C. S.劉易斯（萬潔　譯）

C. S. 劉易斯（1898—1963），英國著名文學(xué)家。所著兒童故事集《納尼亞傳奇》七部曲，情節(jié)動(dòng)人，妙趣橫生。本文選自《納尼亞傳奇》第一部《獅子·女巫·魔衣櫥》。

“Where are we going anyway？” said Susan， chiefly for the sake of changing the subject.

“I think Lu ought to be the leader，” said Peter， “goodness knows she deserves it. Where will you take us， Lu？”

“What about going to see Mr Tumnus？” said Lucy. “Hes the nice Faun I told you about.”

Everyone agreed to this and off they went walking briskly and stamping their feet. Lucy proved a good leader. At first she wondered whether she would be able to find the way， but she recognized an oddlooking tree on one place and a stump in another and brought them on to where the ground became uneven and into the little valley and at last to the very door of Mr Tumnuss cave. But there a terrible surprise awaited them.

The door had been wrenched off its hinges and broken to bits. Inside， the cave was dark and cold and had the damp feel and smell of a place that had not been lived in for several days. Snow had drifted in from the doorway and was heaped on the floor， mixed with something black， which turned out to be the charred sticks and ashes from the fire. Someone had apparently flung it about the room and then stamped it out. The crockery lay smashed on the floor and the picture of the Fauns father had been slashed into shreds with a knife.

“我們到底往哪里走??？”蘇珊問道，她這樣說，主要是為了岔開剛才的話題。

“我看，應(yīng)當(dāng)讓露茜做向?qū)?，”彼得說，“也只有她配做向?qū)?。露茜，你打算帶我們上哪兒去？?/p>

“去看看圖姆納斯先生，好不好？”露茜答道，“他就是我對你們講過的那個(gè)善良的半人羊?！?/p>

大家一致同意這個(gè)建議，于是立即出發(fā)。他們一邊輕快地跑著，一邊跺著腳。事實(shí)證明，露茜是個(gè)好向?qū)АＦ鸪?，她?dān)心自己找不到路，但她在一個(gè)地方認(rèn)出了一棵長得古里古怪的樹，后來又認(rèn)出了一個(gè)樹樁，終于把大家?guī)У搅艘粋€(gè)崎嶇不平的地方，然后進(jìn)了那個(gè)小山谷，沒多久就到了圖姆納斯先生家的洞口?？伤麄兯吹降膮s是一幅十分可怕的景象，他們都大吃一驚。

門已被扭了下來，斷成了好幾截，洞內(nèi)又黑又冷，不僅潮濕，還滿是霉味兒?？磥?，這個(gè)地方已經(jīng)好些日子沒有人住了。雪從洞口吹進(jìn)來，在門口積成一堆，里面還混雜著一些黑乎乎的東西，再一看，原來是燒剩的木炭屑和炭灰。很明顯，有人把燒著的柴火扔到了洞內(nèi)，然后又把它們踩滅了。陶罐被打碎在地上，半人羊父親的畫像被人用刀子劃成了碎片。

“This is a pretty good wash-out，” said Edmund; “not much good coming here.”

“What is this？” said Peter， stooping down. He had just noticed a piece of paper which had been nailed through the carpet to the floor.

“Is there anything written on it？” asked Susan.

“Yes， I think there is，” answered Peter， “but I cant read it in this light. Lets get out into the open air.”

They all went out in the daylight and crowded round Peter as he read out the following words：

The former occupant of these premises， the Faun Tumnus， is under arrest and awaiting his trial on a charge of High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis， Queen of Narnia， Chatelaine of Cair Paravel， Empress of the Lone Islands， etc.， also of comforting her said Majestys enemies， harbouring spies and fraternizing with Humans.

signed MAUGRIM， Captain of the Secret Police， LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

The children stared at each other.

“I dont know that Im going to like this place after all，” said Susan.

“Who is this Queen， Lu？” said Peter. “Do you know anything about her？”

“She isnt a real queen at all，” answered Lucy; “shes a horrible witch， the White Witch. Everyone all the wood people—hate her. She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas.”

“這地方簡直被糟蹋得不成樣子。”愛德蒙說，“到這兒可真沒勁?！?/p>

“這是什么？”彼得蹲下身子說。他發(fā)現(xiàn)地毯上釘有一張紙。

“上面有沒有寫字？”蘇珊問。

“好像寫了，”彼得回答，“但在這兒看不清，我們還是拿到外面去看吧。”

他們都跑到了洞外，圍著彼得聽他念道：

此處房宅原住戶半人羊圖姆納斯，現(xiàn)因背叛納尼亞女王、凱爾帕拉維爾城堡的女主人以及孤島女皇陛下簡蒂絲，袒護(hù)女王陛下的敵人，藏匿奸細(xì)，與人類親善，現(xiàn)已被捕，擇期受審。

保安局署長毛格林簽字查封

女王陛下萬歲！

孩子們面面相覷。

“我說不上我到底喜不喜歡這個(gè)地方。”蘇珊說。

“這個(gè)女王是誰，露茜？”彼得問，“你知道她的情況嗎？”

“她哪里是什么女王?！甭盾缁卮鹫f，“她是個(gè)可怕的女巫，就是那個(gè)白女巫。森林里所有的人都恨她。她對整個(gè)納尼亞施了魔法，所以這里一年到頭都是冬天，并且始終沒有圣誕節(jié)?！?/p>

Word Study

stamp /st?mp/ v. 跺（腳）;重踩

I tried stamping my feet to keep warm.

heap /hi?p/ v. 在……上放很多東西;堆置

She heaped food on my plate.

apparently /?'p?r?ntli/ adv. 顯然地;看來

He paused， apparently lost in thought.

“I—I wonder if theres any point in going on，” said Susan. “I mean， it doesnt seem particularly safe here and it looks as if it wont be much fun either. And its getting colder every minute， and weve brought nothing to eat. What about just going home？”

“Oh， but we cant， we cant，” said Lucy suddenly; “dont you see？ We cant just go home， not after this. It is all on my account that the poor Faun has got into this trouble. He hid me from the Witch and showed me the way back. Thats what it means by comforting the Queens enemies and fraternizing with Humans. We simply must try to rescue him.”

“A lot we could do！” said Edmund， “when we havent even got anything to eat！”

“Shut up—you！” said Peter， who was still very angry with Edmund. “What do you think， Susan？”

“Ive a horrid feeling that Lu is right，” said Susan. “I dont want to go a step further and I wish wed never come. But I think we must try to do something for Mr Whatever—his—name is—I mean the Faun.”

“Thats what I feel too，” said Peter. “Im worried about having no food with us. Id vote for going back and getting something from the larder， only there doesnt seem to be any certainty of getting into this country again when once youve got out of it. I think well have to go on.”

“我，我懷疑繼續(xù)走下去是不是有意義?！碧K珊說，“我是說，這里似乎不十分安全，也沒有多少有趣的地方。天氣越來越冷，我們又沒帶吃的東西。不如現(xiàn)在就回家吧。”

“哦，可我們不能回去，不能?！甭盾珩R上說，“難道你們不明白嗎？既然發(fā)現(xiàn)出了這種事情，我們就不能回家?？蓱z的半人羊是為了我才被逮捕的。我全靠他掩護(hù)才沒有被女巫逮住，他還告訴了我回家的路。這張紙上說他袒護(hù)女王陛下的敵人、與人類親善。就是指這些。我們必須趕快想辦法救他?！?/p>

“我們連吃的東西都沒帶，還能做別的事嗎？”愛德蒙說。

“你閉嘴！”彼得說，他還在生愛德蒙的氣，“蘇珊你怎么想的？”

“露茜說得對，發(fā)生這種事情真是恐怖?！碧K珊說，“我一步也不想走了，唉，我真希望我們不曾到過這里。但我想，我們必須替那個(gè)先生做點(diǎn)什么，他叫什么名字來著？我沒記住，總之我說的是那個(gè)半人羊?！?/p>

“我也這樣想的?！北说谜f，“我擔(dān)心我們身上沒帶吃的東西，我覺得應(yīng)該回去拿點(diǎn)兒吃的再來。但是，我怕我們出去以后就不能再到這里來了。所以我想我們得繼續(xù)前進(jìn)?！?/p>

“So do I，” said both the girls.

“If only we knew where the poor chap was imprisoned！” said Peter.

They were all still wondering what to do next， when Lucy said， “Look！ Theres a robin， with such a red breast. Its the first bird Ive seen here. I say！—I wonder can birds talk in Narnia？ It almost looks as if it wanted to say something to us.” Then she turned to the Robin and said， “Please， can you tell us where Tumnus the Faun has been taken to？” As she said this she took a step towards the bird. It at once flew away but only as far as to the next tree. There it perched and looked at them very hard as if it understood all they had been saying. Almost without noticing that they had done so， the four children went a step or two nearer to it. At this the Robin flew away again to the next tree and once more looked at them very hard. （You couldnt have found a robin with a redder chest or a brighter eye.）

“Do you know，” said Lucy， “I really believe he means us to follow him.”

“Ive an idea he does，” said Susan. “What do you think， Peter？”

“Well， we might as well try it，” answered Peter.

“我也這樣想?！眱蓚€(gè)女孩子異口同聲地說。

“要是我們知道這個(gè)可憐的半人羊被囚禁在什么地方就好了?！北说谜f。

大家默不作聲，考慮著下一步該怎么辦。突然，露茜對大家說：“你們看，那里有一只知更鳥，它的胸脯可真紅??！它是我在這兒看到的第一只鳥。哎呀，我在想納尼亞的鳥兒也許會(huì)講話呢！它看來好像有什么話要對我們說似的。”說著，她就轉(zhuǎn)過身對知更鳥說：“請問，你知道半人羊圖姆納斯先生被押送到什么地方去了嗎？”她說著，又朝著鳥兒走近了一步。那知更鳥立即就飛走了，不過它就落在相鄰的一棵樹上。它停在那兒，緊緊地盯著他們，好像完全聽得懂他們說的話似的。四個(gè)孩子下意識(shí)地一起向它走了一兩步?？吹剿麄冏呓耍区B兒又飛到了更遠(yuǎn)的一棵樹上，仍然緊盯著他們。（你肯定沒見過胸脯比它還要紅、眼睛比它還要亮的知更鳥）

“你們明白了嗎？”露茜說，“它是要我們跟著它走呢?！?/p>

“我看也是這樣?！碧K珊說，“彼得，你看呢？”

“嗯，我們可以試試。”彼得說。

The Robin appeared to understand the matter thoroughly. It kept going from tree to tree， always a few yards ahead of them， but always so near that they could easily follow it. In this way it led them on， slightly downhill. Wherever the Robin alighted a little shower of snow would fall off the branch. Presently the clouds parted overhead and the winter sun came out and the snow all around them grew dazzlingly bright. They had been travelling in this way for about half an hour， with the two girls in front， when Edmund said to Peter， “if youre not still too high and mighty to talk to me， Ive something to say which youd better listen to.”

“What is it？” asked Peter.

“Hush！ Not so loud，” said Edmund; “theres no good frightening the girls. But have you realized what were doing？”

“What？” said Peter， lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Were following a guide we know nothing about. How do we know which side that bird is on？ Why shouldnt it be leading us into a trap？”

“Thats a nasty idea. Still—a robin， you know. Theyre good birds in all the stories Ive ever read. Im sure a robin wouldnt be on the wrong side.”

“If it comes to that， which is the right side？ How do we know that the Fauns are in the right and the Queen （yes， I know weve been told shes a witch） is in the wrong？ We dont really know anything about either.”

“The Faun saved Lucy.”

“He said he did. But how do we know？ And theres another thing too. Has anyone the least idea of the way home from here？”

“Great Scott！” said Peter， “I hadnt thought of that.”

“And no chance of dinner either，” said Edmund.

那知更鳥好像完全懂事似的，不斷地從一棵樹飛到另一棵樹，總是飛落在離他們僅僅幾碼遠(yuǎn)的地方，讓他們很容易跟上它。它就這樣引著他們慢慢地走下山坡。它每停一處，那兒的樹枝上就掉下一陣雪來。沒過多久，天上的烏云散開了，太陽出來了，四周的雪地變得更加晶瑩耀眼。他們就這樣一直走了半個(gè)小時(shí)左右。兩個(gè)女孩子走在前面，愛德蒙對彼得說：“如果你們不再端著架子、裝出一副清高樣子，我有話要說，你們最好聽聽?！?/p>

“你要說什么？”彼得問。

“噓，小聲點(diǎn)。”愛德蒙說，“別嚇著前面的女孩子。你有沒有意識(shí)到我們是在干什么？”

“什么？”彼得壓低了聲音問。

“我們跟隨的這個(gè)向?qū)?，它的情況我們一點(diǎn)也不清楚。我們怎么知道那鳥兒是哪一邊的呢？難道它就不會(huì)把我們帶到陷阱里去嗎？”

“這想法真不應(yīng)該。在我讀過的所有的故事里，知更鳥都是善良的鳥兒。我敢肯定，知更鳥不會(huì)選錯(cuò)陣營的?！?/p>

“就算是這樣吧，哪一邊是所謂的正確陣營呢？我們又怎么能肯定半人羊是正確的，而女王——是的，我知道人們管她叫女巫——是錯(cuò)誤的呢？他們兩邊的情況我們的確一點(diǎn)也不清楚?！?/p>

“半人羊救了露茜。”

“這是半人羊的一家之言，我們怎么知道是真是假？還有，有誰知道回去的路怎么走呢？”

“天哪！”彼得說，“這些問題我還沒有考慮過呢！”

“而且咱們連飯都沒得吃！”愛德蒙說。

Word Study

rescue /'reskju?/ v. 營救;援救

You rescued me from an embarrassing situation.

vote /v??t/ v. 投票（贊成或反對）

Well listen to the arguments on both sides and then vote on it.

imprison /?m'pr?zn/ v. 監(jiān)禁;關(guān)押

They were imprisoned for possession of drugs.

dazzlingly /'d?z???li/ adv. 令人眼花地;令人目眩地

The box was full of dazzlingly shining gold coins.