Butwhenthemealcameeveryonefeltithadbeenworthwaitingfor, , thethreehumansandtheDwarfcameandsatonthedoorstep, thefour-footedoneslaydownfacingthem, theDwarf (withpermissionbothfromJillandfromTirian) lithispipe, andtheKingsaid:“Now, friendPoggin, youhavemorenewsoftheenemy, belike, , whattaledotheytellofmyescape? ”
“Ascunningatale, Sire, aseverwasdevised, ” saidPoggin.“ItwastheCat, Ginger, whotoldit, , Sire—oh, he'saslybootsifeveracatwas— (savingyourreverence) thatyouwerehowlingandswearingandcursingAslan: 'languageIwouldn'tliketorepeat' werethewordsheused, , saysGinger, , hesays, seewhatAslandoestothosewhodon', itwill, 'sescapehasnotsetthemthinkingwhetheryoustillhaveloyalfriendstoaidyou, butonlymadethemmoreafraidandmoreobedienttotheApe.”
“Whatdevilishpolicy! ” saidTirian.“ThisGinger, then, iscloseintheApe'scounsels.”
“It'smoreaquestionbynow, Sire, iftheApeisinhiscounsels, ”repliedtheDwarf.“TheApehastakentodrinking, —that'''dgoneabitofthewayhomewhenIfoundI' 'un, anoldfavourite, 'dbeensitting (itwasblackaspitchthere) Iheardacat'svoicesayMewandaCalormenevoicesay ‘here...speaksoftly, ' .‘NobleTarkaan, ' saidtheCatinthatsilkyvoiceofhis,‘IjustwantedtoknowexactlywhatwebothmeanttodayaboutAslanmeaningnomorethanTash.' 'Doubtless, mostsagaciousofcats, ' saystheother, ‘youhaveperceivedmymeaning.' ‘Youmean, ' saysGinger,‘thatthere'snosuchpersonaseither.' ‘Allwhoareenlightenedknowthat, ' saidtheTarkaan.‘Thenwecanunderstandoneanother, ' purrstheCat.‘Doyou, likeme, growalittlewearyoftheApe? ' ‘Astupid, greedybrute, ' saystheother, ‘.' ‘Anditwouldbebetter, wouldn'tit, ' saidGinger, ‘toletsomeofthemoreenlightenedNarniansintoourcounsels: : andwill, iftheApe', willbefirm.'‘ExcellentCat, ' saidtheCaptain.‘Butchoosewhichonescarefully.' ”
.
“It'scloudingover, ” shesaid.
“Andit'ssocold, ” saidPuzzle.
“Coldenough, bytheLion! ” saidTirian, blowingonhishands.“Andfaugh! Whatfoulsmellisthis? ”
“Phew! ” gaspedEustace.“It'? Andwhydidn'twenoticeitbefore? ”
WithagreatupheavalJewelscrambledtohisfeetandpointedwithhishorn.“Look! ” hecried.“Lookatit! Look, look! ” Thenallsixofthemsaw; andoveralltheirfacestherecameanexpressionofuttermostdismay.
