Atthecenteroftheclearing, whichwasalsothehighestpointofthehill, therewasalittlehutlikeastable, , whohadbeenexpectingtoseeAslanandhadheardnothingaboutanApeyet, , buthelookedtentimesuglierthanwhenhelivedbyCaldronPool, forhewasnowdress—, havingbeenmadeforadwarf.
HehadJewelledslippersonhishindpawswhichwouldnotstayonproperlybecause, asyouknow, , .
“OLordShift, mouthpieceofAslan, ” saidthechiefCalormene.“.”
“Givemethatman'ssword, ” 'sswordandhandedit, withthesword-beltandall, : anditmadehimlooksillierthanever.
“We'llseeaboutthosetwolater, ” saidtheApe, spittingoutashellinthedirectionofthetwoprisoners.“, 'sthatHeadSquirrelgotto? ”
“Here, Sir, ” saidaredsquirrel, comingforwardandmakinganervouslittlebow.
“Ohyouare, areyou? ” saidtheApewithanastylook.“—Imean, Aslanwants—'vebroughtaren', doyouhear? 'vegottobeherebysunsettomorrow, andtheremustn'tbeanybadonesoranysmallonesamongthem.”
Amurmurofdismayranthroughtheothersquirrels, andtheHeadSquirrelpluckedupcouragetosay: “Please, wouldAslanhimselfspeaktousaboutit? Ifwemightbeallowedtoseehim—”
“Wellyouwon't, ” saidtheApe.“Hemaybeverykind (thoughit'salotmorethanmostofyoudeserve) : ifIthinkit', myword! you'llcatchit.”
; andofthefewthatwerelefttheyhadalreadygiventheApefarmorethantheycouldspare.
Thenadeepvoice—itbelongedtoagreattuskedandshaggyBoar—spokefromanotherpartofthecrowd.
“Butwhycan'tweseeAslanproperlyandtalktohim? ” itsaid.“WhenheusedtoappearinNarniaintheolddayseveryonecouldtalktohimfacetoface.”
