《凯斯宾王子》第六章 隐士们

CHAPTER SIX THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN HIDING

NOW began the happiest times that Caspian had ever known.On a fine summer morning when the dew lay on the grass he set off with the Badger and the two Dwarfs，up through the forest to a high saddle in the mountains and down on to their sunny southern slopes where one looked across the green wolds of Archenland.

"We will go first to the Three Bulgy Bears，"said Trumpkin.

They came in a glade to an old hollow oak tree covered with moss，and Trufflehunter tapped with his paw three times on the trunk and there was no answer.Then he tapped again and a woolly sort of voice from inside said，"Go away.It's not time to get up yet."But when he tapped the third time there was a noise like a small earthquake from inside and a sort of door opened and out came three brown bears，very bulgy indeed and blinking their little eyes.And when everything had been explained to them (which took a long time because they were so sleepy) they said，just as Trufflehunter had said，that a son of Adam ought to be King of Narnia and all kissed Caspian-very wet，snuffly kisses they were-and offered him some honey.Caspian did not really want honey，without bread，at that time in the morning，but he thought it polite to accept.It took him a long time afterwards to get unsticky.

After that they went on till they came among tall beech trees and Trufflehunter called out，"Pattertwig! Pattertwig! Pattertwig!"and almost at once，bounding down from branch to branch till he was just above their heads，came the most magnificent red squirrel that Caspian had ever seen.He was far bigger than the ordinary dumb squirrels which he had sometimes seen in the castle gardens; indeed he was nearly the size of a terrier and the moment you looked in his face you saw that he could talk.Indeed the difficulty was to get him to stop talking，for，like all squirrels，he was a chatterer.He welcomed Caspian at once and asked if he would like a nut and Caspian said thanks，he would.But as Pattertwig went bounding away to fetch it，Trufflehunter whispered in Caspian' s ear，"Don' tlook.Look the other way.It's very bad manners among squirrels to watch anyone going to his store or to look as if you wanted to know where it was."Then Pattertwig came back with the nut and Caspian ate it and after that Pattertwig asked if he could take any messages to other friends."For I can go nearly everywhere without setting foot to ground，"he said.Trufflehunter and the Dwarfs thought this a very good idea and gave Pattertwig messages to all sorts of people with queer names telling them all to come to a feast and council on Dancing Lawn at midnight three nights ahead."And you'd better tell the three Bulgies too，"added Trumpkin."We forgot to mention it to them."

Their next visit was to the Seven Brothers of Shuddering Wood.Trumpkin led the way back to the saddle and then down eastward on the northern slope of the mountains till they came to a very solemn place among rocks and fir trees.They went very quietly and presently Caspian could feel the ground shake under his feet as if someone were hammering down below.Trumpkin went to a flat stone about the size of the top of a water-butt，and stamped on it with his foot.After a long pause it was moved away by someone or something underneath，and there was a dark，round hole with a good deal of heat and steam coming out of it and in the middle of the hole the head of a Dwarf very like Trumpkin himself.There was a long talk here and the Dwarf seemed more suspicious than the Squirrel or the Bulgy Bears had been，but in the end the whole party were invited to come down.Caspian found himself descending a dark stairway into the earth，but when he came to the bottom he saw firelight.It was the light of a furnace.The whole place was a smithy.A subterranean stream ran past on one side of it.Two Dwarfs were at the bellows，another was holding a piece of red-hot metal on the anvil with a pair of tongs，a fourth was hammering it，and two，wiping their horny little hands on a greasy cloth，were coming forward to meet the visitors.It took some time to satisfy them that Caspian was a friend and not an enemy，but when they did，they all cried-"Long live the King，"and their gifts were noble-mail shirts and helmets and swords for Caspian and Trumpkin and Nikabrik.The Badger could have had the same if he had liked，but he said he was a beast，he was，and if his claws and teeth could not keep his skin whole，it wasn't worth keeping.The workmanship of the arms was far finer than any Caspian had ever seen，and he gladly accepted the Dwarf-made sword instead of his own，which looked，in comparison，as feeble as a toy and as clumsy as a stick.The seven brothers (who were all Red Dwarfs) promised to come to the feast at Dancing Lawn.

A little farther on，in a dry，rocky ravine they reached the cave of five Black Dwarfs.They looked suspiciously at Caspian，but in the end the eldest of them said，"If he is against Miraz，we'll have him for King."And the next oldest said，"Shall we go farther up for you，up to the crags? There's an Ogre or two and a Hag that we could introduce you to，up there."

"Certainly not，"said Caspian.

"I should think not，indeed，"said Trufflehunter."We want none of that sort on our side."Nikabrik disagreed with this，but Trumpkin and the Badger overruled him.It gave Caspian a shock to realize that the horrible creatures out of the old stories，as well as the nice ones，had some descendants in Narnia still.

"We should not have Aslan for friend if we brought in that rabble，"said Trufflehunter as they came away from the cave of the Black Dwarfs.

"Oh，Aslan!"said Trumpkin，cheerily but contemptuously.

"What matters much more is that you wouldn't have me."

"Do you believe in Aslan?"said Caspian to Nikabrik.

"I'll believe in anyone or anything，"said Nikabrik，"that'll batter these cursed Telmarine barbarians to pieces or drive them out of Narnia.Anyone or anything，Aslan or the White Witch，do you understand?"

"Silence，silence，"said Trufflehunter."You do not know what you are saying.She was a worse enemy than Miraz and all his race."

"Not to Dwarfs，she wasn't，"said Nikabrik.

Their next visit was a pleasanter one.As they came lower down，the mountains opened out into a great glen or wooded gorge with a swift river running at the bottom.The open places near the river's edge were a mass of foxgloves and wild roses and the air was buzzing with bees.Here Trufflehunter called again，"Glenstorm! Glenstorm!"and after a pause Caspian heard the sound of hoofs.It grew louder till the valley trembled and at last，breaking and trampling the thickets，there came in sight the noblest creatures that Caspian had yet seen，the great Centaur Glenstorm and his three sons.His flanks were glossy chestnut and the beard that covered his broad chest was golden-red.He was a prophet and a star-gazer and knew what they had come about.

"Long live the King，"he cried."I and my sons are ready for war.When is the battle to be joined?"

Up till now neither Caspian nor the others had really been thinking of a war.They had some vague idea，perhaps，of an occasional raid on some Human farmstead or of attacking a party of hunters，if it ventured too far into these southern wilds.But，in the main，they had thought only of living to themselves in woods and caves and building up an attempt at Old Narnia in hiding.As soon as Glenstorm had spoken everyone felt much more serious.

"Do you mean a real war to drive Miraz out of Narnia?"asked Caspian.

"What else?"said the Centaur."Why else does your Majesty go clad in mail and girt with sword?"

"Is it possible，Glenstorm?"said the Badger.

"The time is ripe，"said Glenstorm."I watch the skies，Badger，for it is mine to watch，as it is yours to remember.Tarva and Alambil have met in the halls of high heaven，and on earth a son of Adam has once more arisen to rule and name the creatures.The hour has struck.Our council at the Dancing Lawn must be a council of war."He spoke in such a voice that neither Caspian nor the others hesitated for a moment: it now seemed to them quite possible that they might win a war and quite certain that they must wage one.

As it was now past the middle of the day，they rested with the Centaurs and ate such food as the centaurs provided-cakes of oaten meal，and apples，and herbs，and wine，and cheese.

The next place they were to visit was quite near at hand，but they had to go a long way round in order to avoid a region in which Men lived.It was well into the afternoon before they found themselves in level fields，warm between hedgerows.There Trufflehunter called at the mouth of a little hole in a green bank and out popped the last thing Caspian expected-a Talking Mouse.He was of course bigger than a common mouse，well over a foot high when he stood on his hind legs，and with ears nearly as long as (though broader than) a rabbit's.His name was Reepicheep and he was a gay and martial mouse.He wore a tiny little rapier at his side and twirled his long whiskers as if they were a moustache."There are twelve of us，Sire，"he said with a dashing and graceful bow，"and I place all the resources of my people unreservedly at your Majesty's disposal."Caspian tried hard (and successfully) not to laugh，but he couldn't help thinking that Reepicheep and all his people could very easily be put in a washing basket and carried home on one's back.

It would take too long to mention all the creatures whom Caspian met that day-Clodsley Shovel the Mole，the three Hardbiters (who were badgers like Trufflehunter)，Camillo the Hare，and Hogglestock the Hedgehog.They rested at last beside a well at the edge of a wide and level circle of grass，bordered with tall elms which now threw long shadows across it，for the sun was setting，the daisies closing，and the rooks flying home to bed.Here they supped on food they had brought with them and Trumpkin lit his pipe (Nikabrik was not a smoker).

"Now，"said the Badger，"if only we could wake the spirits of these trees and this well，we should have done a good day's work."

"Can't we?"said Caspian.

"No，"said Trufflehunter."We have no power over them.Since the Humans came into the land，felling forests and defiling streams，the Dryads and Naiads have sunk into a deep sleep.Who knows if ever they will stir again? And that is a great loss to our side.The Telmarines are horribly afraid of the woods，and once the Trees moved in anger，our enemies would go mad with fright and be chased out of Narnia as quick as their legs could carry them."

"What imaginations you Animals have!"said Trumpkin，who didn't believe in such things."But why stop at Trees and Waters? Wouldn't it be even nicer if the stones started throwing themselves at old Miraz?"

The Badger only grunted at this，and after that there was such a silence that Caspian had nearly dropped off to sleep when he thought he heard a faint musical sound from the depth of the woods at his back.Then he thought it was only a dream and turned over again; but as soon as his ear touched the ground he felt or heard (it was hard to tell which) a faint beating or drumming.He raised his head.The beating noise at once became fainter，but the music returned，clearer this time.It was like flutes.He saw that Trufflehunter was sitting up staring into the wood.The moon was bright; Caspian had been asleep longer than he thought.Nearer and nearer came the music，a tune wild and yet dreamy，and the noise of many light feet，till at last，out from the wood into the moonlight，came dancing shapes such as Caspian had been thinking of all his life.They were not much taller than dwarfs，but far slighter and more graceful.Their curly heads had little horns，the upper part of their bodies gleamed naked in the pale light，but their legs and feet were those of goats.

"Fauns!"cried Caspian，jumping up，and in a moment they were all round him.It took next to no time to explain the whole situation to them and they accepted Caspian at once.Before he knew what he was doing he found himself joining in the dance.Trumpkin，with heavier and jerkier movements，did likewise and even Trufflehunter hopped and lumbered about as best he could.Only Nikabrik stayed where he was，looking on in silence.The Fauns footed it all round Caspian to their reedy pipes.Their strange faces，which seemed mournful and merry all at once，looked into his; dozens of Fauns，Mentius and Obentinus and Dumnus，Voluns，Voltinus，Girbius，Nimienus，Nausus，and Oscuns.Pattertwig had sent them all.

When Caspian awoke next morning he could hardly believe that it had not all been a dream; but the grass was covered with little cloven hoof-marks.

第六章 隐士们

凯斯宾有生以来最快乐的时刻到来了。那是个夏天的早晨，青色小草上还带着露珠，他与獾和两个小矮人一起，越过树林，翻过高山，来到了充满阳光的南山坡上。在南山坡上往下看，阿钦兰的绿丘陵一览无遗。

"我们先去找那三头胖熊。"杜鲁普金说。

他们来到了林中的一处空地，这里最引人注目的是那棵空心橡树。在它的周围，长满了青苔。特鲁佛汉特敲了三下树干，没有回应。它便继续用力地敲，树里顿时传出一阵不清晰的抱怨，"走开，时间还早呢。"特鲁佛汉特只好再敲了一次。终于，一阵响动后，树干上的门开了，三只肥胖的棕熊慢悠悠地从里面走出来，不断地眨着他们的小眼睛。正如特鲁佛汉特所料，它们在听了凯斯宾的故事后，一致表示同意由亚当的儿子来当纳尼亚的首领，它们抽着鼻子亲吻了凯斯宾，以此表达敬意。它们还拿出珍藏的蜂蜜来款待他。凯斯宾可不喜欢在大早上就吃蜂蜜，而且还没有面包，不过出于礼貌，他还是非常客气地接了过来。但后来，他花了好长时间才擦掉手上黏乎乎的蜂蜜。

告别了胖熊，他们继续前行。他们很快进入了一片桦树林中，特鲁佛汉特大声叫喊着："佩蒂威格!佩蒂威格!佩蒂威格!"眨眼间，一只十分漂亮的红色松鼠出现在了大家面前，它从树上很灵敏地往下跳，最后落在离他们最近的树枝上。你一看见它，就知道它和凯斯宾以前在城堡花园中看到的不会说话的普通松鼠不同，它体格看起来差不多有小猎犬那么大，从它那张聪明、懂事的脸就可以肯定它会说话。果然，它很爱讲话。而且很快你就会发现，想让它闭嘴是件难事。它表示欢迎凯斯宾国王的驾临，还殷勤地问他吃不吃点坚果。凯斯宾表示了感谢并说愿意尝尝。当松鼠佩蒂威格一蹦一跳去拿坚果时，特鲁佛汉特很小声地对凯斯宾说，"请把脸转开，不要盯着看。对松鼠来说，如果你看它进仓库，或是四处张望，就像是你想知道仓库在哪里，是不礼貌的。"不久，佩蒂威格拿着坚果过来了。凯斯宾吃过后，它问需不需要它去给好友们传话。"我脚不碰地，就能够去任何地方。"它自豪地说。特鲁佛汉特和小矮人们觉得这主意好，于是给许多名字听上去都很奇怪的动物写了便条。邀请它们在三天后的半夜到草坪参加宴会和政务会。"别忘记那三只棕熊，我们刚忘了跟他们说这事。"杜鲁普金补充说。

"　和松鼠告别后，他们又拜访了颤栗森林的七兄弟。杜鲁普金带着大家翻山越岭，沿着北山坡向东，最后进入岩石和松树中间的一个地方，这里一派庄严、肃穆。突然，凯斯宾感觉大地在震动，似乎地下有人在用铁锤不断地敲打。杜鲁普金踏上一块又扁又大的石头，跺了几下再站到一旁，好像在等待什么。过了好一会儿，石头被移到一旁，露出一个洞，伴随着热气和青烟，一个小矮人从洞口冒了出来，看上去和杜鲁普金很像。在洞口，他们聊了很久。比起松鼠和大熊，那小矮人疑心重得多了，但最后他还是请大家进屋了。凯斯宾顺着漆黑的台阶往下走，也不知过了多久，眼前忽然一亮，终于看见火光了。亮光来自炼铁炉--原来，这是铁匠工厂。风箱旁有两个小矮人正卖力地干活，另一个小矮人正钳着一块烧红了的铁块;还有一个在敲打着铁块。其中两个小矮人在一块满是油的布上擦了擦满是老茧的手，随即过来迎接客人。特鲁佛汉特说了好多，才让他俩相信凯斯宾并不是敌人而是朋友。明白了这些之后，他们一起大声呼喊着，""国王万岁!""还送来他们的礼物：三套金光熠熠的盔甲和三把利剑。凯斯宾、杜鲁普金和尼克布瑞克一人一套。獾本来也能得到一套，但它说自己是动物，再好的武器也比不上自己的爪子和牙齿。不是说大话，这些东西的做工比凯斯宾以前看过的武器都精致多了。这么一对比，他原来的剑就像个玩具，跟棍子一样粗糙。因此他很开心地接过这些礼物。七兄弟(都是红色小矮人)还开心地答应会去参加欢舞草坪的宴会。

"

他们继续往前走。在不远的地方，有一个干燥和满是岩石的沟壑。他们在那里找到一个山洞，里面有五个黑色小矮人。刚一见面，他们看着凯斯宾，眼里全是戒备和疑惑。不过后来他们的老大说，"如果他愿与弥若兹对抗，我们便尊敬他为王。"他们中的老二说，"需要我们送你一程吗?那边的山崖下住着几个食人怪和一个巫婆。我们可以介绍给你认识，看，就在那边。"

"不必了。"凯斯宾说。

"我看也没那个必要，"特鲁佛汉特说，"我们不要让那些家伙混入我们的队伍。"尼克布瑞克不同意这点，但杜鲁普金和獾否决了他的意见。凯斯宾感到非常震惊，他这才发现，纳尼亚那些古老的故事里的可怕生灵们也有自己的后代。

"我们一旦接受了那些坏蛋，阿斯兰就不愿意做我们的朋友了。"他们从黑色小矮人的山洞走出来后，特鲁佛汉特这样说。

"哦，阿斯兰!"杜鲁普金看似欢快却带着点轻蔑地说，

"""要是你们没有了我这个朋友，才叫不行呢!"""

"你相信阿斯兰吗?"凯斯宾问尼克布瑞克。

"任何人、任何东西，我都相信。"尼克布瑞克说，"只要他能打败可恶的台尔马暴徒，把他们从纳尼亚驱逐出去，我不管他是人还是什么东西，也不管他叫阿斯兰还是白女巫，你懂吗?"

"闭嘴，闭嘴!"特鲁佛汉特说，"你都不清楚自己在说什么。白女巫可比弥若兹和他的同类更危险。"

"她倒不是我们小矮人的敌人。"尼克布瑞克说。

接下来的拜访就要愉快顺利得多了。他们沿着山坡下去，进入一个宽敞的幽谷。一条湍急的河穿过谷底，成片的毛地黄和夜玫瑰铺在河边空地上，蜜蜂嗡嗡地来来回回忙碌着。特鲁佛汉特大声喊话，"格兰仕托姆!格兰仕托姆!"过了一会儿，凯斯宾听到了越来越近的马蹄声，震得河谷都随之动起来。忽然，他们看到灌木丛中跑出来几个动物。这是凯斯宾这一生见过的最奇特、最高贵的动物--人马格兰仕托姆，他的三个儿子紧随他身后。他健硕的马身散发着栗色的光芒，胸前是一绺金红色的胡须随风飘扬。他是预言师，又是占星师，自然明白他的客人为何而来。

"国王万岁!"他喊道，"我和我的孩子们已经做好了战斗的准备。战斗什么时候开始?"

哪怕到现在，其实凯斯宾和其他几人都还没有考虑过打仗这事，他们只是有一些大概的想法。比如说，偷袭农夫和猎人，要是他们还敢骚扰这片森林的话。他们只是希望建立一个隐匿的、传统的纳尼亚，可以供大家居住，仅此而已。格兰仕托姆的话让大家一下清醒过来了。

"你的意思是发动一场正义的战争，彻底地将弥若兹驱逐出纳尼亚?"凯斯宾问。

"不然呢?"人马说，"陛下穿着铠甲，佩带宝剑，不正是为了这个吗?"

"有胜算吗，格兰仕托姆?" 獾问道。

"时机刚刚好，"格兰仕托姆说，"我观察过星相，獾老弟你知道的，观察星相是我的强项，就像你能牢记历史一样。在天上，塔瓦和阿拉姆毕尔两颗行星相会，而在大地上，亚当的孩子将召集并领导着纳尼亚人民去为自由战斗。你们听，钟声都响了，这次欢舞草坪的会议就是要动员大家参加这场战争。"他自信满满，听得凯斯宾和其他几人也蠢蠢欲动。他们觉得，这会是一场难以避免的正义之战，而最终的胜利必将属于他们。

时间到了中午，他们和人马父子一起吃饭，人马用燕麦饼、苹果、香草、酒和乳酪招待了他们。

他们下午要去拜访的地方并不远，就是要绕一个大弯，才能避开人类的居住区。当他们终于在河岸附近的一个洞口前停下来时，特鲁佛汉特又喊了起来。不过这次话音未落，就有东西突然从洞里蹦了出来。凯斯宾没想到，这次是一只会说话的老鼠。　毋庸置疑，它可比一般的老鼠大多了，它后腿立起大概有一尺多高，而它的两只大耳朵几乎跟兔子一般长(甚至还要宽些)。它叫雷佩契普，小家伙快活又英勇，它的腰间佩带的宝剑，小巧又锋利。它还时不时捻动它那几根胡须，显得很神气。"陛下，我们总共有十二名鼠将。"它表现得非常恭敬，还快速又优美地他鞠了一躬，"我所有的军马都愿意听从陛下的安排!"凯斯宾见它十分认真的模样，差点没忍住笑出来。要知道雷佩契普和它的手下，只要用一只晾衣篮子，就能让任何人毫不费力地带回家。

他们那天见了好多朋友。如果要一个一个地讲述这朋友，会很费时间--有钻洞高手鼹鼠，钢牙利爪的獾家族，野兔卡梅罗，以及刺猬豪格尔斯道克等等。最后，他们在一口井边停下，想休息一会儿。井旁有大片软软的草坪，周围全是榆树。这时，投在地上的树影被拉得很长，太阳开始落山了。雏菊花慢慢合拢花瓣，白嘴鸟也陆续飞回家了。他们席地而坐，准备吃晚饭。杜鲁普金点着了他的大烟斗(尼克布瑞克不抽烟)。

"我说，"獾说，"如果我们可以唤醒这儿的树神，那今天就真的太圆满了。"

"我们做不到吗?"凯斯宾说。

"做不到，"獾说，"我们没那个能力，随着人类的到来，这块土地的树木被砍伐，河流被污染，树神和水神都已经消失好久了，没人知道他们是否还在。对我们来讲，这个损失太大了。要知道，那些台尔马人最惧怕树林，只要大树们发怒，他们就会抱头鼠窜，迅速逃离纳尼亚。"

"你们动物的想象力真丰富!"杜鲁普金说，这话他压根不信，"你为什么只说到树和水呢，为什么不继续说下去?如果石头可以自己飞起来，直接砸向弥若兹，不是更妙吗?"

听到这话，獾哼了一声，表示不屑。之后大家都没有再说话，凯斯宾差点都要睡着了。突然，他好像听见从后面的树林深处传来一阵低沉奇异的音乐。起初，他以为那是幻觉。于是，翻身打算接着睡，然而他耳朵才靠近地面，他立马又听见了那乐声，也许应该说是感觉到(总之很难说是哪一种)一阵轻微的敲打声。他一抬头，那敲打声就减弱了，可音乐声又来了，而且这次更加清晰，好像是笛声。他看到特鲁佛汉特直起身，双眼注视着森林。这时，天已经黑了，天上的月亮洒下皎洁温和的光。凯斯宾睡了个大觉，睡得比他想象要久。那音乐声越来越近，旋律很粗犷却又让人精神恍惚。终于，随着轻快的脚步声，从树林里来到月光下的是一群翩翩舞动的身影--多年来，这些身影一直萦绕在凯斯宾心头。他们比小矮人高一点，但是身材苗条，姿态优美。在曲卷的头发上，长着两只角，赤裸的上身在月光下散发一种光辉，它们的腿脚长得和山羊一样。

"羊怪!"凯斯宾一跃而起，喊出声来。羊怪们立即友善地将他包围着。他们好像心灵相通，没有怎么交流，相互间便有了理解和信任。凯斯宾不由自主地加入到他们的舞蹈中。他们跳得很认真，很热情。杜鲁普金踏着步子，也跟着摆动着他那笨拙的身子跳了起来，连特鲁佛汉特也努力地蹦着，扭动着。只有尼克布瑞克在一旁闷闷不乐，只是默默地看着。羊怪们用它们细小的蹄子围着凯斯宾跳来跳去，那些面孔看上去时而悲哀，时而欢快。和他们住在一起的还有几十个小矮人，曼蒂犹斯、奥本蒂纳斯、达姆纳斯等人都被叫了过来，向新王致敬。

第二天早上凯斯宾醒来，想起昨晚的事，他简直不敢相信这一切是真的。但草地上到处都是羊的蹄印。