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《凯斯宾王子》第五章 王子的深山奇遇

所属教程:纳尼亚传奇7本全

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2018年06月21日

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CHAPTER FIVE CASPIAN'S ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS

第五章 王子的深山奇遇

AFTER this,Caspian and his Tutor had many more secret conversations on the top of the Great Tower,and at each conversation Caspian learned more about Old Narnia,so that thinking and dreaming about the old days,and longing that they might come back,filled nearly all his spare hours.But of course he had not many hours to spare,for now his education was beginning in earnest.He learned sword-fighting and riding,swimming and diving,how to shoot with the bow and play on the recorder and the theorbo,how to hunt the stag and cut him up when he was dead,besides Cosmography,Rhetoric,Heraldry,Versification,and of course History,with a little Law,Physic,Alchemy,and Astronomy.Of Magic he learned only the theory,for Doctor Cornelius said the practical part was not proper study for princes."And I myself,"he added,"am only a very imperfect magician and can do only the smallest experiments."Of Navigation ("Which is a noble and heroical art,"said the Doctor) he was taught nothing,because King Miraz disapproved of ships and the sea.

那天以后,凯斯宾又和他的老师在大塔楼上秘密交谈了很多次,每一次都让凯斯宾对纳尼亚了解更多。他对那个奇幻世界越来越神往。但是他没有太多的时间去想。因为他还必须接受正规的学习,他要学会击剑、骑马、游泳和潜水,还要学会射箭和狩猎。他要知道宇宙结构学、修辞学、纹章学、诗体韵律学,还要学习历史、法律、物理,炼金术和天文学。至于魔法,他只了解到一些皮毛,因为博士说王子不适合学习魔法的实际操作。 "而且我自己,"他补充说,"充其量也只是半个魔法师,只能做些最简单的试验。"他也没上过航海课,("其实这门课既高尚又富有传奇色彩。"博士是这样说的。)因为国王弥若兹不准任何人提起船舶和大海。

He also learned a great deal by using his own eyes and ears.As a little boy he had often wondered why he disliked his aunt,Queen Prunaprismia; he now saw that it was because she disliked him.He also began to see that Narnia was an unhappy country.The taxes were high and the laws were stern and Miraz was a cruel man.

凭着所见所闻,他还了解了不少其他事情。孩童时代,他一直不明白自己为什么不喜欢婶母普鲁娜普瑞丝弥尔王后,现在他终于知道了--原来是因为她讨厌他。慢慢地他也发现,如今的纳尼亚并不是个幸福快乐的国度。这里有重税和严酷的法律,更有一个手段极其残忍的国王弥若兹。

After some years there came a time when the Queen seemed to be ill and there was a great deal of bustle and pother about her in the castle and doctors came and the courtiers whispered.This was in early summertime.And one night,while all this fuss was going on,Caspian was unexpectedly wakened by Doctor Cornelius after he had been only a few hours in bed.

时间过得很快,几年之后,王后似乎得了什么病,城堡上上下下都为她奔走操劳,医生们来回奔波,全国上下都在纷纷议论着什么。正值初夏,一天晚上,凯斯宾刚睡了几个小时,就突然被克奈尔斯博士叫醒了。

"Are we going to do a little Astronomy,Doctor?"said Caspian.

"克奈尔斯博士,我们是要做天文观察吗?"凯斯宾疑惑地问。

"Hush!"said the Doctor."Trust me and do exactly as I tell you.Put on all your clothes; you have a long journey before you."

"嘘!"博士低声说,"相信我,按我说的去做,穿上你的衣服,一段漫漫征途正等着你呢。"

Caspian was very surprised,but he had learned to have confidence in his Tutor and he began doing what he was told at once.When he was dressed the Doctor said,"I have a wallet for you.We must go into the next room and fill it with victuals from your Highness's supper table."

凯斯宾觉得很奇怪,但他相信自己的老师,马上按照他的话去做了。穿好衣服后,博士告诉他,"我已经为你准备好了一个包袱,我们现在就到隔壁房间去,把餐桌上的食物都装起来带走。

"My gentlemen-in-waiting will be there,"said Caspian.

"仆人都在那儿呢,他们会一直守着的。"凯斯宾说道。

"They are fast asleep and will not wake,"said the Doctor."I am a very minor magician but I can at least contrive a charmed sleep."

"我让他们都昏睡过去了,放心吧,他们不会醒的,"博士说,"我虽然是个不入流的魔法师,但让人昏睡还是小事一桩。"

They went into the antechamber and there,sure enough,the two gentlemen-in-waiting were,sprawling on chairs and snoring hard.Doctor Cornelius quickly cut up the remains of a cold chicken and some slices of venison and put them,with bread and an apple or so and a little flask of good wine,into the wallet which he then gave to Caspian.It fitted on by a strap over Caspian's shoulder,like a satchel you would use for taking books to school.

于是,他们来到隔壁房间,果然看到两个仆人正靠在椅子上呼呼大睡。克奈尔斯博士快速装好剩下的那些凉鸡和几片鹿肉,还有一些面包,一个苹果,以及一小瓶好酒,把它们全部放进了那个包袱里,让王子带上。

"Have you your sword?"asked the Doctor.

"你带宝剑了吗?"博士问。

"Yes,"said Caspian.

"带了。"凯斯宾说。

"Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet.That's right.And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk."

"快披上斗篷,遮好宝剑和包袱。好了,我们去塔顶上,我还有一些事情要跟你说。"

When they had reached the top of the Tower (it was a cloudy night,not at all like the night when they had seen the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil) Doctor Cornelius said,

当他们来到塔顶时,满天乌云,寒气逼人,一点也不像他们一起看两星相会的那个夜晚不同,处处笼罩着恐怖的氛围,只听克奈尔斯博士说道:

"Dear Prince,you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world.Your life is in danger here."

王子殿下,你必须马上离开这座城堡,去外面的大世界里去寻找自己的生路吧。留在这里你会没命的。

"Why?"asked Caspian.

"为什么?"凯斯宾不解。

"Because you are the true King of Narnia: Caspian the Tenth,the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth.Long life to your Majesty'-and suddenly,to Caspian's great surprise,the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.

"因为你是凯斯宾九世的亲生儿子和继承人,你才是纳尼亚真正的国王啊。陛下万岁!"说着,这个小矮人突然单膝跪下,亲吻着他的手,这让凯斯宾为之一震。

"What does it all mean? I don't understand,"said Caspian.

"这到底怎么回事?我一点也不明白。"凯斯宾说。

"I wonder you have never asked me before,"said the Doctor,"why,being the son of King Caspian,you are not King Caspian yourself.Everyone except your Majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper.When he first began to rule he did not even pretend to be the King: he called himself Lord Protector.But then your royal mother died,the good Queen and the only Telmarine who was ever kind to me.And then,one by one,all the great lords,who had known your father,died or disappeared.Not by accident,either.Miraz weeded them out.Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunting party: by chance,it was pretended.All the great house of the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern frontier till one by one they fell.Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for treason on a false charge.The two brothers of Beaversdam he shut up as madmen.And finally he persuaded the seven noble lords,who alone among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea,to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean,and,as he intended,they never came back.And when there was no one left who could speak a word for you,then his flatterers (as he had instructed them) begged him to become King.And of course he did."

"以前,你从来没有问过我"博士说,"为什么你身为凯斯宾国王的儿子,法定的继承人,你却不是国王。那是因为,除了你所有人都知道是弥若兹篡夺了王位。刚开始,他统治国家时,并不是以国王的身份出现的,他告诉大家他是君王的保护人。后来,你的母后去世了。她很贤惠,她可是唯一一位善待过我们的台尔马人。紧接着,那些正直、忠诚的大臣,都相继死去或是失踪了。更奇怪的是,没有一个是正常死亡。由此可见,他们是被那心狠手辣的弥若兹给杀掉了。我记得在一场狩猎中,伯力沙和犹威拉思被箭射死了,却被说成是被失手误杀的。不但如此 ,弥若兹还把所有伯萨瑞德的望族都派到了北边的战场上,让他们与巨人作战,直到最后他们一个个都战死沙场。而阿康和艾瑞蒙以及其他的一些人,则被子虚乌有的叛国罪处决了,海狸大坝的两兄弟也被当作疯子关了起来。 最终,他又说服了不怕大海的七位公爵,派他们去东海彼岸寻找新大陆。不出所料,他们也一去不回了。从此,再也没有一个人能为你说话了。在他的唆使下,那些阿谀奉承,只会拍马屁的人便奉迎他做纳尼亚的国王。当然,他高兴地接受了。

"Do you mean he now wants to kill me too?"said Caspian.

"那么,你是说现在他又想杀掉我?"凯斯宾说。

"That is almost certain,"said Doctor Cornelius.

"很明显啊。"克奈尔斯博士说。

"But why now?"said Caspian."I mean,why didn't he do it long ago if he wanted to? And what harm have I done him?"

"为什么是现在呢?"凯斯宾说,"我的意思是,如果他想杀我,为什么要等到现在才下手呢。我触犯到他的利益了吗?"

"He has changed his mind about you because of something that happened only two hours ago.The Queen has had a son."

"你的命运在两个小时之前彻底改变了--王后生了个儿子。"

"I don't see what that's got to do with it,"said Caspian.

"我看不出这跟我有什么关系。"凯斯宾不懂。

"Don't see!"exclaimed the Doctor."Have all my lessons in History and Politics taught you no more than that? Listen.As long as he had no children of his own,he was willing enough that you should be King after he died.He may not have cared much about you,but he would rather you should have the throne than a stranger.Now that he has a son of his own he will want his own son to be the next King.You are in the way.He'll clear you out of the way."

"你还不明白啊!"博士叫了起来,"我教给你的那些历史和政治,真是对你一点用也没有啊。你听好--如果说他没有自己的儿子,他理所当然要传位给你,即使他再不喜欢你,那也比传位给一个外人好多了。但是现在,他有了自己的儿子,王位当然要传给他的儿子。也就是说,你就变得很碍事了,他必然会想尽办法把你除掉的。"

"Is he really as bad as that?"said Caspian."Would he really murder me?"

"他真的就那么坏吗?"凯斯宾说,"他真会杀害我?"

"He murdered your Father,"said Doctor Cornelius.

"你的父亲就是被他谋杀的。"克奈尔斯博士说。

Caspian felt very queer and said nothing.

凯斯宾一下子难受得说不出话来了。

"I can tell you the whole story,"said the Doctor."But not now.There is no time.You must fly at once."

"我可以告诉你整个事情的经过,"博士说,"但不是现在,没时间了,你必须马上离开这里。"

"You'll come with me?"said Caspian.

"你会和我一起离开吗?"凯斯宾问。

"I dare not,"said the Doctor."It would make your danger greater.Two are more easily tracked than one.Dear Prince,dear King Caspian,you must be very brave.You must go alone and at once.Try to get across the southern border to the court of King Nain of Archenland.He will be good to you."

"我不能,那样的话你的处境会更危险。因为两个人比一个人更容易暴露行踪。王子殿下,我亲爱的凯斯宾国王陛下,你要勇敢一点!你只能一个人走,并且要马上出发,想办法穿越南部边境,去找阿钦兰国的国王奈恩。他会善待你的。"

"Shall I never see you again?"said Caspian in a quavering voice.

"那我还能见到你吗?"凯斯宾的声音有些颤抖。

"I hope so,dear King,"said the Doctor."What friend have I in the wide world except your Majesty? And I have a little magic.But in the meantime,speed is everything.Here are two gifts before you go.This is a little purse of gold-alas,all the treasure in this castle should be your own by rights.And here is something far better."

"希望我们还能再见,我的国王陛下。"博士也低落地说道,"在这世界上,除了陛下你,我没有任何其他的朋友了。我只会一些小法术,不过现在速度才是一切。在你离开前,我还要送你这两件小小的礼物。这有一小袋金子--当然,这个城堡里所有的财宝理应归你所有。不过,我这儿还有一件东西比金子贵重百倍。"

He put in Caspian's hands something which he could hardly see but which he knew by the feel to be a horn.

说着,他把一个东西递到凯斯宾的面前。他几乎看不清那是什么,但摸着像是一只号。

"That,"said Doctor Cornelius,"is the greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia.Many terrors I endured,many spells did I utter,to find it,when I was still young.It is the magic horn of Queen Susan herself which she left behind her when she vanished from Narnia at the end of the Golden Age.It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help-no one can say how strange.It may have the power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund and Queen Susan and High King Peter back from the past,and they will set all to rights.It may be that it will call up Aslan himself.Take it,King Caspian: but do not use it except at your greatest need.And now,haste,haste,haste.The little door at the very bottom of the Tower,the door into the garden,is unlocked.There we must part."

"这是纳尼亚最珍贵的东西。在我年轻的时候,为了找到它,承受了很多恐惧,念了很多次咒语。它是属于苏珊女王的,是她在纳尼亚消失之前留下的。传说,不管谁吹响了这个号,就会立即得到帮助。不过,究竟是什么样的帮助,却没有人能说得出来。也许,它能召唤回女王露茜、国王爱德蒙、女王苏珊和至尊王彼得,他们将为受苦受难的纳尼亚人民主张正义。它也有可能是能唤回阿斯兰。把它带上来吧,凯斯宾国王。但是,不到万不得已时,千万不要用它。快走吧,快!现在,高塔底层那扇前往花园的小门正开着,我就送你到那里。"

"Can I get my horse Destrier?"said Caspian.

"我的马戴斯特里尔能带上吗?"凯斯宾问。

"He is already saddled and waiting for you just at the corner of the orchard."

"都准备好了,它正在果园那边等你呢。"

During the long climb down the winding staircase Cornelius whispered many more words of direction and advice.Caspian's heart was sinking,but he tried to take it all in.Then came the fresh air in the garden,a fervent handclasp with the Doctor,a run across the lawn,a welcoming whinny from Destrier,and so King Caspian the Tenth left the castle of his fathers.Looking back,he saw fireworks going up to celebrate the birth of the new prince.

走在长长的旋转楼梯上,克奈尔斯又轻声地说了不少指示和建议。凯斯宾的心里很乱,但他还是努力地记着那些话。不一会,他们闻到了花园里的新鲜空气。从小径上还隐隐传来戴斯特里尔的马蹄声和亲切的嘶叫声。一老一少依依惜别。就这样,凯斯宾十世从他父亲的城堡里走了出来,他转过身看到天上升起许多礼花,那是大家在庆贺新王子的出生。

All night he rode southward,choosing by-ways and bridle paths through woods as long as he was in country that he knew; but afterwards he kept to the high road.Destrier was as excited as his master at this unusual journey,and Caspian,though tears had come into his eyes at saying good-bye to Doctor Cornelius,felt brave and,in a way,happy,to think that he was King Caspian riding to seek adventures,with his sword on his left hip and Queen Susan's magic horn on his right.But when day came,with a sprinkle of rain,and he looked about him and saw on every side unknown woods,wild heaths,and blue mountains,he thought how large and strange the world was and felt frightened and small.

一整夜,他都在这块自己熟悉的土地上,朝南方奔跑。起初,他只走小路或便道,后来确定没有伏兵后,就开始在大路上飞奔。对于这次不一般的旅行,戴斯特里尔也非常激动。尽管凯斯宾在和克奈尔斯博士告别时掉了眼泪,但现在却表现得很勇敢,他只要一想到自己是国王凯斯宾正在历险的旅途中,就觉得很开心。剑佩在他的左腰,右腰是苏珊女王的神号。天蒙蒙亮时,天上开始下起小雨,凯斯宾勒住马向四下打量,周围满是从未见过的森林、盛开的野菊和青色的群山。他第一次见到这片广阔的天地,突然觉得自己是那么地渺小,心里不免有些紧张。

As soon as it was full daylight he left the road and found an open grassy place amid a wood where he could rest.He took off Destrier's bridle and let him graze,ate some cold chicken and drank a little wine,and presently fell asleep.It was late afternoon when he awoke.He ate a morsel and continued his journey,still southward,by many unfrequented lanes.He was now in a land of hills,going up and down,but always more up than down.From every ridge he could see the mountains growing bigger and blacker ahead.As the evening closed in,he was riding their lower slopes.The wind rose.Soon rain fell in torrents.Destrier became uneasy; there was thunder in the air.And now they entered a dark and seemingly endless pine forest,and all the stories Caspian had ever heard of trees being unfriendly to Man crowded into his mind.He remembered that he was,after all,a Telmarine,one of the race who cut down trees wherever they could and were at war with all wild things; and though he himself might be unlike other Telmarines,the trees could not be expected to know this.

天大亮后,凯斯宾离开了大路,到森林中找了一片草地,想要好好休息一下。他卸下马鞍,让马去吃草,自己就地吃了些冷鸡肉,喝了点酒,才舒服地躺下,很快就睡着了。当他醒来的时候,已是黄昏,他又简单吃了点食物就再次启程了,方向依旧是南方。他越过一大片的荒凉草野后,没多久便进入了一片山地。这里的路很崎岖,一会上山,一会下坡,上山的路显然比下山的还要多。每登上一个山脊,他都可以看到那些山峦仿佛越来越近,颜色也越来越深沉。夜幕降临的时候,他正骑着马走在地势较低的山坡上。突然,刮起一阵大风,响起一阵雷声,暴雨来了。 戴斯特里尔开始焦躁不安。就在这个时候,他们进入了一个漆黑得看不到尽头的松树林。突然凯斯宾想起以前曾听过的故事:树林对人们一直很不友好。因为他的家族曾四处砍伐树木,甚至和所有山林家族打过仗,到处滥杀。尽管他和那些台尔马人不同,但树木怎么可能知道这个呢。

Nor did they.The wind became a tempest,the woods roared and creaked all round them.There came a crash.A tree fell right across the road just behind him."Quiet,Destrier,quiet!"said Caspian,patting his horse's neck; but he was trembling himself and knew that he had escaped death by an inch.Lightning flashed and a great crack of thunder seemed to break the sky in two just overhead.Destrier bolted in good earnest.Caspian was a good rider,but he had not the strength to hold him back.He kept his seat,but he knew that his life hung by a thread during the wild career that followed.Tree after tree rose up before them in the dusk and was only just avoided.Then,almost too suddenly to hurt (and yet it did hurt him too) something struck Caspian on the forehead and he knew no more.

它们也确实不可能知道。风越来越大,整片树林在狂风暴雨下,不停发出呼啸声。突然一声巨响,有一棵巨树就在他的身后倒在了路上。"淡定,戴斯特里尔,淡定一些!"凯斯宾轻拍着马脖子说,他能感觉到自己也忍不住在颤抖。他暗自庆幸自己还活着,刚刚就差一点,他们就被那棵大树砸死了。炫目的闪电,伴着巨响的雷声,好像要把天空劈开两半。戴斯特里尔拼命地奔跑着。虽然凯斯宾是个好骑手,可在这种情况下,他也拉不住缰绳。他心里明白,这样疯狂地奔跑对自己很危险,但他什么也做不了,只能紧贴在马背上。黑暗中,一棵棵大树从前面扫来,他都只能刚好躲过。突然,他的额头被什么东西猛地一撞,他还没感觉到疼痛,就失去了知觉。

When he came to himself he was lying in a firelit place with bruised limbs and a bad headache.Low voices were speaking close at hand.

当他醒来时,发现自己还活着,而且正躺在一堆又明亮又温暖的篝火旁。他的头很痛,胳膊和腿上全是伤痕。这个时候,轻微的交谈声传了过来。

"And now,"said one,"before it wakes up we must decide what to do with it."

"现在,"一个声音说,"在他清醒之前,我们必须决定该怎么处置他。

"Kill it,"said another."We can't let it live.It would betray us."

"杀了他!"另一个声音说,"我们不可以让他活着,他会背叛我们的。"

"We ought to have killed it at once,or else let it alone,"said a third voice."We can't kill it now.Not after we've taken it in and bandaged its head and all.It would be murdering a guest."

"当时我们就应该杀了他,或是放了他。"第三个声音说,"但是现在,我们不可以杀他。既然我们把他带回来了,又给他包了伤口,还精心照顾他,他就是一位客人,我们不能杀害一位客人。"

"Gentlemen,"said Caspian in a feeble voice,"whatever you do to me,I hope you will be kind to my poor horse."

"先生们,"凯斯宾用微弱的声音说,"你们怎么对我都没问题,只求你们别杀害我那匹可怜的马。"

"Your horse had taken flight long before we found you,"said the first voice-a curiously husky,earthy voice,as Caspian now noticed.

"我们找到你的时候,那匹马早就不见了。"第一个声音说。凯斯宾发觉这个声音带着沙哑憨厚,听着也有点古怪。

"Now don't let it talk you round with its pretty words,"said the second voice."I still say-"

"别听他的好话,"第二个声音说,"我依旧认为......"

"Horns and halibuts!"exclaimed the third voice."Of course we're not going to murder it.For shame,Nikabrik.What do you say,Trufflehunter? What shall we do with it?"

"够了!"第三个声音大声地说,"我们绝对不可以杀他,这太可耻了,尼克布瑞克!特鲁佛汉特,你说呢?我们该怎么处置他?"

"I shall give it a drink,"said the first voice,presumably Trufflehunter's.A dark shape approached the bed.Caspian felt an arm slipped gently under his shoulders-if it was exactly an arm.The shape somehow seemed wrong.The face that bent towards him seemed wrong too.He got the impression that it was very hairy and very long nosed,and there were odd white patches on each side of it."It's a mask of some sort,"thought Caspian."Or perhaps I'm in a fever and imagining it all."A cupful of something sweet and hot was set to his lips and he drank.At that moment one of the others poked the fire.A blaze sprang up and Caspian almost screamed with the shock as the sudden light revealed the face that was looking into his own.It was not a man's face but a badger's,though larger and friendlier and more intelligent than the face of any badger he had seen before.And it had certainly been talking.He saw,too,that he was on a bed of heather,in a cave.By the fire sat two little bearded men,so much wilder and shorter and hairier and thicker than Doctor Cornelius that he knew them at once for real Dwarfs,ancient Dwarfs with not a drop of human blood in their veins.And Caspian knew that he had found the Old Narnians at last.Then his head began to swim again.

"先给他点水吧。"这是第一个人的声音, 他可能就是特鲁佛汉特。话音刚落,就看见一个黑影走过来,凯斯宾感觉到有只胳膊轻轻地放在了他肩上。他多么希望这是人的胳膊,可形状又不太像。借着微光,他看到俯下来的那张脸上全是茸毛,中间有一只长鼻子,两颊长着奇怪的白斑。"这一定是某种特别的面具,"凯斯宾暗想,"当然,也有可能是我发烧导致的幻觉。"一杯东西递到他口边,他一口就喝完了。他正回味着这杯又热又甜的东西,这时篝火更旺了。凯斯宾傻眼了,他差点失声大叫,因为他一下子看清楚了那张脸。 那不是人,是一只獾。它看起来比他以前见过的獾都高大,面相更友善、聪明。现在他可以确定,刚才一直说话的人就是它。他还发现自己正在一个山洞里,躺在一个用石南草铺的地方。在火堆边,还有两个长着胡子的小个子,他们比克奈尔斯博士更矮更胖,毛发也更浓密粗糙。他猜测,他们是小矮人--纯种的小矮人。凯斯宾突然意识到,他找到了纳尼亚的原住民。这一激动,又是一阵眩晕。

In the next few days he learned to know them by names.The Badger was called Trufflehunter; he was the oldest and kindest of the three.The Dwarf who had wanted to kill Caspian was a sour Black Dwarf (that is,his hair and beard were black,and thick and hard like horsehair).His name was Nikabrik.The other Dwarf was a Red Dwarf with hair rather like a Fox's and he was called Trumpkin.

在接下来的几天里,凯斯宾和他们慢慢熟络起来。原来那只獾叫特鲁佛汉特,它年龄最大,也最忠厚。而建议杀他的是那个脾气不好的小矮人(他的头发和胡子全是黑的,跟马鬃一样,又厚又硬),他的名字叫尼克布瑞克。另外一个小矮人杜鲁普金,有着一头狐狸般火红的头发。

"And now,"said Nikabrik on the first evening when Caspian was well enough to sit up and talk,"we still have to decide what to do with this Human.You two think you've done it a great kindess by not letting me kill it.But I suppose the upshot is that we have to keep it a prisoner for life.I'm certainly not going to let it go alive-to go back to its own kind and betray us all."

就在凯斯宾可以坐起来讲话的头一天晚上,尼克布瑞克对他的伙伴们说,"那么现在,我们必须找出一个处置这人的办法。你们两个死活不让我杀了他,还觉得是在做好事。依我看,这件事的解决办法就是我们必须要囚禁他一辈子。我绝不允许他活着离开这里--回到他的同类身旁,那我们的秘密就全被泄露了。"

"Bulbs and bolsters! Nikabrik,"said Trumpkin."Why need you talk so unhandsomely? It isn't the creature's fault that it bashed its head against a tree outside our hole.And I don't think it looks like a traitor."

"好了!尼克布瑞克,"杜鲁普金皱着眉头说,"你怎么能如此粗鲁?他的头撞到了洞外的树,又不是他的错。而且我认为他不像奸细。"

"I say,"said Caspian,"you haven't yet found out whether I want to go back.I don't.I want to stay with you-if you'll let me.I've been looking for people like you all my life."

"我说,"凯斯宾说,"在你们做决定之前,也许该问下我是不是还想离开。说真的,我一点也没有想要离开这里的意思。如果你们同意,我愿意和你们生活在一起。要知道,我这些年一直在找你们这样的生灵。"

"That's a likely story,"growled Nikabrik."You're a Telmarine and a Human,aren't you? Of course you want to go back to your own kind."

"说得真好听!"尼克布瑞克咆哮道,"你是台尔马人,也是人类,对吧?你肯定想回到你的同类身旁去!"

"Well,even if I did,I couldn't,"said Caspian."I was flying for my life when I had my accident.The King wants to kill me.If you'd killed me,you'd have done the very thing to please him."

"即便我想回去了,我也做不到了,"凯斯宾说,"我之所以慌张撞上你们的树,是因为我在逃命。国王要杀我,如果你们现在杀了我,那正合他意。"

"Well now,"said Trufflehunter,"you don't say so!"

"好了,"特鲁佛汉特说道,"你不用说这些!"

"Eh?"said Trumpkin."What's that? What have you been doing,Human,to fall foul of Miraz at your age?"

"嗯?"杜鲁普金说,"这是怎么回事?你做错了什么事?为什么这么小的年纪就成了弥若兹的敌人?"

"He's my uncle,"began Caspian,when Nikabrik jumped up with his hand on his dagger.

"他是我的叔父。"凯斯宾话还没说完,尼克布瑞克就握着他的短剑,跳了起来。

"There you are!"he cried."Not only a Telmarine but close kin and heir to our greatest enemy.Are you still mad enough to let this creature live?"He would have stabbed Caspian then and there,if the Badger and Trumpkin had not got in the way and forced him back to his seat and held him down.

"好啊你!"他吼道,"你不但是一个台尔马人,还是我们最大敌人的侄子和继承者。你们还要犯傻吗?还准备留他一命吗?"要不是獾和杜鲁普金及时拉住他,用力把他推回座位,凯斯宾可能当场就被刺死了。

"Now,once and for all,Nikabrik,"said Trumpkin."Will you contain yourself,or must Trufflehunter and I sit on your head?"

"现在,我再最后说一次,尼克布瑞克,"杜鲁普金说,"你再不安分,我和特鲁佛汉特就要惩戒你了!"

Nikabrik sulkily promised to behave,and the other two asked Caspian to tell his whole story.When he had done so there was a moment's silence.

尼克布瑞克这才闷闷不乐地坐下去。于是,他们要凯斯宾讲讲他的来历。凯斯宾说完他的故事后,大家沉默了许久。

"This is the queerest thing I ever heard,"said Trumpkin.

"这是我听过的最奇怪的事。"杜鲁普金说。

"I don't like it,"said Nikabrik.I didn't know there were stories about us still told among the Humans.The less they know about us the better.That old nurse,now.She'd better have held her tongue.And it's all mixed up with that Tutor: a renegade Dwarf.I hate them.I hate them worse than the Humans.You mark my words-no good will come of it.

"我不喜欢这故事。"尼克布瑞克说,"我很难想象,在人类世界里居然还有那么多关于我们的传说。说实在的,我们的事他们知道得越少越好。那个老保姆,真该叫人绑住她的舌头。还有那个什么博士会把事情弄得更乱糟。这些家伙比人类更可恶。你们记住,这些人会带给我们无穷无尽的后患。"

"Don't you go talking about things you don't understand,Nikabrik,"said Trufflehunter."You Dwarfs are as forgetful and changeable as the Humans themselves.I'm a beast,I am,and a Badger what's more.We don't change.We hold on.I say great good will come of it.This is the true King of Narnia we've got here: a true King,coming back to true Narnia.And we beasts remember,even if Dwarfs forget,that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam was King."

"不要不懂装懂了,尼克布瑞克,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你们这些小矮人和人类一样健忘又善变。虽然我只是一只獾而已,但是我们不朝三暮四,向来都是从一而终的。我认为,事情这样发展下去,对我们有很大的好处。你们想:在我们面前的,才是纳尼亚真正的君主,而且他现在回到了真正的纳尼亚。也许你们小矮人已经忘记了,可我们动物却永远记得,只有亚当的儿子做了国王,纳尼亚才能永享安宁。"

"Whistles and whirligigs! Trufflehunter,"said Trumpkin."You don't mean you want to give the country to Humans?"

"得了吧!特鲁佛汉特,"杜鲁普金说道,"你是说,你要把这个国度送给人类吗?"

"I said nothing about that,"answered the Badger."It's not Men's country (who should know that better than me?) but it's a country for a man to be King of.We badgers have long enough memories to know that.Why,bless us all,wasn't the High King Peter a Man?"

"我没有那个意思," 獾回答说,"这不是人类的国家,这一点我比谁都清楚,但它需要人来统治。我们獾一直记着这一点!老天保佑,你们忘了至尊王彼得也是个人类吗?"

"Do you believe all those old stories?"asked Trumpkin.

"难道你还相信那些古老的传说吗?"杜鲁普金问。

"I tell you,we don't change,we beasts,"said Trufflehunter."We don't forget.I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel,as firmly as I believe in Aslan himself."

"我告诉你,我们相信,我们所有动物都相信!"特鲁佛汉特说道,"我们绝不会忘记。我相信曾经治理凯尔帕拉维尔的至尊王彼得和其他人,就像我相信阿斯兰一样!"

"As firmly as that,I dare say,"said Trumpkin."But who believes in Aslan nowadays?"

"我看你们真够坚定的,"杜鲁普金说,"但是,如今谁还相信阿斯兰呢?"

"I do,"said Caspian."And if I hadn't believed in him before,I would now.Back there among the Humans the people who laughed at Aslan would have laughed at stories about Talking Beasts and Dwarfs.Sometimes I did wonder if there really was such a person as Aslan: but then sometimes I wondered if there were really people like you.Yet there you are."

"我相信,"凯斯宾突然插话道,"也许我原来也怀疑过,但是现在我完全相信了。嘲笑阿斯兰的那些人,他们从不相信有会讲话的兽类和小矮人。以前我常常疑惑,世界上到底有没有阿斯兰,有没有你们这些人。然而现在,你们就在这里。"

"That's right,"said Trufflehunter."You're right,King Caspian.And as long as you will be true to Old Narnia you shall be my King,whatever they say.Long life to your Majesty."

"说得对,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你说得很对,凯斯宾国王。只要你对古纳尼亚忠诚,我就拥护你做我的国王,不管他人怎么说,国王陛下万岁!"

"You make me sick,Badger,"growled Nikabrik."The High King Peter and the rest may have been Men,but they were a different sort of Men.This is one of the cursed Telmarines.He has hunted beasts for sport.Haven't you,now?"he added,rounding suddenly on Caspian.

"你可真让我恶心,獾。"尼克布瑞克哼了一声,"至尊王彼得和他的弟弟妹妹确实是人类,但他们是不同种类的人。但现在,在我们面前的却是台尔马人。围猎屠杀我们是他们的游戏,说实话,你干过这件事吗?"他突然转身面向凯斯宾。

"Well,to tell you the truth,I have,"said Caspian."But they weren't Talking Beasts."

"好吧,告诉你们,我做过,"凯斯宾说,"可......可它们是不会说话的动物。"

"It's all the same thing,"said Nikabrik.

"那也没什么区别。"尼克布瑞克说。

"No,no,no,"said Trufflehunter."You know it isn't.You know very well that the beasts in Narnia nowadays are different and are no more than the poor dumb,witless creatures you'd find in Calormen or Telmar.They're smaller too.They're far more different from us than the half-Dwarfs are from you."

"不,不,不,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你知道,这完全不一样。现在生活在纳尼亚的动物,跟我们可完全不同。它们不过是可怜的哑巴,没有一点灵性。这样的动物遍及卡乐门和台尔马,或者说世界各地到处都是。它们个子矮小,长相颜色也不尽相同,和我们之间的差别,就跟混血小矮人与你们的差别一样。

There was a great deal more talk,but it all ended with the agreement that Caspian should stay and even the promise that,as soon as he was able to go out,he should be taken to see what Trumpkin called"the Others""; for apparently in these wild parts all sorts of creatures from the Old Days of Narnia still lived on in hiding.

他们讨论了很久之后,还是决定让凯斯宾留下来。一旦他完全康复,就马上带他去见其他那些"自己人"。显然,纳尼亚的原住民至今还隐居在深山老林里。

CHAPTER FIVE CASPIAN'S ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS

AFTER this,Caspian and his Tutor had many more secret conversations on the top of the Great Tower,and at each conversation Caspian learned more about Old Narnia,so that thinking and dreaming about the old days,and longing that they might come back,filled nearly all his spare hours.But of course he had not many hours to spare,for now his education was beginning in earnest.He learned sword-fighting and riding,swimming and diving,how to shoot with the bow and play on the recorder and the theorbo,how to hunt the stag and cut him up when he was dead,besides Cosmography,Rhetoric,Heraldry,Versification,and of course History,with a little Law,Physic,Alchemy,and Astronomy.Of Magic he learned only the theory,for Doctor Cornelius said the practical part was not proper study for princes."And I myself,"he added,"am only a very imperfect magician and can do only the smallest experiments."Of Navigation ("Which is a noble and heroical art,"said the Doctor) he was taught nothing,because King Miraz disapproved of ships and the sea.

He also learned a great deal by using his own eyes and ears.As a little boy he had often wondered why he disliked his aunt,Queen Prunaprismia; he now saw that it was because she disliked him.He also began to see that Narnia was an unhappy country.The taxes were high and the laws were stern and Miraz was a cruel man.

After some years there came a time when the Queen seemed to be ill and there was a great deal of bustle and pother about her in the castle and doctors came and the courtiers whispered.This was in early summertime.And one night,while all this fuss was going on,Caspian was unexpectedly wakened by Doctor Cornelius after he had been only a few hours in bed.

"Are we going to do a little Astronomy,Doctor?"said Caspian.

"Hush!"said the Doctor."Trust me and do exactly as I tell you.Put on all your clothes; you have a long journey before you."

Caspian was very surprised,but he had learned to have confidence in his Tutor and he began doing what he was told at once.When he was dressed the Doctor said,"I have a wallet for you.We must go into the next room and fill it with victuals from your Highness's supper table."

"My gentlemen-in-waiting will be there,"said Caspian.

"They are fast asleep and will not wake,"said the Doctor."I am a very minor magician but I can at least contrive a charmed sleep."

They went into the antechamber and there,sure enough,the two gentlemen-in-waiting were,sprawling on chairs and snoring hard.Doctor Cornelius quickly cut up the remains of a cold chicken and some slices of venison and put them,with bread and an apple or so and a little flask of good wine,into the wallet which he then gave to Caspian.It fitted on by a strap over Caspian's shoulder,like a satchel you would use for taking books to school.

"Have you your sword?"asked the Doctor.

"Yes,"said Caspian.

"Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet.That's right.And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk."

When they had reached the top of the Tower (it was a cloudy night,not at all like the night when they had seen the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil) Doctor Cornelius said,

"Dear Prince,you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world.Your life is in danger here."

"Why?"asked Caspian.

"Because you are the true King of Narnia: Caspian the Tenth,the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth.Long life to your Majesty'-and suddenly,to Caspian's great surprise,the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.

"What does it all mean? I don't understand,"said Caspian.

"I wonder you have never asked me before,"said the Doctor,"why,being the son of King Caspian,you are not King Caspian yourself.Everyone except your Majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper.When he first began to rule he did not even pretend to be the King: he called himself Lord Protector.But then your royal mother died,the good Queen and the only Telmarine who was ever kind to me.And then,one by one,all the great lords,who had known your father,died or disappeared.Not by accident,either.Miraz weeded them out.Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunting party: by chance,it was pretended.All the great house of the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern frontier till one by one they fell.Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for treason on a false charge.The two brothers of Beaversdam he shut up as madmen.And finally he persuaded the seven noble lords,who alone among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea,to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean,and,as he intended,they never came back.And when there was no one left who could speak a word for you,then his flatterers (as he had instructed them) begged him to become King.And of course he did."

"Do you mean he now wants to kill me too?"said Caspian.

"That is almost certain,"said Doctor Cornelius.

"But why now?"said Caspian."I mean,why didn't he do it long ago if he wanted to? And what harm have I done him?"

"He has changed his mind about you because of something that happened only two hours ago.The Queen has had a son."

"I don't see what that's got to do with it,"said Caspian.

"Don't see!"exclaimed the Doctor."Have all my lessons in History and Politics taught you no more than that? Listen.As long as he had no children of his own,he was willing enough that you should be King after he died.He may not have cared much about you,but he would rather you should have the throne than a stranger.Now that he has a son of his own he will want his own son to be the next King.You are in the way.He'll clear you out of the way."

"Is he really as bad as that?"said Caspian."Would he really murder me?"

"He murdered your Father,"said Doctor Cornelius.

Caspian felt very queer and said nothing.

"I can tell you the whole story,"said the Doctor."But not now.There is no time.You must fly at once."

"You'll come with me?"said Caspian.

"I dare not,"said the Doctor."It would make your danger greater.Two are more easily tracked than one.Dear Prince,dear King Caspian,you must be very brave.You must go alone and at once.Try to get across the southern border to the court of King Nain of Archenland.He will be good to you."

"Shall I never see you again?"said Caspian in a quavering voice.

"I hope so,dear King,"said the Doctor."What friend have I in the wide world except your Majesty? And I have a little magic.But in the meantime,speed is everything.Here are two gifts before you go.This is a little purse of gold-alas,all the treasure in this castle should be your own by rights.And here is something far better."

He put in Caspian's hands something which he could hardly see but which he knew by the feel to be a horn.

"That,"said Doctor Cornelius,"is the greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia.Many terrors I endured,many spells did I utter,to find it,when I was still young.It is the magic horn of Queen Susan herself which she left behind her when she vanished from Narnia at the end of the Golden Age.It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help-no one can say how strange.It may have the power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund and Queen Susan and High King Peter back from the past,and they will set all to rights.It may be that it will call up Aslan himself.Take it,King Caspian: but do not use it except at your greatest need.And now,haste,haste,haste.The little door at the very bottom of the Tower,the door into the garden,is unlocked.There we must part."

"Can I get my horse Destrier?"said Caspian.

"He is already saddled and waiting for you just at the corner of the orchard."

During the long climb down the winding staircase Cornelius whispered many more words of direction and advice.Caspian's heart was sinking,but he tried to take it all in.Then came the fresh air in the garden,a fervent handclasp with the Doctor,a run across the lawn,a welcoming whinny from Destrier,and so King Caspian the Tenth left the castle of his fathers.Looking back,he saw fireworks going up to celebrate the birth of the new prince.

All night he rode southward,choosing by-ways and bridle paths through woods as long as he was in country that he knew; but afterwards he kept to the high road.Destrier was as excited as his master at this unusual journey,and Caspian,though tears had come into his eyes at saying good-bye to Doctor Cornelius,felt brave and,in a way,happy,to think that he was King Caspian riding to seek adventures,with his sword on his left hip and Queen Susan's magic horn on his right.But when day came,with a sprinkle of rain,and he looked about him and saw on every side unknown woods,wild heaths,and blue mountains,he thought how large and strange the world was and felt frightened and small.

As soon as it was full daylight he left the road and found an open grassy place amid a wood where he could rest.He took off Destrier's bridle and let him graze,ate some cold chicken and drank a little wine,and presently fell asleep.It was late afternoon when he awoke.He ate a morsel and continued his journey,still southward,by many unfrequented lanes.He was now in a land of hills,going up and down,but always more up than down.From every ridge he could see the mountains growing bigger and blacker ahead.As the evening closed in,he was riding their lower slopes.The wind rose.Soon rain fell in torrents.Destrier became uneasy; there was thunder in the air.And now they entered a dark and seemingly endless pine forest,and all the stories Caspian had ever heard of trees being unfriendly to Man crowded into his mind.He remembered that he was,after all,a Telmarine,one of the race who cut down trees wherever they could and were at war with all wild things; and though he himself might be unlike other Telmarines,the trees could not be expected to know this.

Nor did they.The wind became a tempest,the woods roared and creaked all round them.There came a crash.A tree fell right across the road just behind him."Quiet,Destrier,quiet!"said Caspian,patting his horse's neck; but he was trembling himself and knew that he had escaped death by an inch.Lightning flashed and a great crack of thunder seemed to break the sky in two just overhead.Destrier bolted in good earnest.Caspian was a good rider,but he had not the strength to hold him back.He kept his seat,but he knew that his life hung by a thread during the wild career that followed.Tree after tree rose up before them in the dusk and was only just avoided.Then,almost too suddenly to hurt (and yet it did hurt him too) something struck Caspian on the forehead and he knew no more.

When he came to himself he was lying in a firelit place with bruised limbs and a bad headache.Low voices were speaking close at hand.

"And now,"said one,"before it wakes up we must decide what to do with it."

"Kill it,"said another."We can't let it live.It would betray us."

"We ought to have killed it at once,or else let it alone,"said a third voice."We can't kill it now.Not after we've taken it in and bandaged its head and all.It would be murdering a guest."

"Gentlemen,"said Caspian in a feeble voice,"whatever you do to me,I hope you will be kind to my poor horse."

"Your horse had taken flight long before we found you,"said the first voice-a curiously husky,earthy voice,as Caspian now noticed.

"Now don't let it talk you round with its pretty words,"said the second voice."I still say-"

"Horns and halibuts!"exclaimed the third voice."Of course we're not going to murder it.For shame,Nikabrik.What do you say,Trufflehunter? What shall we do with it?"

"I shall give it a drink,"said the first voice,presumably Trufflehunter's.A dark shape approached the bed.Caspian felt an arm slipped gently under his shoulders-if it was exactly an arm.The shape somehow seemed wrong.The face that bent towards him seemed wrong too.He got the impression that it was very hairy and very long nosed,and there were odd white patches on each side of it."It's a mask of some sort,"thought Caspian."Or perhaps I'm in a fever and imagining it all."A cupful of something sweet and hot was set to his lips and he drank.At that moment one of the others poked the fire.A blaze sprang up and Caspian almost screamed with the shock as the sudden light revealed the face that was looking into his own.It was not a man's face but a badger's,though larger and friendlier and more intelligent than the face of any badger he had seen before.And it had certainly been talking.He saw,too,that he was on a bed of heather,in a cave.By the fire sat two little bearded men,so much wilder and shorter and hairier and thicker than Doctor Cornelius that he knew them at once for real Dwarfs,ancient Dwarfs with not a drop of human blood in their veins.And Caspian knew that he had found the Old Narnians at last.Then his head began to swim again.

In the next few days he learned to know them by names.The Badger was called Trufflehunter; he was the oldest and kindest of the three.The Dwarf who had wanted to kill Caspian was a sour Black Dwarf (that is,his hair and beard were black,and thick and hard like horsehair).His name was Nikabrik.The other Dwarf was a Red Dwarf with hair rather like a Fox's and he was called Trumpkin.

"And now,"said Nikabrik on the first evening when Caspian was well enough to sit up and talk,"we still have to decide what to do with this Human.You two think you've done it a great kindess by not letting me kill it.But I suppose the upshot is that we have to keep it a prisoner for life.I'm certainly not going to let it go alive-to go back to its own kind and betray us all."

"Bulbs and bolsters! Nikabrik,"said Trumpkin."Why need you talk so unhandsomely? It isn't the creature's fault that it bashed its head against a tree outside our hole.And I don't think it looks like a traitor."

"I say,"said Caspian,"you haven't yet found out whether I want to go back.I don't.I want to stay with you-if you'll let me.I've been looking for people like you all my life."

"That's a likely story,"growled Nikabrik."You're a Telmarine and a Human,aren't you? Of course you want to go back to your own kind."

"Well,even if I did,I couldn't,"said Caspian."I was flying for my life when I had my accident.The King wants to kill me.If you'd killed me,you'd have done the very thing to please him."

"Well now,"said Trufflehunter,"you don't say so!"

"Eh?"said Trumpkin."What's that? What have you been doing,Human,to fall foul of Miraz at your age?"

"He's my uncle,"began Caspian,when Nikabrik jumped up with his hand on his dagger.

"There you are!"he cried."Not only a Telmarine but close kin and heir to our greatest enemy.Are you still mad enough to let this creature live?"He would have stabbed Caspian then and there,if the Badger and Trumpkin had not got in the way and forced him back to his seat and held him down.

"Now,once and for all,Nikabrik,"said Trumpkin."Will you contain yourself,or must Trufflehunter and I sit on your head?"

Nikabrik sulkily promised to behave,and the other two asked Caspian to tell his whole story.When he had done so there was a moment's silence.

"This is the queerest thing I ever heard,"said Trumpkin.

"I don't like it,"said Nikabrik.I didn't know there were stories about us still told among the Humans.The less they know about us the better.That old nurse,now.She'd better have held her tongue.And it's all mixed up with that Tutor: a renegade Dwarf.I hate them.I hate them worse than the Humans.You mark my words-no good will come of it.

"Don't you go talking about things you don't understand,Nikabrik,"said Trufflehunter."You Dwarfs are as forgetful and changeable as the Humans themselves.I'm a beast,I am,and a Badger what's more.We don't change.We hold on.I say great good will come of it.This is the true King of Narnia we've got here: a true King,coming back to true Narnia.And we beasts remember,even if Dwarfs forget,that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam was King."

"Whistles and whirligigs! Trufflehunter,"said Trumpkin."You don't mean you want to give the country to Humans?"

"I said nothing about that,"answered the Badger."It's not Men's country (who should know that better than me?) but it's a country for a man to be King of.We badgers have long enough memories to know that.Why,bless us all,wasn't the High King Peter a Man?"

"Do you believe all those old stories?"asked Trumpkin.

"I tell you,we don't change,we beasts,"said Trufflehunter."We don't forget.I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel,as firmly as I believe in Aslan himself."

"As firmly as that,I dare say,"said Trumpkin."But who believes in Aslan nowadays?"

"I do,"said Caspian."And if I hadn't believed in him before,I would now.Back there among the Humans the people who laughed at Aslan would have laughed at stories about Talking Beasts and Dwarfs.Sometimes I did wonder if there really was such a person as Aslan: but then sometimes I wondered if there were really people like you.Yet there you are."

"That's right,"said Trufflehunter."You're right,King Caspian.And as long as you will be true to Old Narnia you shall be my King,whatever they say.Long life to your Majesty."

"You make me sick,Badger,"growled Nikabrik."The High King Peter and the rest may have been Men,but they were a different sort of Men.This is one of the cursed Telmarines.He has hunted beasts for sport.Haven't you,now?"he added,rounding suddenly on Caspian.

"Well,to tell you the truth,I have,"said Caspian."But they weren't Talking Beasts."

"It's all the same thing,"said Nikabrik.

"No,no,no,"said Trufflehunter."You know it isn't.You know very well that the beasts in Narnia nowadays are different and are no more than the poor dumb,witless creatures you'd find in Calormen or Telmar.They're smaller too.They're far more different from us than the half-Dwarfs are from you."

There was a great deal more talk,but it all ended with the agreement that Caspian should stay and even the promise that,as soon as he was able to go out,he should be taken to see what Trumpkin called"the Others""; for apparently in these wild parts all sorts of creatures from the Old Days of Narnia still lived on in hiding.

第五章 王子的深山奇遇

那天以后,凯斯宾又和他的老师在大塔楼上秘密交谈了很多次,每一次都让凯斯宾对纳尼亚了解更多。他对那个奇幻世界越来越神往。但是他没有太多的时间去想。因为他还必须接受正规的学习,他要学会击剑、骑马、游泳和潜水,还要学会射箭和狩猎。他要知道宇宙结构学、修辞学、纹章学、诗体韵律学,还要学习历史、法律、物理,炼金术和天文学。至于魔法,他只了解到一些皮毛,因为博士说王子不适合学习魔法的实际操作。 "而且我自己,"他补充说,"充其量也只是半个魔法师,只能做些最简单的试验。"他也没上过航海课,("其实这门课既高尚又富有传奇色彩。"博士是这样说的。)因为国王弥若兹不准任何人提起船舶和大海。

凭着所见所闻,他还了解了不少其他事情。孩童时代,他一直不明白自己为什么不喜欢婶母普鲁娜普瑞丝弥尔王后,现在他终于知道了--原来是因为她讨厌他。慢慢地他也发现,如今的纳尼亚并不是个幸福快乐的国度。这里有重税和严酷的法律,更有一个手段极其残忍的国王弥若兹。

时间过得很快,几年之后,王后似乎得了什么病,城堡上上下下都为她奔走操劳,医生们来回奔波,全国上下都在纷纷议论着什么。正值初夏,一天晚上,凯斯宾刚睡了几个小时,就突然被克奈尔斯博士叫醒了。

"克奈尔斯博士,我们是要做天文观察吗?"凯斯宾疑惑地问。

"嘘!"博士低声说,"相信我,按我说的去做,穿上你的衣服,一段漫漫征途正等着你呢。"

凯斯宾觉得很奇怪,但他相信自己的老师,马上按照他的话去做了。穿好衣服后,博士告诉他,"我已经为你准备好了一个包袱,我们现在就到隔壁房间去,把餐桌上的食物都装起来带走。

"仆人都在那儿呢,他们会一直守着的。"凯斯宾说道。

"我让他们都昏睡过去了,放心吧,他们不会醒的,"博士说,"我虽然是个不入流的魔法师,但让人昏睡还是小事一桩。"

于是,他们来到隔壁房间,果然看到两个仆人正靠在椅子上呼呼大睡。克奈尔斯博士快速装好剩下的那些凉鸡和几片鹿肉,还有一些面包,一个苹果,以及一小瓶好酒,把它们全部放进了那个包袱里,让王子带上。

"你带宝剑了吗?"博士问。

"带了。"凯斯宾说。

"快披上斗篷,遮好宝剑和包袱。好了,我们去塔顶上,我还有一些事情要跟你说。"

当他们来到塔顶时,满天乌云,寒气逼人,一点也不像他们一起看两星相会的那个夜晚不同,处处笼罩着恐怖的氛围,只听克奈尔斯博士说道:

王子殿下,你必须马上离开这座城堡,去外面的大世界里去寻找自己的生路吧。留在这里你会没命的。

"为什么?"凯斯宾不解。

"因为你是凯斯宾九世的亲生儿子和继承人,你才是纳尼亚真正的国王啊。陛下万岁!"说着,这个小矮人突然单膝跪下,亲吻着他的手,这让凯斯宾为之一震。

"这到底怎么回事?我一点也不明白。"凯斯宾说。

"以前,你从来没有问过我"博士说,"为什么你身为凯斯宾国王的儿子,法定的继承人,你却不是国王。那是因为,除了你所有人都知道是弥若兹篡夺了王位。刚开始,他统治国家时,并不是以国王的身份出现的,他告诉大家他是君王的保护人。后来,你的母后去世了。她很贤惠,她可是唯一一位善待过我们的台尔马人。紧接着,那些正直、忠诚的大臣,都相继死去或是失踪了。更奇怪的是,没有一个是正常死亡。由此可见,他们是被那心狠手辣的弥若兹给杀掉了。我记得在一场狩猎中,伯力沙和犹威拉思被箭射死了,却被说成是被失手误杀的。不但如此 ,弥若兹还把所有伯萨瑞德的望族都派到了北边的战场上,让他们与巨人作战,直到最后他们一个个都战死沙场。而阿康和艾瑞蒙以及其他的一些人,则被子虚乌有的叛国罪处决了,海狸大坝的两兄弟也被当作疯子关了起来。 最终,他又说服了不怕大海的七位公爵,派他们去东海彼岸寻找新大陆。不出所料,他们也一去不回了。从此,再也没有一个人能为你说话了。在他的唆使下,那些阿谀奉承,只会拍马屁的人便奉迎他做纳尼亚的国王。当然,他高兴地接受了。

"那么,你是说现在他又想杀掉我?"凯斯宾说。

"很明显啊。"克奈尔斯博士说。

"为什么是现在呢?"凯斯宾说,"我的意思是,如果他想杀我,为什么要等到现在才下手呢。我触犯到他的利益了吗?"

"你的命运在两个小时之前彻底改变了--王后生了个儿子。"

"我看不出这跟我有什么关系。"凯斯宾不懂。

"你还不明白啊!"博士叫了起来,"我教给你的那些历史和政治,真是对你一点用也没有啊。你听好--如果说他没有自己的儿子,他理所当然要传位给你,即使他再不喜欢你,那也比传位给一个外人好多了。但是现在,他有了自己的儿子,王位当然要传给他的儿子。也就是说,你就变得很碍事了,他必然会想尽办法把你除掉的。"

"他真的就那么坏吗?"凯斯宾说,"他真会杀害我?"

"你的父亲就是被他谋杀的。"克奈尔斯博士说。

凯斯宾一下子难受得说不出话来了。

"我可以告诉你整个事情的经过,"博士说,"但不是现在,没时间了,你必须马上离开这里。"

"你会和我一起离开吗?"凯斯宾问。

"我不能,那样的话你的处境会更危险。因为两个人比一个人更容易暴露行踪。王子殿下,我亲爱的凯斯宾国王陛下,你要勇敢一点!你只能一个人走,并且要马上出发,想办法穿越南部边境,去找阿钦兰国的国王奈恩。他会善待你的。"

"那我还能见到你吗?"凯斯宾的声音有些颤抖。

"希望我们还能再见,我的国王陛下。"博士也低落地说道,"在这世界上,除了陛下你,我没有任何其他的朋友了。我只会一些小法术,不过现在速度才是一切。在你离开前,我还要送你这两件小小的礼物。这有一小袋金子--当然,这个城堡里所有的财宝理应归你所有。不过,我这儿还有一件东西比金子贵重百倍。"

说着,他把一个东西递到凯斯宾的面前。他几乎看不清那是什么,但摸着像是一只号。

"这是纳尼亚最珍贵的东西。在我年轻的时候,为了找到它,承受了很多恐惧,念了很多次咒语。它是属于苏珊女王的,是她在纳尼亚消失之前留下的。传说,不管谁吹响了这个号,就会立即得到帮助。不过,究竟是什么样的帮助,却没有人能说得出来。也许,它能召唤回女王露茜、国王爱德蒙、女王苏珊和至尊王彼得,他们将为受苦受难的纳尼亚人民主张正义。它也有可能是能唤回阿斯兰。把它带上来吧,凯斯宾国王。但是,不到万不得已时,千万不要用它。快走吧,快!现在,高塔底层那扇前往花园的小门正开着,我就送你到那里。"

"我的马戴斯特里尔能带上吗?"凯斯宾问。

"都准备好了,它正在果园那边等你呢。"

走在长长的旋转楼梯上,克奈尔斯又轻声地说了不少指示和建议。凯斯宾的心里很乱,但他还是努力地记着那些话。不一会,他们闻到了花园里的新鲜空气。从小径上还隐隐传来戴斯特里尔的马蹄声和亲切的嘶叫声。一老一少依依惜别。就这样,凯斯宾十世从他父亲的城堡里走了出来,他转过身看到天上升起许多礼花,那是大家在庆贺新王子的出生。

一整夜,他都在这块自己熟悉的土地上,朝南方奔跑。起初,他只走小路或便道,后来确定没有伏兵后,就开始在大路上飞奔。对于这次不一般的旅行,戴斯特里尔也非常激动。尽管凯斯宾在和克奈尔斯博士告别时掉了眼泪,但现在却表现得很勇敢,他只要一想到自己是国王凯斯宾正在历险的旅途中,就觉得很开心。剑佩在他的左腰,右腰是苏珊女王的神号。天蒙蒙亮时,天上开始下起小雨,凯斯宾勒住马向四下打量,周围满是从未见过的森林、盛开的野菊和青色的群山。他第一次见到这片广阔的天地,突然觉得自己是那么地渺小,心里不免有些紧张。

天大亮后,凯斯宾离开了大路,到森林中找了一片草地,想要好好休息一下。他卸下马鞍,让马去吃草,自己就地吃了些冷鸡肉,喝了点酒,才舒服地躺下,很快就睡着了。当他醒来的时候,已是黄昏,他又简单吃了点食物就再次启程了,方向依旧是南方。他越过一大片的荒凉草野后,没多久便进入了一片山地。这里的路很崎岖,一会上山,一会下坡,上山的路显然比下山的还要多。每登上一个山脊,他都可以看到那些山峦仿佛越来越近,颜色也越来越深沉。夜幕降临的时候,他正骑着马走在地势较低的山坡上。突然,刮起一阵大风,响起一阵雷声,暴雨来了。 戴斯特里尔开始焦躁不安。就在这个时候,他们进入了一个漆黑得看不到尽头的松树林。突然凯斯宾想起以前曾听过的故事:树林对人们一直很不友好。因为他的家族曾四处砍伐树木,甚至和所有山林家族打过仗,到处滥杀。尽管他和那些台尔马人不同,但树木怎么可能知道这个呢。

它们也确实不可能知道。风越来越大,整片树林在狂风暴雨下,不停发出呼啸声。突然一声巨响,有一棵巨树就在他的身后倒在了路上。"淡定,戴斯特里尔,淡定一些!"凯斯宾轻拍着马脖子说,他能感觉到自己也忍不住在颤抖。他暗自庆幸自己还活着,刚刚就差一点,他们就被那棵大树砸死了。炫目的闪电,伴着巨响的雷声,好像要把天空劈开两半。戴斯特里尔拼命地奔跑着。虽然凯斯宾是个好骑手,可在这种情况下,他也拉不住缰绳。他心里明白,这样疯狂地奔跑对自己很危险,但他什么也做不了,只能紧贴在马背上。黑暗中,一棵棵大树从前面扫来,他都只能刚好躲过。突然,他的额头被什么东西猛地一撞,他还没感觉到疼痛,就失去了知觉。

当他醒来时,发现自己还活着,而且正躺在一堆又明亮又温暖的篝火旁。他的头很痛,胳膊和腿上全是伤痕。这个时候,轻微的交谈声传了过来。

"现在,"一个声音说,"在他清醒之前,我们必须决定该怎么处置他。

"杀了他!"另一个声音说,"我们不可以让他活着,他会背叛我们的。"

"当时我们就应该杀了他,或是放了他。"第三个声音说,"但是现在,我们不可以杀他。既然我们把他带回来了,又给他包了伤口,还精心照顾他,他就是一位客人,我们不能杀害一位客人。"

"先生们,"凯斯宾用微弱的声音说,"你们怎么对我都没问题,只求你们别杀害我那匹可怜的马。"

"我们找到你的时候,那匹马早就不见了。"第一个声音说。凯斯宾发觉这个声音带着沙哑憨厚,听着也有点古怪。

"别听他的好话,"第二个声音说,"我依旧认为......"

"够了!"第三个声音大声地说,"我们绝对不可以杀他,这太可耻了,尼克布瑞克!特鲁佛汉特,你说呢?我们该怎么处置他?"

"先给他点水吧。"这是第一个人的声音, 他可能就是特鲁佛汉特。话音刚落,就看见一个黑影走过来,凯斯宾感觉到有只胳膊轻轻地放在了他肩上。他多么希望这是人的胳膊,可形状又不太像。借着微光,他看到俯下来的那张脸上全是茸毛,中间有一只长鼻子,两颊长着奇怪的白斑。"这一定是某种特别的面具,"凯斯宾暗想,"当然,也有可能是我发烧导致的幻觉。"一杯东西递到他口边,他一口就喝完了。他正回味着这杯又热又甜的东西,这时篝火更旺了。凯斯宾傻眼了,他差点失声大叫,因为他一下子看清楚了那张脸。 那不是人,是一只獾。它看起来比他以前见过的獾都高大,面相更友善、聪明。现在他可以确定,刚才一直说话的人就是它。他还发现自己正在一个山洞里,躺在一个用石南草铺的地方。在火堆边,还有两个长着胡子的小个子,他们比克奈尔斯博士更矮更胖,毛发也更浓密粗糙。他猜测,他们是小矮人--纯种的小矮人。凯斯宾突然意识到,他找到了纳尼亚的原住民。这一激动,又是一阵眩晕。

在接下来的几天里,凯斯宾和他们慢慢熟络起来。原来那只獾叫特鲁佛汉特,它年龄最大,也最忠厚。而建议杀他的是那个脾气不好的小矮人(他的头发和胡子全是黑的,跟马鬃一样,又厚又硬),他的名字叫尼克布瑞克。另外一个小矮人杜鲁普金,有着一头狐狸般火红的头发。

就在凯斯宾可以坐起来讲话的头一天晚上,尼克布瑞克对他的伙伴们说,"那么现在,我们必须找出一个处置这人的办法。你们两个死活不让我杀了他,还觉得是在做好事。依我看,这件事的解决办法就是我们必须要囚禁他一辈子。我绝不允许他活着离开这里--回到他的同类身旁,那我们的秘密就全被泄露了。"

"好了!尼克布瑞克,"杜鲁普金皱着眉头说,"你怎么能如此粗鲁?他的头撞到了洞外的树,又不是他的错。而且我认为他不像奸细。"

"我说,"凯斯宾说,"在你们做决定之前,也许该问下我是不是还想离开。说真的,我一点也没有想要离开这里的意思。如果你们同意,我愿意和你们生活在一起。要知道,我这些年一直在找你们这样的生灵。"

"说得真好听!"尼克布瑞克咆哮道,"你是台尔马人,也是人类,对吧?你肯定想回到你的同类身旁去!"

"即便我想回去了,我也做不到了,"凯斯宾说,"我之所以慌张撞上你们的树,是因为我在逃命。国王要杀我,如果你们现在杀了我,那正合他意。"

"好了,"特鲁佛汉特说道,"你不用说这些!"

"嗯?"杜鲁普金说,"这是怎么回事?你做错了什么事?为什么这么小的年纪就成了弥若兹的敌人?"

"他是我的叔父。"凯斯宾话还没说完,尼克布瑞克就握着他的短剑,跳了起来。

"好啊你!"他吼道,"你不但是一个台尔马人,还是我们最大敌人的侄子和继承者。你们还要犯傻吗?还准备留他一命吗?"要不是獾和杜鲁普金及时拉住他,用力把他推回座位,凯斯宾可能当场就被刺死了。

"现在,我再最后说一次,尼克布瑞克,"杜鲁普金说,"你再不安分,我和特鲁佛汉特就要惩戒你了!"

尼克布瑞克这才闷闷不乐地坐下去。于是,他们要凯斯宾讲讲他的来历。凯斯宾说完他的故事后,大家沉默了许久。

"这是我听过的最奇怪的事。"杜鲁普金说。

"我不喜欢这故事。"尼克布瑞克说,"我很难想象,在人类世界里居然还有那么多关于我们的传说。说实在的,我们的事他们知道得越少越好。那个老保姆,真该叫人绑住她的舌头。还有那个什么博士会把事情弄得更乱糟。这些家伙比人类更可恶。你们记住,这些人会带给我们无穷无尽的后患。"

"不要不懂装懂了,尼克布瑞克,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你们这些小矮人和人类一样健忘又善变。虽然我只是一只獾而已,但是我们不朝三暮四,向来都是从一而终的。我认为,事情这样发展下去,对我们有很大的好处。你们想:在我们面前的,才是纳尼亚真正的君主,而且他现在回到了真正的纳尼亚。也许你们小矮人已经忘记了,可我们动物却永远记得,只有亚当的儿子做了国王,纳尼亚才能永享安宁。"

"得了吧!特鲁佛汉特,"杜鲁普金说道,"你是说,你要把这个国度送给人类吗?"

"我没有那个意思," 獾回答说,"这不是人类的国家,这一点我比谁都清楚,但它需要人来统治。我们獾一直记着这一点!老天保佑,你们忘了至尊王彼得也是个人类吗?"

"难道你还相信那些古老的传说吗?"杜鲁普金问。

"我告诉你,我们相信,我们所有动物都相信!"特鲁佛汉特说道,"我们绝不会忘记。我相信曾经治理凯尔帕拉维尔的至尊王彼得和其他人,就像我相信阿斯兰一样!"

"我看你们真够坚定的,"杜鲁普金说,"但是,如今谁还相信阿斯兰呢?"

"我相信,"凯斯宾突然插话道,"也许我原来也怀疑过,但是现在我完全相信了。嘲笑阿斯兰的那些人,他们从不相信有会讲话的兽类和小矮人。以前我常常疑惑,世界上到底有没有阿斯兰,有没有你们这些人。然而现在,你们就在这里。"

"说得对,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你说得很对,凯斯宾国王。只要你对古纳尼亚忠诚,我就拥护你做我的国王,不管他人怎么说,国王陛下万岁!"

"你可真让我恶心,獾。"尼克布瑞克哼了一声,"至尊王彼得和他的弟弟妹妹确实是人类,但他们是不同种类的人。但现在,在我们面前的却是台尔马人。围猎屠杀我们是他们的游戏,说实话,你干过这件事吗?"他突然转身面向凯斯宾。

"好吧,告诉你们,我做过,"凯斯宾说,"可......可它们是不会说话的动物。"

"那也没什么区别。"尼克布瑞克说。

"不,不,不,"特鲁佛汉特说,"你知道,这完全不一样。现在生活在纳尼亚的动物,跟我们可完全不同。它们不过是可怜的哑巴,没有一点灵性。这样的动物遍及卡乐门和台尔马,或者说世界各地到处都是。它们个子矮小,长相颜色也不尽相同,和我们之间的差别,就跟混血小矮人与你们的差别一样。

他们讨论了很久之后,还是决定让凯斯宾留下来。一旦他完全康复,就马上带他去见其他那些"自己人"。显然,纳尼亚的原住民至今还隐居在深山老林里。

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