SHASTA FALLS IN WITH THE NARNIANS
AT first Shasta could see nothing in the valley below him but a sea of mist with a few domes2 and pinnacles3 rising from it; but as the light increased and the mist cleared away he saw more and more. A broad river divided itself into two streams and on the island between them stood the city of Tashbaan, one of the wonders of the world. Round the very edge of the island, so that the water lapped against the stone, ran high walls strengthened with so many towers that he soon gave up trying to count them. Inside the walls the island rose in a hill and every bit of that hill, up to the Tisroc's palace and the great temple of Tash at the top, was completely covered with buildings - terrace above terrace, street above street, zigzag4 roads or huge flights of steps bordered with orange trees and lemon trees, roofgardens, balconies, deep archways, pillared colonnades6, spires7, battlements, minarets8, pinnacles. And when at last the sun rose out of the sea and the great silver-plated dome1 of the temple flashed back its light, he was almost dazzled.
"Get on, Shasta," Bree kept saying.
The river banks on each side of the valley were such a mass of gardens that they looked at first like forest, until you got closer and saw the white walls of innumerable houses peeping out from beneath the trees. Soon after that, Shasta noticed a delicious smell of flowers and fruit. About fifteen minutes later they were down among them, plodding9 on a level road with white walls on each side and trees bending over the walls.
"I say," said Shasta in an awed10 voice. "This is a wonderful place!"
"I daresay," said Bree. "But I wish we were safely through it and out at the other side. Narnia and the North!"
At that moment a low, throbbing11 noise began which gradually swelled12 louder and louder till the whole valley seemed to be swaying with it. It was a musical noise, but so strong and solemn as to be a little frightening.
"That's the horns blowing for the city gates to be open," said Bree. "We shall be there in a minute. Now, Aravis, do droop13 your shoulders a bit and step heavier and try to look less like a princess. Try to imagine you've been kicked and cuffed14 and called names all your life."
"If it comes to that," said Aravis, "what about you drooping15 your head a bit more and arching your neck a bit less and trying to look less like a war-horse?"
"Hush," said Bree. "Here we are."
And they were. They had come to the river's edge and the road ahead of them ran along a many-arched bridge. The water danced brightly in the early sunlight; away to the right nearer the river's mouth, they caught a glimpse ships' masts. Several other travellers were before them on the bridge, mostly peasants driving laden16 donkeys and mules17 or carrying baskets on their heads. The children and horses joined the crowd.
"Is anything wrong?" whispered Shasta to Aravis, who had an odd look on her face.
"Oh it's all very well for you," whispered Aravis rather savagely18. "What would you care about Tashbaan? But I ought to be riding in on a litter with soldiers before me and slaves behind, and perhaps going to a feast in the Tisroc's palace (may he live for ever) - not sneaking19 in like this. It's different for you."
Shasta thought all this very silly.
At the far end of the bridge the walls of the city towered high above them and the brazen20 gates stood open in the gateway21 which was really wide but looked narrow because it was so very high. Half a dozen soldiers, leaning on their spears, stood on each side. Aravis couldn't help thinking, "They'd all jump to attention and salute22 me if they knew whose daughter I am." But the others were only thinking of how they'd get through and hoping the soldiers would not ask any questions. Fortunately they did not. But one of them picked a carrot out of a peasant's basket and threw it at Shasta with a rough laugh, saying:
"Hey! Horse-boy! You'll catch it if your master finds you've been using his saddle-horse for pack work."
This frightened him badly for of course it showed that no one who knew anything about horses would mistake Bree for anything but a charger.
"It's my master's orders, so there!" said Shasta. But it would have been better if he had held his tongue for the soldier gave him a box on the side of his face that nearly knocked him down and said, "Take that, you young filth23, to teach you how to talk to freemen." But they all slunk into the city without being stopped. Shasta cried only a very little; he was used to hard knocks.
Inside the gates Tashbaan did not at first seem so splendid as it had looked from a distance. The first street was narrow and there were hardly any windows in the walls on each side. It was much more crowded than Shasta had expected: crowded partly by the peasants (on their way to market) who had come in with them, but also with watersellers, sweetmeat sellers, porters, soldiers, beggars, ragged24 children, hens, stray dogs, and bare-footed slaves. What you would chiefly have noticed if you had been there was the smells, which came from unwashed people, unwashed dogs, scent25, garlic, onions, and the piles of refuse which lay everywhere.
Shasta was pretending to lead but it was really Bree, who knew the way and kept guiding him by little nudges with his nose. They soon turned to the left and began going up a steep hill. It was much fresher and pleasanter, for the road was bordered by trees and there were houses only on the right side; on the other they looked out over the roofs of houses in the lower town and could see some way up the river. Then they went round a hairpin26 bend to their right and continued rising. They were zigzagging27 up to the centre of Tashbaan. Soon they came to finer streets. Great statues of the gods and heroes of Calormen - who are mostly impressive rather than agreeable to look at- rose on shining pedestals. Palm trees and pillared arcades28 cast shadows over the burning pavements. And through the arched gateways29 of many a palace Shasta caught sight of green branches, cool fountains, and smooth lawns. It must be nice inside, he thought.
At every turn Shasta hoped they were getting out of the crowd, but they never did. This made their progress very slow, and every now and then they had to stop altogether. This usually happened because a loud voice shouted out "Way, way, way, for the Tarkaan", or "for the Tarkheena", or "for the fifteenth Vizier", "or for the Ambassador", and everyone in the crowd would crush back against the walls; and above their heads Shasta would sometimes see the great lord or lady for whom all the fuss was being made, lolling upon a litter which four or even six gigantic slaves carried on their bare shoulders. For in Tashbaan there is only one traffic regulation, which is that everyone who is less important has to get out of the way for everyone who is more important; unless you want a cut from a whip or punch from the butt30 end of a spear.
It was in a splendid street very near the top of the city (the Tisroc's palace was the only thing above it) that the most disastrous31 of these stoppages occurred.
"Way! Way! Way!" came the voice. "Way for the White Barbarian32 King, the guest of the Tisroc (may he live for ever)! Way for the Narnian lords."
Shasta tried to get out of the way and to make Bree go back. But no horse, not even a Talking Horse from Narnia, backs easily. And a woman with a very edgy33 basket in her hands, who was just behind Shasta, pushed the basket hard against his shoulders, and said, "Now then! Who are you shoving!" And then someone else jostled him from the side and in the confusion of the moment he lost hold of Bree. And then the whole crowd behind him became so stiffened34 and packed tight that he couldn't move at all. So he found himself, unintentionally, in the first row and had a fine sight of the party that was coming down the street.
It was quite unlike any other party they had seen that day. The crier who went before it shouting "Way, way!" was the only Calormene in it. And there was no litter; everyone was on foot. There were about half a dozen men and Shasta had never seen anyone like them before. For one thing, they were all as fair-skinned as himself, and most of them had fair hair. And they were not dressed like men of Calormen. Most of them had legs bare to the kneee. Their tunics35 were of fine, bright, hardy36 colours - woodland green, or gay yellow, or fresh blue. Instead of turbans they wore steel or silver caps, some of them set with jewels, and one with little wings on each side of it. A few were bare-headed. The swords at their sides were long and straight, not curved like Calormene scimitars. And instead of being grave and mysterious like most Calormenes, they walked with a swing and let their arms and shoulders free, and chatted and laughed. One was whistling. You could see that they were ready to be friends with anyone who was friendly and didn't give a fig37 for anyone who wasn't. Shasta thought he had never seen anything so lovely in his life.
But there was not time to enjoy it for at once a really dreadful thing happened. The leader of the fair-headed men suddenly pointed38 at Shasta, cried out, "There he is! There's our runaway39!" and seized him by the shoulder. Next moment he gave Shasta a smack40 - not a cruel one to make you cry but a sharp one to let you know you are in disgrace and added, shaking:
"Shame on you, my lord! Fie for shame! Queen Susan's eyes are red with weeping because of you. What! Truant41 for a whole night! Where have you been?"
Shasta would have darted42 under Bree's body and tried to make himself scarce in the crowd if he had had the least chance; but the fair-haired men were all round him by now and he was held firm.
Of course his first impulse was to say that he was only poor Arsheesh the fisherman's son and that the foreign lord must have mistaken him for someone else. But then, the very last thing he wanted to do in that crowded place was to start explaining who he was and what he was doing. If he started on that, he would soon be asked where he had got his horse from, and who Aravis was - and then, goodbye to any chance of getting through Tashbaan. His next impulse was to look at Bree for help. But Bree had no intention of letting all the crowd know that he could talk, and stood looking just as stupid as a horse can. As for Aravis, Shasta did not even dare to look at her for fear of drawing attention. And there was no time to think, for the leader of the Narnians said at once:
"Take one of his little lordship's hands, Peridan, of your courtesy, and I'll take the other. And now, on. Our royal sister's mind will be greatly eased when she sees our young scapegrace safe in our lodging43."
And so, before they were half-way through Tashbaan, all their plans were ruined, and without even a chance to say good-bye to the others Shasta found himself being marched off among strangers and quite unable to guess what might be going to happen next. The Narnian King - for Shasta began to see by the way the rest spoke44 to him that he must be a king - kept on asking him questions; where he had been, how he had got out, what he had done with his clothes, and didn't he know that he had been very naughty. Only the king called it "naught45" instead of naughty.
And Shasta said nothing in answer, because he couldn't think of anything to say that would not be dangerous.
"What! All mum?" asked the king. "I must plainly tell you, prince, that this hangdog silence becomes one of your blood even less than the scape itself. To run away might pass for a boy's frolic with some spirit in it. But the king's son of Archenland should avouch46 his deed; not hang his head like a Calormene slave."
This was very unpleasant, for Shasta felt all the time that this young king was the very nicest kind of grown-up and would have liked to make a good impression on him.
The strangers led him-held tightly by both hands-along a narrow street and down a flight of shallow stairs and then up another to a wide doorway47 in a white wall with two tall, dark cypress48 trees, one on each side of it. Once through the arch, Shasta found himself in a courtyard which was also a garden. A marble basin of clear water in the centre was kept continually rippling49 by the fountain that fell into it. Orange trees grew round it out of smooth grass, and the four white walls which surrounded the lawn were covered with climbing roses. The noise and dust and crowding of the streets seemed suddenly fad50 away. He was led rapidly across the garden and then into a dark doorway. The crier remained outside. After that they took him along a corridor, where the stone floor felt beautifully cool to his hot feet, and up some stairs. A moment later he found himself blinking in the light of a big, airy room with wide open windows, all looking North so that no sun came in. There was a carpet on the floor more wonderfully coloured than anything he had ever seen and his feet sank down into it as if he were treading in thick moss52. All round the walls there were low sofas with rich cushions on them, and the room seemed to be full of people; very queer people some of them, thought Shasta. But he had no time to think of that before the most beautiful lady he had ever seen rose from her place and threw her arms round him and kissed him, saying:
"Oh Corin, Corin, how could you? And thou and I such close friends ever since thy mother died. And what should I have said to thy royal father if I came home without thee? Would have been a cause almost of war between Archenland and Narnia which are friends time out of mind. It was naught, playmate, very naught of thee to use us so."
"Apparently," thought Shasta to himself, "I'm being mistaken for a prince of Archenland, wherever that is. And these must be the Narnians. I wonder where the real Corin is?" But these thoughts did not help him say anything out loud.
"Where hast been, Corin?" said the lady, her hands still on Shasta's shoulders.
"I- I don't know," stammered53 Shasta.
"There it is, Susan," said the King. "I could get no tale out of him, true or false."
"Your Majesties54! Queen Susan! King Edmund!" said a voice: and when Shasta turned to look at the speaker he nearly jumped out of his skin with surprise. For this was one of these queer people whom he had noticed out of the corner of his eye when he first came into the room. He was about the same height as Shasta himself. From the waist upwards55 he was like a man, but his legs were hairy like a goat's, and shaped like a goat's and he had goat's hooves and a tail. His skin was rather red and he had curly hair and a short pointed beard and two little horns. He was in fact a Faun, which is a creature Shasta had never seen a picture of or even heard of. And if you've read a book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe you may like to know that this was the very same Faun, Tumnus by name, whom Queen Susan's sister Lucy had met on the very first day when she found her way into Narnia. But he was a good deal older now for by this time Peter and Susan and Edmund and Lucy had been Kings and Queens of Narnia for several years.
"Your Majesties," he was saying, "His little Highness has had a touch of the sun. Look at him! He is dazed. He does not know where he is."
Then of course everyone stopped scolding Shasta and asking him questions and he was made much of and laid on a sofa and cushions were put under his head and he was given iced sherbet in a golden cup to drink and told to keep very quiet.
Nothing like this had ever happened to Shasta in his life before. He had never even imagined lying on anything so comfortable as that sofa or drinking anything so delicious as that sherbet. He was still wondering what had happened to the others and how on earth he was going to escape and meet them at the Tombs, and what would happen when the real Corin turned up again. But none of these worries seemed so pressing now that he was comfortable. And perhaps, later on, there would be nice things to eat!
Meanwhile the people in that cool airy room were very interesting. Besides the Faun there were two Dwarfs56 (a kind of creature he had never seen before) and a very large Raven57.
The rest were all humans; grown-ups, but young, and all of them, both men and women, had nicer faces and voices than most Calormenes. And soon Shasta found himself taking an interest in the conversation. "Now, Madam," the King was saying to Queen Susan (the lady who had kissed Shasta). "What think you? We have been in this city fully51 three weeks. Have you yet settled in your mind whether you will marry this dark-faced lover of yours, this Prince Rabadash, or no?"
The lady shook her head. "No, brother," she said, "not for all the jewels in Tashbaan." ("Hullo!" thought Shasta. "Although they're king and queen, they're brother and sister, not married to one another.")
"Truly, sister," said the King, "I should have loved you the less if you had taken him. And I tell you that at the first coming of the Tisroc's ambassadors into Narnia to treat of this marriage, and later when the Prince was our guest at Cair Paravel, it was a wonder to me that ever you could find it in your heart to show him so much favour."
"That was my folly58, Edmund," said Queen Susan, "of which I cry you mercy. Yet when he was with us in Narnia, truly this Prince bore himself in another fashion than he does now in Tashbaan. For I take you all to witness what marvellous feats59 he did in that great tournament and hastilude which our brother the High King made for him, and how meekly60 and courteously61 he consorted62 with us the space of seven days. But here, in his own city, he has shown another face."
"Ah!" croaked63 the Raven. "It is an old saying: see the bear in his own den5 before you judge of his conditions."
"That's very true, Sallowpad," said one of the Dwarfs. "And another is, Come, live with me and you'll know me."
"Yes," said the King. "We have now seen him for what he is: that is, a most proud, bloody64, luxurious65, cruel, and selfpleasing tryant."
"Then in the name of Aslan," said Susan, "let us leave Tashbaan this very day."
"There's the rub, sister," said Edmund. "For now I must open to you all that has been growing in my mind these last two days and more. Peridan, of your courtesy look to the door and see that there is no spy upon us. All well? So. For now we must be secret."
Everyone had begun to look very serious. Queen Susan jumped up and ran to her brother. "Oh, Edmund," she cried. "What is it? There is something dreadful in your face."
四、沙斯塔碰上了纳尼亚人
起初，沙斯塔看不清下面山谷里的景物，但用个雾霭的海洋，从中矗出些圆屋顶和小尖塔，但光芒增强、雾霭廓清时，他看到的景物就越来越多了。一条宽阔的大河分成两条支流，支流之间的岛上耸立着塔什班城——世界上有名的奇观之一。环绕着岛屿的四周，筑有一系列高大的城墙，中间夹着许多堡垒塔楼，以资拱卫。流水拍打着石头城。堡垒又那么多，沙斯塔不久就不想去一一点清数目了。城墙里边，岛屿上降起个小山，山上每一块土地，从山麓直到山顶上蒂斯罗克的王宫和塔什神的庙宇，都布满了建筑物——重重叠叠，台地之上还有台地，街道之上还有街道，曲曲折折的路或是巨大的台阶，两边都种上了橘子树和柠檬树，处处是屋顶花园、阳台、深邃的拱廊、柱廊、塔尖、雉堞墙、寺院尖塔、哥特式建筑的尖顶。太阳终于从海上升起来时，寺院巨大的镀银圆屋顶把阳光反射出来，耀得他眼花缭乱。
“向前走，沙斯塔。”布里不断地说道。
山谷两边河岸上花园那么多，乍看简直就像个森林，直至走近了，看到树木下露出无数房屋的雪白墙垣，才明白了真相。不久以后，沙斯塔便觉得有阵阵芬芳的花果香气。大约十五分钟以后他们便到了花园之间，他们走在一条平坦的道路上，两边都是雪白的墙垣，下垂的花木枝条伸出墙来。
“啊。”沙斯塔用敬畏的声音说道，”这真是个了不得的好地方”
“敢情是这样。”布里说，”但我巴望我们安全穿过城市，在另头安全走出城去，直奔纳尼亚和北方！”
这时候，响起了一个低沉而颤动的声音，这声音逐渐响亮，仿佛整个山谷都被它震动了似的。这是一种乐声，但是强烈而庄严，因此有点儿令人害怕。
“这是打开城门的号角声，”布里说道，”咱们一会儿
就到那儿了。注意啰，阿拉维斯，你的肩膀要下垂一点儿，走路的步子要更加沉重一些，要竭力装得看上去不像个公主。你要尽量设想你一生挨过脚踢，挨过巴掌，还挨过臭骂。”
“说到这一点，”阿拉维斯说，”你要把脑袋再往下耷拉一点儿，脖子少拱起点儿，竭力装得看上去不像匹战马，好吗?”
“莫作声，”布里说，”咱们到了。”
他们是到了。他们来到了河边，他们前面的道路循着座多孔大桥延伸过去。河水在早晨的阳光里明晃晃地奔腾跳跃，在右边远处靠近河口的地方，他们望见一些帆船桅杆的影踪。有几个旅客在他们前边的大桥上，大部分都是农民，赶着驮运货物的驴子和骡子，再不然就是脑袋上顶着篮子。孩子们和马儿们便混到这伙人中去了。
“有什么不对劲吗7”沙斯塔低声问阿拉维斯，她的脸上有一种古怪的神色。
“啊，在你看来，一切都很好，”阿拉维斯粗暴无礼地低声说道，”你对塔什班有什么可计较的呢，我可是应该坐在轿子里前呼后拥地飞驰，前面是士兵，后面是奴隶，也许我是到蒂斯罗克(愿他万寿无疆)的王宫里去赴宴呢——而不是像现在这样偷偷摸摸地溜进城去。但对你就不一样了。”
沙斯塔认为这切全是十分愚蠢糊涂的。
大桥另一头的桥堍上，高高矗立着城墙，城门洞里的黄铜城门打开着，城门洞确实很大很阔，但冈为它很高，倒显得狭窄了。六个十兵，倚若长矛，站在城门洞的两边。阿拉维斯心中禁不住想道”如果他们知道我是谁的女儿，他们大家会跳起来立正，向我敬礼呢。”但其他的人马只是想着他们怎样穿过城门，并且希望士兵们不会盘问什么问题。幸亏士兵们并不盘问。但有一个士兵从农民的篮子里拿起一根胡萝卜，粗鲁地哈哈大笑着掷到了沙斯塔身上，他说：
“嗨！小马夫，如果你的主人发现你用他的坐骑来驮运货物，你就要吃苦头了。”
这事吓得他够呛，因为它当然表明了点：稍微懂得点儿马的人，是决不会把布里错当做其他什么乌，竟认不出它是匹战马的！
“我主人吩咐我这么办的，就是这么回事！”沙斯塔说。如果他闭口不说话，反倒好得多，因为那士兵在他的一边脸上给了他重重的一拳，几乎把他打下马来。”肮脏的小子，挨这一拳吧，教训教训你该怎样同自由人说话”但他们大家都溜进了城去，未受阻拦。沙斯塔只哭了一会儿，他对于挨揍已经习以为常了。
进了城门，塔什班就仿佛不像最初远远望去时那么富丽堂皇了。第条街是狭狭的，两边的墙上也没有什么窗子。街上远比沙斯塔想像的要拥挤得多，部分是由于挤满了跟他们一起进城、要到市场上去的农民，也由于到处是卖水的人、卖甜食的人、脚夫、士兵、乞丐、衣衫褴褛的儿童、母鸡、谜失的狗、赤脚的奴隶。如果你在那街上待过就知道，主要引起你注意的是那种乌七八糟的气味，它们来自没有洗过澡的人们、没有洗过澡的狗儿、牲畜的遗臭、大蒜、洋葱以及堆得到处都是的垃圾。"
沙斯塔假装在带路，其实直是由布早悄悄挪动鼻子来引导他的，布里才是认识道路的。他们不久就向左转弯，开始走上个陡峭的小山。这儿空气新鲜得多，也赏心悦目得多，因为大路两边种着树木，只有右边盖着房子；左边儿，他们的目光越过下边城镇的屋顶，能够望到河流的上游。接着，他们向右转了个U字形急弯，继续登山。他们正在曲曲折折地往上走向塔什班城的中心区。不久他们便踏上了较好的街道。神祗和卡乐门英雄的巨大雕像耸立在闪闪发光的基座上，大部分看起来令人印象深刻，却并不怎么悦人。棕榈树和圆柱连环拱廊的阴影投在发烫的人行道上。穿过许多王宫的拱形大门，沙斯塔看见苍翠的树枝、清凉的泉水和柔软的草坪。里边儿必定舒适漂亮极了，他想。
每次拐弯，沙斯塔都希望他们正在从拥挤的人群中走出去，但他们总是挤不出去。这就使他们的速度很慢，时不时还得停下步来。这种停顿往往是由于有个响亮的声音在喊道”闪开，闪开，闪开，给泰坎让路”，或是”给泰克希娜让路”，或是”给第十五代大臣让路”，或是”给大使让路”，于是人群中的每一个人都给逼到了墙脚边沙斯塔的目光越过人群的脑袋，有时看到大王爷或夫人懒洋洋地坐在轿子里，由四个甚或六个魁梧的奴隶抬在赤裸裸的肩膀上走过。因为在塔什班城，只有条交通规则，即：每个身份不及对方高贵的人，必须给对方让路，除非你想挨一下鞭子，或是被长矛柄戳下。
在离山顶很近的一条华丽的街上（惟一胜过这条街的，便是蒂斯罗克的王宫了)，慑倒霉的事发生了。
“闪开！闪开！闪开！”传来了喊声。”给白皮肤的外邦人国王，蒂斯罗克(愿他万寿无疆！)的贵宾让路，给纳尼亚君主们让路。”
沙斯塔想让开，叫布里退同去。但不论哪一匹马，哪怕是纳尼亚来的会说话的马，耍退回去可不容易。一个妇人手里拿着只尖角的篮子，正好站在沙斯塔的后面，把篮子死劲儿推到沙斯塔的肩膀上，说道：”喂你在推谁啊”接着又有人从旁边向他挤将过来，他在混乱中时撒手放开了布里。随后他背后的整个人群紧密地挤成一团，硬如磐石，弄得他压根儿无法挪动了。他终于发觉自己不由自主地给推到了最前列，清楚地看得见正从大街上走过来的那群人物。
这群人物可跟他们那天见到的其他人马截然不同。在前边喊着”闪开，闪开”的是其中惟一的卡乐门人。没有轿子，人人都在徒步行走。他们总共有五六个人，沙斯塔以前从来没有见过任何人跟他们相像的。第一，他们都像他一样皮肤雪白，而且大部分都是金色头发。他们也穿得不像卡乐门人。他们大多数膝盖以下都是光着的。他们的束腰外衣的色彩都是美丽、明亮、耐久的——或是林地的青翠，或是怡人的嫩黄，或足鲜明的蔚蓝。他们不褰头巾，却戴上钢帽或银帽，有些帽了还镶嵌着珠宝，讣有一顶帽子均边缀着小翅膀。少数人光着脑袋不戴帽子。他们佩在腰问的剑长长的笔直的，并不像卡乐门弯刀。他们也不像大部分卡乐门人那样庄严神秘，走路摇摇摆摆，双肩放松自在，且谈且笑。有个人还吹着口哨。你看得出来，他们准备同任何友好的人做朋友，对任何不友好的人也毫不介意。沙斯塔觉得他生平从没有见过这样可爱的场面。
然而，来不及欣赏了，因为立刻发生了一件确实可怕的事情。金发男子中的领袖突然指着沙斯塔喊了起来”他就在那儿！我们那逃跑的人就在那儿！”而且抓住了他的肩膀。接下来便给了他一巴掌——不是打得让你哭出来的狠狠一巴掌，而是响亮的巴掌，叫你明白你是丢脸出丑了——而且摇晃着他的身体说道：
“天哪，你好不羞耻！你真可耻！苏珊女王为你哭红了眼睛。还了得！闲荡了整整夜！你到哪儿去了？”
如果有点儿机会的话，沙斯塔真想蹿到布里的肚子底下，悄悄溜走，然而，现在金发男子们把他团团围住，他被他们牢牢地揪住了。
当然，他第一个冲动是想对他们申明：他不过是贫穷的渔夫阿什伊什的儿子，外国国王们必定是把他错认为别人了。然而，在这人头攒动的地方，他最不愿意做的事就是向大家解释，他是什么人，他正在干什么事情。如果他开始触及这个问题，人家就会问他他从哪儿搞到马儿的，阿拉维斯又是什么人——这样来，穿过塔什班城而去的任何机会就都完蛋了。他的第二个冲动是瞧瞧布里，向它求援。但布里无意让所有的人都知道它能说人话，它站在那儿，看上去愚蠢得像匹最愚蠢的马儿。至于阿拉维斯，沙斯塔甚至看也不敢看她，因为他怕引起注意。而且也没有时间思考了，因为纳尼亚人的领袖立刻说道：
“珀里丹，你要谦恭有礼地搀住小王爷的一只手，我来搀住他另一只手。现在走吧。我们的王妹看到年轻的淘气鬼安然无恙地落在我们的手里，她一定会大大的放心了。”
就这样，他们在塔什班城还没有走到一半路，所有的计划便全毁了，甚至连向其他人道别一声的机会也没有了。沙斯塔发觉自己被迫在陌生人之间大步走着，却毫无办法去猜测下一步会发生刊么事惰。纳尼亚国王——从其余的人跟他说话的方式看来，沙斯塔开始断定他僻定是个国王——问他许多问题：他到哪儿去了？他怎么跑出来的？他的衣服又弄到哪儿去了？他是否认识到他一直十分顽皮？只是国王不说他顽皮，只说他”皮”。
沙斯塔啥也没有回答，因为他想不出什么不会惹出祸殃的答案。
“怎么'装聋作哑吗？”国王问道，”我必须明明白白地告诉你，王子，这种卑鄙的沉默，对于你这种血统和地位的人，较之对于淘气捣蛋的家伙，叫是更加不相称不合适了。平白无故地溜掉，可以看做是一个孩子晕头晕脑地闹着玩儿。但阿钦兰国王的儿子应该公开承认事实，可不应耷拉着脑袋像个卡乐门国的奴隶啊。”
这话听起来十分不愉快，因为沙斯塔始终觉得这位年轻的国王是大人之中最和善的，他很想给对方个好印象。
陌生人带着他——紧紧地揪住他的双手——沿一条狭窄的街道走去，走下一列小台阶，再从另一列台阶向上走去，到了一道雪白墙垣单一个宽阔的大门口，大门左右两边各有一棵黑苍苍的高大柏树。踏进拱门，沙斯塔发觉自己进了一个院子，那也是个花园。中央是个人理石清水盆，泉水涓滴不绝地落入盆内。水盆周围，平整的草坪上长着橘子树。围着草坪的四垛雪白墙垣上爬满了蔷薇花。街道上的尘土和拥挤似乎突然消失了。他被人迅速地带过花园，然后进入个黑暗的门口。传呼员待在门外。这之后，他们带着他走过一道走廊(走廊里的石头地面使他感到股凉意舒适地直透他炎热的双足)，走上一道楼梯。不一会儿，他便在一个巨大、轩敞的房间的亮光里眨巴着眼睛了。房间里的窗子大开着，都是朝北的，所以没有阳光照进房间里来。地板上铺着一条地毯，色彩之艳丽，是他从来没有见过的，他的双脚窝进了地毯里去，仿佛踩在厚实的替苔上。绕着墙壁摆满了低矮的沙发，沙发上又摆了许多靠垫，房间里似乎都是人，沙斯塔觉得有几个人很古怪。但他无暇考虑这个问题，一位他从未见过的最最美丽的女士从座位上站了起来，伸出手臂抱住他，亲吻他，口中说道，
“啊，科林，科林，你怎么能这样呢？自从你的母亲去世以来，你和我是那么亲密的朋友。如果我回家时却没有带你回去，我怎么向你的父王交代呢？阿钦兰和纳尼亚自古以来就是友好邻邦，这件事会不会成为两国开战的原因？啊，一起玩儿的伙伴，你这样对待我们，真是太皮了，皮极了。”
“显而易见，”沙斯塔心中想道，”我被误认为阿钦兰的一个王子了，不论阿钦兰是在哪儿。这些人必定是纳尼亚人。我不知道那真正的科林在什么地方。”但这些想法也不能帮他大声作出任何回答来。
“你上哪儿去了，科林？”女士说道她的双手还按在沙斯塔的肩膀上。
“我——我不知道。”沙斯塔结结巴巴地说道。
“真是毫无办法，苏珊，”国工说，”真话也好，假话也好，我都没有办法叫他讲出来。”
“国王陛下！女王苏珊！国王爱德蒙！”有个声音说道；沙斯塔转过身来看那说话的人时，诧异得心惊肉跳。因为说这话的人，便是他刚走进房间时从眼角里瞅见的那些古怪人物之。他跟沙斯塔一般儿高，腰部以上像个人，但腿上多毛，像只羊，他还长着羊蹄和一条羊尾巴。他的皮肤相当红，他生着拳曲的头发，一把短而尖的胡子，两只羊角。事实上他是个羊怪，沙斯塔从未见过这样一个家伙的画像，甚至听也没听人讲起过。如果你读过本书，叫做《狮子、女巫和魔衣柜》，你倒会高兴地知道他就是那个叫图姆纳斯的羊怪，女王苏珊的妹妹露茜找到途径进入纳尼亚王国时，第一天碰到的就是他。不过，现在他比当初老得多了这时候彼得、苏珊、爱德蒙和露茜都已经做了好几年的纳尼亚国王和女王了。
“陛下，”羊怪说道，”小王爷有点儿中暑。你瞧瞧！他迷迷糊糊的。他不知道他是在什么地方。”
于是，大家当然不再责备他，也不再盘问他了，大家郑重其事地对待他，把他安置在沙发上，用靠枕垫在他的脑袋后面，用金杯盛了冰冻果汁给他唱，还嘱咐他要保持十分的安静。
沙斯塔以前的生活中从来不曾发生过这样的事。他甚至没有梦想过躺在像那样舒适的沙发上，没有梦想过喝那样美味的果汁哩。他仍旧在想另外三个碰到了什么事，他自己究竟要怎样脱身，到古老坟场上去和他们相会，以及如果真正的科林重新出现，情况又会怎样变化。但如今他是舒舒服服的，这些个焦虑似乎没有件是很迫切的了。也许，不久就会有好东西可吃呢
当时在那凉爽、轩敞的房间里的人，都是十分有趣的。在羊怪之外，还有两个小矮人(他以前从未见过的一种人物)，和一只很大的渡鸦。其余的都是人，成年人，可都很年轻，他们大家，不论男女，都比大部分卡乐门人面容漂亮、声音好听。沙斯塔不久就发现自己对他们的谈话很感兴趣。
“晤，女士，”国王对女王苏珊(就是亲吻沙斯塔的那一位)说道，”你怎么考虑的？我们在这城里呆了足足三个星期了。你心里还没有打定主意是否嫁给你的这位黑脸爱慕者，这位拉巴达什王子吗？”
女王摇摇头。”不，弟弟，”她说，”把塔什班城里所有的珠宝全给我，我也不嫁给他。”(“啊！”沙斯塔心中想道，”虽然他们是国王和女王，他们却是姐弟，并不是夫妻。”
“确确实实，姐姐，”国王说道，”如果你看中了他，我就会不怎么爱你了。我告诉你吧，蒂斯罗克的大使最初到纳尼亚来说台这门亲事时，以及后来王子在我们凯尔帕拉维尔做客时，你竟会从心早表露出那么多对他的宠爱，我真觉得奇怪。”
“那是由于我愚蠢无知，爱德蒙，”女王苏珊说道，”我为此求你宽容。然而，这位王子到纳尼亚来我们家做客时，跟他如今在塔什班城里作风确实是截然不同的。披请大家作证，在至尊王为他举行的骑马比武和长矛较量上，他表现了多么神奇的技艺，在做客七天之中，他又足多么温顺、多么彬彬有礼地陪伴着我们。然而，在这儿，在他自己的城市里，他已经露出另外副面目来了。”
“哇”渡鸦叫道，”古老的谚语说道：先看看熊在它自己窝里的情况，再对它的素质作出判断。”
“这谚语是千真万确的，萨罗帕德，”小矮人之一说道：”另一个谚语说：来吧，跟我一起生活，你就了解我了。”
“是的，”围王说道，”现在我们已经看到了他的真面目：一个最最骄傲、血腥、奢侈、残酷和自我欣赏的暴君”
“那么，以阿斯兰之名起誓，”苏珊说道，”让我们今天就离开塔什班城吧。”
“姐姐，难就难在这里。现在我必须把我在这最后两天多的时间里逐渐酝酿成熟的种种想法都告诉你。珀里丹，谢谢你留心门户，别让密探闯进来。一切都好？行。因为我们现在必须严守秘密。”
大家开始显得很严肃。女王苏珊跳起来，奔向她的弟弟。”啊，爱德蒙，”她喊道，”怎么一回事？你脸上有一种可怕的神情。”
收听单词发音 |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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colonnades
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| n.石柱廊( colonnade的名词复数 ) | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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minarets
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| n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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hairpin
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| n.簪,束发夹，夹发针 | |
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zigzagging
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| v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的现在分词 )；盘陀 | |
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arcades
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| n.商场( arcade的名词复数 )；拱形走道（两旁有商店或娱乐设施）；连拱廊；拱形建筑物 | |
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gateways
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| n.网关( gateway的名词复数 )；门径；方法；大门口 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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edgy
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| adj.不安的；易怒的 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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fig
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| n.无花果(树) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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avouch
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| v.确说，断言 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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fad
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| n.时尚；一时流行的狂热；一时的爱好 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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consorted
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| v.结伴( consort的过去式和过去分词 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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