迪文小说>纳尼亚传奇凯斯宾王子好词好句摘抄 > chater elve rcery and udden venance（第2页）
chater elve rcery and udden venance（第2页）
saidTrufflehuntersternly．
“Courtmanners，courtmanners，”sneeredNikabrik．“Butinthisholewemaytalkplainly．Youknow—andheknowsthatthisTelmarineboywillbekingofnowhereandnobodyinaweekunlesswecanhelphimoutofthetrapinwhichhesits．”
“Perhaps，”saidCornelius，“yournewfriendswouldliketospeakforthemselves？Youthere，whoandwhatareyou？”
“WorshipfulMasterDoctor，”cameathin，whiningvoice．“Sopleaseyou，I’monlyapooroldwoman，Iam，andveryobligedtohisWorshipfulDwarfshipforhisfriendship，I’msure．HisMajesty，blesshishandsomeface，hasnoneedtobeafraidofanoldwomanthat’snearlydoubledupwiththerheumaticsandhasn’ttwostickstoputunderherkettle．Ihavesomepoorlittleskill—notlikeyours，MasterDoctor，ofcourse—insmallspellsandcantripsthatI’dbegladtouseagainstourenemiesifitwasagreeabletoallconcerned．ForIhate’em．Ohyes．Noonehatesbetterthanme．”
“Thatisallmostinterestingand—er—satisfactory，”saidDoctorCornelius．“IthinkInowknowwhatyouare，Madam．Perhapsyourotherfriend，Nikabrik，wouldgivesomeaccountofhimself？”
Adull，greyvoiceatwhichPeter’sfleshcreptreplied，“I’mhunger．I’mthirst．WhereIbite，IholdtillIdie，andevenafterdeaththeymustcutoutmymouthfulfrommyenemy’sbodyandburyitwithme．Icanfastahundredyearsandnotdie．Icanlieahundrednightsontheiceandnotfreeze．Icandrinkariverofbloodandnotburst．Showmeyourenemies．”
“Anditisinthepresenceofthesetwothatyouwishtodiscloseyourplan？”saidCaspian．
“Yes，”saidNikabrik．“AndbytheirhelpthatImeantoexecuteit．”
TherewasaminuteortwoduringwhichTrumpkinandtheboyscouldhearCaspianandhistwofriendsspeakinginlowvoicesbutcouldnotmakeoutwhattheyweresaying．ThenCaspianspokealoud．
“Well，Nikabrik，”hesaid，“wewillhearyourplan．”
TherewasapausesolongthattheboysbegantowonderifNikabrikwasevergoingtobegin;whenhedid，itwasinalowervoice，asifhehimselfdidnotmuchlikewhathewassaying．
“Allsaidanddone，”hemuttered，“noneofusknowsthetruthabouttheancientdaysinNarnia．Trumpkinbelievednoneofthestories．Iwasreadytoputthemtothetrial．WetriedfirsttheHornandithasfailed．IfthereeverwasaHighKingPeterandaQueenSusanandaKingEdmundandaQueenLucy，theneithertheyhavenotheardus，ortheycannotcome，ortheyareourenemies—”
“Ortheyareontheway，”putinTrufflehunter．
“YoucangoonsayingthattillMirazhasfedusalltohisdogs．AsIwassaying，wehavetriedonelinkinthechainofoldlegends，andithasdoneusnogood．Well．Butwhenyourswordbreaks，youdrawyourdagger．ThestoriestellofotherpowersbesidetheancientKingsandQueens．Howifwecouldcallthemup？”
“IfyoumeanAslan，”saidTrufflehunter，“it’sallonecallingonhimandontheKings．Theywerehisservants．Ifhewillnotsendthem（butImakenodoubthewill），ishemorelikelytocomehimself？”
“No．You’rerightthere，”saidNikabrik．“AslanandtheKingsgotogether．EitherAslanisdead，orheisnotonourside。Orelsesomethingstrongerthanhimselfkeepshimback．Andifhedidcome-howdoweknowhe’dbeourfriend？HewasnotalwaysagoodfriendtoDwarfsbyallthat’stold．Noteventoallbeasts．AsktheWolves．Andanyway，hewasinNarniaonlyoncethatIeverheardof，andhedidn’tstaylong．YoumaydropAslanoutofthereckoning．Iwasthinkingofsomeoneelse．”
Therewasnoanswer，andforafewminutesitwassostillthatEdmundcouldhearthewheezyandsnufflingbreathoftheBadger．
“Whodoyoumean？”saidCaspianatlast．
“ImeanapowersomuchgreaterthanAslan’sthatitheldNarniaspellboundforyearsandyears，ifthestoriesaretrue．”
“TheWhiteWitch！”criedthreevoicesallatonce，andfromthenoisePeterguessedthatthreepeoplehadleapedtotheirfeet．
“Yes，”saidNikabrikveryslowlyanddistinctly，“ImeantheWitch．Sitdownagain．Don’talltakefrightatanameasifyouwerechildren．Wewantpower:andwewantapowerthatwillbeonourside．Asforpower，donotthestoriessaythattheWitchdefeatedAslan，andboundhim，andkilledhimonthatverystonewhichisoverthere，justbeyondthelight？”
“Buttheyalsosaythathecametolifeagain，”saidtheBadgersharply．
“Yes，theysay，”answeredNikabrik，“butyou’llnoticethatwehearpreciouslittleaboutanythinghedidafterwards．Hejustfadesoutofthestory．Howdoyouexplainthat，ifhereallycametolife？Isn’titmuchmorelikelythathedidn’t，andthatthestoriessaynothingmoreabouthimbecausetherewasnothingmoretosay？”
