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〃i … i think；〃 said lucy； 〃ive seen something like it before。 it was a knife like it that the white witch used when she killed aslan at the stone table long ago。”
〃it was the same。；〃 said the girl； 〃and it was brought here to be kept in honour while the world lasts。”
edmund； who had been looking more and more unfortable for the last few minutes； now spoke。
〃look here；〃 he said； 〃i hope im not a coward … about eating this food； i mean … and im sure i dont mean to be rude。 but we have had a lot of queer adventures on this voyage of ours and things arent always what they seem。 when i look in your face i cant help believing all you say： but then thats just what might happen with a witch too。 how are we to know youre a friend？”
〃you cant know；〃 said the girl。 〃you can only believe or not。”
after a moments pause reepicheeps small voice was heard。
〃sire；〃 he said to caspian； 〃of your courtesy fill my cup with wine from that flagon： it is too big for me to lift。 i will drink to the lady。”
caspian obeyed and the mouse； standing on the table； held up a golden cup between its tiny paws and said； 〃lady； i pledge you。〃 then it fell to on cold peacock； and in a short while everyone else followed its example。 all were very hungry and the meal； if not quite what you wanted for a very early breakfast； was excellent as a very late supper。
〃why is it called aslans table？〃 asked lucy presently。
〃it is set here by his bidding；〃 said the girl； 〃for those who e so far。 some call this island the worlds end； for though you can sail further； this is the beginning of the end。”
〃but how does the food keep？〃 asked the practical eustace。 ？
〃it is eaten； and renewed every day；〃 said the girl。 〃this you will see。”
〃and what are we to do about the sleepers？〃 asked caspian。 〃in the world from which my friends e〃 （here； he nodded at eustace and the pevensies） 〃they have a story of a prince or a king ing to a castle where all the people lay in an enchanted sleep。 in that story he could not dissolve the enchantment until he had kissed the princess。”
〃but here；〃 said the girl； 〃it is different。 here he cannot kiss the princess till he has dissolved the enchantment。”
〃then；〃 said caspian； 〃in the name of aslan； show me how to set about that work at once。”
〃my father will teach you that；〃 said the girl。
〃your father！〃 said everyone。 〃who is he？ and where？”
〃look；〃 said the girl； turning round and pointing at the door in the hillside。 they could see it more easily now； for while they had been talking the stars had grown fainter and great gaps of white light were appearing in the greyness of the eastern sky。
xs
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
小？说网
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 girls but not so slender。 it carried no light but light seemed to e 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 e 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 couldnt 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 mans 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 wele。
〃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 worlds end； or as near as you can e to it； and you must e back having left at least one of your pany 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 hearts desire；〃 said reepicheep。
〃and are we near the worlds 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