Chapter 12 Chapter 12 "Strawberry Expedition"

Digory pursed his lips, feeling more and more uncomfortable.In any case, he hoped he wouldn't cry, or do something ridiculous. "Son of Adam," said Aslan, "are you going to make up for the wrong you did to her on the first day of my good Narnia?" "I don't know what I can do," said Digory. "You know, the witch has gone away, and—" "What I'm asking is whether you're going to do it," said the Lion. "Yes," said Digory.For a moment he had a crazy idea to say, "You promise to help cure my mother, and I'll do my best to help you," but he immediately realized that he couldn't bargain with the lion.However, when he said "yes", he thought of his mother, and thought that all the grand wishes he had had were now wiped out, and his throat felt like a ball of cotton was blocked. With tears in his eyes, he blurted out:

"But, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—will you—can you give me something to cure my mother?" He had been looking at the lion's thick front legs and two huge claws, and now, in desperation, he He raised his head and looked at its face.What he saw was the most amazing thing in his life.The Lion's tawny face was bent down close to his, and (most curiously) large tears glistened in his eyes.The Lion's tears were so large and bright compared with Digory's, and Digory felt at once that the Lion felt more genuinely for his mother than he did himself. "My boy, my boy," said Aslan, "I know, and it is indeed unfortunate. You and I are the only ones in this land who know this. We must understand each other and be friendly. But I must Survival in Narnia is a long-term plan of hundreds of years. The witch you brought into this world will return, but not necessarily soon. I hope to plant a tree in Narnia that she dare not approach, the tree Will defend Narnia from her for many years. There will be a long bright morning in this land before the clouds cover the sun. You must fetch the seed for me."

"Yes, sir," said Digory.He didn't know how to do it, but he felt sure he could do it well.The lion let out a long sigh of relief, lowered his head, and kissed him in the lion's way.Digory felt at once new strength and courage pouring into his body. " "My dear boy," said Aslan, "I will tell you what to do. Look back to the west and tell me what you see?" "I saw the great mountains, Aslan," said Digory, "and I saw the river drop down the cliffs and make a waterfall. Behind the cliffs, on the high hills, were green forests. Beyond that, there was the dark forest. There are taller mountains. In the farther place, there are continuous snow-capped mountains-like the Alps in the photo. Behind the snow-capped mountains, there is nothing but the sky."

"You can see very clearly," said the Lion, "that the falls are the border of Narnia, and once you get to the cliffs you are out of Narnia and into the Wild West. In the valley of the green river, there is a blue lake; at the end of the lake, there is a green and steep hill. On the top of the hill is a garden, and in the center of the garden is a tree. Pick an apple from the tree and bring it back to me." "Yes, sir," said Digory again.He had no idea how to climb those high cliffs, but he wouldn't say it for fear of sounding like he was making excuses.But he said, "I hope, Aslan, you're not in a hurry. I can't go back and forth soon enough."

"Son of little Adam, you will be helped," said Aslan, turning to the horse.It has been standing quietly next to them, flicking its tail to fend off flies, tilting its head to listen to their conversation, as if it is a little difficult to understand the conversation. "My dear," said Aslan to the horse, "would you like to be a flying horse?" If you had been there, you could have seen the horse with its mane shaking, its nostrils flaring, and its heels tapping the ground.Obviously, it would love to be a Pegasus.but it only says: "If you wish, Aslan—if you really do—I don't see why I was chosen—I'm not a very clever horse."

"Grow wings and become the father of Pegasus," Aslan roared, shaking the world, "Your name is Frankie." The horse took a step back in surprise, as it might have been in its wretched days pulling carts as it is today.Then it stood up on its hind legs and twisted its neck as if trying to catch a fly that bit its shoulder.Then, just as the animals had sprung from the ground before, a pair of wings sprang from Franky's shoulders, growing wider and bigger, surpassing the wings of eagles, swans, and angels in church windows. wing.The feathers on the wings are sorrel and copper.It flew into the air with a violent outstretch, snorting, neighing, and leaping in the air more than twenty feet above Aslan and Digory.After making a circle around them, he landed on all fours, looking a little unskilled, a little surprised, but very happy.

"Well, Franky?" said Aslan. "Very well, Aslan," said Franky. "Would you like to have this son of Adam ride on your back to the valley I speak of?" "What? Now? Immediately?" said Strawberry - or Frankie.We have to call it that now. "Quick! Come on, little one, I've carried something like you before. Long ago, when there were green fields and lumps of sugar." "What are the two daughters of Eve whispering?" said Aslan, turning suddenly to Polly and the coachman's wife.The two of them have made friends. "Excuse me, my lord," said Queen Helene (as the coachman's wife, Lei Li, was now called), "I think the little girl would go with her if it was convenient."

"What's Franky's opinion?" asked the Lion. "Oh, I don't mind carrying two kids," said Franky, "but I hope the elephant doesn't come up." The elephant didn't want to go up at all.The new King of Narnia helps the two children mount their horses.He slammed Digory, of course, and lifted Polly up as lightly as a fragile piece of china. "They're seated, 'Strawberry'--Frankie, I should say. Not an easy trip." "Don't fly too high," said Aslan, "and don't try to fly over those tall icebergs. You'll find a way through the green country of the valley. Well, I wish you a safe journey."

"Oh, Frankie!" said Digory, stooping and patting the shaggy horse's neck. "It was fun. Hold on to me, Polly." Soon, that piece of land was left far below by them.As Frankie circled and circled like a dove, the ground spun with it.Franky then turned west and began the long flight.Polly looked down, and the King and Queen could hardly be seen, and even Aslan was but a bright yellow spot in the green grass.Immediately there was wind blowing in their faces.Franky's wings flapped rhythmically. All Narnia lay beneath their feet, all the colors of the meadows and rocks and heather and trees, and the winding river like a ribbon of quicksilver.Looking to the north to the right, on the other side of the hill, there is a swamp that slowly slopes up to the horizon.The mountains on the left are much higher, but here and there valleys can be seen.From there, through the towering pine forests, you can glimpse the blue land in the south, stretching far away.

"That's Archenland," said Polly. "Yes, look ahead!" said Digory. The cliffs raised a huge barrier before their eyes, and the sun shone blindingly on the cataract.The river roared from the highlands in the west, and splashed into Narnia.They had flown so high that the thunderous roar of the falls had softened.But they were not flying high enough to clear the cliffs. "We're going to zig-zag a bit here," said Franky. "Hold on." It started flying back and forth, getting higher with each circle.The air was getting colder, and there was a cry of eagles in the distance.

"Well, look back! Look back!" said Polly. They saw Narnia stretching eastward to the end of the horizon, and there was a glint of sea.From their height now, they could see the jagged mountains winding behind the northern swamps, appearing very small.In the far south, there is a sandy plain. "I wish someone had told us what those places were," said Digory. "I don't think it's any special place," said Polly. "I mean, there's no one there, and nothing ever happens. The world just begins today." "No, one has to go eventually," said Digory, "and then there's history, you know." "It's a good thing not yet," said Polly, "because nobody can learn about that. Wars, dates, and all that nonsense." They were already on the top of the cliff, and in a few minutes the Narnia valleys disappeared from view behind them.They followed the river and flew over a wild land with steep hills and dark forests below.A majestic mountain loomed ahead.The sun was shining from the front, making it difficult for them to see what was ahead.At this time, the sun was setting, and the western sky was like a huge furnace filled with molten gold.Finally, the setting sun sank behind the jagged peaks, a splendor setting against the clear but lost three-dimensional mountains as if cut from a piece of paper. "It's not warm at all in here," said Polly. "My wings are starting to hurt," said Franky. "I can't see the valley with the lake that Aslan said about. How about going down and finding a comfortable place to spend the night? We won't get there tonight." "Well, it must be supper time now?" said Digory. Frankie flew lower and lower, and the weather warmed up as they descended into the hills very close to the ground.During that long flight, nothing was heard but the flapping of Frankie's wings.How pleasant it is now to hear all the friendly sounds from the ground again! The water gurgles over the stone riverbed, and the breeze rustles through the trees.Under the scorching sun, the refreshing warmth of the earth, grass and flowers hits the face.Frankie finally landed.Digory came down and helped Polly dismount again.Both were happy to stretch their stiff legs.The valley they landed in was right in the center of the mountains, and the snow-capped mountains on both sides overlooked them, and the setting sun painted one of them a rosy red. "I'm hungry," said Digory. "Come, have a delicious meal." Franky said, biting off a big mouthful of grass.Then it raised its head, chewed, and sprouted a few knots of grass from the corners of its mouth like whiskers. "Come and eat, you two. Don't be shy, it's enough for the three of us." "But we don't know how to eat grass," said Digory. "Well, well," said Frankie, chewing his mouthful of grass, "oh, well, then, I don't know what you're up to. Such good grass." Polly and Digory looked at each other dejectedly. "I think someone must have arranged for us a supper," said Digory. "I daresay Aslan will think of it for you if you entreat him." "Can't you think of it without asking it?" said Polly. "No doubt he will," said the horse (still chewing his mouthful of grass), "but I think he likes to be asked." "Then what on earth are we going to do?" asked Digory. "I sure don't know," said Franky, "unless you try to eat some grass. It might be better than you think." "Well, don't be silly," said Polly, stamping her foot. "Of course a man can't eat grass any more than you can eat lamb chops." "For God's sake, don't talk about lamb chops," said Digory. "It's only going to make it worse." He said Polly had better go home by the ring to get some food, and that he couldn't go himself, because he had promised Aslan to go straight to the task, and once he got home something might happen that would make it difficult for him to return.But Polly said she would not leave him, and Digory said she was too kind. "Why," said Polly, "I've got some taffy left in my pocket. Better than nothing." "Very well," said Digory, "but be careful not to touch the ring when you put your hand in there." It was a tricky thing, and it would have gone wrong, but it worked out in the end.The little paper bags they brought out were soft and wet and sticky, so it was more difficult to tear the paper bag off the sugar than to get the sugar out of the pocket.Some grown-ups (you know how they fuss and fuss when it happens to them) would rather skip their supper than have those taffy.There are nine in total.Digory had a good idea, and each of them ate four of them, and planted the ninth in the ground.He said: "An iron rod taken from a lamppost can grow into a small lamppost. Why can't this candy grow into a toffee tree?" So they dug a small hole in the turf and buried it. Dropped the toffee, then began to eat the remaining eight, savoring them slowly for as long as possible.It was a bad supper and they had to eat it even with the wrappers all stuck to it. Frankie lay down after a good dinner, and the children sat on either side of him, leaning against its warm body.It spreads its wings to cover them, making them more warm and comfortable.When the bright young stars of the New World rose, they began to talk about how Digory had wished to get something for his mother, and how he had been sent on that mission.Again and again they mentioned the features of the place they were looking for--the blue lake, the garden on the top of the hill.It wasn't until drowsiness set in that their conversation slowed down.Suddenly Polly woke up and sat up. "Hush!" The three companions listened attentively and with all their might. "Perhaps it's just the wind in the trees," said Digory after a while. "Not sure," said Franky, "anyway—wait! There's movement. By Aslan, there's something." The horse fell violently, made a loud noise, and hurriedly got up.The children are already standing.Frankie trotted back and forth, sniffing and neighing low; the children tiptoed behind every bush and tree.They kept thinking they saw something.Once, Polly was quite sure, she saw a tall dark figure gliding rapidly to the west.But they found nothing.Finally, Frankie lays down again, and the children snuggle (if that's the word can be used) under the horse's wings, and soon fall asleep.Frankie was awake for a long time, moving his ears back and forth in the dark, sometimes his skin shuddered slightly, as if a fly had landed on him, but at last he too fell asleep.