THE AMBER SPYGLASS-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e；　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。

for　the　first　time　since　ing　into　her　presence；　will　looked　at　the　monkey　daemon。　his　fur　was　long　and　lustrous；　each　hair　seeming　to　be　made　of　pure　gold；　much　finer　than　a　humans；　and　his　little　face　and　hands　were　black。　will　had　last　seen　that　face；　contorted　with　hate；　on　the　evening　when　he　and　lyra　stole　the　alethiometer　back　from　sir　charles　latrom　in　the　house　in　oxford。　the　monkey　had　tried　to　tear　at　him　with　his　teeth　until　will　had　slashed　left…right　with　the　knife；　forcing　the　daemon　backward；　so　he　could　close　the　window　and　shut　them　away　in　a　different　world。　will　thought　that　nothing　on　earth　would　make　him　turn　his　back　on　that　monkey　now。

but　the　bird…shaped　balthamos　was　watching　closely；　and　will　stepped　carefully　over　the　floor　of　the

cave　and　followed　mrs。　coulter　to　the　little　figure　lying　still　in　the　shadows。

and　there　she　was；　his　dearest　friend；　asleep。　so　small　she　looked！　he　was　amazed　at　how　all　the　force　and　fire　that　was　lyra　awake　could　look　so　gentle　and　mild　when　she　was　sleeping。　at　her　neck　pantalaimon　lay　in　his　polecat　shape；　his　fur　glistening；　and　lyras　hair　lay　damp　across　her　forehead。

he　knelt　down　beside　her　and　lifted　the　hair　away。　her　face　was　hot。　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　will　saw　the　golden　monkey　crouching　to　spring；　and　set　his　hand　on　the　knife；　but　mrs。　coulter　shook　her　head　very　slightly；　and　the　monkey　relaxed。

without　seeming　to；　will　was　memorizing　the　exact　layout　of　the　cave：　the　shape　and　size　of　every　rock；　the　slope　of　the　floor；　the　exact　height　of　the　ceiling　above　the　sleeping　girl。　he　would　need　to　find　his　way　through　it　in　the　dark；　and　this　was　the　only　chance　hed　have　to　see　it　first。

〃so　you　see；　shes　quite　safe；〃　said　mrs。　coulter。

〃why　are　you　keeping　her　here？　and　why　dont　you　let　her　wake　up？〃

〃lets　sit　down。〃

she　didnt　take　the　chair；　but　sat　with　him　on　the　moss…covered　rocks　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave。　she　sounded　so　kindly；　and　there　was　such　sad　wisdom　in　her　eyes；　that　wills　mistrust　deepened。　he　felt　that　every　word　she　said　was　a　lie；　every　action　concealed　a　threat；　and　every　smile　was　a　mask　of　deceit。　well；　he　would　have　to　deceive　her　in　turn：　hed　have　to　make　her　think　he　was　harmless。　he　had　successfully　deceived　every　teacher　and　every　police　officer　and　every　social　worker　and　every　neighbor　who　had　ever　taken　an　interest　in　him　and　his　home；　hed　been　preparing　for　this　all　his　life。

right；　he　thought。　i　can　deal　with　you。

〃would　you　like　something　to　drink？〃　said　mrs。　coulter。　〃ill　have　some；　too。。。　its　quite　safe。　look。〃

she　cut　open　some　wrinkled　brownish　fruit　and　pressed　the　cloudy　juice　into　two　small　beakers。　she　sipped　one　and　offered　the　other　to　will；　who　sipped；　too；　and　found　it　fresh　and　sweet。

〃how　did　you　find　your　way　here？〃　she　said。

〃it　wasnt　hard　to　follow　you。〃

〃evidently。　have　you　got　lyras　alethiometer？〃

〃yes；〃　he　said；　and　let　her　work　out　for　herself　whether　or　not　he　could　read　it。

〃and　youve　got　a　knife；　i　understand。〃

〃sir　charles　told　you　that；　did　he？〃

〃sir　charles？　oh；　carlo；　of　course。　yes；　he　did。　it　sounds　fascinating。　may　i　see　it？〃

〃no；　of　course　not；〃　he　said。　〃why　are　you　keeping　lyra　here？〃

〃because　i　love　her；〃　she　said。　〃im　her　mother。　shes　in　appalling　danger　and　i　wont　let　anything　happen　to　her。〃

〃danger　from　what？〃　said　will。

〃well。。。〃　she　said；　and　set　her　beaker　down　on　the　ground；　leaning　forward　so　that　her　hair　swung　down　on　either　side　of　her　face。　when　she　sat　up　again；　she　tucked　it　back　behind　her　ears　with　both　hands；　and　will　smelled　the　fragrance　of　some　scent　she　was　wearing　bined　with　the　fresh　smell　of　her　body；　and　he　felt　disturbed。

if　mrs。　coulter　saw　his　reaction；　she　didnt　show　it。　she　went　on：　〃look；　will；　i　dont　know　how　you　came　to　meet　my　daughter；　and　i　dont　know　what　you　know　already；　and　i　certainly　dont　know　if　i　can　trust　you；　but　equally；　im　tired　of　having　to　lie。　so　here　it　is：　the　truth。

〃i　found　out　that　my　daughter　is　in　danger　from　the　very　people　i　used　to　belong　to；　from　the　church。　frankly；　i　think　they　want　to　kill　her。　so　i　found　myself　in　a　dilemma；　you　see：　obey　the　church；　or　save　my　daughter。　and　i　was　a　faithful　servant　of　the　church；　too。　there　was　no　one　more　zealous；　i　gave　my　life　to　it；　i　served　it　with　a　passion。

〃but　i　had　this　daughter。。。”

〃i　know　i　didnt　look　after　her　well　when　she　was　young。　she　was　taken　away　from　me　and　brought　up　by　strangers。　perhaps　that　made　it　hard　for　her　to　trust　me。　but　when　she　was　growing　up；　i　saw　the　danger　that　she　was　in；　and　three　times　now　ive　tried　to　save　her　from　it。　ive　had　to　bee　a　renegade　and　hide　in　this　remote　place；　and　i　thought　we　were　safe；　but　now　to　learn　that　you　found　us　so　easily；　well；　you　can　understand；　that　worries　me。　the　church　wont　be　far　behind。　and　they　want　to　kill　her；　will。　they　will　not　let　her　live。〃

〃why？　why　do　they　hate　her　so　much？〃

〃because　of　what　they　think　shes　going　to　do。　i　dont　know　what　that　is；　i　wish　i　did；　because　then　i　could　keep　her　even　more　safe。　but　all　i　know　is　that　they　hate　her；　and　they　have　no　mercy；　none。〃

she　leaned　forward；　talking　urgently　and　quietly　and　closely。

〃why　am　i　telling　you　this？〃　she　went　on。　〃can　i　trust　you？　i　think　i　have　to。　i　cant　escape　anymore；　theres　nowhere　else　to　go。　and　if　youre　a　friend　of　lyras；　you　might　be　my　friend；　too。　and　i　do　need　friends；　i　do　need　help。　everythings　against　me　now。　the　church　will　destroy　me；　too；　as　well　as　lyra；　if　they　find　us。　im　alone；　will；　just　me　in　a　cave　with　my　daughter；　and　all　the　forces　of　all　the　worlds　are　trying　to　track　us　down。　and　here　you　are；　to　show　how　easy　it　is　to　find　us；　apparently。　what　are　you　going　to　do；　will？　what　do　you　want？〃

〃why　are　you　keeping　her　asleep？〃　he　said；　stubbornly　avoiding　her　questions。

〃because　what　would　happen　if　i　let　her　wake？　shed　run　away　at　once。　and　she　wouldnt　last　five　days。〃

〃but　why　dont　you　explain　it　to　her　and　give　her　the　choice？〃

〃do　you　think　shed　listen？　do　you　think　even　if　she　listened　shed　believe　me？　she　doesnt　trust　me。　she　hates　me；　will。　you　must　know　that。　she　despises　me。　i；　well。。。　i　dont　know　how　to　say　it。。。　i　love　her　so　much　ive　given　up　everything　i　had；　a　great　career；　great　happiness；　position　and　wealth；　everything；　to　e　to　this　cave　in　the　mountains　and　live　on　dry　bread　and　sour　fruit；　just　so　i　can　keep　my　daughter　alive。　and　if　to　do　that　i　have　to　keep　her　asleep；　then　so　be　it。　but　i　must　keep　her　alive。　wouldnt　your　mother　do　as　much　for　you？〃

will　felt　a　jolt　of　shock　and　rage　that　mrs。　coulter　had　dared　to　bring　his　own　mother　in　to　support　her　argument。　then　the　first　shock　was　plicated　by　the　thought　that　his　mother；　after　all；　had　not　protected　him；　he　had　had　to　protect　her。　did　mrs。　coulter　love　lyra　more　than　elaine　parry　loved　him？　but　that　was　unfair：　his　mother　wasnt　well。

either　mrs。　coulter　did　not　know　the　boil　of　feelings　that　her　simple　words　had　lanced；　or　she　was　monstrously　clever。　her　beautiful　eyes　watched　mildly　as　will　reddened　and　shifted　unfortably；　and　for　a　moment　mrs。　coulter　looked　uncannily　like　her　daughter