The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The low early sunshine was streaming through the wood and the grass was grey with dew
and the cobwebs were like silver. Just beside them was a little, very darkwooded tree,
about the size of an apple tree. The leaves were whitish and rather papery, like the herb
called honesty, and it was loaded with little brown fruits that looked rather like dates.
"Hurrah!" said Digory. "But I'm going to have a dip first." He rushed through a flowering
thicket or two down to the river's edge. Have you ever bathed in a mountain river that is
running in shallow cataracts over red and blue and yellow stones with the sun on it? It is
as good as the sea: in some ways almost better. Of course, he had to dress again without
drying but it was well worth it. When he came back, Polly went down and had her bathe;
at least she said that was what she'd been doing, but we know she was not much of a
swimmer and perhaps it is best not to ask too many questions. Fledge visited the river too
but he only stood in midstream, stooping down for a long drink of water and then shaking
his mane and neighing several times.
Polly and Digory got to work on the toffee-tree. The fruit was delicious; not exactly like
toffee - softer for one thing, and juicy - but like fruit which reminded one of toffee.
Fledge also made an excellent breakfast; he tried one of the toffee fruits and liked it but
said he felt more like grass at that hour in the morning. Then with some difficulty the
children got on his back and the second journey began.
It was even better than yesterday, partly because every one was feeling so fresh, and
partly because the newly risen sun was at their backs and, of course, everything looks
nicer when the light is behind you. It was a wonderful ride. The big snowy mountains
rose above them in every direction. The valleys, far beneath them, were so green, and all
the streams which tumbled down from the glaciers into the main river were so blue, that
it was like flying over gigantic pieces of jewellery. They would have liked this part of the
adventure to go on longer than it did. But quite soon they were all sniffing the air and
saying "What is it?" and "Did you smell something?" and "Where's it coming from?" For
a heavenly smell, warm and golden, as if from all the most delicious fruits and flowers of
the world, was coming up to them from somewhere ahead.
"It's coming from that valley with the lake in it," said Fledge.
"So it is," said Digory. "And look! There's a green hill at the far end of the lake. And look
how blue the water is."
"It must be the Place," said all three.
Fledge came lower and lower in wide circles. The icy peaks rose up higher and higher
above. The air came up warmer and sweeter every moment, so sweet that it almost
brought the tears to your eyes. Fledge was now gliding with his wings spread out
motionless on each side, and his hoofs pawing for the ground. The steep green hill was
rushing towards them. A moment later he alighted on its slope, a little awkwardly. The