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〃we dont know about queens；〃 said the chief voice。
（〃no more we do； no more we do；〃 chimed in the others。） 〃but we want something she can do。”
〃what is it？〃 said lucy。
〃and if it is anything against her majestys honour or safety；〃 added reepicheep； 〃you will wonder to see how many we can kill before we die。”
〃well；〃 said the chief voice。 〃its a long story。 suppose we all sit down？〃 ； the proposal was warmly approved by the other voices but the narnians remained standing。
〃well；〃 said the chief voice。 〃its like this。 this island has been the property of a great magician time out of mind。 and we all are … or perhaps in a manner of speaking； i might say； we were … his servants。 well； to cut a long story short； this magician that i was speaking about； he told us to do something we didnt like。 and why not？ because we didnt want to。 well； then； this same magician he fell into a great rage； for i ought to tell you he owned the island and he wasnt used to being crossed。 he was terribly downright； you know。 but let me see； where am i？ oh yes； this magician then； he goes upstairs （for you must know he kept all his magic things up there and we all lived down below）； i say he goes upstairs and puts a spell on us。 an uglifying spell。 if you saw us now； which in my opinion you may thank your stars you cant； you wouldnt believe what we looked like before we were uglified。 you wouldnt really。 so there we all were so ugly we couldnt bear to look at one another。 so then what did we do？ well； ill tell you what we did。 we waited till we thought this same magician would be asleep in the afternoon and we creep upstairs and go to his magic book； as bold as brass； to see if we can do anything about this uglification。 but we were all of a sweat and a tremble； so i wont deceive you。 but； believe me or believe me not； i do assure you that we couldnt find any thing in the way of a spell for taking off the ugliness。 and what with time getting on and being afraid that
the old gentleman might wake up any minute … i was all of a muck sweat； so i wont deceive you … well； to cut a long story short； whether we did right or whether we did wrong； in the end we see a spell for making people invisible。 and we thought wed rather be invisible than go on being as ugly as all that。 and why？ because wed like it better。 so my little girl； whos just about your little girls age； and a sweet child she was before she was uglified； though now … but least said soonest mended … i say； my little girl she says the spell； for its got to be a little girl or else the magician himself； if you see my meaning； for otherwise it wont work。 and why not？ because nothing happens。 so my clipsie says the spell； for i ought to have told you she reads beautifully； and there we all were as invisible as you could wish to see。 and i do assure you it was a relief not to see one anothers faces。 at first； anyway。 but the long and the short of it is were mortal tired of being invisible。 and theres another thing。 we never reckoned on this magician （the one i was telling you about before） going invisible too。 but we havent ever seen him since。 so we dont know if hes dead； or gone 。away； or whether hes just sitting upstairs being invisible； and perhaps ing down and being invisible there。 and； believe me； its no manner of use listening because he always did go about with his bare feet on； making no more noise than a great big cat。 and ill tell all you gentlemen straight； its getting more than what our nerves can stand。”
such was the chief voices story； but very much shortened； because i have left out what the other voices said。 actually he never got out more than six or seven words without being interrupted by their agreements and encouragements； which drove the narnians nearly out of their minds with impatience。 when it was over there was a very long silence。
〃but；〃 said lucy at last； 〃whats all this got to do with us？ i dont understand。”
〃why； bless me； if i havent gone and left out the whole point；〃 said the chief voice。
〃that you have； that you have；〃 roared the other voices with great enthusiasm。 〃no one couldnt have left it out cleaner and better。 keep it up； chief； keep it up。”
〃well； i neednt go over the whole story again；〃 began the chief voice。
〃no。 certainly not；〃 said caspian and edmund。
〃well； then； to put it in a nutshell；〃 said the chief voice； 〃weve been waiting for ever so long for a nice little girl from foreign parts； like it might be you； missie … that would go upstairs and go to the magic book and find the spell that takes off the invisibleness； and say it。 and we all swore that the first strangers as landed on this island （having a nice little girl with them； i mean； for if they hadnt itd be another matter） we wouldnt let them go away alive unless theyd done the needful for us。 and thats why； gentlemen； if your little girl doesnt e up to scratch； it will be our painful duty to cut all your throats。
merely in the way of business； as you might say； and no offence； i hope。”
〃i dont see all your weapons；〃 said reepicheep。 〃are they invisible too？〃 the words were scarcely out of his mouth before they heard a whizzing sound and next moment a spear had stuck； quivering； in one of the trees behind them。
〃thats a spear； that is；〃 said the chief voice。
〃that it is； chief； that it is；〃 said the others。 〃you couldnt have put it better。”
〃and it came from my hand；〃 the chief voice continued。 〃they get visible when they leave us。”
〃but why do you want me to do this？〃 asked lucy。
〃why cant one of your own people？ havent you got any girls？”
〃we dursent； we dursent；〃 said all the voices。 〃were not going upstairs again。”
〃in other words；〃 said caspian； 〃you are asking this lady to face some danger which you darent ask your own sisters and daughters to face！”
〃thats right； thats right；〃 said all the voices cheerfully。 〃you couldnt have said it better。
eh； youve had some education； you have。 anyone can see that。”
〃well； of all the outrageous … 〃 began edmund； but lucy interrupted。
〃would i have to go upstairs at night； or would it do in daylight？”
〃oh； daylight； daylight； to be sure；〃 said the chief voice。 〃not at night。 no ones asking you to do that。 go upstairs in the dark？ ugh。”
〃all right； then； ill do it；〃 said lucy。 〃no；〃 she said； turning to the others； 〃dont try to stop me。 cant you see its no use？ there are dozens of them there。 we cant fight them。
and the other way there is a chance。”
〃but a magician！〃 said caspian。
〃i know；〃 said lucy。 〃but he maynt be as bad as they make out。 dont you get the idea that these people are not very brave？”
〃theyre certainly not very clever；〃 said eustace。
〃look here； lu；〃 said edmund。 〃we really cant let you do a thing like this。 ask reep； im sure hell say just the same。”
〃but its to save my own life as well as yours；〃 said lucy。 〃i dont want to be cut to bits with invisible swords any more than anyone else。”
〃her majesty is in the right；〃 said reepicheep。 〃if we had any assurance of saving her by battle； our duty would be very…plain。 it appears to me that we have none。 and the service they ask of her is in no way contrary to her majestys honour； but a noble and heroical act。 if the queens heart moves her to risk the magician； i will not speak against it。”
as no one had ever known reepicheep to be afraid of anything； he could say this without feeling at all awkward。 but the boys； who had all been afraid quite often； grew very red。
none the less； it was such obvious sense that they had to give in。 loud cheers broke from the invisible people when their decision was announced； and the chief voice （warmly supported by all the others） invited the narnians to e to supper and spend the night。
eustace didnt want to accept； but lucy said； 〃im sure theyre not treacherous。 theyre not like that at all；〃 and the others agreed。 and so； acpanied by an enormous noise of thumpings （which became louder when they reached the flagged and echoing courtyard）
they all went back to the house。
m。
CHAPTER TEN
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the magicians book the invisible people feasted their g