Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen, Planting Trees

"Well done," said Aslan in a voice that shook the earth.Digory knew that all the citizens of Narnia had heard it, and their stories would be passed from father to son in that new world, for centuries and perhaps forever.Yet he was not in danger of falling into complacency, for it did not occur to him now, as he looked at Aslan face to face.This time, he found that he could look into the lion's eyes.He has forgotten his difficulties and is completely content. "Well done, Son of Adam," said the Lion again, "for that apple which you longed for and wept for, and only your hand could plant the seed for the defense of Narnia. Throw the loose earth by the river." -

Digory did so.Everyone fell silent, and the soft sound of the apple falling into the mud was clearly heard. "Well done," said Aslan, "and now let us have the coronation of King Frank of Narnia and his Queen Helen." The kids are only now noticing the couple.They were dressed in strange and beautiful clothes, rich robes that fell from the shoulders to the floor, and the four dwarfs held up the king's train, and the four river nymphs held up the queen's train.There was no decoration on their heads, but Helen looked even more attractive with her hair down.However, it wasn't the hair or the clothes that made them so different from the past, but a new look on their faces, especially the king.All the sharpness, cunning, and quarrelsome qualities he had acquired as a coachman in London were gone, and the courage and good nature were more obvious.Perhaps the air of this young world or the conversation with Aslan had had this effect, perhaps both.

"My God," French whispered to Polly, "my old master has changed almost as much as I have. He's a real master now." "Yes, but don't chatter in my ear," said Polly, "it itches." "Now," said Aslan, "you go and untangle the trees that are tangled together. Let's see what's in there." Only then did Digory see that the four trees were growing close together, their branches intertwined with each other, forming a sort of cage.The two elephants with their trunks and the dwarves with their hatchets quickly separated the branches.There were three things in it: a small tree that seemed to be made of gold; another that seemed to be made of silver; between trees.

"Oh!" cried Digory in a low voice, "Uncle Andrew!" We have to go backwards to explain it.You remember when the animals tried to plant him in the soil and watered him? When the water cleared his mind, he found himself soaked and buried in the soil from the thigh down (the soil quickly turned to mud) , surrounded by more beasts than he could have dreamed of.Naturally he began to scream.In a way, that's a good thing because, in the end, the animals (boars included) know he's alive.So they dug him out again (his trousers would be a real shock at the moment).As soon as the legs came out, he tried to run, but the elephant stopped him with a light roll of its trunk around his waist.Every animal thought it necessary to keep him safe and secure until Aslan had time to come and see him.So, they made a cage or shed to enclose him.Then, feed him all the food they want.

The donkey threw a large pile of thistles into the cage, but Uncle Andrew seemed to pay no attention.The squirrels dropped many nuts like a cannonball, but he just covered his head with his hands and tried to avoid it.A few birds flew around diligently, dropping worms into the cage.The bear was especially kind.In the afternoon, he found a wild bee's hive, which the noble bear was reluctant to eat (it really wanted it), and brought it back to Uncle Andrew.However, this is the most unsuccessful move.The bear hung the sticky thing from the top of the cage, and it happened to hit Uncle Andrew in the face (not all the bees died).The bear himself didn't mind being hit in the face by the hive, and couldn't understand why Uncle Andrew staggered back, slipped, and fell to the ground.And very unfortunately, he sat on that pile of thistles again. "Anyway," said the boar, "a good deal of honey has gone into the thing's mouth, and it must be doing him good." They took a real interest in this strange pet, and wished Aslan Allow them to feed him.Some of the more intelligent animals were quite sure that at least some of the sounds that came out of his mouth had meaning.They called him "Brandy" because he used to make that sound.

In the end, however, they had to leave him there overnight.Aslan had been too busy instructing the new King and Queen that day, or doing other important things, to ask "poor old Brandy."So many apples, pears, nuts and bananas thrown in.His dinner was a good one, but it would be inauthentic to say he had a good evening. "Bring that thing out," said Aslan.An elephant rolled up Uncle Andrew with its trunk, and placed him at the lion's feet, where he was so frightened that he could not move. "I'm sorry, Aslan," said Polly, "can you say something--to make him not be afraid? And then something to tell him not to come here again?"

"Do you think he wants to come?" said Aslan. "Well, Aslan," said Polly, "he might send someone else. He was so excited by the iron rod that had been twisted from the lamppost and grown into a little lamppost again, and thought—" "His idea is very stupid, boy," said Aslan. "The world is alive these days because the song that breathes life into it is still floating in the air and echoing on the earth. It won't last long." Yes. But I can't tell that to the old rascal, and I can't comfort him. He makes himself unable to understand me. If I speak to him, he hears only grunts and growls. Ah, boy of Adam, How clever you are to resist all temptations that are good for you! But I will give him the only gift he can accept."

It bowed its huge head sadly, and blew into the magician's frightened face. "Sleep," it said, "sleep, and put away your self-inflicted troubles for a few hours." Immediately, Uncle Andrew closed his eyelids, fell to the ground, and began to breathe peacefully. "Take him aside and let him lie," said Aslan. "Well, Dwarfs, do your blacksmithing. Let me see you make two crowns for the King and Queen." A multitude of dwarfs, more than they could have dreamed of, ran to the golden tree, and in the blink of an eye they plucked all the leaves and some of the branches from it.The children now knew that the tree was not only golden, but soft gold indeed.It grew, of course, from where the gold coins in his pocket fell when Uncle Andrew was stood on his head, just as a silver coin would grow into a silver tree when it fell.The dwarf had obtained from nowhere a pile of dry bushes for fuel, a small anvil, some hammers, tongs, and bellows.In a short while (the dwarves enjoyed their work), the fire was welling up, the bellows whizzed, the gold was melted, and the hammers began to clang.The two Moles, whom Aslan had just sent to dig (they love digging best), dumped a heap of precious gems at the Dwarf's feet.The dexterous hands of the little blacksmiths fashioned two crowns—not bulky and ugly like the European crowns of today, but two light, delicate, beautifully shaped rings, which you can really wear and feel beautiful after wearing them. more beautiful.The king's crown is set with rubies, and the queen's crown is set with emeralds.

When the crown had cooled in the river, Aslan made Frank and Helen kneel before it, and he put the crown on them, and said: "Stand up, King and Queen of Narnia, you shall be Narnia, Parents of many kings of the Isles and of Archenland. Be just, merciful, and courageous. Bless you." Everyone cheered, barked, hissed, or flapped their wings, or made a sound like a trumpet.The king and his wife stood up with solemn expressions and a little shyness, but their shyness made them look more noble.Digory was cheering, and Aslan's deep voice sounded in his ears: "Look!" Everyone or animals turned their heads and took a deep breath of great surprise.A tree that had apparently just grown stood a few paces away, its branches covering their heads.The tree must have grown as silently as the flag was hoisted on the pole while they were busy crowning the king and queen.Its outstretched branches cast a light, not a shadow.Under each leaf, a silver apple like a star can be vaguely seen.However, it was the smell rather than the image that made them take a deep breath.For a split second, it's hard to think about anything else.

"Son of Adam," said Aslan, "you have planted well. You, citizens of Narnia, it is your first duty to guard this tree, for it is your shield. The witch I told you She has fled to the mountains to the north; there she will dwell, and grow strong by wicked magic. But she will never dare enter Narnia as long as the tree is full. She dare not go far Within a hundred miles of this tree, because the smell of this tree can bring you joy, life and health, but to her, it is death, fear and despair." Every man and animal was gazing solemnly at the tree, when suddenly Aslan tossed his head (with a golden glint in his hair) and stared intently at the children. "What is it, children?" it said.Because it saw them whispering and nudging each other.

"Ah—Aslan, sir," said Digory, blushing, "I forgot to tell you that the Witch has eaten an apple just like the one on this tree." He didn't quite say what he really thought, But Polly spoke for him at once. (He's more afraid of being thought a fool than she is. "So, we think, Aslan," she said, "something must be wrong, and she doesn't really care what those apples taste like." "Why do you think so, Daughter of Eve?" asked the Lion. "Well, she ate one." "Child," it replied, "and all the remaining apples will be terrible to her. To those who pick and eat apples at the wrong time and in the wrong way The result. The fruit is good, but they will loathe it forever." "Oh, I see," said Polly, "I suppose that because she picks the wrong apples, it won't work for her, I mean, it won't keep her young forever, and so on." "Oh, no," said Aslan, shaking his head, "yes, the laws of things themselves will not change. She has fulfilled her wish, and she has inexhaustible strength and endless days like a goddess. But if a person With an evil heart, as long as you live, you will worry as long as you live, and she has begun to understand this. These people have what they want, but they don't always like it." "I - I almost ate one myself, Aslan," said Digory. "I - would I...?" "You will, boy," said Aslan, "for an apple will always work—must work—but it will not end well for those who pick it for their own gratification. If any A citizen of Narnia does not listen to advice, steals an apple, and then plants it here to defend Narnia, of course it will defend Narnia. However, it will turn Narnia into a powerful and cruel empire like Charn, Not such a friendly country as I'd hoped for. The witch tempted you to do something else, didn't she, my child?" "Yes, Aslan. She wants me to pick an apple and take it home to mother." "You know, it'll cure her too, but it won't make you or her happy. If you do that, someday you and she will look back on it and say it wasn't as good as it was." It's good to be sick and die." Digory was choked with tears in his eyes.He gave up all hope of saving his mother's life; but at the same time he knew that the lion knew all about what could happen, and that there might be some things worse than the death of a loved one.Then Aslan said again: "If you steal an apple, the result will be as I just said. But it will not happen now. The apple I give you now will bring joy. In your world, it will not make people immortal, but able to heal. go Go ahead, pick an apple from the tree for your mother. " For a moment Digory was simply bewildered.It was as if the whole world had turned upside down.Then, as if in a dream, he walked towards the tree, and the King and Queen cheered him, and all the animals cheered him.He took off the apple, put it in his pocket, and went back to Aslan. . "Excuse me," he said, "can we go home?" He forgot to say "thank you," but he meant it, and Aslan understood him.