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雙語·銀椅 第十四章 世界底層

所屬教程:譯林版·銀椅

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2022年05月18日

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD

“MY name is Golg,” said the gnome. “And I'll tell your Honours all I know. About an hour ago we were all going about our work—her work, I should say—sad and silent, same as we've done any other day for years and years. Then there came a great crash and bang. As soon as they heard it, everyone says to himself, I haven't had a song or a dance or let off a squib for a long time; why's that? And everyone thinks to himself, Why, I must have been enchanted. And then everyone says to himself, I'm blessed if I know why I'm carrying this load, and I'm not going to carry it any further: that's that. And down we all throw our sacks and bundles and tools. Then everyone turns and sees the great red glow over yonder. And everyone says to himself, What's that? and everyone answers himself and says, There's a crack or chasm split open and a nice warm glow coming up through it from the Really Deep Land, a thousand fathom under us.”

“Great Scott,” exclaimed Eustace, “are there other lands still lower down?”

“Oh yes, your Honour,” said Golg. “Lovely places; what we call the Land of Bism. This country where we are now, the Witch's country, is what we call the Shallow Lands. It's a good deal too near the surface to suit us. Ugh! You might almost as well be living outside, on the surface itself. You see, we're all poor gnomes from Bism whom the Witch has called up here by magic to work for her. But we'd forgotten all about it till that crash came and the spell broke. We didn't know who we were or where we belonged. We couldn't do anything, or think anything, except what she put into our heads. And it was glum and gloomy things she put there all those years. I've nearly forgotten how to make a joke or dance a jig. But the moment the bang came and the chasm opened and the sea began rising, it all came back. And of course we all set off as quick as we could to get down the crack and home to our own place. And you can see them over there all letting off rockets and standing on their heads for joy. And I'll be very obliged to your Honours if you'll soon let me go and join in.”

“I think this is simply splendid,” said Jill. “I'm so glad we freed the gnomes as well as ourselves when we cut off the Witch's head! And I'm so glad they aren't really horrid and gloomy any more than the Prince really was—well, what he seemed like.”

“That's all very well, Pole,” said Puddleglum cautiously. “But those gnomes didn't look to me like chaps who were just running away. It looked more like military formations, if you ask me. Do you look me in the face, Mr Golg, and tell me you weren't preparing for battle?”

“Of course we were, your Honour,” said Golg. “You see, we didn't know the Witch was dead. We thought she'd be watching from the castle. We were trying to slip away without being seen. And then when you three came out with swords and horses, of course everyone says to himself, Here it comes: not knowing that his Honour wasn't on the Witch's side. And we were determined to fight like anything rather than give up the hope of going back to Bism.”

“I'll be sworn 'tis an honest gnome,” said the Prince. “Let go of it, friend Puddleglum. As for me, good Golg, I have been enchanted like you and your fellows, and have but newly remembered myself. And now, one question more. Do you know the way to those new diggings, by which the sorceress meant to lead out an army against Overland?”

“Ee-ee-ee!” squeaked Golg. “Yes, I know that terrible road. I will show you where it begins. But it is no manner of use your Honour asking me to go with you on it. I'll die rather.”

“Why?” asked Eustace anxiously. “What's so dreadful about it?”

“Too near the top, the outside,” said Golg, shuddering. “That was the worst thing the Witch did to us. We were going to be led out into the open—on to the outside of the world. They say there's no roof at all there; only a horrible great emptiness called the sky. And the diggings have gone so far that a few strokes of the pick would bring you out to it. I wouldn't dare go near them.”

“Hurrah! Now you're talking!” cried Eustace, and Jill said, “But it's not horrid at all up there. We like it. We live there.”

“I know you Overlanders live there,” said Golg. “But I thought it was because you couldn't find your way down inside. You can't really like it—crawling about like flies on the top of the world!”

“What about showing us the road at once?” said Puddleglum.

“In a good hour,” cried the Prince. The whole party set out. The Prince remounted his charger, Puddleglum climbed up behind Jill, and Golg led the way. As he went, he kept shouting out the good news that the Witch was dead and that the four Overlanders were not dangerous. And those who heard him shouted it on to others, so that in a few minutes the whole of Underland was ringing with shouts and cheers, and gnomes by hundreds and thousands, leaping, turning cart-wheels, standing on their heads, playing leap-frog, and letting off huge crackers, came pressing round Coalblack and Snowflake. And the Prince had to tell the story of his own enchantment and deliverance at least ten times.

In this way they came to the edge of the chasm. It was about a thousand feet long and perhaps two hundred wide. They dismounted from their horses and came to the edge, and looked down into it. A strong heat smote up into their faces, mixed with a smell which was quite unlike any they had ever smelled. It was rich, sharp, exciting, and made you sneeze. The depth of the chasm was so bright that at first it dazzled their eyes and they could see nothing. When they got used to it they thought they could make out a river of fire, and, on the banks of that river, what seemed to be fields and groves of an unbearable, hot brilliance—though they were dim compared with the river. There were blues, reds, greens, and whites all jumbled together: a very good stained-glass window with the tropical sun staring straight through it at midday might have something the same effect. Down the rugged sides of the chasm, looking black like flies against all that fiery light, hundreds of Earthmen were climbing.

“Your honours,” said Golg (and when they turned to look at him they could see nothing but blackness for a few minutes, their eyes were so dazzled). “Your honours, why don't you come down to Bism? You'd be happier there than in that cold, unprotected, naked country out on top. Or at least come down for a short visit.”

Jill took it for granted that none of the others would listen to such an idea for a moment. To her horror she heard the Prince saying:

“Truly, friend Golg, I have half a mind to come down with you. For this is a marvellous adventure, and it may be no mortal man has ever looked into Bism before or will ever have the chance again. And I know not how, as the years pass, I shall bear to remember that it was once in my power to have probed the uttermost pit of Earth and that I forbore. But could a man live there? You do not swim in the fire-river itself?”

“Oh no, your Honour. Not we. It's only salamanders live in the fire itself.”

“What kind of beast is your salamander?” asked the Prince.

“It is hard to tell their kind, your Honour,” said Golg. “For they are too white-hot to look at. But they are most like small dragons. They speak to us out of the fire. They are wonderfully clever with their tongues: very witty and eloquent.”

Jill glanced hastily at Eustace. She had felt sure that he would like the idea of sliding down that chasm even less than she did. Her heart sank as she saw that his face was quite changed. He looked much more like the Prince than like the old Scrubb at Experiment House. For all his adventures, and the days when he had sailed with King Caspian, were coming back to him.

“Your Highness,” he said. “If my old friend Reepicheep the Mouse were here, he would say we could not now refuse the adventures of Bism without a great impeachment to our honour.”

“Down there,” said Golg, “I could show you real gold, real silver, real diamonds.”

“Bosh!” said Jill rudely. “As if we didn't know that we're below the deepest mines even here.”

“Yes,” said Golg. “I have heard of those little scratches in the crust that you Topdwellers call mines. But that's where you get dead gold, dead silver, dead gems. Down in Bism we have them alive and growing. There I'll pick you bunches of rubies that you can eat and squeeze you a cup full of diamond-juice. You won't care much about fingering the cold, dead treasures of your shallow mines after you have tasted the live ones of Bism.”

“My father went to the world's end,” said Rilian thoughtfully. “It would be a marvellous thing if his son went to the bottom of the world.”

“If your Highness wants to see your father while he's still alive, which I think he'd prefer,” said Puddleglum, “it's about time we were getting on to that road to the diggings.”

“And I won't go down that hole, whatever anyone says,” added Jill.

“Why, if your Honours are really set to go back to Overworld,” said Golg, “there is one bit of the road that's rather lower than this. And perhaps, if that flood's still rising—”

“Oh, do, do, do come on!” begged Jill.

“I fear it must be so,” said the Prince with a deep sigh. “But I have left half of my heart in the land of Bism.”

“Please!” begged Jill.

“Where is the road?” asked Puddleglum.

“There are lamps all the way,” said Golg. “Your Honour can see the beginning of the road on the far side of the chasm.”

“How long will the lamps burn for?” asked Puddleglum.

At that moment a hissing, scorching voice like the voice of Fire itself (they wondered afterwards if it could have been a salamander's) came whistling up out of the very depths of Bism.

“Quick! Quick! Quick! To the cliffs, to the cliffs, to the cliffs!” it said. “The rift closes. It closes. It closes. Quick! Quick!” And at the same time, with ear-shattering cracks and creaks, the rocks moved. Already, while they looked, the chasm was narrower. From every side belated gnomes were rushing into it. They would not wait to climb down the rocks. They flung themselves headlong and, either because so strong a blast of hot air was beating up from the bottom, or for some other reason, they could be seen floating downwards like leaves. Thicker and thicker they floated, till their blackness almost blotted out the fiery river and the groves of live gems.

“Goodbye to your Honours. I'm off,” shouted Golg, and dived. Only a few were left to follow him. The chasm was now no broader than a stream. Now it was narrow as the slit in a pillarbox. Now it was only an intensely bright thread. Then, with a shock like a thousand goods trains crashing into a thousand pairs of buffers, the lips of rock closed. The hot, maddening smell vanished. The travellers were alone in an Underworld which now looked far blacker than before. Pale, dim, and dreary, the lamps marked the direction of the road.

“Now,” said Puddleglum, “it's ten to one we've already stayed too long, but we may as well make a try. Those lamps will give out in five minutes, I shouldn't wonder.”

They urged the horses to a canter and thundered along the dusky road in fine style. But almost at once it began going downhill. They would have thought Golg had sent them the wrong way if they had not seen, on the other side of the valley, the lamps going on and upwards as far as the eye could reach. But at the bottom of the valley the lamps shone on moving water.

“Haste,” cried the Prince. They galloped down the slope. It would have been nasty enough at the bottom even five minutes later for the tide was running up the valley like a mill-race, and if it had come to swimming, the horses could hardly have won over. But it was still only a foot or two deep, and though it swished terribly round the horses' legs, they reached the far side in safety.

Then began the slow, weary march uphill with nothing ahead to look at but the pale lamps which went up and up as far as the eye could reach. When they looked back they could see the water spreading. All the hills of Underland were now islands, and it was only on those islands that the lamps remained. Every moment some distant light vanished. Soon there would be total darkness everywhere except on the road they were following; and even on the lower part of it behind them, though no lamps had yet gone out, the lamplight shone on water.

Although they had good reason for hurrying, the horses could not go on for ever without a rest. They halted: and in silence they could hear the lapping of water.

“I wonder is what's his name—Father Time—flooded out now,” said Jill. “And all those queer sleeping animals.”

“I don't think we're as high as that,” said Eustace. “Don't you remember how we had to go downhill to reach the sunless sea? I shouldn't think the water has reached Father Time's cave yet.”

“That's as may be,” said Puddleglum. “I'm more interested in the lamps on this road. Look a bit sickly, don't they?”

“They always did,” said Jill.

“Aye,” said Puddleglum. “But they're greener now.”

“You don't mean to say you think they're going out?” cried Eustace.

“Well, however they work, you can't expect them to last for ever, you know,” replied the Marsh-wiggle. “But don't let your spirits down, Scrubb. I've got my eye on the water too, and I don't think it's rising so fast as it did.”

“Small comfort, friend,” said the Prince. “If we cannot find our way out. I cry you mercy, all. I am to blame for my pride and fantasy which delayed us by the mouth of the land of Bism. Now, let us ride on.”

During the hour or so that followed Jill sometimes thought that Puddleglum was right about the lamps, and sometimes thought it was only her imagination. Meanwhile the land was changing. The roof of Underland was so near that even by that dull light they could now see it quite distinctly. And the great, rugged walls of Underland could be seen drawing closer on each side. The road, in fact, was leading them up into a steep tunnel. They began to pass picks and shovels and barrows and other signs that the diggers had recently been at work. If only one could be sure of getting out, all this was very cheering. But the thought of going on into a hole that would get narrower and narrower, and harder to turn back in, was very unpleasant.

At last the roof was so low that Puddleglum and the Prince knocked their heads against it. The party dismounted and led the horses. The road was uneven here and one had to pick one's steps with some care. That was how Jill noticed the growing darkness. There was no doubt about it now. The faces of the others looked strange and ghastly in the green glow. Then all at once (she couldn't help it) Jill gave a little scream. One light, the next one ahead, went out altogether. The one behind them did the same. Then they were in absolute darkness.

“Courage, friends,” came Prince Rilian's voice. “Whether we live or die Aslan will be our good lord.”

“That's right, Sir,” said Puddleglum's voice. “And you must always remember there's one good thing about being trapped down here: it'll save funeral expenses.”

Jill held her tongue. (If you don't want other people to know how frightened you are, this is always a wise thing to do; it's your voice that gives you away.)

“We might as well go on as stand here,” said Eustace; and when she heard the tremble in his voice, Jill knew how wise she'd been not to trust her own.

Puddleglum and Eustace went first with their arms stretched out in front of them, for fear of blundering into anything; Jill and the Prince followed, leading the horses.

“I say,” came Eustace's voice much later, “are my eyes going queer or is there a patch of light up there?”

Before anyone could answer him, Puddleglum called out: “Stop. I'm up against a dead end. And it's earth, not rock. What were you saying, Scrubb?”

“By the Lion,” said the Prince, “Eustace is right. There is a sort of—”

“But it's not daylight,” said Jill. “It's only a cold blue sort of light.”

“Better than nothing, though,” said Eustace. “Can we get up to it?”

“It's not right overhead,” said Puddleglum. “It's above us, but it's in this wall that I've run into. How would it be, Pole, if you got on my shoulders and saw whether you could get up to it?”

第十四章 世界底層

“我叫高爾戈,”地精說,“我會把我所知道的一切都告訴殿下。大約一個小時前,我們都在忙著我們的活計——她的活計,我該說——沮喪而沉默,一如既往,我們?nèi)諒鸵蝗漳陱鸵荒甓际沁@樣的。然后,傳來了哐啷的一聲巨響。一聽到這個聲音,大家都開始自言自語,我已經(jīng)很長時間沒有唱過歌、跳過舞、放過爆竹了,為什么呢?每個人都心里想著,哎呀,我肯定是中了魔法。然后,每個人都對自己說:真希望能知道我為什么要搬這些重物,我再也不要搬了,就這樣。我們都把自己的口袋、包袱和工具扔到了一邊。然后大家都轉頭,看到了那邊巨大的紅光。每個人都對自己說:那是什么呢?然后每個人都回答自己:那是一道裂縫,或斷層,是從我們下方一千英尋的真正的深層國度冒上來的美好暖光?!?/p>

“老天爺啊,”尤斯塔斯驚呼,“下面還有其他國度?”

“啊,是啊,閣下。”高爾戈說,“很美麗的地方,我們稱之為畢斯莫。而我們現(xiàn)在所在的這個國家,女巫的國家,被我們稱作淺地。這里距離地表太近了,不適合我們生活。噢!你們應該是生活在外面的,生活在地表之上的。你們看,我們都是來自畢斯莫的可憐地精,女巫用魔法把我們召喚上來,給她干活。但我們把一切都忘了,直到那聲巨響,咒語被打破。過去,我們不知道自己是誰,來自哪里。我們什么也做不了,什么也想不了,腦袋里只有被她放進去的東西。而那些年當中,她放進我們頭腦里的都是陰郁黑暗的事情。我?guī)缀跻呀?jīng)忘了該怎么開玩笑,怎么跳舞。但那聲巨響傳來,那邊的裂縫打開,海水開始上升,一切就都回到了我的腦中。當然,我們?nèi)急M快出發(fā),以便能到達裂縫,回到我們自己的家鄉(xiāng)。你可以看那邊,他們都在開心地放焰火,手舞足蹈,甚至倒立著行走。如果殿下能盡快放了我,讓我加入其中,我會不勝感激。”

“我覺得這真的太棒了,”吉爾說,“我很開心我們砍斷了女巫的頭,這一舉動既解救了我們自己,也令地精們重獲自由!而且我真的開心他們實際上并不那么可怕和沮喪,正如王子其實也并不是……呃,看上去那副模樣?!?/p>

“那的確很好,波爾,”普登格倫姆謹慎地說,“但在我看來,那些地精不太像只想逃跑的人。要我說,他們更像是行軍的編隊。看著我的臉,高爾戈先生,跟我說,你們并沒有在準備大戰(zhàn)。”

“我們當然在準備啊,閣下,”高爾戈說,“你看,我們不知道女巫已經(jīng)死了。我們還以為她正在城堡上看著呢。我們盡量悄悄地行動,避免被發(fā)現(xiàn)。然后你們四個騎著馬拿著劍從城堡里出來,每個人當然都會對自己說戰(zhàn)爭開始了,誰也不知道殿下不是女巫那邊的。我們都決心要大戰(zhàn)一場,無論如何也不會放棄返回畢斯莫的希望。”

“我敢發(fā)誓這是個誠實的地精?!蓖踝诱f,“放了他吧,朋友普登格倫姆。至于我,好高爾戈,我也像你以及你的同伴一樣中了魔咒,也剛剛才記起我自己是誰?,F(xiàn)在只問你一件事。你知道去新的挖掘點的路嗎?就是女巫準備率領大軍攻入地上世界的那個。”

“咦……咦……咦!”高爾戈尖叫道,“是的,我知道那條可怕的路。我可以指給你們它的起點在哪里。但殿下如果叫我跟你一起去,那沒有半點兒用。我寧愿去死?!?/p>

“為什么?”尤斯塔斯好奇地問,“那條路有什么可怕的地方?”

“距離頂部太近了,距離外面太近了?!备郀柛甏蛑哙抡f,“這是女巫對我們做的最壞的事情了。她打算帶我們從那里出去——上到外面的世界中去。他們說那里根本沒有頂,只有一片被稱作天空的巨大而可怕的虛空。而挖掘的地方已經(jīng)特別靠上,再挖幾下就能到外面去了。我不敢靠近?!?/p>

“好哇!現(xiàn)在說到重點了!”尤斯塔斯叫道。吉爾說:“不過上面一點兒都不可怕。我們很喜歡那兒,我們就住在那里?!?/p>

“我知道你們地上人住在那里。”高爾戈說,“不過我覺得這只是因為你們找不到下來的路。你們不會真的喜歡那里——像蒼蠅一樣在世界頂上爬來爬去?!?/p>

“現(xiàn)在就把那條路指給我們好嗎?”普登格倫姆說。

“正是時候!”王子叫道。他們這一群人就此出發(fā)了。王子上了坐騎,普登格倫姆也爬上馬坐在了吉爾身后,高爾戈在前面帶路。他一路走,一路不停地大聲地喊出好消息:女巫已經(jīng)死了,這四個地上人沒有危險。而那些聽到他的話的人又把消息傳遞給其他人,所以,沒一會兒,整個地下世界都響起了吶喊聲和歡呼聲,成百上千的地精雀躍舞蹈,翻著跟斗,或是倒立著,玩著青蛙跳,點燃大爆竹,聚集在黑煤和雪花周圍。王子不得不將他自己中了魔法然后解除魔法的故事講了至少十遍。

他們就這樣一路來到了裂縫的邊緣。那條裂縫大約一千英尺長,可能有兩百英尺寬。他們都從馬上下來,來到邊緣處,向下望。一股強烈的熱浪迎面撲來,其中還混雜著一種他們從來都沒有聞到過的味道。那味道濃郁、刺激、令人亢奮,還會讓人打噴嚏。裂縫的深處一片明亮,起初他們的眼都花了,根本什么都看不到。等他們適應了之后,他們覺得能夠辨別出一條流動著火焰的河流,而在河岸上,似乎是田地和果園,放射著令人難以直視的熱騰騰的光彩——盡管相比河流來說它們已經(jīng)算是暗淡的了。那里藍紅綠白,各種顏色湊在一起——一塊非常好看的彩色玻璃在正午時分熱帶太陽的直射下,可能會營造出差不多的視覺效果來。在強光的照射下,成百上千的地下人黑壓壓一片仿佛蒼蠅一般在裂縫凹凸不平的側壁上向下爬。

“閣下們,”高爾戈說(他們轉頭看他時,有好一會兒什么都看不見,只看到一團黑,他們的眼睛都花了),“閣下們,你們?yōu)槭裁床幌氯サ疆吽鼓ツ??到那里生活,你們會覺得比在上面的直接裸露而毫無保護的寒冷國度要開心得多。至少下去稍微參觀一下吧?!?/p>

有一瞬間,吉爾理所當然地認為其他人都不會聽從這樣的建議。然而令她大為驚恐的是,她聽到王子開口說:“的確,朋友高爾戈,我有些想和你一起下去。因為這將是一次不可思議的冒險,可能沒有一個凡人曾去過畢斯莫,甚至將來也不會再有此良機。而且,將來一年年過去,我不知道,當回想起我曾經(jīng)有能力去探索地球的最深處卻望而卻步時,自己是否可以承受。不過,人在那里能活嗎?你們不會在火河中游泳吧?”

“啊,不,殿下,我們不游。只有火蜥蜴住在火里面?!?/p>

“你們的火蜥蜴是種什么動物呢?”王子問。

“很難描述他們這個物種,殿下,”高爾戈說,“因為他們渾身雪白渾身發(fā)熱,根本沒有辦法觀察。但他們很像小型的龍。他們在火里和我們說話。他們真的非常能說會道,反應敏捷,雄辯善言。”

吉爾匆忙瞥了尤斯塔斯一眼。她肯定他比自己還要不喜歡爬下裂縫這個主意。但看到他的臉色變化之后,她的心沉了下來。他那副樣子,看起來像王子,而不像實驗學校里的斯克羅布。因為在這一刻,他昔日所經(jīng)歷的全部冒險,他與國王凱斯賓一起航行的日子,又都回到了他心中。

“殿下,”他說,“如果我的老朋友老鼠雷佩契普在這里,他會說,我們無法拒絕畢斯莫的冒險,否則會極大地有損我們的榮譽?!?/p>

“下去吧?!备郀柛暾f,“我可以帶你們?nèi)タ凑嬲慕鹱?,真正的銀子,真正的鉆石?!?/p>

“胡扯!”吉爾粗魯?shù)卣f,“說得就像我們不知道我們在這里就已經(jīng)是在最深的礦下面一樣。”

“的確,”高爾戈說,“我聽說過被你們地上居民稱作礦的那種上層的小小擦痕。但在那里你得到的是死去的金,死去的銀,死去的寶石。而在畢斯莫,這些都是活生生的,會生長的。在那里,我可以摘下成串的紅寶石給你們吃,還能給你們榨滿滿一杯鉆石汁喝。當你在畢斯莫品嘗過活的這些后,就根本不會想碰你們淺礦中那些冷冰冰的死了的財寶了?!?/p>

“我父親曾去過世界盡頭。”瑞利安若有所思地說,“如果他的兒子能去世界的底層,將會是一件了不起的事情。”

“如果殿下想在你父親活著的時候見到他,我想他可是求之不得呢,”普登格倫姆說,“現(xiàn)在我們差不多該上路去挖掘點了?!?/p>

“我不會下到那個洞里去,不管誰說什么?!奔獱柦又f。

“哎呀,如果閣下們真的準備回到地上世界,”高爾戈說,“有一段路可能比這還低呢。而且如果洪水繼續(xù)上漲,可能……”

“啊,拜托了,拜托了,拜托了,咱們快走吧!”吉爾懇求道。

“恐怕必須走了?!蓖踝由钌畹貒@了一口氣,“但我覺得自己有一半的心留在了畢斯莫?!?/p>

“求求你了!”吉爾懇求道。

“那條路在哪里?”普登格倫姆問。

“沿路都有燈。”高爾戈說,“閣下可以在裂縫那一邊看到路的起點?!?/p>

“那些燈能燃多久?”普登格倫姆問。

就在那時,有一種嘶嘶嘶的聲音,仿佛是火本身發(fā)出來的聲音一般(后來,他們猜測可能是一只火蜥蜴的聲音),從畢斯莫的深淵中呼嘯著傳了上來。

“快!快!快!去懸崖!去懸崖!去懸崖!”那聲音說,“裂口要合上了。合上了。合上了???!快!”與此同時,隨著震耳欲聾的轟隆聲,石頭開始移動。等他們再看時,裂縫已經(jīng)變窄了。每一個方向都有遲到的地精急匆匆地沖入裂縫。他們來不及順著石頭爬下去了。他們猛沖過去,可能是由于從下面冒上來的熱氣太強烈,或是其他原因,可以看到他們?nèi)缤瑯淙~一樣飄飄蕩蕩地向下落。飄動的地下人越來越多,一層層地越來越厚,他們黑色的身影幾乎將下面的火河和活寶石果園的光都給遮擋住了。

“再見,閣下們,我要走了?!备郀柛甏蠼幸宦?,跳了下去。跟在他身后的人已經(jīng)很少了。現(xiàn)在裂縫的寬度和一條小溪差不多。然后就變得跟郵筒上的開口那樣窄,再然后幾乎只剩下一條閃亮的線。最后,傳來一聲如同一千節(jié)貨車車廂撞上一千對緩沖器時發(fā)出的巨響,那道巖石的裂縫合上了。熱烘烘的讓人發(fā)狂的熱氣消失了?,F(xiàn)在只剩下幾個旅行者孤零零地留在地下世界,這里似乎比原來更黑了。只有那些蒼白、暗淡、死氣沉沉的燈光顯示出了路的方向。

“走吧,”普登格倫姆說,“我們十有八九待得太久了,不過還是可以試一試。那些燈五分鐘內(nèi)就會熄滅,我一點兒都不覺得奇怪?!?/p>

他們催馬小跑起來,伴著隆隆馬蹄聲,神氣十足地沿昏黑的路而去。不過,剛一上路,他們就開始下坡。如果不是看到在山谷對面還有燈光并且一直向上,一直延伸到他們看不到的地方,他們都會認為高爾戈指錯了路。不過,到了山谷底部,燈光照到的就是流水了。

“快!”王子叫道。他們沿著斜坡飛馳而下。只要再晚五分鐘,下面的情況就會變得非常棘手,因為洪水正洶涌地灌入山谷,如果弄得必須游過去,那么這兩匹馬恐怕就不大行了。不過,現(xiàn)在還只有一兩英尺深,盡管水流在馬腿邊刷刷打轉,但他們還是安全地到了河對岸。

然后,他們緩慢而疲倦地爬上了山,視力所及之處,除了持續(xù)向上的昏暗燈光,別無他物。他們回頭望,看到水已經(jīng)漫延開了。地下世界的所有山峰都變成了島嶼,而且只有那些島嶼上還有燈。每時每刻,都有一些隱約的燈光消失不見。很快,除了他們走的這條路,到處都會變得一片漆黑,他們身后地勢低的地方,雖然燈還沒滅,但燈光卻都照在水上了。

盡管他們必須趕路,不過馬卻不能永遠不休息。他們停了下來,在一片寂靜之中,可以聽到水拍打山石的聲音。

“我想知道,他叫什么名字來著——時間老爹——現(xiàn)在是不是被大水沖走了。”吉爾說,“還有那些奇怪的睡著的動物?!?/p>

“我覺得我們還沒到那么高。”尤斯塔斯說,“你還記得我們到達無日之海之前走了多少下坡路嗎?我覺得水應該還沒漲到時間老爹的洞窟?!?/p>

“這也有可能。”普登格倫姆說,“我更好奇這條路上的那些燈??粗悬c兒暗,是不是?”

“一直是這樣。”吉爾說。

“是啊,”普登格倫姆說,“不過,現(xiàn)在又綠了一些。”

“你不是說,你覺得它們要熄滅了吧?”尤斯塔斯叫道。

“好吧,不管是怎么回事,你總不能認為它們永遠都會亮著,你知道的。”沼澤怪回答,“但別沮喪,斯克羅布。我還觀察了一下水勢,感覺水面上升的速度沒有之前那么快了。”

“小小的安慰,朋友?!蓖踝诱f,“如果我們找不到出去的路,我要懇請你們的原諒,你們所有人。應該怪我,我因為驕傲和幻想,在畢斯莫國的入口處拖延大家太久了。好啦,咱們上馬接著走吧?!?/p>

在接下來大約一個小時的時間里,吉爾有時覺得普登格倫姆關于燈的說法是對的,有時又覺得這只是他的想象。而在這個過程中,地勢發(fā)生了變化。地下世界的頂層越來越近,即使在暗淡的燈光下,他們也能看得清清楚楚。而地下世界凹凸不平的大墻壁也能明顯地看出來正從周圍向他們收縮。那條引著他們向上的路,已經(jīng)漸漸變成了一個陡峭的隧道。他們走過的路上開始出現(xiàn)鐵鎬、鐵鍬和手推車,以及其他說明挖坑工不久前還在此干活的痕跡。如果確信可以出去,那么這一切都是非常振奮人心的。但是要進入一個會變得越來越窄的洞,而且窄得都很難轉身,卻是讓人很不開心的。

最后,頂層變得太低了,普登格倫姆和王子都撞到了頭。他們從馬上下來,牽著馬前行。到了這里,路開始崎嶇不平,落腳時必須謹慎小心。正因如此,吉爾注意到了漸漸濃重的黑暗。這點現(xiàn)在毫無疑問了。在綠幽幽的光中,其他人的臉看起來怪怪的,仿佛鬼魅。突然之間吉爾發(fā)出了一聲小小的尖叫(她是真的忍不住)。而就在此時,有一盞燈,就是他們前面的那一盞,熄滅了。他們后面的那盞也熄滅了。然后,他們陷入了徹底的黑暗。

“要勇敢,朋友們,”瑞利安王子的聲音傳來,“無論我們是生是死,阿斯蘭都是我們善良的神。”

“沒錯,殿下,”普登格倫姆的聲音說,“你們絕對不要忘記,如果我們被困在這里,總是有一個好處的,這樣就省了葬禮的花銷了?!?/p>

吉爾咬住了自己的舌頭。(如果你不希望其他人知道你有多害怕,這總是一個聰明的辦法,將你出賣的正是你的聲音。)

“我們與其在這兒站著,還不如向前走?!庇人顾拐f,吉爾聽到了他聲音中的顫抖,于是覺得自己非常明智,沒有信任自己的聲音。

普登格倫姆和尤斯塔斯走在前面,他們把手臂探在前面摸索著,害怕會撞到什么,吉爾和王子牽著馬跟在后面。

“我說,”過了好一陣,尤斯塔斯的聲音傳來,“是我的眼花了,還是上面真的有道光?”

別人還沒來得及回答,普登格倫姆就叫道:“停步,我碰到頭了。這是泥土,不是巖石。你剛說什么,斯克羅布?”

“獅子在上,”王子說,“尤斯塔斯說的沒錯。是有一種……”

“不過不是日光,”吉爾說,“只是一種冷冷的藍光?!?/p>

“總比什么也沒有強?!庇人顾拐f,“我們能夠得到嗎?”

“那道光沒在我們的頭頂上?!逼盏歉駛惸氛f,“在我們上方,不過是在我剛碰到的墻里面。波爾,你踩在我的肩膀上,看看能不能夠到,你覺得怎么樣?”

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