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雙語(yǔ)·銀椅 第十三章 沒(méi)有女王的地下世界

所屬教程:譯林版·銀椅

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2022年05月17日

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: UNDERLAND WITHOUT THE QUEEN

ALL felt that they had earned what Scrubb called a “breather”. The Witch had locked the door and told the Earthmen not to disturb her, so there was no danger of interruption forthe present. Their first business was, of course, Puddleglum's burnt foot. A couple ofclean shirts from the Prince's bedroom, torn into strips, and well greased on the insidewith butter and salad oil off the supper table, made a fairly good dressing. When this hadbeen applied, they all sat down and had a little refreshment, and discussed plans forescaping from the Underworld.

Rilian explained that there were quite a lot of outlets by which one could get to the surface—he had been taken out through most of them at one time or another. But he had never gone out alone, only with the Witch; and he had always reached these outlets by going in a ship across the Sunless Sea. What the Earthmen would say if he went down to the harbour without the Witch, and with four strangers, and simply ordered a ship, no one could guess. But most likely they would ask awkward questions. On the other hand the new outlet, the one for the invasion of Overworld, was on this side of the sea, and only a few miles away. The Prince knew that it was nearly finished; only a few feet of earth divided the diggings from the outer air. It was even possible that it had now been quite finished. Perhaps the Witch had come back to tell him this and to start the attack. Even if it was not, they could probably dig themselves out by that route in a few hours—if they could only get there without being stopped, and if only they found the diggings unguarded. But those were the difficulties.

“If you ask me—” began Puddleglum, when Scrubb interrupted.

“I say,” he asked, “what's that noise?”

“I've been wondering that for some time!” said Jill.

They had all, in fact, been hearing the noise but it had begun and increased so gradually that they did not know when they had first noticed it. For a time it had been only a vague disquiet like gentle winds, or traffic very far away. Then it swelled to a murmur like the sea. Then came rumblings and rushings. Now there seemed to be voices as well and also a steady roaring that was not voices.

“By the Lion,” said Prince Rilian, “it seems this silent land has found a tongue at last.” He rose, walked to the window, and drew aside the curtains. The others crowded round him to look out.

The very first thing they noticed was a great red glow. Its reflection made a red patch on the roof of the Underworld thousands of feet above them, so that they could see a rocky ceiling which had perhaps been hidden in darkness ever since the world was made. The glow itself came from the far side of the city so that many buildings, grim and great, stood up blackly against it. But it also cast its light down many streets that ran from it towards the castle. And in those streets something very strange was going on. The closely-packed, silent crowds of Earthmen had vanished. Instead, there were figures darting about by ones, or twos, or threes. They behaved like people who do not want to be seen: lurking in shadow behind buttresses or in doorways, and then moving quickly across the open into fresh places of hiding. But the strangest thing of all, to anyone who knew the gnomes, was the noise. Shouts and cries came from all directions. But from the harbour there came a low, rumbling roar which grew steadily louder and was already shaking the whole city.

“What's happened to the Earthmen?” said Scrubb. “Is it them shouting?”

“'Tis hardly possible,” said the Prince. “I never heard one of the rascals so much as speak with a loud voice in all the weary years of my bondage. Some new devilry, I don't doubt.”

“And what is that red light over there?” asked Jill. “Is something on fire?”

“If you ask me,” said Puddleglum, “I should say that was the central fires of the Earth breaking out to make a new volcano. We'll be in the middle of it, I shouldn't wonder.”

“Look at that ship!” said Scrubb. “Why's it coming on so quickly? No one's rowing it.”

“Look, look!” said the Prince. “The ship is already far this side of the harbour—it is in the street. Look! All the ships are driving into the city! By my head, the sea's rising. The flood is upon us. Aslan be praised, this castle stands on high ground. But the water comes on grimly fast.”

“Oh, what can be happening?” cried Jill. “Fire and water and all those people dodging about the streets.”

“I'll tell you what it is,” said Puddleglum. “That Witch has laid a train of magic spells so that whenever she was killed, at that same moment her whole kingdom would fall to pieces. She's the sort that wouldn't so much mind dying herself if she knew that the chap who killed her was going to be burned, or buried, or drowned five minutes later.”

“Hast hit it, friend wiggle,” said the Prince. “When our swords hacked off the Witch's head, that stroke ended all her magic works, and now the Deep Lands are falling to pieces. We are looking on the end of Underworld.”

“That's it, Sir,” said Puddleglum. “Unless it should happen to be the end of the whole world.”

“But are we just going to stay here and—wait?” gasped Jill.

“Not by my counsel,” said the Prince. “I would save my horse, Coalblack, and the Witch's Snowflake (a noble beast and worthy of a better mistress) which are both stabled in the courtyard. After that, let us make shift to get out to high ground and pray that we shall find an outlet. The horses can carry two each at need, and if we put them to it they may outstrip the flood.”

“Will your Highness not put on armour?” asked Puddleglum. “I don't like the look of those”—and he pointed down to the street. Everyone looked down. Dozens of creatures (and now that they were close, they obviously were Earthmen) were coming up from the direction of the harbour. But they were not moving like an aimless crowd. They behaved like modern soldiers in an attack, making rushes and taking cover, anxious not to be seen from the castle windows.

“I dare not see the inside of that armour again,” said the Prince. “I rode in it as in a movable dungeon, and it stinks of magic and slavery. But I will take the shield.”

He left the room and returned with a strange light in his eyes a moment later.

“Look, friends,” he said, holding out the shield towards them. “An hour ago it was black and without device; and now, this.” The shield had turned bright as silver, and on it, redder than blood or cherries, was the figure of the Lion.

“Doubtless,” said the Prince, “this signifies that Aslan will be our good lord, whether he means us to live or die. And all's one, for that. Now, by my counsel, we shall all kneel and kiss his likeness, and then all shake hands one with another, as true friends that may shortly be parted. And then, let us descend into the city and take the adventure that is sent us.”

And they all did as the Prince had said. But when Scrubb shook hands with Jill, he said, “So long, Jill. Sorry I've been a funk and so ratty. I hope you get safe home,” and Jill said, “So long, Eustace. And I'm sorry I've been such a pig.” And this was the first time they had ever used Christian names, because one didn't do it at school.

The Prince unlocked the door and they all went down the stairs: three of them with drawn swords, and Jill with drawn knife. The attendants had vanished and the great room at the foot of the Prince's stairs was empty. The grey, doleful lamps were still burning and by their light they had no difficulty in passing gallery after gallery and descending stairway after stairway. The noises from outside the castle were not so easily heard here as they had been in the room above. Inside the house all was still as death, and deserted. It was as they turned a corner into the great hall on the ground floor that they met their first Earthman—a fat, whitish creature with a very pig-like face who was gobbling up all the remains of food on the tables. It squealed (the squeal also was very like a pig's) and darted under a bench, whisking its long tail out of Puddleglum's reach in the nick of time. Then it rushed away through the far door too quickly to be followed.

From the hall they came out into the courtyard. Jill, who went to a riding school in the holidays, had just noticed the smell of a stable (a very nice, honest, homely smell it is to meet in a place like Underland) when Eustace said, “Great Scott! Look at that!” A magnificent rocket had risen from somewhere beyond the castle walls and broken into green stars.

“Fireworks!” said Jill in a puzzled voice.

“Yes,” said Eustace, “but you can't imagine those Earth people letting them off for fun! It must be a signal.”

“And means no good to us, I'll be bound,” said Puddleglum.

“Friends,” said the Prince, “when once a man is launched on such an adventure as this, he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honour and his reason. Ho, my beauties” (he was now opening the stable door). “Hey cousins! Steady, Coalblack! Softly now, Snowflake! You are not forgotten.”

The horses were both frightened by the strange lights and the noises. Jill, who had been so cowardly about going through a black hole betweeen one cave and another, went in without fear between the stamping and snorting beasts, and she and the Prince had them saddled and bridled in a few minutes. Very fine they looked as they came out into the courtyard, tossing their heads. Jill mounted Snowflake, and Puddleglum got up behind her. Eustace got up behind the Prince on Coalblack. Then with a great echo of hoofs, they rode out of the main gateway into the street.

“Not much danger of being burnt. That's the bright side of it,” observed Puddleglum, pointing to their right. There, hardly a hundred yards away, lapping against the walls of the houses, was water.

“Courage!” said the Prince. “The road there goes down steeply. That water has climbed only half up the greatest hill in the city. It might come so near in the first half-hour and come no nearer in the next two. My fear is more of that—” and he pointed with his sword to a great tall Earthman with boar's tusks, followed by six others of assorted shapes and sizes who had just dashed out of a side street and stepped into the shadow of the houses where no one could see them.

The Prince led them, aiming always in the direction of the glowing red light but a little to the left of it. His plan was to get round the fire (if it was a fire) on to high ground, in hope that they might find their way to the new diggings. Unlike the other three, he seemed to be almost enjoying himself. He whistled as he rode, and sang snatches of an old song about Corin Thunder-fist of Archenland. The truth is, he was so glad at being free from his long enchantment that all dangers seemed a game in comparison. But the rest found it an eerie journey.

Behind them was the sound of clashing and entangled ships, and the rumble of collapsing buildings. Overhead was the great patch of lurid light on the roof of the Underworld. Ahead was the mysterious glow, which did not seem to grow any bigger. From the same direction came a continual hubbub of shouts, screams, cat-calls, laughter, squeals, and bellowings; and fireworks of all sorts rose in the dark air. No one could guess what they meant. Nearer to them, the city was partly lit up by the red glow, and partly by the very different light of the dreary Gnome lamps. But there were many places where neither of these lights fell, and those places were jet-black. And in and out of those places the shapes of Earthmen were darting and slipping all the time, always with their eyes fixed on the travellers, always trying to keep out of sight themselves. There were big faces and little faces, huge eyes like fishes' eyes and little eyes like bears'. There were feathers and bristles, horns and tusks, noses like whipcord, and chins so long that they looked like beards. Every now and then a group of them would get too big or come too near. Then the Prince would brandish his sword and make a show of charging them. And the creatures, with all manner of hootings, squeakings, and cluckings, would dive away into the darkness.

But when they had climbed many steep streets and were far away from the flood, and almost out of the town on the inland side, it began to be more serious. They were now close to the red glow and nearly on a level with it, though they still could not see what it really was. But by its light they could see their enemies more clearly. Hundreds—perhaps a few thousands—of gnomes were all moving towards it. But they were doing so in short rushes, and whenever they stopped, they turned and faced the travellers.

“If your Highness asked me,” said Puddleglum, “I'd say those fellows were meaning to cut us off in front.”

“That was my thought too, Puddleglum,” said the Prince. “And we can never fight our way through so many. Hark you! Let us ride forth close by the edge of yonder house. And even as we reach it, do you slip off into its shadow. The Lady and I will go forward a few paces. Some of these devils will follow us, I doubt not; they are thick behind us. Do you, who have long arms, take one alive if you may, as it passes your ambush. We may get a true tale of it or learn what is their quarrel against us.”

“But won't the others all come rushing at us to rescue the one we catch,” said Jill in a voice not so steady as she tried to make it.

“Then, Madam,” said the Prince, “you shall see us die fighting around you, and you must commend yourself to the Lion. Now, good Puddleglum.”

The Marsh-wiggle slipped off into the shadow as quickly as a cat. The others, for a sickening minute or so, went forward at a walk. Then suddenly from behind them there broke out a series of blood-curdling screams, mixed with the familiar voice of Puddleglum, saying, “Now then! Don't cry out before you're hurt, or you will be hurt, see? Anyone would think it was a pig being killed.”

“That was good hunting,” exclaimed the Prince, immediately turning Coalblack and coming back to the corner of the house. “Eustace,” he said, “of your courtesy, take Coalblack's head.” Then he dismounted, and all three gazed in silence while Puddleglum pulled his catch out into the light. It was a most miserable little gnome, only about three feet long. It had a sort of ridge, like a cock's comb (only hard), on the top of its head, little pink eyes, and a mouth and chin so large and round that its face looked like that of a pigmy hippopotamus. If they had not been in such a tight place, they would have burst into laughter at the sight of it.

“Now, Earthman,” said the Prince, standing over it and holding his sword point very near the prisoner's neck, “speak, up, like an honest gnome, and you shall go free. Play the knave with us, and you are but a dead Earthman. Good Puddleglum, how can it speak while you hold its mouth tight shut?”

“No, and it can't bite either,” said Puddleglum. “If I had the silly soft hands that you humans have (saving your Highness's reverence) I'd have been all over blood by now. Yet even a Marsh-wiggle gets tired of being chewed.”

“Sirrah,” said the Prince to the gnome, “one bite and you die. Let its mouth open, Puddleglum.”

“Oo-ee-ee,” squealed the Earthman, “l(fā)et me go, let me go. It isn't me. I didn't do it.”

“Didn't do what?” asked Puddleglum.

“Whatever your Honours say I did do,” answered the creature.

“Tell me your name,” said the Prince, “and what you Earthmen are all about today.”

“Oh please, your Honours, please, kind gentlemen,” whimpered the gnome. “Promise you will not tell the Queen's grace anything I say.”

“The Queen's grace, as you call her,” said the Prince sternly, “is dead. I killed her myself.”

“What!” cried the gnome, opening its ridiculous mouth wider and wider in astonishment. “Dead? The Witch dead? And by your Honour's hand?” It gave a huge sigh of relief and added, “Why, then your Honour is a friend!”

The Prince withdrew his sword an inch or so. Puddleglum let the creature sit up. It looked round on the four travellers with its twinkling, red eyes, chuckled once or twice, and began.

第十三章 沒(méi)有女王的地下世界

大家都覺(jué)得他們已經(jīng)獲得了斯克羅布所說(shuō)的“喘口氣”的時(shí)間。女巫剛才把門(mén)鎖了起來(lái),并且吩咐地下人不要來(lái)打擾她,所以,目前沒(méi)有被人打擾的危險(xiǎn)。他們要處理的第一件事情當(dāng)然就是普登格倫姆燒傷的腳。他們從王子的臥室找到了幾件干凈的襯衫,撕成一條條的,然后從晚餐桌上拿來(lái)黃油和色拉油,在布條內(nèi)側(cè)涂了厚厚一層,做成了特別好的包扎用的布帶。弄好之后,他們都坐下來(lái),休息了一陣,然后開(kāi)始討論逃離地下世界的計(jì)劃。

瑞利安解釋說(shuō),這兒有很多的出口可以通向地面。他過(guò)去經(jīng)常被女王帶著出去,走過(guò)大部分的出口。但是他從來(lái)都沒(méi)有單獨(dú)出去過(guò),每次都是跟女巫一起,而且每一次去這些出口,都要乘船通過(guò)無(wú)日之海。如果他不是和女巫一起去港口,卻是四個(gè)陌生人,直接要一艘船,那些地下人會(huì)說(shuō)什么呢,誰(shuí)也想不到。但很有可能,他們會(huì)問(wèn)一些難堪的問(wèn)題。不過(guò),那個(gè)新出口,也就是準(zhǔn)備入侵地上世界的那個(gè),就在海的這一面,只有幾英里遠(yuǎn)。王子知道那里快完工了,只要再挖幾英尺,就能通向外面了。甚至現(xiàn)在有可能已經(jīng)完工了。也許,女巫回來(lái)就是要告訴他這個(gè)消息,準(zhǔn)備發(fā)動(dòng)進(jìn)攻。即便還沒(méi)有完工,他們應(yīng)該僅用幾個(gè)小時(shí)的時(shí)間就可以自己挖出去——只要他們能順利到達(dá)那里,不被人阻攔,并且挖掘點(diǎn)那里沒(méi)有守衛(wèi)。但是這些正是困難的所在。

“如果你們問(wèn)我……”普登格倫姆剛開(kāi)口,就被斯克羅布打斷了。

“聽(tīng),”他問(wèn),“那是什么聲音?”

“我心里已經(jīng)納悶了好一陣子了!”吉爾說(shuō)。

實(shí)際上,他們都聽(tīng)到那個(gè)聲音有一會(huì)兒了,不過(guò)那聲音是響起后漸漸增強(qiáng)的,所以他們都不知道自己是什么時(shí)候開(kāi)始留意到的。有一段時(shí)間,那個(gè)聲音隱約而模糊,聽(tīng)起來(lái)就像是溫和的風(fēng),或是遠(yuǎn)處的車聲。然后,慢慢增強(qiáng),變得像是大海的低語(yǔ)聲。然后變成了轟轟隆隆的聲音。而現(xiàn)在聽(tīng)來(lái)像是人聲,其中還混雜著不是人聲的持續(xù)不斷的咆哮聲。

“獅子在上,”瑞利安王子說(shuō),“看來(lái)這片沉默的國(guó)度似乎終于能開(kāi)口了?!彼酒饋?lái),走到窗口,拉開(kāi)窗簾。其他人也都湊到他身邊向外望去。

他們注意到的第一件事情是一大片紅光。紅光照射在他們上方幾千英尺遠(yuǎn)的地下世界的洞頂上,映射出一大塊紅斑,因而,他們可以看到一片巖石的屋頂,可能它從創(chuàng)世之初就隱藏在了黑暗之中。那光是從城市的另一端發(fā)出的,所以,很多建筑背光而立,形成一片黑色的剪影,肅穆而莊嚴(yán)。但紅光還是照射到了很多從它發(fā)出的位置通向城堡的街道。在那些街道上,發(fā)生了一些非常奇怪的事情。那一群群本來(lái)摩肩接踵、悄無(wú)聲息的地下人都不見(jiàn)了。取而代之的是四處奔散的人,有的獨(dú)身一人,有的三三兩兩。他們就像是很不想被別人看到一樣,躲到扶壁后面的陰影中,或是藏在門(mén)洞里,然后以飛快的速度穿過(guò)開(kāi)闊的地方,跑到下一個(gè)躲藏的地點(diǎn)。但對(duì)任何了解地精的人來(lái)說(shuō),其中最奇怪的就是那聲音。四面八方都是吶喊和尖叫的聲音。從海港傳來(lái)了一種低沉的呼呼的咆哮聲,聲音持續(xù)不斷,越來(lái)越大,已經(jīng)震撼了整個(gè)城市。

“地下人怎么了?”斯克羅布說(shuō),“是他們?cè)诤皢???/p>

“不太可能?!蓖踝诱f(shuō),“我在被困住的漫長(zhǎng)而無(wú)聊的歲月中,從來(lái)都沒(méi)有聽(tīng)過(guò)這些混蛋中有誰(shuí)會(huì)大聲說(shuō)話。這是一種新的詭計(jì),我肯定?!?/p>

“那邊的紅光又是什么?”吉爾問(wèn),“有東西著火了嗎?”

“如果要我說(shuō),”普登格倫姆說(shuō),“我會(huì)說(shuō)那是地心的火沖了出來(lái),形成了一座新火山。我們很可能就在火山中間,我一點(diǎn)兒都不奇怪?!?/p>

“看那艘船!”斯克羅布說(shuō),“沒(méi)有人在劃槳,它怎么過(guò)來(lái)得這么快?”

“快看,快看!”王子說(shuō),“那艘船已經(jīng)靠向海港這邊了——它到街道上了???!所有的船都駛?cè)肓顺鞘?!天啊,海水在上漲。洪水正朝著我們而來(lái)。贊美阿斯蘭,這座城堡位于高處。但水漲得可真是飛快??!”

“啊,接下來(lái)會(huì)怎么樣呢?”吉爾叫道,“又是火,又是水,還有這么多人在街上躲來(lái)躲去?!?/p>

“我跟你們說(shuō)這是怎么回事吧,”普登格倫姆說(shuō),“女巫施了一串魔咒,所以,只要她被殺了,她的整個(gè)王國(guó)也就即刻崩潰了。她就是那種人,只要知道殺死她的人五分鐘內(nèi)就會(huì)被燒死、被活埋或是被淹死,她就連自己的死也不在乎了?!?/p>

“有道理,沼澤朋友,”王子說(shuō),“我們的劍砍下了女巫的頭,那一擊結(jié)束了她所有的魔法,而現(xiàn)在,深域王國(guó)就要崩潰了。我們馬上要迎來(lái)的是深域王國(guó)的末日。”

“就是這樣,殿下,”普登格倫姆說(shuō),“除非這碰巧也是整個(gè)世界的末日?!?/p>

“但我們要留在這里——等著嗎?”吉爾倒吸了一口涼氣。

“依我之見(jiàn),不行。”王子說(shuō),“我要去救我的馬黑煤,還有女巫的馬雪花(一匹很高貴的馬,值得擁有一個(gè)更好的女主人)。兩匹馬所在的馬廄都在庭院里。救出馬后,咱們就離開(kāi)這里去高地,希望能找到一個(gè)出口。必要時(shí),兩匹馬每匹都能馱兩個(gè)人,我們騎上馬,或許可以從洪水中逃脫?!?/p>

“殿下你不穿盔甲嗎?”普登格倫姆問(wèn),“我不喜歡那些東西的樣子?!薄钢路降慕值?。大家全都望了下去。幾十個(gè)東西從海港的不同方向撲來(lái)(近了一些,可以很清楚地看出來(lái)是地下人)。但從他們移動(dòng)的方式看,他們不是漫無(wú)目的的烏合之眾,而像是攻擊中的現(xiàn)代士兵,沖鋒,尋找掩護(hù),努力不被城堡窗戶這邊的人注意到。

“我不敢再看那盔甲里面的樣子?!蓖踝诱f(shuō),“我穿著它的時(shí)候就像穿著一座移動(dòng)的地牢,里面有魔法和奴役的惡臭。不過(guò)我會(huì)帶上盾牌?!?/p>

他離開(kāi)房間,過(guò)了一會(huì)兒回來(lái)時(shí),眼神中閃耀著一種奇異的神采。

“聽(tīng)著,朋友們,”他把盾牌舉到他們面前,“一個(gè)小時(shí)前,它是黑色的,毫無(wú)裝飾,而現(xiàn)在,它變成了這樣?!倍芘谱兊妹髁寥玢y,上面有鮮紅的印記,比血和漿果都要紅的印記,是一頭獅子。

“無(wú)疑,”王子說(shuō),“這表明阿斯蘭是我們善良的神,無(wú)論他為我們安排的是生是死。一切都沒(méi)有差別。好啦,依我之見(jiàn),我們應(yīng)該跪下朝拜親吻他的肖像,然后握握彼此的手,就像不久之后或許就要分散的真正的朋友一般。然后,我們就沖入城市,開(kāi)始這場(chǎng)我們的冒險(xiǎn)?!?/p>

他們都按照王子所說(shuō)的話行事。當(dāng)斯克羅布和吉爾握手之時(shí),他說(shuō):“別了,吉爾。很抱歉我一直是個(gè)膽小鬼,還愛(ài)亂發(fā)脾氣。我希望你能安全返家?!倍獱栒f(shuō):“別了,尤斯塔斯。很抱歉我一直是個(gè)蠢豬。”這是他們第一次稱呼彼此的教名,因?yàn)樵趯W(xué)校里大家都不叫名字的。

王子打開(kāi)門(mén),他們都順著樓梯走下去:三個(gè)男人手中拿著出鞘的長(zhǎng)劍,吉爾拿著出鞘的刀。侍從已經(jīng)不知去向,王子樓梯下面的大房間空蕩蕩的。那種灰蒙蒙的令人沮喪的燈依然燃著,借助這些燈光,他們毫不費(fèi)力地穿過(guò)一道道走廊,走下一道道樓梯。他們?cè)谏厦娴姆块g里時(shí),城堡外面的聲音聽(tīng)起來(lái)并不清晰。而城堡里面,依然死一般寂靜,似乎空無(wú)一人。他們拐過(guò)一個(gè)角落,進(jìn)入一樓的大廳時(shí),才第一次遇到了地下人——那是一個(gè)蒼白的胖子,長(zhǎng)著豬一樣的臉,正狼吞虎咽地把桌上所剩的食物全都吞入肚中。他哼哼著(也像豬的叫聲一樣)藏到一把長(zhǎng)椅下面,長(zhǎng)尾巴一晃,剛好躲開(kāi)了普登格倫姆。然后他就飛速地沖向了遠(yuǎn)處的門(mén),速度太快,他們根本追不上。

他們走出大廳,來(lái)到庭院。吉爾在放假時(shí)曾經(jīng)上過(guò)騎術(shù)課,這時(shí)她聞到了一股馬廄的氣味(在地下世界這樣的地方,聞到這種氣味,真的感覺(jué)親切又真實(shí),仿佛回到了家一般)。而這時(shí)尤斯塔斯說(shuō):“老天爺啊!快看那邊!”一根巨大的火箭從城堡墻外升起,然后碎裂成點(diǎn)點(diǎn)綠幽幽的星光。

“焰火!”吉爾迷惑地說(shuō)。

“是的?!庇人顾拐f(shuō),“但那些地下人不可能為了找樂(lè)子放焰火!這肯定是個(gè)信號(hào)!”

“而這對(duì)我們來(lái)說(shuō)可不是什么好事,我敢打賭?!逼盏歉駛惸氛f(shuō)。

“朋友們,”王子說(shuō),“當(dāng)一個(gè)人要開(kāi)始這樣的冒險(xiǎn)時(shí),就必須告別所有的希望與恐懼,否則,無(wú)論死亡還是救贖,都來(lái)不及拯救他的榮譽(yù)和理智。嘿,美人們,”他打開(kāi)了馬廄門(mén),“嘿,兄弟們!穩(wěn)住,黑煤!輕輕的,雪花!你們沒(méi)被人忘掉?!?/p>

兩匹馬都被奇怪的光和動(dòng)靜嚇壞了。吉爾雖然之前很害怕在山洞之間的黑洞穿行,現(xiàn)在卻毫無(wú)畏懼地走到了兩匹跺著蹄子、噴著響鼻的馬中間,她和王子沒(méi)用幾分鐘,就給兩匹馬上好了馬鞍,拴好了韁繩。離開(kāi)馬廄沖入庭院時(shí)它們雄赳赳地?fù)u晃著腦袋。吉爾騎在雪花身上,普登格倫姆在她身后,尤斯塔斯在王子身后,與他共騎黑煤。隨著一陣馬蹄的回響聲,他們沖出城堡大門(mén),進(jìn)入了街道。

“被燒傷的危險(xiǎn)不大,這是好的一面。”普登格倫姆指了指他們右邊。距離大約一百碼遠(yuǎn)的地方,流水拍打著房屋的墻壁。

“要勇敢!”王子說(shuō),“那邊的路很陡,水只爬到了城市最高峰的一半。開(kāi)頭半小時(shí)海水離我們可能很近,但接下來(lái)兩小時(shí)就不會(huì)更近。我更擔(dān)心那個(gè)……”他用他的劍指著一個(gè)長(zhǎng)著公豬獠牙的又高又大的地下人,后面跟著六個(gè)體型和外形都各式各樣的人,他們剛跑出一條小街,藏入人們看不見(jiàn)的屋子的陰影里。

王子領(lǐng)著大家,一直朝著鮮艷的紅光偏左一些的方向而去。他計(jì)劃繞過(guò)那處火(如果是火的話),到高地上去,希望能找到通往新挖的出口的路。和其他三個(gè)人不同,他似乎非常輕松,簡(jiǎn)直自得其樂(lè)。他一邊騎馬向前,一邊吹著口哨,有時(shí)候還會(huì)唱一首關(guān)于阿欽蘭王國(guó)“霹靂拳”柯林的一首老歌的片段。事實(shí)上,他真的很開(kāi)心能夠解脫長(zhǎng)久以來(lái)施加在他身上的魔咒,所以在他眼中,其他所有的危險(xiǎn)相比之下都不過(guò)是兒戲罷了。但是其他人卻覺(jué)得這是一段可怕的旅程。

身后,傳來(lái)船只相撞、糾纏的聲音,和建筑物轟轟坍塌的聲音。頭頂,地下世界的洞頂上有一大片血紅色的光。前方就是那神秘莫測(cè)的光,它看起來(lái)一點(diǎn)兒都沒(méi)有變大。從那個(gè)方向還傳來(lái)了持續(xù)不斷的嘶吼聲、吶喊聲、怪叫聲、哄笑聲、尖叫聲和咆哮聲,各種各樣的焰火升入黑暗的空中。沒(méi)有人能猜出來(lái)那些焰火有什么含義。離他們不遠(yuǎn)的地方,城市已經(jīng)有一部分被紅光照亮了,而還有一部分依然是那死氣沉沉的地下人的燈亮著,兩者截然不同。但是還有很多地方一點(diǎn)兒光都沒(méi)有,一片烏黑。始終都有地下人的身影從這些地方飛奔著進(jìn)進(jìn)出出,一閃而過(guò),他們始終都把目光鎖定在旅行者身上,又始終努力隱藏著自己,避免被對(duì)方看到。他們有大臉的,有小臉的,有長(zhǎng)著魚(yú)眼一樣的巨眼的,也有長(zhǎng)著熊眼一樣的小眼的。有長(zhǎng)羽毛的,有長(zhǎng)鬃毛的,有長(zhǎng)犄角的,有長(zhǎng)獠牙的,有長(zhǎng)著鞭繩一樣的鼻子的,有長(zhǎng)著長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的像胡子一樣的下巴的。時(shí)不時(shí)地,他們會(huì)聚起一大群,或是它們靠得太近。王子這時(shí)就會(huì)揮動(dòng)長(zhǎng)劍,裝出要打他們的架勢(shì)。而那些生物,就會(huì)發(fā)出各種怪叫聲,嗚嗚嗚,唧唧唧,咯咯咯,四散奔逃,藏入黑暗中。

但當(dāng)他們爬上一條又一條陡峭的街道,遠(yuǎn)離了洪水,幾乎已經(jīng)出城,到了內(nèi)陸的一面的時(shí)候,事情也變得更加麻煩了?,F(xiàn)在,他們離紅光非常接近,幾乎已經(jīng)和它處在同一個(gè)高度上了,不過(guò)他們依然看不出來(lái)那到底是什么。而在紅光的照耀下,他們能更加清楚地看到他們的敵人。好幾百——也可能有好幾千——的地精全都向著紅光移動(dòng)。他們都是一小段一小段地向前沖,只要停下腳步,他們就望向旅行者們。

“如果殿下聽(tīng)我一言,”普登格倫姆說(shuō),“我要說(shuō)這些家伙是想繞到前面截住我們?!?/p>

“我也是這么想的,普登格倫姆,”王子說(shuō),“面對(duì)這么多人,我們絕對(duì)殺不出去。聽(tīng)著!咱們騎到那邊的房子邊緣,再沿著它騎馬向前。我們靠近那里后,你務(wù)必悄悄躲入陰影中。小姐和我再向前一些。那樣,有些魔鬼就會(huì)來(lái)追我們,我肯定;他們會(huì)聚集起一大批,跟在我們后面。你,你有長(zhǎng)手臂,如果可以,就趁他們經(jīng)過(guò)你的埋伏時(shí)活捉一個(gè)。我們也許可以從他嘴里得知真實(shí)情況,或是搞明白他們?yōu)槭裁匆臀移饹_突?!?/p>

“不過(guò),其他人會(huì)不會(huì)都沖向我們,以救回被我們抓住的那個(gè)?”吉爾努力讓自己鎮(zhèn)定一些,不過(guò)并不太成功。

“那么,女士,”王子說(shuō),“你會(huì)看到我們?cè)谀闵磉吺馑缿?zhàn)斗保護(hù)你,而你必須把自己的命交給獅子了。行動(dòng)吧,好普登格倫姆?!?/p>

沼澤怪悄悄溜入陰影中,動(dòng)作敏捷得像一只貓。其他人繼續(xù)向前走了大約一分鐘,這一分鐘著實(shí)難挨。這時(shí),后面突然傳來(lái)一串可怕得令人血液凝結(jié)的尖叫聲,其中還夾雜著他們熟悉的普登格倫姆的聲音:“得啦!趁你還好好的不要叫了,否則你真的會(huì)受傷的,明白嗎?其他人聽(tīng)到還以為是在殺豬呢。”

“出師大捷!”王子立刻調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)黑煤的馬頭,回到房子的角落里。“尤斯塔斯,”他說(shuō),“麻煩你,掌著黑煤的韁繩。”然后他下了馬,三個(gè)人都沉默地望著,等待普登格倫姆將他的俘虜從黑暗中拖出來(lái)。這簡(jiǎn)直是最差勁的一個(gè)地精了,只有大約三英尺高。頭頂上長(zhǎng)了一個(gè)類似雞冠的凸起(只是要硬很多),小小的粉色眼睛,嘴和下巴都很大,臉長(zhǎng)得就像一只發(fā)育不良的小河馬。如果不是在這樣一個(gè)緊張的情形下看見(jiàn)它這副模樣,大家肯定會(huì)大笑起來(lái)的。

“聽(tīng)著,地下人,”王子站在他旁邊俯視著他,手里的劍尖非??拷?shù)牟弊?,“說(shuō)話,做個(gè)誠(chéng)實(shí)的地精,然后你就自由了。敢和我們耍無(wú)賴,你就是個(gè)死地下人。好普登格倫姆,你把他的嘴捏得那么牢,他能開(kāi)口說(shuō)話嗎?”

“不能,這樣他也不能咬人?!逼盏歉駛惸氛f(shuō),“如果我的手和你們?nèi)祟愐粯榆浀靡ㄗ鹳F的殿下除外),我現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)渾身是血了。即便是沼澤怪,也不喜歡老被他咬啊?!?/p>

“小子,”王子對(duì)地精說(shuō),“再咬一口,你就死定了。讓他的嘴張開(kāi)吧,普登格倫姆。”

“哎喲——喲——喲,”地下人尖叫道,“放開(kāi)我,放開(kāi)我。不是我。我沒(méi)做。”

“沒(méi)做什么?”普登格倫姆說(shuō)。

“無(wú)論殿下說(shuō)我做了什么,我都沒(méi)做。”那個(gè)家伙回答說(shuō)。

“告訴我你的名字?!蓖踝诱f(shuō),“還有,你們地下人今天要干什么?!?/p>

“啊,拜托,殿下,求你了,好心的先生,”地下精靈抽泣著說(shuō),“請(qǐng)保證你不會(huì)把我說(shuō)的任何事情告訴給女王陛下?!?/p>

“你所說(shuō)的女王陛下,”王子厲聲回答,“已經(jīng)死了。我親手殺了她。”

“什么?”地精叫道,他那本就夸張的嘴巴因?yàn)轶@奇越張?jiān)酱螅八懒??女巫死了?殿下?dòng)的手?”他如釋重負(fù)地長(zhǎng)出了一口氣,然后說(shuō),“哎呀,這么說(shuō),殿下是朋友!”

王子把劍向后收了一寸左右。普登格倫姆讓地下人坐了起來(lái)。他轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)著閃爍的紅眼睛,打量了一下四個(gè)旅行者,咯咯笑了兩聲,然后開(kāi)始講述。

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