Everyone started breathing properly again and moved. They had all been still as statues while it was in sight.
“What was it?” said Eustace in 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 Tisroc‘s 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 ehind Jill’s shoulders and said, “How is it with you, Lady?” “A.all right,” said Jill, taking her hands away from her pale ce and trying to smile. “I‘m all right. It only made me feel little sick for a moment.”
“It seems, then,” said the Unicorn, “that there is a real ash, after all.”
“Yes,” said the Dwarf. “And this fool of an Ape, who didn’t elieve in Tash, will get more than he bargained for! He alled for Tash; Tash has come.”