Хроники Нарнии
Aslan is nearer
Theonlywaytocomforthimselfnowwastotrytobelievethatthewholethingwasadreamandthathemightwakeupatanymoment.Andastheywenton,hourafterhour,itdidcometoseemlikeadream.
ThislastedlongerthanIcoulddescribeevenifIwrotepagesandpagesaboutit.ButIwillskipontothetimewhenthesnowhadstoppedandthemorninghadcomeandtheywereracingalonginthedaylight.Andstilltheywentonandon,withnosoundbuttheeverlastingswishofthesnowandthecreakingofthereindeer’sharness.AndthenatlasttheWitchsaid,"Whathavewehere?Stop!"andtheydid.
HowEdmundhopedshewasgoingtosaysomethingaboutbreakfast!Butshehadstoppedforquiteadifferentreason.Alittlewayoffatthefootofatreesatamerryparty,asquirrelandhiswifewiththeirchildrenandtwosatyrsandadwarfandanolddogfox,allonstoolsroundatable.Edmundcouldn’tquiteseewhattheywereeating,butitsmelledlovelyandthereseemedtobedecorationsofhollyandhewasn’tatallsurethathedidn’tseesomethinglikeaplumpudding.Atthemomentwhenthesledgestopped,theFox,whowasobviouslytheoldestpersonpresent,hadjustrisentoitsfeet,holdingaglassinitsrightpawasifitwasgoingtosaysomething.Butwhenthewholepartysawthesledgestoppingandwhowasinit,allthegaietywentoutoftheirfaces.Thefathersquirrelstoppedeatingwithhisforkhalf-waytohismouthandoneofthesatyrsstoppedwithitsforkactuallyinitsmouth,andthebabysquirrelssqueakedwithterror.
"Whatisthemeaningofthis?"askedtheWitchQueen.Nobodyanswered.
"Speak,vermin!"shesaidagain."Ordoyouwantmydwarftofindyouatonguewithhiswhip?Whatisthemeaningofallthisgluttony,thiswaste,thisselfindulgence?Wheredidyougetallthesethings?"
