ughthesightofthewatermadeherfeeltehirstierthanbefore,shedidntrushforwardanddrink.Shestoodasstillasifshehadbeenturostone,

    withhermouthwideopen.Andshehadaverygoodreason;justonthissideofthestreamlaythelion.

    Itlaywithitsheadraisedanditstwofore-pawsoutinfrontofit,likethelionsinTrafalgarSquare.Shekoithadseenher,foritseyeslookedstraightintohersforamomentaurnedaway-asifitknewherquitewellanddidntthinkmuchofher.

    "IfIrunaway,itllbeaftermeinamoment,"thoughtJill."AndifIgoon,Ishallrunstraightintoitsmouth."Anyway,shecouldnthavemovedifshehadtried,andshecouldnttakehereyesoffit.Howlongthislasted,shecouldnotbesure;itseemedlikehours.Ahirstbecamesobadthatshealmostfeltshewouldnotmindbeienbythelionifonlyshecouldbesureofgettingamouthfulofwaterfirst.

    "Ifyourethirsty,youmaydrink.”

    TheywerethefirstwordsshehadheardsinceScrubbhadspokeheedgeofthecliff.Forasedshestaredhereandthere,wokehevoicesaidagain,"Ifyouarethirsty,eanddrink,"andofcoursesherememberedwhatScrubbhadsaidaboutanimalstalkinginthatotherworld,andrealizedthatitwasthelionspeaking.Anyway,shehadseenitslipsmovethistime,andthevoicewasnotlikeamans.Itwasdeeper,wilder,andstronger;asortofheavy,goldenvoice.Itdidnotmakeheranylessfrightehanshehadbeenbefore,butitmadeherfrightenedinratheradifferentway.

    "Areyounotthirsty?"saidtheLion.

    "Imdyingofthirst,"saidJill.

    "Thendrink,"saidtheLion.

    "MayI-couldI-wouldyoumindgoingawaywhileIdo?