TheBeastsstopped, manyofthemwithonepawinthewithtailswagging, andallofthemwithheadsononeside.
“Ithoughtyousaid, ” begantheBear, butShiftinterrupted.
“Anyonecangoin, ” hesaid.“But, 'llgofirst? Hedidn'''''dliketogoinfirst? Don''! Who'sfirst? WhataboutoneofyouDwarfs? ”
“Dilly, dilly, comeandbekilled! ” sneeredGriffle.“Howdoweknowwhatyou'vegotinthere? ”
“Ho-ho! ” criedtheApe.“Soyou'rebeginningtothinkthere'ssomethingthere, eh? Well, 'sstruckyoualldumb? Who'sgoinginfirst? ”
.“Ho-ho-ho! ” hechuckled.“IthoughtyouwereallsoeagertoseeTashlanfacetoface! Changedyourmind, eh? ”
TirianbenthisheadtohearsomethingthatJillwastryingtowhisperinhisear.“Whatdoyouthinkisreallyinsidethestable? ” shesaid.“Whoknows? ” saidTirian.“TwoCalormeneswithdrawnswords, aslikelyasnot, oneoneachsideofthedoor.” “Youdon'tthink, ” saidJill, “itmightbe...youknow...thathorridthingwesaw? ” “Tashhimself? ”whisperedTirian.“There', child: weareallbetweenthepawsofthetrueAslan.”
, clearvoice, notatallasifhewasexcited, “I'llgoin, ifyoulike.”
EverycreatureturnedandfixeditseyesontheCat.“Marktheirsubtleties, Sire, ” saidPoggintotheKing.“Thiscursedcatisintheplot, , I'.”
.“Ho-ho! ” saidtheApe.“Soyou, apertPuss, , then! I'''syouraffair.”
AndtheCatgotupandcameoutofitsplaceinthecrowd, walkingprimlyanddaintily, withitstailintheair, , fromwherehestoodwithhisshoulderagainsttheend-wallofthestable, .(“Coolasacucumber, ” mutteredEustace.“Itknowsithasnothingtofear.“) TheApe, chucklingandmakingfaces, shuttledacrossbesidetheCat: putuphispaw: .
