The door slowly opened again, and a figure stepped out of it and walked towards it.Like the girl, he was tall and straight, but not so slim.Although he didn't have a lamp, it seemed like a light was coming from him.As he got closer, Lucy saw that the figure seemed to be an old man.His silver beard hung down to his forefeet, his silver hair fell to his heels, and his silver robe looked like it was made of silver wool.His temperament was very suave, and his expression was serious, which made all the travelers stand in silence once more.However, the old man did not speak to the travelers, but walked to the other side of the table and stood opposite his daughter.Both of them are facing east and raise their arms forward.It was in this posture that they began to sing.I wish I could write it down, but no one in the room could remember it.Afterwards, Lucy said that the song was very high-pitched, almost screaming, but very beautiful.It was a cold song, a song that sang about the early morning.As they sang, the gray cumulus clouds spread out from the eastern sky, and the white spots grew larger and larger, until they became a snow-white cloud, and the sea began to shine with a silvery light.After a long time the father and daughter had been singing, the east began to turn red, and at last the clouds dispersed, and a red sun leaped out of the sea, and a long light shone straight on the long table, shining on the gold and silver cutlery and stone knives.Once or twice, the Narnians wondered if the not-so-big sun rising over the sea was bigger than the one back home.This time they can be sure.That's absolutely true.The light shining on the dew and the table was far brighter and brighter than the sun they had ever seen in any morning.As Edmund later put it, "While there were many things that sounded more exciting on that journey, it was only that moment that was truly the most exciting." ”Now, they know that they have indeed come to the end of the world.Then, it was as if something was flying towards them from the center of the rising sun.But of course, you can't keep your eyes fixed on that direction.But before long the whole sky was filled with the sound of the song that the father and daughter had sung together, but the tone was wild, and no one could understand which language it was singing in.After a few moments, you can see where these songs come from.It turned out to be a flock of birds, large in size and snow-white in color, and thousands of birds flew and stopped everywhere on the grass, on the stone slabs, on the table, on your shoulders, on your hands, on your head, until it looked as if it had snowed heavily.Say it's like snow, not just because these birds turn everything white, but because the outlines of everything are blurred.But Lucy, through the wings of the birds that covered her, saw one of the birds flying up to the old man, with something in his mouth, which looked like a small piece of fruit, or a small piece of burning coal, and it was probably because it was so bright that you couldn't look at it.Immediately, the bird put it in the old man's mouth.Then the bird stopped singing and began to look very busy at the table.When they flew up from the table again, everything on the table that could be eaten and drunk was gone.Thousands of birds took away everything they could not eat or drink, such as bones, skins, shells, and so on, and rushed away in the direction they had come.But now, because they weren't singing, their flapping wings seemed to make the whole air tremble.And now, the whole table was pecked clean, the table was empty, and the three old lords of Narnia were still asleep.At this point, the old man finally turned to face the travelers and welcomed them at the same time."
Your Excellency," said Casbye, "can you tell us how to undo the magic of these three sleeping lords?"
”"To remove this spell," said the old man, "you must sail to the end of the world, or do everything you can to get to the place closest to it, and at the same time, leave at least one of your companions there when you return." ”"So, what will happen to that man?"
asked Repechip."
He must continue to the Far East, and he will never be able to return to this world."
The old man replied."
It's my long-cherished wish."
Repechipe said."
So, sir, are we now nearing the end of the world," asked Casper, "do you know anything about the seas and lands of the East," "I have seen them a long time ago," said the old man, "but they were seen from a very high place, and I have no way of telling you what a sailor ought to know." ”"Do you mean flying high in the sky," Eustace blurted out."
My child, I am far away in the sky," replied the old man, "I am Ramandu."
But judging by your staring, you certainly haven't heard of the name.This is not unusual, because long before any of you came into this world, I was no longer a star, and all the constellations changed. ”"Oh my God," Edmund exclaimed in a low voice, "he's a retired star." ”"Are you no longer a star?"
asked Lucy."
My dear little girl, I am a resting star," replied Ramandu, "and the last time I fell from heaven, I was too old and weak to imagine.I was sent to this island.I'm not as old as I was then.Every morning, a bird brings me a fire berry from the valley of the sun, and each fire berry can make me younger.And then, when I am as young as the baby I was born yesterday, I will be able to rise to the skies again, for we are at the edge of the east, and I will once again take to the skies with great dance steps. ”"In our world," Eustace said, "the star is a huge ball that burns. ”"My child, even in your world, that doesn't say what a star is, it's just what it's made of.And you've already met a star in this world, I think you've seen Koryakin," "Is he also a retired star," Lucy asked."
Well, not exactly," said Lamandou, "he's sent to manage the wreckage, and he can't quite be retired."
Perhaps you could call it punishment.If all goes well, he can shine over the winter south for thousands of years. ”"Your Excellency, what did he do wrong?"
asked Casbin."
My dear child," said Ramandu, "it is not for you to ask, as the son of Adam, to know what fault the stars have committed is sinful.But, forget it, this kind of conversation is simply a waste of time.Have you not yet made up your mind that you will continue to sail eastward and come back again, leaving behind a man who will not be able to return, and then break this magic, or will you sail west?"
”"Repechip, I think the same as you do.""
Even if it weren't," replied Casbin, "it would make me sad if the Dawn Tread could carry us near the end of the world, and we wouldn't go."
But I'm going to think about it for the whole crew.They signed a pact to come in search of the Seven Lords, not to the edge of the world.If we sail east from here to find the edge of the world in the Far East, then no one knows how far the journey will be.They were a brave bunch of companions, but I could tell that some of them were tired of sailing and wanted our ship to point to Narnia.I don't think the decision to continue the voyage without their consent can be made, let alone a poor Lord Ropp.He was already heartbroken. ”"My child," said Ramandou, "sails to the ends of the world with those who do not want to go or who have been deceived, even if you make a wish."
There's no way to crack the magic.They must know where they are going, and why they are going.Who's that broken heart you're talking about, though?"
Caspian told Lord Rop the story to La Mandu."
I can give him what he needs most," said Lamandou, "and there is no restriction or regulation to sleep on this island, and you can't hear the slightest footsteps in your sleep."
Let him sit beside them, and drink until you return. ”"Oh, do it, Casper," said Lucy, "I'm sure that's what he's happy to do." ”It was at this moment that they were interrupted by some footsteps and talking, and it turned out that Drinin and the rest of the ship had come over.They were astonished to see Ramandu and his daughter.Obviously, because the two men knew at a glance that they were not mortals, they took off their hats and saluted, and some of the sailors looked at the empty plates and pots on the table with a look of regret."
Your Excellency," said Casbin to Drininen, "please send two men back to the Dawn Treadmill to deliver a message to Lord Ropp."
Tell him that the last of his fellow shipmates are sleeping here, and that he can join in. ”After explaining the matter, Caspian ordered the others to sit down and explain everything to everyone.When he finished, there was a long silence.Occasionally, there were a few whispers, and at last the leader of the archers stood up solemnly and spoke: "Your Majesty, some of us have long had questions to ask, whether we turn around here or anywhere else, and once we turn around, how are we going to get home, except for the occasional calm and calm, and there are westerly and northwesterly winds all the way.And, if the wind doesn't change, I'd love to know if there's any hope we'll ever see Narnia again.We paddled all the way back, and the supplies didn't last long. ”"What a lander's opinion," said Drininen, "is that the westerly winds prevail throughout the late summer, and always change direction after the New Year."
We'll have a big tailwind pushing us west, and all things considered, it's going to be much more than we need. ”"It's true, captain," said an old sailor born in Galma, "that if you row in January or February, you'll always deal with bad weather in the east."
Your Majesty, with all due respect, if I were to take command of this ship, I would have decided to spend the winter here and wait until March before returning home. ”"What would you be able to eat if you were to spend the winter here?"
asked Eustace."
This table," said Ramandou, "will be filled with the king's feast every day after sunset." ”"That's right."
Several crew members chimed in."
Your Majesty, and all the gentlemen and ladies," said Reinev, "I have only one thing to say.None of us were forced to come to sea.We all came voluntarily.Some of the people who were idle here were staring desperately at the table, thinking about the king's feast.On the day we set off from Kelpalavil, they all talked loudly about the expedition and vowed never to return home if we couldn't see the end of the world.There are also people standing on the docks, willing to leave everything behind and go with us.At first, it was thought to be a good thing, so they would rather do the errand of a cabinman on the Dawn Treader than wear a knight's belt.I don't know if you understand what I'm trying to say.What I want to say is, I think, if a brother like us who goes on a voyage goes home and says we're at the end of the world and doesn't have the courage to go on, it makes us look stupid, like those fools. ”Some of the crew were quick to applaud the remark, but others thought each had its own merits."
Things are not going very well," Edmund whispered to Caspen, "what are we going to do if half of them hold back and want to go back" "Wait a minute," Caspian replied quietly, "I have a card to play." ”"Ray Pechip, don't you have anything to say?"
asked Lucy quietly."
No, why does Your Majesty think I will say it," said Repechip, in a voice that most people could hear, "my own plans are all devised in my own way.As long as I could, I would sail east on the Dawn Treader.When it abandoned me, I rowed my little raft to the East.If the raft sinks, I'll swim east with four paws, and once I can't swim any further, if I can't swim to the land of Aslan, or if I'm swept away by the mighty rush at the edge of the world, I'll sink to the bottom of the sea, and I'll have my nose pointed in the direction of the sunrise, and then let Pebecik take my place and become the leader of the talking rats of Narnia. ”"Listen, listen," said one of the crew members, "I'll say the same thing, except for the little raft, which can't hold me." ”Then he added in a low voice: "I must not let a mouse compare." ”At this critical moment, Caspian suddenly jumped to his feet."
Friends," he said, "I don't think you really understand our purpose.Your words are as if we had come to you with our hats in our hands and begged you to be companions in the same boat.It's not like that at all.We, along with our royal brothers and sisters, and their relatives, as well as the fine knights, His Excellency Repecip and Lord Drinin, are on a mission to the edge of the world.We are pleased to have selected, among those of you who have volunteered, those of us who we believe are worthy of such a noble cause.We didn't say that we would like to ask for your opinion on whether or not to come.So now we command Captain Drinin and First Officer Rheins to carefully consider who among you is the most tenacious in battle, who is the most skilful sailor, who is the purest in blood, who is most loyal to us, to find out who is the most innocent in life and style, and then to make a list of these men and give them to us. ”He paused for a moment, then said in a faster tone, "Aslan is above," he exclaimed, "Do you think that the last thing you are lucky enough to see is that you can buy with a song, of course, everyone who follows us will pass on the title of Dawn Treading to his descendants, and once we return to the land of Kelparaville, he will receive a share of gold or land, enough for him to enjoy endless glory and wealth for the rest of his life."
Now all of you are scattered on the island.Within half an hour, Lord Drinin must hand me the list. ”After hearing this, everyone fell silent.Then the crew stepped forward and bowed, and slowly left.Everyone walked in different directions, but most of them were talking in groups."
Now it's your turn to settle Lord Ropp's business."
Caspian said.However, when he turned towards the head of the table, he found that Ropp was already seated there.It turned out that he had already arrived while everyone was discussing, silently, no one noticed, and sitting next to Lord Arguses.La Mandu's daughter stood beside him as if she had just helped him to sit down; Lamandu stood behind him, resting his hands on Lord Ropp's gray head.Even though it was daytime, Xingchen's hands glowed with a hazy silver light.A smile appeared on Ropp's haggard face, and he held out one hand to Lucy and the other to Caspian, and for a moment it seemed as if he wanted to say something.Then his smile grew brighter and brighter, as if he had experienced a wonderful sensation, and he let out a long, satisfied sigh, and his head hung forward, and he fell asleep at once."
Poor Roop," said Lucy, "I'm glad he fell asleep.He must have had a very bad and terrible time. ”"Let's stop thinking about it."
Eustace said.In the meantime, Caspian's words, perhaps with the help of some magic on the island, began to have the effect he expected, and many people who had just been eager to get rid of the voyage were now feeling completely different about being left behind.Of course, every time a sailor declared that he had made up his mind to be approved to go to sea, those who had not yet spoken felt less and less comfortable with the number of people on their side.So when the half-hour limit was approaching, some people began to make a decisive offer of courtesy to Drinin and Rhines, at least that's what was said in my school, to get a good review.It didn't take long for only three people left who didn't want to go, and those three tried every means to convince others to stay with them.But soon only one person remained.Eventually, he became terrified of being the only one left, and he changed his mind.At the end of the half-hour time limit, everyone lined up to return to Aslan's table and stood solemnly on the side.Drining and Rheinnes walked over and sat down with Casbin and gave a debriefing.With the exception of the man who changed his mind at the last minute, Caspian took it all.His name was Pitton Klin, and he had been on Star Island when everyone had set out to find the end of the world, and he was looking forward to going with them.He wasn't the kind of person who liked to talk to Ramandu and his daughter, and it rained quite a bit, and though every evening the table was full of sumptuous dishes, he had no interest in it.He said that it was creepy to let him sit alone with the four lords who slept at the other end of the table, rain or shine, and that when the others returned, he felt out of place and seemed to be ostracized at every turn, so on the way back he left the group in the Lonely Isles and went to the country of Calemon, where he stayed.There he boasted about his adventures at the end of the world, until he believed it to himself.So, in a sense, you could think that his life would be happy and happy from now on, but he would never be able to bear the presence of a rat in front of him.That night, they all ate and drank at the great table between the pillars, and the feast on the table had been magically exchanged for freshness.The next morning, just as the big birds were flying around again, the Dawn Wave set sail again."
Miss," said Casbian, "I look forward to speaking to you again when I have broken the magic." ”Ramandou's daughter looked at him and smiled slightly.t1706231537: