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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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"And now," said Nikabrik on the first even<strong>in</strong>g when Caspian was well enough to sit up<br />

and talk, "we still have to decide what to do with this Human. You two th<strong>in</strong>k you've done<br />

it a great k<strong>in</strong>dess by not lett<strong>in</strong>g me kill it. But I suppose the upshot is that we have to keep<br />

it a prisoner for life. I'm certa<strong>in</strong>ly not go<strong>in</strong>g to let it go alive - to go back to its own k<strong>in</strong>d<br />

and betray us all."<br />

"Bulbs and bolsters! Nikabrik," said Trumpk<strong>in</strong>. "Why need you talk so unhandsomely? It<br />

isn't the creature's fault that it bashed its head aga<strong>in</strong>st a tree outside our hole. And I don't<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k it looks like a traitor."<br />

"I say," said Caspian, "you haven't yet found out whether I want to go back. I don't. I<br />

want to stay with you - if you'll let me. I've been look<strong>in</strong>g for people like you all my life."<br />

"That's a likely story," growled Nikabrik. "You're a Telmar<strong>in</strong>e and a Human, aren't you?<br />

Of course you want to go back to your own k<strong>in</strong>d."<br />

"Well, even if I did, I couldn't," said Caspian. "I was fly<strong>in</strong>g for my life when I had my<br />

accident. <strong>The</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g wants to kill me. If you'd killed me, you'd have done the very th<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

please him."<br />

"Well now," said Trufflehunter, "you don't say so!"<br />

"Eh?" said Trumpk<strong>in</strong>. "What's that? What have you been do<strong>in</strong>g, Human, to fall foul <strong>of</strong><br />

Miraz at your age?"<br />

"He's my uncle," began Caspian, when Nikabrik jumped up with his hand on his dagger.<br />

"<strong>The</strong>re you are!" he cried. "Not only a Telmar<strong>in</strong>e but close k<strong>in</strong> and heir to our greatest<br />

enemy. Are you still mad enough to let this creature live?" He would have stabbed<br />

Caspian then and there, if the Badger and Trumpk<strong>in</strong> had not got <strong>in</strong> the way and forced<br />

him back to his seat and held him down.<br />

"Now, once and for all, Nikabrik," said Trumpk<strong>in</strong>. "Will you conta<strong>in</strong> yourself, or must<br />

Trufflehunter and I sit on your head?"<br />

Nikabrik sulkily promised to behave, and the other two asked Caspian to tell his whole<br />

story. When he had done so there was a moment's silence.<br />

"This is the queerest th<strong>in</strong>g I ever heard," said Trumpk<strong>in</strong>.<br />

"I don't like it," said Nikabrik. "I didn't know there were stories about us still told among<br />

the Humans. <strong>The</strong> less they know about us the better. That old nurse, now. She'd better<br />

have held her tongue. And it's all mixed up with that Tutor: a renegade Dwarf. I hate 'em.<br />

I hate 'em worse than the Humans. You mark my words - no good will come <strong>of</strong> it.

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