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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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"Me, Sire?" came the Donkey's voice. "I'm sure I'm very sorry if I've done wrong. <strong>The</strong><br />

Ape said Aslan wanted me to dress up like that. And I thought he'd know. I'm not clever<br />

like him. I only did what I was told. It wasn't any fun for me liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> that stable. I don't<br />

even know what's been go<strong>in</strong>g on outside. He never let me out except for a m<strong>in</strong>ute or two<br />

at night. Some days they forgot to give me any water too."<br />

"Sire," said Jewel. "Those Dwarfs are com<strong>in</strong>g nearer and nearer. Do we want to meet<br />

them?"<br />

Tirian thought for a moment and then suddenly gave a great laugh out loud. <strong>The</strong>n he<br />

spoke, not this time <strong>in</strong> a whisper. "By the Lion," he said, "I am grow<strong>in</strong>g slow witted!<br />

Meet them? Certa<strong>in</strong>ly we will meet them. We will meet anyone now. We have this Ass to<br />

show them. Let them see the th<strong>in</strong>g they have feared and bowed to. We can show them the<br />

truth <strong>of</strong> the Ape's vile plot. His secret's out. <strong>The</strong> tide's turned. Tomorrow we shall hang<br />

that Ape on the highest tree <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>. No more whisper<strong>in</strong>g and skulk<strong>in</strong>g and disguises.<br />

Where are these honest Dwarfs? We have good news for them."<br />

When you have been whisper<strong>in</strong>g for hours the mere sound <strong>of</strong> anyone talk<strong>in</strong>g out loud has<br />

a wonderfully stirr<strong>in</strong>g effect. <strong>The</strong> whole party began talk<strong>in</strong>g and laugh<strong>in</strong>g: even Puzzle<br />

lifted up his head and gave a grand Haw-hee-haw-hee-hee; a th<strong>in</strong>g the Ape hadn't allowed<br />

him to do for days. <strong>The</strong>n they set <strong>of</strong>f <strong>in</strong> the direction <strong>of</strong> the drumm<strong>in</strong>g. It grew steadily<br />

louder and soon they could see torchlight as well. <strong>The</strong>y came out on one <strong>of</strong> those rough<br />

roads (we should hardly call them roads at all <strong>in</strong> England) which ran through Lantern<br />

Waste. And there, march<strong>in</strong>g sturdily along, were about thirty Dwarfs, all with their little<br />

spades and mattocks over their shoulders. Two armed Calormenes led the column and<br />

two more brought up the rear.<br />

"Stay!" thundered Tirian as he stepped out on the road. "Stay, soldiers. Whither do you<br />

lead these <strong>Narnia</strong>n Dwarfs and by whose <strong>order</strong>s?"<br />

CHAPTER SEVEN<br />

MAINLY ABOUT DWARFS<br />

THE two Calormene soldiers at the head <strong>of</strong> the column, see<strong>in</strong>g what they took for a<br />

Tarkaan or great lord with two armed pages, came to a halt and raised their spears <strong>in</strong><br />

salute.<br />

"O My Master," said one <strong>of</strong> them, "we lead these manik<strong>in</strong>s to Calormen to work <strong>in</strong> the<br />

m<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Tisroc, may-he-live-forever. "

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