第十一章:英雄的考验(23)
The box went into the water.
‘Think of something clever, Hiccup,’ begged Gobber.
‘I will haul up this box, Hiccup,’ said the witch, very, very patiently, ‘the minute you tell me where the Dragonmarkers’ hideout is. For the last time, will you tell me where it is?’
Silence, while the Dragonmarkers strained forward.
Don’t give in, Hiccup…
Don’t give in…
Please don’t give in…
But Hiccup looked broken.
He nodded. Yes, he would tell her.
Perhaps we all have limits to our endurance.
There was a groan of despair from the Dragonmarkers in the cages.
Their Hero had been found wanting after all.
‘It was too hard a test,’ murmured Gobber forgivingly to himself. ‘Far too hard a test for one young boy.’
‘You see…’ smiled the witch, faint with relief that at last she had triumphed. ‘All it took was a little bit of light persuasion…