The Horse and His Boy 精彩片段：
CHAPTER NINE
ACROSS THE DESERT "Hove dreadful! How perfectly dreadful!" whimpered Lasaraleen. "Oh darling, I am so frightened. Im shaking all over. Feel me.”
"Come on," said Aravis, who was trembling herself. "Theyve gone back to the new palace. Once were out of this room were safe enough. But its wasted a terrible time. Get me down to that water-gate as quick as you can.”
"Darling, how can you?" squeaked Lasaraleen. "I cant do anything - not now. My poor nerves! No: we must just lie still a bit and then go back.”
"Why back?" asked Aravis.
"Oh, you dont understand. Youre so unsympathetic," said Lasaraleen, beginning to cry.
Aravis decided it was no occasion for mercy.
"Look here!" she said, catching Lasaraleen and giving her a good shake. "If you say another word about going back, and if you dont start taking me to that water-gate at once
- do you know what Ill do? Ill rush out into that passage and scream. Then well both be caught.”
"But we shall both be k-k-killed!" said Lasaraleen. "Didnt you hear what the Tisroc (may he live for ever) said?”
"Yes, and Id sooner be killed than married to Ahoshta. So come on.”
"Oh you are unkind," said Lasaraleen. "And I in such a state!”
But in the end she had to give in to Aravis. She led the way down the steps they had already descended, and along another corridor and so finally out into the open air. They were now in the palace garden which sloped down in terraces to the city wall. The moon shone brightly. One of the drawbacks about adventures is that when you come to the most beautiful places you are often too anxious and hurried to appreciate them; so that Aravis (though she remembered them years later) had only a vague impression of grey lawns, quietly bubbling fountains, and the long black shadows of cypress trees.
When they re"ached the very bottom and the wall rose frowning above them, Lasaraleen was shaking so that she could not unbolt the gate. Aravis did it. There, at last, was the river, full of reflected moonlight, and a little landing stage and a few pleasure boats.
"Good-bye," said Aravis, "and thank you. Im sorry if Ive been a pig. But think what Im flying from!”