Chapter 7 Chapter 7 About the Dwarfs

The Calormenes, who were in front of the column, saw what they believed to be the Tarcan, or the Great Prince, standing in the road with two armed squires, and stopped, and saluted him with their spears raised. "Ah, my long palace," said one of the Calormene soldiers, "we will take these dwarves to Calormen, and work in the mines of Tithroc (may he live forever)." "By the great God Tash, they're very docile," said Tirian. Then he turned suddenly to the dwarfs.One of the six dwarfs always carried a torch, and by the flickering light of the torch he could see all the bearded dwarves looking at him with stern and obstinate faces. "Dwarfs, did Tethrok ever fight a great battle and conquer your lands?" he asked, "that you went so far to die in the salt pits of Pgraham?"

The two soldiers stared at him in amazement, but the dwarfs replied, "Aslan's orders, Aslan's orders. Aslan has betrayed us. Can we do anything against Aslan?" come?" "It's Teesrock's bad intentions, actually," added the other, with a snort, "I'll see how he tries." "Shut up, bastard," the soldier chief yelled. "Look!" said Tirian, pushing the puzzled ass into the light, "it's all lies and rumors. Aslan never came to Narnia. You've all been tricked by the Ape This is the donkey that the Ape brought you out of the stable to show you. Just take a look."

The dwarfs could now come close and have a look at it, and what they saw must have been enough to make them wonder how they could have been deceived.Puzzle had been shut up in the stable for a long time, and the lion's fur had become quite untidy, and it had bumped and crooked as he walked through the dark woods.Most of the fur is crowded in one spot on the shoulders.The fur on the head, in addition to bumping crookedly, also receded a lot, so now everyone could see that stupid and gentle donkey face looking out.Some green grass appeared at the corner of the mouth.Because when they brought him, he had been nibbling a little grass without a sound and he was still muttering "It's not my fault I'm not smart. I never said I was smart before."

For a moment all the dwarves were staring at the donkey with their mouths open, when one of the soldiers said sharply, "My lord, are you mad? What are you talking to the slaves?" Another soldier said "Who the hell are you?" Now instead of raising the spears in salute - both spears were lowered for battle. "What's the password?" asked the leader of the soldiers. "Here is my password," said the King, drawing his sword. "It is day, and the lie is broken. Guard yourself, scoundrel, for I am Tirian King of Narnia." The leader of the soldiers swooped forward.Eustace saw the king draw his sword, drew it too, and rushed at the other soldier.He was pale as death, but I don't blame him for it.And he was lucky, as first-timers are sometimes lucky.He forgot all that Tirian had tried to teach him yesterday afternoon, and hacked wildly (in fact, I'm not sure he didn't close his eyes); The Calormene soldiers fell dead at his feet.While that's a great relief, for a moment, it's pretty scary.The King outlasted him by a second or two: he killed the other too, and called out to Eustace "Where are the other two pawns?"

But the Dwarfs had dealt with the two remaining Calormenes.Not a single enemy remained. Well done, Eustace!" cried Tirian, patting him on the back. "Now, little ones, you are free.Tomorrow I will take you to liberate all of Narnia.Three cheers for Aslan! But the aftermath was depressing.Only a few of the dwarfs (about five of them) gave a feeble cheer and fell silent again, a few more howled sullenly, and many said nothing at all. "Don't they understand?" Jill asked impatiently. "Is there something wrong with your heads, little dwarves? Didn't you hear what the king said? The disaster is over. The Apes will no longer rule in Narnia. Everyone can go back to their normal lives. You You can talk and laugh again. Aren't you happy?"

After a pause of about a minute, an unattractive little dwarf with sooty hair and beard said, "Then who might you be, madam?" "My name is Jill," she said, "it is A hundred years after the Jill who rescued King Tirian from his magical obsession--this is Eustace, who also saved the king--we return from another world. Aslan sent us."- The little dwarves look at me and I look at you, grinning, mocking, not laughing. "Come on," said the little black dwarf (his name was Griffle), "I don't know what you guys think about it, but I think I've heard Aslan too often to ever live again." Don't want to hear about it."

"True, true," grumbled the other Dwarfs, "it's all trickery, all trickery." "What do you mean?" said Tirian.He had never turned pale in battle, but now he turned pale.What he had thought was going to be a wonderful moment, turned out to be more like a nightmare. "You must think our minds are utterly stupid, you must think so," said Griffle, "we have been duped once, and now you expect us to be duped again soon. You know, about Aslan You can't use us with that anymore. Look at it. An old ass with long ears!" "My God, you're driving me nuts," said Tirian. "Which of us said it was Aslan? It was the Ape who passed it off as the real Aslan. Can't you?" Understood?" "I think you've got a better impostor," said Griffle. "No thanks to you. We've been fooled once, and we don't want to be fooled again."

"I'm no impostor," said Tirian indignantly, "I work for the real Aslan." "Where is Aslan? Who is Aslan? Show us him!" said several of the Dwarfs. "Fools, do you think I put Aslan in my traveling bag? What am I to make Aslan appear at a command? He's not a tame lion." No sooner had the last word been uttered than he realized that he had made a wrong move.Immediately the Dwarfs began, in a mocking aria, "Not a tame lion, not a tame lion." One of the Dwarfs said, "That's what the other gang keep telling us." "You mean to say that you don't believe in the real Aslan," said Jill, "but I have seen Aslan. It was Aslan who sent us both here from a very different world." of."

"Ah," said Griffle, with a distinct smile, "you're talking. They've taught you a thing by heart. You're memorizing it, aren't you?" "You poor fellow," roared Tirian, "are you talking nonsense in front of a lady?" "Keep civility in your head, sir," replied the little man, "I don't think we need any more kings—if you are indeed Tirian; but you don't look like Tirian." Lian—we don't want any more Aslan either. From now on, we're going to fend for ourselves and stop raising our hands to hats. Understand?"

"True," said the other dwarfs, "we are for ourselves now. There will be no more Aslan, no more kings, no more silly stories about other worlds. The dwarfs just want to Fight for the Dwarfs." And the Dwarfs began to take their places in the line, and were ready to walk back, to where they had been called. ' "Little beasts!" said Eustace, "didn't you even say 'thank you' for getting you out of the salt-pit?" "Ah, we know all about it," Grieve said over his shoulder. "You're going to use us, that's why you saved us. You're playing your game. Come on, boys."

Then the dwarfs sang a queer little march, and to the beat of the drums, stepped into the darkness. Tirian and his friends stared as the dwarfs went away.Then Tirian said simply "Go," and they continued on their way. They are a silent bunch.Puzzle felt that it was still disgraced, and it really didn't quite understand what was going on.Jill was so impressed by Eustace's victory over the Calormenes, besides his distaste for the dwarves, that he was almost ashamed of himself.As for Eustace, his heart was still beating fast, and Tirian and the Unicorn walked sadly behind together.The King's arm rested on the Unicorn's shoulder, and the Unicorn sometimes brushed the King's cheek with its soft nose.They don't want to comfort each other with words.It is not easy to think of any words that are comforting enough.Tirian never dreamed that one of the bad consequences of the Ape's false Aslan was that people no longer believed in the real Aslan.He was sure that the Dwarfs would join him at once if he revealed how the Ape had duped them.The next night he could lead them up to Stable Hill, expose the delusion in full view, and they would rise up against the Apes.Perhaps after a melee with Calormene soldiers the whole matter would be settled.But now it seems that he can't count on anything.The other Narnians, and many more, might turn to the Dwarf-like attitude. "I think someone is following us." Puzzled said suddenly.They stopped and listened.Yes indeed, there was a sound of little feet thumping behind them. "Who's walking there!" cried the King. "It's me, sire," said a voice, "it's me, Poggin the dwarf. I've just managed to get rid of the other dwarfs. I'm on your side, sire, and on Aslan's side. If If you can hold a small sword in my palm, I will gladly hit the opponent's vitals before it is all over." Everyone gathered around him, welcomed him, praised him, and patted him on the back.Of course, just one dwarf doesn't make much difference, but even one dwarf is pleasant after all.Everyone looked happy for it.But Jill and Eustace's radiance did not last long; for they were yawning and dazed, and too tired to think of unhappy things. It was the coldest hour of the night when they returned to the fort, and it was almost dawn.If the food had been prepared for them, they would have eaten it with great pleasure, but they did not realize that it would take so much trouble and time to prepare a meal.They drank some water from a brook, splashed their faces on the water, washed their faces, and then fell asleep on their bunks, only Puzzle and Jewel said they were more comfortable out of doors.Maybe that's just right, because a unicorn and a fat, fleshy donkey, both indoors, always make a room feel crowded.The dwarfs of Narnia, though not four feet high, were the hardiest and strongest animals for their stature; so that, though Poggin had had a heavy day and slept late at night, But he woke up earlier than anyone else, and when he woke up, his physical strength was fully recovered, and he was already refreshed.Immediately he took Jill's bow and arrow, went out and shot two wild wood pigeons.Then he sat on the doorstep and plucked the pigeons while he chatted with Jewel and Puzzle.Puzzle felt much better this morning, and Jewel was a unicorn, and thus the noblest and most tender of beasts, and he was very kind to the dwarf, and said to him things that both of us could understand. Things like grass, sugar, hoof care.When Jill and Eustace came out of the keep yawning and wiping their eyes at half-past ten, the Dwarf showed them a weed of Narnia called Wild Fresney; There are many collected, which look like our sorrel, but taste much better when cooked. (It would have needed a little butter and pepper to make it perfect, but they didn't have that on hand.) Add a little of this and that, and they made a fine stew for their breakfast or dinner (whatever whatever it is called).Tirian went a little farther into the wood with the axe, and brought back some sticks for firewood.While the dish was simmering—it seemed to be simmering for a long time—especially when it was close to simmering and the aroma became more and more delicious, it seemed to be simmering for a long time. The king found a whole set of dwarf equipment locks for Poggin. armor, helmets, shields, swords, sword belts and daggers.Then the King examined Eustace's sword again, and found that Eustace had thrust the bloody sword into the girdle after he had killed the Calormene soldiers.The king scolded him and told him to clean and polish his sword. During this time Jill walked up and down, sometimes stirring the stew in the pot, and sometimes looking enviously at the donkeys and unicorns who were grazing contentedly.Several times that morning she wished she could eat grass too. However, when the dishes were served, everyone felt that it was worth the wait, and after a round of sharing, everyone still had a second portion to eat.When everyone had eaten as well as they could, the three of them and a little man came and sat down on the doorstep, and the two quadrupeds lay facing them, and the little man, with the permission of Jill and Tirian, set him on fire. pipe, and the king spoke: "Oh, my friend Poggin, you probably know more about the enemy than we do. Tell us all you know. First, what stories are they making up about my escape?" "Your Majesty, a story of unprecedented cunning," said Poggin, "is told by Ginger the Cat, and may have been invented by him. Your Majesty, this Ginger—oh, if the Cat is cunning, then It's just an old trick--it says it's walking past the tree the thugs tied you to. It says (I'm taking the liberty of telling you the truth) that you're yelling and cursing at Aslan. I don't want to repeat the exact words Well, though the words it used looked very dignified and proper--you know, a cat can say that if it pleases it. According to Ginger, Aslan suddenly, in a flash of lightning, himself appeared, and swallowed His Majesty into his stomach in one gulp. All the beasts trembled when they heard the story, and some fainted from fright on the spot. Of course, the Ape followed suit. Now, said the Ape, look how Aslan treats those who do not respect him! Take this as a warning to you all. And the poor beasts wailed, and said, Yes Yes, yes. So, the result of your Majesty's escape did not make the beasts consider whether you still had royal friends to help you, but only made them more frightened and submissive to the Ape." "What an insidious policy!" said Tirian. "It seems that this Ginger is involved in the Ape's secret." "Now, your Majesty, the question is reversed: whether or not the Ape has any part in Ginger's secrets," replied the little man. "You understand that the Ape is now obsessed with drinking. I am convinced that there is a great deal of intrigue now." It was partly carried out by Ginger or Rishta—that was Captain Calormen—I think Ginger's gossip among the dwarves is largely due to the fact that they made your escape too dishonorable. I'm going to tell you why. The night before yesterday, after a dreadful midnight meeting, I had just walked a short way home from a meeting and found I had left my pipe there. It was only true. A good pipe has been my favorite for many years, so I went back to look for it. But before I got to the place where I had sat, I heard a meow, and a Calormene accent said, , 'Speak softly here.' I just stood there motionless, as if I was frozen. These two guys, that's Ginger and 'Tycan' Rishda--they bother 'Tykhan', noble 'Tykhan,' said Ginger the Cat, in his flattering voice, 'I was just trying to know for sure that Aslan was no more than Tash today, we What do you mean?" "You mean," said Ginger, "the wisest cat of all cats, no doubt," said the other. None of them exist.''Anyone who is learned knows that.' said Taikan. 'Then, we can understand each other.' said the cat. Same, growing a little loathing for that ape?', 'A stupid and greedy beast,' said the other, 'but, right now we have to make use of it. You and I have to prepare everything in secret, called an ape. Apes to fulfill our wish. "Let some of the more learned Narnian citizens take part in our secrets, as we see fit, and take them one by one in turn--that would make things better, wouldn't it?" Ginger said, 'Because the beasts who really believe in Aslan may change at any time, and if the Ape reveals its secret, they will change voluntarily.However, those who care neither about Tash nor Aslan, and only have their eyes on their own interests, and when Narnia becomes a province of Calormen, "Tithroc" will give weight again. Reward guys, they are bound to be steadfast. "Smart cat," said the captain, "but be careful which one you choose."" While the little man went on talking, the sky seemed to change.It had been sunny when they sat down.Confused and trembling now.Jewel shook his head uneasily.Jill looked up at the sky. " "The sky is full of clouds and haze," she said. "It's so cold," said Puzzled. "By the Lion, it's cold enough!" said Tirian, breathing on her hands. "Whoa! What's that stench?" "Oh!" gasped Eustace, "it looks like some kind of dead beast. Is there a dead bird somewhere around? Why didn't we notice it before?" Jewel crawled on all fours, The unicorn protruded and explored in front, greatly flustered for a while. "Look!" cried it, "look at it! look, look!" and all six of them saw it.They all had expressions of astonishment and frustration on their faces.