雙語閱讀（2021年4月7日）

CHAPTER ELEVEN THE UNWELCOME FELLOW TRAVELLER

When Shasta went through the gate he found a slope of grass and a little heather running up before him to some trees。 He had nothing to think about now and no plans to make：he had only to run， and that was quite enough。 His limbs were shaking， a terrible stitch was beginning in his side， and the sweat that kept dropping into his eyes blinded them and made them smart。 He was unsteady on his feet too， and more than once he nearly turned his ankle on a loose stone。

The trees were thicker now than they had yet been and in the more open spaces there was bracken。 The sun had gone in without making it any cooler。 It had become one of those hot， grey days when there seem to be twice as many flies as usual。 Shasta’s face was covered with them； he didn’t even try to shake them off—he had too much else to do。

Suddenly he heard a horn—not a great throbbing horn like the horns of Tashbaan but a merry call， Ti-ro-to-to-ho！Next moment he came out into a wide glade and found himself in a crowd of people。

At least， it looked a crowd to him。 In reality there were about fifteen or twenty of them， all gentlemen in green hunting-dress， with their horses； some in the saddle and some standing by their horses’heads。 In the centre someone was holding the stirrup for a man to mount。 And the man he was holding it for was the jolliest， fat， apple-cheeked， twinkling-eyed King you could imagine。

As soon as Shasta came in sight this King forgot all about mounting his horse。 He spread out his arms to Shasta， his face lit up， and he cried out in a great， deep voice that seemed to come from the bottom of his chest：

“Corin！My son！And on foot， and in rags！What—”

“No，” panted Shasta， shaking his head。 “Not Prince Corin。 I—I—know I’m like him。。。 saw his Highness in Tashbaan。。。 sent his greetings。”

The King was staring at Shasta with an extraordinary expression on his face。

“Are you K-King Lune？” gasped Shasta。 And then， without waiting for an answer， “Lord King—fly—Anvard shut the gates—enemies upon you—Rabadash and two hundred horse。”

“Have you assurance of this， boy？” asked one of the other gentlemen。

“My own eyes，” said Shasta。 “I’ve seen them。 Raced them all the way from Tashbaan。”

“On foot？” said the gentleman， raising his eyebrows a little。

“Horses—with the Hermit，” said Shasta。

“Question him no more； Darrin，” said King Lune。 “I see truth in his face。 We must ride for it， gentlemen。 A spare horse there， for the boy。 You can ride fast， friend？”

For answer Shasta put his foot in the stirrup of the horse which had been led towards him and a moment later he was in the saddle。 He had done it a hundred times with Bree in the last few weeks， and his mounting was very different now from what it had been on that first night when Bree had said that he climbed up a horse as if he were climbing a haystack。

He was pleased to hear the Lord Darrin say to the King， “The boy has a true horseman’s seat， Sire。 I’ll warrant there’s noble blood in him。”

“His blood， aye， there’s the point，” said the King。 And he stared hard at Shasta again with that curious expression， almost a hungry expression， in his steady， grey eyes。

But by now—the whole party was moving off at a brisk canter。 Shasta’s seat was excellent but he was sadly puzzled what to do with his reins， for he had never touched the reins while he was on Bree’s back。 But he looked very carefully out of the corners of his eyes to see what the others were doing（as some of us have done at parties when we weren’t quite sure which knife or fork we were meant to use）and tried to get his fingers right。 But he didn’t dare to try really directing the horse； he trusted it would follow the rest。 The horse was of course an ordinary horse， not a Talking Horse； but it had quite wits enough to realize that the strange boy on its back had no whip and no spurs and was not really master of the situation。 That was why Shasta soon found himself at the tail end of the procession。

Even so， he was going pretty fast。 There were no flies now and the air in his face was delicious。 He had got his breath back too。 And his errand had succeeded。 For the first time since the arrival at Tashbaan（how long ago it seemed！）he was beginning to enjoy himself。

He looked up to see how much nearer the mountain tops had come。 To his disappointment he could not see them at all：only a vague greyness， rolling down towards them。 He had never been in mountain country before and was surprised。 “It’s a cloud，” he said to himself， “a cloud coming down。 I see。 Up here in the hills one is really in the sky。 I shall see what the inside of a cloud is like。 What fun！I’ve often wondered。” Far away on his left and a little behind him， the sun was getting ready to set。

They had come to a rough kind of road by now and were making very good speed。 But Shasta’s horse was still the last of the lot。 Once or twice when the road made a bend（there was now continuous forest on each side of it）he lost sight of the others for a second or two。

Then they plunged into the fog， or else the fog rolled over them。 The world became grey。 Shasta had not realized how cold and wet the inside of a cloud would be； nor how dark。 The grey turned to black with alarming speed。

Someone at the head of the column winded the horn every now and then， and each time the sound came from a little farther off。 He couldn’t see any of the others now， but of course he’d be able to as soon as he got round the next bend。 But when he rounded it he still couldn’t see them。 In fact he could see nothing at all。 His horse was walking now。 “Get on， Horse， get on，” said Shasta。 Then came the horn， very faint。 Bree had always told him that he must keep his heels well turned out， and Shasta had got the idea that something very terrible would happen if he dug his heels into a horse’s sides。 This seemed to him an occasion for trying it。 “Look here， Horse，” he said， “if you don’t buck up， do you know what I’ll do？ I’ll dig my heels into you。 I really will。” The horse， however， took no notice of this threat。 So Shasta settled himself firmly in the saddle， gripped with his knees， clenched his teeth， and punched both the horse’s sides with his heels as hard as he could。

The only result was that the horse broke into a kind of pretence of a trot for five or six paces and then subsided into a walk again。 And now it was quite dark and they seemed to have given up blowing that horn。 The only sound was a steady drip-drip from the branches of the trees。

“Well， I suppose even a walk will get us somewhere sometime，” said Shasta to himself。 “I only hope I shan’t run into Rabadash and his people。”

He went on for what seemed a long time， always at a walking pace。 He began to hate that horse， and he was also beginning to feel very hungry。

Presently he came to a place where the road divided into two。 He was just wondering which led to Anvard when he was startled by a noise from behind him。 It was the noise of trotting horses。 “Rabadash！” thought Shasta。 He had no way of guessing which road Rabadash would take。 “But if I take one，” said Shasta to himself， “he may take the other：and if I stay at the cross-roads I’m sure to be caught。” He dismounted and led his horse as quickly as he could along the right-hand road。

The sound of the cavalry grew rapidly nearer and in a minute or two Shasta realized that they were at the crossroads。 He held his breath， waiting to see which way they would take。

There came a low word of command “Halt！” then a moment of horsey noises—nostrils blowing， hoofs pawing， bits being champed， necks being patted。 Then a voice spoke。

“Attend， all of you，” it said。 “We are now within a furlong of the castle。 Remember your orders。 Once we are in Narnia， as we should be by sunrise， you are to kill as little as possible。 On this venture you are to regard every drop of Narnian blood as more precious than a gallon of your own。 On this venture， I say。 The gods will send us a happier hour and then you must leave nothing alive between Cair Paravel and the Western Waste。 But we are not yet in Narnia。 Here in Archenland it is another thing。 In the assault on this castle of King Lune’s， nothing matters but speed。 Show your mettle。 It must be minewithin an hour。 And if it is， I give it all to you。 I reserve no booty for myself。 Kill me every barbarian male within its walls， down to the child that was born yesterday， and everything else is yours to divide as you please—the women， the gold， the jewels， the weapons， and the wine。 The man that I see hanging back when we come to the gates shall be burned alive。 In the name of Tash the irresistible， the inexorable—forward！”

With a great cloppitty-clop the column began to move， and Shasta breathed again。 They had taken the other road。

Shasta thought they took a long time going past， for though he had been talking and thinking about “two hundred horse” all day， he had not realized how many they really were。 But at last the sound died away and once more he was alone amid the drip-drip from the trees。

He now knew the way to Anvard but of course he could not now go there：that would only mean running into the arms of Rabadash’s troopers。 “What on earth am I to do？” said Shasta to himself。 But he remounted his horse and continued along the road he had chosen， in the faint hope of finding some cottage where he might ask for shelter and a meal。 He had thought， of course， of going back to Aravis and Bree and Hwin at the hermitage， but he couldn’t because by now he had not the least idea of the direction。

“After all，” said Shasta， “this road is bound to get to somewhere。”

But that all depends on what you mean by somewhere。 The road kept on getting to somewhere in the sense that it got to more and more trees， all dark and dripping， and to colder and colder air。 And strange， icy winds kept blowing the mist past him though they never blew it away。 If he had been used to mountain country he would have realized that this meant he was now very high up—perhaps right at the top of the pass。 But Shasta knew nothing about mountains。

“I do think，” said Shasta， “that I must be the most unfortunate boy that ever lived in the whole world。 Everything goes right for everyone except me。 Those Narnian lords and ladies got safe away from Tashbaan； I was left behind。 Aravis and Bree and Hwin are all as snug as anything with that old Hermit：of course I was the one who was sent on。 King Lune and his people must have got safely into the castle and shut the gates long before Rabadash arrived， but I get left out。”

And being very tired and having nothing inside him， he felt so sorry for himself that the tears rolled down his cheeks。

What put a stop to all this was a sudden fright。 Shasta discovered that someone or somebody was walking beside him。 It was pitch dark and he could see nothing。 And the Thing（or Person）was going so quietly that he could hardly hear any footfalls。 What he could hear was breathing。 His invisible companion seemed to breathe on a very large scale， and Shasta got the impression that it was a very large creature。 And he had come to notice this breathing so gradually that he had really no idea how long it had been there。 It was a horrible shock。

It darted into his mind that he had heard long ago that there were giants in these Northern countries。 He bit his lip in terror。 But now that he really had something to cry about， he stopped crying。

The Thing（unless it was a Person）went on beside him so very quietly that Shasta began to hope he had only imagined it。 But just as he was becoming quite sure of it， there suddenly came a deep， rich sigh out of the darkness beside him。 That couldn’t be imagination！Anyway， he had felt the hot breath of that sigh on his chilly left hand。

If the horse had been any good—or if he had known how to get any good out of the horse—he would have risked everything on a breakaway and a wild gallop。 But he knew he couldn’t make that horse gallop。 So he went on at a walking pace and the unseen companion walked and breathed beside him。 At last he could bear it no longer。

“Who are you？” he said， scarcely above a whisper。

“One who has waited long for you to speak，” said the Thing。 Its voice was not loud， but very large and deep。

“Are you—are you a giant？” asked Shasta。

“You might call me a giant，” said the Large Voice。 “But I am not like the creatures you call giants。”

“I can’t see you at all，” said Shasta， after staring very hard。 Then（for an even more terrible idea had come into his head）he said， almost in a scream， “You’re not—not something dead， are you？ Oh please—please do go away。 What harm have I ever done you？ Oh， I am the unluckiest person in the whole world！”

Once more he felt the warm breath of the Thing on his hand and face。 “There，” it said， “that is not the breath of a ghost。 Tell me your sorrows。”

Shasta was a little reassured by the breath：so he told how he had never known his real father or mother and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman。 And then he told the story of his escape and how they were chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives； and of all their dangers in Tashbaan and about his night among the tombs and how the beasts howled at him out of the desert。 And he told about the heat and thirst of their desert journey and how they were almost at their goal when another lion chased them and wounded Aravis。 And also， how very long it was since he had had anything to eat。

“I do not call you unfortunate，” said the Large Voice。

“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions？” said Shasta。

“There was only one lion，” said the Voice。

“What on earth do you mean？ I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night， and—”

“There was only one：but he was swift of foot。”

“How do you know？”

“I was the lion。” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing， the Voice continued。 “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis。 I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead。 I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept。 I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time。 And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay， a child near death， so that it came to shore where a man sat， wakeful at midnight， to receive you。”

“Then it was you who wounded Aravis？”

“It was I。”

“But what for？”

“Child，” said the Voice， “I am telling you your story， not hers。 I tell no one any story but his own。”

“Who are you？” asked Shasta。

“Myself，” said the Voice， very deep and low so that the earth shook：and again “Myself”， loud and clear and gay：and then the third time “Myself”， whispered so softly you could hardly hear it， and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it。

Shasta was no longer afraid that the Voice belonged to something that would eat him， nor that it was the voice of a ghost。 But a new and different sort of trembling came over him。 Yet he felt glad too。

The mist was turning from black to grey and from grey to white。 This must have begun to happen some time ago， but while he had been talking to the Thing he had not been noticing anything else。 Now， the whiteness around him became a shining whiteness； his eyes began to blink。 Somewhere ahead he could hear birds singing。 He knew the night was over at last。 He could see the mane and ears and head of his horse quite easily now。 A golden light fell on them from the left。 He thought it was the sun。

He turned and saw， pacing beside him， taller than the horse， a Lion。 The horse did not seem to be afraid of it or else could not see it。 It was from the Lion that the light came。 No one ever saw anything more terrible or beautiful。

Luckily Shasta had lived all his life too far south in Calormen to have heard the tales that were whispered in Tashbaan about a dreadful Narnian demon that appeared in the form of a lion。 And of course he knew none of the true stories about Aslan， the great Lion， the son of the Emperor-over-the-sea， the King above all High Kings in Narnia。 But after one glance at the Lion’s face he slipped out of the saddle and fell at its feet。 He couldn’t say anything but then he didn’t want to say anything， and he knew he needn’t say anything。

The High King above all kings stooped towards him。 Its mane， and some strange and solemn perfume that hung about the mane， was all round him。 It touched his forehead with its tongue。 He lifted his face and their eyes met。 Then instantly the pale brightness of the mist and the fiery brightness of the Lion rolled themselves together into a swirling glory and gathered themselves up and disappeared。 He was alone with the horse on a grassy hillside under a blue sky。 And there were birds singing。

第十一章 不受歡迎的同行者

沙斯塔穿過門，看見一個草坡向上延伸到樹木邊上，草坡上還綴有一些石南。如今他不再需要思考，也不用制訂計劃；他只需向前飛奔，只要跑就可以了。他的四肢都顫抖起來，體內像針扎一樣疼得可怕。汗水不斷流入眼睛，刺得眼睛生疼，視線變得模糊不清。腳步也不那麼穩了，不止一次，他不慎踩到鬆動的石塊，差點扭到腳踝。

比起剛才，樹林變得更濃密了，空曠些的草地上長著蕨類植物。陽光被遮住，但這也沒能讓天氣更涼快些，反倒是變得又灰暗又悶熱，蒼蠅也是平常的兩倍多。沙斯塔臉上爬了不少蒼蠅，但他根本沒去搭理它們——他還有很多其他事情要做。

突然，他聽見了號角聲，不同於塔什班那讓人心悸的號角聲，這號角聲非常歡快。嘀——囉——嘟——嘟——嚯！緊接著，他走進了一塊寬闊的林中空地，發現身邊聚著不少人。

至少在他看來，這兒站著不少人。實際上也就只有十五或二十個人，都是些身著綠色獵裝的紳士們，有些人騎在馬上，有些人站在馬頭旁邊。人群中央，有人正拉著馬鐙以便於另一人上馬，興高采烈準備上馬的那人，正是胖嘟嘟、面色紅潤、眼睛亮閃閃的亞欽蘭國王。

國王一看到沙斯塔，便完全忘記了上馬，他神采奕奕地向沙斯塔伸出雙臂，洪亮深沉的聲音彷彿來自胸腔深處，他大喊道：

“科林！我的兒子！你怎麼在步行，還穿得破破爛爛的！發生什麼——”

“不，”沙斯塔搖搖頭，氣喘吁吁地說，“我不是科林王子。我——我知道我和他長得很像……在塔什班見過殿下……替他問候您。”

國王直勾勾地盯著沙斯塔，露出耐人尋味的神色。

“您是盧——盧恩國王嗎？”沙斯塔喘個不停，不等國王回答便繼續說道，“國王陛下——快——安瓦德、關上城門——敵人衝過來了——拉巴達斯還有兩百人馬。”

“孩子，你確定這是真的嗎？”另一位紳士問道。

“親眼所見，”沙斯塔說，“我看到他們了。我從塔什班城，和他們一路賽跑過來的。”

“步行？”紳士說道，眉毛微微向上挑起。

“騎馬——在隱士那兒。”沙斯塔說。

“戴林，不用再問了，”盧恩國王說，“從他臉上我能看出這是真的。紳士們，我們必須快馬加鞭趕回去了。把備用的馬牽來給這孩子。孩子，你能騎馬快跑吧？”

有人牽來一匹馬，作為迴應，沙斯塔一腳踩上馬鐙，利落地翻身跨上馬鞍。過去與布里同行的幾週中，這個動作他已經重複了上百次。還記得第一天晚上，布里說他的上馬動作看起來像是在往一堆乾草上爬，而如今他的上馬姿勢已大有不同。

他開心地聽見戴林勳爵對國王說：“陛下，這孩子很有騎士風範。我敢保證他一定有貴族血統。

“他的血統，是的，這是關鍵。”國王說。他再次深深注視沙斯塔，灰色的雙眸中透出一絲古怪的、如飢似渴的神色。

現在，大家都騎著馬輕快地慢跑著向前移動起來。沙斯塔的馬鞍相當精良，但由於坐在布里背上時他從不去碰韁繩，所以他不知道該如何運用，這令他有些沮喪。他用眼角的餘光悄悄看向別人的動作（就像參加一場宴會，而我們不太確定刀叉的使用方式時會做的那樣），試圖讓手指姿勢看起來正確無誤。但他並不敢嘗試真正把控馬的行進方向，他相信它會跟著其他馬跑的。當然，這只是一匹普普通通的馬，並不會說人話；但以它的智慧也足夠判斷出，自己背上的這個陌生男孩兒既沒有馬鞭也沒有馬刺，而且無法真正把控局勢。因此，沙斯塔很快便發現自己落在整個隊伍的末端了。

即使如此，他的速度還是很快。現在，沒有了蒼蠅的騷擾，清新的空氣撲面而來，他終於緩過氣了，而且他已經完成了他的使命。這是他抵達塔什班以後（彷彿已經過去了許久），他第一回感到如此舒適。

他抬頭想看看距離山頂有沒有更近一些，但卻不見山頂的蹤影，這令他有些失望。視野中只有一抹朦朦朧朧的灰色向他們翻滾而來，以前他從未進過山野地帶，因而有些驚詫。“這是朵雲，”他自言自語道，“一朵雲飄下來了。我明白了，在這樣高高的群山中，人就好像真的升到天空中去了一樣。讓我看看雲朵裡邊是什麼模樣。真是太有趣了！我一直都很好奇呢。”在他身後、左側很遠的地方，太陽就要下山了。

現在他們踏上了一條崎嶇的山路，依然保持著高速騎行。但沙斯塔的馬兒遠遠落在後頭。有一兩次拐彎時（現在山路兩邊盡是連綿不絕的森林），他差點就跟丟了。

然後大家一頭鑽進霧中，或者說濃霧吞沒了他們。世界變得灰濛濛的，沙斯塔未曾想到雲霧裡如此寒冷潮溼，也不知道里頭原來一片灰暗。緊接著，這片灰以令人驚恐的速度轉變為黑。

在縱隊前領頭的人時不時吹響號角。每一次號角聲都越來越遠。沙斯塔現在看不見其他人了，不過他知道再拐個彎就又能看到他們了。但是拐彎後，他仍然沒有看見其他人。事實上，他什麼都看不見。現在他的馬在慢走。“跑起來，馬兒，追上去。”沙斯塔說。號角聲再次傳來，但已經十分微弱了。布里以前總是告訴他要腳跟朝外，所以沙斯塔一直以為腳跟要是戳到馬的身體，就會有非常可怕的事情發生。眼下的情況似乎剛好可以讓他試試。“聽著，馬兒，”他說，“如果你還不提速，知道我要對你幹什麼嗎？我會用腳跟戳你的身體。我真會這麼做的。”然而馬兒並未把他的威脅放在心上。於是沙斯塔在馬鞍上穩穩坐正，夾緊膝蓋，咬緊牙關，竭盡全力地用腳跟猛戳馬兒的身體。

唯一的成效便是這匹馬裝模作樣地跑了五六步，隨後又開始慢走起來。天已經很黑了，他們似乎沒有再吹號了。四周只剩水滴接連不斷地從樹枝上滴落下來發出的聲響。

“行吧，就這樣走也總能走到個地方。”沙斯塔對自己說，“但願不要撞上拉巴達斯和他的人馬就好。”

他繼續前行了貌似很長一段時間，始終都是慢步的節奏。他開始討厭這匹馬了，同時他也開始感覺飢腸轆轆。

不久，他走到了一個岔路口，有兩條路可選，他正琢磨哪條路會通往安瓦德時，被身後傳來的聲音嚇了一跳。那是戰馬奔跑的聲音。“拉巴達斯！”沙斯塔心想。他無從猜測拉巴達斯會選擇哪條路。“我如果選這一條路，”沙斯塔自言自語道，“他有可能會選另一條；但我要是在這岔路口原地不動，我一定會被逮到的。”他翻身下馬，牽著馬兒儘可能快地沿著右手邊的路前進。

騎兵隊的聲音迅速逼近，一兩分鐘後，他們就趕到了岔路口。沙斯塔屏氣凝神，等著看他們選擇了哪條路。

低沉的命令聲傳來：“停！”接著是一陣馬兒的喧囂聲——馬兒噴出的鼻息聲、馬蹄刨地的聲音、馬嘴咬著馬嚼子的聲音還有士兵輕拍馬兒脖子的聲音。接著，一個人聲響起：

“全體注意，”那人說道，“現在我們離城堡只有兩百米了。牢記命令。我們預計日出時分抵達納尼亞，一旦到納尼亞境內，你們必須儘可能少殺人。本次行動中，你們必須把納尼亞人的每一滴血看得比自己的一加侖血更加珍貴。僅限於本次行動。眾神將會賜予我們一個更好的時機，到那時，你們就能把凱爾帕拉維爾與西部荒原之間的區域殺個片甲不留。不過現在還沒進入納尼亞，在這亞欽蘭境內就另當別論了。此次突襲盧恩國王的城堡，最重要的就是速度，其他都無所謂。拿出你們的勇氣，我們必須一小時內攻下城堡。成功後，我不會給自己留任何戰利品，這裡的一切屬於你們。給我殺光城牆裡的所有蠻族男人，哪怕是昨天才出生的孩子也不能放過。其餘的一切——女人，金子，珠寶，武器，還有美酒——你們想怎麼分就怎麼分。要是有人被我發現進城時畏縮不前，我就把他活活燒死。所向披靡、勢不可擋的塔什神在上，前進！”

伴著馬蹄響亮的嘚嘚踏步聲，隊伍開始移動。沙斯塔鬆了一口氣，他們選了另一條路。

沙斯塔覺得他們花了很長時間才透過，儘管他一整天都在想著、叨著“兩百人馬”，他並不清楚真實數量。最終，騎兵的聲音漸漸消失，他再次獨身一人，只有樹枝上的水滴嘀嗒落下。

雖然他已經知道怎麼去安瓦德了，但他現在當然不能往那兒去，不然註定是往拉巴達斯軍隊的利劍長矛上撞。“我到底該怎麼辦呢？”沙斯塔對自己說。他重新跨上馬背，沿著他選定的路繼續前行，心懷僥倖，希望能夠找到一間農舍討口吃食，休息一下。他當然考慮過回隱士那兒去找婭拉維斯、布里還有赫溫，但目前來說他根本認不清方向了。

“歸根結底，”沙斯塔說，“這條路總能通向某個地方。”

不過這完全取決於你怎麼定義“某個地方”。這條路繼續延伸向“某個地方”，一路上樹越來越多，全都黑黑的，到處都是水滴滴落的聲音，空氣也愈發寒冷。怪異而又凜冽的風不斷吹著迷霧，卻總也無法將霧氣吹散。如果沙斯塔對山野有所瞭解，他就該意識到自己身在海拔很高的地方了，甚至可能已經到達山頂。可惜他對高山一無所知。

“我真的覺得，”沙斯塔說道，“我一定是這個世界上最倒黴的男孩兒。除我以外，其他人都很順利。那些納尼亞的少爺小姐們都順利離開了塔什班，我卻被拋在後頭；婭拉維斯、布里還有赫溫舒舒服服地和那老隱士待在一起，而我卻得來通風報信；拉巴達斯到這兒之前，盧恩國王和其他人肯定已經安全抵達城堡，早早關好了城門，而我卻被關在外頭了。”

沙斯塔又累又餓，他為自己感到難過，淚水滑過了臉頰。

突如其來的驚嚇打斷了一切。沙斯塔感覺有東西或者有人正在他身邊走動，可身處漆黑之中他什麼也看不見。那東西（或人）動作很輕，他幾乎聽不見腳步聲，只能聽到有呼吸聲傳來。這位隱身的同伴呼吸幅度聽起來很大，沙斯塔感覺它應該是個龐然大物。他是逐漸才注意到這呼吸聲的，所以他完全不知道那東西在這兒待了多久。這個認知深深嚇到了他。

沙斯塔突然想了起來，很久以前他曾聽說過北方國度有巨人存在。恐懼中，他咬住自己的嘴唇。現在是真有值得落淚的原因了，而他反倒停止了哭泣。

那東西（或人）繼續靜靜地在他身邊走動，沙斯塔開始祈禱這一切都是幻覺。就在他快要確信這一點的時候，他身旁的黑暗中突然傳出一聲深沉的嘆息。不是幻覺！不管怎麼說，他冰涼的左手已經感覺到那聲嘆息散出的溫熱氣息了。

要是那匹馬錶現得好——或者說如果他知道讓那馬錶現得好些的方式——他就會不顧一切地冒險策馬狂奔，逃離這裡。但他知道他沒法讓馬跑起來。於是他只能慢慢走著，那看不見的同伴如影隨形，在他身邊呼吸著。直到最後他再也忍不住了。

“你是誰？”他說，聲音沒比耳語時響多少。

“我一直都在等你開口，等了很久了。”那東西說。他說話聲不響，但卻非常深沉。

“你是——你是巨人嗎？”沙斯塔問。

“你可以稱我為巨人。”那個渾厚的聲音說，“不過我和你們所說的巨人不一樣。”

沙斯塔努力瞪了一會兒，說：“我根本看不見你。”接著，一個更為恐怖的想法出現在他腦海中，他幾乎是驚聲尖叫著說：“你不會——你不會是什麼已經死了的東西吧？哦，拜託——拜託你走開吧。我可曾傷害過你嗎？啊，我真是世上最倒黴的人啊！”

他再一次感到那東西溫熱的氣息撲在他的手上和臉上。“感受一下，”它說，“這可不是鬼魂的氣息。告訴我你為什麼傷心吧。”

那氣息讓沙斯塔稍稍安心了一些，於是他便講起他被一個嚴苛的漁夫養大，連自己父母是誰都不知道；然後又講了他出逃的事以及他們被獅子追趕，不得不游水保命；還有他們在塔什班遇到的所有危險，比如他在墓地度過的那一夜，沙漠裡的野獸衝著他咆哮。接著他還講到他們穿越沙漠時飽受熱浪與口渴折磨，還有他們接近終點時卻被另一頭獅子追趕，婭拉維斯還受了傷。當然，他也講到自己已經很久沒有吃過東西了。

“我不認為你很倒黴。”渾厚的聲音說道。

“遇見那麼多獅子還不夠倒黴嗎？”沙斯塔反問。

“只有一頭獅子。”那聲音道。

“你到底想表達什麼？我都告訴你至少第一天晚上就有兩頭獅子了，而且——”

“只有一頭獅子，但他跑得很快。”

“你怎麼知道？”

“我就是那頭獅子。”沙斯塔瞠目結舌，張開了嘴卻什麼都沒說。那聲音繼續說道：“迫使你和婭拉維斯走到一起的那頭獅子是我；在逝者的家園安撫你的那隻貓也是我；在你熟睡時為你趕走胡狼的那頭獅子也是我；為了讓你能及時趕到盧恩國王身邊，使兩匹馬在恐懼中激發出新的力量、跑完最後一程的那頭獅子還是我。當年你還很小，躺在船上奄奄一息，你後來能被坐在海邊、深夜仍然醒著的漁夫收養，是因為有頭獅子推動小船讓它漂到了海灘上，而那頭獅子依然是我。”

“是你傷了婭拉維斯？”

“是我。”

“可這是為什麼？”

“孩子，”那聲音說，“我在講述的是你的故事，而不是她的。我只對別人講述他自己的故事。”

“你是誰？”沙斯塔問。

“我自己。”那聲音低沉渾厚，大地也為之顫動；接著，聲音再次響起：“我自己。”更加響亮、清晰而又愉悅；最後是第三遍：“我自己。”輕聲細語，幾乎難以用雙耳捕獲，卻又無比溫柔，似乎是從四面八方穿行而來，樹葉也隨之簌簌有聲。

沙斯塔不再畏懼，因為那聲音的主人不是幽靈，也不會吃掉他。一陣全新不同的顫抖傳遍他的全身，而他為此感到高興。

迷霧從黑色轉為灰色，又從灰色變為白色。這個變化定是好久之前開始的，可當他與那個東西交談時他什麼都沒注意到。此時，環繞在他身邊的白色閃耀著光芒，他眨了眨眼睛，前方不知何處的鳥兒開始歌唱，沙斯塔知道黑夜就要結束了。現在，他可以輕鬆地看到馬兒的腦袋、耳朵還有鬃毛。一道金色的光芒落在他們左側，他以為那是陽光。

他轉身看見一頭比馬還高的獅子正在他身側踱步。那馬似乎並不怕它，又或許是看不見它。獅子身上閃著金色的光芒，那是世界上最可怕又最美麗的東西了。

幸虧沙斯塔住在卡樂門南方的偏遠地區，所以他從未聽說過在塔什班廣為流傳的故事，一個關於化身為獅子的納尼亞惡魔的故事。當然他也不知道關於阿斯蘭的真正故事：他是偉大的獅王，是海洋之王的兒子，是納尼亞眾王之王。沙斯塔只看了一眼獅子的臉便跳下馬鞍，跪倒在獅子腳邊。他什麼都說不出來，他也什麼都不想說，他知道自己什麼都不需要說。

眾王之王朝沙斯塔俯下身來，它的鬃毛垂落在他身邊，散發出奇異而又莊重的氣息。獅王舔舐他的前額，沙斯塔仰起臉來，他們眼神相接。驀然之間，迷霧蒼白的光芒與獅王耀眼的金光交織在一起，化為不斷旋轉的光芒，最終聚攏消失。蔚藍的蒼穹之下，綠草如茵的山坡上只剩沙斯塔獨自一人與馬兒在一起。鳥兒在吟唱。