As Caspian is taken around "old Narnia" and introduced to the creatures it becomes apparent that there are different levels of memory. These levels are represented by Trufflehunter (the badger), Trumpkin (the red dwarf), and Nikabrik (the black dwarf). It is also apparent that memory directs the choices that are made. The company is appalled when Nikabrik suggests that an alliance with horrible creatures may help in the fight against Miraz. In a way, his motto is "anyone who hates my enemy is my friend". The way he stated it is "I’ll believe in anyone or anything that’ll batter these cursed Telmarine barbarians to pieces or drive them out of Narnia. Anyone or anything, Aslan or the White Witch, do you understand?" Trufflehunter, the beast, rebukes him saying that the White Witch was an even worse enemy than the Telemarines. Nikabrik responds, "Not to the Dwarfs, she wasn’t."

This last remark is a dangerous omen. It represents a cold practicality that places power above virtue and victory above justice. Faulty memory enables this twisted logic. While it may have been true that Dwarfs served the White Witch as jailers and lackeys, their lives were still twisted by the perpetual winter and the Witch’s cruelty. Nikabrik’s comment is reminiscent of the Hebrews in the wilderness who cried out to Moses in Exodus 16:3.

_________If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the ________fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this ________whole assembly with hunger.

Trumpkin, the red dwarf, seems to be in the middle. He can be swayed and ultimately has to learn where to place his trust. He is on the edge of not believing, and has to decide whose memory is faithful. He does not believe that help will come with the blowing of Susan’s ancient horn. Yet, in spite of his personal doubts, he does the faithful thing. He travels to the mouth of the river to await something that he believes will not happen. Compare this to the gospel account of Simon Peter casting the nets on the other side of the boat when Jesus requests it, even though he protested: "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing." He allows his actions to be guided by someone else’s remembering, and the experience awakens the reality of faith.

Trufflehunter is a rock. "I tell you, we don’t change, we beasts," said Trufflehunter. "We don’t forget." In our own world, we would place badgers and other beasts in the category of the world of nature. I believe that C.S. Lewis is telling us that the creation doesn’t forget its maker. When humans pursue their own courses, we may forget ourselves, but the creative purpose remains strong. "We beasts remember, even if Dwarfs forget, that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam was King." If the humans have forgotten their role, the creation awaits for it to be remembered. The human family is to be the stewards of God’s good creation. If we have forgotten, the earth remembers, "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the Children of God" (Romans 8:19).

Do you realize how important remembering is to the current age? At Passover, Jewish families remember God’s mighty act of deliverance. During communion Christians are asked to remember events of Jesus' death. Here in Lewis is a literary connection between memory and present consciouness, between the sacred act and the ethical response.

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