HOW BREE BECAME A WISER HORSE
WE must now return to Aravis and the Horses. The Hermit1, watching his pool, was able to tell them that Shasta was not killed or even seriously wounded, for he saw him get up and saw how affectionately he was greeted by King Lune. But as he could only see, not hear, he did not know what anyone was saying and, once the fighting had stopped and the talking had begun, it was not worth while looking in the pool any longer.
Next morning, while the Hermit was indoors, the three of them discussed what they should do next.
"I've had enough of this," said Hwin. "The Hermit has been very good to us and I'm very much obliged to him I'm sure. But I'm getting as fat as a pet pony2, eating all day and getting no exercise. Let's go on to Narnia."
"Oh not today, Ma'am," said Bree. "I wouldn't hurry things. Some other day, don't you think?"
"We must see Shasta first and say good-bye to him - and - and apologize," said Aravis.
"Exactly!" said Bree with great enthusiasm. "Just what I was going to say."
"Oh, of course," said Hwin. "I expect he is in Anvard. Naturally we'd look in on him and say good-bye. But that's on our way. And why shouldn't we start at once? After all, I thought it was Narnia we all wanted to get to?"
"I suppose so," said Aravis. She was beginning to wonder what exactly she would do when she got there and was feeling a little lonely.
"Of course, of course," said Bree hastily. "But there's no need to rush things, if you know what I mean."
"No, I don't know what you mean," said Hwin. "Why don't you want to go?"
"M-m-m, broo-hoo," muttered Bree. "Well, don't you see, Ma'am - it's an important occasion - returning to one's country - entering society - the best society - it is so essential to make a good impression - not perhaps looking quite ourselves, yet, eh?"
Hwin broke out into a horse-laugh. "It's your tail, Bree! I see it all now. You want to wait till your tail's grown again! And we don't even know if tails are worn long in Narnia. Really, Bree, you're as vain as that Tarkheena in Tashbaan!"
"You are silly, Bree," said Aravis.
"By the Lion's Mane, Tarkheena, I'm nothing of the sort," said Bree indignantly. "I have a proper respect for myself and for my fellow horses, that's all."
"Bree," said Aravis, who was not very interested in the cut of his tail, "I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time. Why do you keep on swearing By the Lion and By the Lion's Mane? I thought you hated lions."
"So I do," answered Bree. "But when I speak of the Lion of course I mean Aslan, the great deliverer of Narnia who drove away the Witch and the Winter. All Narnians swear by him."
"But is he a lion?"
"No, no, of course not," said Bree in a rather shocked voice.
"All the stories about him in Tashbaan say he is," replied Aravis. "And if he isn't a lion why do you call him a lion?"
"Well, you'd hardly understand that at your age," said Bree. "And I was only a little foal when I left so I don't quite fully3 understand it myself."
(Bree was standing4 with his back to the green wall while he said this, and the other two were facing him. He was talking in rather a superior tone with his eyes half shut; that was why he didn't see the changed expression in the faces of Hwin and Aravis. They had good reason to have open mouths and staring eyes; because while Bree spoke5 they saw an enormous lion leap up from outside and balance itself on the top of the green wall; only it was a brighter yellow and it was bigger and more beautiful and more alarming than any lion they had ever seen. And at once it jumped down inside the wall and began approaching Bree from behind. It made no noise at all. And Hwin and Aravis couldn't make any noise themselves, no more than if they were frozen.)
"No doubt," continued Bree, "when they speak of him as a Lion they only mean he's as strong as a lion or (to our enemies, of course) as fierce as a lion. Or something of that kind. Even a little girl like you, Aravis, must see that it would be quite absurd to suppose he is a real lion. Indeed it would be disrespectful. If he was a lion he'd have to be a Beast just like the rest of us. Why!" (and here Bree began to laugh) "If he was a lion he'd have four paws, and a tail, and Whiskers! . . . Aie, ooh, hoo-hoo! Help!"
For just as he said the word Whiskers one of Aslan's had actually tickled6 his ear. Bree shot away like an arrow to the other side of the enclosure and there turned; the wall was too high for him to jump and he could fly no farther. Aravis and Hwin both started back. There was about a second of intense silence.
Then Hwin, though shaking all over, gave a strange little neigh, and trotted7 across to the Lion.
"Please," she said, "you're so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I'd sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else."
"Dearest daughter," said Aslan, planting a lion's kiss on her twitching8, velvet9 nose, "I knew you would not be long in coming to me. Joy shall be yours."
Then he lifted his head and spoke in a louder voice.
"Now, Bree," he said, "you poor, proud frightened Horse, draw near. Nearer still, my son. Do not dare not to dare. Touch me. Smell me. Here are my paws, here is my tail, these are my whiskers. I am a true Beast."
"Aslan," said Bree in a shaken voice, "I'm afraid I must be rather a fool."
"Happy the Horse who knows that while he is still young. Or the Human either. Draw near, Aravis my daughter. See! My paws are velveted10. You will not be torn this time."
"This time, sir?" said Aravis.
"It was I who wounded you," said Aslan. "I am the only lion you met in all your journeyings. Do you know why I tore you?"
"No, sir."
"The scratches on your back, tear for tear, throb11 for throb, blood for blood, were equal to the stripes laid on the back of your stepmother's slave because of the drugged sleep you cast upon her. You needed to know what it felt like."
"Yes, sir. Please-"
"Ask on, my dear," said Aslan.
"Will any more harm come to her by what I did?"
"Child," said the Lion, "I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own." Then he shook his head and spoke in a lighter12 voice.
"Be merry, little ones," he said. "We shall meet soon again. But before that you will have another visitor." Then in one bound he reached the top of the wall and vanished from their sight.
Strange to say, they felt no inclination13 to talk to one another about him after he had gone. They all moved slowly away to different parts of the quiet grass and there paced to and fro, each alone, thinking.
About half an hour later the two Horses were summoned to the back of the house to eat something nice that the Hermit had got ready for them and Aravis, still walking and thinking, was startled by the harsh sound of a trumpet14 outside the gate.
"Who is there?" asked Aravis.
"His Royal Highness Prince Cor of Archenland," said a voice from outside.
Aravis undid15 the door and opened it, drawing back a little way to let the strangers in.
Two soldiers with halberds came first and took their stand at each side of the entry. Then followed a herald16, and the trumpeter.
"His Royal Highness Prince Cor of Archenland desires an audience of the Lady Aravis," said the Herald. Then he and the trumpeter drew aside and bowed and the soldiers saluted17 and the Prince himself came in. All his attendants withdrew and closed the gate behind them.
The Prince bowed, and a very clumsy bow for a Prince it was. Aravis curtsied in the Calormene style (which is not at all like ours) and did it very well because, of course, she had been taught how. Then she looked up and saw what sort of person this Prince was.
She saw a mere18 boy. He was bare-headed and his fair hair was encircled with a very thin band of gold, hardly thicker than a wire. His upper tunic19 was of white cambric, as fine as a handkerchief, so that the bright red tunic beneath it showed through. His left hand, which rested on his enamelled sword hilt, was bandaged.
Aravis looked twice at his face before she gasped20 and said, "Why! It's Shasta!"
Shasta all at once turned very red and began speaking very quickly. "Look here, Aravis," he said, "I do hope you won't think I'm got up like this (and the trumpeter and all) to try to impress you or make out that I'm different or any rot of that sort. Because I'd far rather have come in my old clothes, but they're burnt now, and my father said -"
"Your father?" said Aravis.
"Apparently21 King Lune is my father," said Shasta. "I might really have guessed it. Corin being so like me. We were twins, you see. Oh, and my name isn't Shasta, it's Cor."
"Cor is a nicer name than Shasta," said Aravis.
"Brothers' names run like that in Archenland," said Shasta (or Prince Cor as we must now call him). "Like Dar and Darrin, Cole and Colin and so on."
"Shasta - I mean Cor," said Aravis. "No, shut up. There's something I've got to say at once. I'm sorry I've been such a pig. But I did change before I knew you were a Prince, honestly I did: when you went back, and faced the Lion."
"It wasn't really going to kill you at all, that Lion," said Cor.
"I know," said Aravis, nodding. Both were still and solemn for a moment as each saw that the other knew about Aslan.
Suddenly Aravis remembered Cor's bandaged hand. "I say!" she cried, "I forgot! You've been in a battle. Is that a wound?"
"A mere scratch," said Cor, using for the first time a rather lordly tone. But a moment later he burst out laughing and said, "If you want to know the truth, it isn't a proper wound at all. I only took the skin off my knuckles22 just as any clumsy fool might do without going near a battle."
"Still you were in the battle," said Aravis. "It must have been wonderful."
"It wasn't at all like what I thought," said Cor.
"But Sha - Cor, I mean - you haven't told me anything yet about King Lune and how he found out who you were."
"Well, let's sit down," said Cor. "For it's rather a long story. And by the way, Father's an absolute brick. I'd be just as pleased - or very nearly - at finding he's my father even if he wasn't a king. Even though Education and all sorts of horrible things are going to happen to me. But you want the story. Well, Corin and I were twins. And about a week after we were both born, apparently, they took us to a wise old Centaur23 in Narnia to be blessed or something. Now this Centaur was a prophet as a good many Centaurs24 are. Perhaps you haven't seen any Centaurs yet? There were some in the battle yesterday. Most remarkable25 people, but I can't say I feel quite at home with them yet. I say, Aravis, there are going to be a lot of things to get used to in these Northern countries."
"Yes, there are," said Aravis. "But get on with the story."
"Well, as soon as he saw Corin and me, it seems this Centaur looked at me and said, A day will come when that boy will save Archenland from the deadliest danger in which ever she lay. So of course my Father and Mother were very pleased. But there was someone present who wasn't. This was a chap called the Lord Bar who had been Father's Lord Chancellor26. And apparently he'd done something wrong - bezzling or some word like that - I didn't understand that part very well - and Father had had to dismiss him. But nothing else was done to him and he was allowed to go on living in Archenland. But he must have been as bad as he could be, for it came out afterwards he had been in the pay of the Tisroc and had sent a lot of secret information to Tashbaan. So as soon as he heard I was going to save Archenland from a great danger he decided27 I must be put out of the way. Well, he succeeded in kidnapping me (I don't exactly know how) and rode away down the Winding28 Arrow to the coast. He'd had everything prepared and there was a ship manned with his own followers29 lying ready for him and he put out to sea with me on board. But Father got wind of it, though not quite in time, and was after him as quickly as he could. The Lord Bar was already at sea when Father reached the coast, but not out of sight. And Father was embarked30 in one of his own warships31 within twenty minutes.
"It must have been a wonderful chase. They were six days following Bar's galleon32 and brought her to battle on the seventh. It was a great sea-fight (I heard a lot about it yesterday evening) from ten o'clock in the morning till sunset. Our people took the ship in the end. But I wasn't there. The Lord Bar himself had been killed in the battle. But one of his men said that, early that morning, as soon as he saw he was certain to be overhauled33, Bar had given me to one of his knights34 and sent us both away in the ship's boat. And that boat was never seen again. But of course that was the same boat that Aslan (he seems to be at the back of all the stories) pushed ashore35 at the right place for Arsheesh to pick me up. I wish I knew that knight's name, for he must have kept me alive and starved himself to do it."
"I suppose Aslan would say that was part of someone else's story," said Aravis.
"I was forgetting that," said Cor.
"And I wonder how the prophecy will work out," said Aravis, "and what the great danger is that you're to save Archenland from."
"Well," said Cor rather awkwardly, "they seem to think I've done it already."
Aravis clapped her hands. "Why, of course!" she said. "How stupid I am. And how wonderful! Archenland can never be in much greater danger than it was when Rabadash had crossed the Arrow with his two hundred horse and you hadn't yet got through with your message. Don't you feel proud?"
"I think I feel a bit scared," said Cor.
"And you'll be living at Anvard now," said Aravis rather wistfully.
"Oh!" said Cor, "I'd nearly forgotten what I came about. Father wants you to come and live with us. He says there's been no lady in the court (they call it the court, I don't know why) since Mother died. Do, Aravis. You'll like Father - and Corin. They're not like me; they've been properly brought up. You needn't be afraid that -"
"Oh stop it," said Aravis, "or we'll have a real fight. Of course I'll come."
"Now let's go and see the Horses," said Cor.
There was a great and joyous36 meeting between Bree and Cor, and Bree, who was still in a rather subdued37 frame of mind, agreed to set out for Anvard at once: he and Hwin would cross into Narnia on the following day. All four bade an affectionate farewell to the Hermit and promised that they would soon visit him again. By about the middle of the morning they were on their way. The Horses had expected that Aravis and Cor would ride, but Cor explained that except in war, where everyone must do what he can do best, no one in Narnia or Archenland ever dreamed of mounting a Talking Horse.
This reminded poor Bree again of how little he knew about Narnian customs and what dreadful mistakes he might make. So while Hwin strolled along in a happy dream, Bree got more nervous and more self-conscious with every step he took.
"Buck38 up, Bree," said Cor. "It's far worse for me than for you. You aren't going to be educated. I shall be learning reading and writing and heraldry and dancing and history and music while you'll be galloping39 and rolling on the hills of Narnia to your heart's content."
"But that's just the point," groaned40 Bree. "Do Talking Horses roll? Supposing they don't? I can't bear to give it up. What do you think, Hwin?"
"I'm going to roll anyway," said Hwin. "I don't suppose any of them will care two lumps of sugar whether you roll or not."
"Are we near that castle?" said Bree to Cor.
"Round the next bend," said the Prince.
"Well," said Bree, "I'm going to have a good one now: it may be the last. Wait for me a minute."
It was five minutes before he rose again, blowing hard and covered with bits of bracken.
"Now I'm ready," he said in a voice of profound gloom. "Lead on, Prince Cor, Narnia and the North."
But he looked more like a horse going to a funeral than a long-lost captive returning to home and freedom.
十四、布里怎样变成一匹聪明的马儿
现在我们必须回过来说说阿拉维斯和马儿们了。隐士注视着他的池水，能够告诉她们沙斯塔并没给杀死，或是甚至没受重伤，因为他看见他站了起来，看见他受到国王伦恩慈爱的接待。但因为他只能看，却听不见，他就不知道什么人正在说些什么话，而且，一旦战斗停止，谈话开始，也就不值得再往池水里张望了。
第二天早晨，隐士还在屋子里时，她们三个讨论起下一步该怎么办来了。
“这种生活，我觉得已经过够了，”赫温说，”隐士待我们很好，我自问确实十分感激他。但我整天吃呀吃的，一点运动也没有，正在胖得像匹供玩赏的小马驹了。让我们继续向纳尼亚前进吧。”
“啊，今天不走，女士，”布里说道，”我不喜欢匆匆忙忙的。再过几天，你看怎么样?”
“我必须首先看到沙斯塔，跟他告别——而且——而且向他道歉。”阿拉维斯说。
“确实应该如此！”布里十分热情地说道，”这正是我要说的意思。”
“啊，当然啦，”赫温说，”我料想他是在安瓦德，自然我们要去看看他，同他道别。但那是我们顺路就可以办到的。我们干吗不立刻就走呢?总而言之，我认为我们大家都想去的地方就是纳尼亚。”
“我看是这样。”阿拉维斯说道。她正开始考虑她到达纳尼亚时究竟要做什么事情，同时感到有点儿寂寞。
“当然，当然，”布里急忙说道，”然而无需急急忙忙的啊，如果你了解我心里的意思的话。”
“不，我不了解你的意思，”赫温说，”为什么你不想走呢?”
“呣——呣——呣，布罗——呼，”布里含含糊糊地说道，”呀，你不明白吗，女士——这是个重要时机——回到自己的祖国——进入社交界——最高尚的社交界——给人一个好印象，是非常重要的——然而我们看上去还没恢复本来面目，是不是?”
赫温爆发出一阵马儿的哈哈大笑。”布里，你考虑的是你的尾巴！现在我完全明白了。你想等到你的尾巴重新长出来！而我们甚至并不知道，在纳尼亚马儿是否留长尾巴呢。布里啊，确确实实，你虚荣心很强，就跟那位塔什班城里的泰克希娜一模一样。”
“你真憨，布里。”阿拉维斯说。
“凭狮王的鬃毛起誓，我丝毫不是泰克希娜那种人物，”布里愤愤地说道，”我对我自己，对我的马儿伙伴，我抱有一种恰如其分的尊重，如此而已。”
“布里，”阿拉维斯说，她对割短尾巴的事不太感兴趣，”我好久以来一直想问你一些事情。为什么你不断地‘凭狮子’、‘凭狮子的鬃毛’起誓赌咒?我竟以为你憎恨狮子哩。”
“我是憎恨狮子的，”布里答道，”但我说起狮子时，当然是指阿斯兰，纳尼亚的伟大救星，是它把女巫和冬天驱逐的。所有纳尼亚人都是以阿斯兰起誓的。”
“然而，它是头狮子吗?”
“不，不，当然不是。”布里用颇为惊惶的声调说道。
“在塔什班，所有的故事都说它是狮子。”阿拉维斯说道，”如果它不是一头狮子，你又干吗称它为狮子呢?”
“以你这般年龄，是很难搞明白的，”布里说，”我离开纳尼亚时，只不过是匹未满一岁的小驹子，所以我自己也搞不大明白。”
布里说这话时是背对着绿色墙垣的，其他两位则面对着布里。布里半闭着眼睛，以一种长辈的口气说着话儿，所以它没看见赫温和阿拉维斯脸上表情的变化。她们张大嘴巴、睁大眼睛，是大有理由的，因为布里说话时，她们看见一头巨大的狮子从墙外蹿起来，稳稳地落在绿色墙头上：跟她们见过的任何狮子比起来，它只是颜色黄得更加发亮发光，躯体更加粗壮，更加美丽，也更加令人害怕。它立刻跳进墙里，开始从背后走近布里。它压根儿没有弄出什么声音来。赫温和阿拉维斯吓得什么声音也发不出来了，仿佛冻僵了似的。
“毫无疑问，”布里继续说道，”人家把它当做一头狮子讲起它时，他们的意思不过是指它强壮如一头狮子，或者(当然是对我们的敌人而言)凶猛如一头狮子；或者是诸如此类的意思。阿拉维斯，哪怕是像你这样的一个小姑娘，也必须留神啊，你若认为它是头真正的狮子，那就是荒谬绝伦了。确实会失礼失敬哩。如果它是头狮子，那么，它就同我们其他的马儿一样，非得是兽类不可了。呃！”(说到这儿，布里开始哈哈大笑。)”如果它是头狮子，它就得生着四只脚爪，一条尾巴，还有胡子！……阿艾伊，呜，嗬——嗬！救命呀！”
因为恰巧在布里说到”胡子”两字时，阿斯兰的一根胡子竟然痒痒地触到了它的耳朵。布里像枝箭似的蹿到了围墙的另一边，然后转过身来：可是墙太高，它跳不过去，它没法儿逃得更远了。阿拉维斯和赫温都吓得往后退缩。大约有一秒钟光景，紧张得寂静无声。
接着，赫温虽然浑身发抖，却发出一声奇怪的低低的嘶鸣，跨着小步向狮子走过去。
“对不起，”赫温说，”你是那么美丽。你不妨把我吃掉，如果你想吃的话。我宁可早点被你吃掉，而不愿由别的什么人来喂我。”
“亲爱的女儿，”阿斯兰说道，在它那翕动的天鹅绒般的鼻子上印了个狮子的亲吻，”我知道你不久就会来到我身边的。欢乐必将归你所有。”1 o5 [4 w!
然后它抬起头来，用更响亮的声音说话。
“布里啊，”它说，”你这可怜巴巴、骄傲自大、大吃一惊的马儿，靠拢我吧。再靠拢一点，我的儿子。不该胆大的，不要胆大妄为。你摸摸我。闻闻我。这儿是我的脚爪，这儿是我的尾巴，这些是我的胡子。我是一头真正的野兽。”
“阿斯兰，”布里用一种颤抖的声调说道，”我担心我必定是个地道的傻瓜。”
“马儿在仍然年轻时明白这个道理，是幸福的。人也一样。靠拢来吧，我的女儿阿拉维斯，瞧！我的脚爪像天鹅绒一般。这一次你不会被抓伤的。”
“先生，这一次吗?”阿拉维斯说道。
“上一次抓伤你的，就是我，”阿斯兰说，”我是你在整个旅途中碰到的惟一一头狮子。你可知道，为什么我抓伤你?”
“不知道，先生。”
“你背上的伤痕，皮破对皮破，疼痛对疼痛，血痕对血痕，跟你后母女奴背上的鞭痕是相对应的，因为你叫她吃了蒙汗药沉睡，害她挨打。”
“是的，先生。对不起——”
“再问吧，我亲爱的。”阿斯兰说。
“因为我捉弄得她睡熟了，她还会受到其他伤害吗?”
“孩子，”狮子说道，”我要告诉你的，是你自己的故事，不是那女奴的。我对哪一个人都是只讲他自己的故事。”然后它就摇摇头，改用比较轻快的声调说话。
“小家伙，高兴起来吧，”它说，”我们不久会重新见面的。然而，在此之前，你将有另一个客人来访。”于是它一跳便蹿上墙头，消失了，她们看不见它了。
说也奇怪，阿斯兰走了以后，她们都无意在背后互相谈论它。她们大家都慢慢地走开去了，走到宁静的草地上不同的角落里去了，独自在那儿蹀躞，沉思又沉思。
半个钟头以后，两匹马儿被叫到屋子后面去吃些隐士为它们准备好的好东西，而阿拉维斯仍在散步、思索，大门外一阵喇叭声吓了她一跳。
“门外是谁啊?”阿拉维斯说。
“阿钦兰的王子科奥殿下。”有个声音在门外说道。
阿拉维斯拔掉门闩，打开大门，稍稍退后一点儿，让陌生人进来。
两个持戟士卒先走进门来，在入口处的两旁站岗。跟着进来的是个传令官，还有号手。
“阿钦兰的王子科奥殿下要接见阿拉维斯女士。”传令官说道。然后他和号手退到一边，鞠躬，兵士敬礼，王子本人进门来了。他所有的随从都退了出去，随手把大门关上。
王子鞠躬，就一位王子而言，这是个笨拙的鞠躬。阿拉维斯按照卡乐门的方式行礼(压根儿跟我们的屈膝礼不一样)，当然，她行的礼中规中矩、像模像样，因为父母教过她怎样行礼。然后她抬起头来，瞧瞧这位王子是何等样人。,
她看到他不过是个毛孩子。他没戴帽子，漂亮的金发上裹了一条薄薄的黄金带子，不过一根铁丝那么厚。他的紧身短外衣是白麻布做的，细洁得像手绢儿一样，所以明显地映出了里边儿鲜亮的红色内衣。他那按在宝剑珐琅柄上的左手外面裹着绷带。
阿拉维斯再次凝视着他的脸，这才吁出一口气，说道：”呀！你是沙斯塔啊！”
沙斯塔立刻涨得满脸通红，赶快说道，”你听我说，阿拉维斯，我真希望你不要认为我这副打扮(以及号手等等的这种排场)是为了使你印象深刻，或是显得我与众不同，或诸如此类的摆阔炫耀。因为我倒宁可穿着我的旧衣服来见你，但旧衣服现在已经被烧掉了，而且我的父亲说——”
“你的父亲?”阿拉维斯说。
“国王伦恩显然是我的父亲，”沙斯塔说道，”我确实应该猜得到的。科林是那么像我。你瞧，我们是孪生兄弟。啊，我的名字不叫沙斯塔，我叫科奥。”
“科奥这名字，比沙斯塔好。”阿拉维斯说。
“在阿钦兰，兄弟们的名字是这样的，”沙斯塔(或者是王子科奥，现在我们必须这样称呼他了)说道，”例如达尔和达兰，科尔和科临，依此类推。”
“沙斯塔——我心里想说的是科奥，”阿拉维斯说道，”不，你别说话。有些事情我得立刻说出来。我很抱歉，我曾经是一头蠢猪。但在知道你是王子之前，我已经改变了，说老实话：你跑回来对抗狮子时，我真的改变了。”
“那狮子，压根儿不是真的要杀死你。”科奥说。
“我知道，”阿拉维斯点点头说道。彼此都看出对方了解阿斯兰时，有好一会儿，两个人变得沉默无言、严肃庄重。
阿拉维斯突然记起科奥裹着绷带的手。”啊呀！，”她大声叫道，”我竟忘记了！你参加了战斗。这是受的伤吗?”
“不过擦破一点皮。”科奥说道，第一次用了王公大臣的口气。但一会儿后他哈哈大笑着说道，”如果你想知道真相，那就压根儿不算是正式受伤。我只不过是在指关节上擦掉了皮，没有接近过战场的任何笨拙的傻瓜，都会这样受伤的。”
“可你毕竟是参加了战斗，”阿拉维斯说，”这必定是了不得、不得了的。”
“压根儿不像我原先想像的那样。”科奥说。
“但沙——我本来想说科奥——关于国王伦恩和他怎样发现你是谁的事，你还一点儿也没有跟我谈起呢。”
“好吧，让我们坐下来谈，”科奥说，”因为这是很长的故事。顺便说一句，父亲是个绝对的好心人。发现他是我的父亲，哪怕他不是个国王，我也会同样高兴的；尽管教育和其他种种可怕的事情都要逼到我头上来了。但你要听的是故事。哦，原来科林和我是孪生兄弟。很明显，我们俩出生后一个星期，他们就把我们带到纳尼亚一个年迈聪明的人头马家里，去接受祝福什么的。却说这怪物是个预言家，就像许多优秀的人头马那样。昨天的战斗中也有几个人头马，确是最最杰出的人物：但我跟它们在一起还不能感到十分自在。我说，阿拉维斯，在这些北方国家里，我们有许多东西必须习惯起来才好。”
“是的，有好多哩，”阿拉维斯说道，”可你把故事讲下去啊！”
“哦，一看见科林和我，这怪物似乎瞧着我说道：有朝一日，这孩子将把阿钦兰从它从未遇到过的致命危险中拯救出来。所以，我的父亲和母亲当然十分高兴。然而，有个在场的人并不高兴。这是个叫做巴尔勋爵的家伙，他曾经做过我父亲手下的大法官。显然他犯了些错误——贪污渎职或者类似这样的词儿——这段情节我不大明白——父亲不得不解除他的职务，但没有对他作其他惩罚，仍旧允许他继续生活在阿钦兰。但他必定是尽可能为非作歹，因为后来查明，他曾经接受蒂斯罗克的收买，把许多秘密情报送到了塔什班城。所以，他一听见我将把阿钦兰从极大的危险中拯救出来，就下定决心必须把我除掉。接着，他成功地绑架了我(我不知道究竟怎样绑架的)，骑马沿着旋箭河跑往海滩。他把一切都准备好了，有一条由他的随从们控制的船在那儿等他，他带着我上船出海去了。但我父亲风闻其事，虽然不太及时，还是尽力地追赶。父亲到达海滩时，巴尔勋爵已经出海，但还望得见。父亲在二十分钟之内便跳上了他的一艘战舰。
“这必定是一场了不得的跟踪追击。他们追赶巴尔的大帆船六天六夜，第七天逼得他交战。这是一次伟大的海战(昨儿晚上我听到人家讲了许许多多)，从上午十点钟一直打到日落西山。我们的士卒终于占领了那条大帆船。但我不在那船上。巴尔勋爵本人在战斗中给杀死了。但他手下的一个人说，那天大清早，他刚发觉他必将被追上时，便把我交给了一个武士，用一只小艇把我们两人送走了。那小艇永远没有人再见到过。但是，当然啰，阿斯兰(看来一切故事的背后都有阿斯兰在安排哩)把它推到海滩上恰当的地方，以便阿什伊什把我捡起来的，便是这只小艇。我希望我能知道这位武士的姓名，因为他为保住我的生命，自己忍饥挨饿，把一切留给我吃。”;
“我想，阿斯兰会说，这一部分是另一个人的故事了。”阿拉维斯说。
“我倒忘了这一点了。”科奥说。
“我很想知道这预言是怎样成为事实的，”阿拉维斯说道，”阿钦兰碰到的究竟是什么大危险，需要你去把它拯救出来?”
“哦，哦，”科奥相当尴尬地说道，”他们好像认为我已经救了阿钦兰了。”
阿拉维斯双手鼓掌。”噢，当然啦！”她说道，”我多么愚蠢。你多么了不起啊！拉巴达什带着他的二百人马渡过旋箭河，而你还没有把讯息送到，那时候阿钦兰的危险大到了极点。你不觉得自豪吗?”
“我认为我觉得有点儿惶恐。”科奥说。
“现在你将在安瓦德生活下去了。”阿拉维斯若有所思地说道。
“啊！”科奥说道，”我几乎把我上这儿来的使命忘了。父亲要你来和我们住在一起。他说他宫廷里(他们都管它叫宫廷，我不知道为什么)自从母亲去世以来，一直没有女士。来吧，阿拉维斯。你会喜欢父亲——和科林的。他们不像我：他们都是合乎体统地培养大的。你无需害怕……”
“噢，别说了，”阿拉维斯说，”不然我们真要打架了。当然我会来的。”
“现在让我们去看看马儿。”科奥说。
布里和科奥的相见，十分了得，也十分快乐，布里仍处于压抑状态，但它同意立刻向安瓦德出发：它同赫温将在翌日经由安瓦德进入纳尼亚境内。四个人马一齐跟隐士依依告别，答应不久再来拜望他。上午过了一半，他们就上路了。马儿们料想阿拉维斯和科奥会乘马走的，但科奥解释道，除非遇到人人必须尽其所能地贡献最大力量的战争，不论在纳尼亚或阿钦兰，没有一个人会梦想骑那会说人话的马儿代步的。
这事再次提醒布里：它对纳尼亚的风俗习惯知道得那么少，很可能犯可怕的错误。所以，赫温做着好梦一路走去时，布里变得每走一步便越发忐忑不安和忸怩不自然了。
“布里，振作起来吧，”科奥说道，”我的处境远比你难熬哩。我要去接受教育，我要去学习读书、写字、纹章、跳舞、历史、音乐等等，而你可以在纳尼亚的小山上驰骋、打滚，玩个心满意足啊。”
“但这正好是个问题，”布里咕哝道，”说人话的马儿打滚吗?如果它们不打滚呢?要放弃打滚，我可受不了。赫温，你怎么想呢?”
“我无论如何要打滚的，”赫温说道，”你是否打滚，我看它们随便哪一个都不会介意的。”
“我们走近城堡了吗?”布里对科奥说道。
“转过下一个弯就是了。”王子道。”
“好吧，”布里说，”现在我要好好地打一个滚儿，也许这是最后一次打滚了。请等我一会儿。”
五分钟后，布里打过滚从地上站起来了，剧烈地喷着鼻息，浑身都是斑斑点点的羊齿植物。
“现在我准备好了，”布里用一种深沉的愁闷声调说道，”科奥王子，带路吧。走向纳尼亚和北方。”
然而，布里的神情，与其说是一个长期流落他乡的俘虏回到了它的家乡和自由天地，不如说是一匹马儿走向它的殡葬地。
收听单词发音 |
1
hermit
|
|
| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
trotted
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
velveted
|
|
| 穿着天鹅绒的，天鹅绒覆盖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
11
throb
|
|
| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
trumpet
|
|
| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
Undid
|
|
| v. 解开, 复原 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
herald
|
|
| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
tunic
|
|
| n.束腰外衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
knuckles
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
centaur
|
|
| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
centaurs
|
|
| n.（希腊神话中）半人半马怪物( centaur的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
chancellor
|
|
| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
embarked
|
|
| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
warships
|
|
| 军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
galleon
|
|
| n.大帆船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
overhauled
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
knights
|
|
| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
buck
|
|
| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |