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artners。 but she was only half interested in them。 she wanted to get beyond them to something else； it was from beyond them that the dear voice had called。
she soon got through them （half wondering whether she had been using her arms to push branches aside； or to take hands in a great chain with big dancers who stooped to reach her） for they were really a ring of trees round a central open place。 she stepped out from among their shifting confusion of lovely lights and shadows。
a circle of grass； smooth as a lawn； met her eyes； with dark trees dancing all round it。
and then … oh joy！ for he was there： the huge lion； shining white in the moonlight； with his huge black shadow underneath him。
but for the movement of his tail he might have been a stone lion； but lucy never thought of that。 she never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not。 she rushed to him。 she felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment。 and the next thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far round his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silkiness of his mane。
〃aslan； aslan。 dear aslan；〃 sobbed lucy。 〃at last。鈥�
the great beast rolled over on his side so that lucy fell； half sitting and half lying between his front paws。 he bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue。 his warm breath came all round her。 she gazed up into the large wise face。
〃wele； child；〃 he said。
〃aslan；〃 said lucy； 〃youre bigger。鈥�
〃that is because you are older； little one；〃 answered he。
〃not because you are？鈥�
〃i am not。 but every year you grow； you will find me bigger。鈥�
for a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak。 but aslan spoke。
〃lucy；〃 he said； 〃we must not lie here for long。 you have work in hand； and much time has been lost today。鈥�
〃yes； wasnt it a shame？〃 said lucy。 〃i saw you all right。 they wouldnt believe me。
theyre all so …鈥�
from somewhere deep inside aslans body there came the faintest suggestion of a growl。
〃im sorry；〃 said lucy； who understood some of his moods。 〃i didnt mean to start slanging the others。 but it wasnt my fault anyway； was it？鈥�
the lion looked straight into her eyes。
〃oh； aslan；〃 said lucy。 〃you dont mean it was？ how could i … i couldnt have left the others and e up to you alone； how could i？ dont look at me like that 。 。 。 oh well； i suppose i could。 yes； and it wouldnt have been alone； i know； not if i was with you。 but what would have been the good？鈥�
aslan said nothing。
〃you mean；〃 said lucy rather faintly； 〃that it would have turned out all right … somehow？
but how？ please； aslan！ am i not to know？鈥�
〃to know what would have happened； child？〃 said aslan。 〃no。 nobody is ever told that。鈥�
〃oh dear；〃 said lucy。
〃but anyone can find out what will happen；〃 said aslan。 〃if you go back to the others now； and wake them up； and tell them you have seen me again； and that you must all get up at once and follow me … what will happen？ there is only one way of finding out。鈥�
〃do you mean that is what you want me to do？〃 gasped lucy。
〃yes； little one；〃 said aslan。
〃will the others see you too？〃 asked lucy。
〃certainly not at first；〃 said aslan。 〃later on； it depends。鈥�
〃but they wont believe me！〃 said lucy。
〃it doesnt matter；〃 said aslan。
〃oh dear； oh dear；〃 said lucy。 〃and i was so pleased at finding you again。 and i thought youd let me stay。 and i thought youd e roaring in and frighten all the enemies away … like last time。 and now everything is going to be horrid。鈥�
〃it is hard for you； little one；〃 said aslan。 〃but things never happen the same way twice。
it has been hard for us all in narnia before now。鈥�
lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face。 but there must have been magic in his mane。 she could feel lion…strength going into her。 quite suddenly she sat up。
〃im sorry； aslan；〃 she said。 〃im ready now。鈥�
〃now you are a lioness；〃 said aslan。 〃and now all narnia will be renewed。 but e。
we have no time to lose。鈥�
he got up and walked with stately； noiseless paces back to the belt of dancing trees through which she had just e： and lucy went with him； laying a rather tremulous hand on his mane。 the trees parted to let them through and for one second assumed their human forms pletely。 lucy had a glimpse of tall and lovely wood…gods and wood…goddesses all bowing to the lion； next moment they were trees again； but still bowing； with such graceful sweeps of branch and trunk that their bowing was itself a kind of dance。
〃now； child；〃 said aslan； when they had left the trees behind them； 〃i will wait here。 go and wake the others and tell them to follow。 if they will not； then you at least must follow me alone。鈥�
it is a terrible thing to have to wake four people； all older than yourself and all very tired； for the purpose of telling them something they probably wont believe and making them do something they certainly wont like。 〃i mustnt think about it； i must just do it；鈥�
thought lucy。
she went to peter first and shook him。 〃peter；〃 she whispered in his ear； 〃wake up。 quick。
aslan is here。 he says weve got to follow him at once。鈥�
〃certainly； lu。 whatever you like；〃 said peter unexpectedly。 this was encouraging； but as peter instantly rolled round and went to sleep again it wasnt much use。
then she tried susan。 susan did really wake up； but only to say in her most annoying grown…up voice； 〃youve been dreaming； lucy。 go to sleep again。鈥�
she tackled edmund next。 it was very difficult to wake him； but when at last she had done it he was really awake and sat up。
〃eh？〃 he said in a grumpy voice。 〃what are you talking about？鈥�
she said it all over again。 this was one of the worst parts of her job； for each time she said it； it sounded less convincing。
〃aslan！〃 said edmund； jumping up。 〃hurray！ where？鈥�
lucy turned back to where she could see the lion waiting； his patient eyes fixed upon her。 〃there；〃 she said； pointing。
〃where？〃 asked edmund again。
〃there。 there。 dont you see？ just this side of the trees。鈥�
edmund stared hard for a while and then said； 〃no。 theres nothing there。 youve got dazzled and muddled with the moonlight。 one does； you know。 i thought i saw something for a moment myself。 its only an optical what…do…you…call…it。鈥�
〃i can see him all the time；〃 said lucy。 〃hes looking straight at us。鈥�
〃then why cant i see him？鈥�
〃he said you mightnt be able to。鈥�
〃why？鈥�
〃i dont know。 thats what he said。鈥�
〃oh； bother it all；〃 said edmund。 〃i do wish you wouldnt keep on seeing things。 but i suppose well have to wake the others。鈥�
ww銆�w。x锛゛oshuotxt。銆�
CHAPTER ELEVEN
銆�灏彙�/璇淬�倀xt澶╁爞
the lion roars when the whole party was finally awake lucy had to tell her story for the fourth time。
the blank silence which followed it was as discouraging as anything could be。
〃i cant see anything；〃 said peter after he had stared his eyes sore。 〃can you； susan？鈥�
〃no； of course i cant；〃 snapped susan。 〃because there isnt anything to see。 shes been dreaming。 do lie down and go to sleep； lu