"Who's there," shouted the three travelers."
I'm the border guard of the underworld, and I'm with me a hundred heavily armed underworldns standing here," the other said, "Tell me quickly, who are you, what did you do in the Underworld?"
”Pudgren said honestly."
There are many who fall, and few who return to the sun-drenched earth."
The voice said, "Ready, now come with me to meet the Queen of the Underworld." ”"What is she going to do with us," Eustace asked cautiously."
I don't know," the voice said, "that her will is unquestionable, and she can only obey absolutely." ”When he said this, it seemed that a soft explosion suddenly erupted, and immediately a cold light flashed, gray and white mixed with a little bit of blue.They all hoped that the speaker, who had been talking and bragging that he had a hundred armed retinues, would die immediately.At this time, Jill found himself blinking involuntarily, staring at the dense crowd.They ranged in size from dwarfs less than a foot tall to tall and majestic men taller than ordinary men, all with three-pronged spears in their hands, their faces frighteningly pale, and all of them standing motionless as statues.In addition to this, they have a number of distinct characteristics: some have tails, some do not, some have bushy beards, and others have round heads, smooth faces, and are as large as pumpkins.Some have long, pointed noses, some have long trunks that are as soft as small elephant trunks, and some have oversized noses that look like fleshy lumps.Several have a single horn in the middle of their foreheads.But on the other hand, they all have something in common: each of these hundred faces has a sad look on their face.They were so sad that when Jill's gaze passed over them, she almost forgot to be afraid of them.She even felt that she wished they could cheer up happily."
Well," said Pudgren, rubbing his hands together, "that's exactly what I had to do."
If these guys hadn't taught me to take life seriously, I wouldn't know what would have taught me.Look at the guy with the walrus beard, or the leader of the underground people with the "stand up" shouting.With no choice but to comply, the three travelers quickly stood up and held hands.In such moments, a person will want to hold the hand of another friend.They were surrounded by the underground men, with a light step on their large soft feet, some of them ten toes, some twelve, some none, and so on."
Forward," the caretaker ordered.So they went on.The cold light source is in a large ball at the top of a long rod.One of the tallest goblins held the long pole at the front of the group.In the cold, gloomy light, they found themselves in a natural cave.The walls and ceiling of the cave have many protrusions, twisting and twisting, and cracking into a thousand strange shapes.The stone floor on which they were moving sloping downward.This was worse for Jill than the others, as she had always hated the dark underground.As they walked forward, the cavern grew lower and narrower, until at last the one with the lamp stood aside, and one by one the goblins leaned over and disappeared without stepping into a small black crack.Jill felt like she couldn't take it anymore."
I can't go there, I can't go, I can't go," she said breathlessly.The underground people didn't say a word, but they all lowered their spears and pointed them at her."
Calm down, Jill," comforted Pudgren, "if the cavern behind it hadn't become more wide, the big guys wouldn't have climbed there at all."
Besides, there is a good thing about this underground world: we will never get wet in the rain again. ”"Oh, you won't understand, I can't," cried Jill."
Jill, think about how I feel on that cliff."
Eustace said, "Pudgren, you go ahead, and I follow her." ”"That's right," said Pudgren, his hands and knees, "you grab my heels, Pol.Eustace will catch you, too, and we'll all be comfortable in that case. ”"Comfortable," Jill said indignantly.Still, she leaned down, and they both crawled in on their elbows.It's a very dirty place, but you have to crawl on your stomach.It seems to be half an hour of climbing, but in fact it may only be five minutes.It was so hot that Jill felt like she was about to suffocate.Eventually, however, a dim light appeared ahead, and the passage grew wider and taller.They crawled out of the hot and dirty and trembling and entered a cave that was so big that it didn't look like a cave at all.The whole cave was filled with a dim and hazy drowsy light, and here they didn't need the strange lantern lighting of the underground people.The ground was very soft, and there was some kind of moss growing on it, and on top of it there were many strange, branched, tree-tall but mushroom-soft things.These oddities are too far apart from each other to form a wood, more like a park in comparison.The glow seemed to be a greenish-gray light emanating from them and the moss, but it wasn't strong enough to reach the roof of the cave, and it must have been a long way above the head.Walking through this warm, soft, sleepy place, they were urged to keep going.It's sad, but it's like soft music, with a hint of silence in the sadness.Here, along the way, they passed many strange animals lying on the grass, dead or asleep, Jill could not tell.Most of them were dragon-like or bat-like creatures that even Pudgren didn't recognize."
Do they all grow here," Eustace asked the guard.The guard seemed surprised that they would speak to him, but he replied, "No, they're all creatures running their way down the crevasses and caves, from the surface world to the deep realm.More falls, less returns to the sun-drenched land.It is said that when the end of the world comes, they will all wake up. ”As soon as he had said this, he fell silent again, and the whole cave fell silent, and the children felt that they could no longer speak.The goblins walked barefoot and walked lightly on the deep moss, silently.There is no wind, no birdsong, no sound of running water.The breath of those strange creatures is silent.After walking for a few miles, they came to a stone wall with a low arch leading to another cave.In any case, this arch was not as bad as the previous entrance, and Jill didn't need to look down to get through.After passing through the arches, they came to a smaller, long, narrow cave that was about the shape and size of a cathedral.There was a huge man lying here sleeping soundly, and he almost filled the entire cave.He was far greater than any giant, and his face was vastly different from that of a giant, and he was born noble and beautiful.His snow-white beard covered his waist, and his chest rose and fell gently under his beard with his breathing.A pure silver light shone serenely on him, and no one could see where it came from."
Who's that," Pudgren asked curiously.It was the first time in a long time that someone had been heard, and Jill couldn't figure out where his courage came from."
That is the Old Man of Time, who was once a king of the earthly worlds," replied the guard, "and now he has sunk into the depths of the underworld, and lies there dreaming of all that is going on in the world above.More falls, less returns to the sun-drenched land.It is said that he will wake up when the end of the world comes. ”Coming out of that cave, they passed through another, and then into another, and went on and on, and on and on, and on,They're always going downhill, each cave being even lower than the last, so much so that you can feel suffocated at the thought of the weight and depth of the land above.Finally, they came to a place where the guards ordered their gloomy lanterns to be lit again.Then they walked into a wide, dark cave, and could see nothing but a long strip of grayish-white sand in front of them, which was rushing into the calm water.Next to a small pier, there was a boat that had no mast and no sails, but a lot of oars.They were put on board and brought to the bow of the boat, where there was an open space in front of the rowers' benches, and a circle of seats were placed on the inside of the bulwark."
There's one thing I'd like to know," asked Pudgren, "has anyone ever been here from our world, I mean from the earthly world, like we have before?"
replied the guard, "and" "Yes, I know," Pudgren interrupted, "back to the sun-drenched earth."
You don't have to repeat this phrase over and over again.You're such a tendon guy, aren't you?"
the children curled up next to each other on either side of Pudgren.When they were on the ground, they thought it was a, but when they fell here, it seemed like their only solace.The pale and dim lantern hung in the middle of the boat, and the underground man sat down to paddle, and the boat began to move.The light cast by the lanterns could only illuminate a small area, and they could see nothing in front of them, only the smooth and smooth black water, which gradually disappeared into the darkness."
Oh, what the hell is going to happen to us," said Jill with a look of despair."
Don't be listless, Jill," said Pudgren, "and one thing to remember: we're back on the right track.We were about to go beneath the ruins of Giant, and now we're beneath it.We followed the instructions again. ”Soon, they all got a share of some of the food, which was some fluffy pastries with no aroma, and almost no taste.After eating, they gradually fell asleep.But when they awoke, everything was as usual, the elves were still rowing, the boat was still gliding, and there was still dead darkness ahead.They always woke up and slept, woke up and ate, ate and slept, and no one among them remembered how many times.The worst thing that can happen is that you start to feel as if you are living on this ship in the dark, and you are desperate to know if the warm sunshine, the blue sky, the gentle breeze and the chirping birds of yesteryear were nothing more than a dream.When they had almost given up hope and were no longer afraid of anything, they finally saw the light that appeared in front of them, and it was very gloomy, like the lantern on the ship on which they were riding.Then, very suddenly, one of the lights approached, and they realized that it was nothing more than another ship passing by their side.After that, they came across a number of ships one after another.They looked desperately, almost desperately, until they saw the lights flickering ahead, looking like docks, walls, towers, and the bustling crowds of people coming and going.But there was still no commotion."
Oh my God," Eustace exclaimed, "a city" and soon they knew he was right.However, it is a quirky city that is suspiciously quirky.Lights are few and far between, barely as dense as the scattered farmhouses in our world.But in the light of the lights, you can see that this small area resembles a large seaport.You can make out that there is a place where there are many ships loading and unloading; In another place, there are bales and bundles of goods, as well as a number of warehouses, warehouses; In the third place, there are walls and pillars that are reminiscent of magnificent palaces or temples.Moreover, everywhere the light shines, there are endless crowds of hundreds of underground people, walking lightly one after another, busy with their own business, traversing narrow streets, vast squares, or stone steps of the grand staircase.As the ship drew closer, their continued movements formed a soft, murmuring sound.However, no singing or shouting, bells, or wheels could be heard anywhere.The city was dead silent, and almost as dark as the inside of an anthill.Eventually, the boat they were on was towed to the dock and tethered.The three of them were taken ashore and walked into the city.The bustling underground people, none of whom looked alike, rubbed shoulders with the three of them in the crowded streets, and the sad light shone on many sad and strange faces.But no one showed the slightest interest in these strangers.Each goblin seemed to have a busy and sad look, though Jill didn't see what they were up to the rest of the time, as if they were just moving endlessly, shoving, shoving, hurrying, and the soft, clattering of footsteps.Eventually, they came to what looked like a huge castle, but there were only a few windows with lights on.They were taken inside, through a courtyard, up many stairs, and finally into a large, dimly lit room.But in a certain corner of this room, oh, it was so pleasing that there was an arch there, filled with a very different light, a reliable, yellowish, warm light, the kind of lamp that only humans would use.This light illuminates one of the foot of stairs inside the arch, which spirals up between the stone walls.The lights seem to be coming down from the top floor.The two underground men stood on each side of the arch, standing guard like sentries or infantry.The guard walked towards the two men and said something that seemed to be a password: "Many fall into the underworld." ”"Return to the sun-drenched earth with less."
They replied as if they were in a code.Then the heads of the three guys came together and talked.One of the goblin attendants said, "Let me tell you, Her Majesty has something important to do from here.We'd better keep these people from above in a dark cell and wait until she returns.Return to the sun-drenched earth with less. ”It was at this moment that the conversation was interrupted by what Jill considered to be the most pleasant voice in the world, from above, from the top of the staircase it was a clear, loud, crisp, utterly human voice, the voice of a young man."
You've been making a lot of noise down there, Mulugusren," the voice shouted, "Bring them up, bring them to me, as soon as possible" "Your Highness, remember," Muluguthren began, but the voice suddenly interrupted him."
If you want to please me, Your Highness, you must obey orders, and the complaining old fellows, bring them up quickly," the voice cried.Murugusren shook his head helplessly, gestured to the few of them, motioned for them to follow him, and began to walk upstairs.With each staircase, the lights are constantly enhanced.Gorgeous tapestries hang on the walls.At the end of the staircase there is a thin curtain, through which the light shines a golden light.The underground man opened the curtain and stood aside.The three of them walked in.They entered a very beautiful room, where more splendid tapestries hung on the walls, a clean fireplace with a bright fire, and carved glasses and red wine glittered brightly on the table.A young man with blond hair stood up to greet them and greet them.He was handsome, and he looked brave and kind, however, there was something strange about his expression, and it seemed that something was not quite right.He was dressed in black and looked a bit like Hamlet."
Welcome, people of the world above," he cried out, "but wait a moment, and forgive me, I have seen you two beautiful children and your eccentric elder before.Aren't you three the ones I met on the bridge at the edge of the Eddings Heath, and I was riding a horse and following my wife. ”"Oh, you're the knight in black who doesn't say a word," exclaimed Jill."
And that lady must be the queen of the Underworld," Pudgren asked with a sneer, in a very unfriendly voice.Eustace couldn't help but blurt out as he thought, "If that's the case, then I think she's trying to send us to a giant castle intent on eating us."
I'd like to know if we've done anything to offend her?"
the black-clad knight frowned, and said unhappily, "If you weren't so young, little boy, you and I would have to fight to the death for this argument."
I must not hear anything that would be detrimental to Madame's reputation.But, on this note, you can rest assured that whatever she has said to you, she has good intentions.You don't know her.She is a bouquet of flowers with all the virtues, such as loyalty, tolerance, steadfastness, gentleness, bravery, and so on.That's what I'm talking about.Her kindness to me alone is beyond me, and it is enough to write an admirable and admirable history.However, you will get to know and like her in the future.Also, what are you doing in the Underworld" Pudgren didn't have time to stop him, and Jill had already blurted out: "We are trying to find Prince Ruilian of the Kingdom of Narnia. ”As soon as the words came out, she realized what a terrible risk she had taken, these people were very likely enemies, but she didn't expect the knight to show an expression that was not very interested."
The Kingdom of Narnia," he said disapprovingly, "I have never heard of the name of the place where that is.As far as I can tell, it must be somewhere in the terrestrial world more than 3,000 miles from here.What a whimsical idea to have brought you here to find this Billentrelian, as you would call him, and, as far as I know, there is absolutely no such man in my lady's kingdom. ”He burst out laughing, very loudly.Jill thought to herself, "I'd love to know what's wrong with his look." ”"We were ordered to come and find a message written on the stone of the ruins of the Giant," Eustace said, "and we have seen the words: Beneath me. ”The knight burst out laughing, even more presumptuously than before."
Then you have been deceived," he said, and the words mean nothing to the purpose of your trip.All you have to do is ask my wife, and she can give you better advice.For they were the remnants of a longer handwriting from ancient times, she remembered it clearly, and it was written as follows: Though I am now underground, and have no kingship, yet the whole earth is under me while I live.It is clear from these verses that one of the great kings of the ancient giants must have been buried there, and that was why he engraved these arrogant words on the stone of his own cemetery.However, due to age, some of the stones have broken and been used by others to build new houses or fill gaps with rubble, but these words are still legible today.You think this is written specifically for you, isn't that the funniest joke in the world?"
were like a basin of cold water pouring down the backs of Eustace and Jill, for to them they probably had nothing to do with their ongoing search, and that they had been brought here as nothing more than an accident."
Don't pay much attention to what he says," said Pudgren, "it's definitely not an accident, our guide is Aslan.It was present when the Giant King ordered the words to be engraved, and it was already aware of all that had happened, including of course. ”"This guide of yours must be a man of longevity, my friend."
The knight burst into laughter again.Jill began to find his laughter a little annoying."
It seems to me, Your Excellency," replied Pudgren, "that if this lady of yours remembers the verses which they first carved in stone, she must have lived a long life. ”"You've got a lot of vision, frog face," said the knight, patting Pudgren on the shoulder, and laughing again, "and you've told you the truth."
She was born in the Protoss and is immortal.I am truly grateful for the infinite generosity she has bestowed upon me, an unfortunate inferior mortal.For you must know, sir, that I am troubled by a strangest of troubles, and that no one will endure me except the grace of Her Majesty.Did I use the word patience, but she did much more for me.She has promised to give me a great kingdom on the land world, and, when I become a king, she will be my closest marriage partner.But if you stand here hungry and listen, then the story is too long.Hey, come on, prepare wine and food for my guests.Gentlemen, please be seated.Little girl, sit in this chair.Then you'll hear the whole thing. ”t1706231537: