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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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"If you please, sir," said Queen Helen (for that is what Nellie the cabman's wife now<br />

was), "I th<strong>in</strong>k the little girl would love to go too, if it weren't no trouble."<br />

"What does Fledge say about that?" asked the Lion.<br />

"Oh, I don't m<strong>in</strong>d two, not when they're little ones," said Fledge. "But I hope the Elephant<br />

doesn't want to come as well."<br />

<strong>The</strong> Elephant had no such wish, and the new K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> helped both the children up:<br />

that is, he gave Digory a rough heave and set Polly as gently and da<strong>in</strong>tily on the horse's<br />

back as if she were made <strong>of</strong> ch<strong>in</strong>a and might break. "<strong>The</strong>re they are, Strawberry - Fledge,<br />

I should say. This is a rum go."<br />

"Do not fly too high," said Aslan. "Do not try to go over the tops <strong>of</strong> the great icemounta<strong>in</strong>s.<br />

Look out for the valleys, the green places, and fly through them. <strong>The</strong>re will<br />

always be a way through. And now, begone with my bless<strong>in</strong>g."<br />

"Oh Fledge!" said Digory, lean<strong>in</strong>g forward to pat the Horse's glossy neck. "This is fun.<br />

Hold on to me tight, Polly."<br />

Next moment the country dropped away beneath them, and whirled round as Fledge, like<br />

a huge pigeon, circled once or twice before sett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f on his long westward flight.<br />

Look<strong>in</strong>g down, Polly could hardly see the K<strong>in</strong>g and the Queen, and even Aslan himself<br />

was only a bright yellow spot on the green grass. Soon the w<strong>in</strong>d was <strong>in</strong> their faces and<br />

Fledges w<strong>in</strong>gs settled down to a steady beat.<br />

All <strong>Narnia</strong>, many-coloured with lawns and rocks and heather and different sorts <strong>of</strong> trees,<br />

lay spread out below them, the river w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g through it like a ribbon <strong>of</strong> quicksilver. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

could already see over the tops <strong>of</strong> the low hills which lay northward on their right;<br />

beyond those hills a great moorland sloped gently up and up to the horizon. On their left<br />

the mounta<strong>in</strong>s were much higher, but every now and then there was a gap when you<br />

could see, between steep p<strong>in</strong>e woods, a glimpse <strong>of</strong> the southern lands that lay beyond<br />

them, look<strong>in</strong>g blue and far away.<br />

"That'll be where Archenland is," said Polly.<br />

"Yes, but look ahead!" said Digory.<br />

For now a great barrier <strong>of</strong> cliffs rose before them and they were almost dazzled by the<br />

sunlight danc<strong>in</strong>g on the great waterfall by which the river roars and sparkles down <strong>in</strong>to<br />

<strong>Narnia</strong> itself from the high western lands <strong>in</strong> which it rises. <strong>The</strong>y were fly<strong>in</strong>g so high<br />

already that the thunder <strong>of</strong> those falls could only just be heard as a small, th<strong>in</strong> sound, but<br />

they were not yet high enough to fly over the top <strong>of</strong> the cliffs.<br />

"We'll have to do a bit <strong>of</strong> zig-zagg<strong>in</strong>g here," said Fledge. "Hold on tight."

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