《能言馬與男孩》第52期:穿過大沙漠(6)

It was about ten minutes later when all four of them (the two children wet nearly all over) came out and began to notice their surroundings. The moon was now high enough to peep down into the valley. There was soft grass on both sides of the river, and beyond the grass, trees and bushes sloped up to the bases of the cliffs. There must have been some wonderful flowering shrubs hidden in that shadowy undergrowth for the whole glade was full of the coolest and most delicious smells. And out of the darkest recess among the trees there came a sound Shasta had never heard beforea nightingale.

Everyone was much too tired to speak or to eat. The Horses, without waiting to be unsaddled, lay down at once. So did Aravis and Shasta.

About ten minutes later the careful Hwin said, "But we mustn't go to sleep. We've got to keep ahead of that Rabadash."

"No," said Bree very slowly. "Mustn't go sleep. Just a little rest."

Shasta knew (for a moment) that they would all go to sleep if he didn't get up and do something about it, and felt that he ought to. In fact he decided that he would get up and persuade them to go on. But presently; not yet: not just yet...

Very soon the moon shone and the nightingale sang over two horses and two human children, all fast asleep.

It was Aravis who awoke first. The sun was already high in the heavens and the cool morning hours were already wasted. "It's my fault," she said to herself furiously as she jumped up and began rousing the others. "One wouldn't expect Horses to keep awake after a day's work like that, even if they can talk. And of course that Boy wouldn't; he's had no decent training. But I ought to have known better."

The others were dazed and stupid with the heaviness of their sleep.

"Neigh-ho - broo-hoo," said Bree. "Been sleeping in my saddle, eh? I'll never do that again. Most uncomfortable-"

"Oh come on, come on," said Aravis. "We've lost half the morning already. There isn't a moment to spare."

"A fellow's got to have a mouthful of grass," said Bree.

"I'm afraid we can't wait," said Aravis.

大約十分鐘以後，他們四個(兩個孩子幾乎渾身上下都溼透了)才從池塘裏出來，看看周圍的環境。月亮現在升得高高的，足以照進山谷裏來。大河的兩邊都長着柔嫩的青草，青草外，大樹和灌木往上綿延到懸崖絕壁的底部。在那陰暗的灌木叢裏必定隱藏着一些奇花香草，因爲林中空地裏瀰漫着最清涼最芳香的氣息。從樹木間最幽暗的隱祕之地傳來了一個聲音——沙斯塔以前從未聽見過的——夜鶯的歌聲。

大家都太疲倦了，懶得說話，也懶得吃東西。馬兒不待解下鞍子便立刻躺下了。阿拉維斯和沙斯塔也躺下了。

大約十分鐘後，謹慎小心的赫溫說道”可是我們必須不要睡覺纔好。我們要趕在拉巴達什的前面。”

“是啊，”布里慢吞吞地說道，”必須不睡。光是休息一會兒。”

沙斯塔明白(片刻之間):如果他不站起來，做點什麼的話，他們大家都會沉沉入睡的，他覺得他應該做點什麼。事實上，他下定決心自己要站起來，還要勸他們大家繼續趕路。但不一會兒他又改變主意了；等一下，只不過稍微等一下……

不久，月亮便照到兩匹馬兒和兩個孩子身上，夜鶯的歌聲也傳到了兩匹馬兒和兩個孩子的耳邊，可他們大家都睡熟了。

首先醒來的是阿拉維斯。太陽已經升得高高的，清晨涼快的時光已經浪費掉了。”這是我的過錯。”她憤憤地對自己說道，一面跳起身來，開始叫醒別人。”馬兒像這樣跑了一天的路，不該指望它們不睡覺的，即使它們是能說人話的馬兒。當然也不該指望這男孩子不睡，他沒有教養。但我應該更加懂事明理啊。”

其他人馬都酣睡得迷迷糊糊，都睡傻了。

“嗨——嘀！——布羅——呵！”布里說，”不解鞍子就睡熟了，嗯?我再也不這麼幹了。最最不舒服的是……”

“走吧，走吧，”阿拉維斯說道，”我們已經損失了半個早晨。再也沒有多餘的時間了。”

“總得吃一口青草吧。”布里說。

“恐怕我們不能等待了。”阿拉維斯說。