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acks a little longer and thus see everything over the heads of the courtiers。 and the centaurs said they might。
a flourish of silver trumpets came over the water from the ships deck： the sailors threw a rope； rats （talking rats； of course） and marsh…wiggles made it fast ashore； and the ship was warped in。 musicians； hidden somewhere in the crowd； began to play solemn；
triumphal music。 and soon the kings galleon was alongside and the rats ran the gangway on board her。
jill expected to see the old king e down it。 but there appeared to be some hitch。 a lord with a pale face came ashore and knelt to the prince and to trumpkin。 the three were talking with their heads close together for a few minutes； but no one could hear what they said。 the music played on； but you could feel that everyone was being uneasy。 then four knights； carrying something and going very slowly； appeared on deck。
when they started to e down the gangway you could see what they were carrying： it was the old king on a bed； very pale and still。 they set him down。 the prince knelt beside him and embraced him。 they could see king caspian raising his hand to bless his son。 and everyone cheered； but it was a half…hearted cheer； for they all felt that something was going wrong。 then suddenly the kings head fell back upon his pillows； the musicians stopped and there was a dead silence。 the prince； kneeling by the kings bed； laid down his head upon it and wept。
there were whisperings and goings to and fro。 then jill noticed that all who wore hats； bonnets； helmets； or hoods were taking them off … eustace included。 then she heard a rustling and flapping noise up above the castle； when she looked she saw that the great banner with the golden lion on it was being brought down to half…mast。 and after that； slowly； mercilessly； with wailing strings and disconsolate blowing of horns； the music began again： this time； a tune to break your heart。
they both slipped off their centaurs （who took no notice of them）。
〃i wish i was at home；〃 said jill。
eustace nodded； saying nothing； and bit his lip。
〃i have e；〃 said a deep voice behind them。 they turned and saw the lion himself； so bright and real and strong that everything else began at once to look pale and shadowy pared with him。 and in less time than it takes to breathe jill forgot about the dead king of narnia and remembered only how she had made eustace fall over the cliff； and how she had helped to muff nearly all the signs； and about all the snappings and quarrellings。 and she wanted to say 〃im sorry〃 but she could not speak。 then the lion drew them towards him with his eyes； and bent down and touched their pale faces with his tongue； and said： 〃think of that no more。 i will not always be scolding。 you have done the work for which i sent you into narnia。”
〃please； aslan；〃 said jill； 〃may we go home now？”
〃yes。 i have e to bring you home；〃 said aslan。 then he opened his mouth wide and blew。 but this time they had no sense of flying through the air： instead； it seemed that they remained still； and the wild breath of aslan blew away the ship and the dead king
and the castle and the snow and the winter sky。 for all these things floated off into the air like wreaths of smoke； and suddenly they were standing in a great brightness of mid…summer sunshine； on smooth turf； among mighty trees； and beside a fair； fresh stream。
then they saw that they were once more on the mountain of aslan； high up above and beyond the end of that world in which narnia lies。 but the strange thing was that the funeral music for king caspian still went on； though no one could tell where it came from。 they were walking beside the stream and the lion went before them： and he became so beautiful； and the music so despairing； that jill did not know which of them it was that filled her eyes with tears。
then aslan stopped； and the children looked into the stream。 and there； on the golden gravel of the bed of the stream； lay king caspian； dead； with the water flowing over him like liquid glass。 his long white beard swayed in it like water…weed。 and all three stood and wept。 even the lion wept： great lion…tears； each tear more precious than the earth would be if it was a single solid diamond。 and jill noticed that eustace looked neither like a child crying； nor like a boy crying and wanting to hide it； but like a grownup crying。 at least； that is the nearest she could get to it； but really； as she said； people dont seem to have any particular ages on that mountain。
〃son of adam；〃 said aslan； 〃go into that thicket and pluck the thorn that you will find there； and bring it to me。”
eustace obeyed。 the thorn was a foot long and sharp as a rapier。
〃drive it into my paw； son of adam；〃 said aslan； holding up his right fore …paw and spreading out the great pad towards eustace。
〃must i？〃 said eustace。
〃yes；〃 said aslan。
then eustace set his teeth and drove the thorn into the lions pad。 and there came out a great drop of blood； redder than all redness that you have ever seen or imagined。
and it splashed into the stream over the dead body of the king。 at the same moment the doleful music stopped。 and the dead king began to be changed。 his white beard turned to grey； and from grey to yellow； and got shorter and vanished altogether； and his sunken cheeks grew round and fresh； and the wrinkles were smoothed； and his eyes opened； and his eyes and lips both laughed； and suddenly he leaped up and stood before them … a very young man； or a boy。 （but jill couldnt say which； because of people having no particular ages in aslans country。 even in this world； of course； it is the stupidest children who are most childish and the stupidest grown…ups who are most grownup。） and he rushed to aslan and flung his arms as far as they would go round the huge neck； and he gave aslan the strong kisses of a king； and aslan gave him the wild kisses of a lion。
at last caspian turned to the others。 he gave a great laugh of astonished joy。
〃why！ eustace！〃 he said。 〃eustace！ so you did reach the end of the world after all。 what about my second…best sword that you bro