Aslan.Thechildrenblinkedandlookedaboutthem.TheywereoncemoreintheWoodbetweentheWorlds;UncleAndrewlayonthegrass,stillasleep;Aslanstoodbesidethem.
“Come,”saidAslan;“itistimethatyouwentback.Buttherearetwothingstoseetofirst;awarning,andacommand.Lookhere,children.”
Theylookedandsawalittlehollowinthegrass,withagrassybottom,warmanddry.
“Whenyouwerelasthere,”saidAslan,“thathollowwasapool,andwhenyoujumpedintoityoucametotheworldwhereadyingsunshoneovertheruinsofCharn.Thereisnopoolnow.Thatworldisended,asifithadneverbeen.LettheraceofAdamandEvetakewarning.”
“Yes,Aslan,”saidboththechildren.ButPollyadded,“Butwe’renotquiteasbadasthatworld,arewe,Aslan?”
“Notyet,DaughterofEve,”hesaid.“Notyet.Butyouaregrowingmorelikeit.ItisnotcertainthatsomewickedoneofyourracewillnotfindoutasecretasevilastheDeplorableWordanduseittodestroyalllivingthings.Andsoon,verysoon,beforeyouareanoldmanandanoldwoman,greatnationsinyourworldwillberuledbytyrantswhocarenomoreforjoyandjusticeandmercythantheEmpressJadis.Letyourworldbeware.Thatisthewarning.Nowforthecommand.Assoonasyoucan,takefromthisUncleofyourshismagicringsandburythemsothatnoonecanusethemagain.”
BoththechildrenwerelookingupintotheLion’sfaceashespokethesewords.Andallatonce(theyneverknewexactlyhowithappened)thefaceseemedtobeaseaoftossinggoldinwhichtheywerefloating,andsuchasweetnessandpowerrolledaboutthemandoverthemandenteredthemthattheyfelttheyhadneverreallybeenhappyorwiseorgood,orevenaliveandawake,before.Andthememoryofthatmomentstayedwiththemalways,sothataslongastheybothlived,ifevertheyweresadorafraidorangry,thethoughtofallthatgoldengoodness,andthefeelingthatitwasstillthere,quiteclose,justroundsomecornerorjustbehindsomedoor,wouldcomebackandmakethemsure,deepdowninside,thatallwaswell.Nextminuteallthreeofthem(UncleAndrewnowawake)cametumblingintothenoise,heat,andhotsmellsofLondon.
TheywereonthepavementoutsidetheKetterleys’frontdoor,andexceptthattheWitch,theHorse,andtheCabbyweregone,everythingwasexactlyastheyhadleftit.Therewasthelamp-post,withonearmmissing;therewasthewreckofthehansomcab;andtherewasthecrowd.Everyonewasstilltalkingandpeoplewerekneelingbesidethedamagedpoliceman,sayingthingslike,“He’scominground”or“Howdoyoufeelnow,oldchap?”or“TheAmbulancewillbehereinajiffy.”
“GreatScott!”thoughtDigory,“Ibelievethewholeadventure’stakennotimeatall.”
MostpeoplewerewildlylookingroundforJadisandthehorse.Noonetookanynoticeofthechildrenfornoonehadseenthemgoornoticedthemcomingback.AsforUncleAndrew,whatbetweenthestateofhisclothesandthehoneyonhisface,hecouldnothavebeenrecognizedbyanyone.Fortunatelythefrontdoorofthehousewasopenandthehousemaidwasstandinginthedoorwaystaringatthefun(whatadaythatgirlwashaving!)sothechildrenhadnodifficultyinbustlingUncleAndrewindoorsbeforeanyoneaskedanyquestions。
Heracedupthestirsbeforethemandatfirsttheywereveryafraidhewasheadingforhisatticandmeanttohidehisremainingmagicrings.Buttheyneedn’thavebothered.Whathewasthinkingaboutwasthebottleinhiswardrobe,andhedisappearedatonceintohisbedroomandlockedthedoor.Whenhecameoutagain(whichwasnotforalongtime)hewasinhisdressinggownandmadestraightforthebathroom.
“Canyougettheotherrings,Poll?”saidDigory.“IwanttogotoMother.”
“Right.Seeyoulater,”saidPollyandclattereduptheatticstairs.
ThenDigorytookaminutetogethisbreath,andthenwentsoftlyintohisMother’sroom.Andthereshelay,ashehadseenherliesomanyothertimes,proppeduponthepillows,withathin,palefacethatwouldmakeyoucrytolookat.DigorytooktheAppleofLifeoutofhispocket.
AndjustastheWitchJadishadlookeddifferentwhenyousawherinourworldinsteadofinherown,sothefruitofthatmountaingardenlookeddifferenttoo.Therewereofcourseallsortsofcolouredthingsinthebedroom;thecolouredcounterpaneonthebed,thewallpaper,thesunlightfromthewindow,andMother’spretty,palebluedressingjacket.ButthemomentDigorytooktheAppleoutofhispocket,allthosethingsseemedtohavescarcelyanycolouratall.Everyoneofthem,eventhesunlight,lookedfadedanddingy.ThebrightnessoftheApplethrewstrangelightsontheceiling.Nothingelsewasworthlookingat:youcouldn’tlookatanythingelse.AndthesmelloftheAppleofYouthwasasiftherewasawindowintheroomthatopenedonHeaven.
“Oh,darling,howlovely,”saidDigory’sMother.
“Youwilleatit,won’tyou?Please,”saidDigory.
“Idon’tknowwhattheDoctorwouldsay,”sheanswered.“Butreally-IalmostfeelasifIcould.”
Hepeeleditandcutitupandgaveittoherpiecebypiece.Andnosoonerhadshefinisheditthanshesmiledandherheadsankbackonthepillowandshewasasleep:areal,natural,gentlesleep,withoutanyofthosenastydrugs,whichwas,asDigoryknew,thethinginthewholeworldthatshewantedmost.Andhewassurenowthatherfacelookedalittledifferent.Hebentdownandkissedherverysoftlyandstoleoutoftheroomwithabeatingheart;takingthecoreoftheapplewithhim.Fortherestofthatday,wheneverhelookedatthethingsabouthim,andsawhowordinaryandunmagicaltheywere,hehardlydaredtohope;butwhenherememberedthefaceofAslanhedidhope.
ThateveningheburiedthecoreoftheAppleinthebackgarden。
NextmorningwhentheDoctormadehisusualvisit,Digoryleanedoverthebanisterstolisten.HeheardtheDoctorcomeoutwithAuntLettyandsay:
“MissKetterley,thisisthemostextraordinarycaseIhaveknowninmywholemedicalcareer.Itis-itislikeamiracle.Iwouldn’ttellthelittleboyanythingatpresent;wedon’twanttoraiseanyfalsehopes.Butinmyopinion-”thenhisvoicebecametoolowtohear.
ThatafternoonhewentdownthegardenandwhistledtheiragreedsecretsignalforPolly(shehadn’tbeenabletogetbackthedaybefore).
“Whatluck?”saidPolly,lookingoverthewall.“Imean,aboutyourMother?”
“Ithink-Ithinkitisgoingtobeallright,”saidDigory.“Butifyoudon’tmindI’dreallyrathernottalkaboutityet.Whatabouttherings?”
“I’vegotthemall,”saidPolly.“Look,it’sallright,I’mwearinggloves.Let’sburythem.”
“Yes,let’s.I’vemarkedtheplacewhereIburiedthecoreoftheAppleyesterday.”
ThenPollycameoverthewallandtheywenttogethertotheplace.But,asitturnedout,Digoryneednothavemarkedtheplace.Somethingwasalreadycomingup.ItwasnotgrowingsothatyoucouldseeitgrowasthenewtreeshaddoneinNarnia;butitwasalreadywellaboveground.Theygotatrowelandburiedallthemagicrings,includingtheirownones,inacircleroundit.
AboutaweekafterthisitwasquitecertainthatDigory’sMotherwasgettingbetter.Aboutafortnightlatershewasabletositoutinthegarden.Andamonthlaterthatwholehousehadbecomeadifferentplace.AuntLettydideverythingthatMotherliked;windowswereopened,frowsycurtainsweredrawnbacktobrightenuptherooms,therewerenewflowerseverywhere,andnicerthingstoeat,andtheoldpianowastunedandMothertookuphersingingagain,andhadsuchgameswithDigoryandPollythatAuntLettywouldsay“Ideclare,Mabel,you’rethebiggestbabyofthethree.”
Whenthingsgowrong,you’llfindtheyusuallygoongettingworseforsometime;butwhenthingsoncestartgoingrighttheyoftengoongettingbetterandbetter.AfteraboutsixweeksofthislovelylifetherecamealongletterfromFatherinIndia,whichhadwonderfulnewsinit.OldGreat-UncleKirkehaddiedandthismeant,apparently,thatFatherwasnowveryrich.HewasgoingtoretireandcomehomefromIndiaforeverandever.Andthegreatbighouseinthecountry,whichDigoryhadheardofallhislifeandneverseenwouldnowbetheirhome;thebighousewiththesuitsofarmour,thestables,thekennels,theriver,thepark,thehot-houses,thevineries,thewoods,andthemountainsbehindit.SothatDigoryfeltjustassureasyouthattheywereallgoingtolivehappilyeverafter.Butperhapsyouwouldliketoknowjustoneortwothingsmore.
PollyandDigorywerealwaysgreatfriendsandshecamenearlyeveryholidaystostaywiththemattheirbeautifulhouseinthecountry;andthatwaswhereshelearnedtorideandswimandmilkandbakeandclimb.
InNarniatheBeastslivedingreatpeaceandjoyandneithertheWitchnoranyotherenemycametotroublethatpleasantlandformanyhundredyears.KingFrankandQueenHelenandtheirchildrenlivedhappilyinNarniaandtheirsecondsonbecameKingofArchenland.Theboysmarriednymphsandthegirlsmarriedwood—godsandriver-gods.Thelamp-postwhichtheWitchhadplanted(withoutknowingit)shonedayandnightintheNarnianforest,sothattheplacewhereitgrewcametobecalledLanternWaste;andwhen,manyyearslater,anotherchildfromourworldgotintoNarnia,onasnowynight,shefoundthelightstillburning.Andthatadventurewas,inaway,connectedwiththeonesIhavejustbeentellingyou.
Itwaslikethis.ThetreewhichsprangfromtheApplethatDigoryplantedinthebackgarden,livedandgrewintoafinetree.Growinginthesoilofourworld,faroutofthesoundofAslan’svoiceandfarfromtheyoungairofNarnia,itdidnotbearapplesthatwouldreviveadyingwomanasDigory’sMotherhadbeenrevived,thoughitdidbearapplesmorebeautifulthananyothersinEngland,andtheywereextremelygoodforyou,thoughnotfullymagical.Butinsideitself,intheverysapofit,thetree(sotospeak)neverforgotthatothertreeinNarniatowhichitbelonged.Sometimesitwouldmovemysteriouslywhentherewasnowindblowing:IthinkthatwhenthishappenedtherewerehighwindsinNarniaandtheEnglishtreequiveredbecause,atthatmoment,theNarniatreewasrockingandswayinginastrongsouthwesterngale.Howeverthatmightbe,itwasprovedlaterthattherewasstillmagicinitswood.ForwhenDigorywasquitemiddleaged(andhewasafamouslearnedman,aProfessor,andagreattravellerbythattime)andtheKetterleys’oldhousebelongedtohim,therewasagreatstormalloverthesouthofEnglandwhichblewthetreedown.Hecouldn’tbeartohaveitsimplychoppedupforfirewood,sohehadpartofthetimbermadeintoawardrobe,whichheputinhisbighouseinthecountry.Andthoughhehimselfdidnotdiscoverthemagicpropertiesofthatwardrobe,someoneelsedid.ThatwasthebeginningofallthecomingsandgoingsbetweenNarniaandourworld,whichyoucanreadofinotherbooks.
WhenDigoryandhispeoplewenttoliveinthebigcountryhouse,theytookUncleAndrewtolivewiththem;forDigory’sFathersaid,“Wemusttrytokeeptheoldfellowoutofmischief,anditisn’tfairthatpoorLettyshouldhavehimalwaysonherhands.”UncleAndrewnevertriedanyMagicagainaslongashelived.Hehadlearnedhislesson,andinhisoldagehebecameanicerandlessselfisholdmanthanhehadeverbeenbefore.Buthealwayslikedtogetvisitorsaloneinthebilliard-roomandtellthemstoriesaboutamysteriouslady,aforeignroyalty,withwhomhehaddrivenaboutLondon.“Adevilishtempershehad,”hewouldsay.“Butshewasademfinewoman,sir,ademfinewoman.”
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