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《黎明踏浪號》第十四章 世界盡頭的開端

所屬教程:納尼亞傳奇7本全

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2018年07月14日

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE WORLD
第十四章 世界盡頭的開端

Slowly the door opened again and out there came a figure as tall and straight as the girl’s but not so slender.It carried no light but light seemed to come from it.As it came nearer,Lucy saw that it was like an old man.His silver beard came down to his bare feet in front and his saver hair hung down to his heels behind and his robe appeared to be made from the fleece of silver sheep.He looked so mild and grave that once more all the travellers rose to their feet and stood in silence.
只見那扇門慢慢地打開了,又走出一個跟那個姑娘那般高挺, 但是沒那么苗條的人。那人雖然沒帶燈火,卻好像全身都在發(fā)光。等這人走近,露茜才看出是個老人。他銀白的胡須垂到身前的光腳上, 一頭銀發(fā)也垂到腳后跟,那一席長袍好像是銀羊毛做的。老人的神情非常慈祥卻很莊嚴(yán),所有人不約而同地再次起立。
But the old man came on without speaking to the travellers and stood on the other side of the table opposite to his daughter.Then both of them held up their arms before them and turned to face the east.In that position the began to sing.I wish I could write down the song,but one who was present could remember it.Lucy said afterwards that it was high,almost shrill,but very beautiful,cold kind of song,an early morning kind of song.And they sang, the grey clouds lifted from the eastern sky a the white patches grew bigger and bigger till it was white,and the sea began to shine like silver.And long afterwards(but those two sang all the time)the east began to turn red and at last,unclouded,the sun came up out the sea and its long level ray shot down the length of the table on the gold and silver sand on the Stone Knife.
這位老者并沒有與他們說話,只是站在桌子那頭,面對他女兒。他們兩個都舉起雙臂,面朝東方,唱起歌來。真希望我能把這首歌寫下來,可是在場沒有一個人能記住。露茜后來說,這支歌的調(diào)子很高, 近乎尖厲,不過很好聽,是一首清冷的歌,有清晨的感覺。他們一開始唱歌,東方的灰色云堆就散開了,白云越來越大, 最后攤成了一片雪白,映在海面泛著銀光。父女倆一直唱著歌,過了一會兒東方才開始發(fā)紅。最后云散天晴,太陽躍出海面,長長的光束照在桌上,照耀著金銀餐具和石刀。
Once or twice before,the Narnians had wondered whether the sun at its rising did not look bigger in these seas than it had looked at home.This time they we certain.There was no mistaking it.And the brightness its ray on the dew and on the table was far beyond an.morning brightness they had ever seen.And as Edmu said afterwards,“Though lots of things happened on that trip which sound more exciting,that moment was really the most exciting.”For now they knew that they had truly come to the beginning of the End of the World.
之前有一兩次,這幾個納尼亞人說不知道這一帶海面上升起的太陽,會不會跟國內(nèi)的一樣大。這回他們肯定了,一點都沒錯,露珠以及桌上的陽光比他們見過的任何早晨的曙光都明亮閃爍。正如后來愛德蒙所說:“雖然那次旅程碰到過不少聽起來激動人心的事,但那一刻才是最最激動人心的。”因為他們知道,現(xiàn)在的確是來到了世界盡頭的起點。
Then something seemed to be flying at them out of the very centre of the rising sun:but of course one couldn’t look steadily in that direction to make sure.But presently the air became full of voices-voices which took up same song that the Lady and her Father were singing,but in far wilder tones and in a language which no one knew And soon after that the owners of these voices could be seen.They were birds,large and white,and they came hundreds and thousands and alighted on everything;the grass, and the pavement,on the table,on your shoulders,your hands, and your head,till it looked as heavy snow had fallen.For, like snow,they not only make everything white but blurred and blunted all shapes.But Lucy,looking out from between the wings of the birds that covered her,saw one bird fly to the Old Man with something in its beak that looked like a little fruit,unless it was a little live coal,which it might have been,for it was too bright to look at.And the bird laid it in the Old Man’s mouth.
于是,那輪朝陽的中心好像有什么東西向他們飛來。不過你的眼睛沒法一眨也不眨,所以沒法看得清楚。不久空中就都是聲音,應(yīng)和著父女倆那支歌的歌聲,但是聲調(diào)有些古怪,而且唱的語言沒人能懂。不一會兒就看得見這些歌聲是誰的了。原來是又大又白成千上萬的鳥飛來,停在草地上、石板地上、桌上、你的肩上、頭上、手上, 看上去像下了一場大雪。說是像雪,是因為這些鳥不僅把一切都變白了,周圍所有東西的形狀都模模糊糊的讓人看不清楚。露茜透過鳥兒的翅膀從中間看過去,只見其中一只鳥飛到老人身邊,嘴里叼著什么東西,如果不是一塊燃燒著的火炭,就是一個小果子。但是它亮得你沒法睜眼去看,那只鳥把這東西送到老人嘴里。
Then the birds stopped their singing and appeared to be very busy about the table.When they rose from it again everything on the table that could be eaten or drunk had disappeared.These birds rose from their meal in their thousands and hundreds and carried away all the things that could not be eaten or drunk,such as bones,rinds,and shells,and took their flight back to the rising sun.But now,because they were not singing,the whir of their wings seemed to set the whole air a-tremble.And there was the table pecked clean and empty,and the three old Lords of Narnia still fast asleep.
之后那些鳥就不唱了,開始在餐桌上忙碌。等它們從餐桌上再飛起來的時候,桌上可以吃的、喝的全部一掃而光。這些鳥吃完之后飛走,把一切不能吃不能喝的東西,比如骨頭啊、皮啊、殼啊之類的, 統(tǒng)統(tǒng)都帶走,飛回朝陽那邊。不過,因為它們現(xiàn)在沒在唱歌,所以成千上萬的鳥翅膀把整個空氣都撲騰得直震顫。桌面上已被啄食一空, 干干凈凈,三位納尼亞老公爵卻依然沉睡不醒。
Now at last the Old Man turned to the travellers and bade them welcome.
此刻那位老者才轉(zhuǎn)向這些人,對他們表示歡迎。
“Sir,”said Caspian,“will you tell us how to undo the enchantment which holds these three Narnian Lords asleep.”
“閣下,”凱斯賓說,“請告訴我們怎么破解這三位納尼亞公爵沉睡的魔法吧。”
“I will gladly tell you that,my son,”said the Old Man.“To break this enchantment you must sail to the World’s End,or as near as you can come to it,and you must come back having left at least one of your company behind.”
“孩子啊,我很樂意,”老人說,“要破解這個魔法,你們必須把船開到世界盡頭,或者盡可能靠近那里,并且把你們中間的至少一個伙伴留在那里。”
“And what must happen to that one ?”asked Reepicheep.
“留下的那一個會怎樣?”雷佩契普問。
“He must go on into the utter east and never return into the world.”
“他會繼續(xù)深入東方,直到無法回到這個世界。”
“That is my heart’s desire,”said Reepicheep.
“這正是我的夙愿。”雷佩契普說。
“And are we near the World’s End now,Sir ?”asked Caspian. “Have you any knowledge of the seas and lands further east than this ?”
“閣下,我們現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)靠近世界盡頭了嗎?”凱斯賓問,“你知道再往東的海陸情況嗎?”
“I saw them long ago,”said the Old Man,“but it was from a great height.I cannot tell you such things as sailor need to know.”
“我很久以前看到過,”老人說,“不過是從高空中看到的。水手們需要了解的情況,我無法告知。”
“Do you mean you were flying in the air ?”Eustace blurted out.
“你是說自己飛在空中?”尤斯塔斯脫口而出。
“I was a long way above the air,my son,”replied the Old Man. “I am Ramandu.But I see that you stare at on another and have not heard this name.And no wonder,for the days when I was a star had ceased long before any of you knew this world,and all the constellations have changed.”
“小伙子,我是遠(yuǎn)在星空中,”老人答,“我是拉曼杜。我看你們大眼瞪小眼,應(yīng)該沒聽說過這個名字。一點也不奇怪,早在你們出世之前,我就不再是一顆星辰了,一切星座都改變了。”
“Golly,”said Edmund under his breath.“He’s a retired star.”
“天啊,”愛德蒙低聲說,“原來他是顆退隱的星辰。”
“Aren’t you a star any longer ?”asked Lucy.
“你現(xiàn)在不再是星辰了?”露茜問。
“I am a star at rest,my daughter,”answered Ramandu
“是,小姑娘,我是顆退隱的星辰,”拉曼杜答,
“When I set for the last time,decrepit and old beyond all that you can reckon,I was carried to this island.I am not so old now as I was then.Every morning a bird brings me a fire-berry from the valleys in the Sun,and each fire-berry takes away a little of my age.And when I have become as young as the child that was born yesterday,then I shall take my rising again(for we are at earth’s eastern rim)and once more tread the great dance.”
“上次我落下來時都衰老得沒法想象了,就被送到這島上來。現(xiàn)在我已經(jīng)不像當(dāng)時那樣老了。每天早晨都有一只鳥從太陽谷里帶給我一枚火果,每吃一枚火果我都會年輕一點。因為我們是在東邊地角,等我像新生兒那樣年輕時,就會重返天空,又可以在星空遨游了。”
“In our world,”said Eustace,“a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
“在我們的世界里,”尤斯塔斯說,“星辰是一大團(tuán)熊熊火焰一般的氣體。”
“Even in your world,my son,that is not what a star is but only what it is made of.And in this world you ave already met a star,for I think you have been with Coriakin.”
“小伙子,即使在你們的世界里,那也不是星辰的真相,而是它的成分。在我們這個世界里,你們已經(jīng)遇到一顆星辰了,你們大概已經(jīng)見過科里亞金了吧。”
“Is he a retired star,too ?”said Lucy.
“他也是一顆退隱的星辰嗎?”露茜說。
“Well,not quite the same,”said Ramandu.“It was not quite as a rest than he was set to govern the Duffers.You might call it a punishment.He might have shone for thousands of years more in the southern winter sky if all had gone well.”
“其實吧,也并不全是這樣,”拉曼杜說,“他被貶下來去管理那群笨蛋,所以并不算完全退休。更確切地說叫‘懲罰’。如果沒有那些事的話,他原本應(yīng)該在南方冬天的上空再閃耀千萬年。”
“What did he do,Sir ?”asked Caspian.
“他做錯了什么呢,閣下?”凱斯賓問。
“My son,”said Ramandu,“it is not for you,a son of Adam, to know what faults a star can commit.But come,we waste time in such talk.Are you yet resolved ?Will you sail further east and come again,leaving one to return no more,and so break the enchantment ? Or will you sail westward ?”
“孩子,”拉曼杜說,“作為亞當(dāng)?shù)暮⒆?,你是不該知道星辰犯了什么過錯的。算了,跟你們談這種事情就是浪費時間。你們拿定主意了嗎?要不要繼續(xù)往東開,把一個人留下永不返回,然后你們回來破除這種魔法?或者原路返回?”
“Surely,Sire,”said Reepicheep,“there is no question about that ? It is very plainly part of our quest to rescue these three lords from enchantment.”
“陛下,”雷佩契普說,“沒問題吧?把這三位公爵從魔法中解救出來,其實是我們探險的部分目標(biāo)。”
“I think the same,Reepicheep,”replied Caspian.“And even if it were not so,it would break my heart not to go as near the World’s End as the Dawn Treader will take us.But I am thinking of the crew.They signed on to seek the seven lords,not to reach the rim of the Earth.If we sail east from here we sail to find the edge,the utter east.And not one knows how far it is.They’re brave fellows,but I set signs that some of them are weary of the voyage and long to have our prow pointing to Narnia again.I don’t think should take them further without their knowledge an consent. And then there’s the poor Lord Rhoop.He’s broken man.”
“我也是這么想的,雷佩契普,”凱斯賓答,“如果不這樣做, 黎明踏浪號帶我們到世界盡頭了,可我們沒有去,我也會難受的。不過我要替水手們著想。他們是來尋找七位公爵的,而不是到天涯海角。如果我們從這里往東開,就是尋找世界的邊緣。沒人知道路程有多遠(yuǎn)。他們的確勇敢,不過我看得出有些人已經(jīng)開始厭倦了航海,一心盼望著我們返航,回到納尼亞。我得讓他們知道,不征得他們同意,我無法帶他們走。還有可憐的羅普公爵,他已經(jīng)萬念俱灰了。”
“My son,”said the star,“it would be no use,even though you wished it,to sail for the World’s End with men unwilling or men deceived.That is not how great unenchantments are achieved. They must know where they go and why.But who is this broken man you speak of ?”
“小伙子,”拉曼杜說,“帶不愿去的人或受騙上當(dāng)?shù)娜碎_到世界盡頭是沒意義的,盡管你的想法很好,可是這依舊破解不了魔法。他們必須知道自己去哪兒,為什么去。不過你說的那個萬念俱灰的人是誰啊?”
Caspian told Ramandu the story of Rhoop.
凱斯賓把羅普公爵的故事告訴了拉曼杜。
“I can give him what he needs most,”said Ramandu.“I this island there is sleep without stint or measure,and sleep in which no faintest footfall of a dream was ever heard.Let him sit beside these other three and drink oblivion till you return.”
“我可以給他他最想要的東西,”拉曼杜說,“他可以在這個島上大睡特睡,一直到天昏地暗,日月無光,并且夢里沒有任何聲音干擾。就讓他坐在這三位旁邊,喝到把一切都忘掉,等你們回來吧。”
“Oh,do let’s do that,Caspian,”said Lucy.“I’m sure its just what he would love.”
“哦,那就這樣吧,凱斯賓,”露茜說,“我敢確定這正是他最想要的。”
At that moment they were interrupted by the sound of many feet and voices:Drinian and the rest of the ship company were approaching.They halted in surprise whey they saw Ramandu and his daughter;and then,because these were obviously great people,every man uncovered his head.Some sailors eyed the empty dishes and flagons on the table with regret.
就在這個時候,有一些腳步聲和說話聲打斷了他們,原來是德里寧和其他船員都來了。他們看見拉曼杜和他女兒都不禁吃了一驚,停了下來。后來他們看出這兩個人顯然不是凡人,紛紛脫帽致敬。一些水手看到桌上的盤子和酒壺都已經(jīng)空了,眼睛里流露出失望的神情。
“My lord,”said the King to Drinian,“pray send two men back to the Dawn Treader with a message to the Lord Rhoop.Tell him that the last of his old shipmates are here asleep-a sleep without dreams-and that he can share it.”
“公爵,”國王對德里寧說,“請派兩個人回船給羅普公爵捎口信, 告訴他說他那幾位老伙計都在這里睡覺,沒有夢的沉睡,他可以來分享。”
When this had been done,Caspian told the rest to sit down and laid the whole situation before them.When he had finished there was a long silence and some whispering until presently the Master Bowman got to his feet,and said:
凱斯賓說完,就吩咐其余的人都坐下,把全部情況給大家說明。他說完以后,大家沉默了好一會兒,才有幾個人在輕聲嘀咕。然后為首的弓箭手站起來,說:
“What some of us have been wanting to ask for a long time, your Majesty,is how we’re ever to get home when we do turn, whether we turn here or somewhere else.It’s been west and north-west winds all the way,barring an occasional calm.And if that doesn’t change,I’d like to know what hopes we have of seeing Narnia again.There’s not much chance of supplies lasting while we row all that way.
“陛下,有些人想問的就是,一旦我們掉轉(zhuǎn)航向,不管是在這里, 還是在其他什么地方掉轉(zhuǎn),我們究竟怎么回去。除了偶爾的風(fēng)平浪靜之外,這一路上都是西風(fēng)和西北風(fēng)。如果風(fēng)向一直不變,我想知道我們還能不能回到納尼亞??峙挛覀円宦穭澔厝ィ系募Z水也維持不了那么多天了。”
“That’s landsman’s talk,”said Drinian.“There’s always a prevailing west wind in these seas all through the late summer,and it always changes after the New Year.We’ll have plenty of wind for sailing westward;more than we shall like from all accounts.”
“這是陸地人的見識,”德里寧說,“這片海域整個夏末一直刮西風(fēng),過了新年才轉(zhuǎn)風(fēng)向。年后要往西開的話,大多數(shù)都是順風(fēng), 這么估計下來,恐怕多得不得了呢。”
“That’s true,Master,”said an old sailor who was a Galmian by birth.“You get some ugly weather rolling up from the east in January and February.And by your leave,Sire,if I was in command of this ship I’d say to winter here and begin the voyage home in March.”
“說得太對了,船長,”一個加爾馬人的老水手說,“每年一二月, 東邊的壞天氣總是不間斷的。船長大人,恕我直言,要我說,就在這里過冬,到三月再起航回家。”
“What’d you eat while you were wintering here ?”asked Eustace.
“在這里過冬,那你們吃什么呢?”尤斯塔斯問。
“This table,”said Ramandu,“will be filled with a king’s feast every day at sunset.”
“這張餐桌,”拉曼杜說,“每天太陽下山時,就會擺上國王的盛宴。”
“Now you’re talking !”said several sailors.
“這還差不多!”幾個水手說。
“Your Majesties and gentlemen and ladies all,”said Rynelf, “there’s just one thing I want to say.There’s not one of us chaps as was pressed on this journey.We’re volunteers.And there’s some here chat are looking very hard at that table and thinking about king’s feasts who were talking very loud about adventures on the day we sailed from Cair Paravel,and swearing they wouldn’t come home till we’d found the end of the world.And there were some standing on the quay who would have given all they had to come with us.It was thought a finer thing then to have a cabin-
“各位陛下,各位先生們,女士們,”賴尼夫說,“我只想說一件事。這次出海我們兄弟中沒有一個是被迫來這里的。我們都是自告奮勇的。有些人現(xiàn)在正盯著那張餐桌,一邊琢磨著國王的盛宴。當(dāng)初我們從凱爾帕拉維爾啟程,他們一邊大談什么冒險,一邊發(fā)誓找不到世界盡頭,就決不回家。
boy’s berth on the Dawn Treader than to wear a knight’s belt.I don’t know if you get the hang of what I’m saying.But what I mean is that I think chaps who set out like us will look as silly as-as those Dufflepuds—if we come home and say we got to the beginning of the world’s end and hadn’t the heart to go further.”
“一些人站在碼頭上,情愿拋棄一切跟我們一起來。當(dāng)初人們都希望得到黎明踏浪號一個船艙服務(wù)員的鋪位,也不愿要騎士的腰帶。我不知道你們是不是明白我的意思。不過我的意思是,像我們這樣遠(yuǎn)航的兄弟們要是回到家里,說我們到了世界盡頭的起點,卻沒有勇氣再走下去,那我們簡直跟那些笨蛋一樣蠢了。”
Some of the sailors cheered at this but some said that that was all very well.
一些水手為這番話叫好,另一些人覺得留下來過冬也不錯。
“This isn’t going to be much fun,”whispered Edmund to Caspian.“What are we to do if half those fellows hang back ?”
“情況不大妙,”愛德蒙悄悄地對凱斯賓說,“如果這里有一半人不愿意去,我們該怎么辦?”
“Wait,”Caspian whispered back.“I’ve still a card to play.”
“等一下,”凱斯賓悄悄地說,“我有最后的殺手锏。”
“Aren’t you going to say anything,Reep ?”whispered Lucy.
“你不打算說些什么嗎,雷佩契普?”露茜悄聲說。
“No.Why should your Majesty expect it ?”answered Reepicheep in a voice that most people heard.“My owns plans are made.While I can,I sail east in the Dawn Treader.When she fails me,I paddle east in my coracle.When she sinks,I shall swim east with my four paws.And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan’s country,or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract,I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia.”
“是的。陛下為什么偏要我說呢?”雷佩契普用大多數(shù)人都聽得見的聲音說,“我自己的計劃已定。只要我辦得到,我就隨黎明踏浪號往東邊去。這船不帶我去,我就乘我的小筏子去。小筏子沉了, 我就用爪子游到東邊去。萬一我游不動了,游不到阿斯蘭的國土,或者萬一在世界邊緣被瀑布沖走了,那我沉到水下,鼻子對著日出的地方。要是有這么一天,請讓佩比西克當(dāng)納尼亞老鼠的首領(lǐng)。”
“Hear,hear,”said a sailor,“I’ll say the same,barring the bit about the coracle,which wouldn’t bear me.”He added in a lower voice,“I’m not going to be outdone by a mouse.”
“說得好,說得好,”一個水手說,“我也會說這番話的,只是小筏子那段話除外,那小筏子我坐不下。”他又低聲說了一句,“我可不愿被一只老鼠給比下去。”
At this point Caspian jumped to his feet.“Friends,”he said,“I think you have not quite understood our purpose.You talk as if we had come to you with our hat in our hand,begging for shipmates.It isn’t like that at all.We and our royal brother and sister and their kinsman and Sir Reepicheep,the good knight, and the Lord Drinian have an errand to the world’s edge.It is our pleasure to choose from among such of you as are willing those whom we deem worthy of so high an enterprise.We have not said that any can come for the asking.That is why we shall now command the Lord Drinian and Master Rhince to consider carefully what men among you are the hardest in battle,the most skilled seamen,the purest in blood,the most loyal to our person,and the cleanest of life and manners;and to give their names to us in a schedule.”He paused and went on in a quicker voice,“Aslan’s mane !”he exclaimed.“Do you think that the privilege of seeing the last things is to be bought for a song ? Why,every man that comes with us shall bequeath the title of Dawn Treader to all his descendants,and when we land at Cair Paravel on the homeward voyage he shall have either gold or land enough to make him rich all his life.Now-scatter over the island,all of you.In half an hour’s time I shall receive the names that Lord Drinian brings me.”
就在這個時候,凱斯賓忽然站起來說:“朋友們,我想你們可能并不十分理解我們的用意。你們說話的口氣好像我們?nèi)フ夷銈儯竽銈冏鏊炙频?。事實并非如此。我們和我們的王兄王姐,還有他們的親屬,以及好騎士雷佩契普爵士以及德里寧公爵都有到世界邊緣的使命。我們很樂意在你們這些自愿參加的人當(dāng)中物色我們認(rèn)為最適合從事如此崇高冒險事業(yè)的人。我們不要求任何人都參加,所以我們現(xiàn)在指派德里寧船長和賴因斯大副慎重挑選,你們當(dāng)中哪些人在戰(zhàn)斗中最頑強(qiáng),哪些人是最富有經(jīng)驗的海員,哪些人血統(tǒng)最純正,哪些人對我們最忠誠,哪些人的身世和作風(fēng)最清白,然后列個名單給我們。”他停頓了一下,又用比較快的語調(diào)說:“阿斯蘭在上!”他扯著嗓子說,“你們認(rèn)為親眼看到最后大局的特權(quán)是會白白到手的嗎? 當(dāng)然,每一個跟隨我們的人都將把黎明踏浪者的稱號傳給子孫后代, 一旦我們返航踏上凱爾帕拉維爾,他將分得黃金或土地,足夠使他此生享盡榮華富貴?,F(xiàn)在解散,半小時后,德里寧公爵會把名單交到我手上。”
There was rather a sheepish silence and then the crew made their bows and moved away,one in this direction and one in that, but mostly in little knots or bunches,talking.
大家聽了都默不作聲,水手們鞠了躬然后走開了。有的朝這兒, 有的往那兒,多半人是三三兩兩的議論著。
“And now for the Lord Rhoop,”said Caspian.
“現(xiàn)在要說羅普公爵了。”凱斯賓說。
But turning to the head of the table he saw that Rhoop was already there.He had arrived,silent and unnoticed,while the discussion was going on,and was seated beside the Lord Argoz. The daughter of Ramandu stood beside him as if she had just helped him into his chair;Ramandu stood behind him and laid both his hands on Rhoop’s grey head.Even in daylight a faint silver light came from the hands of the star.There was a smile on Rhoop’s haggard face.He held out one of his hands to Lucy and the other to Caspian.For a moment it looked as if he were going to say something.Then his smile brightened as if he were feeling ? some delicious sensation,a long sigh of contentment came from his lips,his head fell forward,and he slept.
他剛轉(zhuǎn)向餐桌首席位置的時候,羅普已經(jīng)坐在那里了。原來大家在討論時,他已不聲不響地來到這里,坐在阿爾戈茲公爵身邊。拉曼杜的女兒站在他旁邊,好像剛才是她扶他坐下的。拉曼杜站在他背后,雙手?jǐn)R在他的白頭發(fā)上。在白天,這個曾是星辰老者的雙手依舊會發(fā)出朦朧的銀光。羅普憔悴的臉上突然露出了一絲笑容。他對著露茜伸出一只手, 對凱斯賓伸出另一只手。似乎想說什么,他笑得更開懷了,仿佛他可以體會到一種美妙的感覺,唇邊發(fā)出一聲心滿意足的長嘆,然后腦袋往前一跌,睡著了。
“Poor Rhoop,”said Lucy.“I am glad.He must have had terrible times.”
“可憐的羅普啊,”露茜說,“現(xiàn)在我真替他高興,他一定經(jīng)歷過很多可怕的事情。”
“Don’t let’s even think of it,”said Eustace.
“還是別去想這些了。”尤斯塔斯說。
Meanwhile Caspian’s speech,helped perhaps by some magic of the island,was having just the effect he intended.A good many who had been anxious enough to get out of the voyage felt quite differently about being left out of it.And of course whenever any one sailor announced that he had made up his mind to ask for permission to sail,the ones who hadn’t said this felt that they were getting fewer and more uncomfortable.So that before the half-hour was nearly over several people were positively“sucking up”to Drinian and Rhince(at least that was what they called it at my school)to get a good report.And soon there were only three left who didn’t want to go,and those three were trying very hard to persuade others to stay with them.And very shortly after that there was only one left.And in they end he began to be afraid of being left behind all on his own and changed his mind.
凱斯賓之前那番話,好像剛好起到作用,或者也可能是島上有魔法在暗地幫助他吧。不少剛才還迫不及待地想要放棄這次遠(yuǎn)航的人,現(xiàn)在卻愿意追隨他去了。每當(dāng)有一個水手說他打定主意一定出海的時候,那些還沒說出口的水手就感到他們的隊友越來越少,心里也越來越不好受。所以還沒到半小時,就有幾個人積極地向德里寧和賴因斯大獻(xiàn)殷勤( 至少在我的學(xué)校里,大家是這么說的),以便獲得一個好評。不一會,就只剩下三個人還在想盡一切辦法說服別人跟他們一起留下。又過了一會,只剩下一個人。最后,那個人覺得留下他,他會感到害怕,也改變了主意。
At the end of the half-hour they all came trooping back to Aslan’s Table and stood at one end while Drinian and Rhince went and sat down with Caspian and made their report;and Caspian accepted all the man but that one who’d had changed his mind at the last moment.His name was Pittencream and he stayed on the Island of the Star all the time the others were away looking for the World’s End,and he very much wished he had gone with them.He wasn’t the sort of man who could enjoy talking to Ramandu and Ramandu’s daughter(nor they to him),and it rained a good deal, and though there was a wonderful feast on the Table every night, he didn’t very much enjoy it.He said it gave him the creeps sitting there alone(and in the rain as likely as not)with those four Lords asleep at the end of the Table.And when the others returned he felt so out of things that he deserted on the voyage home at the Lone Islands,and went and lived in Calormen,where he told wonderful stories about his adventures at the End of the World,until at last he came to believe them himself.So you may say,in a sense,that he lived happily ever after.But he could never bear mice.
半小時后,所有人回到阿斯蘭餐桌前,德里寧和賴因斯跟凱斯賓坐在一起,向凱斯賓匯報。凱斯賓接受了所有人,只有那個在最后時刻改變主意的人沒被接受。他叫皮頓克林,大家都出發(fā)尋找世界盡頭的時候,他只好一直待在星辰島上,其實這時他心里巴不得跟他們一起去。他不喜歡跟拉曼杜父女說話,他們也不待見他。后來,島上下了好幾場雨,雖然餐桌上夜夜都有美味佳肴,可是他不是很喜歡吃。他就孤獨地坐在那兒,還有四位公爵風(fēng)雨無阻地在餐桌的另一端陪伴著他,讓他不寒而栗。當(dāng)其他人回來時,他覺得自己被孤立了, 返航途中他在孤獨群島下了船,留在卡樂門國。他在那里講自己在世界盡頭的種種奇遇,最后連自己都信以為真了。所以在某種意義上說, 他從此過得倒也愉快。不過他一見了老鼠,就受不了。
That night they all ate and drank together at the great table between the pillars where the feast was magically renewed:and next morning the Dawn Treader set sail once more just when the great birds had come and gone again.
那晚所有人都在那張大餐桌上用餐,桌上的盛宴已用魔法換上新鮮的了。第二天早上,踏浪號就在大鳥飛來又飛去那會兒再次揚帆起航。
“Lady,”said Caspian,“I hope to speak with you again when I have broken the enchantments.”And Ramandu’s daughter looked at him and smiled.
“小姐,”凱斯賓說,“等我成功地破解魔法后,希望能和你談?wù)劇?rdquo; 拉曼杜的女兒只是對他微微一笑。


CHAPTER FOURTEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE WORLD

Slowly the door opened again and out there came a figure as tall and straight as the girl’s but not so slender.It carried no light but light seemed to come from it.As it came nearer,Lucy saw that it was like an old man.His silver beard came down to his bare feet in front and his saver hair hung down to his heels behind and his robe appeared to be made from the fleece of silver sheep.He looked so mild and grave that once more all the travellers rose to their feet and stood in silence.
But the old man came on without speaking to the travellers and stood on the other side of the table opposite to his daughter.Then both of them held up their arms before them and turned to face the east.In that position the began to sing.I wish I could write down the song,but one who was present could remember it.Lucy said afterwards that it was high,almost shrill,but very beautiful,cold kind of song,an early morning kind of song.And they sang, the grey clouds lifted from the eastern sky a the white patches grew bigger and bigger till it was white,and the sea began to shine like silver.And long afterwards(but those two sang all the time)the east began to turn red and at last,unclouded,the sun came up out the sea and its long level ray shot down the length of the table on the gold and silver sand on the Stone Knife.
Once or twice before,the Narnians had wondered whether the sun at its rising did not look bigger in these seas than it had looked at home.This time they we certain.There was no mistaking it.And the brightness its ray on the dew and on the table was far beyond an.morning brightness they had ever seen.And as Edmu said afterwards,“Though lots of things happened on that trip which sound more exciting,that moment was really the most exciting.”For now they knew that they had truly come to the beginning of the End of the World.
Then something seemed to be flying at them out of the very centre of the rising sun:but of course one couldn’t look steadily in that direction to make sure.But presently the air became full of voices-voices which took up same song that the Lady and her Father were singing,but in far wilder tones and in a language which no one knew And soon after that the owners of these voices could be seen.They were birds,large and white,and they came hundreds and thousands and alighted on everything;the grass, and the pavement,on the table,on your shoulders,your hands, and your head,till it looked as heavy snow had fallen.For, like snow,they not only make everything white but blurred and blunted all shapes.But Lucy,looking out from between the wings of the birds that covered her,saw one bird fly to the Old Man with something in its beak that looked like a little fruit,unless it was a little live coal,which it might have been,for it was too bright to look at.And the bird laid it in the Old Man’s mouth.
Then the birds stopped their singing and appeared to be very busy about the table.When they rose from it again everything on the table that could be eaten or drunk had disappeared.These birds rose from their meal in their thousands and hundreds and carried away all the things that could not be eaten or drunk,such as bones,rinds,and shells,and took their flight back to the rising sun.But now,because they were not singing,the whir of their wings seemed to set the whole air a-tremble.And there was the table pecked clean and empty,and the three old Lords of Narnia still fast asleep.
Now at last the Old Man turned to the travellers and bade them welcome.
“Sir,”said Caspian,“will you tell us how to undo the enchantment which holds these three Narnian Lords asleep.”
“I will gladly tell you that,my son,”said the Old Man.“To break this enchantment you must sail to the World’s End,or as near as you can come to it,and you must come back having left at least one of your company behind.”
“And what must happen to that one ?”asked Reepicheep.
“He must go on into the utter east and never return into the world.”
“That is my heart’s desire,”said Reepicheep.
“And are we near the World’s End now,Sir ?”asked Caspian. “Have you any knowledge of the seas and lands further east than this ?”
“I saw them long ago,”said the Old Man,“but it was from a great height.I cannot tell you such things as sailor need to know.”
“Do you mean you were flying in the air ?”Eustace blurted out.
“I was a long way above the air,my son,”replied the Old Man. “I am Ramandu.But I see that you stare at on another and have not heard this name.And no wonder,for the days when I was a star had ceased long before any of you knew this world,and all the constellations have changed.”
“Golly,”said Edmund under his breath.“He’s a retired star.”
“Aren’t you a star any longer ?”asked Lucy.
“I am a star at rest,my daughter,”answered Ramandu
“When I set for the last time,decrepit and old beyond all that you can reckon,I was carried to this island.I am not so old now as I was then.Every morning a bird brings me a fire-berry from the valleys in the Sun,and each fire-berry takes away a little of my age.And when I have become as young as the child that was born yesterday,then I shall take my rising again(for we are at earth’s eastern rim)and once more tread the great dance.”
“In our world,”said Eustace,“a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
“Even in your world,my son,that is not what a star is but only what it is made of.And in this world you ave already met a star,for I think you have been with Coriakin.”
“Is he a retired star,too ?”said Lucy.
“Well,not quite the same,”said Ramandu.“It was not quite as a rest than he was set to govern the Duffers.You might call it a punishment.He might have shone for thousands of years more in the southern winter sky if all had gone well.”
“What did he do,Sir ?”asked Caspian.
“My son,”said Ramandu,“it is not for you,a son of Adam, to know what faults a star can commit.But come,we waste time in such talk.Are you yet resolved ?Will you sail further east and come again,leaving one to return no more,and so break the enchantment ? Or will you sail westward ?”
“Surely,Sire,”said Reepicheep,“there is no question about that ? It is very plainly part of our quest to rescue these three lords from enchantment.”
“I think the same,Reepicheep,”replied Caspian.“And even if it were not so,it would break my heart not to go as near the World’s End as the Dawn Treader will take us.But I am thinking of the crew.They signed on to seek the seven lords,not to reach the rim of the Earth.If we sail east from here we sail to find the edge,the utter east.And not one knows how far it is.They’re brave fellows,but I set signs that some of them are weary of the voyage and long to have our prow pointing to Narnia again.I don’t think should take them further without their knowledge an consent. And then there’s the poor Lord Rhoop.He’s broken man.”
“My son,”said the star,“it would be no use,even though you wished it,to sail for the World’s End with men unwilling or men deceived.That is not how great unenchantments are achieved. They must know where they go and why.But who is this broken man you speak of ?”
Caspian told Ramandu the story of Rhoop.
“I can give him what he needs most,”said Ramandu.“I this island there is sleep without stint or measure,and sleep in which no faintest footfall of a dream was ever heard.Let him sit beside these other three and drink oblivion till you return.”
“Oh,do let’s do that,Caspian,”said Lucy.“I’m sure its just what he would love.”
At that moment they were interrupted by the sound of many feet and voices:Drinian and the rest of the ship company were approaching.They halted in surprise whey they saw Ramandu and his daughter;and then,because these were obviously great people,every man uncovered his head.Some sailors eyed the empty dishes and flagons on the table with regret.
“My lord,”said the King to Drinian,“pray send two men back to the Dawn Treader with a message to the Lord Rhoop.Tell him that the last of his old shipmates are here asleep-a sleep without dreams-and that he can share it.”
When this had been done,Caspian told the rest to sit down and laid the whole situation before them.When he had finished there was a long silence and some whispering until presently the Master Bowman got to his feet,and said:
“What some of us have been wanting to ask for a long time, your Majesty,is how we’re ever to get home when we do turn, whether we turn here or somewhere else.It’s been west and north-west winds all the way,barring an occasional calm.And if that doesn’t change,I’d like to know what hopes we have of seeing Narnia again.There’s not much chance of supplies lasting while we row all that way.
“That’s landsman’s talk,”said Drinian.“There’s always a prevailing west wind in these seas all through the late summer,and it always changes after the New Year.We’ll have plenty of wind for sailing westward;more than we shall like from all accounts.”
“That’s true,Master,”said an old sailor who was a Galmian by birth.“You get some ugly weather rolling up from the east in January and February.And by your leave,Sire,if I was in command of this ship I’d say to winter here and begin the voyage home in March.”
“What’d you eat while you were wintering here ?”asked Eustace.
“This table,”said Ramandu,“will be filled with a king’s feast every day at sunset.”
“Now you’re talking !”said several sailors.
“Your Majesties and gentlemen and ladies all,”said Rynelf, “there’s just one thing I want to say.There’s not one of us chaps as was pressed on this journey.We’re volunteers.And there’s some here chat are looking very hard at that table and thinking about king’s feasts who were talking very loud about adventures on the day we sailed from Cair Paravel,and swearing they wouldn’t come home till we’d found the end of the world.And there were some standing on the quay who would have given all they had to come with us.It was thought a finer thing then to have a cabin-
boy’s berth on the Dawn Treader than to wear a knight’s belt.I don’t know if you get the hang of what I’m saying.But what I mean is that I think chaps who set out like us will look as silly as-as those Dufflepuds—if we come home and say we got to the beginning of the world’s end and hadn’t the heart to go further.”
Some of the sailors cheered at this but some said that that was all very well.
“This isn’t going to be much fun,”whispered Edmund to Caspian.“What are we to do if half those fellows hang back ?”
“Wait,”Caspian whispered back.“I’ve still a card to play.”
“Aren’t you going to say anything,Reep ?”whispered Lucy.
“No.Why should your Majesty expect it ?”answered Reepicheep in a voice that most people heard.“My owns plans are made.While I can,I sail east in the Dawn Treader.When she fails me,I paddle east in my coracle.When she sinks,I shall swim east with my four paws.And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan’s country,or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract,I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia.”
“Hear,hear,”said a sailor,“I’ll say the same,barring the bit about the coracle,which wouldn’t bear me.”He added in a lower voice,“I’m not going to be outdone by a mouse.”
At this point Caspian jumped to his feet.“Friends,”he said,“I think you have not quite understood our purpose.You talk as if we had come to you with our hat in our hand,begging for shipmates.It isn’t like that at all.We and our royal brother and sister and their kinsman and Sir Reepicheep,the good knight, and the Lord Drinian have an errand to the world’s edge.It is our pleasure to choose from among such of you as are willing those whom we deem worthy of so high an enterprise.We have not said that any can come for the asking.That is why we shall now command the Lord Drinian and Master Rhince to consider carefully what men among you are the hardest in battle,the most skilled seamen,the purest in blood,the most loyal to our person,and the cleanest of life and manners;and to give their names to us in a schedule.”He paused and went on in a quicker voice,“Aslan’s mane !”he exclaimed.“Do you think that the privilege of seeing the last things is to be bought for a song ? Why,every man that comes with us shall bequeath the title of Dawn Treader to all his descendants,and when we land at Cair Paravel on the homeward voyage he shall have either gold or land enough to make him rich all his life.Now-scatter over the island,all of you.In half an hour’s time I shall receive the names that Lord Drinian brings me.”
There was rather a sheepish silence and then the crew made their bows and moved away,one in this direction and one in that, but mostly in little knots or bunches,talking.
“And now for the Lord Rhoop,”said Caspian.
But turning to the head of the table he saw that Rhoop was already there.He had arrived,silent and unnoticed,while the discussion was going on,and was seated beside the Lord Argoz. The daughter of Ramandu stood beside him as if she had just helped him into his chair;Ramandu stood behind him and laid both his hands on Rhoop’s grey head.Even in daylight a faint silver light came from the hands of the star.There was a smile on Rhoop’s haggard face.He held out one of his hands to Lucy and the other to Caspian.For a moment it looked as if he were going to say something.Then his smile brightened as if he were feeling ? some delicious sensation,a long sigh of contentment came from his lips,his head fell forward,and he slept.
“Poor Rhoop,”said Lucy.“I am glad.He must have had terrible times.”
“Don’t let’s even think of it,”said Eustace.
Meanwhile Caspian’s speech,helped perhaps by some magic of the island,was having just the effect he intended.A good many who had been anxious enough to get out of the voyage felt quite differently about being left out of it.And of course whenever any one sailor announced that he had made up his mind to ask for permission to sail,the ones who hadn’t said this felt that they were getting fewer and more uncomfortable.So that before the half-hour was nearly over several people were positively“sucking up”to Drinian and Rhince(at least that was what they called it at my school)to get a good report.And soon there were only three left who didn’t want to go,and those three were trying very hard to persuade others to stay with them.And very shortly after that there was only one left.And in they end he began to be afraid of being left behind all on his own and changed his mind.
At the end of the half-hour they all came trooping back to Aslan’s Table and stood at one end while Drinian and Rhince went and sat down with Caspian and made their report;and Caspian accepted all the man but that one who’d had changed his mind at the last moment.His name was Pittencream and he stayed on the Island of the Star all the time the others were away looking for the World’s End,and he very much wished he had gone with them.He wasn’t the sort of man who could enjoy talking to Ramandu and Ramandu’s daughter(nor they to him),and it rained a good deal, and though there was a wonderful feast on the Table every night, he didn’t very much enjoy it.He said it gave him the creeps sitting there alone(and in the rain as likely as not)with those four Lords asleep at the end of the Table.And when the others returned he felt so out of things that he deserted on the voyage home at the Lone Islands,and went and lived in Calormen,where he told wonderful stories about his adventures at the End of the World,until at last he came to believe them himself.So you may say,in a sense,that he lived happily ever after.But he could never bear mice.
That night they all ate and drank together at the great table between the pillars where the feast was magically renewed:and next morning the Dawn Treader set sail once more just when the great birds had come and gone again.
“Lady,”said Caspian,“I hope to speak with you again when I have broken the enchantments.”And Ramandu’s daughter looked at him and smiled.


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第十四章 世界盡頭的開端

只見那扇門慢慢地打開了,又走出一個跟那個姑娘那般高挺, 但是沒那么苗條的人。那人雖然沒帶燈火,卻好像全身都在發(fā)光。等這人走近,露茜才看出是個老人。他銀白的胡須垂到身前的光腳上, 一頭銀發(fā)也垂到腳后跟,那一席長袍好像是銀羊毛做的。老人的神情非常慈祥卻很莊嚴(yán),所有人不約而同地再次起立。
這位老者并沒有與他們說話,只是站在桌子那頭,面對他女兒。他們兩個都舉起雙臂,面朝東方,唱起歌來。真希望我能把這首歌寫下來,可是在場沒有一個人能記住。露茜后來說,這支歌的調(diào)子很高, 近乎尖厲,不過很好聽,是一首清冷的歌,有清晨的感覺。他們一開始唱歌,東方的灰色云堆就散開了,白云越來越大, 最后攤成了一片雪白,映在海面泛著銀光。父女倆一直唱著歌,過了一會兒東方才開始發(fā)紅。最后云散天晴,太陽躍出海面,長長的光束照在桌上,照耀著金銀餐具和石刀。
之前有一兩次,這幾個納尼亞人說不知道這一帶海面上升起的太陽,會不會跟國內(nèi)的一樣大。這回他們肯定了,一點都沒錯,露珠以及桌上的陽光比他們見過的任何早晨的曙光都明亮閃爍。正如后來愛德蒙所說:“雖然那次旅程碰到過不少聽起來激動人心的事,但那一刻才是最最激動人心的。”因為他們知道,現(xiàn)在的確是來到了世界盡頭的起點。
于是,那輪朝陽的中心好像有什么東西向他們飛來。不過你的眼睛沒法一眨也不眨,所以沒法看得清楚。不久空中就都是聲音,應(yīng)和著父女倆那支歌的歌聲,但是聲調(diào)有些古怪,而且唱的語言沒人能懂。不一會兒就看得見這些歌聲是誰的了。原來是又大又白成千上萬的鳥飛來,停在草地上、石板地上、桌上、你的肩上、頭上、手上, 看上去像下了一場大雪。說是像雪,是因為這些鳥不僅把一切都變白了,周圍所有東西的形狀都模模糊糊的讓人看不清楚。露茜透過鳥兒的翅膀從中間看過去,只見其中一只鳥飛到老人身邊,嘴里叼著什么東西,如果不是一塊燃燒著的火炭,就是一個小果子。但是它亮得你沒法睜眼去看,那只鳥把這東西送到老人嘴里。
之后那些鳥就不唱了,開始在餐桌上忙碌。等它們從餐桌上再飛起來的時候,桌上可以吃的、喝的全部一掃而光。這些鳥吃完之后飛走,把一切不能吃不能喝的東西,比如骨頭啊、皮啊、殼啊之類的, 統(tǒng)統(tǒng)都帶走,飛回朝陽那邊。不過,因為它們現(xiàn)在沒在唱歌,所以成千上萬的鳥翅膀把整個空氣都撲騰得直震顫。桌面上已被啄食一空, 干干凈凈,三位納尼亞老公爵卻依然沉睡不醒。
此刻那位老者才轉(zhuǎn)向這些人,對他們表示歡迎。
“閣下,”凱斯賓說,“請告訴我們怎么破解這三位納尼亞公爵沉睡的魔法吧。”
“孩子啊,我很樂意,”老人說,“要破解這個魔法,你們必須把船開到世界盡頭,或者盡可能靠近那里,并且把你們中間的至少一個伙伴留在那里。”
“留下的那一個會怎樣?”雷佩契普問。
“他會繼續(xù)深入東方,直到無法回到這個世界。”
“這正是我的夙愿。”雷佩契普說。
“閣下,我們現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)靠近世界盡頭了嗎?”凱斯賓問,“你知道再往東的海陸情況嗎?”
“我很久以前看到過,”老人說,“不過是從高空中看到的。水手們需要了解的情況,我無法告知。”
“你是說自己飛在空中?”尤斯塔斯脫口而出。
“小伙子,我是遠(yuǎn)在星空中,”老人答,“我是拉曼杜。我看你們大眼瞪小眼,應(yīng)該沒聽說過這個名字。一點也不奇怪,早在你們出世之前,我就不再是一顆星辰了,一切星座都改變了。”
“天啊,”愛德蒙低聲說,“原來他是顆退隱的星辰。”
“你現(xiàn)在不再是星辰了?”露茜問。
“是,小姑娘,我是顆退隱的星辰,”拉曼杜答,
“上次我落下來時都衰老得沒法想象了,就被送到這島上來?,F(xiàn)在我已經(jīng)不像當(dāng)時那樣老了。每天早晨都有一只鳥從太陽谷里帶給我一枚火果,每吃一枚火果我都會年輕一點。因為我們是在東邊地角,等我像新生兒那樣年輕時,就會重返天空,又可以在星空遨游了。”
“在我們的世界里,”尤斯塔斯說,“星辰是一大團(tuán)熊熊火焰一般的氣體。”
“小伙子,即使在你們的世界里,那也不是星辰的真相,而是它的成分。在我們這個世界里,你們已經(jīng)遇到一顆星辰了,你們大概已經(jīng)見過科里亞金了吧。”
“他也是一顆退隱的星辰嗎?”露茜說。
“其實吧,也并不全是這樣,”拉曼杜說,“他被貶下來去管理那群笨蛋,所以并不算完全退休。更確切地說叫‘懲罰’。如果沒有那些事的話,他原本應(yīng)該在南方冬天的上空再閃耀千萬年。”
“他做錯了什么呢,閣下?”凱斯賓問。
“孩子,”拉曼杜說,“作為亞當(dāng)?shù)暮⒆?,你是不該知道星辰犯了什么過錯的。算了,跟你們談這種事情就是浪費時間。你們拿定主意了嗎?要不要繼續(xù)往東開,把一個人留下永不返回,然后你們回來破除這種魔法?或者原路返回?”
“陛下,”雷佩契普說,“沒問題吧?把這三位公爵從魔法中解救出來,其實是我們探險的部分目標(biāo)。”
“我也是這么想的,雷佩契普,”凱斯賓答,“如果不這樣做, 黎明踏浪號帶我們到世界盡頭了,可我們沒有去,我也會難受的。不過我要替水手們著想。他們是來尋找七位公爵的,而不是到天涯海角。如果我們從這里往東開,就是尋找世界的邊緣。沒人知道路程有多遠(yuǎn)。他們的確勇敢,不過我看得出有些人已經(jīng)開始厭倦了航海,一心盼望著我們返航,回到納尼亞。我得讓他們知道,不征得他們同意,我無法帶他們走。還有可憐的羅普公爵,他已經(jīng)萬念俱灰了。”
“小伙子,”拉曼杜說,“帶不愿去的人或受騙上當(dāng)?shù)娜碎_到世界盡頭是沒意義的,盡管你的想法很好,可是這依舊破解不了魔法。他們必須知道自己去哪兒,為什么去。不過你說的那個萬念俱灰的人是誰啊?”
凱斯賓把羅普公爵的故事告訴了拉曼杜。
“我可以給他他最想要的東西,”拉曼杜說,“他可以在這個島上大睡特睡,一直到天昏地暗,日月無光,并且夢里沒有任何聲音干擾。就讓他坐在這三位旁邊,喝到把一切都忘掉,等你們回來吧。”
“哦,那就這樣吧,凱斯賓,”露茜說,“我敢確定這正是他最想要的。”
就在這個時候,有一些腳步聲和說話聲打斷了他們,原來是德里寧和其他船員都來了。他們看見拉曼杜和他女兒都不禁吃了一驚,停了下來。后來他們看出這兩個人顯然不是凡人,紛紛脫帽致敬。一些水手看到桌上的盤子和酒壺都已經(jīng)空了,眼睛里流露出失望的神情。
“公爵,”國王對德里寧說,“請派兩個人回船給羅普公爵捎口信, 告訴他說他那幾位老伙計都在這里睡覺,沒有夢的沉睡,他可以來分享。”
凱斯賓說完,就吩咐其余的人都坐下,把全部情況給大家說明。他說完以后,大家沉默了好一會兒,才有幾個人在輕聲嘀咕。然后為首的弓箭手站起來,說:
“陛下,有些人想問的就是,一旦我們掉轉(zhuǎn)航向,不管是在這里, 還是在其他什么地方掉轉(zhuǎn),我們究竟怎么回去。除了偶爾的風(fēng)平浪靜之外,這一路上都是西風(fēng)和西北風(fēng)。如果風(fēng)向一直不變,我想知道我們還能不能回到納尼亞。恐怕我們一路劃回去,船上的糧水也維持不了那么多天了。”
“這是陸地人的見識,”德里寧說,“這片海域整個夏末一直刮西風(fēng),過了新年才轉(zhuǎn)風(fēng)向。年后要往西開的話,大多數(shù)都是順風(fēng), 這么估計下來,恐怕多得不得了呢。”
“說得太對了,船長,”一個加爾馬人的老水手說,“每年一二月, 東邊的壞天氣總是不間斷的。船長大人,恕我直言,要我說,就在這里過冬,到三月再起航回家。”
“在這里過冬,那你們吃什么呢?”尤斯塔斯問。
“這張餐桌,”拉曼杜說,“每天太陽下山時,就會擺上國王的盛宴。”
“這還差不多!”幾個水手說。
“各位陛下,各位先生們,女士們,”賴尼夫說,“我只想說一件事。這次出海我們兄弟中沒有一個是被迫來這里的。我們都是自告奮勇的。有些人現(xiàn)在正盯著那張餐桌,一邊琢磨著國王的盛宴。當(dāng)初我們從凱爾帕拉維爾啟程,他們一邊大談什么冒險,一邊發(fā)誓找不到世界盡頭,就決不回家。
“一些人站在碼頭上,情愿拋棄一切跟我們一起來。當(dāng)初人們都希望得到黎明踏浪號一個船艙服務(wù)員的鋪位,也不愿要騎士的腰帶。我不知道你們是不是明白我的意思。不過我的意思是,像我們這樣遠(yuǎn)航的兄弟們要是回到家里,說我們到了世界盡頭的起點,卻沒有勇氣再走下去,那我們簡直跟那些笨蛋一樣蠢了。”
一些水手為這番話叫好,另一些人覺得留下來過冬也不錯。
“情況不大妙,”愛德蒙悄悄地對凱斯賓說,“如果這里有一半人不愿意去,我們該怎么辦?”
“等一下,”凱斯賓悄悄地說,“我有最后的殺手锏。”
“你不打算說些什么嗎,雷佩契普?”露茜悄聲說。
“是的。陛下為什么偏要我說呢?”雷佩契普用大多數(shù)人都聽得見的聲音說,“我自己的計劃已定。只要我辦得到,我就隨黎明踏浪號往東邊去。這船不帶我去,我就乘我的小筏子去。小筏子沉了, 我就用爪子游到東邊去。萬一我游不動了,游不到阿斯蘭的國土,或者萬一在世界邊緣被瀑布沖走了,那我沉到水下,鼻子對著日出的地方。要是有這么一天,請讓佩比西克當(dāng)納尼亞老鼠的首領(lǐng)。”
“說得好,說得好,”一個水手說,“我也會說這番話的,只是小筏子那段話除外,那小筏子我坐不下。”他又低聲說了一句,“我可不愿被一只老鼠給比下去。”
就在這個時候,凱斯賓忽然站起來說:“朋友們,我想你們可能并不十分理解我們的用意。你們說話的口氣好像我們?nèi)フ夷銈?,求你們做水手似的。事實并非如此。我們和我們的王兄王姐,還有他們的親屬,以及好騎士雷佩契普爵士以及德里寧公爵都有到世界邊緣的使命。我們很樂意在你們這些自愿參加的人當(dāng)中物色我們認(rèn)為最適合從事如此崇高冒險事業(yè)的人。我們不要求任何人都參加,所以我們現(xiàn)在指派德里寧船長和賴因斯大副慎重挑選,你們當(dāng)中哪些人在戰(zhàn)斗中最頑強(qiáng),哪些人是最富有經(jīng)驗的海員,哪些人血統(tǒng)最純正,哪些人對我們最忠誠,哪些人的身世和作風(fēng)最清白,然后列個名單給我們。”他停頓了一下,又用比較快的語調(diào)說:“阿斯蘭在上!”他扯著嗓子說,“你們認(rèn)為親眼看到最后大局的特權(quán)是會白白到手的嗎? 當(dāng)然,每一個跟隨我們的人都將把黎明踏浪者的稱號傳給子孫后代, 一旦我們返航踏上凱爾帕拉維爾,他將分得黃金或土地,足夠使他此生享盡榮華富貴?,F(xiàn)在解散,半小時后,德里寧公爵會把名單交到我手上。”
大家聽了都默不作聲,水手們鞠了躬然后走開了。有的朝這兒, 有的往那兒,多半人是三三兩兩的議論著。
“現(xiàn)在要說羅普公爵了。”凱斯賓說。
他剛轉(zhuǎn)向餐桌首席位置的時候,羅普已經(jīng)坐在那里了。原來大家在討論時,他已不聲不響地來到這里,坐在阿爾戈茲公爵身邊。拉曼杜的女兒站在他旁邊,好像剛才是她扶他坐下的。拉曼杜站在他背后,雙手?jǐn)R在他的白頭發(fā)上。在白天,這個曾是星辰老者的雙手依舊會發(fā)出朦朧的銀光。羅普憔悴的臉上突然露出了一絲笑容。他對著露茜伸出一只手, 對凱斯賓伸出另一只手。似乎想說什么,他笑得更開懷了,仿佛他可以體會到一種美妙的感覺,唇邊發(fā)出一聲心滿意足的長嘆,然后腦袋往前一跌,睡著了。
“可憐的羅普啊,”露茜說,“現(xiàn)在我真替他高興,他一定經(jīng)歷過很多可怕的事情。”
“還是別去想這些了。”尤斯塔斯說。
凱斯賓之前那番話,好像剛好起到作用,或者也可能是島上有魔法在暗地幫助他吧。不少剛才還迫不及待地想要放棄這次遠(yuǎn)航的人,現(xiàn)在卻愿意追隨他去了。每當(dāng)有一個水手說他打定主意一定出海的時候,那些還沒說出口的水手就感到他們的隊友越來越少,心里也越來越不好受。所以還沒到半小時,就有幾個人積極地向德里寧和賴因斯大獻(xiàn)殷勤( 至少在我的學(xué)校里,大家是這么說的),以便獲得一個好評。不一會,就只剩下三個人還在想盡一切辦法說服別人跟他們一起留下。又過了一會,只剩下一個人。最后,那個人覺得留下他,他會感到害怕,也改變了主意。
半小時后,所有人回到阿斯蘭餐桌前,德里寧和賴因斯跟凱斯賓坐在一起,向凱斯賓匯報。凱斯賓接受了所有人,只有那個在最后時刻改變主意的人沒被接受。他叫皮頓克林,大家都出發(fā)尋找世界盡頭的時候,他只好一直待在星辰島上,其實這時他心里巴不得跟他們一起去。他不喜歡跟拉曼杜父女說話,他們也不待見他。后來,島上下了好幾場雨,雖然餐桌上夜夜都有美味佳肴,可是他不是很喜歡吃。他就孤獨地坐在那兒,還有四位公爵風(fēng)雨無阻地在餐桌的另一端陪伴著他,讓他不寒而栗。當(dāng)其他人回來時,他覺得自己被孤立了, 返航途中他在孤獨群島下了船,留在卡樂門國。他在那里講自己在世界盡頭的種種奇遇,最后連自己都信以為真了。所以在某種意義上說, 他從此過得倒也愉快。不過他一見了老鼠,就受不了。
那晚所有人都在那張大餐桌上用餐,桌上的盛宴已用魔法換上新鮮的了。第二天早上,踏浪號就在大鳥飛來又飛去那會兒再次揚帆起航。
“小姐,”凱斯賓說,“等我成功地破解魔法后,希望能和你談?wù)劇?rdquo; 拉曼杜的女兒只是對他微微一笑。
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