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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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"He said the very first person you saw <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> would be an old friend, and you'd got to<br />

speak to him at once."<br />

"Well, there's nobody here I've ever seen <strong>in</strong> my life before; and anyway, I don't know<br />

whether this is <strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

"Thought you said you'd been here before," said Jill.<br />

"Well, you thought wrong then."<br />

"Well, I like that! You told me -"<br />

"For heaven's sake dry up and let's hear what they're say<strong>in</strong>g."<br />

<strong>The</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g was speak<strong>in</strong>g to the Dwarf, but Jill couldn't hear what he said. And, as far as<br />

she could make out, the Dwarf made no answer, though he nodded and wagged his head a<br />

great deal. <strong>The</strong>n the K<strong>in</strong>g raised his voice and addressed the whole court: but his voice<br />

was so old and cracked that she could understand very little <strong>of</strong> his speech - especially<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce it was all about people and places she had never heard <strong>of</strong>. When the speech was<br />

over, the K<strong>in</strong>g stooped down and kissed the Dwarf on both cheeks, straightened himself,<br />

raised his right hand as if <strong>in</strong> bless<strong>in</strong>g, and went, slowly and with feeble steps, up the<br />

gangway and on board the ship. <strong>The</strong> courtiers appeared to be greatly moved by his<br />

departure. Handkerchiefs were got out, sounds <strong>of</strong> sobb<strong>in</strong>g were heard <strong>in</strong> every direction.<br />

<strong>The</strong> gangway was cast <strong>of</strong>f, trumpets sounded from the poop, and the ship moved away<br />

from the quay. (It was be<strong>in</strong>g towed by a row<strong>in</strong>g-boat, but Jill didn't see that.)<br />

"Now -" said Scrubb, but he didn't get any farther, because at that moment a large white<br />

object - Jill thought for a second that it was a kite - came glid<strong>in</strong>g through the air and<br />

alighted at his feet. It was a white owl, but so big that it stood as high as a good-sized<br />

dwarf.<br />

It bl<strong>in</strong>ked and peered as if it were short-sighted, and put its head a little on one side, and<br />

said <strong>in</strong> a s<strong>of</strong>t, hoot<strong>in</strong>g k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> voice:<br />

"Tu-whoo, tu-whoo! Who are you two?"<br />

"My name's Scrubb, and this is Pole," said Eustace. "Would you m<strong>in</strong>d tell<strong>in</strong>g us where<br />

we are?"<br />

"In the land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>, at the K<strong>in</strong>g's castle <strong>of</strong> Cair Paravel."<br />

"Is that the K<strong>in</strong>g who's just taken ship?"<br />

"Too true, too true," said the Owl sadly, shak<strong>in</strong>g its big head. "But who are you? <strong>The</strong>re's<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g magic about you two. I saw you arrive: you flew. Everyone else was so busy<br />

see<strong>in</strong>g the K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f that nobody knew. Except me. I happened to notice you, you flew."

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