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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)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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"And what bus<strong>in</strong>ess is it <strong>of</strong> yours if I am only a girl?" snapped the stranger. "You're<br />

probably only a boy: a rude, common little boy - a slave probably, who's stolen his<br />

master's horse."<br />

"That's all you know," said Shasta.<br />

"He's not a thief, little Tarkheena," said Bree. "At least, if there's been any steal<strong>in</strong>g, you<br />

might just as well say I stole him. And as for its not be<strong>in</strong>g my bus<strong>in</strong>ess, you wouldn't<br />

expect me to pass a lady <strong>of</strong> my own race <strong>in</strong> this strange country without speak<strong>in</strong>g to her?<br />

It's only natural I should."<br />

"I th<strong>in</strong>k it's very natural too," said the mare.<br />

"I wish you'd held your tongue, Hw<strong>in</strong>," said the girl. "Look at the trouble you've got us<br />

<strong>in</strong>to."<br />

"I don't know about trouble," said Shasta. "You can clear <strong>of</strong>f as soon as you like. We<br />

shan't keep you."<br />

"No, you shan't," said the girl.<br />

"What quarrelsome creatures these humans are," said Bree to the mare. "<strong>The</strong>y're as bad as<br />

mules. Let's try to talk a little sense. I take it, ma'am, your story is the same as m<strong>in</strong>e?<br />

Captured <strong>in</strong> early youth - years <strong>of</strong> slavery among the Calormenes?"<br />

"Too true, sir," said the mare with a melancholy wh<strong>in</strong>ny.<br />

"And now, perhaps - escape?"<br />

"Tell him to m<strong>in</strong>d his own bus<strong>in</strong>ess, Hw<strong>in</strong>," said the girl.<br />

"No, I won't, Aravis," said the mare putt<strong>in</strong>g her ears back. "This is my escape just as<br />

much as yours. And I'm sure a noble war-horse like this is not go<strong>in</strong>g to betray us. We are<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g to escape, to get to <strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

"And so, <strong>of</strong> course, are we," said Bree. "Of course you guessed that at once. A little boy<br />

<strong>in</strong> rags rid<strong>in</strong>g (or try<strong>in</strong>g to ride) a war-horse at dead <strong>of</strong> night couldn't mean anyth<strong>in</strong>g but<br />

an escape <strong>of</strong> some sort. And, if I may say so, a highborn Tarkheena rid<strong>in</strong>g alone at night -<br />

dressed up <strong>in</strong> her brother's armour - and very anxious for everyone to m<strong>in</strong>d their own<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess and ask her no questions - well, if that's not fishy, call me a cob!"<br />

"All right then," said Aravis. "You've guessed it. Hw<strong>in</strong> and I are runn<strong>in</strong>g away. We are<br />

try<strong>in</strong>g to get to <strong>Narnia</strong>. And now, what about it?"

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