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CHAPTER NINE THE ISLAND OF THE VOICES(第2/5页)

“Lively,then,mates,lively,”said the first voice.“Off we go.

“Right again,Chief,”said the others.“Couldn’t have a better

order.Just what we were going to say ourselves.Off we go.”

Immediately the thumping began again—very loud at first but soon fainter and fainter,till it died out in the direction of the sea.

Lucy knew there was no time to sit puzzling as to what these invisible creatures might be.As soon as the thumping noise had died away she got up and ran along the path after the others as quickly as her legs would carry her.They must at all costs be warned.

While this had been happening the others had reached the house.It was a low building-only two stories high made of a beautiful mellow stone,many-windowed,and partially covered with ivy.Everything was so still that Eustace said,“I think it’s empty,”but Caspian silently pointed to the column of smoke which rose from one chimney.

They found a wide gateway open and passed through it into a paved courtyard.And it was here that they had their first indication that there was something odd about this island.In the middle of the courtyard stood a pump,and beneath the pump a bucket.There was nothing odd about that.But the pump handle was moving up and down,though there seemed to be no one moving it.

“There’s some magic at work here,”said Caspian.

“Machinery !”said Eustace.“I do believe we’ve come to a civilized country at last.”

At that moment Lucy,hot and breathless,rushed into the courtyard behind them.In a low voice she tried to make them understand what she had overheard.And when they had partly understood it even the bravest of them did not look very happy.

“Invisible enemies,”muttered Caspian.“And cutting us off from the boat.This is an ugly furrow to plough.”

“You’ve no idea what sort of creatures they are,Lu ?”asked Edmund.

“How can I,Ed,when I couldn’t see them ?”

“Did they sound like humans from their footsteps ?”

“I didn’t hear any noise of feet—only voices and this frightful thudding and thumping-like a mallet.”

“I wonder,”said Reepicheep,“do they become visible when you drive a sword into them ?”

“It looks as if we shall find out,”said Caspian.“But let’s get out of this gateway.There’s one of these gentry at that pump listening to all we say.”

They came out and went back on to the path where the trees might possibly make them less conspicuous.“Not that it’s any good really,”said Eustace,“trying to hide from people you can’t see.They may be all round us.”

“Now,Drinian,”said Caspian.“How would it be if we gave up the boat for lost,went down to another part of the bay,and signalled to the Dawn Treader to stand in and take us aboard ?”

“Not depth for her,Sire,”said Drinian.

“We could swim,”said Lucy.

“Your Majesties all,”said Reepicheep,“hear me.It is folly to think of avoiding an invisible enemy by any amount of creeping and skulking.If these creatures mean to bring us to battle,be sure they will succeed.And whatever comes of it I’d sooner meet them

face to face than be caught by the tail.”

“I really think Reep is in the right this time,”said Edmund.

“Surely,”said Lucy,“if Rhince and the others on the Dawn Treader see us fighting on the shore they’ll be able to do something.”

“But they won’t see us fighting if they can’t see any enemy,”said Eustace miserably.“They’ll think we’re just swinging our swords in the air for fun.”

There was an uncomfortable pause.

“Well,”said Caspian at last,“let’s get on with it.We must go and face them.Shake hands all round—arrow on the string, Lucy—swords out,everyone else—and now for it.Perhaps they’ll parley.”

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