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one of the largest cats he had ever seen。
〃oh； puss；〃 gasped shasta。 〃i am so glad to see you again。 ive been having such horrible dreams。〃 and he at once lay down again； back to back with the cat as they had been at the beginning of the night。 the warmth from it spread all over him。
〃ill never do anything nasty to a cat again as long as i live；〃 said shasta； half to the cat and half to himself。 〃i did once； you know。 i threw stones at a half… starved mangy old stray。 hey！ stop that。〃 for the cat had turned round and given him a scratch。 〃none of that；〃 said shasta。 〃it isnt as if you could understand what im saying。〃 then he dozed off。
next morning when he woke； the cat was gone； the sun was already up； and the sand hot。
shasta； very thirsty； sat up and rubbed his eyes。 the desert was blindingly white and； though there was a murmur of noises from the city behind him； where he sat everything was perfectly still。 when he looked a little left and west； so that the sun was not in his eyes； he could see the mountains on the far side of the desert； so sharp and clear that they looked only a stones throw away。 he particularly noticed one blue height that divided into two peaks at the top and decided that it must be mount pire。 〃thats our direction； judging by what the raven said；〃 he thought； 〃so ill just make sure of it； so as not to waste any time when the others turn up。〃 so he made a good； deep straight furrow with his foot pointing exactly to mount pire。
the next job； clearly； was to get something to eat and drink。 shasta trotted back through the tombs … they looked quite ordinary now and he wondered how he could ever have been afraid of them … and down into the cultivated land by the rivers side。 there were a few people about but not very many； for the city gates had been open several hours and the early morning crowds had already gone in。 so he had no diffculty in doing a little 〃raiding〃 （as bree called it）。 it involved a climb over a garden wall and the results were three oranges； a melon； a fig or two； and a pomegranate。 after that； he went down to the river bank； but not too near the bridge； and had a drink。 the water was so nice that he took off his hot； dirty clothes and had a dip； for of course shasta； having lived on the shore all his life； had learned to swim almost as soon as he had learned to walk。 when he came out he lay on the grass looking across the water at tashbaan … all the splendour and strength and glory of it。 but that made him remember the dangers of it too。 he suddenly realized that the others might have reached the tombs while he was bathing （〃and gone on without me； as likely as not〃）； so he dressed in a fright and tore back at such a speed that he was all hot and thirsty when he arrived and so the good of his bathe was gone。
like most days when you are alone and waiting for something this day seemed about a hundred hours long。 he had plenty to think of； of course； but sitting alone； just thinking； is pretty slow。 he thought a good deal about the narnians and especially about corin。 he wondered what had happened when they discovered that the boy who had been lying on the sofa and hearing all their secret plans wasnt really corin at all。 it was very unpleasant to think of all those nice people imagining him a traitor。
but as the sun slowly； slowly climbed up to the top of the sky and then slowly； slowly began going downwards to the west； and no one came and nothing at all happened； he began to get more and more anxious。 and of course he now realized that when they arranged to wait for one another at the tombs no one had said anything about how long。
he couldnt wait here for the rest of his life！ and soon it would be dark again； and he would have another night just like last night。 a dozen different plans went through his head； all wretched ones； and at last he fixed on the worst plan of all。 he decided to wait till it was dark and then go back to the river and steal as many melons as he could carry and set out for mount pire alone； trusting for his direction to the line he had drawn that morning in the sand。 it was a crazy idea and if he had read as many books as you have about journeys over deserts he would never have dreamed of it。 but shasta had read no books at all。
before the sun set something did happen。 shasta was sitting in the shadow of one of the tombs when he looked up and saw two horses ing towards him。 then his heart gave a great leap； for he recognized them as bree and hwin。 but the next moment his heart went down into his toes again。 there was no sign of aravis。 the horses were being led by a strange man； an armed man pretty handsomely dressed like an upper slave in a great family。 bree and hwin were no longer got up like pack…horses； but saddled and bridled。
and what could it all mean？ 〃its a trap；〃 thought shasta。 〃somebody has caught aravis and perhaps theyve tortured her and shes given the whole thing away。 they want me to jump out and run up and speak to bree and then ill be caught too！ and yet if i dont； i may be losing my only chance to meet the others。 oh i do wish i knew what had happened。〃 and he skulked behind the tomb； looking out every few minutes； and wondering which was the least dangerous thing to do。
。。
CHAPTER SEVEN
：
aravis in tashbaan what had really happened was this。 when aravis saw shasta hurried away by the narnians and found herself alone with two horses who （very wisely） wouldnt say a word； she never lost her head even for a moment。 she grabbed brees halter and stood still； holding both the horses； and though her heart was beating as hard as a hammer； she did nothing to show it。 as soon as the narnian lords had passed she tried to move on again。
but before she could take a step； another crier （〃bother all these people〃 thought aravis）
was heard shouting out； 〃way； way； way！ way for the tarkheena lasaraleen！〃 and immediately； following the crier； came four armed slaves and then four bearers carrying a litter which was all a…flutter with silken curtains and all a…jingle with silver bells and which scented the whole street with perfumes and flowers