“Fireahead,Peter,”saidEdmund.“We’realllistening.”
“WeareintheruinsofCairParavelitself,”saidPeter.
“But,Isay,”repliedEdmund.“Imean,howdoyoumakethatout?Thisplacehasbeenruinedforages.Lookatallthosebigtreesgrowingrightuptothegates.Lookattheverystones.Anyonecanseethatnobodyhaslivedhereforhundredsofyears.”
“Iknow,”saidPeter.“Thatisthedifficulty.Butlet’sleavethatoutforthemoment.Iwanttotakethepointsonebyone.Firstpoint:thishallisexactlythesameshapeandsizeasthehallatCairParavel.Justpicturearoofonthis,andacolouredpavementinsteadofgrass,andtapestriesonthewalls,andyougetourroyalbanquetinghall.”
Noonesaidanything.
“Secondpoint,”continuedPeter.“Thecastlewellisexactlywhereourwellwas,alittletothesouthofthegreathall;anditisexactlythesamesizeandshape.”
Againtherewasnoreply.
“Thirdpoint:Susanhasjustfoundoneofouroldchessmen—orsomethingaslikeoneofthemastwopeas.”
Stillnobodyanswered.
“Fourthpoint.Don’tyouremember—itwastheverydaybeforetheambassadorscamefromtheKingofCalormen—don’tyourememberplantingtheorchardoutsidethenorthgateofCairParavel?Thegreatestofallthewood-people,Pomonaherself,cametoputgoodspellsonit.Itwasthoseverydecentlittlechapsthemoleswhodidtheactualdigging.CanyouhaveforgottenthatfunnyoldLilygloves,thechiefmole,leaningonhisspadeandsaying,Believeme,yourMajesty,you’llbegladofthesefruittreesoneday.AndbyJovehewasright.”
“Ido!Ido!”saidLucy,andclappedherhands.
“Butlookhere,Peter,”saidEdmund.“Thismustbeallrot.Tobeginwith,wedidn’tplanttheorchardslapupagainstthegate.Wewouldn’thavebeensuchfools.”
“No,ofcoursenot,”saidPeter.“Butithasgrownuptothegatesince.”
“Andforanotherthing,”saidEdmund,“CairParavelwasn’tonanisland.”
“Yes,I’vebeenwonderingaboutthat.Butitwasawhat-do-you-call-it,apeninsula.Jollynearlyanisland.Couldn’tithavebeenmadeanislandsinceourtime?Somebodyhasdugachannel.”
“Buthalfamoment!”saidEdmund.“Youkeeponsayingsinceourtime.Butit’sonlyayearagosincewecamebackfromNarnia.Andyouwanttomakeoutthatinoneyearcastleshavefallendown,andgreatforestshavegrownup,andlittletreeswesawplantedourselveshaveturnedintoabigoldorchard,andgoodnessknowswhatelse.It’sallimpossible.”
“There’sonething,”saidLucy.“IfthisisCairParavelthereoughttobeadooratthisendofthedais.Infactweoughttobesittingwithourbacksagainstitatthismoment.Youknow—hedoorthatleddowntothetreasurechamber.”
“Isupposethereisn’tadoor,”saidPeter,gettingup.
Thewallbehindthemwasamassofivy.
“Wecansoonfindout,”saidEdmund,takinguponeofthesticksthattheyhadlaidreadyforputtingonthefire.Hebeganbeatingtheiviedwall.Tap-tapwentthestickagainstthestone;andagain,tap-tap;andthen,allatonce,boom-boom,withaquitedifferentsound,ahollow,woodensound.
“GreatScott!”saidEdmund.
“Wemustclearthisivyaway,”saidPeter.
“Oh,dolet’sleaveitalone,”saidSusan.“Wecantryitinthemorning.Ifwe’vegottospendthenighthereIdon’twantanopendooratmybackandagreatbigblackholethatanythingmightcomeoutof,besidesthedraughtandthedamp.Andit’llsoonbedark.”
“Susan!Howcanyou?”saidLucywithareproachfulglance.ButboththeboysweretoomuchexcitedtotakeanynoticeofSusan’sadvice.TheyworkedattheivywiththeirhandsandwithPeter’spocket-knifetilltheknifebroke.AfterthattheyusedEdmund’s。Soonthewholeplacewheretheyhadbeensittingwascoveredwithivy;andatlasttheyhadthedoorcleared.