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〃trumpkin；〃 said the dwarf。 〃bringing the high king of narnia out of the far past。鈥�
the badgers nosed at the boys hands。 〃at last；〃 they said。 〃at last。鈥�
〃give us a light； friends；〃 said trumpkin。
the badgers found a torch just inside the arch and peter lit it and handed it to trumpkin。
〃the d。l。f。 had better lead；〃 he said。 〃we dont know our way about this place。鈥�
trumpkin took the torch and went ahead into the dark tunnel。 it was a cold； black； musty place； with an occasional bat fluttering in the torchlight； and plenty of cobwebs。 the boys； who had been mostly in the open air since that morning at the railway station； felt as if they were going into a trap or a prison。
〃i say； peter；〃 whispered edmund。 〃look at those carvings on the walls。 dont they look old？ and yet were older than that。 when we were last here； they hadnt been made。鈥�
〃yes；〃 said peter。 〃that makes one think。鈥�
the dwarf went on ahead and then turned to the right； and then to the left； and then down some steps； and then to the left again。 then at last they saw a light ahead … light from under a door。 and now for the first time they heard voices； for they had e to the door
of the central chamber。 the voices inside were angry ones。 someone was talking so loudly that the approach of the boys and the dwarf had not been heard。
〃dont like the sound of that；〃 whispered trumpkin to peter。 〃lets listen for a moment。鈥�
all three stood perfectly still on the outside of the door。
〃you know well enough；〃 said a voice （〃thats the king；〃 whispered trumpkin）； 〃why the horn was not blown at sunrise this morning。 have you forgotten that miraz fell upon us almost before trumpkin had gone； and we were fighting for our lives for the space of three hours and more？ i blew it when first i had a breathing space。鈥�
〃im not likely to forget it；〃 came the angry voice； 〃when my dwarfs bore the brunt of the attack and one in five of them fell。〃 （〃thats nikabrik；〃 whispered trumpkin。）
〃for shame； dwarf；〃 came a thick voice （〃trufflehunters；〃 said trumpkin）。 〃we all did as much as the dwarfs and none more than the king。鈥�
〃tell that tale your own way for all i care；〃 answered nikabrik。 〃but whether it was that the horn was blown too late； or whether there was no magic in it； no help has e。 you； you great clerk； you master magician； you know…all； are you still asking us to hang our hopes on aslan and king peter and all the rest of it？鈥�
〃i must confess … i cannot deny it … that i am deeply disappointed in the result of the operation；〃 came the answer。 （〃thatll be doctor cornelius；〃 said trumpkin。）
〃to speak plainly；〃 said nikabrik； 〃your wallets empty； your eggs addled； your fish uncaught； your promises broken。 stand aside then and let others work。 and that is why …鈥�
〃the help will e；〃 said trufflehunter。 〃i stand by aslan。 have patience； like us beasts。 the help will e。 it may be even now at the door。鈥�
〃pah！〃 snarled nikabrik。 〃you badgers would have us wait till the sky falls and we can all catch larks。 i tell you we cant wait。 food is running short； we lose more than we can afford at every encounter； our followers are slipping away。鈥�
〃and why？〃 asked trufflehunter。 〃ill tell you why。 because it is noised among them that we have called on the kings of old and the kings of old have not answered。 the last words trumpkin spoke before he went （and went； most likely； to his death） were； ‘if you must blow the horn； do not let the army know why you blow it or what you hope from it。 but that same evening everyone seemed to know。鈥�
〃youd better have shoved your grey snout in a hornets nest； badger； than suggest that i am the blab；〃 said nikabrik。 〃take it back； or…鈥�
〃oh； stop it； both of you；〃 said king caspian。 〃i want to know what it is that nikabrik keeps on hinting we should do。 but before that； i want to know who those two strangers
are whom he has brought into our council and who stand there with their ears open and their mouths shut。鈥�
〃they are friends of mine；〃 said nikabrik。 〃and what better right have you yourself to be here than that you are a friend of trumpkins and the badgers？ and what right has that old dotard in the black gown to be here except that he is your friend？ why am i to be the only one who cant bring in his friends？鈥�
〃his majesty is the king to whom you have sworn allegiance；〃 said trufflehunter sternly。
〃court manners； court manners；〃 sneered nikabrik。 〃but in this hole we may talk plainly。
you know … and he knows that this telmarine boy will be king of nowhere and nobody in a week unless we can help him out of the trap in which he sits。鈥�
〃perhaps；〃 said cornelius； 〃your new friends would like to speak for themselves？ you there； who and what are you？鈥�
〃worshipful master doctor；〃 came a thin； whining voice。 〃so please you； im only a poor old woman； i am； and very obliged to his worshipful dwarfship for his friendship； im sure。 his majesty； bless his handsome face； has no need to be afraid of an old woman 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 act of leaping upon a boy about his own age； and edmund saw a badger and a dwarf rolling on the floor in a sort of cat fight。 trumpkin found himself face to face with the hag。 her nose and chin stuck out like a pair of nut…crackers； her dirty grey hair was flying about her face and she had just got doctor cornelius by the throat。 at one slash of trumpkins sword her head rolled on the floor。
then the light was knocked over and it was all swords； teeth； claws； fists； and boots for about sixty seconds。 then silence。
〃are you all right； ed？鈥�
〃i … i think so；〃 panted edmund。 〃ive got that brute nikabrik； but hes still alive。鈥�
〃weights and water…bottles！〃 came an angry voice。 〃its me youre sitting on。 get off。
youre like a young elephant。鈥�
〃sorry； d。l。f。；〃 said edmund。 〃is that better？鈥�
〃ow！ no！〃 bellowed trumpkin。 〃youre putting your boot in my mouth。 go away。〃 ‘ 〃is king caspian anywhere？〃 asked peter。
〃im here；〃 said a rather faint voice。 〃something bit me。鈥�
the