THE AMBER SPYGLASS-第26章

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ll　reddened　and　shifted　unfortably；　and　for　a　moment　mrs。　coulter　looked　uncannily　like　her　daughter。

〃but　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　she　said。

〃well；　ive　seen　lyra　now；〃　will　said；　〃and　shes　alive；　thats　clear；　and　shes　safe；　i　suppose。　thats　all　i　was　going　to　do。　so　now　ive　done　it；　i　can　go　and　help　lord　asriel　like　i　was　supposed　to。〃

that　did　surprise　her　a　little；　but　she　mastered　it。

〃you　dont　mean；　i　thought　you　might　help　us；〃　she　said　quite　calmly；　not　pleading　but　questioning。　〃with　the　knife。　i　saw　what　you　did　at　sir　charless　house。　you　could　make　it　safe　for　us；　couldnt　you？　you　could　help　us　get　away？〃

〃im　going　to　go　now；〃　will　said；　standing　up。

she　held　out　her　hand。　a　rueful　smile；　a　shrug；　and　a　nod　as　if　to　a　skillful　opponent　whod　made　a　good　move　at　the　chessboard：　that　was　what　her　body　said。　he　found　himself　liking　her；　because　she　was　brave；　and　because　she　seemed　like　a　more　plicated　and　richer　and　deeper　lyra。　he　couldnt　help　but　like　her。

so　he　shook　her　hand；　finding　it　firm　and　cool　and　soft。　she　turned　to　the　golden　monkey；　who　had　been

sitting　behind　her　all　the　time；　and　a　look　passed　between　them　that　will　couldnt　interpret。

then　she　turned　back　with　a　smile。

〃good…bye；〃　he　said。

and　she　said　quietly；　〃good…bye；　will。〃

he　left　the　cave；　knowing　her　eyes　were　following；　and　he　didnt　look　back　once。　ama　was　nowhere　in　sight。　he　walked　back　the　way　hed　e；　keeping　to　the　path　until　he　heard　the　sound　of　the　waterfall　ahead。

〃shes　lying；〃　he　said　to　iorek　byrnison　thirty　minutes　later。　〃of　course　shes　lying。　shed　lie　even　if　it　made　things　worse　for　herself；　because　she　just　loves　lying　too　much　to　stop。〃

〃what　is　your　plan；　then？〃　said　the　bear；　who　was　basking　in　the　sunlight；　his　belly　flat　down　in　a　patch　of　snow　among　the　rocks。

will　walked　up　and　down；　wondering　whether　he　could　use　the　trick　that　had　worked　in　oxford：　use　the　knife　to　move　into　another　world　and　then　go　to　a　spot　right　next　to　where　lyra　lay；　cut　back　through　into　this　world；　pull　her　through　into　safety；　and　then　close　up　again。　that　was　the　obvious　thing　to　do：　why　did　he　hesitate？

balthamos　knew。　in　his　own　angel　shape；　shimmering　like　a　heat　haze　in　the　sunlight；　he　said；　〃you　were　foolish　to　go　to　her。　all　you　want　to　do　now　is　see　the　woman　again。〃

iorek　uttered　a　deep；　quiet　growl。　at　first　will　thought　he　was　warning　balthamos；　but　then　with　a　little　shock　of　embarrassment　he　realized　that　the　bear　was　agreeing　with　the　angel。　the　two　of　them　had　taken　little　notice　of　each　other　until　now；　their　modes　of　being　were　so　different；　but　they　were　of　one　mind　about　this；　clearly。

and　will　scowled；　but　it　was　true。　he　had　been　captivated　by　mrs。　coulter。　all　his　thoughts　referred　to　her：　when　he　thought　of　lyra；　it　was　to　wonder　how　like　her　mother　shed　be　when　she　grew　up；　if　he　thought　of　the　church；　it　was　to　wonder　how　many　of　the　priests　and　cardinals　were　under　her　spell；　if　he　thought　of　his　own　dead　father；　it　was　to　wonder　whether　he　would　have　detested　her　or　admired　her；　and　if　he　thought　of　his　own　mother。。。

he　felt　his　heart　grimace。　he　walked　away　from　the　bear　and　stood　on　a　rock　from　which　he　could　see　across　the　whole　valley。　in　the　clear；　cold　air　he　could　hear　the　distant　tok…tok　of　someone　chopping　wood；　he　could　hear　a　dull　iron　bell　around　the　neck　of　a　sheep；　he　could　hear　the　rustling　of　the　treetops　far　below。　the　tiniest　crevices　in　the　mountains　at　the　horizon　were　clear　and　sharp　to　his　eyes；　as　were　the　vultures　wheeling　over　some　near…dead　creature　many　miles　away。

there　was　no　doubt　about　it：　balthamos　was　right。　the　woman　had　cast　a　spell　on　him。　it　was　pleasant　and　tempting　to　think　about　those　beautiful　eyes　and　the　sweetness　of　that　voice；　and　to　recall　the　way　her　arms　rose　to　push　back　that　shining　hair。。。

with　an　effort　he　came　back　to　his　senses　and　heard　another　sound　altogether：　a　far…distant　drone。

he　turned　this　way　and　that　to　locate　it；　and　found　it　in　the　north；　the　very　direction　he　and　iorek　had　e　from。

〃zeppelins；〃　said　the　bears　voice；　startling　will；　for　he　hadnt　heard　the　great　creature　e　near。　iorek　stood　beside　him；　looking　in　the　same　direction；　and　then　reared　up　high；　fully　twice　the　height　of　will；　his　gaze　intent。

〃how　many？〃

〃eight　of　them；〃　said　iorek　after　a　minute；　and　then　will　saw　them；　too：　little　specks　in　a　line。

〃can　you　tell　how　long　it　will　take　them　to　get　here？〃　will　said。

〃they　will　be　here　not　long　after　nightfall。〃

〃so　we　wont　have　very　much　darkness。　thats　a　pity。〃

〃what　is　your　plan？〃

〃to　make　an　opening　and　take　lyra　through　into　another　world；　and　close　it　again　before　her　mother　follows。　the　girl　has　a　drug　to　wake　lyra　up；　but　she　couldnt　explain　very　clearly　how　to　use　it；　so　shell　have　to　e　into　the　cave　as　well。　i　dont　want　to　put　her　in　danger；　though。　maybe　you　could　distract　mrs。　coulter　while　we　do　that。〃

the　bear　grunted　and　closed　his　eyes。　will　looked　around　for　the　angel　and　saw　his　shape　outlined　in　droplets　of　mist　in　the　late　afternoon　light。

〃balthamos；〃　he　said；　〃im　going　back　into　the　forest　now；　to　find　a　safe　place　to　make　the　first　opening。　i　need　you　to　keep　watch　for　me　and　tell　me　the　moment　she　es　near；　her　or　that　daemon　of　hers。〃

balthamos　nodded　and　raised　his　wings　to　shake　off　the　moisture。　then　he　soared　up　into　the　cold　air　and　glided　out　over　the　valley　as　will　began　to　search　for　a　world　where　lyra　would　be　safe。

in　the　creaking；　thrumming　double　bulkhead　of　the　leading　zeppelin；　the　dragonflies　were　hatching。　the　lady　salmakia　bent　over　the　splitting　cocoon　of　the　electric　blue　one；　easing　the　damp；　filmy　wings　clear；　taking　care　to　let　her　face　be　the　first　thing　that　imprinted　itself　on　the　many…faceted　eyes；　soothing　the　fine…stretched　nerves；　whispering　its　name　to　the　brilliant　creature；　teaching　it　who　it　was。

in　a　few　minutes　the　chevalier　tialys　would　do　the　same　to　his。　but　for　now；　he　was　sending　a　message　on　the　lodestone　resonator；　and　his　attention　was　fully　occupied　with　the　movement　of　the　bow　and　his　fingers。

he　transmitted：

〃to　lord　roke：

〃we　are　three　hours　from　the　estimated　time　of　arrival　at　the　valley。　the　consistorial　court　of　discipline　intends　to　send　a　squad　to　the　cave　as　soon　as　they　land。

〃it　will　divide　into　two　units。　the　first　unit　will　fight　its　way　into　the　cave　and　kill　the　child；　removing　her　head　so　as　to　prove　her　death。　if　possible；　they　will　also　capture　the　woman；　though　if　that　is　impossible；　they　are　to　kill　her。

〃the　second　unit　is　to　capture　the　boy　alive。

〃the　remainder　of　the　force　will　engage　the　gyropters　of　king　ogunwe。　they　estimate　that　the　gyropters　will　arrive　shortly　after　the　zeppelins。　in　accordance　with　your　orders；　the　lady　salmakia　and　i　will　shortly　leave　the　zeppelin　and　fly　directly　to　the　cave；　where　we　shall　try　to　defend　the　girl　against　the　first　unit　and　hold　them　at　bay　until　reinforcements　arrive。

〃we　await　your　response。〃

the　answer　came　almost　immediately。

〃to　the　chevalier　tialys：

〃in　the　light　of　your　report；　here　is　a　change　of　plan。

〃in　order　to　prevent　the　enemy　from　killing　the　child；　which　would　be　the　worst　possible　oute；　you　and　the　lady　salmakia　are　to　cooperate　with　the　boy。　while　he　has　the　knife；　he　has　the　initiative；　so　if　he　opens　another　world　and　takes　the　girl　into　it；　let　him　do　so；　and　follow　them　through。　stay　by　their　side　at　all　times。〃

the　chevalier　tialys　replied：

〃to　lord　roke：

〃your　message　is　heard　and　understood。　the　lady　and　i　shall　leave　at　once。〃

the　little　spy　closed　the　resonator　and　gathered　his　equipment　together。

〃tialys；〃　came　a　whisper　from　the　dark；　〃its　hatching。　you　should　e　now。〃

he　leapt　up　to　the　strut　where　his　dragonfly　had　been　struggling　into　the　world；　and　eased　it　gently　free　of　the　broken　cocoon。　stroking　its　great　fierce　head；　he　lifted　the　heavy　antennae；　still　moist　and　curled；　and

let　the　creature　taste　the　flavor　of　his　skin　until　it　was　entirely　under　his　mand。

salmakia　was　fitting　her　dragonfly　with　the　harness　she　carried　everywhere：　spider…silk　reins；　stirrups　of　titanium；　a　saddle　of　hummingbird　skin。　it　was　almost　weightless。　tialys　did　the　same　with　his；　easing　the　straps　around　the　insects　body；　tightening；　adjusting。　it　would　wear　the　harness　till　it　died。

then　he　quickly　slung　the　pack　over　his　shoulder　and　sliced　through　the　oiled　fabric　of　the　zeppelins　skin。　beside　him；　the　lady　had　mounted　her　dragonfly；　and　now　she　urged　it　through　the　narrow　gap　into　the　hammering　gusts。　the　long；　frail　wings　trembled　as　she　squeezed　through；　and　then　the　joy　of　flight　took　over　the　creature；　and　it　plunged　into　the　wind。　a　few　seconds　later　tialys　joined　her　in　the　wild　air；　his　mount　eager　to　fight　the　swift…gathering　dusk　itself。

the　two　of　them　whirled　upward　in　the　icy　currents；　took　a　few　moments　to　get　their　bearings；　and　set　their　course　for　the　valley。

。。



TWELVE　…　THE　BREAK

～　　
as　darkness　fell；　this　was　how　things　stood。

in　his　adamant　tower；　lord　asriel　paced　up　and　down。　his　attention　was　fixed　on　the　little　figure　beside　the　lodestone　resonator；　and　every　other　report　had　been　diverted；　every　pa