WHAT HE EAGLE BROUGHT IN the shadow of the trees on the far side of the clearing something was moving. It was gliding very slowly Northward. At a first glanight have mistaken it for smoke, for it was grey and you could see things through it. But the deathly smell was not the smell of smoke. Also, this thi its shape instead of billowing and curling as smoke
would have do was roughly the shape of a man but it had the head of a bird; some bird of prey with a cruel, curved beak. It had four arms which it held high above its head, stretg them out Northward as if it wao snatch all Narnia in its grip; and its fingers - all twenty of them - were curved like its beak and had long, pointed, bird-like claws instead of nails. It floated on the grass instead of walking, and the grass seemed to wither beh it.
After one look at it Puzzle gave a screaming bray and darted into the Tower. And Jill (who was no coward, as you know) hid her fa her hands to shut out the sight of it.
The others watched it for perhaps a minute, until it streamed away into the thicker trees on their right and disappeared. Then the sun came out again, and the birds once more began to sing.
Everyoarted breathing properly again and moved. They had all been still as statues while it was in sight.
"What was it?" said Eusta a whisper.
"I have seen it once before," said Tirian. "But that time it was carved in stone and overlaid with gold and had solid diamonds for eyes. It was when I was no older than thou, and had gone as a guest to The Tisrocs court in Tashbaan.
He took me into the great temple of Tash. There I saw it, carved above the altar.」
"Then that - that thing - was Tash?" said Eustace.
But instead of answering him Tirian slipped his arm behind Jills shoulders and said, "How is it with you, Lady?」
"A-all right," said Jill, taking her hands away from her pale fad trying to smile. "Im all right. It only made me feel a little sick for a moment.」
"It seems, then," said the Uni, "that there is a real Tash, after all.」
"Yes," said the Dwarf. "And this fool of an Ape, who didnt believe in Tash, will get more than he bargained for! He called for Tash: Tash has e.」
"Where has it - he - the Thing - goo?" said Jill.
"North into the heart of Narnia," said Tirian. "It has e to dwell among us. They have called it and it has e.」
"Ho, ho, ho!" chuckled the Dwarf, rubbing his hairy hands together. "It will be a surprise for the Ape. People shouldnt call for demons uhey really mean what they say.」
"Who knows if Tash will be visible to the Ape?" said Jewel.
"Where has Puzzle got to?" said Eustace.
They all shouted out Puzzles name and Jill went round to the other side of the Tower to see if he had gohere.
They were quite tired of looking for him when at last his large grey head peered cautiously out of the doorway and he said, "Has it gone away?" And when at last they got him to e out, he was shivering the way a dog shivers before a thuorm.
"I see now," said Puzzle, "that I really have been a very bad donkey. I ought o have listeo Shift. I hought things like this would begin to happen.」
"If youd speime saying you werent clever and more time trying to be as clever as you could -" begaace but Jill interrupted him.
"Oh leave poor old Puzzle alone," she said. "It was all a mistake; wasnt it, Puzzle dear?」
And she kissed him on