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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

"By the great god Tash, they are very obedient," said Tirian. <strong>The</strong>n suddenly he turned to<br />

the Dwarfs themselves. About one <strong>in</strong> six <strong>of</strong> them carried a torch and by that flicker<strong>in</strong>g<br />

light he could see their bearded faces all look<strong>in</strong>g at him with grim and dogged<br />

expressions. "Has <strong>The</strong> Tisroc fought a great battle, Dwarfs, and conquered your land?" he<br />

asked, "that thus you go patiently to die <strong>in</strong> the salt-pits <strong>of</strong> Pugrahan?"<br />

<strong>The</strong> two soldiers glared at him <strong>in</strong> surprise but the Dwarfs all answered, "Aslan's <strong>order</strong>s,<br />

Aslan's <strong>order</strong>s. He's sold us. What can we do aga<strong>in</strong>st him?"<br />

"Tisroc <strong>in</strong>deed!" added one and spat. "I'd like to see him try it!"<br />

"Silence, dogs!" said the chief soldier.<br />

"Look!" said Tirian, pull<strong>in</strong>g Puzzle forward <strong>in</strong>to the light. "It has all been a lie. Aslan has<br />

not come to <strong>Narnia</strong> at all. You have been cheated by the Ape. This is the th<strong>in</strong>g he brought<br />

out <strong>of</strong> the stable to show you. Look at it."<br />

What the Dwarfs saw, now that they could see it close, was certa<strong>in</strong>ly enough to make<br />

them wonder how they had ever been taken <strong>in</strong>. <strong>The</strong> lion-sk<strong>in</strong> had got pretty untidy<br />

already dur<strong>in</strong>g Puzzle's imprisonment <strong>in</strong> the stable and it had been knocked crooked<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g his journey through the dark wood. Most <strong>of</strong> it was <strong>in</strong> a big lump on one shoulder.<br />

<strong>The</strong> head, besides be<strong>in</strong>g pushed sideways, had somehow got very far back so that anyone<br />

could now see his silly, gentle, donkeyish face gaz<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>of</strong> it. Some grass stuck out <strong>of</strong><br />

one corner <strong>of</strong> his mouth, for he'd been do<strong>in</strong>g a little quiet nibbl<strong>in</strong>g as they brought him<br />

along. And he was mutter<strong>in</strong>g, "It wasn't my fault, I'm not clever. I never said I was."<br />

For one second all the Dwarfs were star<strong>in</strong>g at Puzzle with wide open mouths and then<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the soldiers said sharply, "Are you mad, My Master? What are you do<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

slaves?" and the other said, "And who are you?" Neither <strong>of</strong> their spears was at the salute<br />

now - both were down and ready for action.<br />

"Give the password," said the chief soldier.<br />

"This is my password," said the K<strong>in</strong>g as he drew his sword. "<strong>The</strong> light is dawn<strong>in</strong>g, the lie<br />

broken. Now guard thee, miscreant, for I am Tirian <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

He flew upon the chief soldier like lightn<strong>in</strong>g. Eustace, who had drawn his sword when he<br />

saw the K<strong>in</strong>g draw his, rushed at the other one: his face was deadly pale, but I wouldn't<br />

blame him for that. And he had the luck that beg<strong>in</strong>ners sometimes do have. He forgot all<br />

that Tirian had tried to teach him that afternoon, slashed wildly (<strong>in</strong>deed I'm not sure his<br />

eyes weren't shut) and suddenly found, to his own great surprise, that the Calormene lay<br />

dead at his feet. And though that was a great relief, it was, at the moment, rather<br />

frighten<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>The</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g's fight lasted a second or two longer: then he too had killed his man<br />

and shouted to Eustace, "'Ware the other two."<br />

But the Dwarfs had settled the two rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Calormenes. <strong>The</strong>re was no enemy left.

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!