《凯斯宾王子》第十二章 巫术和叛变

CHAPTER TWELVE SORCERY AND SUDDEN VENGEANCE

MEANWHILE Trumpkin and the two boys arrived at the dark little stone archway which led into the inside of the Mound，and two sentinel badgers (the white patches on their cheeks were all Edmund could see of them) leaped up with bared teeth and asked them in snarling voices，"Who goes there?"

"Trumpkin，"said the Dwarf."Bringing the High King of Narnia out of the far past."

The badgers nosed at the boys' hands."At last，"they said."At last."

"Give us a light，friends，"said Trumpkin.

The badgers found a torch just inside the arch and Peter lit it and handed it to Trumpkin."The D.L.F.had better lead，"he said."We don't know our way about this place."

Trumpkin took the torch and went ahead into the dark tunnel.It was a cold，black，musty place，with an occasional bat fluttering in the torchlight，and plenty of cobwebs.The boys，who had been mostly in the open air since that morning at the railway station，felt as if they were going into a trap or a prison.

"I say，Peter，"whispered Edmund."Look at those carvings on the walls.Don't they look old? And yet we're older than that.When we were last here，they hadn't been made."

"Yes，"said Peter."That makes one think."

The Dwarf went on ahead and then turned to the right，and then to the left，and then down some steps，and then to the left again.Then at last they saw a light ahead-light from under a door.And now for the first time they heard voices，for they had come to the door of the central chamber.The voices inside were angry ones.Someone was talking so loudly that the approach of the boys and the Dwarf had not been heard.

"Don't like the sound of that，"whispered Trumpkin to Peter."Let's listen for a moment."All three stood perfectly still on the outside of the door.

"You know well enough，"said a voice ("That's the King，"whispered Trumpkin)，"why the Horn was not blown at sunrise this morning.Have you forgotten that Miraz fell upon us almost before Trumpkin had gone，and we were fighting for our lives for the space of three hours and more? I blew it when first I had a breathing space."

"I'm not likely to forget it，"came the angry voice，"when my Dwarfs bore the brunt of the attack and one in five of them fell."("That's Nikabrik，"whispered Trumpkin.)

"For shame，Dwarf，"came a thick voice ("Trufflehunter's，"said Trumpkin)."We all did as much as the Dwarfs and none more than the King."

"Tell that tale your own way for all I care，"answered Nikabrik."But whether it was that the Horn was blown too late，or whether there was no magic in it，no help has come.You，you great clerk，you master magician，you know-all; are you still asking us to hang our hopes on Aslan and King Peter and all the rest of it?"

"I must confess-I cannot deny it-that I am deeply disappointed in the result of the operation，"came the answer.("That'll be Doctor Cornelius，"said Trumpkin.)

"To speak plainly，"said Nikabrik，"your wallet's empty，your eggs addled，your fish uncaught，your promises broken.Stand aside then and let others work.And that is why-"

"The help will come，"said Trufflehunter."I stand by Aslan.Have patience，like us beasts.The help will come.It may be even now at the door."

"Pah!"snarled Nikabrik."You badgers would have us wait till the sky falls and we can all catch larks.I tell you we can't wait.Food is running short; we lose more than we can afford at every encounter; our followers are slipping away."

"And why?"asked Trufflehunter."I'll tell you why.Because it is noised among them that we have called on the Kings of old and the Kings of old have not answered.The last words Trumpkin spoke before he went (and went，most likely，to his death) were，If you must blow the Horn，do not let the army know why you blow it or what you hope from it.But that same evening everyone seemed to know."

"You'd better have shoved your grey snout in a hornets' nest，Badger，than suggest that I am the blab，"said Nikabrik."Take it back，or-"

"Oh，stop it，both of you，"said King Caspian."I want to know what it is that Nikabrik keeps on hinting we should do.But before that，I want to know who those two strangers are whom he has brought into our council and who stand there with their ears open and their mouths shut."

"They are friends of mine，"said Nikabrik."And what better right have you yourself to be here than that you are a friend of Trumpkin's and the Badger's? And what right has that old dotard in the black gown to be here except that he is your friend? Why am I to be the only one who can't bring in his friends?"

"His Majesty is the King to whom you have sworn allegiance，" said Trufflehunter sternly.

"Court manners，court manners，"sneered Nikabrik."But in this hole we may talk plainly.You know-and he knows that this Telmarine boy will be king of nowhere and nobody in a week unless we can help him out of the trap in which he sits."

"Perhaps，"said Cornelius，"your new friends would like to speak for themselves? You there，who and what are you?"

"Worshipful Master Doctor，"came a thin，whining voice."So please you，I'm only a poor old woman，I am，and very obliged to his Worshipful Dwarfship for his friendship，I'm sure.His Majesty，bless his handsome face，has no need to be afraid of an old woman that's nearly doubled up with the rheumatics and hasn't two sticks to put under her kettle.I have some poor little skill-not like yours，Master Doctor，of course-in small spells and cantrips that I'd be glad to use against our enemies if it was agreeable to all concerned.For I hate'em.Oh yes.No one hates better than me."

"That is all most interesting and-er-satisfactory，"said Doctor Cornelius."I think I now know what you are，Madam.Perhaps your other friend，Nikabrik，would give some account of himself?"

A dull，grey voice at which Peter's flesh crept replied，"I'm hunger.I'm thirst.Where I bite，I hold till I die，and even after death they must cut out my mouthful from my enemy's body and bury it with me.I can fast a hundred years and not die.I can lie a hundred nights on the ice and not freeze.I can drink a river of blood and not burst.Show me your enemies."

"And it is in the presence of these two that you wish to disclose your plan?"said Caspian.

"Yes，"said Nikabrik."And by their help that I mean to execute it."

There was a minute or two during which Trumpkin and the boys could hear Caspian and his two friends speaking in low voices but could not make out what they were saying.Then Caspian spoke aloud.

"Well，Nikabrik，"he said，"we will hear your plan."

There was a pause so long that the boys began to wonder if Nikabrik was ever going to begin; when he did，it was in a lower voice，as if he himself did not much like what he was saying.

"All said and done，"he muttered，"none of us knows the truth about the ancient days in Narnia.Trumpkin believed none of the stories.I was ready to put them to the trial.We tried first the Horn and it has failed.If there ever was a High King Peter and a Queen Susan and a King Edmund and a Queen Lucy，then either they have not heard us，or they cannot come，or they are our enemies-"

"Or they are on the way，"put in Trufflehunter.

"You can go on saying that till Miraz has fed us all to his dogs.As I was saying，we have tried one link in the chain of old legends，and it has done us no good.Well.But when your sword breaks，you draw your dagger.The stories tell of other powers beside the ancient Kings and Queens.How if we could call them up?"

"If you mean Aslan，"said Trufflehunter，"it's all one calling on him and on the Kings.They were his servants.If he will not send them (but I make no doubt he will)，is he more likely to come himself?"

"No.You're right there，"said Nikabrik."Aslan and the Kings go together.Either Aslan is dead，or he is not on our side.Or else something stronger than himself keeps him back.And if he did come-how do we know he'd be our friend? He was not always a good friend to Dwarfs by all that's told.Not even to all beasts.Ask the Wolves.And anyway，he was in Narnia only once that I ever heard of，and he didn't stay long.You may drop Aslan out of the reckoning.I was thinking of someone else."

There was no answer，and for a few minutes it was so still that Edmund could hear the wheezy and snuffling breath of the Badger.

"Who do you mean?"said Caspian at last.

"I mean a power so much greater than Aslan's that it held Narnia spellbound for years and years，if the stories are true."

"The White Witch!"cried three voices all at once，and from the noise Peter guessed that three people had leaped to their feet.

"Yes，"said Nikabrik very slowly and distinctly，"I mean the Witch.Sit down again.Don't all take fright at a name as if you were children.We want power: and we want a power that will be on our side.As for power，do not the stories say that the Witch defeated Aslan，and bound him，and killed him on that very stone which is over there，just beyond the light?"

"But they also say that he came to life again，"said the Badger sharply.

"Yes，they say，"answered Nikabrik，"but you'll notice that we hear precious little about anything he did afterwards.He just fades out of the story.How do you explain that，if he really came to life? Isn't it much more likely that he didn't，and that the stories say nothing more about him because there was nothing more to say?"

"He established the Kings and Queens，"said Caspian.

"A King who has just won a great battle can usually establish himself without the help of a performing lion，"said Nikabrik.There was a fierce growl，probably from Trufflehunter.

"And anyway，"Nikabrik continued，"what came of the Kings and their reign? They faded too.But it's very different with the Witch.They say she ruled for a hundred years: a hundred years of winter.There's power，if you like.There's something practical."

"But，heaven and earth!"said the King，"haven't we always been told that she was the worst enemy of all? Wasn't she a tyrant ten times worse than Miraz?"

"Perhaps，"said Nikabrik in a cold voice."Perhaps she was for you humans，if there were any of you in those days.Perhaps she was for some of the beasts.She stamped out the Beavers，I dare say; at least there are none of them in Narnia now.But she got on all right with us Dwarfs.I'm a Dwarf and I stand by my own people.We're not afraid of the Witch."

"But you've joined with us，"said Trufflehunter.

"Yes，and a lot of good it has done my people，so far，"snapped Nikabrik."Who is sent on all the dangerous!raids? The Dwarfs.Who goes short when the rations fail? The Dwarfs.Who-?"

"Lies! All lies!"said the Badger.

"And so，"said Nikabrik，whose voice now rose to a scream，"if you can't help my people，I'll go to someone who can."

"Is this open treason，Dwarf?"asked the King.

"Put that sword back in its sheath，Caspian，"said Nikabrik."Murder at council，eh? Is that your game? Don't be fool enough to try it.Do you think I'm afraid of you? There's three on my side，and three on yours."

"Come on，then，"snarled Trufflehunter，but he was immediately interrupted.

"Stop，stop，stop，"said Doctor Cornelius."You go on too fast.The Witch is dead.All the stories agree on that.What does Nikabrik mean by calling on the Witch?"

That grey and terrible voice which had spoken only once before said，"Oh，is she?"

And then the shrill，whining voice began，"Oh，bless his heart，his dear little Majesty needn't mind about the White Lady-that's what we call her-being dead.The Worshipful Master Doctor is only making game of a poor old woman like me when he says that.Sweet Mastery Doctor，learned Master Doctor，who ever heard of a witch that really died? You can always get them back."

"Call her up，"said the grey voice."We are all ready.Draw the circle.Prepare the blue fire."

Above the steadily increasing growl of the Badger and Cornelius's sharp"What?"rose the voice of King Caspian like thunder.

"So that is your plan，Nikabrik! Black sorcery and the calling up of an accursed ghost.And I see who your companions are-a Hag and a Werewolf!" The next minute or so was very confused.There was an animal roaring，a clash of steel; the boys and Trumpkin rushed in; Peter had a glimpse of a horrible，grey，gaunt creature，half man and half wolf，in the very act of leaping upon a boy about his own age，and Edmund saw a badger and a Dwarf rolling on the floor in a sort of cat fight.Trumpkin found himself face to face with the Hag.Her nose and chin stuck out like a pair of nut-crackers，her dirty grey hair was flying about her face and she had just got Doctor Cornelius by the throat.At one slash of Trumpkin's sword her head rolled on the floor.Then the light was knocked over and it was all swords，teeth，claws，fists，and boots for about sixty seconds.Then silence.

"Are you all right，Ed?"

"I-I think so，"panted Edmund."I've got that brute Nikabrik，but he's still alive."

Weights and water-bottles!"came an angry voice."It's me you're sitting on.Get off.You're like a young elephant."

"Sorry，D.L.F.，"said Edmund."Is that better?"

"Ow ! No !"bellowed Trumpkin."You're putting your boot in my mouth.Go away."

"Is King Caspian anywhere?"asked Peter.

"I'm here，"said a rather faint voice."Something bit me."

They all heard the noise of someone striking a match.It was Edmund.The little flame showed his face，looking pale and dirty.He blundered about for a little，found the candle (they were no longer using the lamp，for they had run out of oil)，set it on the table，and lit it.When the flame rose clear，several people scrambled to their feet.Six faces blinked at one another in the candlelight.

"We don't seem to have any enemies left，"said Peter."There's the Hag，dead."(He turned his eyes quickly away from her.)"And Nikabrik，dead too.And I suppose this thing is a Were-wolf.It's so long since I've seen one.Wolf's head and man's body.That means he was just turning from man into wolf at the moment he was killed.And you，I suppose，are King Caspian?"

"Yes，"said the other boy."But I've no idea who you are."

"It's the High King，King Peter，"said Trumpkin.

"Your Majesty is very welcome，"said Caspian.

"And so is your Majesty，"said Peter."I haven't come to take your place，you know，but to put you into it."

"Your Majesty，"said another voice at Peter's elbow.He turned and found himself face to face with the Badger.Peter leaned forward，put his arms round the beast and kissed the furry head: it wasn't a girlish thing for him to do，because he was the High King.

"Best of badgers，"he said."You never doubted us all through."

"No credit to me，your Majesty，"said Trufflehunter."I'm a beast and we don't change.I'm a badger，what's more，and we hold on."

"I am sorry for Nikabrik，"said Caspian，"though he hated me from the first moment he saw me.He had gone sour inside from long suffering and hating.If we had won quickly he might have become a good Dwarf in the days of peace.I don't know which of us killed him.I'm glad of that."

"You're bleeding，"said Peter.

"Yes，I'm bitten，"said Caspian."It was that-that wolf thing."Cleaning and bandaging the wound took a long time，and when it was done Trumpkin said，"Now.Before everything else we want some breakfast."

"But not here，"said Peter.

"No，"said Caspian with a shudder."And we must send someone to take away the bodies."

"Let the vermin be flung into a pit，"said Peter."But the Dwarf we will give to his people to be buried in their own fashion."

They breakfasted at last in another of the dark cellars of Aslan's How.It was not such a breakfast as they would have chosen，for Caspian and Cornelius were thinking of venison pasties，and Peter and Edmund of buttered eggs and hot coffee，but what everyone got was a little bit of cold bear-meat (out of the boys' pockets)，a lump of hard cheese，an onion，and a mug of water.But，from the way they fell to，anyone would have supposed it was delicious.

第十二章 巫术和叛变

与此同时另一边，杜鲁普金和两个男孩来到堡垒内部的那个黑暗、狭小的通道。两只负责守卫的獾惊得跳起来，露出雪白、锋利的牙齿问："谁?"它们脸上的白斑暴露了它们的身份。

"杜鲁普金，"小矮人回答，"我把纳尼亚的至尊王请来了。"

獾用鼻子闻闻孩子们的手。"终于，终于来了!"它们说道，"终于。"

"点灯吧，朋友们!"小矮人说道。

那只比较高大的獾拿了支火把。彼得把点燃的火把递给杜鲁普金。"请小不点在前面带路，"他说，"我们对这里还不熟悉。"

杜鲁普金拿过火把，带头走进黑暗的通道。这个幽深、阴暗、潮湿的地方，挂满了蜘蛛网，偶尔还有蝙蝠。孩子们从在火车站的那个早晨时起就一直待在敞亮的屋子外面，现在感觉就像掉入陷阱或牢笼一样。

"我说，彼得，"爱德蒙小声说，"你看那些壁画，是不是像是很久以前的?可都还没咱们的岁数大!上次来的时候，这儿可没有堡垒。"

"是的，"彼得说，"让我想起了很多。"

小矮人继续走，右拐再左拐，下了台阶之后又左拐。前面有亮光--是从门下透出的微光。这是他们进来这里后第一次听到的声音是从堡垒的中央指挥室里传出来的。讲话的人好像非常愤怒，由于声音太大，根本不知道外面有人进来。

"那样大声说话真讨厌，"杜鲁普金轻声对彼得说，"等等，我们来听听他们在说什么。"于是，他们三个人一动不动地在门外停下来。

"你很清楚，"一个声音说，("是国王。"杜鲁普金轻声说。)"为什么那天早晨太阳升起时没有吹响号角，难道你不记得杜鲁普金刚刚动身，弥若兹的军队就向我们扑来了?为了生存，我们奋勇杀敌，过了三个多小时。刚有喘息的机会，我就吹响了那支神号。"

"这个我当然记得。"那愤怒的声音响起，"那时我的手下就战斗在最危险的地方，每五个小矮人中就有一个倒了下去。"("是尼克布瑞克。"杜鲁普金小声说。)

"不知羞耻，矮子!"一个声音响起("是特鲁佛汉特。"杜鲁普金继续提醒道)，"我们一样努力，但都不如国王陛下。"

"随你怎么说，"尼克布瑞克说，"不管是号角吹得太迟了，还是它根本没用。反正至今我们没得到任何援助。而你是个伟大的演说家，全能的魔法大师，无所不知的术士!你还想让我们对阿斯兰、至尊王彼得和其他人抱什么希望吗?"

"我承认......我并不否认......我对那号角的效果感到抱歉。"有人回答。("那是克奈尔斯博士。"杜鲁普金说。)

"说白了你的钱包瘪了，你的鸡蛋坏了，你的鱼跑了，你的承诺破碎了。"尼克布瑞克说道，"那么，你最好待在一边看别人的。这就是为什么我......"

"援军会到的，"特鲁佛汉特说，"我始终坚信阿斯兰的力量。耐心一点，像我们一样。援军会来的，可能已经到门口了。"

"呸!"尼克布瑞克吼道，"你们这些獾只知道等，天塌下来大家一块去抓云雀。我告诉你们，我们不等了。食物也快没有了。每次斗争都损失很大，我们的军心早已动摇了。"

"你知道是为什么吗?"特鲁佛汉特说，"我告诉你吧。军队中谣言四起，说我们召唤古代君王的帮助却没有结果。杜鲁普金离开之前说......那可能就是遗言，不要让军队知道吹响那只号角的原因，也不要让他们知道我们的想法。结果那天晚上就已人尽皆知。"

"你这只獾最好把灰鼻子插进蜂巢里!"尼克布瑞克说道，"你这是暗示我泄密了吗?你最好把话收回去，不然......"

"哦，停下，你们两个都闭嘴!"凯斯宾国王说，"我想知道，尼克布瑞克暗示了什么。不过在你说出你的想法前，请跟大家说清楚你带来的这两个只听不说话的家伙是谁。"

"是我的朋友，"尼克布瑞克说，"你若不是杜鲁普金和獾的朋友，也不能待这里!还有黑袍子的老家伙，如果不是你的朋友，也不能来这儿。为什么我不能带朋友来呢?"

"陛下是君主，你曾发誓效忠于他。"特鲁佛汉特非常严肃。

"对，对，君臣之礼还是要有的。"尼克布瑞克讽刺说，"可在这个山洞里，就直接说吧。你知道，当然他也很明白，如果我们一周还脱离不了险境，这个台尔马小子还坐什么王位?到时候，他什么都不是!只有我能帮他脱离这个陷阱"

"也许，你的朋友愿意说几句?"克奈尔斯说，"你们俩，是谁?来做什么?"

"尊敬的博士先生，"一个带着哭腔的声音说，"求你可怜可怜我这个老婆子吧。我对小矮人阁下非常感激。国王陛下，你长得真帅。你真的可以对我这样一个患了严重的风湿病身子已缩成一团、只有借助拐杖才能行走的老婆子完全放心。我手无缚鸡之力，只会几样小法术，当然无法和尊敬的博士相比。如果各位允许，我愿意用咒语来抗击敌人。我恨他们，是的，没人比我更恨他们了。"

"有意思，而且......嗯......非常满意。"克奈尔斯博士说，"我知道你是谁了，夫人。尼克布瑞克，让你的另一位朋友也说几句吧?"

一听到那个木讷的声音，彼得身上就起鸡皮疙瘩。"我饿，我渴，咬住了敌人就绝不松口。就算战死，也要把敌人身上肉咬掉，给我陪葬。我饿一百年不死、渴一百年不坏，冻一百年也不疆。我能喝像条河流一样多的血液。你们说，敌人在哪儿。"

"你是特地带他们完成你的计划，对吗?"凯斯宾问。

"是的，"尼克布瑞克说，"我打算在他们帮助下开始这个计划。"

接下来的一会儿，杜鲁普金和两个男孩只听得到凯斯宾和他的朋友们在低语，内容听不清。接着，凯斯宾说：

"""好吧，尼克布瑞克，说说你的计划。"""

沉默了好久之后，孩子们都以为那小矮人不打算说了。这个时候，尼克布瑞克开口了，它把声音压得很低，好像说了那些连自己都不想说的一番话。

"该说也说了，该做也做了。可是没人知道古纳尼亚究竟是否存在。杜鲁普金根本不信那些传说，不过我之前还是想试试。我们吹响了号角，结果呢?如果这世上真有国王彼得和他的弟弟妹妹，肯定是没听见我们的求助或者无法前来，甚至站到了敌人的阵营......"

"也许他们就在路上呢?"特鲁佛汉特打断了他的话，反问道。

"你可以接着这么说，直到弥若兹把我们统统喂狗。就像我刚刚说的，我们已经用传说中的宝物做了试验结果毫无用处。事实就是如此。俗话说，宝剑断了还有匕首。传说中除了国王和女王，还有其他势力。为什么我们不求助他们呢?"

"如果你想说阿斯兰，"特鲁佛汉特说，"那么他和古代君王们是一体的，他们是他的臣民。如果不派他们来--我相信他会的--或者他可能亲自前来?"

"不。你说得没错，"尼克布瑞克说，"阿斯兰会和众国王一起来。因此，阿斯兰可能已经死了，可能成了敌人，或者被更强大的力量控制了。就算来了，我们又不能确定，他是不是我们的朋友!在许多传说中，他和我们小矮人的交往并不密切，对动物来说也是这样，比如野狼。而且，据我了解阿斯兰到纳尼亚就一次，而且待得不久。我们不必再妄想依靠阿斯兰的力量了。不过我有另一个人选。"

然后就没了下句，好久一会儿，屋里没半点声音，爱德蒙可以听到獾的呼吸声。

"你指的谁?"凯斯宾终于出声问。

"我是说比阿斯兰力量还大的人。如果传说都是真的，那么这个人物也统治了纳尼亚很多年。"

"白女巫!"三个声音异口同声地说。看屋里的动静，彼得猜测有三个人同时跳起来了。

"是的，"尼克布瑞克一字一顿地说，"我说的就是白女巫。坐下，别像小孩一样听到名字就吓坏了。我们需要力量强大的人来帮助我们。说到能力，传说不是说过白女巫打败了阿斯兰，把他捆起来在这里把他给杀死了吗?"

"可传说他后来又活了。"獾尖着嗓子说。

"不错，是这样，"尼克布瑞克答道，"可是从那以后就没有他的消息了。他不知去向，从此销声匿迹。这点你该如何解释?可能他根本就没有复活?以后的传说根本就再没提过他，是因为已经没什么可说了，不是吗?"

"是因为他册封了国王和女王。"凯斯宾说。

"取得胜利的英雄可以自封为王，用不了狮子形式上的帮助。"尼克布瑞克说。这时特鲁佛汉特发出一阵低沉的咆哮，他好像被激怒了。

"换句话说，"尼克布瑞克接着说，"那些被册封的国王和统治过纳尼亚的女王又能怎样呢?他们也不见了。白女巫就不同了。传说她统治了上百年--上百年都是冬天。这才是能力!这就是她的过人之处。"

"可是，天地为证!"国王说，"她从来都是我们最凶险的对手。她不是比弥若兹还要可怕、可恶十倍吗?"

"可能吧，"尼克布瑞克冷冷地说，"或许对你们人类来说，如果那时候有人类。对动物来说，多半也是这样--我敢说，她把海狸家族打到穷途末路，今天纳尼亚没有一只海狸了。可是她和我们小矮人一直相处得很好。我是小矮人，当然要为自己说话。我们不怕她。"

"不过，你已经是我们的一员。"特鲁佛汉特说。

"没错，可我的人至今得到过什么好处，"尼克布瑞克厉声道，"是谁派我谁去执行最危险的任务。粮食不够，我们的身体变得越来越瘦小。是谁......"

"胡说!都是胡说!"獾叫嚷。

"因此，"尼克布瑞克提高嗓门，"如果你们对我的臣民毫无帮助，我们会投靠另一个有能力的人。"

"你这是在造反吗，小矮人?"凯斯宾问道。

"把宝剑收起来，凯斯宾，"尼克布瑞克说道，"在会议上谋杀的，嗯?别傻了，你以为我会怕你?你们有三个人，我们也是。"

"来吧!"特鲁佛汉特大声喊，却被打断了。

"停下，停下，停下，"克奈尔斯博士说，"你说得太快了。女巫已经死了，这一点已被证实。尼克布瑞克还要向女巫求助是怎么回事?"

那个令人不寒而栗的声音又响了起来："噢，她真的死了?"

那个带着哭腔的尖音接着说："哦!愿上帝保佑他，陛下别为白夫人太过担心--我们称她为白夫人。博士先生这么说，一定是在和老太婆开玩笑吧?我亲爱的博士，知识渊博的博士，谁听说过女巫会死?她随时都可能出现在这里。"

"召唤她，"木讷的声音说，"已准备就绪，划个圈，再点一堆蓝色的火就好。"

伴随着獾越发大声地怒吼和博士大声喊出的"什么?"屋内响起了凯斯宾雷霆一样的声音："这是你的计划，尼克布瑞克!用邪恶魔法召唤恶魔!我知道你的同伙是什么人了，是巫婆和是狼人!"

接下来的几分钟很混乱，有嗥叫，有金属的撞击。孩子们和杜鲁普金冲了进去。映入彼得眼帘的是一个庞然大物，面目狰狞。一边是人一边是狼，正扑向自己的同龄人。爱德蒙看见獾和一个小矮人在厮打，扭成一团像两只猫打架。杜鲁普金走到巫婆的跟前，巫婆尖鼻子和下巴伸出来。她肮脏的头发盖住了整个脸，双手抓住博士的脖子。杜鲁普金一剑挥向巫婆，那个丑巴巴的脑袋就滚在地上。然后蜡烛被打灭了，屋里伸手不见五指，只能听见击剑声、咬牙声、拳打脚踢声。在持续了大约一分钟后，终于安静了下来。

"你还好吧，爱德蒙?"

"我......我没事，"爱德蒙松了一口气，"我抓住了混蛋尼克布瑞克，他还活着。"

"谁压到我了!"传来一个恼怒的声音，"你坐在我身上了。起来，你这头大象!"

"很抱歉，小不点，"爱德蒙说，"好些了吗?"

"噢!不!"杜鲁普金叫道，"你的靴子伸我嘴里了!拿开。"

"凯斯宾国王在哪儿?"彼得问道。

"在这儿，"一个虚弱的声音答道，"什么东西咬了我一下。"

大家听到点火柴的声音，是爱德蒙。他的脸被小小的火光照亮了，看上去又苍白又脏。他摸了半天，找着一支蜡烛。这儿不用油灯，所有的油都吃了。爱德蒙点燃蜡烛放到桌子上，屋里亮了起来。地上的人歪歪扭扭地站起来，在烛光下打量着彼此。

"没有看到有人逃跑，"彼得说，"这是巫婆，已经死了。他然后又看另一个东西，这是尼克布瑞克，也死了。哈，这就是人狼吧。很久没看到这玩意了。这说明他以前犯了杀头罪，死的时候托生成了狼，结果刚才就这个样子。如果我没猜错，你是凯斯宾国王?"

"是的，"对面的小伙子回答，"但你是哪位?"

"他就是至尊王彼得陛下。"杜鲁普金说。

"欢迎你，陛下。"凯斯宾说。

"也欢迎你，陛下，"彼得说道，"我是来帮助你取得王位，而不是来接替你的。"

"陛下。"有个恭敬的声音，他回过头，正是那只忠诚的獾。彼得拥抱他，又亲亲他毛茸茸的脸。彼得这样做并不显得娇气，他毕竟是至尊王。

"好样的!"他说道，"你从来没对我们失去过信心。"

"陛下过奖了，"特鲁佛汉特说道，"动物是不会变心的，更何况是獾。我们从一而终。"

"尼克布瑞克真让人惋惜，"凯斯宾说，"虽然第一次见我就看我不顺眼。他的心被苦难和仇恨扭曲了，如果我们短期内取得了胜利，在和平时期他会是好人，好的小矮人。不知道他死在谁的手里，但我还是很开心。"

"你在流血。"彼得说。

"是的，我被咬了，"凯斯宾说，"是狼。"处理伤口花了一些时间。然后，杜鲁普金说，"咱们应该先吃点早餐，再做别的事。"

"不过，不是在这儿。"彼得说。

"对，"凯斯宾打了个寒战，"必须让人把尸体搬走。"

"把他们埋在一个坑里，"彼得说，"那个小矮人的尸体，就交给他的部下好了，按照他们的习俗埋葬。"

最后，他们在另一个地窖吃上了早餐。可是他们无法选择，没吃上想吃的：凯斯宾和克奈尔斯想吃鹿肉馅饼，彼得和爱德蒙想吃煎蛋和热咖啡。可现在每人只有一小块冰凉的熊肉，还是从两个男孩口袋里拿出来的，一小块已经不新鲜的乳酪，一只洋葱和一杯白开水。可是，看他们那狼吞虎咽的样子，别人会以为他们在吃百年难遇的美食呢。