—trulyenough—thatitwasagloriousmorning, , “We'vesimplygottogetoffthisisland.”
Whentheyhaddrunkfromthewellandsplashedtheirfacestheyallwentdownthestreamagaintotheshoreandstaredatthechannelwhichdividedthemfromthemainland.
“We'llhavetoswim,” saidEdmund.
“ItwouldbeallrightforSu,” saidPeter (Susanhadwonprizesforswimmingatschool).“ButIdon'tknowabouttherestofus.” By “therestofus” hereallymeantEdmundwhocouldn'tyetdotwolengthsattheschoolbaths, andLucy, whocouldhardlyswimatall.
“Anyway,” saidSusan, “'sneverwisetobatheinaplaceyoudon'tknow.”
“But, Peter,” saidLucy, “'tswimfornutsathome—inEngland, 'tweallswimlongago—ifitwaslongago—whenwewereKingsandQueensinNarnia? Wecouldridethentoo, 'tyouthink—”
“Ah, butweweresortofgrown-upthen,” saidPeter.
“'twejustbackatourproperagesagainnow?”
“Oh!” saidEdmundinavoicewhichmadeeveryonestoptalkingandlistentohim.
“I'vejustseenitall,” hesaid.
“Seenwhat?” askedPeter.
“Why, thewholething,” saidEdmund.“Youknowwhatwewerepuzzlingaboutlastnight, thatitwasonlyayearagosinceweleftNarniabuteverythinglooksasifnoonehadlivedinCairParavelforhundredsofyears? Well, don'tyousee? Youknowthat, howeverlongweseemedtohavelivedinNarnia, whenwegotbackthroughthewardrobeitseemedtohavetakennotimeatall?”
“Goon,” saidSusan.“IthinkI'mbeginningtounderstand.”
“Andthatmeans,” continuedEdmund, “that, onceyou'reoutofNarnia, 'thundredsofyearshavegonepastinNarniawhileonlyoneyearhaspassedforusinEngland?”
