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us one by one most likely；〃 they muttered。 and the more they talked to one another the sulkier and more suspicious they became。 but on the appointed day more than half of them turned up。
at one end of the glade aslan had caused to be set up two stakes of wood； higher than a mans head and about three feet apart。 a third； and lighter； piece of wood was bound across them at the top； uniting them； so that the whole thing looked like a doorway from nowhere into nowhere。 in front of this stood aslan himself with peter on his right and caspian on his left。 grouped round them were susan and lucy； trumpkin and trufflehunter； the lord cornelius； glenstorm； reepicheep； and others。 the children and the dwarfs had made good use of the royal wardrobes in what had been the castle of miraz and was now the castle of caspian； and what with silk and cloth of gold； with snowy linen glancing through slashed sleeves； with silver mail shirts and jewelled sword…hilts； with gilt helmets and feathered bonnets； they were almost too bright to look at。
even the beasts wore rich chains about their necks。 yet nobodys eyes were on them or the children。 the living and strokable gold of aslans mane outshone them all。 the rest of the old narnians stood down each side of the glade。 at the far end stood the telmarines。
the sun shone brightly and pennants fluttered in the light wind。
〃men of telmar；〃 said aslan； 〃you who seek a new land； hear my words。 i will send you all to your own country； which i know and you do not。鈥�
〃we dont remember telmar。 we dont know where it is。 we dont know what it is like；鈥�
grumbled the telmarines。
〃you came into narnia out of telmar；〃 said aslan。 〃but you came into telmar from another place。 you do not belong to this world at all。 you came hither； certain generations ago； out of that same world to which the high king peter belongs。鈥�
at this； half the telmarines began whimpering； 〃there you are。 told you so。 hes going to kill us all； send us right out of the world；〃 and the other half began throwing out their chests and slapping one another on the back and whispering； 〃there you are。 might have guessed we didnt belong to this place with all its queer； nasty； unnatural creatures。 were of royal blood； youll see。〃 and even caspian and cornelius and the children turned to aslan with looks of amazement on their faces。
〃peace；〃 said aslan in the low voice which was nearest to his growl。 the earth seemed to shake a little and every living thing in the grove became still as stone。
〃you； sir caspian；〃 said aslan； 〃might have known that you could be no true king of narnia unless； like the kings of old； you were a son of adam and came from the world of adams sons。 and so you are。 many years ago in that world； in a deep sea of that world which is called the south sea； a shipload of pirates were driven by storm on an island。
and there they did as pirates would： killed the natives and took the native women for wives； and made palm wine； and drank and were drunk； and lay in the shade of the palm trees； and woke up and quarrelled； and sometimes killed one another。 and in one of these frays six were put to flight by the rest and fled with their women into the centre of the island and up a mountain； and went； as they thought； into a cave to hide。 but it was one of the magical places of that world； one of the chinks or chasms between chat world and this。 there were many chinks or chasms between worlds in old times； but they have grown rarer。 this was one of the last： i do not say the last。 and so they fell； or rose； or blundered； or dropped right through； and found themselves in this world； in the land of telmar which was then unpeopled。 but why it was unpeopled is a long story： i will not tell it now。 and in telmar their descendants lived and became a fierce and proud people； and after many generations there was a famine in telmar and they invaded narnia； which was then in some disorder （but that also would be a long story）； and conquered it and ruled it。 do you mark all this well； king caspian？鈥�
〃i do indeed； sir；〃 said caspian。 〃i was wishing that i came of a more honourable lineage。鈥�
〃you e of the lord adam and the lady eve；〃 said aslan。 〃and that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar； and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth。 be content。鈥�
caspian bowed。
〃and now；〃 said aslan； 〃you men and women of telmar； will you go back to that island in the world of men from which your fathers first came？ it is no bad place。 the race of those pirates who first found it has died out； and it is without inhabitants。 there are good wells of fresh water； and fruitful soil； and timber for building； and fish in the lagoons； and the other men of that world have not yet discovered it。 the chasm is open for your return； but this i must warn you； that once you have gone through； it will close behind you for ever。 there will be no more merce between the worlds by that door。鈥�
there was silence for a moment。 then a burly； decent looking fellow among the telmarine soldiers pushed forward and said： 〃well； ill take the offer。鈥�
〃it is well chosen；〃 said aslan。 〃and because you have spoken first； strong magic is upon you。 your future in that world shall be good。 e forth。鈥�
the man； now a little pale； came forward。 aslan and his court drew aside； leaving him free access to the empty doorway of the stakes。
〃go through it； my son；〃 said aslan； bending towards him and touching the mans nose with his own。 as soon as the lions breath came about him； a new look came into the mans eyes … startled； but not unhappy … as if he were trying to remember something。 then he squared his shoulders and walked into the door。
everyones eyes were fixed on him。 they saw the three pieces of wood； and through them the trees and grass and sky of narnia。 they saw the man between the doorposts： then； in one second； he had vanished utterly。
from the other end of the glade the remaining telmarines set up a wailing。 〃ugh！ whats happened to him？ do you mean to murder us？ we wont go that way。〃 and then one of the clever