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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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It was a g<strong>in</strong>ger Cat - a great big Tom <strong>in</strong> the prime <strong>of</strong> life - who sat bolt upright with his<br />

tail curled round his toes, <strong>in</strong> the very front row <strong>of</strong> all the Beasts. He had been star<strong>in</strong>g hard<br />

at the Ape and the Calormene capta<strong>in</strong> all the time and had never once bl<strong>in</strong>ked his eyes.<br />

"Excuse me," said the Cat very politely, "but this <strong>in</strong>terests me. Does your friend from<br />

Calormen say the same?"<br />

"Assuredly," said the Calormene. "<strong>The</strong> enlightened Ape - Man, I mean - is <strong>in</strong> the right.<br />

Aslan means neither less nor more than Tash."<br />

"Especially, Aslan means no more than Tash?" suggested the Cat.<br />

"No more at all," said the Calormene, look<strong>in</strong>g the Cat straight <strong>in</strong> the face.<br />

"Is that good enough for you, G<strong>in</strong>ger?" said the Ape.<br />

"Oh certa<strong>in</strong>ly," said G<strong>in</strong>ger coolly. "Thank you very much. I only wanted to be quite<br />

clear. I th<strong>in</strong>k I am beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to understand."<br />

Up till now the K<strong>in</strong>g and Jewel had said noth<strong>in</strong>g: they were wait<strong>in</strong>g until the Ape should<br />

bid them speak, for they thought it was no use <strong>in</strong>terrupt<strong>in</strong>g. But now, as Tirian looked<br />

round on the miserable faces <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Narnia</strong>ns, and saw how they would all believe that<br />

Aslan and Tash were one and the same, he could bear it no longer.<br />

"Ape," he cried with a great voice, "you lie damnably. You lie like a Calormene. You lie<br />

like an Ape."<br />

He meant to go on and ask how the terrible god Tash who fed on the blood <strong>of</strong> his people<br />

could possibly be the same as the good Lion by whose blood all <strong>Narnia</strong> was saved. If he<br />

had been allowed to speak, the rule <strong>of</strong> the Ape might have ended that day; the Beasts<br />

might have seen the truth and thrown the Ape down. But before he could say another<br />

word two Calormenes struck him <strong>in</strong> the mouth with all their force, and a third, from<br />

beh<strong>in</strong>d, kicked his feet from under him. And as he fell, the Ape squealed <strong>in</strong> rage and<br />

terror.<br />

"Take him away. Take him away. Take him where he cannot hear us, nor we hear him.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re tie him to a tree. I will - I mean, Aslan will - do justice on him later."<br />

CHAPTER FOUR<br />

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT

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