《凯斯宾王子》第十一章 狮王的长啸

CHAPTER ELEVEN THE LION ROARS

WHEN the whole party was finally awake Lucy had to tell her story for the fourth time.The blank silence which followed it was as discouraging as anything could be.

"I can't see anything，"said Peter after he had stared his eyes sore."Can you，Susan?"

"No，of course I can't，"snapped Susan."Because there isn't anything to see.She's been dreaming.Do lie down and go to sleep，Lucy."

"And I do hope，"said Lucy in a tremulous voice，"that you will all come with me.Because-because I'll have to go with him whether anyone else does or not."

"Don't talk nonsense，Lucy，"said Susan."Of course you can't go off on your own.Don't let her，Peter.She's being downright naughty."

"I'll go with her，if she must go，"said Edmund."She's been right before."

"I know she has，"said Peter."And she may have been right this morning.We certainly had no luck going down the gorge.Still-at this hour of the night.And why should Aslan be invisible to us? He never used to be.It's not like him.What does the D.L.F.say?"

"Oh，I say nothing at all，"answered the Dwarf."If you all go，of course，I'll go with you; and if your party splits up，I'll go with the High King.That'smy duty to him and King Caspian.But，if you ask my private opinion，I'm a plain dwarf who doesn't think there's much chance of finding a road by night where you couldn't find one by day.And I have no use for magic lions which are talking lions and don't talk，and friendly lions though they don't do us any good，and whopping big lions though nobody can see them.It's all bilge and beanstalks as far as I can see."

"He's beating his paw on the ground for us to hurry，"said Lucy."We must go now.At least I must."

"You've no right to try to force the rest of us like that.It's four to one and you're the youngest，"said Susan.

"Oh，come on，"growled Edmund."We've got to go.There'll be no peace till we do."He fully intended to back Lucy up，but he was annoyed at losing his night's sleep and was making up for it by doing everything as sulkily as possible.

"On the march，then，"said Peter，wearily fitting his arm into his shield-strap and putting his helmet on.At any other time he would have said something nice to Lucy，who was his favourite sister，for he knew how wretched she must be feeling，and he knew that，whatever had happened，it was not her fault.But he couldn't help being a little annoyed with her all the same.

Susan was the worst."Supposing I started behaving like Lucy，"she said."I might threaten to stay here whether the rest of you went on or not.I jolly well think I shall."

"Obey the High King，your Majesty，"said Trumpkin，"and let's be off.If I'm not to be allowed to sleep，I'd as soon march as stand here talking."

And so at last they got on the move.Lucy went first，biting her lip and trying not to say all the things she thought of saying to Susan.But she forgot them when she fixed her eyes on Aslan.He turned and walked at a slow pace about thirty yards ahead of them.The others had only Lucy's directions to guide them，for Aslan was not only invisible to them but silent as well.His big cat-like paws made no noise on the grass.

He led them to the right of the dancing trees-whether they were still dancing nobody knew，for Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy-and nearer the edge of the gorge."Cobbles and kettledrums!"thought Trumpkin."I hope this madness isn't going to end in a moonlight climb and broken necks."

For a long way Aslan went along the top of the precipices.Then they came to a place where some little trees grew right on the edge.He turned and disappeared among them.Lucy held her breath，for it looked as if he had plunged over the cliff; but she was too busy keeping him in sight to stop and think about this.She quickened her pace and was soon among the trees herself.Looking down，she could see a steep and narrow path going slantwise down into the gorge between rocks，and Aslan descending it.He turned and looked at her with his happy eyes.Lucy clapped her hands and began to scramble down after him.From behind her she heard the voices of the others shouting，"Hi! Lucy! Look out，for goodness' sake.You're right on the edge of the gorge.Come back-"and then，a moment later，Edmund's voice saying，"No，she's right.There is a way down."

Half-way down the path Edmund caught up with her.

"Look!"he said in great excitement."Look! What's that shadow crawling down in front of us?"

"It's his shadow，"said Lucy.

"I do believe you're right，Lu，"said Edmund."I can't think how I didn't see it before.But where is he?"

"With his shadow，of course.Can't you see him?"

"Well，I almost thought I did-for a moment.It's such a rum light."

"Get on，King Edmund，get on，"came Trumpkin's voice from behind and above: and then，farther behind and still nearly at the top，Peter's voice saying，"Oh，buck up，Susan.Give me your hand.Why，a baby could get down here.And do stop grousing."

In a few minutes they were at the bottom and the roaring of water filled their ears.Treading delicately，like a cat，Aslan stepped from stone to stone across the stream.In the middle he stopped，bent down to drink，and as he raised his shaggy head，dripping from the water，he turned to face them again.This time Edmund saw him."Oh，Aslan!"he cried，darting forward.But the Lion whisked round and began padding up the slope on the far side of the Rush.

"Peter，Peter，"cried Edmund."Did you see?"

"I saw something，"said Peter."But it's so tricky in this moonlight.On we go，though，and three cheers for Lucy.I don't feel half so tired now，either."

Aslan without hesitation led them to their left，farther up the gorge.The whole journey was odd and dream-like the roaring stream，the wet grey grass，the glimmering cliffs which they were approaching，and always the glorious，silently pacing Beast ahead.Everyone except Susan and the Dwarf could see him now.

Presently they came to another steep path，up the face of the farther precipices.These were far higher than the ones they had just descended，and the journey up them was a long and tedious zig-zag.Fortunately the Moon shone right above the gorge so that neither side was in shadow.

Lucy was nearly blown when the tail and hind legs of Aslan disappeared over the top: but with one last effort she scrambled after him and came out，rather shaky-legged and breathless，on the hill they had been trying to reach ever since they left Glasswater.The long gentle slope (heather and grass and a few very big rocks that shone white in the moonlight) stretched up to where it vanished in a glimmer of trees about half a mile away.She knew it.It was the hill of the Stone Table:

With a jingling of mail the others climbed up behind her.

Aslan glided on before them and they walked after him.

"Lucy，"said Susan in a very small voice.

"Yes?"said Lucy.

"I see him now.I'm sorry."

"That's all right."

"But I've been far worse than you know.I really believed it was him-he，I mean-yesterday.When he warned us not to go down to the fir wood.And I really believed it was him tonight，when you woke us up.I mean，deep down inside.Or I could have，if I'd let myself.But I just wanted to get out of the woods and-and-oh，I don't know.And what ever am I to say to him?"

"Perhaps you won't need to say much，"suggested Lucy.

Soon they reached the trees and through them the children could see the Great Mound，Aslan's How，which had been raised over the Table since their days.

"Our side don't keep very good watch，"muttered Trumpkin."We ought to have been challenged before now-"

"Hush!"said the other four，for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them，looking so majestic that they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid，and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.The boys strode forward: Lucy made way for them: Susan and the Dwarf shrank back.

"Oh，Aslan，"said King Peter，dropping on one knee and raising the Lion's heavy paw to his face，"I'm so glad.And I'm so sorry.I've been leading them wrong ever since we started and especially yesterday morning."

"My dear son，"said Aslan.

Then he turned and welcomed Edmund."Well done，"were his words.

Then，after an awful pause，the deep voice said，"Susan."Susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying."You have listened to fears，child，"said Aslan."Come，let me breathe on you.Forget them.Are you brave again?"

"A little，Aslan，"said Susan.

"And now!"said Aslan in a much louder voice with just a hint of roar in it，while his tail lashed his flanks."And now，where is this little Dwarf，this famous swordsman and archer，who doesn't believe in lions? Come here，son of Earth，come HERE!"-and the last word was no longer the hint of a roar but almost the real thing.

"Wraiths and wreckage!"gasped Trumpkin in the ghost of a voice.The children，who knew Aslan well enough to see that he liked the Dwarf very much，were not disturbed; but it was quite another thing for Trumpkin，who had never seen a lion before，let alone this Lion.He did the only sensible thing he could have done; that is，instead of bolting，he tottered toward Aslan.

Aslan pounced.Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat's mouth? It was like that.The Dwarf，hunched up in a little，miserable ball，hung from Aslan's mouth.The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker's pack and then-heypresto-the Dwarf flew up in the air.He was as safe as if he had been in bed，though he did not feel so.As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother's arms and set him (right way up，too) on the ground.

"Son of Earth，shall we be friends?"asked Aslan.

"Ye-he-he-hes，"panted the Dwarf，for it had not yet got its breath back.

"Now，"said Aslan."The Moon is setting.Look behind you: there is the dawn beginning.We have no time to lose.You three，you sons of Adam and son of Earth，hasten into the Mound and deal with what you will find there."

The Dwarf was still speechless and neither of the boys dared to ask if Aslan would follow them.All three drew their swords and saluted，then turned and jingled away into the dusk.Lucy noticed that there was no sign of weariness in their faces: both the High King and King Edmund looked more like men than boys.

The girls watched them out of sight，standing close beside Aslan.The light was changing.Low down in the east，Aravir，the morning star of Narnia，gleamed like a little moon.Aslan，who seemed larger than before，lifted his head，shook his mane，and roared.

The sound，deep and throbbing at first like an organ beginning on a low note，rose and became louder，and then far louder again，till the earth and air were shaking with it.It rose up from that hill and floated across all Narnia.Down in Miraz's camp men woke，stared palely in one another's faces，and grasped their weapons.Down below that in the Great River，now at its coldest hour，the heads and shoulders of the nymphs，and the great weedy-bearded head of the river-god，rose from the water.Beyond it，in every field and wood，the alert ears of rabbits rose from their holes，the sleepy heads of birds came out from under wings，owls hooted，vixens barked，hedgehogs grunted，the trees stirred.In towns and villages mothers pressed babies close to their breasts，staring with wild eyes，dogs whimpered，and men leaped up groping for lights.Far away on the northern frontier the mountain giants peered from the dark gateways of their castles.

What Lucy and Susan saw was a dark something coming to them from almost every direction across the hills.It looked first like a black mist creeping on the ground，then like the stormy waves of a black sea rising higher and higher as it came on，and then，at last，like what it was-woods on the move.All the trees of the world appeared to be rushing towards Aslan.But as they drew nearer they looked less like trees; and when the whole crowd，bowing and curtsying and waving thin long arms to Aslan，were all around Lucy，she saw that it was a crowd of human shapes.Pale birch-girls were tossing their heads，willowwomen pushed back their hair from their brooding faces to gaze on Aslan，the queenly beeches stood still and adored him，shaggy oak-men，lean and melancholy elms，shock-headed hollies (dark themselves，but their wives all bright with berries) and gay rowans，all bowed and rose again，shouting，"Aslan，Aslan!"in their various husky or creaking or wave-like voices.

The crowd and the dance round Aslan (for it had become a dance once more) grew so thick and rapid that Lucy was confused.She never saw where certain other people came from who were soon capering about among the trees.One was a youth，dressed only in a fawn-skin，with vine-leaves wreathed in his curly hair.His face would have been almost too pretty for a boy's，if it had not looked，so extremely wild.You felt，as Edmund said when he saw him a few days later，"There's a chap who might do anything-absolutely anything."He seemed to have a great many names-Bromios，Bassareus，and the Ram were three of them.There were a lot of girls with him，as wild as he.There was even，unexpectedly，someone on a donkey.And everybody was laughing: and everybody was shouting out，"Euan，euan，eu-oi-oi-oi."

"Is it a Romp，Aslan?"cried the youth.And apparently it was.But nearly everyone seemed to have a different idea as to what they were playing.It may have been Tig，but Lucy never discovered who was It.It was rather like Blind Man's Buff，only everyone behaved as if they were blindfolded.It was not unlike Hunt the Slipper，but the slipper was never found.What made it more complicated was that the man on the donkey，who was old and enormously fat，began calling out at once，"Refreshments! Time for refreshments，"and falling off his donkey and being bundled on to it again by the others，while the donkey was under the impression that the whole thing was a circus and tried to give a display of walking on its hind legs.And all the time there were more and more vine leaves everywhere.And soon not only leaves but vines.They were climbing up everything.They were running up the legs of the tree people and circling round their necks.Lucy put up her hands to push back her hair and found she was pushing back vine branches.The donkey was a mass of them.His tail was completely entangled and something dark was nodding between his ears.Lucy looked again and saw it was a bunch of grapes.After that it was mostly grapes-overhead and underfoot and all around.

"Refreshments! Refreshments，"roared the old man.

Everyone began eating，and whatever hothouses your people may have，you have never tasted such grapes.Really good grapes，firm and tight on the outside，but bursting into cool sweetness when you put them into your mouth，were one of the things the girls had never had quite enough of before.Here，there were more than anyone could possibly want，and rib table-manners at all.One saw sticky and stained fingers everywhere，and，though mouths were full，the laughter never ceased nor the yodelling cries of Euan，euan，eu-oi-oi-oi-oi，till all of a sudden everyone felt at the same moment that the game (whatever it was)，and the feast，ought to be over，and everyone flopped down breathless on the ground and turned their faces to Aslan to hear what he would say next.

At that moment the sun was just rising and Lucy remembered something and whispered to Susan，

"I say，Su，I know who they are."

"Who?"

"The boy with the wild face is Bacchus and the old one on the donkey is Silenus.Don't you remember Mr.. Tumnus telling us about them long ago?"

"Yes，of course.But I say，Lu"

"What?"

"I wouldn't have felt safe with Bacchus and all his wild girls if we'd met them without Aslan."

"I should think not，"said Lucy.

第十一章 狮王的长啸

终于所有人都醒了，露茜第四遍重复她的话。大家沉默了许久，这让她失去了信心。

"我什么都看不见，"彼得看着前方的林子，眼睛都酸了，"你呢，苏珊?"

"没有，当然也没看不见。"苏珊有些不耐烦，"本来就什么都没有，她在说梦话。睡吧，露茜。"

"我非常希望，"露茜的声音有些发抖，"你们跟我走。因为......因为不管你们走不走，我都要跟他走。"

"别瞎说，露茜，"苏珊说，"不可能，你绝对不能一个人离开。别让她去，彼得，她在胡闹。"

"如果她坚决去，我和她一起，"爱德蒙说，"她之前一直都是对的。"

"我知道，"彼得说，"而且可能今天凌晨她说的话也是对的。但是，从下游的后角不好走出峡谷，何况是夜里，都这个时候了。再说，阿斯兰为什么不让我们看到他?他以前不这样，从来不这样，这不是他的风格。小不点，你说呢?"

"哦，没什么好说的，"小矮人说，"如果都去的话，那我也一起去。如果兵分两路，我就跟随至尊王，这是我应尽的职责。你们别问我个人意见，我只是个没有头脑的小矮人，白天都迷路，更别说晚上了。何况，我根本不喜欢那个无所不能的狮子。会说话却不说话，友好却不来帮我们。我想说的就这么多，都说完了。"

"他在跺脚，叫我们赶紧的。"露茜说，"我们必须马上走。你们不走，我可要自己走了。"

"你不能勉强我们听你的胡话。现在是四比一，而且你最小。"苏珊说。

"哦，快走吧，"爱德蒙有点不耐烦了，"都去吧，在这儿只会不停地争吵。"他心里非常支持露茜，但是因为没睡好所以不太高兴，结果就像跟大家怄气一样。

"那就动身吧。"彼得懒懒地穿上盔甲。如果换个场合，他会安慰安慰或者鼓励一下露茜，因为她毕竟是他的小妹妹。他心里清楚露茜现在一定很伤心，无论事情到底怎样都不是她的错。但是，他还是情不自禁地发火。

苏珊心情糟透了。"如果我学露茜我就赖在这儿不动，你们爱去哪儿去哪儿!你们不知道我多想这么做!"

"女王陛下，请服从至尊王，"杜鲁普金说，"那现在走吧。既然不能睡觉，我也不想说话，快点走吧。"

最后，大家终于出发了。露茜带着所有人走在前面，咬着嘴唇，竭力把责备苏珊的话都咽在肚子里。说来也奇怪只要看到阿斯兰，她就没有了抱怨的情绪，阿斯兰在他们前面三十码开外的地方淡定地带路，他的巨爪像猫爪一样落在地上，没有一点声音。剩下的人跟着露茜，他们看不到阿斯兰也听不到他说话。

他们跟着阿斯兰从会跳舞的树林右边穿过。没人注意那些树是不是还在跳，露茜紧跟着阿斯兰，其他人紧跟着露茜，加上脚下是峡谷，大家都小心翼翼的。"这算怎么回事!"杜鲁普金想道，"希望不要以掉下悬崖、全身摔得粉碎而告终。"

在阿斯兰带领下，他们走到长着一些小树的悬崖边。阿斯兰一拐弯，人就不见了。露茜吓得倒抽一口气，难道要直接跳到悬崖下面?可是她只能跟随阿斯兰，不然更麻烦。容不得多想，她三步并作两步，也消失在树丛中。朝下面一看，下面的路弯弯曲曲通往峡谷底部，阿斯兰正沿着小路往下走，忽然回过身对她会心一笑。露茜拍了拍手，赶紧跟上去。这时候后面有人喊："露茜!小心，天哪，你走到悬崖边了、赶快回来......"可是又听见爱德蒙说："不，她没错，这儿有一条路可以下去。"

爱德蒙很快在下山的半路上追上了露茜。

"看!"他大声喊，"看!看我们前面的影子是谁的?"

"是他的。"露茜说。

"我就知道你没错，露茜。"爱德蒙说，"可是之前为什么我就看不见他呢?现在他在哪儿?"

"当然和影子连在一起。你还看不见?"

"好吧，我看到了......只有一会儿。光线不好。"

"继续，爱德蒙国王，继续走。"杜鲁普金催促。然后在靠近崖顶的地方，彼得说："哦，勇敢点，苏珊。我拉着你。看你，小孩子都能走得过来，你竟然吓成那个样子。"

不一会儿，所有人都到了谷底。河流发出哗哗的声音，阿斯兰在小溪里露出来的大石头上敏捷地跳来跳去，像只猫一样最后在小河中间停下来喝水。他仰起蓬松的头，转过脸看孩子们，脸上还滴着水。这时候，爱德蒙能看见他了。"啊，阿斯兰!"他大叫着扑上去。可阿斯兰一转身，跳到了对岸，向河上游走去。

"彼得，彼得，"爱德蒙喊，"你看见了吗?"

"我看见一点了。"彼得说，"不过在月光下看不清。接着走吧，我现在不怎么累。感谢露茜，幸亏有她。"

阿斯兰毫不犹豫地带他们走向左边上游。大家都有像梦一样的感觉--那奔腾不息的河水、湿漉漉的草地、影影绰绰的峭壁，还有前面一直沉默的狮王。现在除了苏珊和小矮人，所有人都看到阿斯兰了。

很快他们走上另外一条崎岖的小路，面对着远处的山崖。这里比之前的山崖还高，更加坎坷不平。幸运的是月亮高悬在天空中，把周围的山崖照得像白天一样没有阴影。

阿斯兰的尾巴和两条后腿在崖顶不见之后，露茜就没了信心。她费了好大力气，尽力跟在他身后才爬到山顶。她累得两腿发抖，气喘吁吁。他们离开清水溪之后吃尽了苦头，一想到就要到达目的地了，自然是一阵狂喜。一段平缓的山坡长满了石南花和青草丛，月光下，山坡上的石头泛着白光，向前延伸有几百米，尽头是一个山丘长满了绿色的树。露茜知道，那就是石台的所在。

伴着盔甲的叮当声，所有人都到了山顶。

阿斯兰带领大家走向山丘，仍然一言不发。

"露茜。"苏珊轻声叫她。

"什么事?"露茜说。

"我现在看见了。对不起，我向你道歉。"

"没关系。"

"其实，我比你想的还糟糕。昨天你第一次说阿斯兰不让我们到下游的时候，我就相信你见到阿斯兰了。今晚你叫我们时，我心里也是相信的。可我想快点离开，而且......而且......噢，我也说不清。现在我见到他了可不知道该怎么对他说了?"

"其实你没必要说。"露茜建议道。

很快他们来到树林，他们看到了阿斯兰的堡垒。在他们统治的那个时代之后，才建在石桌上的。

"我们的人警惕性不行，"小矮人小声说，"这样警戒，早就该被攻下......"

"嘘!"孩子们说。这时阿斯兰停下来转身，望着他们。他的目光让他们既兴奋又害怕。两个男孩先向他走去，然后是露茜，最后是苏珊和小矮人。

"哦，阿斯兰!"彼得走近雄狮单膝跪下，抬起一只狮爪亲吻，然后说，"见到你真高兴。抱歉，我带大家走了很多冤枉路，耽误了很久。特别是从昨天早晨开始。"

"亲爱的孩子，"阿斯兰说道。

他转向爱德蒙说，"你很棒。"

他沉默了一会，然后用那深沉的声音唤道："苏珊。"苏珊没有回应，大家都以为她在哭。"你被吓着了吧，孩子。过来，我帮你。"阿斯兰说着，向苏珊吹了一口气。"忘记吧。现在，好点了吗?"

"好点了，阿斯兰。"苏珊回答。

"那么现在!"阿斯兰忽然提高嗓门，用尾巴拍打着自己，"现在，请告诉我，那位小矮人，著名的骑士，不相信阿斯兰的朋友，在哪儿?到这儿来，大地之子，快过来!"他最后几个字像是吼出来的，震人心魄。

"啊，我的天!"杜鲁普金小声颤动着。几个孩子都了解阿斯兰，知道他肯定会非常喜欢杜鲁普金，于是乖乖让到一边，观看接下来将要发生的事情。杜鲁普金此刻心里很不是滋味了。他从来没见过狮王，更没有和狮王待在一起过。不过他并没有被吓跑，而是颤巍巍地一点一点挪向阿斯兰，这才是明智之举。

阿斯兰扑向他，把他咬住，然后翻身一跳。不就像猫妈妈衔着小猫玩耍的场景吗?现在就是这样。杜鲁普金被阿斯兰咬在嘴里，可怜兮兮地缩成一团。阿斯兰头一甩，小矮人的盔甲就叮叮当当作响，非常好听。然后像变魔术一般把小矮人抛了起来。他其实非常安全，不过他的感觉却不是这样了。他落下来时，阿斯兰天鹅绒般柔软的的爪子轻轻地把他接住，像落在母亲的怀抱里一样稳稳地把他头朝上放在地上。

"大地之子，我可以做你的朋友吗?"阿斯兰问。

"可......可......可......可以。"小矮人还大声喘着气，神魂根本没定下来。

"听着，"阿斯兰说，"月亮就要下去了，你们看身后，黎明就要到来。我们没有时间了。你们三个亚当之子和大地之子们，现在马上进入堡垒，看看里面的情况。"

小矮人没有说话，两个男孩也没敢问阿斯兰是不是也一起来。三人抽出宝剑，向阿斯兰行了礼，然后就消失在夜色中。露茜看到他们并无倦意，有的是男子汉一往无前的坚定和勇敢。

两个女孩在阿斯兰身旁目送三人远去。东方的天色发生了变化，阿罗维尔这颗纳尼亚的晨星像月亮一样闪着明亮却柔和的光。此时的阿斯兰尤其威风，他甩着长尾昂起头仰天长啸。

那声音闷而有力像风琴一样从低音奏起，然后声音越来越大，大地也开始颤抖。狮吼从脚下的山丘传到每一个角落，撼动了整个纳尼亚。弥若兹的部下被吓得面如土色，不明所以，过了很久才在慌乱中拿起武器。在这一天中最寒冷的时刻，下游的水仙女仰起头，水神从河水里站了起来。远处的田野和树林里兔子竖起耳朵，小鸟从翅膀下探出头来，猫头鹰在咕叫，狐狸在嗷叫，刺猬在咕噜，树森在骚动。各种声音交织在一起，就像交响曲一样。城镇和乡村的母亲们都抱紧自己的孩子，睁大眼听着。狗叫个没完没了，男人们抓起自己的猎枪。北部的山上巨人们揉着眼走出城堡不知道到底发生了什么。

周围的黑影向露茜和苏珊涌来。乍一看像黑影扫过来，之后又像黑色的海浪，一浪盖过一浪，不停地涌过来气势澎湃。再去看，好像全世界的树林都朝阿斯兰跑来。直到它们跑到跟前时，那些树突然都不见了，露茜环顾四周，面前竟然都是人的模样，全部都在向阿斯兰鞠躬行礼，挥舞着细长的手臂向阿斯兰表达敬意。面色白净的白桦姑娘扬起自己漂亮的长脖子;杨柳姑娘甩着自己的长发，不然就会看不清阿斯兰;山毛榉姑娘亭亭玉立，像皇后一样高贵。它们都注视着阿斯兰。毛发浓密的栎树老人表皮粗糙的橡树，清瘦忧郁的榆树，枝叶散漫的冬青树，漂亮的花楸树也向阿斯兰俯首致意。所有的树都喊着："阿斯兰!阿斯兰!"喊声一浪又一浪，像汹涌的波涛，经久不息。

阿斯兰周围的人越发多起来，舞蹈越来越热烈，这让露茜感到难以置信。她从来没见过这样的场面。她根本没有看到其他人是从哪里来的，只看到树林间突然涌出许多欢快的人。一个树皮作衣服的年轻人，头上戴着树叶编的草环。如果不是一脸尘土，肯定帅呆了。你会发现就像爱德蒙几天后见到他时说的："这个人，应该什么事情都会。"他好像有好多名字：布洛来欧斯、巴萨和欧斯、拉姆等等就是其中三个。他身边围绕着许多女孩，也是到处透着野性。来了个骑在驴背上的人，所有人都情绪高涨，热烈地欢叫着，"哟咿，哟咿，嘿......嘿......嘿!"

"这是一场游戏吧，阿斯兰?"那年轻人喊道。大家的确是在做游戏，虽然每个人对这场游戏都有不同理解。这可能是个躲猫猫游戏，可露茜怎么也搞不明白大家在躲什么。又有点像蒙眼抓人，不过大家的动作都好像是扮演蒙眼人。也有点像是小孩子玩的找拖鞋游戏，不过没有人找到什么。更难懂的是身材肥胖骑着毛驴的矮个子老人最引人注目。他大叫着："茶点!茶点时间到了!" 毛驴便以为这是大显身手的好时机，于是抬起前腿给大家表演。老人被毛驴掀下来好多次，每次都被人们扶上去。四处出现越来越多的葡萄叶，很快又垂下葡萄藤。到处都有人去爬葡萄藤，爬上树精的腿，抱住它们的脖子。露茜抬起手把头发拨到脑后，结果发现拨到后面的是葡萄藤。那头驴子把所有都弄得乱了。它尾巴被藤枝缠住，两只耳朵中间碰到个黑黑的东西。露茜仔细一看，原来是一串葡萄。然后悬挂下来的，落在脚边的，身体周围四处都出现了葡萄。

"茶点!茶点!"老人开始咆哮了。

不知道是谁拿来很多吃的，也没人讲究礼仪了，拿着就吃。不论你有多好的温室，都种不出这么好吃的葡萄。这真是好葡萄，表皮光泽有弹性，放进嘴里即化成汁，女孩们怎么吃都还有。周围的葡萄多得根本吃不完，人人手指里都是黏黏的。一边吃一边手舞足蹈，还大声喊，"哟咿，哟咿，嘿......嘿......嘿!"突然间不知道什么原因，大家都感到狂欢应该结束了。他们都气喘吁吁地坐到草地上，把面孔面向阿斯兰等待阿斯兰讲话。

旭日东升，露茜想起件事眼前一亮，小声地对苏珊说：

"""我说，苏珊，我知道他们是谁了。"""

"谁?"

"一脸野性的那个男孩是酒神巴库斯，骑毛驴的那个老人是森林之神塞利努斯。你还记得不，以前图姆纳斯先生讲过他们的故事。"

"是的，当然记得。但是，露西......"

"什么?"

"若是阿斯兰不在的话，我觉得和巴库斯以及他的野姑娘们在一起不安全。"

"我不这么认为。"露茜回答。