《凱斯賓王子》第14章:解放
A LITTLE before two o'clock Trumpkin and the Badger sat with the rest of the creatures at the wood's edge looking across at the gleaming line of Miraz's army which was about two arrow-shots away. In between, a square space of level grass had been staked for the combat. At the two far corners stood Glozelle and Sopespian with drawn swords. At the near corners were Giant Wimbleweather and the Bulgy Bear, who in spite of all their warnings was sucking his paws and looking, to tell the truth, uncommonly silly. To make up for this, Glenstorm on the right of the lists, stock-still except when he stamped a hind hoof occasionally on the turf, looked much more imposing than the Telmarine baron who faced him on the left. Peter had just shaken hands with Edmund and the Doctor, and was now walking down to the combat. It was like the moment before the pistol goes at an important race, but very much worse.
"I wish Aslan had turned up before it came to this," said Trumpkin.
"So do I," said Trufflehunter. "But look behind you."
"Crows and crockery!" muttered the Dwarf as soon as he had done so. "What are they? Huge people - beautiful people - like gods and goddesses and giants. Hundreds and thousands of them, closing in behind us. What are they?"
"It's the Dryads and Hamadryads and Silvans," said Trufflehunter. "Aslan has waked them."
"Humph!" said the Dwarf. "That'll be very useful if the enemy try any treachery. But it won't help the High King very much if Miraz proves handier with his sword."
The Badger said nothing, for now Peter and Miraz were entering the lists from opposite ends, both on foot, both in chain shirts, with helmets and shields. They advanced till they were close together. Both bowed and seemed to speak,, but it was impossible to hear what they said. Next moment, the two swords flashed in the sunlight. For a second the clash could be heard but it was immediately drowned because both armies began shouting like crowds at a football match.
"Well done, Peter, oh, well done!" shouted Edmund as he saw Miraz reel back a whole pace and a half. "Follow it up, quick!" And Peter did, and for a few seconds it looked as if the fight might be won. But then Miraz pulled himself together - began to make real use of his height and weight "Miraz! Miraz! The King! The King!" came the roar of the Telmarines. Caspian and Edmund grew white with sickening anxiety.
"Peter is taking some dreadful knocks," said Edmund.
"Hullo!" said Caspian. "What's happening now?"
"Both falling apart," said Edmund. "A bit blown, expect. Watch. Ah, now they're beginning again, more scientifically this time. Circling round and round, feeling each other's defences."
"I'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.
"What was it? What was it?" asked the Doctor. "My old eyes missed it."
"The High King has pricked him in the arm-pit," said Caspian, still clapping. "Just where the arm-hole of the hauberk let the point through. First blood.'
"It's looking ugly again now, though," said Edmund. "Peter's not using his shield properly. He must be hurt in the left arm."
It was only too true. Everyone could see that Peter's shield hung limp. The shouting of the Telmarines redoubled.
"You've seen more battles than I," said Caspian. "Is there any chance now?"
"Precious little," said Edmund. "I suppose he might just do it. With luck."
"Oh, why did we let it happen at all?" said Caspian.
Suddenly all the shouting on both sides died down. Edmund was puzzled for a moment. Then he said, "Oh, I see. They've both agreed to a rest. Come on, Doctor. You and I may be able to do something for the High King.' They ran down to the lists and Peter came outside the ropes to meet them, his face red and sweaty, his chest heaving.
"Is your left arm wounded?" asked Edmund.
"It's not exactly a wound," Peter said. "I got the weight of his shoulder on my shield - like a load of bricks and the rim of the shield drove into my wrist. I don't think it's broken, but it might be a sprain. If you could tie it up very tight I think I could manage."
While they were doing this, Edmund asked anxiously. "What do you think of him, Peter?"
"Tough," said Peter. "Very tough. I have a chance if can keep him on the hop till his weight and short wind come against him - in this hot sun too. To tell the truth, I haven't much chance else. Give my love to - to everyone at home, Ed, if he gets me. Here he comes into the lists again
So long, old chap. Good-bye, Doctor. And I say, Ed, say something specially nice to Trumpkin. He's been a brick."
Edmund couldn't speak. He walked back with the Doctor to his own lines with a sick feeling in his stomach.
But the new bout went well. Peter now seemed to be able to make some use of his shield, and he certainly made good use of his feet. He was almost playing Tig with Miraz now, keeping out of range, shifting his ground, making the enemy work.
"Coward!" booed the Telmarines. "Why don't you stand up to him? Don't you like it, eh? Thought you'd come to fight, not dance. Yah!"
"Oh, I do hope he won't listen to them," said Caspian.
"Not he," said Edmund. "You don't know him - Oh!" for Miraz had got in a blow at last, on Peter's helmet. Peter staggered, slipped sideways, and fell on one knee. The roar of the Telmarines rose like the noise of the sea. "Now, Miraz," they yelled. "Now. Quick! Quick! Kill him." But indeed there was no need to egg the usurper on. He was on top of Peter already. Edmund bit his lips till the blood came, as the sword flashed down on Peter. It looked as if it would slash off his head. Thank heavens! It had glanced down his right shoulder. The Dwarf-wrought mail was sound and did not break.
"Great Scott!" cried Edmund. "He's up again. Peter, go it, Peter."
"I couldn't see what happened," said the Doctor. "How did he do it?"
"Grabbed Miraz's arm as it came down," said Trumpkin, dancing with delight. "There's a man for you! Uses his enemy's arm as a ladder. The High King! The High King! Up, Old Narnia!"
"Look," said Trufflehunter. "Miraz is angry. It is good." They were certainly at it hammer and tongs now: such a flurry of blows that it seemed impossible for either not to be killed. As the excitement grew, the shouting almost died away. The spectators were holding their breath. It was most horrible and most magnificent.
A great shout arose from the Old Narnians. Miraz was a down - not struck by Peter, but face downwards, having tripped on a tussock. Peter stepped back, waiting for him to rise.
"Oh bother, bother, bother," said Edmund to himself. "Need he be as gentlemanly as all that? I suppose he must. Comes of being a Knight and a High King. I suppose it is what Aslan would like. But that brute will be up again in a minute and then -"
But "that brute" never rose. The Lords Glozelle and Sopespian had their own plans ready. As soon as they saw their King down they leaped into the lists crying, "Treachery! Treachery! The Narnian traitor has stabbed him in the back while he lay helpless. To arms! To arms, Telmar!"
Peter hardly understood what was happening. He saw two big men running towards him with drawn swords. Then the third Telmarine had leaped over the ropes on his; left. "To arms, Narnia! Treachery!" Peter shouted. If all three had set upon him at once he would never have spoken again. But Glozelle stopped to stab his own King dead where he lay: "That's for your insult, this morning," he whispered as the blade went home. Peter swung to face Sopespian, slashed his legs from under him and, with the back-cut of the same stroke, walloped off his head Edmund was now at his side crying, "Narnia, Narnia! The Lion!" The whole Telmarine army was rushing toward them. But now the Giant was stamping forward, stooping low and swinging his club. The Centaurs charged. Twang, twang behind and hiss, hiss overhead came the archery of Dwarfs. Trumpkin was fighting at his left. Full battle was joined.
"Come back, Reepicheep, you little ass!" shouted Peter. "You'll only be killed. This is no place for mice." But the ridiculous little creatures were dancing in and out among the feet of both armies, jabbing with their swords. Many a Telmarine warrior that day felt his foot suddenly pierced as if by a dozen skewers, hopped on one leg cursing the pain, and fell as often as not. If he fell, the mice finished him off; if he did not, someone else did.
But almost before the Old Narnians were really warmed to their work they found the enemy giving way. Toughlooking warriors turned white, gazed in terror not on the Old Narnians but on something behind them, and then flung down their weapons, shrieking, "The Wood! The Wood! The end of the world!"
But soon neither their cries nor the sound of weapons could be heard any more, for both were drowned in the ocean-like roar of the Awakened Trees as they plunged through the ranks of Peter's army, and then on, in pursuit of the Telmarines. Have you ever stood at the edge of a great wood on a high ridge when a wild south-wester broke over it in full fury on an autumn evening? Imagine that sound. And then imagine that the wood, instead of being fixed to one place, was rushing at you; and was no longer trees but huge people; yet still like trees because their long arms waved like branches and their heads tossed and leaves fell round them in showers. It was like that for the Telmarines. It was a little alarming even for the Narnians. In a few minutes all Miraz's followers were running down to the Great River in the hope of crossing the bridge to the town of Beruna and there defending themselves behind ramparts and closed gates.
They reached the river, but there was no bridge. It had disappeared since yesterday. Then utter panic and horror fell upon them and they all surrendered.
But what had happened to the bridge?
Early that morning, after a few hours' sleep, the girls had waked, to see Aslan standing over them and to hear his voice saying, "We will make holiday." They rubbed their eyes and looked round them. The trees had all gone but could still be seen moving away towards Aslan's How in a dark mass. Bacchus and the Maenads - his fierce, madcap girls - and Silenus were still with them. Lucy, fully rested, jumped up. Everyone was awake, everyone was laughing, flutes were playing, cymbals clashing. Animals, not Talking Animals, were crowding in upon them from every direction.
"What is it, Aslan?" said Lucy, her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to dance.
"Come, children," said he. "Ride on my back again today."
"Oh, lovely!" cried Lucy, and both girls climbed on to the warm golden back as they had done no one knew how many years before. Then the whole party moved off Aslan leading, Bacchus and his Maenads leaping, rushing, and turning somersaults, the beasts frisking round them, and Silenus and his donkey bringing up the rear.
They turned a little to the right, raced down a steep hill, and found the long Bridge of Beruna in front of them. Before they had begun to cross it, however, up out of the water came a great wet, bearded head, larger than a man's, crowned with rushes. It looked at Aslan and out of its mouth a deep voice came.
"Hail, Lord," it said. "Loose my chains."
"Who on earth is that?" whispered Susan.
"I think it's the river-god, but hush," said Lucy.
"Bacchus," said Aslan. "Deliver him from his chains."
"That means the bridge, I expect," thought Lucy. And so it did. Bacchus and his people splashed forward into the shallow water, and a minute later the most curious things began happening. Great, strong trunks of ivy came curling up all the piers of the bridge, growing as quickly as a fire grows, wrapping the stones round, splitting, breaking, separating them. The walls of the bridge turned into hedges gay with hawthorn for a moment and then disappeared as the whole thing with a rush and a rumble collapsed into the swirling water. With much splashing, screaming, and laughter the revellers waded or swam or danced across the ford ("Hurrah! It's the Ford of Beruna again now!" cried the girls) and up the bank on the far side and into the town.
Everyone in the streets fled before their faces. The first house they came to was a school: a girls' school, where lot of Narnian girls, with their hair done very tight and ugly tight collars round their necks and thick tickly stockings on their legs, were having a history lesson. The sort of "History" that was taught in Narnia under Miraz's rule was duller than the truest history you ever read and less true than the most exciting adventure story.
"If you don't attend, Gwendolen," said the mistress, and stop looking out of the window, I shall have to give you an order-mark."
"But please, Miss Prizzle -" began Gwendolen.
"Did you hear what I said, Gwendolen?" asked Miss Prizzle.
"But please, Miss Prizzle," said Gwendolen, "there's a LION!"
"Take two order-marks for talking nonsense," said Miss Prizzle. "And now -" A roar interrupted her. Ivy came curling in at the windows of the classroom. The walls became a mass of shimmering green, and leafy branches arched overhead where the ceiling had been. Miss Prizzle found she was standing on grass in a forest glade. She clutched at her desk to steady herself, and found that the desk was a rose-bush. Wild people such as she had never even imagined were crowding round her. Then she saw the Lion, screamed and fled, and with her fled her class, who were mostly dumpy, prim little girls with fat legs. Gwendolen hesitated.
"You'll stay with us, sweetheart?" said Aslan.
"Oh, may I? Thank you, thank you," said Gwendolen. Instantly she joined hands with two of the Maenads, who whirled her round in a merry dance and helped her take off some of the unnecessary and uncomfortable clothes that she was wearing.
Wherever they went in the little town of Beruna it was the same. Most of the people fled, a few joined them. When they left the town they were a larger and a merrier company.
They swept on across the level fields on the north bank, or left bank, of the river. At every farm animals came out to join them. Sad old donkeys who had never known joy grew suddenly young again; chained dogs broke their chains; horses kicked their carts to pieces and came trotting along with them - clop-clop - kicking up the mud and whinnying.
At a well in a yard they met a man who was beating a boy. The stick burst into flower in the man's hand. He tried to drop it, but it stuck to his hand. His arm became a branch, his body the trunk of a tree, his feet took root. The boy, who had been crying a moment before, burst out laughing and joined them.
At a little town half-way to Beaversdam, where two rivers met, they came to another school, where a tiredlooking girl was teaching arithmetic to a number of boys who looked very like pigs. She looked out of the window and saw the divine revellers singing up the street and a stab of joy went through her heart. Aslan stopped right under the window and looked up at her.
"Oh, don't, don't," she said. "I'd love to. But I mustn't. I must stick to my work. And the children would be frightened if they saw you."
"Frightened?" said the most pig-like of the boys. "Who's she talking to out of the window? Let's tell the inspector she talks to people out of the window when she ought to be teaching us."
"Let's go and see who it is," said another boy, and they all came crowding to the window. But as soon as their mean little faces looked out, Bacchus gave a great cry of Euan, euoi-oi-oi-of and the boys all began howling with fright and trampling one another down to get out of the door and jumping out of the windows. And it was said afterwards (whether truly or not) that those particular little boys were never seen again, but that there were a lot of very fine little pigs in that part of the country which had never been there before.
"Now, Dear Heart," said Aslan to the Mistress, and she jumped down and joined them.
At Beaversdam they re-crossed the river and came east again along the southern bank. They came to a little cottage where a child stood in the doorway crying. "Why are you crying, my love?" asked Aslan. The child, who had never seen a picture of a lion, was not afraid of him. "Auntie's very ill," she said. "She's going to die." Then Aslan went to go in at the door of the cottage, but it was too small for him. So, when he had got his head through, he pushed with his shoulders (Lucy and Susan fell off when he did this) and lifted the whole house up and it fell backwards and apart. And there, still in her bed, though the bed was now in the open air, lay a little old woman who looked as if she had Dwarf blood in her. She was at death's door, but when she opened her eyes and saw the bright, hairy head of the lion staring into her face, she did not scream or faint. She said, "Oh, Aslan! I knew it was true. I've been waiting for this all my life. Have you come to take me away?"
"Yes, Dearest," said Aslan. "But not the long journey yet." And as he spoke, like the flush creeping along the underside of a cloud at sunrise, the colour came back to her white face and her eyes grew bright and she sat up and said, "Why, I do declare I feel that better. I think I could take a little breakfast this morning."
"Here you are, mother," said Bacchus, dipping a pitcher in the cottage well and handing it to her. But what was in it now was not water but the richest wine, red as red-currant jelly, smooth as oil, strong as beef, warming as tea, cool as dew.
"Eh, you've done something to our well," said the old woman. "That makes a nice change, that does." And she jumped out of bed.
"Ride on me," said Aslan, and added to Susan and Lucy, "You two queens will have to run now."
"But we'd like that just as well," said Susan. And off they went again.
And so at last, with leaping and dancing and singing, with music and laughter and roaring and barking and neighing, they all came to the place where Miraz's army stood flinging down their swords and holding up their hands, and Peter's army, still holding their weapons and breathing hard, stood round them with stern and glad faces. And the first thing that happened was that the old woman slipped off Aslan's back and ran across to Caspian and they embraced one another; for she was his old nurse.
“阿斯蘭怎麼還不來呢?”杜魯普金擔心地自言自語道。
“我也這麼想，”特魯佛漢特說，“可你往身後看。”
小矮人轉身一看，不由大吃一驚：“我的老天!那是些什麼人?巨人、仙女——哇!成千上萬地從後面擁了過來……她們是誰?”
“她們是林中仙子、水族女神……阿斯蘭把她們全召來了!”
“噓!”小矮人做了個手勢，“這下可不怕敵人玩什麼鬼花招了。可是，萬一在決鬥中彌若茲技高一籌，那麼援兵也無法把國王從困境中解救出來。”
獾沒有再講話，因爲這時彼得和彌若茲已從兩端步入場中，都是披盔戴甲，全副武裝。只見他們彼此行禮，還說了幾句話，只是距離太遠，聽不清說的是什麼。轉眼間，兩把寶劍同時拔出了鞘，在陽光下閃閃發光。決鬥開始了。擊劍聲開始還清晰可辨，但很快便被淹沒在鼎沸的人聲之中。兩軍的吶喊助威聲此起彼伏，震耳欲聾，簡直像世界足球大賽中的拉拉隊那麼熱鬧。
“打得好，哈，彼得，打得好!”看到彌若茲連連後退，愛德蒙不禁大聲喝起彩來，“繼續攻擊，攻擊呀!”
彼得果然乘勝進攻，有一刻簡直就要打贏了。不想彌若茲搶得一個喘息的機會，馬上抖擻精神，捲土重來。他充分發揮自己身高體重的優勢，步步緊逼。“彌若茲，加油!國王，加油!”敵軍瘋狂地呼喊着，戰場上的形勢轉而開始對彼得不利了。一直緊張觀望的凱斯賓和愛德蒙頭上冒出了冷汗，臉色也變了。
“彼得下殺招了!”愛德蒙說。
“快說，現在怎麼樣了?”雷佩契普個兒小看不清楚，不停地打聽着戰況。
“雙方退到邊線，想喘口氣。”愛德蒙說，“看，他們又開始了。現在雙方都比較謹慎，繞場，僵持，守住門戶以免被攻破。”
“我看那彌若茲劍術精湛。”博士小聲嘀咕着。他話音剛落，突然聽到身邊響起一陣震耳欲聾的掌聲、叫聲、跺腳聲。“發生了什麼事情?我老眼昏花，看不清楚了。”
“彼得刺中了他的臂彎!”凱斯賓一邊拍手，一邊說道，“劍從鎖子甲關節處的空隙裏紮了進去，彌若茲流血了。”
“不好!”愛德蒙突然緊張地說，“彼得使盾牌的手看起來很不靈便，他的左臂一定受傷了。”
果然，大家都注意到彼得手裏的盾牌歪歪斜斜，有些拿不穩。臺爾馬陣營中的加油聲一下增強了一倍。
“你經歷的戰鬥比我多，”凱斯賓小聲問愛德蒙，“我們還有希望嗎?”
“還有一線希望。我看彼得正在尋找時機，這要看運氣了。”
“唉，這場決鬥完全可以避免的!”
雙方陣營裏的喊叫聲突然一齊停了下來。愛德蒙愣了一下，馬上明白過來：
“看樣子，交戰雙方已同意暫停，休息片刻。跟我來，博士，咱們去看看能爲彼得做些什麼。”
說着，他倆朝決鬥場走去。彼得跨過繩索，朝他們迎了過來。他臉色通紅，汗流滿面，胸脯急驟地上下起伏着。
“你的左臂是不是負傷了?”愛德蒙焦急地問。
“不能真正算負傷。他把整個肩膀的重量都壓在我的盾牌上——簡直像一堆磚頭那麼沉重——而盾把手的邊緣緊卡着我的手腕……我相信手腕沒有折，但肯定是扭傷了。只要用手絹緊緊地紮起來就可以了。”
愛德蒙一邊給他包紮，一邊擔心地問：
“你有把握嗎，彼得?”
“這傢伙不大好對付，”彼得說着，擦擦臉上的汗水，“如果我能使他不停地移動，把他壓在我身上的重量轉移爲他自己的負擔，我就能夠取勝。不然的話，老實說，十分危險。愛德，假若他把我打倒，請告訴家裏每一個人，我愛他們。瞧，他上場了。再見，老朋友。再見，博士!記着，愛德，好好安慰杜魯普金，他一直是可信賴的朋友。”
愛德蒙一句話也講不出來。他心情沉重地和博士一起回到自己的陣營裏。
令人振奮的是，第二個回合形勢有所好轉。彼得已經能夠比較靈活地使用盾牌，腳步顯然也靈活多了。只見他不停地在場上移動着，一邊進攻，一邊使自己與對手保持一定的距離。這樣彌若茲便不得不跟着他滿場轉。
“懦夫!”臺爾馬的士兵開始起鬨了，“你怎麼不停下來和他打?害怕了嗎，呃?原以爲你是來決鬥的，原來你是來跳舞的呀，哈哈哈……”
“千萬別聽他們的!”凱斯賓連忙喊。"
“放心吧，他不會的，”愛德蒙安慰他說，“你不瞭解他——哎呀!”
彌若茲終於得手，在彼得的頭盔上猛擊了一下。彼得一個踉蹌，單腿跪在地上。臺爾馬人頓時如潮水洶涌般叫起來：“好畦，彌若茲!再來一下，快，幹掉他!”那陰謀篡位者不需別人提醒，已經撲向地上的彼得。眼看着劍閃寒光向彼得刺去，愛德蒙把嘴脣都咬破了——彌若茲這一劍兇狠毒辣，看樣子他決心要彼得的命。感謝上帝!那一劍劈在彼得的右臂上，萬幸那鎖子甲非常堅固，沒有被劈開。
“好樣的!”愛德蒙大叫起來，“看——他又站起來了!彼得，殺死他!”
“我看不清楚，”博士連聲催問，“他怎麼樣了?”
“彌若茲的胳膊落下來時，被彼得抓住了。”杜魯普金一邊講，一邊興奮得跳起來，“彼得!彼得!爲古老的納尼亞，站起來吧!”
“你們看，”特魯佛漢特說，“彌若茲失去耐性了。這是好兆頭。”
戰鬥這時已經到了白熱化的階段。每一擊都那麼沉重，彷彿打到身上便能置人於死地。陣前觀戰的雙方軍隊隨着激動和緊張感的增加，吶喊聲反而漸漸消失了——大家都屏住了呼吸，那場面既可怕又壯觀。
古老納尼亞的軍中突然一陣沸騰，原來彌若茲絆在一簇叢生草上，臉朝下重重地摔了一跤。彼得向後退去，等他爬起來。
“嘿!真是多此一舉!”愛德蒙氣惱地跺一下腳，“這節骨眼上還講什麼紳士風度!那個兇殘的傢伙站起身來，就會——”
然而，那兇殘的傢伙再也沒能站起來了。他的寵臣哥洛和索皮早有陰謀。他們看到彌若茲摔倒在地上，馬上跳入場內，大聲叫嚷着：“陰謀!陰謀!我們尊敬的國王無助地躺在地上時被納尼亞的陰謀家殺死啦!臺爾馬的勇士們，準備戰鬥!”
彼得簡直無法相信眼前發生的事情。他看到彌若茲那兩個身材高大的助手持劍撲來，接着，第三個臺爾馬人也從左邊跳入決鬥場。“納尼亞，準備戰鬥!這是陰謀!”彼得終於喊起來。假如那三個臺爾馬人一齊向他進攻，也許他就不會有發號施令的機會了。哥洛徑直衝到彌若茲的身邊，一劍置他於死地，嘴裏還狠狠地說：“這一劍爲了你早上對我的侮辱!”彼得轉身對付索皮。他一劍劈在索皮腿上，緊接着又是一劍，麻利地結果了他。愛德蒙此時已飛奔到哥哥的身旁，嘴裏大聲喊着：“納尼亞，納尼亞!偉大的雄獅!”這時候，整個臺爾馬軍隊向他們撲來，而這邊的巨人已及時趕了過來，低低地彎下身子，用他手中的大棒掃向敵人。人頭馬奮勇出擊，杜魯普金則率領一羣小矮人跟在它左邊殺了過來——霎時間一片刀光劍影，殺聲震天，兩軍打作一團。!
“雷佩契普，到後面去，你這小傻瓜!”彼得喊道，“這不是你們老鼠呆的地方，你們會被踩死的!”可那些發了瘋似的小傢伙根本不聽命令。它們揮動着手中的短劍，在兩軍之中上躥下跳，奮力拼殺。那天真有不少臺爾馬士兵突然感到腳上一陣鑽心的疼痛，不得不一邊大聲詛咒着一邊單腳跳着往後撤，不少人跌倒在地。在亂軍中一旦摔倒在地上，那就沒命了。不是老鼠便是其他的納尼亞人會趕上來，一劍結果了他。
古老納尼亞的戰士們正殺在興頭上，卻發現敵軍士兵突然間失去了抵抗，臉色煞白，驚怒萬狀地盯着他們的身後，然後紛紛扔下武器，尖叫着：“樹林!看那樹林!世界末日來臨啦!”
片刻之間，敵人的驚叫聲和武器的撞擊聲便被一陣強烈的、海嘯般的樹聲給淹沒了。不計其數的被阿斯蘭喚醒的樹神繞過彼得的軍隊，以排山倒海之勢向臺爾馬士兵撲了過去。你可曾在深秋的夜晚站在樹林旁的山崖上感受那強勁的西南風?那勁風掠過樹林，呼嘯着，毫無遮攔地向你刮來。想像一下那聲音!再想像一下那樹林突然間變成了無數巨人撲向你。那些臺爾馬士兵當時的感覺就是這樣。甚至在古老納尼亞的軍隊看來，這情景也觸目驚心。'
幾分鐘之後，彌若茲手下倖存的士兵便所剩無幾，他們順着通往大河的那條路倉皇逃命去了。他們打算越過柏盧納大橋，佔領那裏的小村鎮，然後堅守不出。
逃兵們來到河邊，卻找不到柏盧納大橋!原來那橋昨天就神祕地消失了。在極度的恐懼和絕望中，他們只好繳械投降。
大橋是怎麼回事呢?
那天凌晨，露茜和蘇珊經過幾小時酣睡之後醒了過來。她們睜眼看到阿斯蘭正站在她們身邊，對她們說：“起來吧，孩子們。今天將是我們的節日。”她們揉揉眼睛，看看四周。樹神們已經離去，不過依然看得見它們黑壓壓的一片，朝阿斯蘭堡壘的方向移動。巴庫斯帶着他那羣充滿野性的姑娘留了下來，塞利努斯也和他們在一起。露茜感到精力充沛，一下子跳起身來，大家也頓時清醒過來，空中立即又響起了歌聲、笑聲、口笛聲和打鬧聲。各種各樣的動物——都是些不會說話的動物——被這歡快的場面吸引，紛紛從四面八方向他們圍攏過來。
“過來，孩子們!”阿斯蘭高聲叫道，“上來，坐到我的身上來。”
“哇!太棒了!”兩個女孩歡呼着，像很多很多年以前那次一樣，爬到阿斯蘭溫暖的、金黃色的背上。在阿斯蘭的帶領下，他們這一行人出發了。巴庫斯和他的野姑娘們一路上不停地奔跑、跳躍、翻跟頭；塞利努斯騎着毛驢跟在後面。
他們向右轉個彎，衝下一個陡坡，來到柏盧納大橋跟前。他們正要過河，突然水中冒出一個水淋淋的、鬚髮叢生的大腦袋，上面戴着一頂亂蓬蓬的草環。它望着阿斯蘭，用非常低沉的聲音說道：
“大王，請鬆開我身上的鎖鏈。”
“這是誰?”蘇珊小聲問。
“我猜它是河神，別講話。”露茜說。
“巴庫斯，”阿斯蘭吩咐道，“給它解開鎖鏈。”
“可能是指那座大橋。”露茜暗忖。果然，巴庫斯和他的部下濺着水花來到一片淺水區。一分鐘之後，非常奇妙的事情發生了。碩大、堅實的常春藤纏繞着橋墩飛快地長了起來，卷着每一塊橋石。轉眼間橋身變成了山楂樹籬笆，迅速地分裂、瓦解，然後整個兒垮了下來，在河面上濺起了沖天的水花。野姑娘們使勁兒拍打着水面，尖聲叫着，高聲笑着，有的嬉水，有的游泳，還有的索性在河崖上跳起舞來。“啊，這又是當年的柏盧納渡口了!”女孩們激動地回想起往事。
過了河，大家朝小鎮走去。
大街上的行人見到他們都嚇得紛紛逃散。他們首先來到一所女子學校。這裏的女孩子一個個扎着僵直、難看的小辮兒，豎起的衣領緊緊地卡在脖子上，既不美觀，又不舒服。這裏正在上歷史課，內容是彌若茲統治下的納尼亞，淨是些胡說八道，枯燥無味極了。
“格溫多倫!假如你再不注意聽講，繼續往窗外看的話，我將記下你的名字，扣你的分數!”嚴厲的女教師威脅一個女學生。
“可是，老師……”格溫多倫想開口申辯。
“你沒有聽見我的話嗎，格溫多倫小姐?”
“可是，普蕾萊夫人……外面有一頭獅子!”
“胡言亂語，擾亂課堂，扣兩分!”夫人威嚴地宣稱，“下面，讓我們——”她的話被一聲獅吼打斷了。常春藤從窗外爬了進來，轉眼間佈滿了牆壁和屋頂，給教室帶來了勃勃生機。普蕾萊夫人突然發現自己站在林中的草地上，不由大吃一驚，連忙去扶桌子，以免摔倒。不料那桌子一下子變成了一簇玫瑰。一羣她怎麼也想像不出來的野姑娘正向她團團圍過來。接着她又看到阿斯蘭，立刻尖叫着逃開了。她那一班又矮又胖、一本正經的小姑娘也隨之一鬨而散，惟獨格溫多倫猶豫着沒走開。
“可愛的小姑娘，願意和我們在一起嗎?”阿斯蘭問她。
“我可以嗎?謝謝你，太謝謝你了!”格溫多倫臉上綻出開心的微笑，馬上和身邊兩個野姑娘拉起手來。她們毫不遲疑地幫她脫下那身既不舒服又不好看的校服，教她跳起歡快的舞蹈。-
他們走到哪裏，類似的情況就發生在哪裏。多數居民逃開了，有一小部分加入了他們的行列。離開柏盧納鎮時，他們的隊伍擴大了不少，也更顯得興高采烈。
他們越過平原，沿着河的北岸走去。每過一處農莊，就有不少家畜跑來入夥。從未有過歡樂的憂傷老驢突然變得年輕；看家狗第一次擺脫了束縛它們的鎖鏈；馬兒踢碎了套在身上的大車，尥着蹶子在隊伍旁邊來回奔跑着。
在一座院落的井旁，他們看到一個男人正在使勁抽打一個男孩。他手裏的棍子突然變成了一支花。惶惑中他想扔掉那花，卻怎麼也丟不掉。漸漸地，他的胳膊變成了樹枝，他的軀體變成了樹幹，他的腳在地上紮了根。剛纔還在流淚求饒的孩子破涕爲笑，蹦蹦跳跳地和他們一齊向前走去。
通往海狸大壩的路上有個小鎮，這裏是兩條河交匯處。他們走進另一所學校，教室裏一位滿面倦容的姑娘正給一羣男孩上數學課。那些男孩子一個個呆頭呆腦，愚蠢得像豬一樣，一點兒靈氣也沒有。那姑娘從窗戶望出去，看見一個野姑娘邊唱邊跳地沿街走來。她的心情一下子愉快起來。阿斯蘭來到窗前，直直地望着她。
“噢，不，不!”姑娘說，“我想和你們去，可我不能。我不能離開崗位。再說孩子們看見你會被嚇壞的。”
“嚇壞我們?”一個蠢孩子說，“她在和窗外什麼人講話?我們去報告校長，說她在教我們讀書的時候與窗外的人說話。”
“我們去看看那是誰。”另一個孩子說。於是大家一齊擁到窗子跟前。他們那遲鈍呆板的小臉剛從窗戶上露出來，便聽到巴庫斯一聲大叫，嚇得他們掉頭就跑，互相推搡着，踐踏着，一時間哭聲喊聲亂成一片。據說打那以後(不知是真是假)，再沒有人見過那幫蠢小子，而那一地區卻出現了一些十分聽話的小豬。
“沒問題了，親愛的姑娘?”阿斯蘭微笑着向教室裏望去。那姑娘歡快地跳出窗戶，加入了他們的行列。
他們在海狸大壩再次渡河，然後沿南崖往東走。不久，他們來到一座農舍跟前，門外一個小孩正在啼哭。阿斯蘭上前問道：“你爲什麼哭呀，小朋友?”那孩子顯然不知道獅子爲何物，所以並不懼怕。"
“姨媽病得十分厲害，她就要死了。”他哽咽道。
阿斯蘭想要走進那小屋，無奈房子太小，進不去，他只好把頭伸進門去，這下子露茜和蘇珊都從它身上掉了下來。只見阿斯蘭肩膀一擡就把那房子掮了起來，再一抖，房子稀里嘩啦頓時變成一堆廢墟。大家看到，露天的牀上躺着一個弱小的老婦人(她顯然是小矮人的後代)，已經奄奄一息。當她虛弱地睜開雙眼，看到阿斯蘭那毛茸茸的、碩大的頭顱時，並不感到驚訝和恐懼。她說：“啊，阿斯蘭!我知道這是真的。我一生都在等待。你是來接我的吧?”
“是的，可憐的好人，”阿斯蘭輕聲答道，“這是一次長途跋涉。”說話問，好似雲開日出，一片紅暈浮上了老婦人那蒼白的面頰，她的目光也明亮起來。只見她坐起身說：“我感覺好多了，我覺得今天可以吃些東西了。”
“吃點兒東西吧，母親，”巴庫斯說，然後從附近的井裏提來一桶水，遞給了她，奇怪的是桶裏的水已經變成了最香醇的美酒，像草莓那麼鮮紅，像蜂蜜那麼甘甜，像牛肉那麼耐飢，像晨露那麼清涼
“這井水怎麼這麼好喝?哦——準是你在水裏施了法術，真是太好了!”老婦人喝了幾口後詫異地說，一邊翻身跳下牀來。
“我們十分願意下來活動活動。”蘇珊說。於是，大家繼續趕路。
就這樣，一路唱着，跳着，她們終於來到河邊，正好看到彌若茲的敗兵紛紛丟下武器舉手投降。彼得的部隊站在一邊，手持武器，臉上洋溢着勝利的喜悅。突然，老婦人從阿斯蘭的背上跳下來，朝凱斯賓奔去。兩人見面抱在一起，激動得說不出話來。原來她正是凱斯賓的老保姆。
