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CHAPTER NINE THE ISLAND OF THE VOICES(第4/5页)

Such was the Chief Voice’s story,but very much shortened, because I have left out what the Other Voices said.Actually he never got out more than six or seven words without being interrupted by their agreements and encouragements,which drove the Narnians nearly out of their minds with impatience.When it was over there was a very long silence.

“But,”said Lucy at last,“what’s all this got to do with us ? I don’t understand.”

“Why,bless me,if I haven’t gone and left out the whole point,”said the Chief Voice.

“That you have,that you have,”roared the Other Voices with great enthusiasm.“No one couldn’t have left it out cleaner and better.Keep it up,Chief,keep it up.”

“Well,I needn’t go over the whole story again,”began the Chief Voice.

“No.Certainly not,”said Caspian and Edmund.

“Well,then,to put it in a nutshell,”said the Chief Voice, “we’ve been waiting for ever so long for a nice little girl from foreign parts,like it might be you,Missie-that would go upstairs and go to the magic book and find the spell that takes off the invisibleness,and say it.And we all swore that the first strangers as landed on this island(having a nice little girl with them,I mean,for if they hadn’t it’d be another matter)we wouldn’t let them go away alive unless they’d done the needful for us.And that’s why,gentlemen,if your little girl doesn’t come up to scratch,it will be our painful duty to cut all your throats.Merely in the way of business,as you might say,and no offence,I hope.”

“I don’t see all your weapons,”said Reepicheep.“Are they invisible too ?”The words were scarcely out of his mouth before they heard a whizzing sound and next moment a spear had stuck, quivering,in one of the trees behind them.

“That’s a spear,that is,”said the Chief Voice.

“That it is,Chief,that it is,”said the others.“You couldn’t have put it better.”

“And it came from my hand,”the Chief Voice continued.“They get visible when they leave us.”

“But why do you want me to do this ?”asked Lucy.

“Why can’t one of your own people ?Haven’t you got any girls ?”

“We dursen’t,we dursen’t,”said all the Voices.“We’re not going upstairs again.”

“In other words,”said Caspian,“you are asking this lady to face some danger which you daren’t ask your own sisters and daughters to face !”

“That’s right,that’s right ,”said all the Voices cheerfully. “You couldn’t have said it better.Eh,you’ve had some education,you have.Anyone can see that.”

“Well,of all the outrageous—”began Edmund,but Lucy interrupted.

“Would I have to go upstairs at night,or would it do in daylight ?”

“Oh,daylight,daylight,to be sure,”said the Chief Voice. “Not at night.No one’s asking you to do that.Go upstairs in the dark ? Ugh.”

“All right,then,I’ll do it,”said Lucy.“No,”she said, turning to the others,“don’t try to stop me.Can’t you see it’s no use ? There are dozens of them there.We can’t fight them.And the other way there is a chance.”

“But a magician !”said Caspian.

“I know,”said Lucy.“But he mayn’t be as bad as they make out.Don’t you get the idea that these people are not very brave ?”

“They’re certainly not very clever,”said Eustace.

“Look here,Lu,”said Edmund.“We really can’t let you do a thing like this.Ask Reep,I’m sure he’ll say just the same.”

“But it’s to save my own life as well as yours,”said Lucy.“I don’t want to be cut to bits with invisible swords any more than anyone else.”

“Her Majesty is in the right,”said Reepicheep.“If we had any assurance of saving her by battle,our duty would be very-plain. It appears to me that we have none.And the service they ask of her is in no way contrary to her Majesty’s honour,but a noble and heroical act.If the Queen’s heart moves her to risk the magician, I will not speak against it.”

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