Deeper Magic from before the Dawn of Time

           Whilethetwogirlsstillcrouchedinthebusheswiththeirhandsovertheirfaces,theyheardthevoiceoftheWitchcallingout,

           "Now!Followmeallandwewillsetaboutwhatremainsofthiswar!ItwillnottakeuslongtocrushthehumanverminandthetraitorsnowthatthegreatFool,thegreatCat,liesdead."

           Atthismomentthechildrenwereforafewsecondsinverygreatdanger.Forwithwildcriesandanoiseofskirlingpipesandshrillhornsblowing,thewholeofthatvilerabblecamesweepingoffthehill-topanddownthesloperightpasttheirhiding-place.TheyfelttheSpectresgobythemlikeacoldwindandtheyfeltthegroundshakebeneaththemunderthegallopingfeetoftheMinotaurs;andoverheadtherewentaflurryoffoulwingsandablacknessofvulturesandgiantbats.Atanyothertimetheywouldhavetrembledwithfear;butnowthesadnessandshameandhorrorofAslan’sdeathsofilledtheirmindsthattheyhardlythoughtofit.

           AssoonasthewoodwassilentagainSusanandLucycreptoutontotheopenhill-top.Themoonwasgettinglowandthincloudswerepassingacrossher,butstilltheycouldseetheshapeoftheLionlyingdeadinhisbonds.Anddowntheybothkneltinthewetgrassandkissedhiscoldfaceandstrokedhisbeautifulfur-whatwasleftofit-andcriedtilltheycouldcrynomore.Andthentheylookedateachotherandheldeachother’shandsformerelonelinessandcriedagain;andthenagainweresilent.AtlastLucysaid,

           "Ican’tbeartolookatthathorriblemuzzle.Iwondercouldwetakeifoff?"

           Sotheytried.Andafteralotofworkingatit(fortheirfingerswerecoldanditwasnowthedarkestpartofthenight)theysucceeded.