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thats nearly doubled up with the rheumatics and hasnt two sticks to put under her kettle。
i have some poor little skill … not like yours； master doctor； of course … in small spells and cantrips that id be glad to use against our enemies if it was agreeable to all concerned。 for i hate em。 oh yes。 no one hates better than me。鈥�
〃that is all most interesting and … er … satisfactory；〃 said doctor cornelius。 〃i think i now know what you are； madam。 perhaps your other friend； nikabrik； would give some account of himself？鈥�
a dull； grey voice at which peters flesh crept replied； 〃im hunger。 im thirst。 where i bite； i hold till i die； and even after death they must cut out my mouthful from my enemys body and bury it with me。 i can fast a hundred years and not die。 i can lie a hundred nights on the ice and not freeze。 i can drink a river of blood and not burst。 show me your enemies。鈥�
〃and it is in the presence of these two that you wish to disclose your plan？〃 said caspian。
〃yes；〃 said nikabrik。 〃and by their help that i mean to execute it。鈥�
there was a minute or two during which trumpkin and the boys could hear caspian and his two friends speaking in low voices but could not make out what they were saying。
then caspian spoke aloud。
〃well； nikabrik；〃 he said； 〃we will hear your plan。鈥�
there was a pause so long that the boys began to wonder if nikabrik was ever going to begin； when he did； it was in a lower voice； as if he himself did not much like what he was saying。
〃all said and done；〃 he muttered； 〃none of us knows the truth about the ancient days in narnia。 trumpkin believed none of the stories。 i was ready to put them to the trial。 we tried first the horn and it has failed。 if there ever was a high king peter and a queen susan and a king edmund and a queen lucy； then either they have not heard us； or they cannot e； or they are our enemies …鈥�
〃or they are on the way；〃 put in trufflehunter。
〃you can go on saying that till miraz has fed us all to his dogs。 as i was saying； we have tried one link in the chain of old legends； and it has done us no good。 well。 but when your sword breaks； you draw your dagger。 the stories tell of other powers beside the ancient kings and queens。 how if we could call them up？鈥�
〃if you mean aslan；〃 said trufflehunter； 〃its all one calling on him and on the kings。
they were his servants。 if he will not send them （but i make no doubt he will）； is he more likely to e himself？鈥�
〃no。 youre right there；〃 said nikabrik。 〃aslan and the kings go together。 either aslan is dead； or he is not on our side。 or else something stronger than himself keeps him back。
and if he did e … how do we know hed be our friend？ he was not always a good friend to dwarfs by all thats told。 not even to all beasts。 ask the wolves。 and anyway； he was in narnia only once that i ever heard of； and he didnt stay long。 you may drop aslan out of the reckoning。 i was thinking of someone else。鈥�
there was no answer； and for a few minutes it was so still that edmund could hear the wheezy and snuffling breath of the badger。
〃who do you mean？〃 said caspian at last。
〃i mean a power so much greater than aslans that it held narnia spellbound for years and years； if the stories are true。鈥�
〃the white witch！〃 cried three voices all at once； and from the noise peter guessed that three people had leaped to their feet。
〃yes；〃 said nikabrik very slowly and distinctly； 〃i mean the witch。 sit down again。 dont all take fright at a name as if you were children。 we want power： and we want a power that will be on our side。 as for power； do not the stories say that the witch defeated aslan； and bound him； and killed him on that very stone which is over there； just beyond the light？鈥�
〃but they also say that he came to life again；〃 said the badger sharply。
〃yes； they say；〃 answered nikabrik； 〃but youll notice that we hear precious little about anything he did afterwards。 he just fades out of the story。 how do you explain that； if he really came to life？ isnt it much more likely that he didnt； and that the stories say nothing more about him because there was nothing more to say？鈥�
〃he established the kings and queens；〃 said caspian。
〃a king who has just won a great battle can usually establish himself without the help of a performing lion；〃 said nikabrik。 there was a fierce growl； probably from trufflehunter。
〃and anyway；〃 nikabrik continued； 〃what came of the kings and their reign？ they faded too。 but its very different with the witch。 they say she ruled for a hundred years： a hundred years of winter。 theres power； if you like。 theres something practical。鈥�
〃but； heaven and earth！〃 said the king； 〃havent we always been told that she was the worst enemy of all？ wasnt she a tyrant ten times worse than miraz？鈥�
〃perhaps；〃 said nikabrik in a cold voice。 〃perhaps she was for you humans； if there were any of you in those days。 perhaps she was for some of the beasts。 she stamped out the beavers； i dare say； at least there are none of them in narnia now。 but she got on all right with us dwarfs。 im a dwarf and i stand by my own people。 were not afraid of the witch。鈥�
〃but youve joined with us；〃 said trufflehunter。
〃yes； and a lot of good it has done my people； so far；〃 snapped nikabrik。 〃who is sent on all the dangerous ！； raids？ the dwarfs。 who goes short when the rations fail？ the dwarfs。 who …？鈥�
〃lies！ all lies！〃 said the badger。
〃and so；〃 said nikabrik； whose voice now rose to a scream； 〃if you cant help my people； ill go to someone who can。鈥�
〃is this open treason； dwarf？〃 asked the king。
〃put that sword back in its sheath； caspian；〃 said nikabrik。 〃murder at council； eh？ is that your game？ dont be fool enough to try it。 do you think im afraid of you？ theres three on my side； and three on yours。鈥�
〃e on； then；〃 snarled trufflehunter； but he was immediately interrupted。
〃stop； stop； stop；〃 said doctor cornelius。 〃you go on too fast。 the witch is dead。 all the stories agree on that。 what does nikabrik mean by calling on the witch？鈥�
that grey and terrible voice which had spoken only once before said； 〃oh； is she？鈥�
and then the shrill； whining voice began； 〃oh； bless his heart； his dear little majesty neednt mind about the white lady … thats what we call her … being dead。 the worshipful master doctor is only making game of a poor old woman like me when he says that。
sweet mastery doctor； learned master doctor； who ever heard of a witch that really died？ you can always get them back。鈥�
〃call her up；〃 said the grey voice。 〃we are all ready。 draw the circle。 prepare the blue fire。鈥�
above the steadily increasing growl of the badger and corneliuss sharp 〃what？〃 rose the voice of king caspian like thunder。
〃so that is your plan； nikabrik！ black sorcery and the calling up of an accursed ghost。
and i see who your panions are…a hag and a werewolf！鈥�
the next minute or so was very confused。 there was an animal roaring； a clash of steel； the boys and trumpkin rushed in； peter had a glimpse of a horrible； grey； gaunt creature； half man and half wolf； in the very