Towards noon the next day, Shasta was awakened by something warm and soft that kept moving around his face.He opened his eyes and found himself staring at a long horse's face, its nose and lips almost pressed against his.He remembered the excitement of the previous night, and then got up and sat up, but as soon as he sat up, he couldn't help but mourn."
Ouch Brie," he gasped, "I was in so much pain, my whole body was in such pain, I could barely move. ”"Good morning, little friend.""
I'm afraid you're going to feel a little numb and stiff in your hands and feet.But it can't be a painful fall, you just fall down twelve or three times, and each time you fall on the beautiful, soft and elastic green grass.Falling on this kind of grass is actually a very happy thing, and only once you may feel uncomfortable, that is, when the skin is cut by the spikes of thorns.It's also not right, it's probably the horseback riding itself that makes you tired.I've already eaten something for breakfast. ”"Ah, I hate breakfast, I hate everything," Shasta was full of resentment, "I told you, I can't move at all right now. ”But the horse leaned over and rubbed his nose against him, and gently stroked him with his hooves, so he had to get up.Then he looked around to see where they were.Behind them was a small bush, and the grass in front of them was covered with small white flowers that stretched to the top of the cliff below.Below them, still far away, is the sea, where the faint sound of the waves can be heard.Shasta had never seen the sea at such a height before, he had never known that the sea would look so vast, he had never even dreamed that the sea would be so colorful and magnificent, the coast was constantly stretching to both sides, the headlands were so close together, and he could even see the white foam splashed by the waves at the tip of the headland as they hit the rocks.However, because of the distance, I couldn't hear anything.Seagulls are flying overhead, and the heat wave on the earth is shaking, what a day of blazing sun.However, Shasta was more concerned about the air problem, he couldn't think of what was missing, and then it finally dawned on him that there was no fishy smell in the air, whether it was staying in the house or shuttling in the fishing nets, there was a fishy smell everywhere in the environment he lived in before.But the air here was so fresh and wonderful, as if all the old life was slowly beginning to leave him, and he forgot for a moment the scars on his body and the pain in his body.He said to Brie, "Hey, I said Brie, did you just talk about breakfast" "Yes, I did," replied Brie, "I think you should go rummage through the saddlebags, and you'll find something to eat."
The saddlebag hangs on the tree over there, and you could have hung it up last night, or this morning. ”They looked at the saddlebags, and the result was a very happy meatloaf, only a little less fresh, a large pile of dried figs, a large piece of cheese that had turned a little green, a small bottle of liquor, and some money, about forty kryshin in all, which Shasta had never seen since he had grown up.Enduring the pain, Shasta sat down cautiously, leaning his back against a tree, and began to eat the patty.Brie accompanied him, and also bowed his head and ate a few mouthfuls of grass."
Wouldn't it be theft if we spent the money?"
asked Shasta, a little apprehensive."
Oh," the horse replied, chewing on the grass and looking up, "I've never thought of that question.As a free horse, a talking horse, of course, there will never be any stealing.But I think we're perfectly right to spend that money.We are treated as prisoners and captives in enemy countries, and the money is a spoil, a reward, and if we don't have it, what are we going to give you something to eat, and according to my guess, you, like any other human being, will never eat natural foods like grass and oats. ”"I can't eat it."
Shasta replied."
So have you tried it before," Brie asked curiously."
Yes, I've tasted it, I can't swallow it at all, if it were you and me, I'm sure you wouldn't be able to swallow it."
Shasta replied."
You're weird little creatures, and I mean you humans," Brie commented.When Shasta finished his breakfast, the most delicious breakfast he had ever had, Brie said, "Let me roll around before we put the saddle back in and the stuff." ”With that, it begins."
It's so comfortable, it's so comfortable," it rubbed against its back on the turf, its four legs dancing towards the sky, "you should try it too," Brie snorted from her nostrils, "it's the most refreshing exercise ever." ”However, Shasta burst out laughing and said, "When you're on all fours like that, it looks really funny." ”"I don't think it's a big deal," Brie said, but it suddenly rolled over and lay on its side, then raised its head and stared at Shasta tightly, panting slightly."
Does this really look funny," Brie asked in an anxious tone."
yes, it's funny.""
But what's the big deal," Shasta replied, "You think so, don't you," said Brie with annoyance, "maybe the human-speaking horses never do this, it's a stupid, funny prank I learned from the mute horses who can't speak."
If I go back to Narnia, I'm tainted with a lot of shitty vices, and it's bad if I'm discovered.What do you think, Shasta, now, tell me honestly, don't worry about my feelings, do you think a real, free horse can talk to people, the kind that can roll" "How would I know but I know that if I were you, I wouldn't bother with such a thing.We'll have to get there first.Do you know the way there?"
"I know the way to Tashban, after which you will be in the desert.Oh, we can think of a way through the desert without fear.Oops, and then we'll look out over to the mountains to the north.Think about it, arriving in Narnia and the North, when nothing could stop us from moving forward.However, I would be very happy to be able to get around Tashban, because the farther away from the city the safer it will be for you and me. ”"Can we avoid it," Shasta asked."
In that case we would have to walk a little inland, which would take us to the farmland or to the main road, which I am not familiar with.Don't walk like that, let's walk slowly along the coastline.From here, all the way to the open hills, you will not meet anything but flocks, hares, seagulls, or a few shepherds.By the way, how about we go now" Shasta put the saddle on, and then climbed the saddle to the horse, still feeling pain in his legs.But the horse was very friendly to him, and walked unhurriedly with gentle steps throughout the afternoon.When twilight fell, they walked down a steep path into a valley, where they found a small village.Before entering the valley, Shasta jumped off his horse, and he walked into the village, where he bought a loaf of bread, some onions, and some small turnips.The horses wandered in the shadows near the fields, waiting a little further from the village to meet Shasta.Over the next few days, it became their rule.These days have been remarkable for Shasta, and he feels better day by day, as his muscles are slowly getting stronger and he is falling off his horse less and less.Even when his training sessions were over, Brie said he was like a bag of flour on horseback."
Little one, even if you sit safely and steadily, I am ashamed to be seen walking with you on the main road."
However, no matter how rude he spoke, Brie was always a very patient instructor, and no one could teach others to ride a horse as well as a horse.Shasta learned to trot, jog and jump on horseback, and he could always sit firmly in the saddle even if Brie stopped suddenly or swayed from side to side without warning.At the same time, of course, Shasta began to beg Brie to tell him about the battles and wars he had fought with the previous Tykan.So Brie began to tell of the rush of the march, the wading of the river from the rapids, the charge and the fierce battle between the cavalry and the cavalry.In war, horses fought as valiantly as warriors, fierce stallions, trained to bite and kick, and to stand up in a pinch, so that when a sword or axe slashed at the enemy, the weight of the horse and cavalry was all pressed against the enemy's helmet.But Brie didn't talk about the war as often as Shasta expected."
Don't always talk about this, little one," it always says, "it's all a war waged by Tisrock, and I took part in it as a slave and a dumb animal."
If I am asked to go to war in Narnia, then I will be a free horse, fighting with our own people, and that is the war that is really worth talking about.Heading towards Narnia and the north, Blaha shouted, "After a while, Shasta understood that once Brie cheered as he had just done, he was ready to gallop."
They kept on trekking, week after week.There were too many bays, headlands, rivers and villages to pass along the way, more than Shasta could remember.On moonlit nights they always start their journey in the evening and sleep during the day.They had left the hills far behind, and were traversing a vast plain, with a forest about half a mile to their left, and the sea about the same distance on their right, blocked by low dunes.They jogged all the way forward, walked for more than an hour, and on the way they trotted for a while, and walked slowly for a while, which was very pleasant.But suddenly, Brie stopped."
What's wrong," Shasta asked nervously."
Shhhhh ”Shasta listened with bated breath for nearly a minute before replying."
It's another horse," Brie muttered, "and that's exactly what I don't like to happen." ”"Maybe the peasant happened to be riding late," Shasta said, yawning."
Don't get an axe in front of me," Brie said to him dismissively, "it's definitely not the sound of a peasant riding a horse, nor is it the sound of a peasant horse.Can you tell these things from the sound that it is a good horse, and the rider on horseback is a real knight.I'll tell you what's going on, Shasta.At the edge of the forest was a tykan, and he was not riding a warhorse, and the sound was too light for a warhorse, and I dare say, it must have been a mare of good blood. ”"Okay, but whatever kind of horse it is, it's stopped now."
Shasta said."
You're right," replied Brie, "but why did it stop as soon as we stopped?"
Shasta, my child, I am now convinced that someone is holding us like a shadow. ”"So what are we going to do next?"
asked Shasta quietly in a deeper voice than before, "do you think it can hear us and see us?"
”Brie replied, "But you see there's a dark cloud coming over there."
I'm going to stand here and wait until the cloud obscures the moon, and then we're going to run as fast as we can to the right, all the way down, to the shore.Even if the worst happens, we can hide between the dunes. ”When the cloud obscured the moon, they hurried toward the shore, at first at a leisurely pace, and then began to trot in a hurry.The cloud was bigger and thicker than when they first saw it, and soon the night became very dark.Just as Shasta said to himself, "We must be approaching those dunes by now," his heart was about to beat to his lips, for suddenly a terrifying voice came from the darkness ahead, a long roar, full of sadness and very wild.Without hesitation, Brie immediately turned around and ran as hard as he could towards the interior again."
What the hell is that," Shasta asked in alarm."
It's a lion," replied Brie, who did not slow down in the slightest and ran forward without looking back.For the rest of the day, they were completely galloping, and they were really running for a while.At last they made a splash across a wide, shallow stream, and it was not until they reached the shore that Brie finally stopped.Shasta felt himself tremble and break out in a cold sweat."
That water might wash away our breath and make it impossible for the beast to smell it."
When Brie could breathe to some extent, he panted and said, "Now we can slow down for a while." ”As they walked slowly, Brie said, "Shasta, I'm ashamed of myself.I was as frightened as a normal dumb Calemin horse who couldn't speak, ah, I did.I don't think it's like a real talking horse at all.I don't care about swords, spears, bows and arrows, but I can't stand them.I think I'm going to trot again again. ”After about a minute, it was again running desperately forward, anyway, and there was no doubt about it, for the roar rang out again, this time from the woods to their left."
There are actually two lions," Brie couldn't help but lament.They continued to gallop for some time, and when they no longer heard the roar of the lion in the distance, Shasta said: "I say, now another horse is already running around us, only a stone's throw away." ”"That's much better," said Brie breathlessly, "and a tykan on a horse must have a sword with him to protect us." ”"But, Brie," said Shasta in alarm, "we should be eaten by a lion rather than be caught."
Once caught, I'd have to be hanged as a horse thief. ”He was far less afraid of lions than Brie, for he had never seen a lion, but Brie had.Brie just snorted and didn't answer, but it did start to turn to the right.Oddly enough, the other horse also suddenly turned sharply to the left, so that after a while, the distance between them gradually increased.Just as they were running to the right and left, two more lion roars, one after the other, one on the left and one on the right.The two horses began to move closer together.In the same way, it was evident that the two lions were constantly moving closer together, and the rough roars on either side were so close that it seemed that it might catch up with the two galloping horses at any moment.Immediately afterward, the clouds dispersed, and the bright moonlight illuminated everything on the ground as clearly as day.The two horses and the two riders were running almost shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, like a race against the clock.Brie did say later that it was the best race it had ever seen in Calmen.Now Shasta was a little restless, and he began to worry about whether the lion would kill him immediately, or if it would tease him like a cat teasing a mouse, or how painful it would be to be injured by a lion.At the same time, if a person is in deep fear, as is usually the case, he carefully observes everything around him.He noticed that the other rider was a very petite and thin man, dressed in armor with moonlight shining on it, and riding on horseback with a serious face, without a beard on his face.A flat, shiny mass spread out in front of them, and before Shasta could think about what it was, he was splashed all over his face.He found that his mouth was filled with at least half of the salty water, and it turned out that this shiny thing was a long harbor under the sea.Both horses were swimming in the sea, the water was knee-deep to Shasta, and an angry lion roar was heard behind them.Shasta turned his head and saw a huge, shaggy, terrifying figure crouching on the shore, but only a lion."
Looks like we've left the other one behind."
He thought to himself.The lion apparently thought that it was very unworthwhile to get wet for the sake of prey, and in any case, it had no intention or will to jump into the water to hunt them down.So, the two horses walked side by side.Now they have moved into the center of the stream, with the waterfront on the opposite side clearly visible.From beginning to end, that Tykan didn't say a word."
He'll talk later," Sasta pondered, "and we'll be talking once we're on land, but I'll have to make a story that makes sense." ”Immediately after, two voices sounded beside him."
Oh, I'm so tired."
One of them said."
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Shut up, Herwin, and don't be a fool."
Another voice said."
I must be dreaming," Shasta thought to himself, "I could swear to God, I heard another horse talking." ”After a while, the two horses stopped swimming but strode along, and with the sound of water rushing down from their sides and tails, and the clatter of their eight hooves on the pebbles, they went out of the harbor and towards the entrance to the beach at the far other end.To Shasta's astonishment, the Tykan looked like he didn't want to ask any questions at all, and he didn't even look at Shasta, as if he wanted to gallop straight forward.At this moment, however, Brie took a few steps and blocked the path of the other horse with his shoulder blades."
Bruhuha," it snorted, "I heard you, I did."
It's not a good thing to pretend, ma'am, I've heard you and you're a talking horse, a horse from Narnia like me. ”"Even if it's a horse from Narnia, what does it have to do with you," the strange rider said fiercely, pressing his hand to the hilt of his sword.But from the sound of those words, Shasta has already judged some facts."
Oh, it's just a little girl," he cried out."
Even if I'm just a little girl, what does it have to do with you," the stranger immediately retorted, "you're just a little boy."
A rude, unremarkable little boy, perhaps you are still a slave who stole your master's horse. ”"Everything is as you say."
Shasta replied."
He's not a thief, little Tyxina," said Brie, "at least, if you have to talk about theft, you'd better say I stole him."
But that's not what I'm concerned about right now, and you don't expect me to meet a lady from my own country in this strange country and pass by, without saying a word, I think it's natural to say hello to each other. ”"I think it's a natural thing to do."
The mare said."
I want you to keep your mouth shut, Herwin."
The girl said angrily, "Look, you're getting us two in trouble." ”"I don't know what your troubles are."
Shasta said dissatisfiedly, "If you want to leave, you can leave as soon as possible, no one will keep you." ”"That's right, you can't keep it."
The girl sneered."
They humans are really an animal that likes to argue and quarrel."
Brie said to the mare, "They are as incorrigible as donkeys, let's talk about some sane topics, ma'am, according to my guess, you must have a background and experience similar to mine, you were captured when you were young, and spent many years as a slave in Calemun." ”"Absolutely, sir."
The mare replied with a mournful neigh."
And now, maybe on the run," Brie asked tentatively."
Herwin, just tell it to mind its own business, and not to meddle in it," the little girl said angrily."
No, I won't do that, Araves."
The mare folded her ears and said, "Like you, I'm on the run.And I'm convinced that a noble horse like you won't betray me, and we're all trying to escape and return to the land of Narnia. ”"Yes, that's exactly what we are," said Brie, unsurprised, "of course, you must have guessed at a glance that a little boy in ragged clothes, riding or barely riding a war horse in the dead of night, could only be considered to be on the run or something like that."
At the same time, if I may say so, a noble-born Texina, riding alone in the middle of the night, wearing her brother's armor, and then very impatiently letting others mind their own affairs and not ask her any questions, if that is not at all doubtful, then you can simply call me a bantam. ”"That's right.""
You guessed it.Herwin and I were indeed on our way to escape, and we tried to escape to Narnia.Now, then, what are your plans for this?"
"Well, if that's the case, what reason could be there to stop us from traveling," said Brie pleasantly, "I am convinced, Lady Herwin, that you will accept the assistance and protection that I have offered you as much as possible during your journey. ”"Why do you keep talking to my horse and ignoring me?"
asked Alaves, dissatisfied."
I'm sorry, Texina," Brie said very frankly, her ears tilting back slightly, "but it was a Calemon conversation, and Herwin and I were both free horses from Narnia.My guess is that when you run to Narnia, you'll be free, and by that time, Herwin will no longer be your horse, and maybe people will think you're her human. ”The little girl opened her mouth to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything.Obviously, she had never considered this from a different perspective before."
It's just," she continued, after a pause, "I don't know there's so much to say about the fact that we're on a journey together, isn't it more noticeable that we're walking together?"
”Brie replied.Then the mare also said, "Oh, let us go together, so that I am much more comfortable, and we are not even sure of the path we are going to take, and I am sure that there must be more than we know about such a great horse." ”"Oh, let's go, Brie.""
Let them go their own way, don't you see that they don't need us," Shasta said, "We need you." ”Herwin said."
Listen to me," said Alaves, "Mr.
Warhorse, I don't mind walking with you, but what about this little kid, can you be sure that he is not a treacherous man?""
Be quiet, Shasta," Brie stopped him, "and Texina's question is legitimate.Tekshina, I would like to vouch for this boy, he has always been open and honest with me, and is a very good friend, it is certain that he is not a Narnia, or an Achinlander. ”"That's good.So, let's go together. ”Even so, she didn't say anything to Shasta, and it was obvious that it was Brie who she needed, not him."
It's wonderful," said Brie with great satisfaction, "that we're safe for the time being, separated from the beasts by a stretch of water."
How about you two take off the saddle from the two of us, let's rest for a while and get to know each other's experiences and stories, okay?"
Both horses had eaten some grass to satisfy their hunger, and Alaves took some of the delicate-looking food out of his saddle bag and ate it, and Shasta was annoyed with her, so he said to the food she had handed her, "No, thank you." ”He didn't feel hungry yet, and tried to put on what he thought was heroic, tough posture.However, the fisherman's place is not a good place to learn heroic manners, and the consequences can be very serious.He knew half-understood that his actions were not having the desired effect, and he became more irritated and embarrassed than before.In contrast, the two horses got along more and more well, and they remembered the same place in Narnia, "the savannah by the beaver dam", and also found that they were actually related to each other, and they were second-generation cousins.As a result, the relationship between the two humans seems to be more and more unsmooth.Finally, Brie said, "Tell us your story, Tekshina, but don't be in a hurry, I'm feeling relaxed and comfortable right now." ”Alasvi immediately began to tell that she sat in the same position, in a completely different tone and style than usual.At Calmen, storytelling, whether true or made-up, is a taught thing, just like the prose writing of English boys and girls.The difference is that people want to hear stories, and I've never heard of anyone who wants to listen to prose.t1706231537: