Хроники Нарнии
Edmund and the Wardrobe
Helistenedandthesoundcamenearerandnearerandatlasttheresweptintosightasledgedrawnbytworeindeer.
ThereindeerwereaboutthesizeofShetlandponiesandtheirhairwassowhitethateventhesnowhardlylookedwhitecomparedwiththem;theirbranchinghornsweregildedandshonelikesomethingonfirewhenthesunrisecaughtthem.Theirharnesswasofscarletleatherandcoveredwithbells.Onthesledge,drivingthereindeer,satafatdwarfwhowouldhavebeenaboutthreefeethighifhehadbeenstanding.Hewasdressedinpolarbear’sfurandonhisheadheworearedhoodwithalonggoldtasselhangingdownfromitspoint;hishugebeardcoveredhiskneesandservedhiminsteadofarug.Butbehindhim,onamuchhigherseatinthemiddleofthesledgesataverydifferentperson-agreatlady,tallerthananywomanthatEdmundhadeverseen.Shealsowascoveredinwhitefuruptoherthroatandheldalongstraightgoldenwandinherrighthandandworeagoldencrownonherhead.Herfacewaswhite-notmerelypale,butwhitelikesnoworpaperoricing-sugar,exceptforherveryredmouth.Itwasabeautifulfaceinotherrespects,butproudandcoldandstern.
ThesledgewasafinesightasitcamesweepingtowardsEdmundwiththebellsjinglingandthedwarfcrackinghiswhipandthesnowflyinguponeachsideofit.
"Stop!"saidtheLady,andthedwarfpulledthereindeerupsosharpthattheyalmostsatdown.Thentheyrecoveredthemselvesandstoodchampingtheirbitsandblowing.Inthefrostyairthebreathcomingoutoftheirnostrilslookedlikesmoke.
"Andwhat,pray,areyou?"saidtheLady,lookinghardatEdmund.
