- 2 days ago
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Audiobook - Pt 4/4
Complete unabridged, read by Lynn Redgrave
(Due to CD scratches, chapter 14 has many skips and faulty parts)
00:00:00 - Chapter 13
00:16:27 - Chapter 14
00:38:00 - Chapter 15
Complete unabridged, read by Lynn Redgrave
(Due to CD scratches, chapter 14 has many skips and faulty parts)
00:00:00 - Chapter 13
00:16:27 - Chapter 14
00:38:00 - Chapter 15
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00:00Chapter 13 The High King in Command
00:00:06Now, said Peter as they finished their meal, Aslan and the girls, that's Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, Caspian, are somewhere close.
00:00:16We don't know when he will act. In his time, no doubt, not ours.
00:00:20In the meantime, he would like us to do what we can on our own.
00:00:24You say, Caspian, we are not strong enough to meet Miraz in pitch battle.
00:00:27I'm afraid not, High King, said Caspian. He was liking Peter very much, but was rather tongue-tied.
00:00:35It was much stranger for him to meet the great kings out of the old stories than it was for them to meet him.
00:00:41Very well, then, said Peter. I'll send him a challenge to a single combat.
00:00:46No one had thought of this before.
00:00:49Please, said Caspian, could it not be me? I want to avenge my father.
00:00:54You're wounded, said Peter, and anyway, wouldn't he just laugh at a challenge from you?
00:01:00I mean, we have seen that you are a king and a warrior, but he thinks of you as a kid.
00:01:05But, sire, said the badger, who sat very close to Peter and never took his eyes off him, will he accept a challenge even from you?
00:01:13He knows he has the stronger army.
00:01:15Very likely he won't, said Peter, but there's always the chance.
00:01:20And even if he doesn't, we shall spend the best part of the day sending heralds to and fro and all that.
00:01:26By then, Aslan may have done something, and at least I can inspect the army and strengthen the position.
00:01:32I will send the challenge. In fact, I will write it at once.
00:01:35Have you pen and ink, Master Doctor?
00:01:37A scholar is never without them, Your Majesty, answered Dr. Cornelius.
00:01:42Very well, I will dictate, said Peter.
00:01:45And while the doctor spread out a parchment and opened his ink horn and sharpened his pen,
00:01:51Peter leant back with half-closed eyes and recalled to his mind the language in which he had written such things long ago in Narnia's golden age.
00:02:00Right, he said at last.
00:02:03And now, if you are ready, Doctor.
00:02:06Dr. Cornelius dipped his pen and waited.
00:02:09Peter dictated as follows.
00:02:11Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription and by conquest, high king over all kings in Narnia,
00:02:20emperor of the Lone Islands and lord of Caer Paravel, knight of the most noble order of the lion,
00:02:27to Miraz, son of Caspian VIII, sometime lord protector of Narnia,
00:02:32and now styling himself king of Narnia, greeting.
00:02:36Have you got that?
00:02:37Narnia, greeting, muttered the doctor.
00:02:43Yes, sir.
00:02:45Then begin a new paragraph, said Peter.
00:02:48For to prevent the effusion of blood, and for the avoiding of all other inconveniences likely to grow from the wars now levied in our realm of Narnia,
00:02:56it is our pleasure to adventure our royal person on behalf of our trusty and well-beloved Caspian,
00:03:02in clean wager of battle, to prove upon your lordship's body that the said Caspian is lawful king under us in Narnia,
00:03:11both by our gift and by the laws of the Telmarines, and your lordship, twice guilty of treachery,
00:03:17both in withholding the dominion of Narnia from the said Caspian,
00:03:20and in the most abominable, don't forget to spell it with an H, Doctor,
00:03:25bloody and unnatural murder of your kindly lord and brother, King Caspian IX of that name.
00:03:33Wherefore, we most heartily provoke, challenge, and defy your lordship to the said combat and monomachy,
00:03:39and have sent these letters by the hand of our well-beloved and royal brother Edmund,
00:03:45sometime king under us in Narnia, Duke of Lanternwaist, and Count of the Western March,
00:03:51Knight of the Noble Order of the Table,
00:03:53to whom we have given full power of determining with your lordship all the conditions of the said battle.
00:03:59given at our lodging in Aslan's Howe, this twelfth day of the month, green roof,
00:04:07in the first year of Caspian X of Narnia.
00:04:10That ought to do, said Peter, drawing a deep breath,
00:04:14and now we must send two others with King Edmund.
00:04:17I think the giant ought to be one.
00:04:20He's not very clever, you know, said Caspian.
00:04:24Of course not, said Peter,
00:04:26but any giant looks impressive if only he will keep quiet.
00:04:29And it will cheer him up.
00:04:31But who for the other?
00:04:33Upon my word, said Trumpkin,
00:04:35if you want someone who can kill with looks,
00:04:38rapey-cheap would be the best.
00:04:41He would indeed, from all I hear, said Peter with a laugh.
00:04:45If only he wasn't so small.
00:04:47They wouldn't even see him till he was close.
00:04:50Send Glenstorm, sire, said Truffle Hunter.
00:04:53No one ever laughed at a centaur.
00:04:56An hour later, two great lords in the army of Miraz,
00:05:01the Lord Glozell and the Lord Sopespian,
00:05:05strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast,
00:05:08looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood,
00:05:12the centaur and giant Wimbleweather,
00:05:15whom they had seen before in battle,
00:05:17and between them a figure they could not recognise.
00:05:19Nor, indeed, would the other boys at Edmund's school have recognised him
00:05:24if they could have seen him at that moment.
00:05:27For Aslan had breathed on him at their meeting,
00:05:30and a kind of greatness hung about him.
00:05:33What's to do? said the Lord Glozell.
00:05:37An attack?
00:05:39A parley, rather, said Sopespian.
00:05:42See, they carry green branches.
00:05:44They're coming to surrender, most likely.
00:05:47He that is walking between the centaur and the giant
00:05:50has no look of surrender in his face, said Glozell.
00:05:53Who can he be?
00:05:54It is not the boy Caspian.
00:05:56Nay, indeed, says Sopespian.
00:05:58This is a fell warrior, I warrant you.
00:06:01Wherever the rebels have got him from,
00:06:03he is, in your lordship's private year,
00:06:05a kinglier man than ever Miraz was.
00:06:09And what mail he wears, none of us smiths can make the like.
00:06:13I'll wager my dappled pomily.
00:06:15He brings a challenge, not a surrender, said Glozell.
00:06:19How, then, said Sopespian,
00:06:21we hold the enemy in our fist here.
00:06:24Miraz would never be so harebrained
00:06:26to throw away his advantage on a combat.
00:06:29He might be brought to it, said Glozell, in a much lower voice.
00:06:34Softly, said Sopespian,
00:06:36step a little aside here, out of earshot of those sentries.
00:06:39Now, have I taken your lordship's meaning right?
00:06:43If the king undertook wager of battle, whispered Glozell,
00:06:47why, either he would kill or be killed.
00:06:50So, said Sopespian, nodding his head,
00:06:55and if he killed, we should have won this war.
00:06:58Certainly, and if not,
00:07:00why, if not,
00:07:02we should be as able to win it without the king's grace as with him.
00:07:06For I need not tell your lordship that Miraz is no very great captain,
00:07:11and after that,
00:07:12we should be both victorious and kingless.
00:07:15And it is your meaning, my lord,
00:07:19that you and I could hold this land
00:07:21quite as conveniently without a king as with one?
00:07:26Glozell's face grew ugly.
00:07:28Not forgetting, said he,
00:07:30that it was we who first put him on the throne,
00:07:33and in all the years that he has enjoyed it,
00:07:36what fruits have come our way?
00:07:38What gratitude has he shown us?
00:07:41Say no more, answered Sopespian.
00:07:44But look, here comes one to fetch us to the king's tent.
00:07:49When they reached Miraz's tent,
00:07:51they saw Edmund and his two companions seated outside it,
00:07:55and being entertained with cakes and wine,
00:07:58having already delivered the challenge,
00:08:00and withdrawn while the king was considering it.
00:08:02When they saw them thus at close quarters,
00:08:06the two Telmarine lords thought all three of them very alarming.
00:08:10Inside, they found Miraz, unarmed and finishing his breakfast.
00:08:15His face was flushed, and there was a scowl on his brow.
00:08:18There! he growled,
00:08:19flinging the parchment across the table to them.
00:08:21See what a pack of nursery tales our jackanapes of a nephew has sent us.
00:08:27By your leave, sire, said Glozell,
00:08:29if the young warrior whom we have just seen outside is the King Edmund mentioned in the writing,
00:08:35then I would not call him a nursery tale, but a very dangerous knight.
00:08:39King Edmund, pa, said Miraz.
00:08:43Does your lordship believe those old wives' fables by Peter and Edmund and the rest?
00:08:49I believe my eyes, your majesty, said Glozell.
00:08:53Well, this is to no purpose, said Miraz,
00:08:56but as touching the challenge, I suppose there is only one opinion between us.
00:09:01I suppose so indeed, sire, said Glozell.
00:09:04And what is that? asked the King.
00:09:07Most infallibly to refuse it, said Glozell,
00:09:10for though I have never been called a coward,
00:09:13I must plainly say that to meet that young man in battle
00:09:16is more than my heart would serve me for.
00:09:18And if, as is likely, his brother, the High King, is more dangerous than he,
00:09:23why, or no life, my lord king, have nothing to do with him?
00:09:28Plague on you, cried Miraz.
00:09:31It was not that sort of counsel I wanted.
00:09:34Do you think I am asking you if I should be afraid to meet this Peter,
00:09:38if there is such a man?
00:09:39Do you think I fear him?
00:09:41I wanted your counsel of the policy of the matter,
00:09:44whether we, having the advantage, should hazard it on a wager of battle.
00:09:49To which I can only answer, your majesty, said Glozell,
00:09:53that for all reasons the challenge should be refused.
00:09:56There is death in the strange knight's face.
00:10:00There you are again, said Miraz, now thoroughly angry.
00:10:04Are you trying to make it appear that I am as great a coward as your lordship?
00:10:08Your majesty may say your pleasure, said Glozell, sulkily.
00:10:14You talk like an old woman, Glozell, said the king.
00:10:17What say you, my lord, Sir Pespian?
00:10:20Do not touch it, sire, was the reply,
00:10:23and what your majesty says of the policy of the thing comes in very happily.
00:10:27It gives your majesty excellent grounds for a refusal,
00:10:31without any cause for questioning your majesty's honour or courage.
00:10:35Great heaven! exclaimed Miraz, jumping to his feet.
00:10:39Are you also bewitched today?
00:10:42Do you think I'm looking for grounds to refuse it?
00:10:44You might as well call me a coward to my face.
00:10:47The conversation was going exactly as the two lords wished,
00:10:52so they said nothing.
00:10:54I see what it is, said Miraz,
00:10:57after staring at them as if his eyes would start out of his head.
00:11:00You are as lily-livered as hairs yourselves,
00:11:05and have the effrontery to imagine my heart after the likeness of yours.
00:11:09Growns for a refusal, indeed.
00:11:11Excuses for not fighting.
00:11:13Are you soldiers?
00:11:14Are you telmarines?
00:11:16Are you men?
00:11:17And if I do refuse it,
00:11:19as all good reasons of captaincy and martial policy urge me to do,
00:11:23you will think and teach others to think I was afraid.
00:11:27Is it not so?
00:11:28No man of your majesty's age, said Glozell,
00:11:32would be called coward by any wise soldier
00:11:34for refusing the combat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth.
00:11:40So I'm to be a dotard,
00:11:43with one foot in the grave as well as a dastard, roared Miraz.
00:11:48I'll tell you what it is, my lords,
00:11:51with your womanish counsels ever shying from the true point,
00:11:55which is one of policy,
00:11:56you have done the very opposite of your intent.
00:12:00I had meant to refuse it,
00:12:01but I'll accept it, do you hear?
00:12:03Accept it!
00:12:04I'll not be shamed because some witchcraft or treason
00:12:08has frozen both your bloods.
00:12:10We beseech your majesty, said Glozell,
00:12:13but Miraz had flung out of the tent,
00:12:16and they could hear him bawling out his acceptance to Edmund.
00:12:19The two lords looked at one another and chuckled quietly.
00:12:25I knew he'd do it if he were properly chafed, said Glozell,
00:12:29but I'll not forget he called me coward.
00:12:33It shall be paid for.
00:12:35There was a great stirring at Aslan's how when the news came back
00:12:40and was communicated to the various creatures.
00:12:43Edmund, with one of Miraz's captains,
00:12:45had already marked out the place for the combat,
00:12:48and ropes and stakes had been put round it.
00:12:51Two Telmarines were to stand at two of the corners,
00:12:54and one in the middle of one side as marshals of the lists.
00:12:58Three marshals for the other two corners,
00:13:00and the other side were to be furnished by the High King.
00:13:03Peter was just explaining to Caspian that he could not be one
00:13:07because his right to the throne was what they were fighting about,
00:13:10when suddenly a thick, sleepy voice said,
00:13:14Your Majesty, please.
00:13:17Peter turned, and there stood the eldest of the bulgy bears.
00:13:22If you please, Your Majesty, he said.
00:13:26I am a bear, I am.
00:13:29To be sure, so you are, and a good bear too, I don't doubt, said Peter.
00:13:33Yes, said the bear, but it was always a right of the bears
00:13:37to supply one marshal of the lists.
00:13:41Don't let him, whispered Trumpkin to Peter.
00:13:44He's a good creature, but he'll shame us all.
00:13:46He'll go to sleep, and he will suck his paws in front of the enemy too.
00:13:51I can't help that, said Peter, because he's quite right.
00:13:55The bear's had that privilege.
00:13:56I can't imagine how it has been remembered all these years
00:13:59when so many other things have been forgotten.
00:14:01Please, Your Majesty, said the bear.
00:14:05It is your right, said Peter, and you shall be one of the marshals,
00:14:09but you must remember not to suck your paws.
00:14:13Of course not, said the bear in a very shocked voice.
00:14:18Why, you're doing it this minute, bellowed Trumpkin.
00:14:21The bear whipped his paw out of his mouth and pretended he hadn't heard.
00:14:26Sir, came a shrill voice from near the ground.
00:14:30Ah, reepy-cheep, said Peter, after looking up and down and round,
00:14:34as people usually did when addressed by the mouse.
00:14:38Sir, my life is ever at your command, but my honour is my own.
00:14:42Sir, I have among my people the only trumpeter in Your Majesty's army.
00:14:46I had thought perhaps we might have been sent with the challenge.
00:14:50Sir, my people are grieved.
00:14:52Perhaps if it were your pleasure that I should be a marshal of the lists,
00:14:55it would contend them.
00:14:57A noise not unlike thunder broke out from somewhere overhead at this point,
00:15:02as giant wimble-weather burst into one of those not very intelligent laughs
00:15:07to which the nicer sorts of giant are so liable.
00:15:11He checked himself at once and looked as grave as a turnip
00:15:14by the time reepy-cheep discovered where the noise came from.
00:15:18I am afraid it would not do, said Peter very gravely.
00:15:23Some humans are afraid of mice.
00:15:26I had observed it, sir, said reepy-cheep.
00:15:29And it would not be quite fair to Miraz, Peter continued,
00:15:33to have in sight anything that might abate the edge of his courage.
00:15:37Your Majesty is the Mirror of Honour, said the mouse with one of his admirable bows,
00:15:42and on this matter we have but a single mind.
00:15:45I thought I heard someone laughing just now.
00:15:48If anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit,
00:15:51I am very much at his service, with my sword, whenever he has leisure.
00:15:57An awful silence followed this remark, which was broken by Peter, saying,
00:16:01Giant Wimbleweather and the Bear and the Centaur Glenstorm
00:16:04shall be our marshals.
00:16:06The combat will be at two hours after noon, dinner at noon precisely.
00:16:13I say, said Edmund as they walked away,
00:16:16I suppose it is all right.
00:16:18I mean, I suppose you can beat him.
00:16:22That's what I'm fighting him to find out, said Peter.
00:16:28Chapter 14.
00:16:29How All Were Very Busy
00:16:31A little before two o'clock, Trumpkin and the Badger sat with the rest of the creatures at the wood's edge,
00:16:38looking across at the gleaming line of Miraz's army, which was about two arrow shots away.
00:16:46In between, a square space of level grass had been staked for the combat.
00:16:50At the two far corners stood Glozell and Sopespian with drawn swords.
00:16:55At the near corners were Giant Wimbleweather and the Bulgy Bear,
00:16:59who, in spite of all their warnings, were sucking his paws and looking, to tell the truth, uncommonly silly.
00:17:06To make up for this, Glenstorm on the right of the lists, stock still except when he stamped a hind foot occasionally on the turf,
00:17:13looked much more imposing than the Telmarine Baron who faced him on the left.
00:17:17Peter had just shaken hands with Edmund and the Doctor and was now walking down to the combat.
00:17:24It was like the moment before the pistol goes at an important race, but very much worse.
00:17:31I wish Aslan had turned up before it came to this, said Trumpkin.
00:17:36So do I, said Truffle Hunter.
00:17:38But look behind you.
00:17:40Crows and crockery, muttered the dwarf as soon as he had done so.
00:17:44What are they?
00:17:45Huge people, beautiful people like gods and goddesses and giants.
00:17:51Hundreds and thousands of them closing in behind us.
00:17:54What are they?
00:17:56It's the Dryads and the Hummer Dryads and Silvans, said Truffle Hunter.
00:18:01Aslan has wakened them.
00:18:04Humph, said the dwarf.
00:18:06That'll be very useful if the enemy try any treachery,
00:18:08but it won't help the High King very much if Miraz proves handier with his sword.
00:18:14The Badger said nothing, for now Peter and Miraz were entering the lists from opposite ends,
00:18:20both on foot, both in chain shirts with helmets and shields.
00:18:24They advanced till they were close together.
00:18:28Both bowed and seemed to speak, but it was impossible to hear what they said.
00:18:33Next moment, the two swords flashed in the sunlight.
00:18:36For a second, the clash could be heard, but it was immediately drowned because both armies began shouting like crowds at a football match.
00:18:43Well done, Peter! Oh, well done! shouted Edmund as he saw Miraz reel back a whole pace and a half.
00:18:51Follow it up quick!
00:18:53And Peter did, and for a few seconds it looked as if the fight might be won.
00:18:58But then Miraz pulled himself together, began to make real use of his height and weight.
00:19:04Miraz! Miraz! The King! The King! came the roar of the Telmarines.
00:19:09Caspian and Edmund grew white with sickening anxiety.
00:19:13Peter is taking some dreadful knocks, said Edmund.
00:19:18Hello, said Caspian. What's happening now?
00:19:21Both falling apart, said Edmund. A bit blown, I expect.
00:19:26Watch! Ah! Now they're beginning again, more scientifically this time.
00:19:30Circling round and round, feeling each other's defences.
00:19:33I'm afraid this Miraz knows his work, muttered the Doctor, but hardly had he said this when there was such a clapping and baying and throwing up of hoods among the old Narnians that it was nearly deafening.
00:19:46What was it? What was it? Asked the Doctor.
00:19:50My old eyes missed it!
00:19:52The High King has pricked him in the armpit, said Caspian, still clapping, just where the armhole of the hauberk let the point through. First blood!
00:20:01It's looking ugly again now, though, said Edmund.
00:20:05Peter's not using his shield properly. He must be hurt in the left arm.
00:20:09It was only too true. Everyone could see that Peter's shield hung limp.
00:20:14The shouting of the Telmarines redoubled.
00:20:16You've seen more battles than I, said Caspian. Is there any chance now?
00:20:22Precious little, said Edmund. I suppose he might just do it. With luck.
00:20:29Oh, why did we let it happen at all? said Caspian.
00:20:33Suddenly all the shouting on both sides died down.
00:20:37Edmund was puzzled for a moment. Then he said,
00:20:39Oh, I see. They both agreed.
00:20:42Come on, Doctor. You and I may be able to do something for the High King.
00:20:45They ran down to the lists and Peter came outside the ropes to meet them,
00:20:50his face red and sweaty, his chest heaving.
00:20:54Is your left arm wounded? asked Edmund.
00:20:57It's not exactly a wound, Peter said.
00:21:00I got the full weight of his shoulder on my shield like a load of bricks
00:21:03and the rim of my wrist. I don't think it's broken. It might be a sprain.
00:21:09While they were doing this, Edmund asked anxiously.
00:21:17What do you think of him, Peter?
00:21:19Tough, said Peter. Very tough.
00:21:21I have a chance if I can keep him on the hop till his weight and short wind come against him.
00:21:27In this hot sun, too.
00:21:29To tell the truth, I haven't much chance else.
00:21:33Give my love to Ed if he gets me.
00:21:39Here he comes into the lists again.
00:21:41So long, old chap.
00:21:43Goodbye, Doctor.
00:21:44And I say, Ed,
00:21:45Ed, say something specially nice to Trumpkin.
00:21:48He's been a brick.
00:21:50Edmund couldn't speak.
00:21:52He walked back with the Doctor to his own lines with a sick feeling in his stomach.
00:21:57But the new bout went well.
00:21:59Peter now seemed to be able to make some use of his shield
00:22:02and he certainly made good use of his feet.
00:22:05He was almost playing a tig with Miraz now,
00:22:08keeping out of range, shifting his ground, making the enemy work.
00:22:12Coward, booed the Telmarines.
00:22:16Why don't you stand up to him?
00:22:18Don't you like it, eh?
00:22:19Thought you'd come to fight, not dance.
00:22:22Yeah.
00:22:23Oh, I do hope he won't listen to them, said Caspian.
00:22:27Not he, said Edmund.
00:22:28You don't know him.
00:22:29Oh!
00:22:30For Miraz had got in a blow at last on Peter's helmet.
00:22:34Peter staggered, slipped sideways and fell on one knee.
00:22:37The roar of the Telmarines rose like the noise of the sea.
00:22:40Now, Miraz, they yelled.
00:22:43Now, quick, quick, kill him!
00:22:47But indeed there was no need to egg the usurper on.
00:22:50He was on top of Peter already.
00:22:53Edmund bit his lips till the blood came as the sword flashed down on Peter.
00:22:58It looked as if it would slash off his head.
00:23:01Thank heavens!
00:23:02It had glanced down his right shoulder.
00:23:04I looked at the dwarf of the Telmarines and didn't break it.
00:23:07Great Scott, cried Edmund.
00:23:10He's up again!
00:23:10Peter!
00:23:11Go it!
00:23:12Peter!
00:23:13I couldn't see what happened, said the doctor.
00:23:16How did he do it?
00:23:18Grabbed Miraz's arm as it came down, said Trumpkin, dancing with delight.
00:23:23There's a man for you.
00:23:24Uses his enemy's arm as a ladder.
00:23:26The High King!
00:23:27The High King!
00:23:28Up, old Narnia!
00:23:30Look, said Truffle Hunter, Miraz is angry.
00:23:33It is good.
00:23:34They were certainly at it hammer and tongs now, such a flurry of blows that it seemed impossible
00:23:40for either not to be killed.
00:23:42As the excitement grew, the shouting almost died away.
00:23:46The spectators were holding their breath.
00:23:49It was most horrible and most magnificent.
00:23:53A great shout arose from the old Narnians.
00:23:56Miraz was down, not struck by Peter, but face downwards having tripped on a tussock.
00:24:03Peter stepped back, waiting for him to rise.
00:24:05Oh, bother, bother, bother, said Edmund to himself.
00:24:08Need he be as gentlemanly as all that?
00:24:10I suppose he must.
00:24:12It comes of being a knight and a High King.
00:24:14I suppose it is what Aslan would like.
00:24:16But that brute will be up again in a minute and then...
00:24:18But that brute never rose.
00:24:24The lords Glozell and Serpespion had their own plans ready.
00:24:27As soon as they saw their king down, they leapt into the lists, crying,
00:24:32Treachery!
00:24:33Treachery!
00:24:33The Narnian traitor has stabbed him in the back while he lay helpless.
00:24:37To arms!
00:24:38To arms!
00:24:39Tell Mar!
00:24:40Peter hardly understood what was happening.
00:24:44He saw two big men running towards him with drawn swords.
00:24:48Then the third Telmarine had leapt over the ropes on his left.
00:24:52To arms, Narnia!
00:24:54Treachery!
00:24:55Peter shouted.
00:24:56If all three had set upon him at once, he would never have spoken again.
00:25:00But Glozell stopped to stab his own king dead where he lay.
00:25:05That's for your insult this morning, he whispered as the blade went home.
00:25:10Peter swung to face Serpespion, slashed his legs from under him,
00:25:14and, with the back cut of the same stroke, walloped off his head.
00:25:18Edmund was now at his side, crying,
00:25:20Narnia!
00:25:20Narnia!
00:25:21The lion!
00:25:22The whole Telmarine army was rushing towards them,
00:25:25but now the giant was stamping forward, stooping low and swinging his club.
00:25:32The centaurs charged.
00:25:34Twang, twang behind, and hiss, hiss overhead came the archery of dwarfs.
00:25:39Trumpkin was fighting at his left.
00:25:41Full battle was joined.
00:25:44Come back, reepy-cheep, you little ass!
00:25:46shouted Peter.
00:25:47You'll only be killed.
00:25:49This is no place for mice.
00:25:51But the ridiculous little creatures were dancing in and out among the feet of both armies,
00:25:56jabbing with their swords.
00:25:57Many a Telmarine warrior that day felt his foot suddenly pierced as if by a dozen skewers,
00:26:03hopped on one leg, cursing the pain, and fell as often as not.
00:26:08If he fell, the mice finished him off.
00:26:10If he did not, someone else did.
00:26:12But almost before the old Narnians were really warm to their work, they found the enemy giving way.
00:26:21Tough-looking warriors turned white, gazed in terror, not at the old Narnians, but on something behind them,
00:26:29and then flung down their weapons, shrieking,
00:26:31the wood, the wood, the end of the world.
00:26:36But soon neither their cries nor the sound of weapons could be heard any more,
00:26:41for both were drowned in the ocean-like roar of the awakened trees
00:26:47as they plunged through the ranks of Peter's army and then on in pursuit of the Telmarines.
00:26:53Have you ever stood at the edge of a great wood on a high ridge
00:26:57when a wild southwester broke over it in full fury on an autumn evening?
00:27:02Imagine that sound.
00:27:04And then imagine that the wood, instead of being fixed to one place,
00:27:08was rushing at you and was no longer trees but huge people,
00:27:13yet still like trees because their long arms waved like branches
00:27:17and their heads tossed and leaves fell round them in showers.
00:27:21It was like that for the Telmarines.
00:27:24It was a little alarming even for the Narnians.
00:27:27In a few minutes, all Miraz's followers were running down to the great river
00:27:32in the hope of crossing the bridge to the town of Baruna
00:27:35and there defending themselves behind ramparts and closed gates.
00:27:39They reached the river, but there was no bridge.
00:27:42It had disappeared since yesterday.
00:27:45The utter panic and horror fell upon them and they all surrendered.
00:27:50But what had happened to the bridge?
00:27:53Early that morning, after a few hours' sleep,
00:27:56the girls had woken to see Aslan standing over them
00:27:59and to hear his voice saying,
00:28:02We will make holiday.
00:28:04They rubbed their eyes and looked round them.
00:28:07The trees had all gone,
00:28:09but could still be seen moving away toward Aslan's how in a dark mass.
00:28:14Bacchus and the Mennads,
00:28:15his fierce madcap girls,
00:28:17and Silenus were still with them.
00:28:20Lucy, fully rested, jumped up.
00:28:22Everyone was awake.
00:28:23Everyone was laughing.
00:28:25Flutes were playing,
00:28:26cymbals clashing.
00:28:28Animals, not talking animals,
00:28:29were crowding in upon them from every direction.
00:28:32What is it, Aslan?
00:28:34said Lucy,
00:28:35her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to dance.
00:28:37Come, children,
00:28:40said he,
00:28:40ride on my back again today.
00:28:43Oh, lovely,
00:28:45cried Lucy,
00:28:46and both girls climbed onto the warm golden back,
00:28:50as they had done no one knew how many years before.
00:28:53Then the whole party moved off,
00:28:56Aslan leading,
00:28:57Bacchus and his Mennads leaping,
00:28:59rushing and turning somersaults,
00:29:01the beasts frisking round them,
00:29:03and Silenus and his donkey bringing up the rear.
00:29:06They turned a little to the right,
00:29:09raced down a steep hill,
00:29:10and found the long bridge of Biruna in front of them.
00:29:14Before they had begun to cross it, however,
00:29:16up out of the water
00:29:18came a great,
00:29:20wet, bearded head,
00:29:21larger than a man's,
00:29:23crowned with rushes.
00:29:25It looked at Aslan,
00:29:26and out of its mouth,
00:29:28a deep voice came.
00:29:29Hail, Lord,
00:29:32it said,
00:29:33loose my chains.
00:29:36Who on earth is that?
00:29:39whispered Susan.
00:29:40I think it's the river god,
00:29:42but hush,
00:29:43said Lucy.
00:29:45Bacchus,
00:29:46said Aslan,
00:29:47deliver him from his chains.
00:29:50That means the bridge I expect,
00:29:52thought Lucy.
00:29:54And so it did.
00:29:55Bacchus and his people
00:29:57splashed forward into the shallow water,
00:30:00and a minute later,
00:30:01the most curious things began happening.
00:30:04Great strong trunks of ivy
00:30:07came coming up as a bridge,
00:30:10crossing as quickly as a fire goes,
00:30:12wrapping the stones round,
00:30:14splitting,
00:30:14breaking,
00:30:15separating them.
00:30:17Bacchus turned into hedges,
00:30:20gay with hawthorn,
00:30:21for a moment,
00:30:21and then disappeared,
00:30:23as the whole thing,
00:30:24with a rush and a rumble,
00:30:26collapsed into the whirling water.
00:30:29With laughing,
00:30:30screaming and laughing,
00:30:31the rebels waded,
00:30:32or swam,
00:30:33or danced across the ford.
00:30:35Hooray,
00:30:36it's the ford of Biruna again now,
00:30:38cried the girls,
00:30:39and up the bank on the far side,
00:30:41and into the town.
00:30:43Everyone in the streets
00:30:44fled before their faces.
00:30:47The first house they came to
00:30:48was a school,
00:30:49a girls' school,
00:30:50where a lot of Narnian girls,
00:30:52with their hair down very tight,
00:30:54and ugly,
00:30:54tight collars round their necks,
00:30:56and thick,
00:30:57tickly stockings on their legs,
00:30:59were having a history lesson.
00:31:00The sort of history that was taught
00:31:02in Narnia under Mirazi's rule
00:31:04was duller than the truest history
00:31:06you ever read,
00:31:07and less true
00:31:08than the most exciting adventure story.
00:31:11If you don't attend,
00:31:13Gwendolyn,
00:31:13said the mistress,
00:31:14and stop looking out of the window,
00:31:16I shall have to give you
00:31:17an order mark.
00:31:18But please,
00:31:19Miss Prizzle,
00:31:20began Gwendolyn.
00:31:21Did you hear what I said,
00:31:23Gwendolyn,
00:31:23asked Miss Prizzle.
00:31:25But please,
00:31:26Miss Prizzle,
00:31:27said Gwendolyn,
00:31:28there's a lion.
00:31:30Take two order marks
00:31:31for talking nonsense,
00:31:32said Miss Prizzle.
00:31:33And now?
00:31:35A roar interrupted her.
00:31:37Ivy came curling in
00:31:38at the windows of the classroom.
00:31:40The walls became
00:31:41a mass of shimmering green,
00:31:43and leafy branches
00:31:44arched overhead
00:31:45where the ceiling had been.
00:31:47Miss Prizzle
00:31:48found she was standing
00:31:49on grass
00:31:50in a forest glade.
00:31:51She clutched at her desk
00:31:52to steady herself
00:31:53and found that the desk
00:31:55was a rose bush.
00:31:57Wild people,
00:31:58such as she had never
00:31:59even imagined,
00:32:00were crowding round her.
00:32:02Then she saw the lion,
00:32:04screamed,
00:32:05and fled,
00:32:06and with her fled her class,
00:32:07who were mostly dumpy,
00:32:09prim little girls
00:32:10with fat legs.
00:32:12Gwendolyn hesitated.
00:32:14You'll stay with us,
00:32:16sweetheart,
00:32:17said Aslan.
00:32:19Oh, may I?
00:32:21Thank you,
00:32:22thank you,
00:32:23said Gwendolyn.
00:32:24Instantly,
00:32:25she joined hands
00:32:26with two of the mean ads
00:32:27who whirled her round
00:32:28in a merry dance
00:32:30and helped her take off
00:32:31some of the unnecessary
00:32:32and uncomfortable clothes
00:32:33that she was wearing.
00:32:35Wherever they went
00:32:36in the little town
00:32:37of Baruna,
00:32:38it was the same.
00:32:39Most of the people fled,
00:32:41a few joined them.
00:32:42When they left the town,
00:32:43they were a larger
00:32:44and a merrier company.
00:32:47They swept on
00:32:48across the level fields
00:32:49on the north bank
00:32:50or left bank
00:32:51of the river.
00:32:52At every farm,
00:32:53animals came out
00:32:54to join them.
00:32:55Sad old donkeys
00:32:57who had never known joy
00:32:58grew suddenly young again.
00:33:00Chained dogs
00:33:01broke their chains.
00:33:03Horses kicked their carts
00:33:04to pieces
00:33:04and came trotting along
00:33:06with them,
00:33:06clip-clop,
00:33:07kicking up the mud
00:33:08and whinnying.
00:33:10At a well in a yard,
00:33:11they met a man
00:33:12who was beating a boy.
00:33:13The stick
00:33:14burst into a flower
00:33:15in the man's hand.
00:33:17He tried to drop it,
00:33:18but it stuck to his hand.
00:33:20His arm became a branch,
00:33:23his body the trunk
00:33:24of a tree.
00:33:25His feet took root.
00:33:27The boy,
00:33:28who had been crying
00:33:29a moment before,
00:33:30burst out laughing
00:33:31and joined them.
00:33:32At a little town
00:33:34halfway to Beaver's Dam,
00:33:35where two rivers meet,
00:33:37they came to another school
00:33:38where a tired-looking girl
00:33:40was teaching arithmetic
00:33:41to a number of boys
00:33:42who looked very like pigs.
00:33:44She looked out of the window
00:33:46and saw the divine revelers
00:33:48singing up the street,
00:33:49and a stab of joy
00:33:51went through her heart.
00:33:53Aslan stopped
00:33:54right under the window
00:33:55and looked up at her.
00:33:57Oh, don't, don't,
00:34:00she said.
00:34:01I'd love to,
00:34:02but I mustn't.
00:34:03I must stick to my work,
00:34:04and the children
00:34:05would be frightened
00:34:06if they saw you.
00:34:08Frightened,
00:34:09said the most pig-like
00:34:10of the boys.
00:34:10Who's she talking to
00:34:11out of the window?
00:34:12Let's tell the inspector
00:34:13she talks to people
00:34:14out of the window
00:34:15when she ought to be
00:34:16teaching us.
00:34:17Let's go and see
00:34:18who it is,
00:34:19said another boy,
00:34:20and they all came
00:34:21crowding to the window.
00:34:22But as soon as
00:34:23their mean little faces
00:34:24looked out,
00:34:25Bacchus gave a great
00:34:27cry of,
00:34:27Yuan,
00:34:28Yui,
00:34:29Yui,
00:34:29Yui,
00:34:30and the boys
00:34:31all began howling
00:34:32with fright
00:34:33and trampling
00:34:34one another down
00:34:35to get out of the door
00:34:36and jumping out
00:34:36of the windows.
00:34:38And it was said
00:34:39afterwards,
00:34:40whether truly or not,
00:34:41that those particular
00:34:42little boys
00:34:43were never seen again,
00:34:44but that there were
00:34:45a lot of very fine
00:34:47little pigs
00:34:48in that part of the country
00:34:49which had never
00:34:50been there before.
00:34:52Now, dear heart,
00:34:54said Aslan
00:34:55to the mistress,
00:34:56and she jumped
00:34:57down and joined
00:34:57them.
00:34:59At Beaver's Dam,
00:35:00they recrossed the river
00:35:01and came east again
00:35:02along the southern
00:35:03bank.
00:35:04They came to a little
00:35:05cottage where a child
00:35:07stood in the doorway
00:35:07crying.
00:35:08Why are you crying,
00:35:11my love?
00:35:12Asked Aslan.
00:35:13The child,
00:35:14who had never seen
00:35:15a picture of a lion,
00:35:16was not afraid of him.
00:35:18Auntie's very ill,
00:35:20she said.
00:35:21She's going to die.
00:35:23Then Aslan
00:35:24went to go in
00:35:25at the door
00:35:25of the cottage,
00:35:26but it was too small
00:35:27for him.
00:35:28So when he had got
00:35:29his head through,
00:35:30he pushed with his
00:35:31shoulders,
00:35:31Lucy and Susan
00:35:32fell off when he did this,
00:35:34and lifted the whole
00:35:35house up,
00:35:36and it fell backwards
00:35:37and apart.
00:35:39And there,
00:35:40still in her bed,
00:35:41though the bed was now
00:35:41in the open air,
00:35:43lay a little old woman
00:35:44who looked as if she had
00:35:45dwarf blood in her.
00:35:47She was at death's door,
00:35:49but when she opened
00:35:50her eyes
00:35:50and saw the bright,
00:35:52hairy head of the lion
00:35:53staring into her face,
00:35:55she did not scream
00:35:56or faint.
00:35:56She said,
00:35:58Oh, Aslan,
00:36:00I knew it was true.
00:36:03I've been waiting
00:36:04for this all my life.
00:36:06Have you come
00:36:07to take me away?
00:36:10Yes, dearest,
00:36:11said Aslan,
00:36:13but not the long
00:36:14journey yet.
00:36:16And as he spoke,
00:36:17like the flush
00:36:18creeping along the
00:36:19underside of a cloud
00:36:20at sunrise,
00:36:21the colour came back
00:36:23to her white face,
00:36:24and her eyes
00:36:25grew bright
00:36:26and she sat up
00:36:27and said,
00:36:28Why, I do declare,
00:36:30I feel that better.
00:36:33I think I could take
00:36:34a little breakfast
00:36:35this morning.
00:36:37Here you are,
00:36:38mother,
00:36:39said Bacchus,
00:36:40dipping a pitcher
00:36:41in the cottage well
00:36:42and handing it to her.
00:36:43But what was in it now
00:36:45was not water,
00:36:46but the richest wine,
00:36:48red as red currant jelly,
00:36:50smooth as oil,
00:36:52strong as beef,
00:36:53warming as tea,
00:36:55cool as dew.
00:36:57Hey, you've done
00:36:58something to our well,
00:37:01said the old woman.
00:37:02That makes a nice change,
00:37:04that does.
00:37:06And she jumped out of bed.
00:37:08Ride on me,
00:37:10said Aslan,
00:37:10and added to Susan
00:37:12and Lucy,
00:37:12You two queens
00:37:13will have to run now.
00:37:16But we'd like that
00:37:17just as well,
00:37:18said Susan,
00:37:19and off they went again.
00:37:20And so at last,
00:37:23with leaping
00:37:24and dancing
00:37:25and singing,
00:37:26with music
00:37:27and laughter
00:37:27and roaring
00:37:28and barking
00:37:29and neighing,
00:37:30they all came to the place
00:37:32where Mirazi's army
00:37:33stood flinging down
00:37:35their swords
00:37:35and holding up
00:37:36their hands,
00:37:37and Peter's army,
00:37:38still holding their weapons
00:37:40and breathing hard,
00:37:41stood round them
00:37:42with stern
00:37:43and glad faces.
00:37:44And the first thing
00:37:46that happened
00:37:46was that the old woman
00:37:48slipped off Aslan's back
00:37:50and ran across
00:37:51to Caspian
00:37:52and they embraced
00:37:54one another,
00:37:55for she was
00:37:56his old nurse.
00:38:00Chapter 15
00:38:02Aslan Makes a Door
00:38:03in the Air
00:38:04At the sight
00:38:07of Aslan,
00:38:08the cheeks
00:38:08of the Telmarine soldiers
00:38:10became the colour
00:38:11of cold gravy,
00:38:12their knees
00:38:13knocked together
00:38:14and many
00:38:15fell on their faces.
00:38:16They had not
00:38:17believed in lions
00:38:18and this made
00:38:19their fear greater.
00:38:20Even the red dwarfs,
00:38:21who knew
00:38:22that he came
00:38:22as a friend,
00:38:23stood with open mouths
00:38:24and could not speak.
00:38:26Some of the black dwarfs
00:38:27who had been
00:38:28of Knickerbrix's party
00:38:29began to edge away.
00:38:31But all the talking beasts
00:38:32surged round the lion
00:38:34with purrs
00:38:35and grunts
00:38:36and squeaks
00:38:36and whinnies of delight,
00:38:38fawning on him
00:38:39with their tails,
00:38:40rubbing against him,
00:38:41touching him reverently
00:38:42with their noses
00:38:43and going to and fro
00:38:45under his body
00:38:45and between his legs.
00:38:47If you have ever
00:38:48seen a little cat
00:38:49loving a big dog
00:38:50whom it knows
00:38:51and trusts,
00:38:52you will have
00:38:52a pretty good picture
00:38:53of their behaviour.
00:38:55Then Peter,
00:38:56leading Caspian,
00:38:57forced his way
00:38:58through the crowd
00:38:59of animals.
00:39:01This is Caspian,
00:39:02sir,
00:39:03he said,
00:39:04and Caspian
00:39:05knelt and kissed
00:39:06the lion's paw.
00:39:08Welcome,
00:39:09Prince,
00:39:10said Aslan.
00:39:11Do you feel
00:39:12yourself sufficient
00:39:13to take up
00:39:14the kingship
00:39:15of Narnia?
00:39:17I,
00:39:17I don't think
00:39:19I do, sir,
00:39:20said Caspian.
00:39:21I'm only a kid.
00:39:24Good,
00:39:25said Aslan.
00:39:26If you had felt
00:39:27yourself sufficient,
00:39:28it would have been
00:39:29a proof
00:39:29that you were not.
00:39:31Therefore,
00:39:32under us
00:39:33and under
00:39:34the high king,
00:39:35you shall be
00:39:36king of Narnia,
00:39:38lord of
00:39:39Caer Paravell
00:39:40and emperor
00:39:40of the Lone Islands,
00:39:42you and your heirs
00:39:44while your race
00:39:45lasts,
00:39:46and your coronation.
00:39:48But what have we here?
00:39:50For at that moment,
00:39:51a curious little
00:39:52procession
00:39:53was approaching.
00:39:54Eleven mice,
00:39:55six of whom
00:39:56carried between them
00:39:57something on a litter
00:39:58made of branches,
00:39:59but the litter
00:40:00was no bigger
00:40:01than a large atlas.
00:40:03No one has ever
00:40:04seen mice more
00:40:05woebegone than these.
00:40:07They were plastered
00:40:07with mud,
00:40:08some with blood,
00:40:09too,
00:40:09and their ears
00:40:10were down,
00:40:11and their whiskers
00:40:12drooped,
00:40:13and their tails
00:40:13dragged in the grass,
00:40:15and their leader
00:40:15piped on his slender
00:40:17pipe a melancholy tune.
00:40:19On the litter
00:40:20lay what seemed
00:40:21little better
00:40:22than a damp heap
00:40:23of fur,
00:40:24all that was left
00:40:25of Reepicheep.
00:40:27He was still breathing,
00:40:28but more dead
00:40:29than alive,
00:40:30gashed with innumerable
00:40:32wounds,
00:40:32one paw crushed,
00:40:34and where his tail
00:40:35had been,
00:40:36a bandaged stump.
00:40:38Now, Lucy,
00:40:40said Aslan.
00:40:41Lucy had her
00:40:42diamond bottle
00:40:43out in a moment.
00:40:45Though only a drop
00:40:46was needed
00:40:46on each of
00:40:47Reepicheep's wounds,
00:40:48the wounds were
00:40:49so many
00:40:49that there was
00:40:50a long
00:40:51and anxious silence
00:40:52before she had finished,
00:40:53and the mouse
00:40:54sprang from the litter.
00:40:56His hand
00:40:57went at once
00:40:58to his sword-hilt,
00:40:59with the other
00:40:59he twirled his whiskers.
00:41:01He bowed.
00:41:03Hail, Aslan,
00:41:05came his shrill voice.
00:41:06I have the honour.
00:41:08But then
00:41:08he suddenly stopped.
00:41:10The fact was
00:41:11that he still
00:41:12had no tail,
00:41:13whether that Lucy
00:41:14had forgotten it
00:41:15or that her cordial,
00:41:16though it could heal wounds,
00:41:17could not make things
00:41:18grow again.
00:41:20Reepicheep
00:41:20became aware
00:41:21of his loss
00:41:21as he made his bow.
00:41:23Perhaps it altered
00:41:24something in his balance.
00:41:26He looked over
00:41:26his right shoulder,
00:41:27failing to see his tail.
00:41:29He strained
00:41:30his neck further
00:41:30till he had to
00:41:31turn his shoulders
00:41:32and his whole body
00:41:33followed.
00:41:35But by that time
00:41:36his hindquarters
00:41:37had turned too
00:41:38and were out of sight.
00:41:39Then he strained
00:41:40his neck,
00:41:41looking over his shoulder
00:41:42again with the same result.
00:41:44Only after he had
00:41:45turned completely round
00:41:47three times
00:41:48did he realise
00:41:49the dreadful truth.
00:41:51I am confounded,
00:41:53said Reepicheep
00:41:54to Aslan.
00:41:55I am completely
00:41:55out of countenance.
00:41:57I must crave
00:41:57your indulgence
00:41:58for appearing
00:41:59in this unseemly fashion.
00:42:01It becomes you
00:42:02very well,
00:42:03small one,
00:42:04said Aslan.
00:42:05All the same,
00:42:07replied Reepicheep,
00:42:08if anything could be done,
00:42:10perhaps Her Majesty?
00:42:12And here he bowed
00:42:13to Lucy.
00:42:14But what do you want
00:42:15with the tail,
00:42:17asked Aslan.
00:42:18Sir,
00:42:19said the mouse,
00:42:20I can eat and sleep
00:42:21and die for my king
00:42:22without one,
00:42:23but a tail
00:42:24is the honour
00:42:25and glory of a mouse.
00:42:27I have sometimes wondered,
00:42:29friend,
00:42:30said Aslan,
00:42:31whether you do not
00:42:32think too much
00:42:33about your honour.
00:42:34Highest of all
00:42:35high kings,
00:42:36said Reepicheep,
00:42:37permit me to remind you
00:42:38that a very small size
00:42:40has been bestowed
00:42:40on us, mice,
00:42:41and if we did not
00:42:42guard our dignity,
00:42:44some,
00:42:44who weigh worth
00:42:45by inches,
00:42:46would allow themselves
00:42:47very unsuitable
00:42:48pleasantries
00:42:49at our expense.
00:42:51That is why
00:42:52I have been
00:42:53at some pains
00:42:54to make it known
00:42:55that no one
00:42:56who does not wish
00:42:56to feel this sword
00:42:57as near to his heart
00:42:58as I can reach
00:42:59shall talk in my presence
00:43:01about traps
00:43:02or toasted cheese
00:43:04or candles.
00:43:05No, sir,
00:43:06not the tallest fool
00:43:07in Narnia.
00:43:08Here he glared
00:43:09very fiercely
00:43:10up at Wimbleweather,
00:43:11but the giant,
00:43:12who was always
00:43:13a stage behind
00:43:14everyone else,
00:43:15had not yet discovered
00:43:16what was being
00:43:17talked about
00:43:17down at his feet
00:43:18and so missed the point.
00:43:21Why have your followers
00:43:22all drawn their swords,
00:43:24may I ask?
00:43:25said Aslan.
00:43:27May it please
00:43:27your High Majesty,
00:43:29said the second mouse
00:43:30whose name was
00:43:30Peepicheek.
00:43:31We are all waiting
00:43:32to cut off our own tails
00:43:34if our chief
00:43:34must go without his.
00:43:36We will not bear
00:43:36the shame of wearing
00:43:37an honour which is
00:43:38denied to the High Mouse.
00:43:39Ah, roared Aslan,
00:43:42you have conquered me.
00:43:44You have great hearts.
00:43:47Not for the sake
00:43:48of your dignity,
00:43:49Reepi-teep,
00:43:50but for the love
00:43:51that is between you
00:43:52and your people,
00:43:53and still more
00:43:54for the kindness
00:43:55your people showed me
00:43:56long ago
00:43:57when you ate away
00:43:58the cords that bound me
00:43:59on the stone table,
00:44:01and it was then,
00:44:02though you have long
00:44:03forgotten it,
00:44:03that you began
00:44:04to be talking mice.
00:44:06You shall have
00:44:08your tail again.
00:44:11Before Aslan had
00:44:12finished speaking,
00:44:13the new tail
00:44:14was in its place.
00:44:16Then, at Aslan's command,
00:44:18Peter bestowed
00:44:19the knighthood
00:44:20of the Order
00:44:21of the Lion
00:44:22on Caspian,
00:44:23and Caspian,
00:44:24as soon as he was knighted,
00:44:26himself bestowed it
00:44:27on Truffle Hunter
00:44:28and Trumpkin
00:44:29and Reepicheep
00:44:30and made Dr Cornelius
00:44:32his Lord Chancellor
00:44:33and confirmed
00:44:34the bulgy bear
00:44:35in his hereditary
00:44:36office of Marshal
00:44:37of the Lists.
00:44:39And there was
00:44:40great applause.
00:44:42After this,
00:44:43the Telmarine soldiers,
00:44:45firmly but without
00:44:46taunts or blows,
00:44:47were taken across
00:44:48the ford
00:44:49and all put
00:44:50under lock and key
00:44:51in the town of Baruna
00:44:52and given beef
00:44:53and beer.
00:44:55They made a great fuss
00:44:56about wading in the river
00:44:57for they all hated
00:44:58and feared running water
00:44:59just as much as they hated
00:45:01and feared woods
00:45:02and animals.
00:45:03But in the end,
00:45:04the nuisance was over
00:45:05and then the nicest parts
00:45:08of that long day began.
00:45:11Lucy,
00:45:12sitting close to Aslan
00:45:13and divinely comfortable,
00:45:15wondered what the trees
00:45:17were doing.
00:45:18At first,
00:45:19she thought they were
00:45:19merely dancing.
00:45:21They were certainly
00:45:22going round slowly
00:45:23in two circles,
00:45:24one from left to right
00:45:25and the other
00:45:26from right to left.
00:45:28Then she noticed
00:45:29that they kept throwing
00:45:30something down
00:45:30in the centre
00:45:31of both circles.
00:45:33Sometimes she thought
00:45:33they were cutting off
00:45:34long strands of their hair.
00:45:36At other times,
00:45:37it looked as if
00:45:38they were breaking off
00:45:39bits of their fingers.
00:45:41But if so,
00:45:42they had plenty of fingers
00:45:43to spare
00:45:43and it did not hurt them.
00:45:45But whatever they were
00:45:46throwing down,
00:45:47when it reached the ground,
00:45:49it became brushwood
00:45:50or dry sticks.
00:45:52Then three or four
00:45:53of the red dwarfs
00:45:54came forward
00:45:54with their tinder boxes
00:45:55and set light
00:45:57to the pile,
00:45:57which first crackled
00:45:59and then blazed
00:46:00and finally roared
00:46:01as a woodland bonfire
00:46:03on midsummer night
00:46:04ought to do.
00:46:06And everyone sat down
00:46:07in a wide circle
00:46:08round it.
00:46:09Then Bacchus
00:46:10and Silenus
00:46:11and the Mennads
00:46:12began a dance
00:46:13far wilder
00:46:14than the dance
00:46:15of the trees.
00:46:16Not merely a dance
00:46:17for fun and beauty,
00:46:18though it was that too,
00:46:20but a magic dance
00:46:21of plenty.
00:46:22And where their hands
00:46:23touched
00:46:23and where their feet fell,
00:46:25the feast came
00:46:26into existence.
00:46:27Sides of roasted meat
00:46:29that filled the grove
00:46:30with delicious smells
00:46:31and wheaten cakes
00:46:33and oaten cakes,
00:46:34honey and many-coloured sugars
00:46:36and cream
00:46:37as thick as porridge
00:46:38and as smooth
00:46:39as still water,
00:46:41peaches,
00:46:42nectarines,
00:46:43pomegranates,
00:46:44pears,
00:46:44grapes,
00:46:45strawberries,
00:46:46raspberries,
00:46:47pyramids
00:46:47and cataracts
00:46:48of fruit.
00:46:50Then,
00:46:50in great wooden cups
00:46:51and bowls
00:46:52and mazes,
00:46:53wreathed with ivy,
00:46:54came the wines,
00:46:56dark thick ones
00:46:57like syrups
00:46:58of mulberry juice
00:46:59and clear red ones
00:47:00like red jellies
00:47:02liquefied
00:47:02and yellow wines
00:47:04and green wines
00:47:05and yellow-green
00:47:06and greenish-yellow.
00:47:08But for the tree people,
00:47:10different fare
00:47:11was provided.
00:47:12When Lucy saw
00:47:13Clodsley Shovel
00:47:14and his moles
00:47:15scuffling up the turf
00:47:16in various places,
00:47:18which Bacchus
00:47:18had pointed out to them,
00:47:20and realised
00:47:20that the trees
00:47:21were going to eat
00:47:22earth,
00:47:23it gave her rather
00:47:24a shudder.
00:47:25But when she saw
00:47:26the earths
00:47:27that were actually
00:47:28brought to them,
00:47:29she felt quite different.
00:47:31They began
00:47:32with a rich brown loam
00:47:33that looked almost
00:47:34exactly like chocolate,
00:47:36so like chocolate,
00:47:37in fact,
00:47:38that Edmund tried
00:47:39a piece of it,
00:47:40but he did not find
00:47:41it at all nice.
00:47:42When the rich loam
00:47:43had taken the edge
00:47:44off their hunger,
00:47:45the trees turned
00:47:46to an earth
00:47:46of the kind
00:47:47you see in Somerset,
00:47:48which is almost pink.
00:47:50They said it was
00:47:51lighter and sweeter.
00:47:53At the cheese stage,
00:47:54they had a chalky soil
00:47:55and then went on
00:47:56to delicate confections
00:47:58of the finest gravels
00:47:59powdered with
00:48:00choice silver sand.
00:48:02They drank
00:48:03very little wine,
00:48:04and it made
00:48:05the hollies
00:48:05very talkative.
00:48:07For the most part,
00:48:08they quenched
00:48:08their thirst
00:48:09with deep draughts
00:48:10of mingled dew
00:48:11and rain,
00:48:12flavoured with
00:48:13forest flowers
00:48:14and the airy taste
00:48:15of the thinnest clouds.
00:48:18Thus Aslan
00:48:20feasted the Narnians
00:48:21till long after
00:48:23the sunset
00:48:23had died away
00:48:24and the stars
00:48:25had come out,
00:48:26and the great fire,
00:48:28now hotter
00:48:28but less noisy,
00:48:30shone like a beacon
00:48:31in the dark woods,
00:48:33and the frightened
00:48:33Telmarine saw it
00:48:35from far away
00:48:35and wondered
00:48:36what it might mean.
00:48:38The best thing
00:48:39of all about this feast
00:48:41was that there was
00:48:42no breaking up
00:48:43or going away,
00:48:44but as the talk
00:48:45grew quieter
00:48:46and slower,
00:48:47one after another
00:48:48would begin to nod
00:48:50and finally drop
00:48:51off to sleep
00:48:52with feet
00:48:52toward the fire
00:48:53and good friends
00:48:54on either side
00:48:55till at last
00:48:56there was silence
00:48:58all round the circle
00:48:59and the chattering
00:49:00of water over stone
00:49:02at the ford of Beruna
00:49:03could be heard
00:49:04once more.
00:49:06But all night
00:49:07Aslan
00:49:08and the moon
00:49:09gazed upon each other
00:49:11with joyful
00:49:13and unblinking eyes.
00:49:16Next day,
00:49:17messengers,
00:49:18who were chiefly
00:49:18squirrels and birds,
00:49:20were sent
00:49:20all over the country
00:49:21with a proclamation
00:49:22to the scattered
00:49:23Telmarines,
00:49:24including, of course,
00:49:25the prisoners
00:49:26in Beruna.
00:49:27They were told
00:49:28that Caspian
00:49:29was now king
00:49:30and that Narnia
00:49:31would henceforth
00:49:32belong to the
00:49:33talking beasts
00:49:34and the dwarfs
00:49:35and dryads
00:49:36and fawns
00:49:37and other creatures
00:49:38quite as much
00:49:39as to the men.
00:49:40Any who chose
00:49:41to stay under
00:49:42the new conditions
00:49:42might do so,
00:49:44but for those
00:49:44who did not like
00:49:45the idea,
00:49:46Aslan would provide
00:49:47another home.
00:49:49Anyone who wished
00:49:50to go there
00:49:50must come to Aslan
00:49:52and the kings
00:49:52at the ford of Beruna
00:49:54by noon
00:49:54on the fifth day.
00:49:57You may imagine
00:49:57that this caused
00:49:58plenty of head-scratching
00:49:59among the Telmarines.
00:50:01Some of them,
00:50:02chiefly the young ones,
00:50:03had, like Caspian,
00:50:05heard stories
00:50:05of the old days
00:50:07and were delighted
00:50:08that they had come back.
00:50:10They were already
00:50:10making friends
00:50:11with the creatures.
00:50:12These all decided
00:50:14to stay in Narnia,
00:50:15but most of the older men,
00:50:17especially those
00:50:18who had been important
00:50:19under Miraz,
00:50:20were sulky
00:50:21and had no wish
00:50:22to live in a country
00:50:23where they could not
00:50:24rule the roost.
00:50:25Live here
00:50:26with a lot of blooming,
00:50:27performing animals,
00:50:28no fear,
00:50:29they said.
00:50:30And ghosts, too,
00:50:32some added with a shudder.
00:50:34That's what those
00:50:34there dryads
00:50:35really are.
00:50:36It's not canny.
00:50:38They were also suspicious.
00:50:40I don't trust him,
00:50:42they said,
00:50:42not with that awful lion
00:50:44and all.
00:50:45He won't keep his claws
00:50:46off us long,
00:50:47you'll see.
00:50:48But then they were
00:50:49equally suspicious
00:50:50of his offer
00:50:51to give them a new home.
00:50:53Take us off to his den
00:50:54and eat us one by one,
00:50:55most likely,
00:50:57they muttered.
00:50:58And the more they talked
00:50:59to one another,
00:51:00the sulkier
00:51:01and more suspicious
00:51:02they became.
00:51:03But on the appointed day,
00:51:05more than half of them
00:51:07turned up.
00:51:08At one end of the glade,
00:51:10Aslan had caused
00:51:11to be set up
00:51:11two stakes of wood
00:51:13higher than a man's head
00:51:15and about three feet apart.
00:51:17A third and lighter
00:51:18piece of wood
00:51:19was bound across them
00:51:20at the top,
00:51:21uniting them
00:51:22so that the whole thing
00:51:23looked like a doorway
00:51:24from nowhere
00:51:25into nowhere.
00:51:26In front of this
00:51:28stood Aslan himself
00:51:30with Peter on his right
00:51:32and Caspian on his left.
00:51:34Grouped round them
00:51:35were Susan,
00:51:36Edmund and Lucy,
00:51:38Trumpkin and Truffle Hunter,
00:51:39the Lord Cornelius,
00:51:41Glenstorm,
00:51:42Reapicheep and others.
00:51:44The children and the dwarfs
00:51:45had made good use
00:51:46of the royal wardrobes
00:51:47in what had been
00:51:48the castle of Miraz
00:51:49and was now
00:51:50the castle of Caspian,
00:51:51and what with silk
00:51:53and cloth of gold,
00:51:54with snowy linen
00:51:55glancing through
00:51:56slashed sleeves,
00:51:58with silver mail shirts
00:51:59and jewelled sword hilts,
00:52:01with gilt helmets
00:52:02and feathered bonnets,
00:52:04they were almost
00:52:04too bright to look at.
00:52:06Even the beasts
00:52:07wore rich chains
00:52:08about their necks.
00:52:10Yet nobody's eyes
00:52:11were on them
00:52:12or the children.
00:52:13The living
00:52:14and strokeable gold
00:52:15of Aslan's mane
00:52:17outshone them all.
00:52:20The rest of the old
00:52:21Narnians stood
00:52:22down each side
00:52:23of the glade.
00:52:24At the far end
00:52:25stood the Telmarines.
00:52:26The sun shone brightly
00:52:28and penance fluttered
00:52:30in the light wind.
00:52:32Men of Telmar,
00:52:34said Aslan,
00:52:35you who seek
00:52:36a new land
00:52:37hear my words.
00:52:39I will send you
00:52:40all to your own
00:52:41country,
00:52:42which I know
00:52:43and you do not.
00:52:46We don't remember,
00:52:47Telmar.
00:52:48We don't know
00:52:49where it is.
00:52:50We don't know
00:52:51what it is like,
00:52:52crumbled the Telmarines.
00:52:55You came into Narnia
00:52:56out of Telmar,
00:52:58said Aslan.
00:52:59But you came into
00:53:00Telmar from another
00:53:02place.
00:53:03You do not belong
00:53:04to this world at all.
00:53:05You came hither
00:53:06certain generations ago
00:53:08out of that same world
00:53:10to which the high
00:53:11King Peter belongs.
00:53:14At this,
00:53:15half the Telmarines
00:53:16began whimpering.
00:53:17There you are,
00:53:18told you so.
00:53:19He's going to kill us all,
00:53:20send us right out of the world.
00:53:22And the other half
00:53:23began throwing out
00:53:24their chests
00:53:25and slapping one another
00:53:26on the back
00:53:27and whispering,
00:53:27There you are.
00:53:28Might have guessed
00:53:29we didn't belong
00:53:30to this place
00:53:30with all its queer,
00:53:31nasty, unnatural creatures.
00:53:33We're of royal blood,
00:53:34you'll see.
00:53:35And even Caspian
00:53:37and Cornelius
00:53:37and the children
00:53:38turned to Aslan
00:53:40with looks of amazement
00:53:41on their faces.
00:53:44Peace,
00:53:45said Aslan
00:53:46in the low voice
00:53:47which was nearest
00:53:48to his growl.
00:53:50The earth seemed
00:53:51to shake a little
00:53:51and every living thing
00:53:53in the grove
00:53:54became still a stone.
00:53:57You, Sir Caspian,
00:53:59said Aslan,
00:54:00might have known
00:54:00that you could be
00:54:01no true King of Narnia
00:54:03unless, like the kings of old,
00:54:06you were a son of Adam
00:54:08and came from the world
00:54:09of Adam's sons.
00:54:11And so you are.
00:54:13Many years ago
00:54:15in that world,
00:54:16in a deep sea
00:54:17of that world
00:54:18which is called
00:54:19the South Sea,
00:54:21a shipload of pirates
00:54:23were driven by storm
00:54:24on an island.
00:54:26And there
00:54:26they did as pirates would,
00:54:29killed the natives
00:54:30and took the native women
00:54:31for wives
00:54:32and made palm wine
00:54:33and drank
00:54:34and were drunk
00:54:35and lay in the shade
00:54:36of the palm trees
00:54:37and woke up
00:54:38and quarrelled
00:54:39and sometimes killed
00:54:40one another.
00:54:42And in one of these frays
00:54:43six were put to flight
00:54:45by the rest
00:54:46and fled with their women
00:54:47into the centre
00:54:48of the island
00:54:49and up a mountain
00:54:50and went,
00:54:52as they thought,
00:54:53into a cave
00:54:53to hide.
00:54:55But it was one
00:54:57of the magical places
00:54:58of that world,
00:54:59one of the chinks
00:55:00or chasms
00:55:01between worlds
00:55:03in old times,
00:55:04but they have grown rarer.
00:55:07This was one
00:55:08of the last,
00:55:09I do not say
00:55:10the last.
00:55:12And so they fell
00:55:13or rose
00:55:14or blundered
00:55:15or dropped
00:55:16right through
00:55:17and found themselves
00:55:18in this world,
00:55:20in the land
00:55:20of Telmar,
00:55:22which was then
00:55:23unpeopled.
00:55:25But why it was
00:55:26unpeopled
00:55:26is a long story.
00:55:28I will not tell it now.
00:55:30And in Telmar,
00:55:31their descendants
00:55:32lived
00:55:32and became
00:55:33a fierce
00:55:34and proud people.
00:55:36And after many
00:55:37generations,
00:55:39there was a famine
00:55:39in Telmar
00:55:40and they invaded
00:55:41Narnia,
00:55:42which was then
00:55:43in some disorder,
00:55:44but that also
00:55:45would be a long story,
00:55:47and conquered it
00:55:48and ruled it.
00:55:49Do you mark
00:55:50all this well,
00:55:51King Caspian?
00:55:53I do indeed, sir,
00:55:55said Caspian.
00:55:57I was wishing
00:55:57that I came
00:55:58of a more
00:55:58honourable lineage.
00:56:00You came
00:56:02of the Lord Adam
00:56:03and the Lady Eve,
00:56:04said Aslan,
00:56:06and that is both
00:56:07honour enough
00:56:07to erect the head
00:56:09of the poorest beggar
00:56:10and shame enough
00:56:11to bow the shoulders
00:56:13of the greatest
00:56:14emperor on earth.
00:56:16Be content.
00:56:17Caspian bowed.
00:56:20And now,
00:56:21said Aslan,
00:56:22you men
00:56:23and women
00:56:23of Telmar,
00:56:24will you go back
00:56:25to that island
00:56:26in the world
00:56:27of men
00:56:27from which
00:56:28your fathers
00:56:28first came?
00:56:30It is no bad place.
00:56:32The race
00:56:33of those pirates
00:56:34who first found it
00:56:35has died out,
00:56:36and it is
00:56:37without inhabitants.
00:56:38There are good
00:56:39wells of fresh water
00:56:41and fruitful soil
00:56:42and timber
00:56:43for building
00:56:44and fish
00:56:44in the lagoons,
00:56:45and the other men
00:56:47of that world
00:56:47have not yet
00:56:48discovered it.
00:56:50The chasm
00:56:51is open
00:56:51for your return,
00:56:53but this
00:56:54I must warn you,
00:56:55that once you
00:56:56have gone through,
00:56:57it will close
00:56:59behind you
00:57:00for ever.
00:57:01There will be
00:57:02no more commerce
00:57:04between the worlds
00:57:05by that door.
00:57:07There was silence
00:57:09for a moment.
00:57:10Then a burly,
00:57:11decent-looking fellow
00:57:12among the Telmarine
00:57:13soldiers
00:57:14pushed forward
00:57:15and said,
00:57:16Well,
00:57:17I'll take the offer.
00:57:19It is well chosen,
00:57:21said Aslan,
00:57:22and because
00:57:22you have spoken
00:57:23first,
00:57:24strong magic
00:57:25is upon you.
00:57:26Your future
00:57:27in that world
00:57:28shall be good.
00:57:30Come forth.
00:57:31The man,
00:57:32now a little pale,
00:57:33came forward.
00:57:34Aslan at his court
00:57:36drew aside,
00:57:37leaving him
00:57:37free access
00:57:38to the empty doorway
00:57:39of the stakes.
00:57:40Go through it,
00:57:43my son,
00:57:44said Aslan,
00:57:45bending towards him
00:57:46and touching the man's nose
00:57:47with his own.
00:57:49As soon as the lion's breath
00:57:50came about him,
00:57:52a new look
00:57:52came into the man's eyes,
00:57:54startled,
00:57:55but not unhappy,
00:57:56as if he were trying
00:57:57to remember something.
00:57:59Then he squared his shoulders
00:58:01and walked through the door.
00:58:03Everyone's eyes
00:58:05were fixed on him.
00:58:06They saw the three pieces
00:58:07of wood
00:58:08and through them
00:58:09the trees and grass
00:58:10and sky of Narnia.
00:58:12They saw the man
00:58:13between the doorposts.
00:58:15Then,
00:58:15in one second,
00:58:17he had vanished utterly.
00:58:19From the other end
00:58:20of the glade,
00:58:21the remaining Telmarine
00:58:22set up a wailing,
00:58:23Oh,
00:58:24what's happened to him?
00:58:26Do you mean to murder us?
00:58:27We won't go that way.
00:58:29And then one of the clever
00:58:31Telmarine said,
00:58:32We don't see any other world
00:58:34through those sticks.
00:58:35If you want us
00:58:36to believe in it,
00:58:38why doesn't one of you go?
00:58:40All your own friends
00:58:41are keeping well away
00:58:43from the sticks.
00:58:45Instantly,
00:58:46Reepychip stood forward
00:58:47and bowed.
00:58:48If my example
00:58:49could be of any service,
00:58:50Aslan,
00:58:51he said,
00:58:51I will take eleven mice
00:58:53through that arch
00:58:53at your bidding
00:58:54without a moment's delay.
00:58:56Nay,
00:58:57little one,
00:58:58said Aslan,
00:58:59laying his velvety paw
00:59:00ever so lightly
00:59:01on Reepycheep's head.
00:59:03They would do dreadful
00:59:05things to you
00:59:05in that world.
00:59:07They would show you
00:59:08at fairs.
00:59:09It is others
00:59:10who must lead.
00:59:13Come on,
00:59:14said Peter,
00:59:14suddenly to Edmund
00:59:15and Lucy.
00:59:16Our time's up.
00:59:19What do you mean?
00:59:20said Edmund.
00:59:21This way,
00:59:23said Susan,
00:59:24who seemed to know
00:59:25all about it.
00:59:26Back into the trees.
00:59:28We've got to change.
00:59:30Change what?
00:59:32asked Lucy.
00:59:33Our clothes,
00:59:34of course,
00:59:35said Susan.
00:59:36Nice fools
00:59:36we'd look on the platform
00:59:38of an English station
00:59:39in these.
00:59:40But our other things
00:59:41are at Caspian's Castle,
00:59:43said Edmund.
00:59:44No,
00:59:45they're not,
00:59:46said Peter,
00:59:46still leading the way
00:59:47into the thickest wood.
00:59:48They're all here.
00:59:49They were brought down
00:59:50in bundles this morning.
00:59:52It's all arranged.
00:59:54Was that what Aslan
00:59:55was talking to you
00:59:56and Susan about this morning?
00:59:57asked Lucy.
00:59:59Yes,
01:00:00that and other things,
01:00:02said Peter,
01:00:02his face very solemn.
01:00:04I can't tell it all to you.
01:00:07There were things
01:00:07he wanted to say
01:00:08to Sue and me
01:00:09because we're not
01:00:10coming back to Narnia.
01:00:13Never,
01:00:14cried Edmund and Lucy
01:00:15in dismay.
01:00:16Oh,
01:00:17you two are.
01:00:18answered Peter,
01:00:19at least from what he said.
01:00:21I'm pretty sure
01:00:22he means you
01:00:22to get back someday.
01:00:24But not Sue and me.
01:00:26He says we're getting too old.
01:00:29Oh,
01:00:29Peter,
01:00:30said Lucy.
01:00:31What awful bad luck.
01:00:33Can you bear it?
01:00:35Well,
01:00:35I think I can,
01:00:36said Peter.
01:00:37It's all rather different
01:00:38from what I thought.
01:00:40You'll understand
01:00:41when it comes
01:00:41to your last time.
01:00:43But quick,
01:00:44here are our things.
01:00:46It was odd
01:00:47and not very nice
01:00:48to take off
01:00:49their royal clothes
01:00:50and to come back
01:00:51in their school things,
01:00:52not very fresh now,
01:00:53into that great assembly.
01:00:55One or two of the nastier
01:00:56Telmarines jeered,
01:00:58preach,
01:00:59or cheered,
01:01:00rose up in honor
01:01:01of the High King
01:01:03and Susan of the Horn,
01:01:05and King Edmund
01:01:06and Queen Lucy.
01:01:08There were affectionate
01:01:09and on Lucy's part
01:01:11all their old friends,
01:01:14kisses and hugs
01:01:16from bulgy bears
01:01:17and hands wrung
01:01:18by Trumpkin
01:01:19and a last,
01:01:20tickly,
01:01:21whiskerish embrace
01:01:22with Truffle Hunter.
01:01:24And, of course,
01:01:25Caspian offered the horn
01:01:27back to Susan
01:01:27and, of course,
01:01:29Susan told him
01:01:29to keep it.
01:01:31And then,
01:01:32wonderfully and terribly,
01:01:34it was farewell
01:01:35to Aslan himself
01:01:37and Peter took his place
01:01:39with Susan's hands
01:01:40on his shoulders
01:01:40and Edmund's on hers
01:01:42and Lucy's on his
01:01:44and the first
01:01:45of the Telmarines
01:01:46on Lucy's
01:01:47and so,
01:01:48in a long line,
01:01:49they moved forward
01:01:50to the door.
01:01:52After that came a moment
01:01:54which is hard to describe,
01:01:56for the children
01:01:57seemed to be seeing
01:01:58three things at once.
01:02:01One was the mouth
01:02:02of a cave
01:02:03opening into the glaring
01:02:04green and blue
01:02:05of an island
01:02:06in the Pacific
01:02:06where all the Telmarines
01:02:08would find themselves
01:02:09the moment they were
01:02:10through the door.
01:02:11The second was a glade
01:02:13in Narnia,
01:02:14the faces of dwarfs
01:02:15and beasts,
01:02:16the deep eyes of Aslan
01:02:18and the white patches
01:02:19of the badger's cheeks.
01:02:21But the third,
01:02:22which rapidly swallowed
01:02:24up the other two,
01:02:25was the grey,
01:02:26gravelly surface
01:02:27of a platform
01:02:28in a country station
01:02:29and a seat
01:02:30with luggage rounded
01:02:31where they were all
01:02:33sitting as if they
01:02:33had never moved
01:02:34from it.
01:02:35A little flat
01:02:36and dreary
01:02:37for a moment
01:02:38after all they
01:02:39had been through,
01:02:40but also unexpectedly
01:02:41nice in its own way,
01:02:44what with the familiar
01:02:45railway smell
01:02:46and the English sky
01:02:48and the summer term
01:02:49before them.
01:02:50Well, said Peter,
01:02:54we have had a time.
01:02:57Bother, said Edmund.
01:02:59I've left my new torch
01:03:01in Narnia.
01:03:01It's
01:03:11a
01:03:12nice
01:03:12and
01:03:13awesome
01:03:15You
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