C. S. 刘易斯 （吴民?译）

C. S.刘易斯（1898—1963），英国著名文学家。所著儿童故事集《纳尼亚传奇》七部曲，情节动人，妙趣横生。本文选自《纳尼亚传奇》第二部《凯斯宾王子》。

“We should not have Aslan for friend if we brought in that rabble，” said Trufflehunter as they came away from the cave of the Black Dwarfs.

“Oh， Aslan！” said Trumpkin， cheerily but contemptuously. “What matters much more is that you wouldnt have me.”

“Do you believe in Aslan？” said Caspian to Nikabrik.

“Ill believe in anyone or anything，” said Nikabrik， “thatll batter these cursed Telmarine barbarians to pieces or drive them out of Narnia. Anyone or anything， Aslan or the White Witch， do you understand？”

“Silence， silence，” said Trufflehunter. “You do not know what you are saying. She was a worse enemy than Miraz and all his race.”

“Not to Dwarfs， she wasnt，” said Nikabrik.

Their next visit was a pleasanter one. As they came lower down， the mountains opened out into a great glen or wooded gorge with a swift river running at the bottom. The open places near the rivers edge were a mass of foxgloves and wild roses and the air was buzzing with bees. Here Trufflehunter called again， “Glenstorm！ Glenstorm！” and after a pause Caspian heard the sound of hoofs. It grew louder till the valley trembled and at last， breaking and trampling the thickets， there came in sight the noblest creatures that Caspian had yet seen， the great Centaur Glenstorm and his three sons. His flanks were glossy chestnut and the beard that covered his broad chest was golden red. He was a prophet and a star-gazer and knew what they had come about.

“Long live the King，” he cried. “I and my sons are ready for war. When is the battle to be joined？”

Up till now neither Caspian nor the others had really been thinking of a war. They had some vague idea， perhaps， of an occasional raid on some Human farmstead or of attacking a party of hunters， if it ventured too far into these southern wilds. But， in the main， they had thought only of living to themselves in woods and caves and building up an attempt at Old Narnia in hiding. As soon as Glenstorm had spoken everyone felt much more serious.

“Do you mean a real war to drive Miraz out of Narnia？” asked Caspian.

“What else？” said the Centaur. “Why else does your Majesty go clad in mail and girt with sword？”

“Is it possible， Glenstorm？” said the Badger.

“要是我們收容了这些坏蛋，阿斯兰就不会站在我们这边了。”当他们从黑小矮人的山洞里走出来的时候，特鲁佛汉特说。

“哼，阿斯兰！”杜鲁普金似乎很不服气，“你们要是没有我这个朋友，那才不得了呢！”

“你不相信阿斯兰吗？”凯斯宾问尼克布瑞克。

“我相信一切能夠参战的生灵。”尼克布瑞克高声说，“只要能够铲除那些台尔马暴徒，把他们赶出纳尼亚，一切生灵，不管他叫阿斯兰，还是叫白女巫，你明白了吗？”

“你给我住嘴！”特鲁佛汉特说，“你知道自己在说什么吗？白女巫比弥若兹和他的同类还危险和可恶百倍！”

“可是对小矮人来讲，她不是。”尼克布瑞克说道。

接下来的旅程令人愉快。他们顺着山坡往下走，来到一个宽阔的幽谷。谷底有一条湍急的河，河岸边的空地上，大片大片的毛地黄和野玫瑰迎风怒放，蜜蜂嗡嗡地采着花蜜。特鲁佛汉特高声喊道：“格兰斯托姆！格兰斯托姆！”不一会儿，凯斯宾听到一阵马蹄声，那声音越来越近，气势震动山河。突然，几个高大的生灵冲出灌木丛跑了过来。这是凯斯宾平生见到的最奇异、最高贵的动物了——半人马格兰斯托姆，后面跟着它的三个儿子。它那强健的马身发出栗色的光泽，高贵的人头潇洒地扬起，一绺金红色的胡子在宽阔的胸前飘扬。它是位预言家，又是位占星家，完全了解客人来访的目的。……