为什么第一胎一般是男孩 《能言马与男孩》第46期:在蒂斯罗克的密室里(6)

《能言马与男孩》第46期:在蒂斯罗克的密室里(6)  

"Go
my son
" he said. "And do as you have said. But expect no help nor countenance from me. I will not avenge you if you are killed and I will not deliver you if the barbarians cast you into prison. And if
either in success or failure
you shed a drop more than you need of Narnian noble blood and open war arises from it
my favour shall never fall upon you again and your next brother shall have your place in Calormen. Now go. Be swift
secret
and fortunate. May the strength of Tash the inexorable
the irresistible be in your sword and lance."
"To hear is to obey
" cried Rabadash
and after kneeling for a moment to kiss his father's hands he rushed from the room. Greatly to the disappointment of Aravis
who was now horribly cramped
the Tisroc and Vizier remained.
"O Vizier
" said the Tisroc
"is it certain that no living soul knows of this council we three have held here tonight?"
"O my master
" said Ahoshta
"it is not possible that any should know. For that very reason I proposed
and you in your wisdom agreed
that we should meet here in the Old Palace where no council is ever held and none of the household has any occasion to e."
"It is well
" said the Tisroc. "If any man knew
I would see to it that he died before an hour had passed. And do you also
O prudent Vizier
fet it. I sponge away from my own heart and from yours all knowledge of the Prince's plans. He is gone without my knowledge or my consent
I know not whither
because of his violence and the rash and disobedient disposition of youth. No man will be more astonished than you and I to hear that Anvard is in his hands."
"To hear is to obey
" said Ahoshta.
"That is why you will never think even in your secret heart that I am the hardest hearted of fathers who thus send my first-born son on an errand so likely to be his death; pleasing as it must be to you who do not love the Prince. For 1 see into the bottom of your mind."
"O impeccable Tisroc
" said the Vizier. "In parison with you I love neither the Prince nor my own life nor bread nor water nor the light of the sun."
"Your sentiments
" said the Tisroc
"are elevated and correct. I also love none of these things in parison with the glory and strength of my throne. If the Prince succeeds
we have Archenland
and perhaps hereafter Narnia. If he fails - I have eighteen other sons and Rabadash
after the manner of the eldest sons of kings
was beginning to be dangerous. More than five Tisrocs in Tashbaan have died before their time because their eldest sons
enlightened princes
grew tired of waiting for their throne. He had better cool his blood abroad than boil it in inaction here. And now
O excellent Vizier
the excess of my paternal anxiety inclines me to sleep. Command the musicians to my chamber. But before you lie down
call back the pardon we wrote for the third cook. I feel within me the manifest prognostics of indigestion."
"To hear is to obey
" said the Grand Vizier. He crawled backwards on all fours to the door
rose
bowed
and went out. Even then the Tisroc remained seated in silence on the divan till Aravis almost began to be afraid that he had dropped asleep. But at last with a great creaking and sighing he heaved up his enormous body
signed to the slaves to precede him with the lights
and went out. The door closed behind him
the room was once more totally dark
and the o girls could breathe freely again.