THE FIGHT AT ANVARD
By about eleven o'clock the whole company was once more on the march, riding westward1 with the mountains on their left. Corin and Shasta rode right at the rear with the Giants immediately in front of them. Lucy and Edmund and Peridan were busy with their plans for the battle and though Lucy once said, "But where is his goosecap Highness?" Edmund only replied, "Not in the front, and that's good news enough. Leave well alone."
Shasta told Corin most of his adventures and explained that he had learned all his riding from a horse and didn't really know how to use the reins3. Corin instructed him in this, besides telling him all about their secret sailing from Tashbaan.
"And where is the Queen Susan?"
"At Cair Paravel," said Corin. "She's not like Lucy, you know, who's as good as a man, or at any rate as good as a boy. Queen Susan is more like an ordinary grown-up lady. She doesn't ride to the wars, though she is an excellent archer4."
The hillside path which they were following became narrower all the time and the drop on their right hand became steeper. At last they were going in single file along the edge of a precipice5 and Shasta shuddered6 to think that he had done the same last night without knowing it. "But of course," he thought, "I was quite safe. That is why the Lion kept on my left. He was between me and the edge all the time."
Then the path went left and south away from the cliff and there were thick woods on both sides of it and they went steeply up and up into the pass. There would have been a splendid view from the top if it were open ground but among all those trees you could see nothing - only, every now and then, some huge pinnacle7 of rock above the tree-tops, and an eagle or two wheeling high up in the blue air.
"They smell battle," said Corin, pointing at the birds. "They know we're preparing a feed for them."
Shasta didn't like this at all.
When they had crossed the neck of the pass and come a good deal lower they reached more open ground and from here Shasta could see all Archenland, blue and hazy8, spread out below him and even (he thought) a hint of the desert beyond it. But the sun, which had perhaps two hours or so to go before it set, was in his eyes and he couldn't make things out distinctly.
Here the army halted and spread out in a line, and there was a great deal of rearranging. A whole detachment of very dangerous-looking Talking Beasts whom Shasta had not noticed before and who were mostly of the cat kind (leopards9, panthers, and the like) went padding and growling10 to take up their positions on the left. The giants were ordered to the right, and before going there they all took off something they had been carrying on their backs and sat down for a moment. Then Shasta saw that what they had been carrying and were now putting on were pairs of boots: horrid11, heavy, spiked12 boots which came up to their knees. Then they sloped their huge clubs over their shoulders and marched to their battle position. The archers13, with Queen Lucy, fell to the rear and you could first see them bending their bows and then hear the twangtwang as they tested the strings14. And wherever you looked you could see people tightening15 girths, putting on helmets, drawing swords, and throwing cloaks to the ground. There was hardly any talking now. It was very solemn and very dreadful. "I'm in for it now - I really am in for it now," thought Shasta. Then there came noises far ahead: the sound of many men shouting and a steady thud-thud-thud
"Battering16 ram17," whispered Corin. "They're battering the gate."
Even Corin looked quite serious now.
"Why doesn't King Edmund get on?" he said. "I can' stand this waiting about. Chilly18 too."
Shasta nodded: hoping he didn't look as frightened as felt.
The trumpet19 at last! On the move now - now trotting20 the banner streaming out in the wind. They had topped low ridge21 now, and below them the whole scene sudden opened out; a little, many-towered castle with its gate towards them. No moat, unfortunately, but of course the gate shut and the portcullis down. On the walls they could see, like little white dots, the faces of the defenders22. Down below, about fifty of the Calormenes, dismounted, were steadily23 swinging a great tree trunk against the gate. But at once the scene changed. The main bulk of Rabadash's men had been on foot ready to assault the gate. But now he had seen the Narnians sweeping24 down from the ridge. There is no doubt those Calormenes are wonderfully trained. It seemed to Shasta only a second before a whole line of the enemy were on horseback again, wheeling round to meet them, swinging towards them.
And now a gallop25. The ground between the two armies grew less every moment. Faster, faster. All swords out now, all shields up to the nose, all prayers said, all teeth clenched26. Shasta was dreadfully frightened. But it suddenly came into his head, "If you funk this, you'll funk every battle all your life. Now or never."
But when at last the two lines met he had really very littler idea of what happened. There was a frightful27 confusion`; and an appalling28 noise. His sword was knocked clean out of his hand pretty soon. And he'd got the reins tangled29 somehow. Then he found himself slipping. Then a spear came straight at him and as he ducked to avoid it he rolled right off his horse, bashed his left knuckles30 terribly against someone else's armour31, and then - But it is no use trying to describe the battle from Shasta's point of view; he understood too little of the fight in general and even of his own part in it. The best way I can tell you what really happened is to take you some miles away to where the Hermit32 of the Southern March sat gazing into the smooth pool beneath the spreading tree, with Bree and Hwin and Aravis beside him.
For it was in this pool that the Hermit looked when he wanted to know what was going on in the world outside the green walls of his hermitage. There, as in a mirror, he could see, at certain times, what was going on in the streets of cities far farther south than Tashbaan, or what ships were putting into Redhaven in the remote Seven Isles33, or what robbers or wild beasts stirred in the great Western forests between Lantern Waste and Telmar. And all this day he had hardly left his pool, even to eat or drink, for he knew that great events were on foot in Archenland. Aravis and the Horses gazed into it too. They could see it was a magic pool: instead of reflecting the tree and the sky it revealed cloudy and coloured shapes moving, always moving, in its depths. But they could see nothing clearly. The Hermit could and from time to time he told them what he saw. A little while before Shasta rode into his first battle, the Hermit had begun speaking like this:
"I see one - two - three eagles wheeling in the gap by Stormness Head. One is the oldest of all the eagles. He would not be out unless battle was at hand. I see him wheel to and fro, peering down sometimes at Anvard and sometimes to the east, behind Stormness. Ah - I see now what Rabadash and his men have been so busy at all day. They have felled and lopped a great tree and they are now coming out of the woods carrying it as a ram. They have learned something from the failure of last night's assult. He would have been wiser if he had set his men to making ladders: but it takes too long and he is impatient. Fool that he is! He ought to have ridden back to Tashbaan as soon as the first attack failed, for his whole plan depended on speed and surprise. Now they are bringing their ram into position. King Lune's men are shooting hard from the walls. Five Calormenes have fallen: but not many will. They have their shields above their heads. Rabadash is giving his orders now. With him are his most trusted lords, fierce Tarkaans from the eastern provinces. I can see their faces. There is Corradin of Castle Tormunt, and Azrooh, and Chlamash, and Ilgamuth of the twisted lip, and a tall Tarkaan with a crimson34 beard -"
"By the Mane, my old master Anradin!" said Bree.
"S-s-sly" said Aravis.
"Now the ram has started. If I could hear as well as see, what a noise that would make! Stroke after stroke: and no gate can stand it for ever. But wait! Something up by Stormness has scared the birds. They're coming out in masses. And wait again . . . I can't see yet . . . ah! Now I can. The whole ridge, up on the east, is black with horsemen. If only the wind would catch that standard and spread it out. They're over the ridge now, whoever they are. Aha! I've seen the banner now. Narnia, Narnia! It's the red lion. They're in full career down the hill now. I can see King Edmund. There's a woman behind among the archers. Oh! -"
"What is it?" asked Hwin breathlessly.
"All his Cats are dashing out from the left of the line."
"Cats?" said Aravis.
"Great cats, leopards and such," said the Hermit impatiently. "I see, I see. The Cats are coming round in a circle to get at the horses of the dismounted men. A good stroke. The Calormene horses are mad with terror already. Now the Cats are in among them. But Rabadash has reformed his line and has a hundred men in the saddle. They're riding to meet the Narnians. There's only a hundred yards between the two lines now. Only fifty. I can see King Edmund, I can see the Lord Peridan. There are two mere35 children in the Narnian line. What can the King be about to let them into battle? Only ten yards - the lines have met. The Giants on the Narnian right are doing wonders . . . but one's down . . . shot through the eye, I suppose. The centre's all in a muddle36. I can see more on the left. There are the two boys again. Lion alive! one is Prince Corm. The other, like him as two peas. It's your little Shasta. Corm is fighting like a man. He's killed a Calormene. I 'can see a bit of the centre now. Rabadash and Edmund almost met then, but the press has separated them -"
"What about Shasta?" said Aravis.
"Oh the fool!" groaned37 the Hermit. "Poor, brave little fool. He knows nothing about this work. He's making no use at all of his shield. His whole side's exposed. He hasn't the faintest idea what to do with his sword. Oh, he's remembered it now. He's waving it wildly about . . . nearly cut his own pony's head off, and he will in a moment if he's not careful. It's been knocked out of his hand now. It's mere murder sending a child into the battle; he can't live five minutes. Duck you fool - oh, he's down."
"Killed?" asked three voices breathlessly.
"How can I tell?" said the Hermit. "The Cats have done their work. All the riderless horses are dead or escaped now: no retreat for the Calormenes on them. Now the Cats are turning back into the main battle. They're leaping on the rams-men. The ram is down. Oh, good! good! The gates are opening from the inside: there's going to be a sortie. The first three are out. It's King Lune in the middle: the brothers Dar and Darrin on each side of him. Behind them are Tran and Shar and Cole with his brother Colin. There are ten - twenty - nearly thirty of them out by now. The Calormen line is being forced back upon them. King Edmund is dealing38 marvellous strokes. He's just slashed39 Corradin's head off. Lots of Calormenes have thrown down their arms and are running for the woods. Those that remain are hard pressed. The Giants are closing in on the right - Cats on the left - King Lune from their rear. The Calormenes are a little knot now, fighting back to back. Your Tarkaan's down, Bree. Lune and Azrooh are fighting hand to hand; the King looks like winning - the King is keeping it up well - the King has won. Azrooh's down. King Edmund's down - no, he's up again: he's at it with Rabadash. They're fighting in the very gate of the castle. Several Calormenes have surrendered. Darrin has killed Ilgamuth. I can't see what's happened to Rabadash. I think he's dead, leaning against the castle wall, but I don't know. Chlamash and King Edmund are still fighting but the battle is over everywhere else. Chlamash has surrendered. The battle is over. The Calormenes are utterly40 defeated."
When Shasta fell off his horse he gave himself up for lost. But horses, even in battle, tread on human beings very much less than you would suppose. After a very horrible ten minutes or so Shasta realized suddenly that there were no longer any horses stamping about in the immediate2 neighbourhood and that the noise (for there were still a good many noises going on) was no longer that of a battle. He sat up and stared about him. Even he, little as he knew of battles, could soon see that the Archenlanders and Narnians had won. The only living Calormenes he could see were prisoners, the castle gates were wide open, and King Lune and King Edmund were shaking hands across the battering ram. From the circle of lords and warriors41 around them there arose a sound of breathless and excited, but obviously cheerful conversation. And then, suddenly, it all united and swelled42 into a great roar of laughter.
Shasta. picked himself up, feeling uncommonly43 stiff, and ran towards the sound to see what the joke was. A very curious sight met his eyes. The unfortunate Rabadash appeared to be suspended from the castle walls. His feet, which were about two feet from the ground, were kicking wildly. His chain-shirt was somehow hitched44 up so that it was horribly tight under the arms and came half way over his face. In fact he looked just as a man looks if you catch him in the very act of getting into a stiff shirt that is a little too small for him. As far as could be made out afterwards (and you may be sure the story was well talked over for many a day) what happened was something like this. Early in the battle one of the Giants had made an unsuccessful stamp at Rabadash with his spiked boot: unsuccessful because it didn't crush Rabadash, which was what the Giant had intended, but not quite useless because one of the spikes45 tore the chain mail, just as you or I might tear an ordinary shirt. So Rabadash, by the time he encountered Edmund at the gate, had a hole in the back of his hauberk. And when Edmund pressed him back nearer and nearer to the wall, he jumped up on a mounting block and stood there raining down blows on Edmund from above. But then, finding that this position, by raising him above the heads of everyone else, made him a mark for every arrow from the Narnian bows, he decided46 to jump down again. And he meant to look and sound - no doubt for a moment he did look and sound - very grand and very dreadful as he jumped, crying, "The bolt of Tash falls from above." But he had to jump sideways because the crowd in front of him left him no landing place in that direction. And then, in the neatest way you could wish, the tear in the back of his hauberk caught on a hook in the wall. (Ages ago this hook had had a ring in it for tying horses to.) And there he found himself, like a piece of washing hung up to dry, with everyone laughing at him.
"Let me down, Edmund," howled Rabadash. "Let me down and fight me like a king and a man; or if you are too great a coward to do that, kill me at once."
"Certainly," began King Edmund, but King Lune interrupted.
"By your Majesty47's good leave," said King Lune to Edmund. "Not so." Then turning to Rabadash he said, "Your royal Highness, if you had given that challenge a week ago, I'll answer for it there was no one in King Edmund's dominion48, from the High King down to the smallest Talking Mouse, who would have refused it. But by attacking our castle of Anvard in time of peace without defiance49 sent, you have proved yourself no knight50, but a traitor51, and one rather to be whipped by the hangman than to be suffered to cross swords with any person of honour. Take him down, bind52 him, and carry him within till our pleasure is further known."
Strong hands wrenched53 Rabadash's sword from him and he was carried away into the castle, shouting, threatening, cursing, and even crying. For though he could have faced torture he couldn't bear being made ridiculous. In Tashbaan everyone had always taken him seriously.
At that moment Corin ran up to Shasta, seized his hand and started dragging him towards King Lune. "Here he is, Father, here he is," cried Corin.
"Aye, and here thou art, at last," said the King in a very gruff voice. "And bast been in the battle, clean contrary to your obedience54. A boy to break a father's heart! At your age a rod to your breech were fitter than a sword in your fist, ha!" But everyone, including Corin, could see that the King was very proud of him.
"Chide55 him no more, Sire, if it please you," said Lord Darrin. "His Highness would not be your son if he did not inherit your conditions. It would grieve your Majesty more if he had to be reproved for the opposite fault."
"Well, well," grumbled56 the King. "We'll pass it over for this time. And now -" '
What came next surprised Shasta as much as anything that had ever happened to him in his life. He found himself suddenly embraced inn bear-like hug by King Lune and kissed on both cheeks. Then the King set him down again and said, "Stand here together, boys, and let all the court see you. Hold up your heads. Now, gentlemen, look on them both. Has any man any doubts?"
And still Shasta could not understand why everyone stared at him and at Corin nor what all the cheering was about.
十三、安瓦德之战
十一点钟光景，整个部队重新行军，向西飞驰而去，大山在他们的左边。科林和沙斯塔骑马殿后，巨人们在他们的前边儿。露茜、爱德蒙和珀里丹忙于商量作战计划；虽然露茜说过：”可鹅帽殿下在哪儿啊?”爱德蒙只是答道，”不在先头部队里，那就真是好消息了。随他去吧。”
沙斯塔把他大部分惊险经历告诉了科林，并且解释道：他是跟一匹马儿学习骑马的，因此他确实不知道怎样使用缰绳。科林便教他，还把他们从塔什班城秘密出航的经过告诉了他。
“那么苏珊女王在哪儿呢?”
“在凯尔帕拉维尔，”科林说，”她不像露茜，你要知道，她像男子汉一样，或者，无论如何也像男孩子一样。苏珊女王更像一位长大成人的普通小姐。她并不骑着马去作战，尽管她是个射箭好手。”
他们正在走的山径愈来愈狭窄，右首的山坡也更加陡了。最后，他们改成单行沿着悬崖的边缘走去；沙斯塔不寒而栗地想到上一夜他是不知不觉地在这悬崖边上走过去的。”然而，当然啦，”他心中想道，”我是十分安全的。那就是为什么狮子始终走在我左边的缘故。狮子自始至终是走在我和悬崖之间啊。”
接着，山径向左首延伸，背离悬崖向南而去，这时两旁都是密密的树林，山径险峻陡急，他们不断地往上、往上登高，终于进入关隘。如果关隘是片开阔地带，从顶上俯瞰，准是一片好风景，可是如今置身这许多树木之中，你就什么也看不见了——只是育时看见一些巨大的石峰矗立在树顶的上方，一两只鹰在高高的蓝天里盘旋飞翔。
“鹰嗅到战争的气息了，”科林指点着鸟儿说道，”它们知道我们在为它们准备美餐哩。”
沙斯塔压根儿不喜欢这种俏皮话。
当他们经过了隘口，又往下走了好多路，便来到比较开阔的地带，沙斯塔从这儿能看见全部阿钦兰国土，蓝悠悠，雾蒙蒙，展现在他的脚下，(他认为，)他甚至望见了阿钦兰背后隐隐约约的大沙漠。然而，也许再过两个钟点就要下山的太阳，光芒直射他的眼睛，他眼花缭乱，没法儿把景物看个清清楚楚。
军队在这儿止步了，展开成为一条战线，而且做了许多新的安排。整整一队是外貌狰狞的说人话的野兽，沙斯塔以前不曾注意它们；它们大部分都属于猫科(花豹、黑豹，诸如此类)，咆哮着大踏步走到左边去进入阵地。巨人们奉命开拔到右边去，开拔之前，他们都从背上卸下他们所背的东西，并且在地上坐了～会儿。于是沙斯塔看到巨人们刚才背着的、现在正穿上脚去的，乃是一双双的靴子：可怕的、沉重的、底部有尖钉的、长及膝头的靴子。巨人们接着就掮着大棒进入他们的阵地。弓箭手以及露茜女王调到了后边儿，你能首先看见他们弯弓，其次听到他们试拉弓弦的嘣嘣声。不论你朝哪儿看，你处处看得见人们在收紧肚带，戴上头盔，抽出刀剑，把大氅丢在地上。现在没有什么人谈话了。十分庄严，十分可怕。”现在我已经不能中途退回了——现在我确确实实不能中途退回了。”沙斯塔心中想道。
从前边儿远远地传来嘈杂喧闹的声音：许多人在大叫大嚷，还有一种稳定不变的砰砰声。
“攻城槌，”科林低声说道，”敌人正在猛撞城门。”
现在甚至科林也神情严肃。
“爱德蒙国王为什么不出击呢?”他说，”我受不了这种等待。也冷得很。”
沙斯塔点点头：希望他外表上不像他心里所感觉到的那么害怕。
喇叭声终于响了！现在部队行动起来了——现在马儿小跑着——旗帜在风中飘扬翻动着。现在他们爬上一个低低的山脊，山下整个景色突然展开在他们的面前。一个多塔楼小城堡，城门正对着他们。不幸没有护城河：城门当然是关上的，吊闸放下来了。他们望得见城墙上保卫者的脸，像小小的白点子。城下，大约五十个卡乐门人下了马，正稳稳地晃动着一根大树干撞击城门。但这景象立刻就发生变化
了。拉巴达什的主力部队一直是下马步行准备攻击城门的，现在他们看到纳尼亚军队从山脊上奔腾而下。毫无疑问，这些卡乐门部队训练有素。沙斯塔觉得敌人在一秒钟内都上了马，形成整齐的一列队伍，拨转马头，向他们迎过来。"
现在是一阵小跑，两军之间的距离时时刻刻都在缩短。跑得愈来愈快，愈来愈快。所有的刀都出鞘了，所有的盾牌都举到鼻子跟前了，所有的祷告都做过了，所有的牙齿都咬紧了。沙斯塔惊惶得厉害。但他脑子里突然想到：”这次你如果畏缩害怕，那么，你这一生，每打一次仗，都要畏缩害怕了。千载难逢，机不可失！”
然而，最后两军相遇时，他确实对于现场发生的事情一点也不清楚。可怕的混乱和骇人听闻的呐喊。他手中的刀不久就干脆被打掉了。他手中的缰绳不知怎么也搞丢了。他发觉自己正在滑下马来。一枝长矛笔直地向他刺过来，他低头避开时从马上滚了下来，左膝关节猛烈地撞在别人的盔甲上，于是…….
但试图从沙斯塔的观点去描写战争是毫无用处的；他对一般战斗懂得太少，连他自己在战斗中所扮演的角色他也不明白。把战役实际情况告诉你，最好的办法就是带你到几英里之外的南征隐士家里去，他正在大树的树阴下向平静的池水里目不转睛地凝视，布里、赫温和阿拉维斯都在他身边。
隐士想知道他隐居的绿墙之外的世界上正在发生的事情时，他就朝这池水里张望。在池水里，正如在镜子里一样，他能看得见在某一个特定的时间里，远在塔什班南方的城市里街道上正在发生的事情，或是什么船在遥远的七群岛驶进了红港，或是什么强盗或野兽在灯柱野林和台尔马之间的西部大森林里骚扰。这一天隐士一整天没有离开池塘，哪怕吃饭喝水也不离开，因为他知道有重大事件正在阿钦兰发生着。阿拉维斯和两匹马儿也在朝池塘里张望。她们看得出，这是一池魔水。水中不反映绿树蓝天，却在深处反映出那始终在活动着的、云雾似的彩色形象。但她们什么都看不清楚。隐士看得清，他时常把他所见到的告诉她们。沙斯塔骑马进入他初次作战的战场之前一会儿，隐士便这样讲道：
“我看见一只——两只——三只鹰在暴风雨峰的豁口里盘旋。有一只鹰是年纪最大的。除非战斗迫在眉睫，它是不会飞出来的。我看见它来回盘旋，有时俯瞰安瓦德，有时俯瞰暴风雨峰背后的东方。啊——现在我看到拉巴达什和他的部队整天在忙些什么了。他们伐倒一棵大树，锯了一大段树干，现在掮着树干从树林里出来了，要把树干当做攻城槌用。他们昨夜的攻击失败了，从失败中学到了一点儿东西。如果他叫他的部队制造云梯，他就更聪明了：但做云梯更费时间，他不耐烦，等不及。他真是个傻瓜！初战失败，他应该立刻骑马奔回塔什班去，因为他的整个作战计划，靠的是速度和出人意外。现在他们把攻城槌部署好了。伦恩国王的士兵从城上往下拼命射箭。五个卡乐门兵倒下了；但不会有许多人倒下的，他们的头上有盾牌挡着。现在拉巴达什发布命令了。跟他一起的，有他最信赖的王公大人，从东部各省来的凶猛的泰坎们。我看得见他们的脸。有托芒城堡的科拉丁、阿兹鲁、奇拉马什，歪嘴伊尔加默思，还有一个红胡子的泰坎——”
“天哪，我的老东家安拉丁啊！”布里说。
“嘶——嘘。”阿拉维斯说。
“现在攻城槌开始撞击了。如果我看得见也听得见就好了，那玩意儿会发出好大好大的声音啊！一槌又一槌的！没有一个城门能永远顶得住受得了的。且慢！暴风雨峰附近有什么东西惊动了飞鸟。鸟儿大群大群地飞出来了。再等一下……我还看不出……啊！现在我看得见了。东边儿高处，整个山脊上黑压压的全是骑兵。但愿风吹在军旗上把旗子展开就好了。不管他们是谁，现在他们越过山脊了。啊哈！我现在看到旗子了。纳尼亚，纳尼亚啊！是红狮旗。他们现在全速冲下山来了。我看见国王爱德蒙。殿后的弓箭手中有个女人。唷！——”
“那些是什么东西啊?”赫温屏息静气地问道。
“全部猫科野兽都从左边队伍里冲出来了。”
“猫科吗?”阿拉维斯说。
“猫科大野兽，豹子和豹子之类的野兽。”隐士不耐烦地说道，”我明白了，我明白了。猫科野兽要围成一圈，去逮住那些已经无人乘坐的马儿。好高明的一着棋。卡乐门的马儿已经害怕得发疯。现在猫科野兽又冲进这些马儿中间去了。但拉巴达什重新调整了他的队伍，有百来个骑兵坐上马鞍了。他们纵马迎战纳尼亚人。现在双方队伍相距不过一百码光景。不过五十码了。我看得见国王爱德蒙，我看得见珀里丹勋爵。纳尼亚队伍里有两个人，都不过是孩子。国王怎么能让孩子参加战斗呢?双方相距只有十码了——双方队伍接触了。纳尼亚一方，右边儿的巨人正在创造奇迹般的功勋……但有个巨人倒下了……给射中了眼睛，我猜想。中心是一场混战。左边儿我倒看到更多。又是那两个孩子。天哪，一个是科林王子。另一个很像科林，两人像两只梨一样相似。这另一个，就是你们的小沙斯塔。科林像个男子汉似的在作战。他杀死了一个卡乐门人。现在我看得见一点儿中心的情况了。这时拉巴达什和爱德蒙几乎撞上了，但被蜂拥上前的人群把他们分开了——”
“沙斯塔怎么样了?”阿拉维斯问。
“这傻瓜啊！”隐士叹息着说道，”可怜的、勇敢的小傻瓜。他对打仗啥也不知道。他压根儿没有使用他的盾牌。他的两胁都暴露在外面。他一点儿也不懂得怎样使用他的剑啊，现在他想起来要用剑了。他疯狂地挥舞着剑……几乎把他自己的马驹子的脑袋砍了下来。现在他手里的剑被人打落了。把孩子送上战场，只不过是谋杀罢了；他活不到五分钟了。你这傻瓜，低下脑袋呀——啊，他从马上跌下来了。”
“给杀死了吗?”三个声音屏息问道。
“我怎么知道呢?”隐士说道，”猫科野兽完成了它们的战斗任务，无人骑的马儿不是死了就是逃散了：骑这些马儿的卡乐门人无生还的希望了。现在猫科野兽回转身来投入主要的战斗。它们扑到使用攻城槌的人们身上。攻城槌掉到地上了。啊，妙！妙！城门正在从里边儿打开：就要有一番突围出击了。开头出来三个人。国王伦恩在中间，达尔和达兰两兄弟在他的左右两边。他们的后面是特兰、沙尔、科尔和科临兄弟。现在他们出来了十个——二十个——三十个光景的将士。卡乐门队伍被迫后退了。国王爱德蒙正东砍西杀，发挥不可思议的威力。他刚把科拉丁的脑袋砍了下来。许多卡乐门士卒丢下武器，向树林里逃跑。留下的那些人被狠狠地紧逼着，巨人从右边，猫科野兽从左边，国王伦恩从他们的后面，一起进逼过来。现在卡乐门人腹背受敌，有点儿慌乱紧张，他们背靠背地应战。布里，你的那位泰坎倒下了。伦恩国王和阿兹鲁正徒手作战；国王看上去要赢了——国王保持着优势——国王已经赢了。阿兹鲁倒下了。国王爱德蒙倒下了——不，他重新站起来了：他是在和拉巴达什交手。他们就在城堡的大门口作战。好几个卡乐门人都投降了。达兰杀了伊尔加默思。我看不见拉巴达什出了什么事。我认为他是死了，身体靠在城墙上，不过我弄不明白。奇拉马什和国王爱德蒙仍在作战，但其他地方的战斗都结束了。奇拉马什投降了。战争结束了。卡乐门人完全被打败了。”
沙斯塔从马上跌下来时，他认为自己没有命了。但马儿踩人踏人，即使在战场上，也远比你料想的要少得多。非常恐怖的十分钟过去以后，沙斯塔突然发现：在邻近的地方不再有什么马儿在跺脚了，而喧闹的声音(因为仍旧有许许多多持续的喧闹声)不再是战争的声音了。他坐了起来，瞪眼打量着周围。虽然他对战争什么也不知道，但连他也很快就看出来了：阿钦兰人和纳尼亚人已经胜利了。他所看见的活着的卡乐门人便是俘虏。城堡的大门大开着，伦恩国王和爱德蒙国王正越过攻城槌彼此握手。在他们周围的一圈王公大人和战士们中间，响起了一阵激动不已但显然很愉快的谈话。接着，谈话声突然联结起来，扩展成为轰然大笑的声音。-
沙斯塔爬起身来，觉得四肢异乎寻常地不灵活，他朝着哄笑声跑过去，去看看闹的是什么笑话。他所见到的，是一幅十分奇怪的景象。倒霉的拉巴达什看来被悬挂在城堡的墙上。他的脚离地两英尺光景，正疯狂地乱踢着。他的锁子甲有点儿被吊了起来，腋下紧得可怕，中间遮住了半个脸。事实上，他看上去就像一个人正把一件尺寸太小的硬衬衫穿上身去时的模样儿。就后来尽可能收集到的材料看来(你可以确信无疑，这个故事被人们反复讲了好多天)，事情的经过大致是这样的：刚开仗时，有个巨人用他的尖钉大靴子不成功地踩了拉巴达什一脚；不成功，是指他未能如愿以偿地把拉巴达什踩个稀巴烂；但也不是毫无作用，因为靴子上的尖钉刺破了锁子甲，就像你或我可能撕破一件普通的衬衫一样。所以，拉巴达什正和爱德蒙在城门口交手搏斗时，他那锁子甲的背后有个窟窿。当爱德蒙逼得他愈来愈靠近城墙时，他跳上了一个高台，他站在台上，手中的剑雨点般向爱德蒙攻击。但接着他就觉得这个地位既使他高出于众人之上，又使他成为纳尼亚弓箭手的众矢之的，他决定重新跳下台来。他有意要观察风色，试探试探——毫无疑问，他确实观察试探了一会儿——他跳得十分庄严十分可怕，口中大声喊道：”塔什神的雷霆从天上打下来了。”但他不得不朝旁边跳，因为他前边儿的人群很挤，正前方已没有他插足的地方。接着，用你可以期望的最简洁的方式来说，他背部锁子甲上的窟窿，被墙上一个钩子钩住了(几百年前，这钩子曾经是个系马的铁圈)。他发现自己像是一件洗好的、挂在那儿晾干的衣服，人人都在嘲笑他哩。
“爱德蒙，放我下来，”拉巴达什号叫道，”放我下来，像个国王和男子汉那样同我作战；如果你是个大懦夫，不敢放我下来，就立刻杀了我。”
“当然可以。”国王爱德蒙开始说话了，但伦恩国王打断了他的话。
“请陛下允许我插一句，”国王伦恩对爱德蒙说道，”不要这样。”然后，他转过来对拉巴达什说道：”殿下，如果你曾在一个星期前提出挑战书，我就会保证：在国王爱德蒙的国土内，上至至尊王，下至最小的会说人话的耗子，谁也不会拒绝你的请求。然而，你在和平时期，挑战书也不送一份，就进攻我们的安瓦德城堡，你的行为证明你自己不是什么真正的武士，而是个奸贼，是个只配由刽子手来鞭打的家伙，不配由任何高贵的人持刀与之交锋。把他带下去，把他绑起来，带他到城里去，等我们公布了我们欢乐的大喜事以后再说。”
强壮的手从拉巴达什手里夺走了他的剑，他被带进城堡里去了，他叫喊着，威吓着，咒骂着，甚至大号大哭着。因为，尽管他能面对严刑拷打，却受不了人们的嘲弄耻笑。在塔什班城，人人都是严肃认真地对待他的。
就在这个时候，科林向沙斯塔跑来，抓住他的手，开始拖着他向国王走去。”他在这儿了，父亲，他在这儿了。”科林大声说道。
“呀，你还是到这儿来了，”国王用一种十分粗暴的声音说道，”而且压根不听话，竟参加了战斗。一个叫父亲担忧心碎的孩子啊。以你这般年纪，屁股后插根棍棒要比手中拿把剑合适得多。哈哈！”但包括科林在内，人人都看得出国王十分以沙斯塔自豪。
“陛下，对不起，别再责备他了，”达兰勋爵说道，”如果他不继承你的英雄气概的话，殿下就不可能是你的儿子了。如果他应该为相反的错误而受责备的话，那就会使陛下更加伤心了。”
“行了，行了，”国王咕咕哝哝地说道，”我们这一回就放过他吧。现在……”
继之而来的事情使沙斯塔感到的惊讶，丝毫不亚于他生平遭遇到的任何事情。他发觉国王伦恩突然像熊一样把他紧紧抱住，亲吻他的双颊。然后国王把他重新放下，说道：”孩子们一起站在这儿吧，让朝廷上的人都来看看你们。昂起你们的头来。现在，先生们，瞧瞧他们两个人吧。还有什么人会有什么怀疑吗?”
而沙斯塔依旧不明白：为什么人人都目不转晴地瞧着他和科林?这一切欢呼又是怎么一回事呢?
收听单词发音 |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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leopards
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| n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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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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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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