Хроники Нарнии
In the Witch’s house
Hewalkedonandon,pastcorneraftercorneroftheHouse,andpastturretafterturrettofindthedoor.Hehadtogorightroundtothefarsidebeforehefoundit.Itwasahugearchbutthegreatirongatesstoodwideopen.
Edmundcreptuptothearchandlookedinsideintothecourtyard,andtherehesawasightthatnearlymadehisheartstopbeating.Justinsidethegate,withthemoonlightshiningonit,stoodanenormouslioncrouchedasifitwasreadytospring.AndEdmundstoodintheshadowofthearch,afraidtogoonandafraidtogoback,withhiskneesknockingtogether.Hestoodtheresolongthathisteethwouldhavebeenchatteringwithcoldeveniftheyhadnotbeenchatteringwithfear.HowlongthisreallylastedIdon’tknow,butitseemedtoEdmundtolastforhours.
Thenatlasthebegantowonderwhythelionwasstandingsostill-forithadn’tmovedoneinchsincehefirstseteyesonit.Edmundnowventuredalittlenearer,stillkeepingintheshadowofthearchasmuchashecould.Henowsawfromthewaythelionwasstandingthatitcouldn’thavebeenlookingathimatall.("Butsupposingitturnsitshead?"thoughtEdmund.)Infactitwasstaringatsomethingelsenamelyalittle:dwarfwhostoodwithhisbacktoitaboutfourfeetaway."Aha!"thoughtEdmund."Whenitspringsatthedwarfthenwillbemychancetoescape."Butstillthelionnevermoved,nordidthedwarf.AndnowatlastEdmundrememberedwhattheothershadsaidabouttheWhiteWitchturningpeopleintostone.Perhapsthiswasonlyastonelion.Andassoonashehadthoughtofthathenoticedthatthelion’sbackandthetopofitsheadwerecoveredwithsnow.Ofcourseitmustbeonlyastatue!Nolivinganimalwouldhaveletitselfgetcoveredwithsnow.Thenveryslowlyandwithhisheartbeatingasifitwouldburst,Edmundventuredtogouptothelion.Evennowhehardlydaredtotouchit,butatlastheputouthishand,veryquickly,anddid.Itwascoldstone.Hehadbeenfrightenedofamerestatue!
