THE AMBER SPYGLASS-第5章

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ng　approached；　he　was　footsore　and　weary。

〃slow　progress；〃　said　balthamos　sourly。

〃i　cant　help　that；〃　said　will。　〃if　you　cant　say　anything　useful；　dont　speak　at　all。〃

by　the　time　he　reached　the　edge　of　the　forest；　the　sun　was　low　and　the　air　heavy　with　pollen；　so　much　so　that　he　sneezed　several　times；　startling　a　bird　that　flew　up　shrieking　from　somewhere　nearby。

〃that　was　the　first　living　thing　ive　seen　today；〃　will　said。

〃where　are　you　going　to　camp？〃　said　balthamos。

the　angel　was　occasionally　visible　now　in　the　long　shadows　of　the　trees。　what　will　could　see　of　his　expression　was　petulant。

will　said；　〃ill　have　to　stop　here　somewhere。　you　could　help　look　for　a　good　spot。　i　can　hear　a　stream；　see　if　you　can　find　it。〃

the　angel　disappeared。　will　trudged　on；　through　the　low　clumps　of　heather　and　bog　myrtle；　wishing　there　was　such　a　thing　as　a　path　for　his　feet　to　follow；　and　eyeing　the　light　with　apprehension：　he　must　choose　where　to　stop　soon；　or　the　dark　would　force　him　to　stop　without　a　choice。

〃left；〃　said　balthamos；　an　arms　length　away。　〃a　stream　and　a　dead　tree　for　firewood。　this　way。。。〃

will　followed　the　angels　voice　and　soon　found　the　spot　he　described。　a　stream　splashed　swiftly　between　mossy　rocks；　and　disappeared　over　a　lip　into　a　narrow　little　chasm　dark　under　the　overarching　trees。　beside　the　stream；　a　grassy　bank　extended　a　little　way　back　to　bushes　and　undergrowth。

before　he　let　himself　rest；　he　set　about　collecting　wood；　and　soon　came　across　a　circle　of　charred　stones　in　the　grass；　where　someone　else　had　made　a　fire　long　before。　he　gathered　a　pile　of　twigs　and　heavier　branches　and　with　the　knife　cut　them　to　a　useful　length　before　trying　to　get　them　lit。　he　didnt　know　the　best　way　to　go　about　it；　and　wasted　several　matches　before　he　managed　to　coax　the　flames　into　life。

the　angel　watched　with　a　kind　of　weary　patience。

once　the　fire　was　going；　will　ate　two　oatmeal　biscuits；　some　dried　meat；　and　some　kendal　mint　cake；　washing　it　down　with　gulps　of　cold　water。　balthamos　sat　nearby；　silent；　and　finally　will　said：

〃are　you　going　to　watch　me　all　the　time？　im　not　going　anywhere。〃

〃im　waiting　for　baruch。　he　will　e　back　soon；　and　then　i　shall　ignore　you；　if　you　like。〃

〃would　you　like　some　food？〃

balthamos　moved　slightly：　he　was　tempted。

〃i　mean；　i　dont　know　if　you　eat　at　all；〃　will　said；　〃but　if　youd　like　something；　youre　wele。〃

〃what　is　that。。。〃　said　the　angel　fastidiously；　indicating　the　kendal　mint　cake。

〃mostly　sugar；　i　think；　and　peppermint。　here。〃

will　broke　off　a　square　and　held　it　out。　balthamos　inclined　his　head　and　sniffed。　then　he　picked　it　up；

his　fingers　light　and　cool　against　wills　palm。

〃i　think　this　will　nourish　me；〃　he　said。　〃one　piece　is　quite　enough；　thank　you。〃

he　sat　and　nibbled　quietly。　will　found　that　if　he　looked　at　the　fire；　with　the　angel　just　at　the　edge　of　his　vision；　he　had　a　much　stronger　impression　of　him。

〃where　is　baruch？〃　he　said。　〃can　he　municate　with　you？〃

〃i　feel　that　he　is　close。　hell　be　here　very　soon。　when　he　returns；　we　shall　talk。　talking　is　best。〃

and　barely　ten　minutes　later　the　soft　sound　of　wingbeats　came　to　their　ears；　and　balthamos　stood　up　eagerly。　the　next　moment；　the　two　angels　were　embracing；　and　will；　gazing　into　the　flames；　saw　their　mutual　affection。　more　than　affection：　they　loved　each　other　with　a　passion。

baruch　sat　down　beside　his　panion；　and　will　stirred　the　fire；　so　that　a　cloud　of　smoke　drifted　past　the　two　of　them。　it　had　the　effect　of　outlining　their　bodies　so　that　he　could　see　them　both　clearly　for　the　first　time。　balthamos　was　slender；　his　narrow　wings　were　folded　elegantly　behind　his　shoulders；　and　his　face　bore　an　expression　that　mingled　haughty　disdain　with　a　tender；　ardent　sympathy；　as　if　he　would　love　all　things　if　only　his　nature　could　let　him　forget　their　defects。　but　he　saw　no　defects　in　baruch；　that　was　clear。　baruch　seemed　younger；　as　balthamos　had　said　he　was；　and　was　more　powerfully　built；　his　wings　snow…white　and　massive。　he　had　a　simpler　nature；　he　looked　up　to　balthamos　as　to　the　fount　of　all　knowledge　and　joy。　will　found　himself　intrigued　and　moved　by　their　love　for　each　other。

〃did　you　find　out　where　lyra　is？〃　he　said；　impatient　for　news。

〃yes；〃　said　baruch。　〃there　is　a　himalayan　valley；　very　high　up；　near　a　glacier　where　the　light　is　turned　into　rainbows　by　the　ice。　i　shall　draw　you　a　map　in　the　soil　so　you　dont　mistake　it。　the　girl　is　captive　in　a　cave　among　the　trees；　kept　asleep　by　the　woman。〃

〃asleep？　and　the　womans　alone？　no　soldiers　with　her？〃

〃alone；　yes。　in　hiding。〃

〃and　lyras　not　harmed？〃

〃no。　just　asleep；　and　dreaming。　let　me　show　you　where　they　are。〃

with　his　pale　finger；　baruch　traced　a　map　in　the　bare　soil　beside　the　fire。　will　took　his　notebook　and　copied　it　exactly。　it　showed　a　glacier　with　a　curious　serpentine　shape；　flowing　down　between　three　almost　identical　mountain　peaks。

〃now；〃　said　the　angel；　〃we　go　closer。　the　valley　with　the　cave　runs　down　from　the　left　side　of　the　glacier；　and　a　river　of　meltwater　runs　through　it。　the　head　of　the　valley　is　here。。。〃

he　drew　another　map；　and　will　copied　that；　and　then　a　third；　getting　closer　in　each　time；　so　that　will　felt　he　could　find　his　way　there　without　difficulty；　provided　that　hed　crossed　the　four　or　five　thousand　miles　between　the　tundra　and　the　mountains。　the　knife　was　good　for　cutting　between　worlds；　but　it　couldnt　abolish　distance　within　them。

〃there　is　a　shrine　near　the　glacier；〃　baruch　ended　by　saying；　〃with　red　silk　banners　half…torn　by　the　winds。　and　a　young　girl　brings　food　to　the　cave。　they　think　the　woman　is　a　saint　who　will　bless　them　if　they　look　after　her　needs。〃

〃do　they；〃　said　will。　〃and　shes　hiding。。。　thats　what　i　dont　understand。　hiding　from　the　church？〃

〃it　seems　so。〃

will　folded　the　maps　carefully　away。　he　had　set　the　tin　cup　on　the　stones　at　the　edge　of　the　fire　to　heat　some　water；　and　now　he　trickled　some　powdered　coffee　into　it；　stirring　it　with　a　stick；　and　wrapped　his　hand　in　a　handkerchief　before　picking　it　up　to　drink。

a　burning　stick　settled　in　the　fire；　a　night　bird　called。

suddenly；　for　no　reason　will　could　see；　both　angels　looked　up　and　in　the　same　direction。　he　followed　their　gaze；　but　saw　nothing。　he　had　seen　his　cat　do　this　once：　look　up　alert　from　her　half…sleep　and　watch

something　or　someone　invisible　e　into　the　room　and　walk　across。　that　had　made　his　hair　stand　up；　and　so　did　this。

〃put　out　the　fire；〃　balthamos　whispered。

will　scooped　up　some　earth　with　his　good　hand　and　doused　the　flames。　at　once　the　cold　struck　into　his　bones；　and　he　began　to　shiver。　he　pulled　the　cloak　around　himself　and　looked　up　again。

and　now　there　was　something　to　see：　above　the　clouds　a　shape　was　glowing；　and　it　was　not　the　moon。

he　heard　baruch　murmur；　〃the　chariot？　could　it　be？〃

〃what　is　it？〃　will　whispered。

baruch　leaned　close　and　whispered　back；　〃they　know　were　here。　theyve　found　us。　will；　take　your　knife　and。。。”

before　he　could　finish；　something　hurtled　out　of　the　sky　and　crashed　into　balthamos；　in　a　fraction　of　a　second　baruch　had　leapt　on　it；　and　balthamos　was　twisting　to　free　his　wings。　the　three　beings　fought　this　way　and　that　in　the　dimness；　like　great　wasps　caught　in　a　mighty　spiders　web；　making　no　sound：　all　will　could　hear　was　the　breaking　twigs　and　the　brushing　leaves　as　they　struggled　together。

he　couldnt　use　the　knife：　they　were　all　moving　too　quickly。　instead；　he　took　the　electric　torch　from　the　rucksack　and　switched　it　on。

none　of　them　expected　that。　the　attacker　threw　up　his　wings；　balthamos　flung　his　arm　across　his　eyes；　and　only　baruch　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　hold　on。　but　will　could　see　what　it　was；　this　enemy：　another　angel；　much　bigger　and　stronger　than　they　were；　and　baruchs　hand　was　clamped　over　his　mouth。

〃will！〃　cried　balthamos。　〃the　knife　…　cut　a　way　out　…〃

and　at　the　same　moment　the　attacker　tore　himself　free　of　baruchs　hands；　and　cried：

〃lord　regent！　i　have　them！　lord　regent！〃

his　voice　made　wills　head　ring；　he　had　never　heard　such　a　cry。　and　a　moment　later　the　angel　would　have　sprung　into　the　air；　but　will　dropped　his　torch　and　leapt　forward。　he　had　killed　a　cliff…ghast；　but　using　the　knife　on　a　being　shaped　like　himself　was　much　harder。　nevertheless；　he　gathered　the　great　beating　wings　into　his　arms　and　slashed　again　and　again　at　the　feathers　until　the　air　was　filled　with　whirling　flakes　of　white；　remembering　even　in　the　sweep　of　violent　sensations　the　words　of　balthamos：　you　have　true　flesh；　we　have　not。　human　beings　were　stronger　than　angels；　stronger　even　than　great　powers　like　this　one；　and　it　was　true：　he　was　bearing　the　angel　down　to　the　ground。

the　attacker　was　still　shouting　in　that　ear…splitting　voice：　〃lord　regent！　to　me；　to　me！〃

will　managed　to　glance　upward　and　saw　the　clouds　stirring　and　swirling；　and　that　gleam；　something　immense；　growing　more　powerful；　as　if　the　clouds　themselves　were　being　luminous　with　energy；　like　plasma。

balthamos　cried；　〃will；　e　away　and　cut　through；　before　he　es。。。”

but　the　angel　was　struggling　hard；　and　now　he　had　one　wing　free　and　he　was　forcing　himself　up　from　the　ground；　and　will　had　to　hang　on　or　lose　him　entirely。　bar