12-第十二章：西部荒野国王的加冕(12)

Once, back where these memoirs started, Hiccup had been afraid that he might be Chief of the Hooligan Tribe one day. How far he had come, for how much greater was this responsibility. All of these tough, huge adults looking at him with expectant eyes, wanting him to make the right decisions. He would be responsible for their lives in the upcoming battle. After what had happened to Snotlout, Hiccup knew what this meant now, that real people, people who were close to him, might die in true life. This is what War means. And it would all be Hiccup’s fault if anything went wrong. Around his neck hung the Black Star of Courage that Snotlout had given him. Well, Hiccup needed courage now, and he held on to that Star for dear life. He swallowed hard. ‘Peoples of the Archipelago,’ said Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. ‘Two days ago my cousin Snotlout laid down his life for me.’ Baggybum the Beerbelly gave a choking cry as he understood what had happened to his son. ‘Snotlout put on my clothes,’ said Hiccup steadily. ‘He wore my helmet and rode my riding-dragon to face the Witch and Alvin’s people, he took the arrow that