THE LAST TEMPTATION OF SUSAN

Chapter Four: Dinosaurs and Magazines

One thing about Prince Rabadash had not changed. He was still the most arrogant young man Susan had ever met.

"You, little one. Run to the big house and tell the wife of Benruz Tarkhaan to prepare a guest chamber and a bath for the Queen of Narnia."

"Nyaah, nyaah, nyaah!" In Tashbaan everyone jumped to obey the prince's commands. But apparently here in the jungle it was different. Even lying facedown on the grass, Susan could sense the little girl sticking out her tongue. "Who cares about that filthy barbarian queen getting washed up on our doorstep? She looks like a drowned rat. You've got to marry me whether you want to or not!"

Rabadash laughed in the old cruel way. "I'll give you a taste of marriage right now if you don't get moving."

"Don't!" Susan tried to protest, but the tall, dark, handsome young prince swept her up in his arms.

"I don't want to marry you," she choked out, in a feeble voice. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the spoiled little girl running as fast as she could towards the big house. But Susan's main focus was on the bronzed face of the prince. He was holding her in his arms and gazing into her eyes, but his expression was hard to read.

"Much has changed for both of us, O beautiful Queen," he said, speaking gravely and in the formal Calormene way. And then he carried her up to the main house.

****

So many questions!

Lying in a hot bath with her feet up and her eyes shut, Susan tried to sort out everything that had happened since she first looked into the Mirror of Toh-Ledom. One thing was clear – she was already in way over her head.

Long ago, wise old Professor Kirke had said that the four Pevensie children were each part of a greater whole. Lucy was the heart of the Pevensie family. Edmund was the mind. Peter was the soul.

Where did that leave Susan?

Just then someone tapped on the door of her bedroom suite.

"Come in, please!" Though she didn't rise from the bath or open her eyes, Susan still felt a ripple of worry. It might be Rabadash, after all. He was still the imperious prince she remembered, even if he had given orders for her to be treated like visiting royalty.

"Dinner awaits, O Queen," said a soft voice. "And there are pictures and writings from the other world."

"From the other world?" Susan sat up in the steaming bath, alarmed and blinking her sleepy brown eyes. The heavy and immensely dignified wife of Benruz Tarkhaan bowed low.

"My noble husband will return soon, and make all things clear to you," the older woman said. "It is only through his great wisdom that we enjoy the splendor of other worlds. Meantime it is our hope that you will rest with an easy mind, a guest in our humble home."

"I'm very grateful for your hospitality." Susan climbed from the bath, and let the Tarkhaan's woman towel her dry. "As you know, I am Susan of Narnia, and my brother is the High King Peter. Might I know your name, kind Tarkheena?"

"Zuleika is your servant's name," the woman replied, flashing a shy smile that made her look much less intimidating.

"And the little girl I met this afternoon, is she your daughter?" Cocooned in an enormous towel, Susan followed stately, plump Zuleika into the bedroom. A lace bed gown and a steaming supper were waiting on the wide soft bed.

"Alas no, fairest queen. The Tarkhaan and I are childless." As Susan prepared for bed, Zuleika explained that the girl called Rozalina was an orphan. "Her parents died long ago, and her older brother was killed in the wars. Please forgive us for her rudeness this afternoon. The prince told me of it, and it shall not happen again."

"Of course I forgive you! And my heart goes out to that poor girl. Perhaps tomorrow the two of us can become friends."

"Doubtless your kind heart will overcome all obstacles." The Tarkheena gave her a peculiar look, then said goodnight.

Susan enjoyed the meal of broiled jungle fowl and steamed vegetables with a goblet of wine, followed by fruit and almond cakes and fig pudding. But the glossy pictures on the bedside table caught her eye. For when she examined them closely, she found that they were not ancient legends or magic spells. Instead they were . . .

"Fashion magazines!" From the moment she saw darkly handsome Prince Rabadash in his bright tennis whites, Susan had sensed that someone had found a doorway into her world, much like the wardrobe that had first brought her to Narnia. But she would never have dreamed that anyone would be able to go back and forth and make regular shopping trips. Suddenly it all made sense! The clothes, and this lovely tropical villa with electric lights and hot and cold running water, were all part of a spell worked by Benruz Tarkhaan. His home was built by magic. He was the one who had given her the mirror of Toh-Ledom . . .

Susan knew that she needed to find out what Benruz Tarkhaan was up to. Had he invited her here because he knew she was connected to the other world? Was Aslan involved? And where did Rabadash and the little girl fit in?

Propped up on pillows, Susan read till her eyes drooped. In a way it was lovely. Skimming over the latest swim suits and evening wear was just like being home again. But these fashions didn't look right. They were too skimpy and sexy. Slowly the truth dawned on her. These simple yet daring fashions weren't from her time. They were from the future!

Susan closed her eyes, overwhelmed by what she saw. Seven years had passed since she left England. She had been a skinny twelve year old girl then. Now she was a mature nineteen-year old woman. But in her world, how many more years had passed? Sleep closed in before she could find any answers, but her last waking thought was that dinosaurs and magazines didn't mix.