chater five the tr and what ca f it (第2/4页)
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“If we could,of course,the sensible thing would be to turn west at once and make for the Lone Islands.But it took us eighteen days to get where we are,running like mad with a gale behind us. Even if we got an east wind it might take us far longer to get back.And at present there’s no sign of an east wind —in fact there’s no wind at all.As for rowing back,it would take far too long and Caspian says the men couldn’t row on half a pint of water a day.I’m pretty sure this is wrong.I tried to explain that perspiration really cools people down,so the men would need less water if they were working.He didn’t take any notice of this,which is always his way when he can’t think of an answer.The others all voted for going on in the hope of finding land.I felt it my duty to point out that we didn’t know there was any land ahead and tried to get them to see the dangers of wishful thinking.Instead of producing a better plan they had the cheek to ask me what I proposed.So I just explained coolly and quietly that I had been kidnapped and brought away on this idiotic voyage without my consent,and it was hardly my business to get them out of their scrape.
“September 4.Still becalmed.Very short rations for dinner and I got less than anyone.Caspian is very clever at helping and thinks I don’t see ! Lucy for some reason tried to make up to me by offering me some of hers but that interfering prig Edmund wouldn’t let her.Pretty hot sun.Terribly thirsty all evening.
“September 5.Still becalmed and very hot.Feeling rotten all day and am sure I’ve got a temperature.Of course they haven’t the sense to keep a thermometer on board.
“September 6.A horrible day.Woke up in the night knowing I was feverish and must have a drink of water.Any doctor would have said so.Heaven knows I’m the last person to try to get any unfair advantage but I never dreamed that this water-rationing would be meant to apply to a sick man.In fact I would have woken the others up and asked for some only I thought it would be selfish to wake them. So I just got up and took my cup and tiptoed out of the Black Hole we slept in,taking great care not to disturb Caspian and Edmund,for they’ve been sleeping badly since the heat and the short water began. I always try to consider others whether they are nice to me or not.I got out all right into the big room,if you can call it a room, where the rowing benches and the luggage are.The thing of water is at this end.All was going beautifully,but before I’d drawn a cupful who should catch me but that little spy Reep.I tried to explain that I was going on deck for a breath of airthe business about the water had nothing to do with himand he asked me why I had a cup.He made such a noise that the whole ship was roused.They treated me scandalously.I asked,as I think anyone would have,why Reepicheep was sneaking about the water cask in the middle of the night.He said that as he was too small to be any use on deck,he did sentry over the water every night so that one more man could go to sleep.Now comes their rotten unfairness:they all believed him. Can you beat it ?
“I had to apologize or the dangerous little brute would have been at me with his sword.And then Caspian showed up in his true colours as a brutal tyrant and said out loud for everyone to hear that anyone found‘stealing’water in future would‘get two dozen’. I didn’t know what this meant till Edmund explained to me.It comes in the sort of books those Pevensie kids read.
“After this cowardly threat Caspian changed his tune and started being patronizing.Said he was sorry for me and that everyone felt just as feverish as I did and we must all make the best of it,etc.,etc. Odious stuck-up prig.Stayed in bed all day today.
“September 7.A little wind today but still from the west.
Made a few miles eastward with part of the sail,set on what Drinian calls the jury-mast-that means the bowsprit set upright and tiedthey call it‘lashed’to the stump of the real mast.Still terribly thirsty.