《能言馬與男孩》第43期:在蒂斯羅克的密室裏(3)

"All this," said the Tisroc, "is a question for the disputations of learned men. I will never believe that so great an alteration, and the killing of the old enchantress, were effected without the aid of strong magic. And such things are to be expected in that land, which is chiefly inhabited by demons in the shape of beasts that talk like men, and monsters that are half man and half beast. It is commonly reported that the High King of Narnia (whom may the gods utterly reject) is supported by a demon of hideous aspect and irresistible maleficence who appears in the shape of a Lion. Therefore the attacking of Narnia is a dark and doubtful enterprise, and I am determined not to put my hand out farther than I can draw it back."
"How blessed is Calormen," said the Vizier, popping up his face again, "on whose ruler the gods have been pleased to bestow prudence and circumspection! Yet as the irrefutable and sapient Tisroc has said it is very grievous to be constrained to keep our hands off such a dainty dish as Narnia. Gifted was that poet who said -" but at this point Ahoshta noticed an impatient movement of the Prince's toe and became suddenly silent.
"It is very grievous," said the Tisroc in his deep, quiet voice. "Every morning the sun is darkened in my eyes, and every night my sleep is the less refreshing, because I remember that Narnia is still free."
"O my father," said Rabadash. "How if I show you a way by which you can stretch out your arm to take Narnia and yet draw it back unharmed if the attempt prove unfortunate?"
"If you can show me that, O Rabadash," said the Tisroc, "you will be the best of sons."
"Hear then, 0 father. This very night and in this hour I will take but two hundred horse and ride across the desert. And it shall seem to all men that you know nothing of my going. On the second morning I shall be at the gates of King Lune's castle of Anvard in Archenland. They are at peace with us and unprepared and I shall take Anvard before they have bestirred themselves. Then I will ride through the pass above Anvard and down through Narnia to Cair Paravel. The High King will not be there; when I left them he was already preparing a raid against the giants on his northern border. I shall find Cair Paravel, most likely with open gates, and ride in. I shall exercise prudence and courtesy and spill as little Narnian blood as I can. And what then remains but to sit there till the Splendour Hyaline puts in, with Queen Susan on board, catch my strayed bird as she sets foot ashore, swing her into the saddle, and then, ride, ride, ride back to Anvard?"
"But is it not probable, O my son," said the Tisroc, "that at the taking of the woman either King Edmund or you will lose his life?"
"They will be a small company," said Rabadash, "and I will order ten of my men to disarm and bind him: restraining my vehement desire for his blood so that there shall be no deadly cause of war between you and the High King."

“這一切，”蒂斯羅克說道，”是個由有學問的人們來爭論的問題。我永遠不會相信，這樣大的變化，殺死老女巫等等，沒有強大魔法的幫助，就會馬到成功。這樣的魔術妖法，在那個國土上是可以指望得到的，那兒主要住着魔鬼(外形是野獸，卻像人一樣說話)，還有半人半獸的妖怪。通常的報告都說，納尼亞的至尊王(願衆神都拋棄他)是由一個惡魔給他撐腰的。那惡魔外貌醜陋，其罪惡行徑不可抗拒，出現時化身爲一頭獅子。因此，攻打納尼亞是一種兇險而可疑的冒險舉動，我決心不要弄到手伸了出去卻縮不回來的地步。”
“卡樂門王國真是有福氣，”首相重新擡起頭來，說道，“神靈樂於將謹慎小心和周密思慮賦予它的國王！然而，正如無可辯駁、足智多謀的蒂斯羅克已經說過的，被迫對納尼亞這樣的美餐遲遲不下手，倒是十分令人痛惜的。天才詩人說……”但講到這兒時，阿霍什塔注意到了王子的腳趾不耐煩的動作，他就突然默不作聲了。
“這是十分令人痛惜的，”蒂斯羅克用他那深沉而平靜的聲調說道，”每天早晨，太陽在我的眼睛裏是發黑的，每天夜間，我的睡眠總是不大能使我醒來時神清氣爽，因爲我總是念念不忘納尼亞王國仍舊是自由的。”
“我的父親啊，”拉巴達什說道，”我給你想個辦法怎麼樣?憑着這辦法，你可以伸出手去攫取納尼亞，萬一不順利，還可以不受傷害地把於縮回來。”
“啊，拉巴達什，如果能替我想出這個辦法來，”蒂斯羅克說道，”你就是我最好的兒子了。”
“父親啊，你聽着。就在今天夜裏，眼前這個時辰裏，我要率領僅僅二百人馬穿過沙漠。事情要做得大家都認爲你壓根兒不知道我的行動。第二天早晨，我就到了阿欽蘭的安瓦德，國王倫恩的堡壘的大門口。他們是同我們和平共處的，也是毫無準備的，我在他們有所動作以前，就把安瓦德佔領了。然後我要放馬馳過安瓦德上邊的關隘，長驅直入納尼亞，到達凱爾帕拉維爾。至尊王不會在那兒；我離開他們時，他已經在準備襲擊北方邊界上的巨人。很可能我會看到凱爾帕拉維爾城門大開，我將縱馬入城，我將謹慎從事，彬彬有禮，盡我所能叫納尼亞人少流點兒血。剩下來的事只不過是坐待'燦爛晶瑩'號進港了，而女王蘇珊就在船上，當她的腳一踏上陸地，我就立刻逮住我那走失的鳥兒，把她甩到馬鞍上，然後我就縱馬奔馳，奔馳，奔回安瓦德。”
“然而，我的兒子啊，很有可能，”蒂斯羅克說，”在搶走這女人時，不是國王愛德蒙，便是你，要丟掉性命，不是嗎?”
“他們是個小小連隊，”拉巴達什說道，”我會命令我手下的十個士兵解除他的武裝，把他捆綁起來我會剋制暴烈的想叫他流血的慾望，這樣，你和至尊王之間就不會有不共戴天的非戰不可的因由了。”