"'Are you not thirsty?' said the Lion.
"'I'm dying of thirst,' said Jill.
"'Then drink,' said the Lion.
"'May I--could I--would you mind going away while I do?' said Jill.
"The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realised that she may as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
"The delicious rippling noise of the spring was driving her nearly frantic.
"'Will you promise not to--do anything to me, if I come?' said Jill.
"'I make no promise,' said the Lion.
"Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step closer.
"'Do you eat girls?' she said.
"'I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emporers, cities and realms,' said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"'I daren't come and drink,' said Jill.
"'Then you will die of thirst,' said the Lion.
"'Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. 'I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.'
"'There is no other stream,' said the Lion." (The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis)
Sound safe? |
"'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe--C.S. Lewis)