Хроники Нарнии
Peter’s first battle
"Itisyoursister’shorn,"saidAslantoPeterinalowvoice;solowastobealmostapurr,ifitisnotdisrespectfultothinkofaLionpurring.
ForamomentPeterdidnotunderstand.Then,whenhesawalltheothercreaturesstartforwardandheardAslansaywithawaveofhispaw,"Back!LetthePrincewinhisspurs,"hedidunderstand,andsetoffrunningashardashecouldtothepavilion.Andtherehesawadreadfulsight.
TheNaiadsandDryadswerescatteringineverydirection.Lucywasrunningtowardshimasfastashershortlegswouldcarryherandherfacewasaswhiteaspaper.ThenhesawSusanmakeadashforatree,andswingherselfup,followedbyahugegreybeast.AtfirstPeterthoughtitwasabear.ThenhesawthatitlookedlikeanAlsatian,thoughitwasfartoobigtobeadog.Thenherealizedthatitwasawolf-awolfstandingonitshindlegs,withitsfrontpawsagainstthetree-trunk,snappingandsnarling.Allthehaironitsbackstooduponend.Susanhadnotbeenabletogethigherthanthesecondbigbranch.Oneofherlegshungdownsothatherfootwasonlyaninchortwoabovethesnappingteeth.Peterwonderedwhyshedidnotgethigheroratleasttakeabettergrip;thenherealizedthatshewasjustgoingtofaintandthatifshefaintedshewouldfalloff.
Peterdidnotfeelverybrave;indeed,hefelthewasgoingtobesick.Butthatmadenodifferencetowhathehadtodo.Herushedstraightuptothemonsterandaimedaslashofhisswordatitsside.ThatstrokeneverreachedtheWolf.Quickaslightningitturnedround,itseyesflaming,anditsmouthwideopeninahowlofanger.Ifithadnotbeensoangrythatitsimplyhadtohowlitwouldhavegothimbythethroatatonce.Asitwas-thoughallthishappenedtooquicklyforPetertothinkatall-hehadjusttimetoduckdownandplungehissword,ashardashecould,betweenthebrute’sforelegsintoitsheart.
