imaginary　country〃　which　now　turned　out　not　to　have　　been　imaginary　at　all。　he　thought　that　she　must　be　somewhere　quite　close　and　so　　he　shouted；　〃lucy！　lucy！　im　here　too…edmund。鈥�

there　was　no　answer。

〃shes　angry　about　all　the　things　ive　been　saying　lately；〃　thought　edmund。　　and　though　he　did　not　like　to　admit　that　he　had　been　wrong；　he　also　did　not　much　like　　being　alone　in　this　strange；　cold；　quiet　place；　so　he　shouted　again。

〃i　say；　lu！　im　sorry　i　didnt　believe　you。　i　see　now　you　were　right　all　　along。　do　e　out。　make　it　pax。鈥�

still　there　was　no　answer。

〃just　like　a　girl；〃　said　edmund　to　himself；　〃sulking　somewhere；　and　wont　　accept　an　apology。〃　he　looked　round　him　again　and　decided　he　did　not　much　like　this　　place；　and　had　almost　made　up　his　mind　to　go　home；　when　he　heard；　very　far　off　in　the　　wood；　a　sound　of　bells。　he　listened　and　the　sound　came　nearer　and　nearer　and　at　　last　there　swept　into　sight　a　sledge　drawn　by　two　reindeer。

the　reindeer　were　about　the　size　of　shetland　ponies　and　their　hair　was　so　　white　that　even　the　snow　hardly　looked　white　pared　with　them；　their　branching　horns　were　　gilded　and　shone　like　something　on　fire　when　the　sunrise　caught　them。　their　　harness　was　of　scarlet　leather　and　covered　with　bells。　on　the　sledge；　driving　the　　reindeer；　sat　a　fat　dwarf　who　would　have　been　about　three　feet　high　if　he　had　been　standing。　he　was　　dressed　in　polar　bears　fur　and　on　his　head　he　wore　a　red　hood　with　a　long　gold　tassel　　hanging　down　from　its　point；　his　huge　beard　covered　his　knees　and　served　him　instead　of　　a　rug。　but　behind　him；　on　a　much　higher　seat　in　the　middle　of　the　sledge　sat　a　very　　different　person　…　a　great　lady；　taller　than　any　woman　that　edmund　had　ever　seen。　she　also　was　　covered　in　white　fur　up　to　her　throat　and　held　a　long　straight　golden　wand　in　her　　right　hand　and　wore　a　golden　crown　on　her　head。　her　face　was　white　…　not　merely　pale；　but　white　　like　snow　or　paper　or　icing…sugar；　except　for　her　very　red　mouth。　it　was　a　beautiful　　face　in　other　respects；　but　proud　and　cold　and　stern。

the　sledge　was　a　fine　sight　as　it　came　sweeping　towards　edmund　with　the　　bells　jingling　and　the　dwarf　cracking　his　whip　and　the　snow　flying　up　on　each　side　of　it。

〃stop！〃　said　the　lady；　and　the　dwarf　pulled　the　reindeer　up　so　sharp　that　　they　almost　sat　down。　then　they　recovered　themselves　and　stood　champing　their　bits　and　　blowing。　in　the　frosty　air　the　breath　ing　out　of　their　nostrils　looked　like　smoke。

〃and　what；　pray；　are　you？〃　said　the　lady；　looking　hard　at　edmund。

〃im…im…my　names　edmund；〃　said　edmund　rather　awkwardly。　he　did　not　like　　the　way　she　looked　at　him。

the　lady　frowned；　〃is　that　how　you　address　a　queen？〃　she　asked；　looking　　sterner　than　ever。

〃i　beg　your　pardon；　your　majesty；　i　didnt　know；〃　said　edmund：　　〃not　know　the　queen　of　narnia？〃　cried　she。　〃ha！　you　shall　know　us　better　　hereafter。　but　i　repeat…what　are　you？鈥�

〃please；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　〃i　dont　know　what　you　mean。　im　at　　school　…　at　least　i　was　its　the　holidays　now。鈥�

w锛穡銆倄iaoshuo　txt锛�



CHAPTER　FOUR

銆傚皬％璇碸t*xt…澶�。鍫�
turkish　delight　　〃but　what　are　you？〃　said　the　queen　again。　〃are　you　a　great　overgrown　dwarf　　that　has　cut　off　its　beard？鈥�

〃no；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　〃i　never　had　a　beard；　im　a　boy。鈥�

〃a　boy！〃　said　she。　〃do　you　mean　you　are　a　son　of　adam？鈥�

edmund　stood　still；　saying　nothing。　he　was　too　confused　by　this　time　to　　understand　what　the　question　meant。

〃i　see　you　are　an　idiot；　whatever　else　you　may　be；〃　said　the　queen。　〃answer　　me；　once　and　for　all；　or　i　shall　lose　my　patience。　are　you　human？鈥�

〃yes；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund。

〃and　how；　pray；　did　you　e　to　enter　my　dominions？鈥�

〃please；　your　majesty；　i　came　in　through　a　wardrobe。鈥�

〃a　wardrobe？　what　do　you　mean？鈥�

〃i　…　i　opened　a　door　and　just　found　myself　here；　your　majesty；〃　said　　edmund。

〃ha！〃　said　the　queen；　speaking　more　to　herself　than　to　him。　〃a　door。　a　door　　from　the　world　of　men！　i　have　heard　of　such　things。　this　may　wreck　all。　but　he　is　　only　one；　and　he　is　easily　dealt　with。〃　as　she　spoke　these　words　she　rose　from　her　seat　and　　looked　edmund　full　in　the　face；　her　eyes　flaming；　at　the　same　moment　she　raised　her　wand。　　edmund　felt　sure　that　she　was　going　to　do　something　dreadful　but　he　seemed　unable　to　　move。　then；　just　as　he　gave　himself　up　for　lost；　she　appeared　to　change　her　mind。

〃my　poor　child；〃　she　said　in　quite　a　different　voice；　〃how　cold　you　look！　　e　and　sit　with　me　here　on　the　sledge　and　i　will　put　my　mantle　round　you　and　we　will　　talk。鈥�

edmund　did　not　like　this　arrangement　at　all　but　he　dared　not　disobey；　he　　stepped　on　to　the　sledge　and　sat　at　her　feet；　and　she　put　a　fold　of　her　fur　mantle　round　him　　and　tucked　it　well　in。

〃perhaps　something　hot　to　drink？〃　said　the　queen。　〃should　you　like　that？鈥�

〃yes　please；　your　majesty；〃　said　edmund；　whose　teeth　were　chattering。

the　queen　took　from　somewhere　among　her　wrappings　a　very　small　bottle　which　　looked　as　if　it　were　made　of　copper。　then；　holding　out　her　arm；　she　let　one　drop　　fall　from　it　on　the　snow　beside　the　sledg