“Ladn in sight,” shouted the man in the bows.
Lucy, who had been talking to Rhince on the poop, came pattering down the ladder and raced forward. As she went she was joined by Edmund, and they found Caspian, Drinian and Reepicheep already on the forecastle. It was a coldish morning,the sky very pale and the sea very dark blue with little white caps of foam, and there, a little way off on the starboard bow, was the nearest of the Lone Islands, Felimath, like a low green hill in the sea, and behind it, further off, the grey slopes of its sister Doorn.
“Same old Felimath! Same old Doorn,” said Lucy, clapping her hands. “Oh Edmund, how long it is since you and I saw them last!”
“I’ve never understood why they belong to Narnia,” said Caspian. “Did Peter the High King conquer them?”
“Oh no,” said Edmund. “They were Narnian before our time in the days of the White Witch.”
(By the way, I have never yet heard how these remote islands became attached to the crown of Narnia; if I ever do, and if the story is at all interesting, I may put it in some other book.)
“Are we to put in here, Sire?” asked Drinian.
“I shouldn’t think it would be much good landing on Felimath,” said Edmund. “It was almost uninhabited in our days and it looks as if it was the same still. The people lived mostly on Doorn and a little on Avra that’s the third one; you can’t see it yet. They only kept sheep on Felimath.”
“Then we’ll have to double that cape, I suppose,” said Drinian, “and land on Doorn. That’ll mean rowing.”
“I’m sorry we’re not landing on Felimath,” said Lucy.“I’d like to walk there again. It was so lonely a nice kind of loneliness, and all grass and clover and soft sea air.”
“I’d love to stretch my legs now too,” said Caspian. “I tell you what. Why shouldn’t we go ashore in the boat and send it back, and then we could walk across Felimath and let the Dawn Treader pick us up on the other side?”
If Caspian had been as experienced then as he became later on in this voyage he would not have made this suggestion; but at the moment it seemed an excellent one. “Oh do let’s,” said Lucy.
“You’ll come, will you?” said Caspian to Eustace, who had come on deck with his hand bandaged.
“Anything to get off this blasted boat,” said Eustace.
“Blasted?” said Drinian. “How do you mean?”
“In a civilized country like where I come from,” said Eustace, “the ships are so big that when you’re inside you wouldn’t know you were at sea at all.”
“In that case you might just as well stay ashore,” said Caspian. “Will you tell them to lower the boat, Drinian.”
The King, the Mouse, the two Pevensies, and Eustace all got into the boat and were pulled to the beach of Felimath. When the boat had left them and was being rowed back they all turned and looked round. They were surprised at how small the Dawn Treader looked.
Lucy was of course barefoot, having kicked off her shoes while swimming, but that is no hardship if one is going to walk on downy turf. It was delightful to be ashore again and to smell the earth and grass, even if at first the ground seemed to be pitching up and down like a ship, as it usually does for a while if one has been at sea. It was much warmer here than it had been on board and Lucy found the sand pleasant to her feet as they crossed it. There was a lark singing.
They struck inland and up a fairly steep, though low, hill.At the top of course they looked back, and there was the Dawn Treader shining like a great bright insect and crawling slowly north-westward with her oars. Then they went over the ridge and could see her no longer.
Doom now lay before them, divided from Felimath by a channel about a mile wide; behind it and to the left lay Avra. The little white town of Narrowhaven on Doorn was easily seen.
“Hullo! What’s this?” said Edmund suddenly.
In the green valley to which they were descending six or seven rough-looking men, all armed, were sitting by a tree.
“Don’t tell them who we are,” said Caspian.
“And pray, your Majesty, why not?” said Reepicheep who had consented to ride on Lucy’s shoulder.
“It just occurred to me,” replied Caspian, “that no one here can have heard from Narnia for a long time. It’s just possible they may not still acknowledge our over-lordship. In which case it might not be quite safe to be known as the King.”
“We have our swords, Sire,” said Reepicheep.
“Yes, Reep, I know we have,” said Caspian. “But if it is a question of re-conquering the three islands, I’d prefer to come back with a rather larger army.”
By this time they were quite close to the strangers, one of whom a big black-haired fellow shouted out, “A good morning to you.”
“And a good morning to you,” said Caspian. “Is there still a Governor of the Lone Islands?”
“To be sure there is,” said the man, “Governor Gumpas. His Sufficiency is at Narrowhaven. But you’ll stay and drink with us.”
Caspian thanked him, though neither he nor the others much liked the look of their new acquaintance, and all of them sat down. But hardly had they raised their cups to their lips when the black-haired man nodded to his companions and, as quick as lightning, all the five visitors found themselves wrapped in strong arms. There was a moment’s struggle but all the advantages were on one side, and soon everyone was disarmed and had their hands tied behind their backs except Reepicheep,writhing in his captor’s grip and biting furiously. “Careful with that beast, Tacks,” said the Leader. “Don’t damage him. He’ll fetch the best price of the lot, I shouldn’t wonder.”
“Coward! Poltroon!” squeaked Reepicheep. “Give me my sword and free my paws if you dare.”
“Whew!” whistled the slave merchant (for that is what he was). “It can talk! Well I never did. Blowed if I take less than two hundred crescents for him.” The Calormen crescent, which is the chief coin in those parts, is worth about a third of a pound.
“So that’s what you are,” said Caspian. “A kidnapper and slaver. I hope you’re proud of it.”
“Now, now, now, now,” said the slaver. “Don’t you start any jaw. The easier you take it, the pleasanter all round, see? I don’t do this for fun. I’ve got my living to make same as anyone else.”
“Where will you take us?” asked Lucy, getting the words out with some difficulty.
“Over to Narrowhaven,” said the slaver. “For market day tomorrow.”
“Is there a British Consul there?” asked Eustace.
“Is there a which?” said the man.
But long before Eustace was tired of trying to explain, the slaver simply said, “Well, I’ve had enough of this jabber. The Mouse is a fair treat but this one would talk the hind leg off a donkey. Off we go, mates.”
Then the four human prisoners were roped together, not cruelly but securely, and made to march down to the shore.Reepicheep was carried. He had stopped biting on a threat of having his mouth tied up, but he had a great deal to say, and Lucy really wondered how any man could bear to have the things said to him which were said to the slave dealer by the Mouse. But the slave dealer, far from objecting, only said “Go on” whenever Reepicheep paused for breath, occasionally adding, “It’s as good as a play,” or, “Blimey, you can’t help almost thinking it knows what it’s saying!” or “Was it one of you what trained it?” This so infuriated Reepicheep that in the end the number of things he thought of saying all at once nearly suffocated him and he became silent.
When they got down to the shore that looked towards Doorn they found a little village and a long-boat on the beach and, lying a little further out, a dirty bedraggled looking ship.
“Now, youngsters,” said the slave dealer, “let’s have no fuss and then you’ll have nothing to cry about. All aboard.”
At that moment a fine-looking bearded man came out of one of the houses (an inn, I think) and said:
“Well, Pug. More of your usual wares?”
The slaver, whose name seemed to be Pug, bowed very low, and said in a wheedling kind of voice, “Yes, please your Lordship.”
“How much do you want for that boy?” asked the other,pointing to Caspian.
“Ah,” said Pug, “I knew your Lordship would pick on the best. No deceiving your Lordship with anything second rate.That boy, now, I’ve taken a fancy to him myself. Got kind of fond of him, I have. I’m that tender-hearted I didn’t ever ought to have taken up this job. Still, to a customer like your Lordship -”
“Tell me your price, carrion,” said the Lord sternly. “Do you think I want to listen to the rigmarole of your filthy trade?”
“Three hundred crescents, my Lord to your honourable Lordship, but to anyone else -”
“I’ll give you a hundred and fifty.”
“Oh please, please,” broke in Lucy. “Don’t separate us,whatever you do. You don’t know -” But then she stopped for she saw that Caspian didn’t even now want to be known.
“A hundred and fifty, then,” said the Lord. “As for you,little maiden, I am sorry I cannot buy you all. Unrope my boy, Pug. And look treat these others well while they are in your hands or it’ll be the worse for you.”
“Well!” said Pug. “Now who ever heard of a gentleman in my way of business who treated his stock better than what I do?Well? Why, I treat ’em like my own childen.”
“That’s likely enough to be true,” said the other grimly.
The dreadful moment had now come. Caspian was untied and his new master said, “This way, lad,” and Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank. But Caspian looked over his shoulder and said, “Cheer up. I’m sure it will come all right in the end. So long.”
“Now, missy,” said Pug. “Don’t you start taking on and spoiling your looks for the market tomorrow. You be a good girl and then you won’t have nothing to cry about, see?”
Then they were rowed out to the slave-ship and taken below into a long, rather dark place, none too clean, where they found many other unfortunate prisoners; for Pug was of course a pirate and had just returned from cruising among the islands and capturing what he could. The children didn’t meet anyone whom they knew; the prisoners were mostly Galmians and Terebinthians. And there they sat in the straw and wondered what was happening to Caspian and tried to stop Eustace talking as if everyone except himself was to blame.
Meanwhile Caspian was having a much more interesting time. The man who had bought him led him down a little lane between two of the village houses and so out into an open place behind the village. Then he turned and faced him.
“You needn’t be afraid of me, boy,” he said. “I’ll treat you well. I bought you for your face. You reminded me of someone.”
“May I ask of whom, my Lord?” said Caspian.
“You remind me of my master, King Caspian of Narnia.”
Then Caspian decided to risk everything on one stroke.
“My Lord,” he said, “I am your master. I am Caspian King of Narnia.”
“You make very free,” said the other. “How shall I know this is true?”
“Firstly by my face,” said Caspian. “Secondly because I know within six guesses who you are. You are one of those seven lords of Narnia whom my Uncle Miraz sent to sea and whom I have come out to look for Argoz, Bern, Octesian,Restimar, Mavramorn, or or I have forgotten the others. And finally, if your Lordship will give me a sword I will prove on any man’s body in clean battle that I am Caspian the son of Caspian,lawful King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands.”
“By heaven,” exclaimed the man, “it is his father’s very voice and trick of speech. My liege your Majesty -” And there in the field he knelt and kissed the King’s hand.
“The moneys your Lordship disbursed for our person will be made good from our own treasury,” said Caspian.
“They’re not in Pug’s purse yet, Sire,” said the Lord Bern,for he it was. “And never will be, I trust. I have moved his Sufficiency the Governor a hundred times to crush this vile traffic in man’s flesh.”
“My Lord Bern,” said Caspian, “we must talk of the state of these Islands. But first what is your Lordship’s own story?”
“Short enough, Sire,” said Bern. “I came thus far with my six fellows, loved a girl of the islands, and felt I had had enough of the sea. And there was no purpose in returning to Narnia while your Majesty’s uncle held the reins. So I married and have lived here ever since.”
“And what is this governor, this Gumpas, like? Does he still acknowledge the King of Narnia for his lord?”
“In words, yes. All is done in the King’s name. But he would not be best pleased to find a real, live King of Narnia coming in upon him. And if your Majesty came before him alone and unarmed well he would not deny his allegiance,but he would pretend to disbelieve you. Your Grace’s life would be in danger. What following has your Majesty in these waters?”
“There is my ship just rounding the point,” said Caspian.“We are about thirty swords if it came to fighting. Shall we not have my ship in and fall upon Pug and free my friends whom he holds captive?”
“Not by my counsel,” said Bern. “As soon as there was a fight two or three ships would put out from Narrowhaven to rescue Pug. Your Majesty must work by a show of more power than you really have, and by the terror of the King’s name. It must not come to plain battle. Gumpas is a chicken-hearted man and can be over-awed.”
After a little more conversation Caspian and Bern walked down to the coast a little west of the village and there Caspian winded his horn. (This was not the great magic horn of Narnia,Queen Susan’s Horn: he had left that at home for his regent Trumpkin to use if any great need fell upon the land in the King’s absence.) Drinian, who was on the look-out for a signal,recognized the royal horn at once and the Dawn Treader began standing in to shore. Then the boat put off again and in a few moments Caspian and the Lord Bern were on deck explaining the situation to Drinian. He, just like Caspian, wanted to lay the Dawn Treader alongside the slave-ship at once and board her, but Bern made the same objection.
“Steer straight down this channel, captain,” said Bern, “and then round to Avra where my own estates are. But first run up the King’s banner, hang out all the shields, and send as many men to the fighting top as you can. And about five bowshots hence, when you get open sea on your port bow, run up a few signals.”
“Signals? To whom?” said Drinian.
“Why, to all the other ships we haven’t got but which it might be well that Gumpas thinks we have.”
“Oh, I see,” said Drinian rubbing his hands. “And they’ll read our signals. What shall I say? Whole fleet round the South of Avra and assemble at -?”
“Bernstead,” said the Lord Bern. “That’ll do excellently.Their whole journey if there were any ships What Caspian did there would be out of sight from Narrowhaven.”
Caspian was sorry for the others languishing in the hold of Pug’s slave-ship, but he could not help finding the rest of that day enjoyable. Late in the afternoon (for they had to do all by oar), having turned to starboard round the northeast end of Doorn and port again round the point of Avra, they entered into a good harbour on Avra’s southern shore where Bern’s pleasant lands sloped down to the water’s edge. Bern’s people, many of whom they saw working in the fields, were all freemen and it was a happy and prosperous fief. Here they all went ashore and were royally feasted in a low, pillared house overlooking the bay. Bern and his gracious wife and merry daughters made them good cheer. But after dark Bern sent a messenger over by boat to Doorn to order some preparations (he did not say exactly what) for the following day.
“看见陆地啦!”船头的人大喊着。
露西正在和大副莱恩斯在船尾聊着,听到喊声,她急急忙忙爬下梯子往船头跑。中途碰见了埃德蒙,而此时,凯斯宾、德里宁和雷佩契普已经站在前面的船楼上。那是一个清冷的早晨,天空刚刚泛白,深蓝色的海水卷起白色的泡沫。顺着右舷往前方望去,可以看到离孤独群岛最近的一个岛屿——菲力梅斯岛。远远望去,小岛像是大海中间一座低矮的绿色小山。菲力梅斯岛后面的那座灰色的岛是多恩岛——它的姐妹岛。
“菲力梅斯岛和多恩岛还是像以前一样,完全没有变化。”露西拍着手说,“埃德蒙,咱们多久没来过这里啦?”
“我一直都不明白,为什么这些群岛属于纳尼亚领土的一部分。”凯斯宾说,“是至尊王彼得在当年收服的吗?”
“不是,”埃德蒙回答,“在我们统治纳尼亚之前,应该说在白女巫的时代,这些岛屿就隶属纳尼亚了。”
(我要说明一下,关于这些偏远的岛屿究竟什么时间归属于纳尼亚的,我也不太清楚。如果有一天我知道了,会在另一本书里讲述那个故事。)
“陛下,我们要在这里靠岸吗?”德里宁问道。
“我觉得,咱们还是不要停靠在菲力梅斯岛了。”埃德蒙说,“当年,在我们那个年代,这里就是一片荒凉的景象。现在看来也没什么变化。基本上,所有的居民都生活在多恩岛,还有一小部分生活在阿弗拉岛。阿弗拉岛在这两个岛的后面,现在咱们还看不见它。人们只是在菲力梅斯岛上放牧而已。”
“这样的话,我们需要绕过前面的海岬,然后在多恩岛上岸。我们需要划桨才能过去。”德里宁说。
“不能在菲力梅斯岛停靠,真是遗憾。”露西说,“我还想在上面散散步呢。虽然是个荒岛,可那里非常美丽,岛上到处都是青草地,还有柔和的海风吹拂。”
“我也想活动活动腿脚。”凯斯宾说,“要不这样,咱们坐小船上岛。然后小船可以返回黎明踏浪号。咱们步行穿过菲力梅斯岛,然后让船在岛的另一侧接我们。如何?”
这个时候,凯斯宾还没有什么阅历。如果是未来的他,绝对不会提出这个馊主意。可在当时,这个想法看起来非常好。露西高兴地说:“好哇,咱们就这么办。”
尤斯塔斯手上缠着绷带,也站在甲板上。凯斯宾问他:“你也一起来吗?”
“当然,我做梦都想离开这艘破船。”尤斯塔斯回答。
“破船?”德里宁问,“你这样说是什么意思?”
“在我来的那个文明国度里,船都是又大又稳的,让人完全感觉不到颠簸,就好像在陆地上一样。”他说。
“这样的话,航海还有什么意思,那还不如直接在陆地上待着呢。”凯斯宾说,“德里宁,帮我们把小船放下来。”
随后,凯斯宾国王、老鼠将军、埃德蒙和露西以及尤斯塔斯纷纷登上了小船,划向菲力梅斯岛。他们上岸后,小船慢慢划回了黎明踏浪号。大家回身望去,那艘大船显得格外渺小。
露西在最开始下水的时候,就踢掉了脚上的鞋子——在船上的时候她就一直光着脚。好在,上岛之后,走在柔软的草地上,赤脚也不是什么大问题。她很高兴可以再一次登上这个小岛,呼吸着岛上泥土和青草的芳香。对于在海上漂泊了太久的人来说,刚登上陆地的时候,感觉身体还像在船上颠簸一样摇摆。岛上比船上暖和许多。露西赤脚踩在沙滩上,感到格外舒服。头上飞过一只云雀,正在欢乐地歌唱。
他们爬上一个低矮陡峭的山坡,向内陆走去。在山坡顶上回头望去,只见黎明踏浪号像是大海中一只闪闪发亮的甲虫,缓慢地朝着西北方向爬去。当他们翻过山脊时,大船已经消失在视线中。
多恩岛和菲力梅斯岛被一道1英尺
宽的海峡隔开。多恩岛后面就是阿弗拉岛。站在菲力梅斯岛上,可以清楚地看见多恩岛上那座白色的小镇——狭港。
“天哪!那是什么?”埃德蒙突然叫道。
他们往下走的那个绿油油的山谷里,有七八个相貌粗蛮的人,正全副武装地坐在树下。
“不要告诉他们我们的身份。”凯斯宾说。
“可是陛下,为什么呢?”雷佩契普坐在露西肩头问道。
“我刚想起来,这里的人很久都没有和纳尼亚有任何往来。”凯斯宾说,“或许,他们已经不承认纳尼亚的统治权了。在这种情况下,亮出国王的身份,对我们很不利。”
“可是陛下,我们都带着剑呢。”雷佩契普说。
“没错,雷,我们有剑,”凯斯宾说,“可是说到要重新征服这三个岛,我更希望带着强大的军队来征服。”
他们走近了那群陌生人。其中一个黑发大汉冲他们喊道:“各位早安。”
“早安。”凯斯宾回答,“请问,这里还是归总督管辖吗?”
“当然了,”大汉回答,“总督康帕斯大人就在狭港呢。你们可以和我们喝一杯。”
凯斯宾向对方致谢,虽然大家对这几个粗鲁的大汉没什么好感,但还是都坐了下来。就在他们几个端起酒杯,刚送到嘴边时,那个黑发大汉冲着他的几个同伙使了个眼色,转眼间,凯斯宾等几人就被牢牢地控制住了。他们虽然拼命挣扎,可是势单力薄,不一会儿就都被缴了械,双手绑在背后。只有雷佩契普还在敌人手里折腾,见谁咬谁。“塔克斯,小心点,”这伙人的老大说,“别把那个小畜生弄伤了。相信我,它能卖个好价钱。”
“一群胆小鬼!懦夫!”雷佩契普尖叫道,“把剑还给我!我要和你们生死决斗!”
“哟!还能说话呢!我敢打包票,绝对能卖到至少200月牙币。”看来,这一伙儿是奴隶贩子。他所说的月牙币是那里通用的卡乐门货币,1月牙币约等于1/3英镑。
“原来你们是一群绑匪和奴隶贩子。”凯斯宾说,“真是不知羞耻。”
“行了行了,”奴隶贩子说,“你最好乖乖地闭嘴,这样还能少受点苦。你以为我愿意干这一行呢,不都是迫于生计嘛。”
“你们要带我们去哪儿?”露西好不容易挤出一句话。
“当然是狭港了,”奴隶贩子说,“明天那里有个集市。”
“那里有英国领事馆吗?”尤斯塔斯问。
“有什么?”那个大汉问道。
不过还没等尤斯塔斯解释,那个奴隶贩子就说:“行了,别再问个没完。这个老鼠是个好货,但这个男孩唠唠叨叨的,烦死了。伙计们,咱们走吧。”
四个人被绑着押往海边。虽然不是五花大绑,可也没那么容易挣脱开绳子。绑匪们把雷佩契普扛在肩上,并威胁说,要是它再到处乱咬,就把它的嘴给堵上。虽然它不再咬人,一路上却说个不停。露西很纳闷儿,那群匪徒怎么一点儿都不烦,还特别愿意听它讲话。有时,雷佩契普会停下来喘口气,那个绑匪还催促道:“接着说呀。”有时候,他还会插上一两句,比如“这比看戏还有意思”,或是“天哪,它真知道自己说了什么吗?”或者“是你们教它讲话的吗?”听到这话,雷佩契普火冒三丈,把自己要说的都忘了,最后变得一言不发。他们来到海边,在这里可以看到对岸的多恩岛。
海边有一个小村庄,旁边停着一艘狭长的船,不远处还有一艘肮脏的大船。
“好了,小崽子们,”那个奴隶贩子说,“都把嘴闭好了,别吵吵嚷嚷的。现在哭也没用了。所有人全部上船。”
这时,从一间屋子里走出一个男人,留着胡子,仪表堂堂。
“怎么,帕格,又来新货了?”
那个叫帕格的奴隶贩子,冲着这个男人深深鞠一躬,一脸讨好地说:“回爵士,是的。”
“这个男孩你卖多少钱?”他指着凯斯宾问。
“他呀。我就知道爵士眼光好,那些低等货您从来都看不上眼。”帕格说,“不过……说实话,那个男孩呀,我一眼就看上他了。他还真讨人喜欢。您知道,我向来心肠很软,干这一行那不也是迫不得已嘛。不过,对于爵爷这样的主顾来说……”
“别废话,开个价吧。”那个爵士严肃地说,“我没时间听你说那些没用的套话。”
“300月牙币,这可是给爵爷您的优惠价,要是换了别人……”
“150!”
“求求你了,”露西打断他们,“无论怎么样,求你别把我们分开,你不知道,他……”说到这儿她突然停下来了,她看到凯斯宾的眼神,看来他还不想暴露自己的身份。
“好了,就150月牙币。”爵爷说,“至于你,小姑娘,实在抱歉,我不能把你们都买下来。帕格,给这个男孩松绑。还有,对他们几个好点儿,不然有你好看的!”
“当然,当然!”帕格说,“这年头,做这个生意的,谁能像我这样对货物这么好?我可是对他们比对自己的亲儿子都要好哇!”
“哼,你最好是言而有信。”爵爷严肃地说。
分别的时候到了。凯斯宾被人松了绑,他的新主人说:“小伙子,走吧。”露西忍不住哭了起来,埃德蒙则愣在那里。凯斯宾回过头对大家说:“别难过,相信我,一切都会好起来的。再见!”
“好了,小姑娘。”帕格说,“把脸哭花了就不好看了,明天还要去集市呢。别哭了,听话。”
那几个奴隶贩子划着船,把剩下的几个人带到了奴隶船上。他们几个被领着来到甲板下一个狭长、黑暗、脏兮兮的船舱,里面关着像他们一样的可怜的人。原来,帕格是个海盗,他刚刚从各个岛屿搜刮了一圈,满载而归。被抓的大部分都是加尔玛人和特里宾西亚人,所以,这些人孩子们谁都不认识。大家坐在草堆里,一边担心着凯斯宾,一边还要应付啰里啰唆的尤斯塔斯——他觉得除了他自己,其他人都有责任。
凯斯宾这边的情况则截然不同。那个把他买下来的爵爷,带着他走过村庄里两排房子中间的小路,来到村子后面的一片空地上。然后,爵爷转过头来对他说:
“孩子,别怕,我不会伤害你的。我之所以把你买下来,是因为你的脸让我想起了一个人。”
“爵爷,能问一下我像谁吗?”凯斯宾问。
“你让我想起了我的雇主,纳尼亚的凯斯宾国王。”听到这里,凯斯宾决定放手搏一下。
“爵爷,”凯斯宾说,“不瞒您说,我就是纳尼亚的凯斯宾国王。”
“口说无凭,你凭什么说你就是国王?”爵爷问。
“首先,我的相貌可以证明。”凯斯宾说,“其次,给我六次机会,我能猜出来你是谁。当年,我叔父弥若兹发配纳尼亚的七个爵爷去海上探险,我这次之行就是来寻找他们的。您肯定是其中一位,您是阿克斯爵士?伯恩爵士?奥斯泰思安爵士?里斯蒂玛爵士?马维拉莫爵士?还是……哎呀,我忘了其他两个人的名字了。最后,如果爵爷给我一把剑,我可以和任何人用决斗的方式来证明,我就是凯斯宾,孤独群岛的皇帝、凯尔·帕拉维尔的君主、纳尼亚的合法国王老凯斯宾的儿子。
“老天爷呀!”爵爷叫道,“你的声音和老凯斯宾国王一模一样!连说话的方式都一样!陛下……”说着,爵爷不禁单膝跪地,亲吻着凯斯宾的手。
“爵爷,您付给奴隶贩子的钱,国库会给您做出补偿的。”凯斯宾说。
“陛下,帕格还没收到钱呢。”原来他就是伯恩爵士。伯恩爵士说:“而且,陛下放心,他决不会收到这笔钱。我已经跟总督反映过好多次了,让他取缔贩卖人口这种令人不齿的勾当。”
“伯恩爵士,咱们得聊聊目前岛上的情况。不过首先说说,您这些年都经历了什么?”
“我就长话短说,”伯恩说,“当年我随其他六个人来到这里,爱上了岛上的一个姑娘,决定不再漂泊。您叔叔当时掌握着大权,我也没有再回纳尼亚的必要了。所以,当时,我就娶了那个姑娘,在岛上定居了下来。”
“总督康帕斯这个人怎么样?他还承认纳尼亚的主权吗?”
“表面上是这样——所有的事情都是以国王的名义来进行的。不过,若真是活生生的纳尼亚国王站到他面前,事情可就不是这样了。如果陛下您孤身前往,还不带武器的话……他虽然不敢以下犯上,但是一定会质疑您的身份。到时候,陛下必然会身处险境。敢问陛下,在这一带海域,您是否有所部署?”
“我的船正绕过海岬,朝这边驶来。”凯斯宾说,“船上的人有三十多把剑,打仗的话应该没问题。我们要不要把船开过来,先攻击帕格,把我那几位朋友救出来?”
“陛下三思,”伯恩说,“一旦打起来的话,从狭港就会有两三艘船来支援帕格,我们的胜算不大。陛下应该以国王的名义,摆出阵势先把他们吓唬住,而不是正面交锋。据我所知,康帕斯这个人胆小如鼠,很容易吓唬的。”
两个人又商量了一会儿,然后走向村子西侧的海边,凯斯宾吹响了号角。当然,这只是一只普通的号角——他把苏珊女王的那只神号留给了杜鲁普金,以备不时之需。这时,德里宁正在瞭望台上值守,等待凯斯宾的指示。当听到国王的号角后,他立即指挥黎明踏浪号驶向岸边。德里宁派出小船,接二人回到大船上后,凯斯宾和伯恩爵士向德里宁解释了一下目前的情况。德里宁和凯斯宾的想法一样,立即攻打那艘奴隶船,将几个人救出来。但伯恩再次出言制止。
“船长,我们还是顺着海峡一直走,绕行到达阿弗拉岛,那里处于我的管辖之内。”伯恩说,“不过,首先我们要挂出国王的旗帜,还要把所有的盾牌都挂起来,派人到桅杆上的船楼列阵,人越多越好。等左舷船头对着公海,离岸边大约五箭程远时,再从船上发出信号。”
“信号?发给谁?”德里宁问。
“当然是发给那几艘不存在的船呀,我们做给康帕斯看,他肯定以为我们不止一艘船。”
“哦,我明白了,”德里宁搓着手说,“然后,他们会辨认我们的信号。到时候,信号里说什么呢?就说,阿弗拉岛南面已经被包围,所有舰队在……”
“在伯恩斯特集合。”伯恩爵士补充道,“好,到时就这么说。狭港那里视野有限,完全看不见船的航线。”
不知被帕格抓走的那几个人现在处境如何,凯斯宾有些担心。不过接下来,他还是无法抑制激动的心情。一路上都是划桨前进,黎明踏浪号转向右舷,绕过多恩岛的东北端,又转向左舷,绕过阿弗拉岛的海角,终于,在傍晚时分,开进阿弗拉岛南岸的一个优良海港。伯恩爵士的领地从山坡一直蔓延到海边。他们看见,大多数伯恩手下的臣民都在地里干活。他们都是自由民,这里是一片富饶而祥和的封地。大家上岸后,来到一间有廊柱的低矮的房子里。从这里俯瞰下去,整片海湾尽收眼底。伯恩和他美丽的妻子,还有他们那一群快乐的女儿们,为大家准备了丰盛的晚餐。天黑以后,伯恩叫来一个信使,让他划船去多恩岛,通知岛上的人准备明天的行动。至于细节,伯恩并没有对大家说明。