15.05.2015 Views

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)

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

"By the Lion's Mane, Tarkheena, I'm noth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the sort," said Bree <strong>in</strong>dignantly. "I have a<br />

proper respect for myself and for my fellow horses, that's all."<br />

"Bree," said Aravis, who was not very <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> the cut <strong>of</strong> his tail, "I've been want<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to ask you someth<strong>in</strong>g for a long time. Why do you keep on swear<strong>in</strong>g By the Lion and By<br />

the Lion's Mane? I thought you hated lions."<br />

"So I do," answered Bree. "But when I speak <strong>of</strong> the Lion <strong>of</strong> course I mean Aslan, the<br />

great deliverer <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> who drove away the Witch and the W<strong>in</strong>ter. All <strong>Narnia</strong>ns swear<br />

by him."<br />

"But is he a lion?"<br />

"No, no, <strong>of</strong> course not," said Bree <strong>in</strong> a rather shocked voice.<br />

"All the stories about him <strong>in</strong> Tashbaan say he is," replied Aravis. "And if he isn't a lion<br />

why do you call him a lion?"<br />

"Well, you'd hardly understand that at your age," said Bree. "And I was only a little foal<br />

when I left so I don't quite fully understand it myself."<br />

(Bree was stand<strong>in</strong>g with his back to the green wall while he said this, and the other two<br />

were fac<strong>in</strong>g him. He was talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rather a superior tone with his eyes half shut; that was<br />

why he didn't see the changed expression <strong>in</strong> the faces <strong>of</strong> Hw<strong>in</strong> and Aravis. <strong>The</strong>y had good<br />

reason to have open mouths and star<strong>in</strong>g eyes; because while Bree spoke they saw an<br />

enormous lion leap up from outside and balance itself on the top <strong>of</strong> the green wall; only it<br />

was a brighter yellow and it was bigger and more beautiful and more alarm<strong>in</strong>g than any<br />

lion they had ever seen. And at once it jumped down <strong>in</strong>side the wall and began<br />

approach<strong>in</strong>g Bree from beh<strong>in</strong>d. It made no noise at all. And Hw<strong>in</strong> and Aravis couldn't<br />

make any noise themselves, no more than if they were frozen.)<br />

"No doubt," cont<strong>in</strong>ued Bree, "when they speak <strong>of</strong> him as a Lion they only mean he's as<br />

strong as a lion or (to our enemies, <strong>of</strong> course) as fierce as a lion. Or someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> that<br />

k<strong>in</strong>d. Even a little girl like you, Aravis, must see that it would be quite absurd to suppose<br />

he is a real lion. Indeed it would be disrespectful. If he was a lion he'd have to be a Beast<br />

just like the rest <strong>of</strong> us. Why!" (and here Bree began to laugh) "If he was a lion he'd have<br />

four paws, and a tail, and Whiskers! . . . Aie, ooh, hoo-hoo! Help!"<br />

For just as he said the word Whiskers one <strong>of</strong> Aslan's had actually tickled his ear. Bree<br />

shot away like an arrow to the other side <strong>of</strong> the enclosure and there turned; the wall was<br />

too high for him to jump and he could fly no farther. Aravis and Hw<strong>in</strong> both started back.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re was about a second <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>tense silence.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n Hw<strong>in</strong>, though shak<strong>in</strong>g all over, gave a strange little neigh, and trotted across to the<br />

Lion.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!