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最后一战
The Last Battle

英文中文双语对照双语交替

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CHAPTER NINE THE GREAT MEETING ON STABLE HILL	9、马厩山的集会

Fop, a long time they could not speak nor even shed a tear. Then the Unicorn stamped the ground with his hoof, and shook his mane, and spoke.	他们好久说不出话来，甚至也落不出一滴眼泪来。然后，独角兽用蹄子跺着大地，摇晃着鬃毛，说话了。"陛下，"它说，"现在无需商量了。我们发觉无尾猿的阴谋，埋藏得比我们所梦想的还要深。毫无疑问，它已经长期和'蒂斯罗克'秘密来往了，乃至它找到了狮子皮毛，它就和'蒂斯罗克'捎话，叫他部署海军准备攻陷凯尔帕拉维尔和纳尼亚王国全境。现在我们七个没有别的办法，只有回到马厩山，宣布事情的真相，并且冒险说是阿斯兰派我们去的。如果出现巨大的奇迹，我们竟打败了跟无尾猿狼狈为奸的三十个卡乐门士兵，我们就重新转过头去，迎战不久将从凯尔帕拉维尔开过来的更加人多势众的卡乐门大部队，而且战死沙场。"
"Sire," he said, "there is now no need of counsel. We see that the Ape's plans were laid deeper than we dreamed of. Doubtless he has been long in secret traffic with The Tisroc, and as soon as he had found the lion-skin he sent him word to make ready his navy for the taking of Cair Paravel and all Narnia. Nothing now remains for us seven but to go back to Stable Hill, proclaim the truth, and take the adventure that Aslan sends us. And if, by a great marvel, we defeat those thirty Calormenes who are with the Ape, then to turn again and die in battle with the far greater host of them that will soon march from Cair Paravel."	蒂莲点点头。但他转过来跟孩子们说道"啊，朋友们，你们从此回到你们自己的世界里去的时候到了。毫无疑问，你们已经做好了派你们来做的一切事情。""然——然而我们没有做什么呀。"吉尔说，她正在哆嗦，说她害怕可不确切，倒是因为她感到切是那么糟糕讨厌。"这话不对，"国王说道，"你替我从树上松绑，你昨夜又在我前边像条蛇似的在树林中渭行，而且逮住了驴子迷惑；而你，尤斯塔斯，杀死了那卡乐门士兵。但你们都太年轻了，不必像我们一样去参加这样一个血腥的结局，而我们其他的人，今夜，或者也许是三天以后，都是必须面对这个结局的。我恳求你们——不，我命令你们——回到你们自己的世界去。如果我让这样年幼的战士在战斗中在我的身旁倒下来，我就该羞愧得无地自容了。"
Tirian nodded. But he turned to the children and said: "Now, friends, it is time for you to go hence into your own world. Doubtless you have done all that you were sent to do."	"不，不，不，"吉尔说道(她刚开口说话时，脸色十分苍白，然后又突然涨得通红，接着却又重新发白了)，"我们不愿回去，你所说的那些情况，我们不在乎。不论发生什么事情，我们都要忠于你，同你站在一起，尤斯塔斯，你说是吗?"
"B - but we've done nothing," said Jill who was shivering, not with fear exactly but because everything was so horrible.	"是的，但也无需为此而那么激动的。"尤斯塔斯说，他的双手插在口袋里(他忘记了自己穿着锁子甲，这个姿势看上去有多么古怪)，"因为，你瞧，我们没有选择的余地。空谈回去有什么好处呢?怎么回?我们可没有回去的魔法!"
"Nay," said the King, "you loosed me from the tree: you glided before me like a snake last night in the wood and took Puzzle: and you, Eustace, killed your man. But you are too young to share in such a bloody end as we others must meet tonight or, it may be, three days hence. I entreat you - nay, I command you - to return to your own place. I should be put to shame if I let such young warriors fall in battle on my side."	这话是明智的，但，此时此刻，吉尔可痛恨尤斯塔斯说出这番话来。当别人激动的时候他总喜欢过分就事论事。
"No, no, no," said Jill (very white when she began speaking and then suddenly very red and then white again.) "We won't, I don't care what you say. We're going to stick to you whatever happens, aren't we, Eustace?"	当蒂莲明白了两个陌生人无法回家(除非阿斯兰突然把他们带走)，他第二步棋就是要他们穿过南部崇山峻岭进入阿钦兰，说不定那儿可能安全些。但他们不认识路，也派不出人陪他们去。正如波金所指出的，一旦卡乐门军队占据了纳尼亚，他们大约在第二个星期里就一定会攻占阿钦兰"蒂斯罗克"始终要并吞这些北方国家，占为己有。最后，尤斯塔斯和吉尔苦苦恳求。蒂莲便说他们可以跟他-起去碰碰机会——或者，一如他更加明智地所说的"冒冒阿斯兰给他们送来的风险"。
"Yes, but there's no need to get so worked up about it," said Eustace who had stuck his hands in his pockets (forgetting how very odd that looks when you are wearing a mail shirt). "Because, you see, we haven't any choice. What's the good of talking about our going back! How? We've got no magic for doing it!"	国王第一个主意是不到天黑以后，他们不应该回到马厩山去——现在他们听到这山的名字就感到厌恶了。但小矮人告诉他们，如果他们在白天到达山上，他们就很可能发现那儿寂无人影，也许只碰到个把警卫。野兽们被无尾猿(和金格)所告诉它们的阿斯兰——或塔什兰——的新的愤怒吓坏了，它们不敢走近马厩去，除非被叫去开那些可怕的午夜大会。卡乐门人从来不是善于在森林里活动的好手。波金认为，在白天里他们倒容易绕到马厩山背后的什么地方，不会被人看见的。黑夜来临，无尾猿就要把野兽召集拢来，所有的卡乐门兵都要值班上岗，那时倒难办得多。大会开始时，他们可以把迷惑留在马~背后，藏得完全看不见，直到他们要牵它出来示众。这显然是件好事;因为他们惟一取胜的机会，就在于突然叫纳尼亚野兽们意想不到地大吃一惊。
This was very good sense but, at the moment, Jill hated Eustace for saying it. He was fond of being dreadfully matter-of-fact when other people got excited.	大家都同意这个方案，于是整个队伍沿着一条新的路线——朝西北方向——向那可恨的山头进发。老鹰有时在他们的上方飞来飞去，有时坐在迷惑的背脊上休息。没有人会妄想骑一头独角兽走路的——除了有重大的必要性，连国王也不骑独角兽代步的。
When Tirian realized that the two strangers could not get home (unless Aslan suddenly whisked them away), he next wanted them to go across the Southern mountains into Archenland where they might possibly be safe. But they didn't know their way and there was no one to send with them. Also, as Poggin said, once the Calormenes had Narnia they would certainly take Archenland in the next week or so: The Tisroc had always wanted to have these Northern countries for his own. In the end Eustace and Jill begged so hard that Tirian said they could come with him and take their chance - or, as he much more sensibly called it, "the adventure that Aslan would send them".	这一田，吉尔和尤斯塔斯一起行走。他们恳求国王允许他们跟其他的人一起来作战时，曾经感到自己十分勇敢，但现在他们压根儿不感到勇敢了。
The King's first idea was that they should not go back to Stable Hill - they were sick of the very name of it by now till after dark. But the Dwarf told them that if they arrived there by daylight they would probably find the place deserted, except perhaps for a Calormene sentry. The Beasts were far too frightened by what the Ape (and Ginger) had told them about this new angry Aslan - or Tashlan - to go near it except when they were called together for these horrible midnight meetings. And Calormenes are never good woodsmen. Poggin thought that even by daylight they could easily get round to somewhere behind the stable without being seen. This would be much harder to do when the night had come and the Ape might be calling the Beasts together and all the Calormenes were on duty. And when the meeting did begin they could leave Puzzle at the back of the stable, completely out of sight, till the moment at which they wanted to produce him. This was obviously a good thing: for their only chance was to give the Narnians a sudden surprise.	"波尔，"尤斯塔斯悄悄地说道，"我还是告诉你吧，我已经心惊肉跳了。"
Everyone agreed and the whole party set off on a new line - North-West - towards the hated Hill. The Eagle sometimes flew to and fro above them, sometimes he sat perched on Puzzle's back. No one - not even the King himself except in some great need - would dream of riding on a Unicorn.	"啊，斯克罗布，你行，"吉尔说道，"你能打仗。但我——我正在发抖，如果想知道真相的话。"
This time Jill and Eustace walked together. They had been feeling very brave when they were begging to be allowed to come with the others, but now they didn't feel brave at all.	"啊，发抖不算什么，"尤斯塔斯说，"我觉得我快要生病了。" "天哪，别提它了。"吉尔说。他们默不作声地走了两分钟。
"Pole," said Eustace in a whisper. "I may as well tell you I've got the wind up."	"波尔。"尤斯塔斯不久又开口了。"什么事?"她说。"如果我们在这儿给杀死了，会发生什么事呢?""我想，我们就成了死人了。"
"Oh you're all right, Scrubb," said Jill. "You can fight. But I - I'm just shaking, if you want to know the truth."	"但我的意思是在我们自己的世界里会发生什么事?
"Oh shaking's nothing," said Eustace. "I'm feeling I'm going to be sick."	我们会一觉醒来，发觉自己回到那火车里了?或者我们干脆消失了，永远再也听不到我们的消息了?或者，我们在英国也成了死人了？"
"Don't talk about that, for goodness' sake," said Jill.	"天哪，我从未想到这些。"
They went on in silence for a minute or two.	"彼得和其他的人，如果他们看到我从车窗里向外挥手，然后火车进站时却哪儿也找不到我们，对他们说来，岂不是咄咄怪事!或者，如果他们找到两具——我的意思是说，如果我们在英国那边成了死人。"
"Pole," said Eustace presently.	"呀I"吉尔说，"多可怕的胡思乱想。"
"What?" said she.	"对我们说来，不会可怕的，"尤斯塔斯说，"我们不该在那边的。"
"What'll happen if we get killed here?"	"我几乎但愿——不，尽管如此，我不说。"吉尔说。"你要说的是什么话啊?"
"Well we'll be dead, I suppose."	"我正要说，我但愿我们从未有过。但，我不说，我不说，我不说。即使我们被杀死了也不说这种话。我倒宁可为纳尼亚战斗而牺牲生命，却不愿在家乡变得衰老愚蠢，也许坐在轮椅里转来转去，然后末末了儿还是照样死掉。"
"But I mean, what will happen in our own world? Shall we wake up and find ourselves back in that train? Or shall we just vanish and never be heard of any more? Or shall we be dead in England?"	"或者被英国火车砸烂了！""你为什么说这话呢?"
"Gosh. I never thought of that."	"啊，火车发生可怕的震动时——仿佛把我们扔进纳尼亚的那一震——我以为那是火车失事的开端。所以，竟发现我们到了这儿，我真是欢天喜地。"
"It'll be rum for Peter and the others if they saw me waving out of the window and then when the train comes in we're nowhere to be found! Or if they found two - I mean, if we're dead over there in England."	吉尔和尤斯塔斯正谈起这档子事时，其他的伙伴正在讨论计划，变得不太痛苦了。因为他们现在正想的是今夜必须干的事情——而纳尼亚遭到了什么灾难、纳尼亚的光荣和欢乐都过去了等等的思想，都被推到头脑的后半部去了。他们停止谈话时，那些思想就会冒出来使他们重新感到痛苦；但他们继续不断地谈着话。对于夜间他们非干不可的活儿，波金确实感到十分高兴。他深信野猪和熊，可能所有的狗儿，都会立刻站在他们这一边来的。他也无法相信所有其他的小矮人们都会依附格里夫尔。在火光旁作战，出没于树木之间，对于力量较弱的一方是有利的。而且，如果今夜他们能获胜，几天以后，他们果真还需要为迎战卡乐门主力部队而牺牲他们的生命吗?
"Ugh!" said Jill. "What a horrid idea."	为什么不躲藏在森林里，甚至跑到大瀑布外的西部荒原，像逃亡者一样生活呢?然后他们便可能逐渐强大更强大，因为会说人话的野兽和阿钦兰人每天都会来参加他们的队伍。最后他们便将从躲藏之地突然冒出来，把卡乐门士兵(那时他们会疏忽大意了)扫荡出他们的国家，而纳尼亚便可复兴。在国王弥若兹的时代，类似这样的事情毕竟是发生过的!
"It wouldn't be horrid for us," said Eustace. "We shouldn't be there."	这一番话蒂莲都听到了，他想的是"但塔什神在搞什么呢?"他从骨子里觉得这样的演变是一点儿也不会发生的。但他嘴里没有这样说。他们走得更靠近马厩山时，大家当然都默不作声。于是，真正的林中活动开始了。从他们第一次望见马厩山那一刻起，到他们大家都来到马腹背后那一刻为止，他们花了两个多钟头的时间。这个过程是无法恰当描写的，除非记下一页页的流水账。从每一个掩蔽处到下一个掩蔽处都是一段又一段的冒险，其间还有漫长的等待和好几次虚惊。如果你是个优秀的侦察员或是优秀的向导，你就已经知道这必定是什么情况了。太阳快落下去时，他们大家都安全进入一丛冬青树里，在马厩背后大约十五码光景。他们大家都吃些饼干，在地上躺下。
"I almost wish - no I don't, though," said Jill.	接下来是最难挨难熬的阶段，等待。幸亏孩子们睡了两小时，但，他们醒来时，当然天已黑了冷了，而更糟的是，他们醒来时口渴，却没有机会弄到水喝。迷惑就站在那儿，因为有点儿紧张，身体发抖。但蒂莲睡得很香，他的脑袋枕在珍宝的肚子上，倒像睡在凯尔帕拉维尔的御榻上一样香甜，直睡到一阵锣声把他吵醒，他站起身来，望到马厩远处有火光，他知道时辰到了。
"What were you going to say?"	"珍宝，吻我吧，"他说道，"因为这必定是我们在这世界上的最后一夜了。如果我曾在任何或大或小的事情上得罪了你，现在就宽恕我吧。"
"I was going to say I wished we'd never come. But I don't, I don't, I don't. Even if we are killed. I'd rather be killed fighting for Narnia than grow old and stupid at home and perhaps go about in a bath-chair and then die in the end just the same."	"亲爱的国王，"独角兽说道，"我几乎但愿你曾得罪过我，这样我就可以宽恕了。再见了。我们曾经一起万分欢乐过。如果阿斯兰允许我选择，我只会选择我曾经度过的生活，只会选择我们就要作出的牺牲。"这时他们叫醒了老鹰。老鹰把脑袋缩在翅膀下睡觉(这使它仿佛压根儿没有脑袋似的)。他们朝前爬到马底去。他们就把驴子迷惑留在马厩后面(并非一句和蔼的话也没有，因为现在谁也不对驴子生气了)。他们嘱咐驴子别走动，必须等到有人来带它才走，他们自己则在马朦的一头摆开了阵势。篝火才点亮不久，正好开始熊熊燃烧起来。篝火离他们不过几英尺光景，而一大群纳尼亚野兽都在篝火的那一边，所以蒂莲开头看不大清楚，当然他看见十几双眼睛在篝火的反光里闪闪发亮，就像你在汽车前灯的灯光里看到的野兔或猫的眼睛一般。蒂莲刚站定位置，锣声便停了，三个黑影儿从他左边一个地方冒出来了。一个是"泰坎"利什达，卡乐门队长。第二个是无尾猿，它的一个前爪给抓在"泰坎"手里，它不断地呜咽、咕哝"不要这样快，别走得这样快，我身体压根儿不好。唉，我可怜的脑袋好疼啊！这些午夜大会我愈来愈吃不消了。无尾猿是不适宜夜间不睡觉的。无尾猿可不像老鼠或蝙蝠那样夜间活动——唉，我可怜的脑袋好疼啊。"在无尾猿的另一边，猫儿金格正在走来，它走得脚步很轻很庄重，尾巴笔直地翘在空中。它们向篝火走去，它们离蒂莲很近，如果方向对头，它们立刻就会看见蒂莲的。幸亏它们看的方向不对头。但蒂莲听见利什达低声对金格说道。"猫儿，站到你的岗位上去。注意好生扮演你的角色。""妙，妙。瞧我的!"金格说道。然后它走到篝火外面，在集合拢来的野兽们的第一排里坐下，正如你要说的，坐在观众中间。因为事情的发展，整个局面确实就像在一个戏院里一般。纳尼亚的群兽，就像坐在座位上的观众，马厩前一小块草地就像舞台，篝火熊熊燃烧着，无尾猿和卡乐门队长站在那儿向群众讲话，马厩既本身就像舞台后面的布景，而蒂莲和他的朋友们，就像在布景背后隐约出现的人们。如果他们之中有哪一个往外走到火光里来，所有的眼睛立刻都会盯住他们直瞧，另一方面呢，只要他们一动也不动地站在马厩远处墙头的阴影里，百分之九十九是不会被人注意到的。
"Or be smashed up by British Railways!"	"泰坎"利什达把无尾猿拖到逼近篝火的地方。他们俩都转过脸去，面向群众，当然，这就意味着他们是背对着蒂莲和他的朋友们了。
"Why d'you say that?"	"听着，猴子，""泰坎"利什达低声说道，"把比你聪明的头脑灌输到你嘴巴里的话讲出来吧。把你的头昂起来。"他一边说话一边用他的脚趾尖在背后给无尾猿一戳或是一踢。
"Well when that awful jerk came - the one that seemed to throw us into Narnia - I thought it was the beginning of a railway accident. So I was jolly glad to find ourselves here instead."	"你放开我。"诡谲喃喃说道。但它把身体坐得更直，用更加响亮的声音，开言道, "你们大家都注意听着。一件可怕的事情发生了。一件邪恶的事情。在纳尼亚发生的最最邪恶的事情。阿斯兰——"
While Jill and Eustace were talking about this, the others were discussing their plans and becoming less miserable. That was because they were now thinking of what was to be done this very night and the thought of what had happened to Narnia - the thought that all her glories and joys were over - was pushed away into the back part of their minds. The moment they stopped talking it would come out and make them wretched again: but they kept on talking. Poggin was really quite cheerful about the night's work they had to do. He was sure that the Boar and the Bear, and probably all the Dogs would come over to their side at once. And he couldn't believe that all the other Dwarfs would stick to Griffle. And fighting by firelight and in and out among trees would be an advantage to the weaker side. And then, if they could win tonight, need they really throw their lives away by meeting the main Calormene army a few days later?	"塔什兰，傻瓜。""泰坎"利什达低声纠正。
Why not hide in the woods, or even up in the Western Waste beyond the great waterfall and live like outlaws? And then they might gradually get stronger and stronger, for Talking Beasts and Archenlanders would be joining them every day. And at last they'd come out of hiding and sweep the Calormenes (who would have got careless by then) out of the country and Narnia would be revived. After all, something very like that had happened in the time of King Miraz!	"我的意思当然是指塔什兰，"无尾猿说道，"塔什兰对此十分愤怒。"
And Tirian heard all this and thought "But what about Tash?" and felt in his bones that none of it was going to happen. But he didn't say so.	众野兽等待着要听听他们即将碰到什么新的麻烦，当时草地上一片可怕的寂静。马厩墙脚边的一伙也屏息静气。
When they got nearer to Stable Hill of course everyone became quiet. Then the real wood-work began. From the moment at which they first saw the Hill to the moment at which they all arrived at the back of the stable, it took them over two hours. It's the sort of thing one couldn't describe properly unless one wrote pages and pages about it. The journey from each bit of cover to the next was a separate adventure, and there were very long waits in between, and several false alarms. If you are a good Scout or a good Guide you will know already what it must have been like. By about sunset they were all safe in a clump of holly trees about fifteen yards behind the stable. They all munched some biscuit and lay down.	现在究竟会冒出什么事情来呢?
Then came the worst part, the waiting. Luckily for the children they slept for a couple of hours, but of course they woke up when the night grew cold, and what was worse, woke up very thirsty and with no chance of getting a drink. Puzzle just stood, shivering a little with nervousness, and said nothing. But Tirian, with his head against Jewel's flank, slept as soundly as if he were in his royal bed at Cair Paravel, till the sound of a gong beating awoke him and he sat up and saw that there was firelight on the far side of the stable and knew that the hour had come.	"是的，"无尾猿说道，"就在此时此刻，可怕的神就在我们中间——而在我背后马厩里——一头邪恶的野兽竟蓄意干了一件十恶不赦的事情，你们都会认为，即使神在干里之外，也没有一个敢干这样的事的。它在身上披上了一张狮子皮毛，正在这些树林里跑来跑去，冒充是狮王阿斯兰。"
"Kiss me, Jewel," he said. "For certainly this is our last night on earth. And if ever I offended against you in any matter great or small, forgive me now."	吉尔有一会儿感到诧异——这无尾猿是否疯了?它是否要把全部真相讲出来?野兽群中发出一阵恐怖和愤怒的吼声。"该死！"发出吼声来了，"它是什么东西?它在哪儿?让我们用牙齿咬死它!"
"Dear King," said the Unicorn, "I could almost wish you had, so that I might forgive it. Farewell. We have known great joys together. If Aslan gave me my choice I would choose no other life than the life I have had and no other death than the one we go to."	"昨儿夜间看见过它的，"无尾猿尖声叫道，"但它逃走了。它是头驴子!一头普普通通的凄凄惨惨的驴子。如果你们有谁看见这驴子——"+ "该死!"众野兽咆哮道，"我们一定要，一定要咬死它。它最好别碰上我们。"吉尔瞧瞧国王。国王的嘴巴张开着，脸上充满恐怖的神情。这时他明白敌人计划之邪恶诡谲了。加了一点儿真相，就使它们的谎言强大有力得多啦。现在，告诉野兽们说一头驴子被打扮成一头狮子，来欺骗它们——那还有什么用处呢?无尾猿只要说一句"那就是我刚才说过的情况嘛。"就够了。把披着狮子毛皮的驴子示众，还有什么好处呢?野兽只会把驴子撕个稀烂。"那是收掉了我们的篷帆上的风。"尤斯塔斯低声说道。"把我们立足的土地抽掉了。"蒂莲说道。"该死的，该死的小聪明！"波金说道，"我敢打赌，这新的谎言准是金格创造出来的。"
Then they woke up Farsight, who was asleep with his head under his wing (it made him look as if he had no head at all), and crept forward to the stable. They left Puzzle (not without a kind word, for no one was angry with him now) just behind it, telling him not to move till someone came to fetch him, and took up their position at one end of the stable.
The bonfire had not been lit for long and was just beginning to blaze up. It was only a few feet away from them, and the great crowd of Narnian creatures were on the other side of it, so that Tirian could not at first see them very well, though of course he saw dozens of eyes shining with the reflection of the fire, as you've seen a rabbit's or cat's eyes in the headlights of a car. And just as Tirian took his place, the gong stopped beating and from somewhere on his left three figures appeared. One was Rishda Tarkaan the Calormene Captain. The second was the Ape. He was holding on to the Tarkaan's hand with one paw and kept whimpering and muttering, "Not so fast, don't go so fast, I'm not at all well. Oh my poor head! These midnight meetings are getting too much for me. Apes aren't meant to be up at night: It's not as if I was a rat or a bat - oh my poor head." On the other side of the Ape, walking very soft and stately, with his tail straight up in the air, came Ginger the Cat. They were heading for the bonfire and were so close to Tirian that they would have seen him at once if they had looked in the right direction. Fortunately they did not. But Tirian heard Rishda say to Ginger in a low voice:
"Now, Cat, to thy post. See thou play thy part well."
"Miaow, miaow. Count on me!" said Ginger. Then he stepped away beyond the bonfire and sat down in the front row of the assembled Beasts: in the audience, as you might say.
For really, as it happened, the whole thing was rather like a theatre. The crowd of Narnians were like the people in the seats; the little grassy place just in front of the stable, where the bonfire burned and the Ape and the Captain stood to talk to the crowd, was like the stage; the stable itself was like the scenery at the back of the stage; and Tirian and his friends were like people peering round from behind the scenery. It was a splendid position. If any of them stepped forward into the full firelight, all eyes would be fixed on him at once: on the other hand, so long as they stood still in the shadow of the end-wall of the stable, it was a hundred to one against their being noticed.
Rishda Tarkaan dragged the Ape up close to the fire. The pair of them turned to face the crowd, and this of course meant that their backs were towards Tirian and his friends.
"Now, Monkey," said Rishda Tarkaan in a low voice. "Say the words that wiser heads have put into thy mouth. And hold up thy head." As he spoke he gave the Ape a little prod or kick from behind with the point of his toe.
"Do leave me alone," muttered Shift. But he sat up straighter and began, in a louder voice - "Now listen, all of you. A terrible thing has happened. A wicked thing. The wickedest thing that ever was done in Narnia. And Aslan -"
"Tashlan, fool," whispered Rishda Tarkaan.
"Tashlan I mean, of course," said the Ape, "is very angry about it."
There was a terrible silence while the Beasts waited to hear what new trouble was in store for them. The little party by the end-wall of the stable also held their breath. What on earth was coming now?
"Yes," said the Ape. "At this very moment, when the Terrible One himself is among us - there in the stable just behind me - one wicked Beast has chosen to do what you'd think no one would dare to do even if He were a thousand miles away. It has dressed itself up in a lion-skin and is wandering about in these very woods pretending to be Aslan."
Jill wondered for a moment if the Ape had gone mad. Was he going to tell the whole truth? A roar of horror and rage went up from the Beasts. "Grrr!" came the growls. "Who is he? Where is he? Just let me get my teeth into him!"
"It was seen last night," screamed the Ape, "but it got away. It's a Donkey! A common, miserable Ass! If any of you see that Ass -"
"Grrr!" growled the Beasts. "We will, we will. He'd better keep out of our way."
Jill looked at the King: his mouth was open and his face was full of horror. And then she understood the devilish cunning of the enemies' plan. By mixing a little truth with it they had made their lie far stronger. What was the good, now, of telling the Beasts that an ass had been dressed up as a lion to deceive them? The Ape would only say, "That's just what I've said." What was the good of showing them Puzzle in his lion-skin? They would only tear him in pieces. "That's taken the wind out of our sails," whispered Eustace. "The ground is taken from under our feet," said Tirian. "Cursed, cursed cleverness!" said Poggin. "I'll be sworn that this new lie is of Ginger's making."