雙語閱讀（2021年2月16日）
CHAPTER FIFTEEN ASLAN MAKES A DOOR IN THE AIR
At the sight of Aslan the cheeks of the Telmarine soldiers became the color of cold gravy， their knees knocked together， and many fell on their faces。 They had not believed in lions and this made their fear greater。 Even the Red Dwarfs， who knew that he came as a friend， stood with open mouths and could not speak。 Some of the Black Dwarfs， who had been of Nikabrik’s party， began to edge away。 But all the Talking Beasts surged round the Lion， with purrs and grunts and squeaks and whinnies of delight， fawning on him with their tails， rubbing against him， touching him reverently with their noses and going to and fro under his body and between his legs。 If you have ever seen a little cat loving a big dog whom it knows and trusts， you will have a pretty good picture of their behaviour。 Then Peter， leading Caspian， forced his way through the crowd of animals。
“This is Caspian， Sir，” he said。 And Caspian knelt and kissed the Lion’s paw。
“Welcome， Prince，” said Aslan。 “Do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the Kingship of Narnia？”
“I—I don’t think I do， Sir，” said Caspian。 “I’m only a kid。”
“Good，” said Aslan。 “If you had felt yourself sufficient， it would have been a proof that you were not。 Therefore， under us and under the High King， you shall be King of Narnia， Lord of Cair Paravel， and Emperor of the Lone Islands。 You and your heirs while your race lasts。 And your coronation—but what have we here？” For at that moment a curious little processi-on was approaching—eleven Mice， six of whom carried between them something on a litter made of branches， but the litter was no bigger than a large atlas。 No one has ever seen mice more woebegone than these。 They were plastered with mud—some with blood too— and their ears were down and their whiskers drooped and their tails dragged in the grass， and their leader piped on his slender pipe a melancholy tune。 On the litter lay what seemed little better than a damp heap of fur； all that was left of Reepicheep。 He was still breathing， but more dead than alive， gashed with innumerable wounds， one paw crushed， and， where his tail had been， a bandaged stump。
“Now， Lucy，” said Aslan。
Lucy had her diamond bottle out in a moment。 Though only a drop was needed on each of Reepicheep’s wounds， the wounds were so many that there was a long and anxious silence before she had finished and the Master Mouse sprang from the litter。 His hand went at once to his sword hilt， with the other he twirled his whiskers。 He bowed。
“Hail， Aslan！” came his shrill voice。 “I have the honor—” But then he suddenly stopped。
The fact was that he still had no tail-whether that Lucy had forgotten it or that her cordial， though it could heal wounds， could not make things grow again。 Reepicheep became aware of his loss as he made his bow； perhaps it altered something in his balance。 He looked over his right shoulder。 Failing to see his tail， he strained his neck further till he had to turn his shoulders and his whole body followed。 But by that time his hind-quarters had turned too and were out of sight。 Then he strained his neck looking over his shoulder again， with the same result。 Only after he had turned completely round three times did he realize the dreadful truth。
“I am confounded，” said Reepicheep to Aslan。 “I am completely out of countenance。 I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion。”
“It becomes you very well， Small One，” said Aslan。
“All the same，” replied Reepicheep， “if anything could be done 。。。 Perhaps her Majesty？” and here he bowed to Lucy。
“But what do you want with a tail？” asked Aslan。
“Sir，” said the Mouse， “I can eat and sleep and die for my King without one。 But a tail is the honor and glory of a Mouse。”
“I have sometimes wondered， friend，” said Aslan， “whether you do not think too much about your honor。”
“Highest of all High Kings，” said Reepicheep， “permit me to remind you that a very small size has been bestowed on us Mice， and if we did not guard our dignity， some （who weigh worth by inches） would allow themselves very unsuitable pleasantries at our expense。 That is why I have been at some pains to make it known that no one who does not wish to feel this sword as near his heart as I can reach shall talk in my presence about Traps or Toasted Cheese or Candles：no， Sir—not the tallest fool in Narnia！” Here he glared very fiercely up at Wimbleweather， but the Giant， who was always a stage behind everyone else， had not yet discovered what was being talked about down at his feet， and so missed the point。
“Why have your followers all drawn their swords， may I ask？” said Aslan。
“May it please your High Majesty，” said the second Mouse， whose name was Peepiceek， “we are all waiting to cut off our own tails if our Chief must go without his。 We will not bear the shame of wearing an honor which is denied to the High Mouse。”
“Ah！” roared Aslan。 “You have conquered me。 You have great hearts。 Not for the sake of your dignity， Reepicheep， but for the love that is between you and your people， and still more for the kindness your people showed me long ago when you ate away the cords that bound me on the Stone Table （and it was then， though you have long forgotten it， that you began to be Talking Mice）， you shall have your tail again。”
Before Aslan had finished speaking the new tail was in its place。 Then， at Aslan’s command， Peter bestowed the Knighthood of the Order of the L-on on Caspian， and Caspian， as soon as he was knighted， himself bestowed it on Trufflehunter and Trumpkin and Reepicheep， and made Doctor Cornelius his Lord Chancellor， and confirmed the Bulgy Bear in his hereditary office of Marshal of the Lists。 And there was great applause。
After this the Telmarine soldiers， firmly but without taunts or blows， were taken across the ford and all put under lock and key in the town of Beruna and given beef and beer。 They made a great fuss about wading in the river， for they all hated and feared running water just as much as they hated and feared woods and animals。 But in the end the nuisance was over， and then the nicest parts of that long day began。
Lucy， sitting close to Aslan and divinely comfortable， wondered what the trees were doing。 At first she thought they were merely dancing； they were certainly going round slowly in two circles， one from left to right and the other from right to left。 Then she noticed that they kept throwing something down in the center of both circles。 Sometimes she thought they were cutting off long strands of their hair； at other times it looked as if they were breaking off bits of their fingers—but， if so， they had plenty of fingers to spare and it did not hurt them。 But whatever they were throwing down， when it reached the ground， it became brushwood or dry sticks。 Then three or four of the Red Dwarfs came forward with their tinder boxes and set light to the pile， which first crackled， and then blazed， and finally roared as a woodland bonfire on midsummer night ought to do。 And everyone sat down in a wide circle round it。
Then Bacchus and Silenus and the Maenads began a dance， far wilder than the dance of the trees； not merely a dance for fun and beauty （though it was that too） but a magic dance of plenty， and where their hands touched， and where their feet fell， the feast came into existence-sides of roasted meat that filled the grove with delicious smell， and wheaten cakes and oaten cakes， honey and many-colored sugars and cream as thick as porridge and as smooth as still water， peaches， nectarines， pomegranates， pears， grapes， strawberri-es， raspberries—pyramids and cataracts of fruit。 Then， in great wooden cups and bowls and mazers， wreathed with ivy， came the wines； dark， thick ones like syrups of mulberry juice， and clear red ones like red jellies liquefied， and yellow wines and green wines and yellow-green and greenish-yellow。
But for the tree people different fare was provided。 When Lucy saw Clodsley Shovel and his moles scuffling up the turf in various places （which Bacchus had pointed out to them） and realized that the trees were going to eat earth it gave her rather a shudder。 But when she saw the earths that were actually brought to them she felt quite different。 They began with a rich brown loam that looked almost exactly like chocolate； so like chocolate， in fact， that Edmund tried a piece of it， but he did not find it at all nice。 When the rich loam had taken the edge off their hunger， the trees turned to an earth of the kind you see in Somerset， which is almost pink。 They said it was lighter and sweeter。 At the cheese stage they had a chalky soil， and then went on to delicate confections of the finest gravels powdered with choice silver sand。 They drank very little wine， and it made the Hollies very talkative：for the most part they quenched their thirst with deep draughts of mingled dew and rain， flavored with forest flowers and the airy taste of the thinnest clouds。
Thus Aslan feasted the Narnians till long after the sunset had died away， and the stars had come out； and the great fire， now hotter but less noisy， shone like a beacon in the dark woods， and the frightened Telmarines saw it from far away and wondered what it might mean。 The best thing of all about this feast was that there was no breaking up or going away， but as the talk grew quieter and slower， one after another would begin to nod and finally drop off to sleep with feet toward the fire and good friends on either side， till at last there was silence all round the circle， and the chattering of water over stone at the Ford of Beruna could be heard once more。 But all night Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes。
Next day messengers （who were chiefly squirrels and birds） were sent all over the country with a proclamation to the scattered Telmarines—including， of course， the prisoners in Beruna。 They were told that Caspian was now King and that Narnia would henceforth belong to the Talking Beasts and the Dwarfs and Dryads and Fauns and other creatures quite as much as to the men。 Any who chose to stay under the new conditions might do so； but for those who did not like the idea， Aslan would provide another home。 Anyone who wished to go there must come to Aslan and the Kings at the Ford of Beruna by noon on the fifth day。 You may imagine that this caused plenty of head-scratching among the Telmarines。 Some of them， chiefly the young ones， had， like Caspian， heard stories of the Old Days and were delighted that they had come back。 They were already making friends with the creatures。 These all decided to stay in Narnia。 But most of the older men， especially those who had been important under Miraz， were sulky and had no wish to live in a country where they could not rule the roost。 “Live here with a lot of blooming performing animals！ No fear，” they said。 “And ghosts too，” some added with a shudder。 “That’s what those there Dryads really are。 It’s not canny。” They were also suspicious。 “I don’t trust’em，” they said。 “Not with that awful Lion and all。 He won’t keep his claws off us long， you’ll see。” But then they were equally suspicious of his offer to give them a new home。 “Take us off to his den and eat us one by one most likely，” they muttered。 And the more they talked to one another the sulkier and more suspicious they became。 But on the appointed day more than half of them turned up。
At one end of the glade Aslan had caused to be set up two stakes of wood， higher than a man’s head and about three feet apart。 A third， and lighter， piece of wood was bound across them at the top， uniting them， so that the whole thing looked like a doorway from nowhere into nowhere。 In front of this stood Aslan himself with Peter on his right and Caspian on his left。 Grouped round them were Susan and Lucy， Trumpkin and Trufflehunter， the Lord Cornelius， Glenstorm， Reepicheep， and others。 The children and the Dwarfs had made good use of the royal wardrobes in what had been the castle of Miraz and was now the castle of Caspian， and what with silk and cloth of gold， with snowy linen glancing through slashed sleeves， with silver mail shirts and jewelled swordhilts， with gilt helmets and feathered bonnets， they were almost too bright to look at。 Even the beasts wore rich chains about their necks。 Yet nobody’s eyes were on them or the children。 The living and strokable gold of Aslan’s mane outshone them all。 The rest of the Old Narnians stood down each side of the glade。 At the far end stood the Telmarines。 The sun shone brightly and pennants fluttered in the light wind。
“Men of Telmar，” said Aslan， “you who seek a new land， hear my words。 I will send you all to your own country， which I know and you do not。”
“We don’t remember Telmar。 We don’t know where it is。 We don’t know what it is like，” grumbled the Telmarines。
“You came into Narnia out of Telmar，” said Aslan。 “But you came into Telmar from another place。 You do not belong to this world at all。 You came hither， certain generations ago， out of that same world to which the High King Peter belongs。”
At this， half the Telmarines began whimpering， “There you are。 Told you so。 He’s going to kill us all， send us right out of the world，” and the other half began throwing out their chests and slapping one another on the back and whispering， “There you are。 Might have guessed we didn’t belong to this place with all its queer， nasty， unnatural creatures。 We’re of royal blood， you’ll see。” And even Caspian and Cornelius and the children turned to Aslan with looks of amazement on their faces。
“Peace，” said Aslan in the low voice which was nearest to his growl。 The earth seemed to shake a little and every living thing in the grove became still as stone。
“You， Sir Caspian，” said Aslan， “might have known that you could be no true King of Narnia unless， like the Kings of old， you were a son of Adam and came from the world of Adam’s sons。 And so you are。 Many years ago in that world， in a deep sea of that world which is called the South Sea， a shipload of pirates were driven by storm on an island。 And there they did as pirates would：killed the natives and took the native women for wives， and made palm wine， and drank and were drunk， and lay in the shade of the palm trees， and woke up and quarrelled， and sometimes killed one another。 And in one of these frays six were put to flight by the rest and fled with their women into the center of the island and up a mountain， and went， as they thought， into a cave to hide。 But it was one of the magical places of that world， one of the chinks or chasms between chat world and this。 There were many chinks or chasms between worlds in old times， but they have grown rarer。 This was one of the last。 I do not say the last。 And so they fell， or rose， or blundered， or dropped right through， and found themselves in this world， in the Land of Telmar which was then unpeopled。 But why it was unpeopled is a long story。 I will not tell it now。 And in Telmar their descendants lived and became a fierce and proud people； and after many generations there was a famine in Telmar and they invaded Narnia， which was then in some disorder （but that also would be a long story）， and conquered it and ruled it。 Do you mark all this well， King Caspian？”
“I do indeed， Sir，” said Caspian。 “I was wishing that I came of a more honorable lineage。”
“You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve，” said Aslan。 “And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar， and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth。 Be content。”
Caspian bowed。
“And now，” said Aslan， “you men and women of Telmar， will you go back to that island in the world of men from which your fathers first came？ It is no bad place。 The race of those pirates who first found it has died out， and it is without inhabitants。 There are good wells of fresh water， and fruitful soil， and timber for building， and fish in the lagoons； and the other men of that world have not yet discovered it。 The chasm is open for your return； but this I must warn you， that once you have gone through， it will close behind you for ever。 There will be no more commerce between the worlds by that door。”
There was silence for a moment。 Then a burly， decent-looking fellow among the Telmarine soldiers pushed forward and said：
“Well， I’ll take the offer。”
“It is well chosen，” said Aslan。 “And because you have spoken first， strong magic is upon you。 Your future in that world shall be good。 Come forth。”
The man， now a little pale， came forward。 Aslan and his court drew aside， leaving him free access to the empty doorway of the stakes。
“Go through it， my son，” said Aslan， bending toward him and touching the man’s nose with his own。 As soon as the Lion’s breath came about him， a new look came into the man’s eyes—startled， but not unhappy—as if he were trying to remember something。 Then he squared his shoulders and walked into the Door。
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him。 They saw the three pieces of wood， and through them the trees and grass and sky of Narnia。 They saw the man between the doorposts， then， in one second， he had vanished utterly。
From the other end of the glade the remaining Telmarines set up a wailing。 “Ugh！ What’s happened to him？ Do you mean to murder us？ We won’t go that way。” And then one of the clever Telmarines said：
“We don’t see any other world through those sticks。 If you want us to believe in it， why doesn’t one of you go？ All your own friends are keeping well away from the sticks。”
Instantly Reepicheep stood forward and bowed。 “If my example can be of any service， Aslan，” he said， “I will take eleven mice through that arch at your bidding without a moment’s delay。”
“Nay， little one，” said Aslan， laying his velvety paw ever so lightly on Reepicheep’s head。 “They would do dreadful things to you in that world。 They would show you at fairs。 It is others who must lead。”
“Come on，” said Peter suddenly to Edmund and Lucy。 “Our time’s up。”
“What do you mean？” said Edmund。
“This way，” said Susan， who seemed to know all about it。 “Back into the trees。 We’ve got to change。”
“Change what？” asked Lucy。
“Our clothes， of course，” said Susan。 “Nice fools we’d look on the platform of an English station in these。”
“But our other things are at Caspian’s castle，” said Edmund。
“No， they’re not，” said Peter， still leading the way into the thickest wood。 “They’re all here。 They were brought down in bundles this morning。 It’s all arranged。”
“Was that what Aslan was talking to you and Susan about this morning？” asked Lucy。
“Yes—that and other things，” said Peter， his face very solemn。 “I can’t tell it to you all。 There were things he wanted to say to Su and me because we’re not coming back to Narnia。”
“Never？” cried Edmund and Lucy in dismay。
“Oh， you two are，” answered Peter。 “At least， from what he said， I’m pretty sure he means you to get back some day。 But not Su and me。 He says we’re getting too old。”
“Oh， Peter，” said Lucy。 “What awful bad luck。 Can you bear it？”
“Well， I think I can，” said Peter。 “It’s all rather different from what I thought。 You’ll understand when it comes to your last time。 But， quick， here are our things。”
It was odd， and not very nice， to take off their royal clothes and to come back in their school things （not very fresh now） into that great assembly。 One or two of the nastier Telmarines jeered。 But the other creatures all cheered and rose up in honor of Peter the High King， and Queen Susan of the Horn， and King Edmund， and Queen Lucy。 There were affectionate and （on Lucy’s part） tearful farewells with all their old friends-animal kisses， and hugs from Bulgy Bears， and hands wrung by Trumpkin， and a last tickly， whiskerish embrace with Trufflehunter。 And of course Caspian offered the Horn back to Susan and of course Susan told him to keep it。 And then， wonderfully and terribly， it was farewell to Aslan himself， and Peter took his place with Susan’s hands on his shoulders and Edmund’s on hers and Lucy’s on his and the first of the Telmarine’s on Lucy’s， and so in a long line they moved forward to the Door。 After that came a moment which is hard to describe， for the children seemed to be seeing three things at once。 One was the mouth of a cave opening into the glaring green and blue of an island in the Pacific， where all the Telmarines would find themselves the moment they were through the Door。 The second was a glade in Narnia， the faces of Dwarfs and Beasts， the deep eyes of Aslan， and the white patches on the Badger’s cheeks。 But the third （which rapidly swallowed up the other two） was the grey， gravelly surface of a platform in a country station， and a seat with luggage round it， where they were all sitting as if they had never moved from it—a little flat and dreary for a moment after all they had been through， but also， unexpectedly， nice in its own way， what with the familiar railway smell and the English sky and the summer term before them。 and Beasts， the deep eyes of Aslan， and the white patches on the Badger’s cheeks。 But the third （which rapidly swallowed up the other two） was the grey， gravelly surface of a platform in a country station， and a seat with luggage round it， where they were all sitting as if they had never moved from it-a little flat and dreary for a moment after all they had been through， but also， unexpectedly， nice in its own way， what with the familiar railway smell and the English sky and the summer term before them。
“Well！” said Peter。 “We have had a time。”
“Bother！” said Edmund。 “I’ve left my new torch in Narnia。”
第十五章 阿斯蘭開啟天門
看到阿斯蘭來了，臺爾馬士兵們頓時嚇得面如土色、兩腿發抖，許多人甚至直接面伏於地。他們從不相信獅王的存在，而現在居然親眼看到獅王阿斯蘭威風凜凜地向他們走來，這就使他們的恐懼感倍增。紅髮小矮人們儘管知道阿斯蘭是自己陣營的朋友，此時此刻也只是驚訝不已地傻站著，說不出話來。尼克布瑞克那一夥的一些黑髮小矮人，則偷偷溜到了一邊。但是所有能言獸都熱情洋溢地圍在了阿斯蘭身邊，歡樂地發出咕嚕聲、咕噥聲、吱吱聲、嘶嘶聲，有的搖著尾巴以示臣服，有的蹭著獅王以示親熱，有的滿是敬意地用鼻子拱著他，還有的激動地在他的肚子下面和爪子之間鑽來鑽去。如果你曾經看到過小貓見到一隻它熟悉且信任的大狗時候的親熱勁兒，你就能很好地瞭解他們的舉動了。這時，彼得帶著凱斯賓，擠過獸群。
“這是凱斯賓王子，閣下。”他介紹說。凱斯賓跪下來，親吻了獅王的爪子。
“歡迎你，王子，”阿斯蘭說道，“你覺得自己有能力接管納尼亞的王權嗎？”
“我——我覺得自己不行，閣下，”凱斯賓說道，“我還只是個孩子。”
“很好，”阿斯蘭讚許地說道，“如果你認為自己把握十足，那就只能證明你還很稚嫩。那麼，繼我們和至尊國王之後，你將成為納尼亞的國王、凱爾帕拉維爾之主、孤獨群島的君主。只要你的宗族仍然在這裡生活，你和你的繼承人便是這裡的君主。你的加冕儀式——嗯？是什麼朝我們這兒來了？”原來就在此時，十一隻老鼠組成的隊伍正在慢慢靠近。其中六隻正抬著一個用樹枝做成的擔架，那擔架看起來比一本地圖冊大不了多少。老鼠戰士們彷彿頭頂一片愁雲慘霧。他們身上全是泥漿，有幾隻還沾了血跡，耳朵都悲傷地耷拉下來，低垂的鬍子再沒了從前的神氣勁兒，身後的尾巴低低地在草地上拖行。領隊的老鼠手持一隻小小的笛子，吹奏著淒涼的調子。擔架上抬著一小堆溼漉漉的長著皮毛的東西，那竟然是雷佩契普。他的胸膛還在起伏，卻也僅僅是一息尚存，只見他的身上佈滿無數大大小小的傷痕，一隻爪子在戰鬥中被碾了個粉碎，身後的尾巴也不見了，只有一層又一層的繃帶。
“露西，看你的了。”阿斯蘭說道。
露西馬上掏出她裝著神水的鑽石瓶子。儘管只需要在雷佩契普的每個傷口滴上一滴藥水即可，但是他身上的傷口實在是太多了，大家焦急地期待著，露西處理了很久，終於給雷佩契普上完藥，只見他一下子從擔架上跳了下來。一隻手馬上握住了劍柄，另一隻手捻著鬍鬚轉了轉圈，神氣地向阿斯蘭鞠了一躬。
“阿斯蘭萬歲！”他尖細的聲音再次響了起來，“我真是榮幸——”說到這裡，他突然停了下來。
原來是他發現了自己依然沒有尾巴——或許是露西把這件事給忘了，又或者她的神水雖能促使傷口癒合，卻無法促使已經失去的部分重新生長。雷佩契普鞠躬時意識到自己沒了尾巴，也許是因為少了尾巴多少改變了他的平衡感。他的目光略過右肩看向身後，沒有看到尾巴，他又使勁扭轉脖子，帶動著肩膀和整個身子擰了過去，結果扭得太厲害了，連屁股都看不到了。於是他又一次轉過脖子往肩膀後面看去，還是沒能看到尾巴。這樣反覆轉身看了三次，他終於意識到了這個可怕的事實。
“我可真糊塗了！”雷佩契普對阿斯蘭說，“我完全驚慌失措了。我這副樣子出現在您面前，還請多多包涵啊。”
“你看起來很好啊，小傢伙。”阿斯蘭說道。
“儘管您這麼說，”雷佩契普回覆道，“不過要是有什麼辦法能再長出來……也許女王陛下能再幫幫我？”說著，他向露西鞠了一躬。
“可是你要尾巴幹什麼呢？”阿斯蘭問道。
“閣下，”雷佩契普答道，“沒有尾巴，我也一樣能吃、能睡、能為了我的國王出生入死。但是尾巴是一隻老鼠的榮譽和榮耀。”
“朋友，我有時候會想，”阿斯蘭說道，“你是不是對自身榮譽過分在意了。”
“至高無上的國王，”雷佩契普說道，“請允許我提醒您，我們老鼠被造化賦予了這樣微小的體形，如果我們自己不去保衛自己的尊嚴，有那麼一些（以體型大小衡量價值的）傢伙，就會管不住他們自己，拿我們來尋開心。這也就是為什麼我無數次地發出警告，要是不想知道寶劍穿胸而過是什麼滋味，就別在我面前說什麼老鼠夾、老鼠藥、燈臺這一類的話。誰都一樣！就算是納尼亞塊頭最大的傻大個兒也不行！”說著，他格外兇狠地瞪了巨人韋姆布威熱一眼，誰知巨人的反應永遠比其他人慢一拍，根本沒有注意到他腳邊的老鼠在說什麼，因此錯過了老鼠所說的重點。
“我想問問，為什麼你的手下都把佩劍抽出了鞘呀？”阿斯蘭說道。
“啟稟陛下，”一位名叫雷佩希克的老鼠戰士答道，“如果我們的領袖只能作為斷尾的老鼠活下去，我們也將割掉自己的尾巴。如果我們的領袖不再享有留著尾巴的榮譽，我們必將放棄這種榮譽。”
“啊！”阿斯蘭高聲宣佈，“你們讓我欽佩。你們非常高尚。這與你所謂的尊嚴無關，雷佩契普，而是因為你與你的同族之間的友愛，更是因為你們的同族很久以前對我的幫助。當年，在大石桌，是你們咬斷了綁在我身上的繩索（也許你們早忘了，也是在那時，你們蛻變成了能說話的老鼠）。因此，你將重新得到一條尾巴！”
阿斯蘭還沒說完，一條新的尾巴就出現在了雷佩契普的身上。其後，遵照阿斯蘭的指示，彼得授予了凱斯賓“獅王騎士”的封號。凱斯賓獲封騎士之後，立刻將特魯佛漢特、杜魯普金和雷佩契普也封為了獅王騎士，還將科尼利厄斯博士任命為大法官，並宣佈由棕熊繼承決鬥公證官之職。大家頓時回以熱烈的掌聲。
至於被俘的臺爾馬士兵，他們既沒捱打也沒捱罵，只是被押著過了河，都被囚禁在柏盧納鎮上，還能吃到牛肉和啤酒。叫他們過個河可真夠麻煩的，因為那些士兵對河流和對森林和動物的態度是一樣的，這些都使他們又仇視又害怕。最後，一切紛擾歸於平息，這長長的一天中最美好的時光到來了。
露西挨著阿斯蘭坐著，感到愉快又舒適，她好奇那些樹神在那兒幹什麼。起初她以為他們只是在跳舞。他們圍成了兩個圓圈，慢慢地轉著圈；一個從左往右轉圈，另一個從右往左轉圈。很快她就注意到，他們一直往兩個圈子的中心裡丟東西。有時候，她以為他們在剪長頭髮；有時候，他們好像折斷了自己的手指——可是，如果真是那樣，他們還真是有多得數不清的手指，而且他們看上去居然一點也不像受傷的樣子。但是不管他們往下扔了什麼，那東西剛一落地，就變成了灌木叢或幹樹枝。三四個紅髮小矮人拿著打火匣走上前去，點燃了那堆樹枝，那堆樹枝上先有了一點火星，繼而燃起了火焰，最後火勢大漲，就像是仲夏夜晚的林中篝火那樣。大家圍成一個大圓圈在這堆篝火旁邊坐下來。
接著，巴克斯、西勒諾斯和祭司姑娘們跳起舞來，跳得比樹神們更狂野。那舞蹈不僅有趣優美（儘管也的確如此），而且還具有魔力。他們的手點到哪兒，腳落到哪兒，哪兒就憑空出現美味佳餚：烤肉的香味溢滿了樹林，有小麥蛋糕和燕麥蛋糕，有蜂蜜和五顏六色的糖果，還有粥一般厚重、水一般光滑的奶油，桃子、油桃、石榴、梨子、葡萄、草莓、樹莓等各種各樣的水果。而常春藤纏繞著的巨大的木杯、木碗、木盞中盛著各種奇異的美酒，有的如桑葚糖漿般黝黑醇厚，有的如融化的果凍般清透紅豔，有黃色的酒，綠色的酒，綠中帶黃的酒，黃中帶綠的酒。
而提供給樹神的是完全不同的宴席。露西看到克勞茲利·肖弗和手下的鼴鼠們從草地上不同的地方鑽出來（是巴克斯指給他們的地方），意識到樹神們要吃的東西是土，她霎時打了個哆嗦。但是她看到了那土的樣子，一下子又覺得吃土也沒有那麼不可接受。先是棕色的壤土，看上去很像巧克力，正是因為它的外表有欺騙性，就連愛德蒙都跑過來嚐了一點兒，但是口感太差了。樹神們先吃了點兒棕色的壤土墊了墊肚子，接著又端起一種類似於你能在薩默塞特郡看到的土，幾近於粉紅色。他們說這種土更輕盈，也更甜美。到了一般的宴席該吃乳酪的時候，他們品嚐的是白堊土，緊接著是另一種精緻的甜點：撒上一層銀色細沙的砂礫。他們只喝了一點酒，喝了酒的冬青樹變得十分健談：多數時間裡，他們用露水和雨水混合而成的酒解渴，酒的調味料用的是林中百花和最輕最薄的雲。
就這樣，阿斯蘭以盛宴來款待納尼亞的子民，直到夜幕低垂，繁星高掛。那堆巨大的篝火溫度更高了，聲響卻低了，像一座燈塔照亮了黑暗的樹林，驚恐的臺爾馬人從遠處看到了火光，想知道這火光意味著什麼。這場盛宴最妙的一點就是，沒有分別，也沒有暫時的離開。漸漸地，談話的聲音低了下去，語速也越來越慢，睏意襲來，大家都打起了盹，最終都睡著了，他們雙腳朝向篝火，左右都是夥伴。最後，篝火的周圍一片安靜，柏盧納渡口河水擊石的聲音又一次傳來。然而，一整個夜晚，阿斯蘭卻一直都是清醒的，他和空中的月亮遙相對望，眼中滿是歡樂，眨也不眨。
第二天，使者們（基本由松鼠和鳥兒出任）被派往納尼亞全境，向潰敗後逃散的臺爾馬人——包括柏盧納鎮上的那些俘虜傳遞了一個重要訊息，那就是：凱斯賓已經加冕為納尼亞的國王，此後，這片土地不僅屬於人類，還屬於所有能言獸、小矮人、林中仙女、半羊人和其他生靈。只要接受王國新規的人都可以留下來；至於不接受新規的人，阿斯蘭也將給他們一個新的家園。想去新的家園，就必須第五天中午前往柏盧納渡口去見阿斯蘭和國王。顯而易見，王國的新規讓許多臺爾馬人非常傷神。他們之中，其實有許多人，主要是年輕人，像凱斯賓一樣，從小就接觸了許多關於古納尼亞的故事，舊日的美好時光重新回來了，這使他們非常興奮，有人已經開始和故事裡聽到過的生靈交朋友了。所有這樣的年輕人都決意留在納尼亞。但是，大部分年長的人，特別是那些曾經在米拉茲統治下頗有權勢的人卻都情緒低落。他們根本不願意生活在一個他們無法享有統治地位的國度。“和那些用來表演馬戲的愚蠢動物生活在一起！”他們說道，“還有那些鬼怪！”有人戰慄地說，“什麼林中仙女之類，都是妖魔鬼怪！有腦子的人都不會接受。”還有人持懷疑態度：“我無法信任他們，”他們說，“那獅子和他的屬下。那傢伙的獅爪很快就會伸向我們，等著瞧吧！”並且他們不相信阿斯蘭會送他們去往新的家園：“十有八九是要把我們帶回獅子洞裡，一個接一個地吃掉呢！”就這樣你一言我一語，大家變得更加低落消沉又滿腹疑慮。不過，到了定好的那一天，還是來了半數以上的人。
在一片開闊的草地上，阿斯蘭已經支起了兩根木棍，有一人高，間隔一米左右。又把第三根比較輕一些的木棍給橫過來，在那兩根木棍的頂端將兩頭固定，這樣三根木棍就成了一個整體，整個東西看來就像個門框，也不知道門裡門外連線了哪裡。門框的前面站著阿斯蘭，右邊站著彼得，左邊站著凱斯賓。圍著他們站著的，是蘇珊、露西、杜魯普金、特魯佛漢特、科奈利厄斯大人、格蘭斯托姆、雷佩契普和其他夥伴。此刻，孩子們和小矮人們都一身皇家盛裝，這些衣服都是他們從皇室城堡裡找來的，過去那是米拉茲的城堡，而現在已經是凱斯賓的城堡了。他們穿著綢緞和金色的布料做的衣服，從袖子往裡看是雪白的麻布衣服，套著銀色的鍊甲衫，寶劍的劍柄上鑲嵌著珠寶，戴著鍍金的頭盔和帶羽毛的軟帽，他們全身都閃閃發亮。就連動物們的脖子上也戴著珍貴的項鍊。可是，大家的注意力都不在這方面。阿斯蘭那柔滑的金色獅子鬃毛讓人目眩神迷。其餘納尼亞舊臣也都站在空地兩旁。遠處的另一側立著那些臺爾馬人。陽光如此明媚，微風中，旗幟在飄揚。
“臺爾馬的人民，”阿斯蘭說道，“想去新的家園的人們，都聽我說。我將把你們全部送回你們自己的國家，那個地方只有我知道，你們都不知道。”
“我們都不記得臺爾馬那個地方了，我們不知道它在哪兒，我們根本不知道那裡是什麼樣子。”臺爾馬人紛紛嘟噥著。
“你們的確是從臺爾馬來到納尼亞的，”阿斯蘭說道，“但你們是從別的地方來到臺爾馬的。你們根本不屬於這個世界。你們是幾百年前才到這裡的，你們真正所屬的那個世界，其實正是至尊國王彼得的那個世界。”
聽了這話，一半的臺爾馬人開始發起了牢騷：“怎麼樣，我沒說錯吧！他要把我們趕盡殺絕，把我們逐出這個世界！”另外一半人則挺起了胸，拍拍彼此的背，低聲說道：“怎麼樣，早該猜出來，我們根本不屬於這地方，本就不該和這些稀奇古怪、醜陋不堪的傢伙混在一起。我們的血統是很高貴的，拭目以待吧！”就連凱斯賓、科尼利厄斯和孩子們也都一臉吃驚地轉向阿斯蘭。
“靜一靜！”阿斯蘭嗓音低沉得近乎獅吼。大地彷彿都震顫了，大家都一下子像石頭一樣一動不動。
“凱斯賓國王，”阿斯蘭說道，“你也許清楚這一點，除非是像古納尼亞的國王一樣，是亞當之子，而且來自亞當之子們所屬的國家，否則是不可能成為真正的納尼亞國王的。你正好符合條件。在那一個世界，很久以前，在一片被稱作南海的海域，有一條載滿海盜的船遇上了風暴，被吹到了一座小島上。他們幹了海盜會幹的事情，殺光了當地的男人，強迫那裡的婦女做了妻子。他們自打釀製了椰子酒之後，整天狂歡，常常喝得酩酊大醉，在椰子樹下倒頭就睡，睡醒了就爭吵不休，乃至大開殺戒。有一次，海盜之中有六個人被其餘的人追殺，慌忙帶著女人出逃，逃到小島中央地帶的山頂上，逃進了一個山洞裡。不料那竟然是個有魔力的山洞，是連線那個世界和這個世界之間的通道。在古代，類似的通道曾有很多，可以連線兩邊的世界，可惜如今通道的數目越來越少了。機緣巧合下，他們鑽進了為數不多的通道之一。他們飛快地下落、上升，或者是撞進了，或者是筆直地掉進了通道，最後發現自己居然來到了另一個世界——臺爾馬國——一個沒有人類居住的地方。箇中原因說來話長，我現在就不講了。從此，他們就在臺爾馬住了下來，繁衍生息，後代人數漸多，成了一個兇猛而又驕傲的民族。很多年過去了，有一次臺爾馬發生了饑荒，臺爾馬人就侵略了納尼亞。當時的納尼亞正處於一片混亂當中（這也說來話長），他們便攻佔了這個國家，開始了統治。我說的這些你記好了嗎，凱斯賓國王？”
“我記下了，陛下，”凱斯賓說道，“我希望自己生於一個更可敬的家族。”
“你是亞當和夏娃的後裔，”阿斯蘭說道，“這既是一份榮耀，能讓最潦倒的乞丐抬起頭顱，也是一種羞恥，能讓最偉大的國王羞愧地彎下肩膀。你該感到滿足。”
凱斯賓鞠了一躬。
“現在，”阿斯蘭說道，“你們這些臺爾馬的男男女女，想要返回人類世界裡你們祖先早年居住的那個小島嗎？那是個好去處。島上原本的海盜族人早已死絕，此後那裡便沒人居住。島上有很多水質甘甜的井，有適宜耕種的沃土，有木材可以建造房子，湖裡也都是鮮美的魚兒。那個世界的其他人類至今也沒有發現那個小島，你們只要過了世界通道就能回去。但我也必須告訴你們，一旦你們走過了那個通道，你們身後的通道將永遠關閉。兩個世界再也不能透過那扇天門有所往來。”
沉默了片刻之後，其中一個體格魁梧、外表體面的臺爾馬士兵走上前來，說道：
“好，我願意穿過通道。”
“真是明智之舉，”阿斯蘭說道，“因為你敢於第一個做決定，會有強大的魔法作用到你身上，你在那個世界的未來非常光明。上前來吧。”
此時，那人的臉有些發白，他走上前來。阿斯蘭和他的部眾退到了邊上，給他讓路，讓他暢通無阻地到了木棍捆成的那個空空的門框前面。
“穿過這扇門吧，我的孩子。”阿斯蘭說著，向他俯身，鼻子輕輕碰了碰那人的鼻子。就在獅王的氣息包裹他的瞬間，那人的神色有了變化，他有點受驚，但卻是快樂的，就好像他正使勁回憶著什麼。接著他聳了聳肩，邁入了那個門框。
大家都緊緊盯著他。他們看見那扇由三根木棍組成的門框，門的那邊是樹林、草地和納尼亞的天空。他們看著那人邁入門框，接著，一瞬間，他蹤跡全無。
空地另一邊，其餘的臺爾馬人慟哭起來：“啊！他出什麼事兒了？你就是想謀害我們吧？我們不去了！”接著，一個聰明的臺爾馬人說道：
“透過這幾條棍子望過去，我們完全看不到另外一個世界。你想要我們相信它的存在，你們的人為什麼一個都不過去？你的朋友們可都一個個遠遠地避開了那扇門呢。”
隨即，雷佩契普大步跨了出來，向阿斯蘭鞠了一躬。“阿斯蘭，如果我以身作則能起作用的話，”他說道，“您只要下令，我將帶著我的十一個兄弟，即刻跨過那扇門。”
“不，小傢伙，”阿斯蘭把柔軟的爪子輕輕放在雷佩契普的頭上，說道，“在那個世界裡，他們會兇殘地對待你們。他們會在集市上把你們展出。還是讓別人去吧。”
“走吧！”彼得突然對愛德蒙和露西說，“我們的時間到了。”
“你這是什麼意思？”愛德蒙很是不解地問道。
“走這邊，”蘇珊說道，她似乎知道所有事情，“回到樹林裡，我們必須先更換一下。”
“更換什麼？”露西一頭霧水地問道。
“當然是換我們的衣服啦，”蘇珊說道，“要是穿著現在的衣服出現在英國的火車站，那豈不是會被別人當成大傻瓜了嘛！”
“可我們的行李都在凱斯賓城堡裡呢。”愛德蒙說道。
“不，行李不在那兒，”彼得說，他還在領著大家朝樹林深處走去，“都在這裡。今天早晨包好了送來的，全都已經安排好了。”
“今天早晨阿斯蘭跟你和蘇珊說的就是這事兒嗎？”露西問。
“沒錯——還有其他事兒，”彼得說道，他的神色很是嚴肅，“我不能全部講給你聽。有些事情他只希望我和蘇珊知道，因為我們將不會重返納尼亞了。”
“再也不回來了嗎？”愛德蒙和露西都沮喪地叫道。
“噢，你們倆還會回來的，”彼得回答說，“至少根據他的話來判斷，我相信你們倆今後總有一天還會回到這裡來的。只是我和蘇珊不會再回來了。他說我們倆都已經長大了。”
“噢，彼得，”露西說道，“這真不是什麼好訊息！你接受得了這樣的事嗎？”
“好吧，我想我能接受，”彼得說道，“這一切和我原來想的都不太一樣，等到你的最後告別時刻來臨時你也會明白的。不過現在，我們快點行動起來吧，我們的行李都在這兒了。”
孩子們不情願地脫下華麗的貴族服裝，換上了原本那身校服，然後又回到大家聚集的地方。有幾個惹人厭的臺爾馬人發出了嘲笑聲。但是所有的朋友都歡呼起來，站起身子向至尊國王彼得、神號女王蘇珊、愛德蒙國王和露西女王致敬。他們依依不捨地和老朋友們互相道別，露西還掉了眼淚——小動物們送上了親吻，大棕熊給了他們一人一個熊抱，杜魯普金和他們緊緊地握手，特魯佛漢特送來了鬍子扎扎、癢癢無比的擁抱。凱斯賓想把神號還給蘇珊，蘇珊卻決定還是將神號留給凱斯賓保管。最後，他們懷著悲喜交加的複雜心情，向阿斯蘭道別。然後，彼得走在最前面，蘇珊的手搭在彼得的肩上，愛德蒙的手搭在蘇珊肩上，露西的手搭在愛德蒙的肩上，第一個臺爾馬人的手搭在露西的肩上，就這樣，孩子們身後跟著長長一列臺爾馬人，他們向門框走去。接下來發生的事情難以用語言描述，孩子們似乎同時看到三幅圖景：首先是一個山洞口，一眼望去是太平洋上一個島嶼，滿眼都是島上的綠意和蔚藍的大海。臺爾馬人將從門框直接來到這裡，開始他們新的生活；接著是在納尼亞的一片林間空地，他們看到了小矮人和動物們的面龐，看到了阿斯蘭深邃的眼神，還看到了獾兩頰上的白色斑點；但是第三幅圖景很快取代了前面的兩幅，那是鄉間火車站灰撲撲的、鋪著碎石的站臺，還有那個座椅，周圍堆放的是他們的那些行李箱子。他們現在就坐在那個座椅上，就好像從一開始就沒有挪過地方似的——在納尼亞經歷了那麼多的事情，眼前的環境相比之下不由顯得有些單調乏味，但是又感受到了熟悉的鐵路的氣味，看著英國的天空，想著即將開始的夏季學期，孩子們竟然產生了一種非常親切的感覺。
“真好！”彼得說道，“我們度過了一段精彩的時光。”
“糟糕！”愛德蒙說道，“我把我的新手電筒落在納尼亞了。”
（第一本閱讀完畢）
