THE AMBER SPYGLASS-第24章

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she　came　to　the　rock　where　the　woman　had　told　her　to　leave　the　food。　she　put　it　down；　but　she　didnt　go　straight　home；　she　climbed　a　little　farther；　up　past　the　cave　and　through　the　thick　rhododendrons；　and　farther　up　still　to　where　the　trees　thinned　out　and　the　rainbows　began。

there　she　and　her　daemon　played　a　game：　they　climbed　up　over　the　rock　shelves　and　around　the　little　green…white　cataracts；　past　the　whirlpools　and　through　the　spectrum　tinted　spray；　until　her　hair　and　her　eyelids　and　his　squirrel　fur　were　beaded　all　over　with　a　million　tiny　pearls　of　moisture。　the　game　was　to　get　to　the　top　without　wiping　your　eyes；　despite　the　temptation；　and　soon　the　sunlight　sparkled　and　fractured　into　red；　yellow；　green；　blue；　and　all　the　colors　in　between；　but　she　mustnt　brush　her　hand　across　to　see　better　until　she　got　right　to　the　top；　or　the　game　would　be　lost。

kulang；　her　daemon；　sprang　to　a　rock　near　the　top　of　the　little　waterfall；　and　she　knew　hed　turn　at　once　to　make　sure　she　didnt　brush　the　moisture　off　her　eyelashes；　except　that　he　didnt。

instead；　he　clung　there；　gazing　forward。

ama　wiped　her　eyes；　because　the　game　was　canceled　by　the　surprise　her　daemon　was　feeling。　as　she　pulled　herself　up　to　look　over　the　edge；　she　gasped　and　fell　still；　because　looking　down　at　her　was　the　face　of　a　creature　she　had　never　seen　before：　a　bear；　but　immense；　terrifying；　four　times　the　size　of　the　brown　bears　in　the　forest；　and　ivory　white；　with　a　black　nose　and　black　eyes　and　claws　the　length　of　daggers。　he　was　only　an　arms　length　away。　she　could　see　every　separate　hair　on　his　head。

〃whos　that？〃　said　the　voice　of　a　boy；　and　while　ama　couldnt　understand　the　words；　she　caught　the　sense　easily　enough。

after　a　moment　the　boy　appeared　next　to　the　bear：　fierce…looking；　with　frowning　eyes　and　a　jutting　jaw。

and　was　that　a　daemon　beside　him；　bird…shaped？　but　such　a　strange　bird：　unlike　any　shed　seen　before。　it　flew　to　kulang　and　spoke　briefly：　friends。　we　shant　hurt　you。

the　great　white　bear　hadnt　moved　at　all。

〃e　up；〃　said　the　boy；　and　again　her　daemon　made　sense　of　it　for　her。

watching　the　bear　with　superstitious　awe；　ama　scrambled　up　beside　the　little　waterfall　and　stood　shyly　on　the　rocks。　kulang　became　a　butterfly　and　settled　for　a　moment　on　her　cheek；　but　left　it　to　flutter　around　the　other　daemon；　who　sat　still　on　the　boys　hand。

〃will；〃　said　the　boy；　pointing　to　himself。

she　responded；　〃ama。〃　now　that　she　could　see　him　properly；　she　was　frightened　of　the　boy　almost　more　than　the　bear：　he　had　a　horrible　wound：　two　of　his　fingers　were　missing。　she　felt　dizzy　when　she　saw　it。

the　bear　turned　away　along　the　milky　stream　and　lay　down　in　the　water；　as　if　to　cool　himself。　the　boys　daemon　took　to　the　air　and　fluttered　with　kulang　among　the　rainbows；　and　slowly　they　began　to　understand　each　other。

and　what　should　they　turn　out　to　be　looking　for　but　a　cave；　with　a　girl　asleep？

the　words　tumbled　out　of　her　in　response：　〃i　know　where　it　is！　and　shes　being　kept　asleep　by　a　woman　who　says　she　is　her　mother；　but　no　mother　would　be　so　cruel；　would　she？　she　makes　her　drink　something　to　keep　her　asleep；　but　i　have　some　herbs　to　make　her　wake　up；　if　only　i　could　get　to　her！〃

will　could　only　shake　his　head　and　wait　for　balthamos　to　translate。　it　took　more　than　a　minute。

〃iorek；〃　he　called；　and　the　bear　lumbered　along　the　bed　of　the　stream；　licking　his　chops；　for　he　had　just　swallowed　a　fish；　〃iorek；〃　will　said；　〃this　girl　is　saying　she　knows　where　lyra　is。　ill　go　with　her　to　look；　while　you　stay　here　and　watch。〃

iorek　byrnison；　foursquare　in　the　stream；　nodded　silently。　will　hid　his　rucksack　and　buckled　on　the　knife　before　clambering　down　through　the　rainbows　with　ama。　the　mist　that　filled　the　air　was　icy。　he　had　to　brush　his　eyes　and　peer　through　the　dazzle　to　see　where　it　was　safe　to　put　his　feet。

when　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　falls；　ama　indicated　that　they　should　go　carefully　and　make　no　noise；　and　will　walked　behind　her　down　the　slope；　between　mossy　rocks　and　great　gnarled　pine　trunks　where　the　dappled　light　danced　intensely　green　and　a　billion　tiny　insects　scraped　and　sang。　down　they　went；　and　farther　down；　and　still　the　sunlight　followed　them；　deep　into　the　valley；　while　overhead　the　branches　tossed　unceasingly　in　the　bright　sky。

then　ama　halted。　will　drew　himself　behind　the　massive　bole　of　a　cedar；　and　looked　where　she　was　pointing。　through　a　tangle　of　leaves　and　branches；　he　saw　the　side　of　a　cliff；　rising　up　to　the　right；　and　partway　up…

〃mrs。　coulter；〃　he　whispered；　and　his　heart　was　beating　fast。

the　woman　appeared　from　behind　the　rock　and　shook　out　a　thick…leaved　branch　before　dropping　it　and　brushing　her　hands　together。　had　she　been　sweeping　the　floor？　her　sleeves　were　rolled；　and　her　hair　was　bound　up　with　a　scarf。　will　could　never　have　imagined　her　looking　so　domestic。

but　then　there　was　a　flash　of　gold；　and　that　vicious　monkey　appeared；　leaping　up　to　her　shoulder。　as　if　they　suspected　something；　they　looked　all　around；　and　suddenly　mrs。　coulter　didnt　look　domestic　at　all。

ama　was　whispering　urgently：　she　was　afraid　of　the　golden　monkey　daemon；　he　liked　to　tear　the　wings　off　bats　while　they　were　still　alive。

〃is　there　anyone　else　with　her？〃　will　said。　〃no　soldiers；　or　anyone　like　that？〃

ama　didnt　know。　she　had　never　seen　soldiers；　but　people　did　talk　about　strange　and　frightening　men；　or　they　might　be　ghosts；　seen　on　the　mountainsides　at　night。。。　but　there　had　always　been　ghosts　in　the　mountains；　everyone　knew　that。　so　they　might　not　have　anything　to　do　with　the　woman。

well；　thought　will；　if　lyras　in　the　cave　and　mrs。　coulter　doesnt　leave　it；　ill　have　to　go　and　pay　a　call。

he　said；　〃what　is　this　drug　you　have？　what　do　you　have　to　do　with　it　to　wake　her　up？〃

ama　explained。

〃and　where　is　it　now？〃

in　her　home；　she　said。　hidden　away。

〃all　right。　wait　here　and　dont　e　near。　when　you　see　her；　you　mustnt　say　that　you　know　me。　youve　never　seen　me；　or　the　bear。　when　do　you　next　bring　her　food？〃

half　an　hour　before　sunset；　amas　daemon　said。

〃bring　the　medicine　with　you　then；〃　said　will。　〃ill　meet　you　here。〃

she　watched　with　great　unease　as　he　set　off　along　the　path。　surely　he　didnt　believe　what　she　had　just　told　him　about　the　monkey　daemon；　or　he　wouldnt　walk　so　recklessly　up　to　the　cave。

actually；　will　felt　very　nervous。　all　his　senses　seemed　to　be　clarified；　so　that　he　was　aware　of　the　tiniest　insects　drifting　in　the　sun　shafts　and　the　rustle　of　every　leaf　and　the　movement　of　the　clouds　above；　even　though　his　eyes　never　left　the　cave　mouth。

〃balthamos；〃　he　whispered；　and　the　angel　daemon　flew　to　his　shoulder　as　a　bright…eyed　small　bird　with　red　wings。　〃keep　close　to　me；　and　watch　that　monkey。〃

〃then　look　to　your　right；〃　said　balthamos　tersely。

and　will　saw　a　patch　of　golden　light　at　the　cave　mouth　that　had　a　face　and　eyes　and　was　watching　them。　they　were　no　more　than　twenty　paces　away。　he　stood　still；　and　the　golden　monkey　turned　his　head　to　look　in　the　cave；　said　something；　and　turned　back。

will　felt　for　the　knife　handle　and　walked　on。

when　he　reached　the　cave；　the　woman　was　waiting　for　him。

she　was　sitting　at　her　ease　in　the　little　canvas　chair；　with　a　book　on　her　lap；　watching　him　calmly。　she　was　wearing　travelers　clothes　of　khaki；　but　so　well　were　they　cut　and　so　graceful　was　her　figure　that　they　looked　like　the　highest　of　high　fashion；　and　the　little　spray　of　red　blossom　shed　pinned　to　her　shirtfront　looked　like　the　most　elegant　of　jewels。　her　hair　shone　and　her　dark　eyes　glittered；　and　her　bare　legs　gleamed　golden　in　the　sunlight。

she　smiled。　will　very　nearly　smiled　in　response；　because　he　was　so　unused　to　the　sweetness　and　gentleness　a　woman　could　put　into　a　smile；　and　it　unsettled　him。

〃youre　will；〃　she　said　in　that　low；　intoxicating　voice。

〃how　do　you　know　my　name？〃　he　said　harshly。

〃lyra　says　it　in　her　sleep。〃

〃where　is　she？〃

〃safe。〃

〃i　want　to　see　her。〃

〃e　on；　then；〃　she　said；　and　got　to　her　feet；　dropping　the　book　on　the　chair。

but　then　there　was　a　flash　of　gold；　and　that　vicious　monkey　appeared；　leaping　up　to　her　shoulder。　as　if　they　suspected　something；　they　looked　all　around；　and　suddenly　mrs。　coulter　didnt　look　domestic　at　all。

ama　was　whispering　urgently：　she　was　afraid　of　the　golden　monkey　daemon；　he　liked　to　tear　the　wings　off　bats　while　they　were　still　alive。

〃is　there　anyone　else　with　her？〃　will　said。　〃no　soldiers；　or　anyone　like　that？〃

ama　didnt　know。　she　had　never　seen　soldiers；　but　people　did　talk　about　strange　and　frightening　men；　or　they　might　be　ghosts；　seen　on　the　mountainsides　at　night。。。　but　there　had　always　been　ghosts　in　the　mountains；　everyone　knew　that。　so　they　might　not　have　anything　to　do　with　the　woman。

well；　thought　will；　if　lyras　in　the　cave　and　mrs。　coulter　doesnt　leave　it；　ill　have　to　go　and　pay　a　call。

he　said；　〃what　is　this　drug　you　have？　what　do　you　have　to　do　with　it　to　wake　her　up？〃

ama　explained。

〃and　where　is　it　now？〃

in　her　home；　she　said。　hidden　away。

〃all　right。　wait　here　and　dont　e　near。　when　you　see　her；　you　mustnt　say　that　you　know　me。　youve　never　seen　me；　or　the　bear。　when　do　you　next　bring　her　food？〃

half　an　hour　before　suns