THE AMBER SPYGLASS-第60章

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〃and　dust？〃　he　said。　〃from　the　depths　of　heresy；　what　is　your　view　of　dust？〃

〃i　have　no　view　of　dust；〃　she　said。　〃i　dont　know　what　it　is。　no　one　does。〃

〃i　see。　well；　i　began　by　reminding　you　that　you　are　under　arrest。　i　think　its　time　we　found　you　somewhere　to　sleep。　youll　be　quite　fortable；　no　one　will　hurt　you；　but　youre　not　going　to　get　away。　and　we　shall　talk　more　tomorrow。〃

he　rang　a　bell；　and　brother　louis　came　in　almost　at　once。　〃show　mrs。　coulter　to　the　best　guest　room；〃　said　the　president。　〃and　lock　her　in。〃

the　best　guest　room　was　shabby　and　the　furniture　was　cheap；　but　at　least　it　was　clean。　after　the　lock　had　turned　behind　her；　mrs。　coulter　looked　around　at　once　for　the　microphone　and　found　one　in　the　elaborate　light…fitting　and　another　under　the　frame　of　the　bed。　she　disconnected　them　both；　and　then　had　a　horrible　surprise。

watching　her　from　the　top　of　the　chest　of　drawers　behind　the　door　was　lord　roke。

she　cried　out　and　put　a　hand　on　the　wall　to　steady　herself。　the　gallivespian　was　sitting　cross…legged；　entirely　at　his　ease；　and　neither　she　nor　the　golden　monkey　had　seen　him。　once　the　pounding　of　her　heart　had　subsided；　and　her　breathing　had　slowed；　she　said；　〃and　when　would　you　have　done　me　the　courtesy　of　letting　me　know　you　were　here；　my　lord？　before　i　undressed；　or　afterwards？〃

〃before；〃　he　said。　〃tell　your　daemon　to　calm　down；　or　ill　disable　him。〃

the　golden　monkeys　teeth　were　bared；　and　all　his　fur　was　standing　on　end。　the　scorching　malice　of　his　expression　was　enough　to　make　any　normal　person　quail；　but　lord　roke　merely　smiled。　his　spurs　glittered　in　the　dim　light。

the　little　spy　stood　up　and　stretched。

〃ive　just　spoken　to　my　agent　in　lord　asriels　fortress；〃　he　went　on。　〃lord　asriel　presents　his　pliments　and　asks　you　to　let　him　know　as　soon　as　you　find　out　what　these　peoples　intentions　are。〃

she　felt　winded；　as　if　lord　asriel　had　thrown　her　hard　in　wrestling。　her　eyes　widened；　and　she　sat　down　slowly　on　the　bed。

〃did　you　e　here　to　spy　on　me；　or　to　help？〃　she　said。

〃both；　and　its　lucky　for　you　im　here。　as　soon　as　you　arrived；　they　set　some　anbaric　work　in　motion　down　in　the　cellars。　i　dont　know　what　it　is；　but　theres　a　team　of　scientists　working　on　it　right　now。　you　seem　to　have　galvanized　them。〃

〃i　dont　know　whether　to　be　flattered　or　alarmed。　as　a　matter　of　fact；　im　exhausted；　and　im　going　to　sleep。　if　youre　here　to　help　me；　you　can　keep　watch。　you　can　begin　by　looking　the　other　way。〃

he　bowed　and　faced　the　wall　until　she　had　washed　in　the　chipped　basin；　dried　herself　on　the　thin　towel；　and　undressed　and　got　into　bed。　her　daemon　patrolled　the　room；　checking　the　wardrobe；　the　picture　rail；　the　curtains；　the　view　of　the　dark　cloisters　out　of　the　window。　lord　roke　watched　him　every　inch　of　the　way。　finally　the　golden　monkey　joined　mrs。　coulter；　and　they　fell　asleep　at　once。

lord　roke　hadnt　told　her　everything　that　hed　learned　from　lord　asriel。　the　allies　had　been　tracking　the　flight　of　all　kinds　of　beings　in　the　air　above　the　frontiers　of　the　republic；　and　had　noticed　a　concentration　of　what　might　have　been　angels；　and　might　have　been　something　else　entirely；　in　the　west。　they　had　sent　patrols　out　to　investigate；　but　so　far　they　had　learned　nothing：　whatever　it　was　that　hung　there　had　wrapped　itself　in　impenetrable　fog。

the　spy　thought　it　best　not　to　trouble　mrs。　coulter　with　that；　though；　she　was　exhausted。　let　her　sleep；　he　decided；　and　he　moved　silently　about　the　room；　listening　at　the　door；　watching　out　of　the　window；　awake　and　alert。

an　hour　after　she　had　first　e　into　the　room；　he　heard　a　quiet　noise　outside　the　door：　a　faint　scratch　and　a　whisper。　at　the　same　moment　a　dim　light　outlined　the　door。　lord　roke　moved　to　the　farthest　corner　and　stood　behind　one　of　the　legs　of　the　chair　on　which　mrs。　coulter　had　thrown　her　clothes。

a　minute　went　by；　and　then　the　key　turned　very　quietly　in　the　lock。　the　door　opened　an　inch；　no　more；　and　then　the　light　went　out。

lord　roke　could　see　well　enough　in　the　dim　glow　through　the　thin　curtains；　but　the　intruder　was　having　to　wait　for　his　eyes　to　adjust。　finally　the　door　opened　farther；　very　slowly；　and　the　young　priest　brother　louis　stepped　in。

he　crossed　himself　and　tiptoed　to　the　bed。　lord　roke　prepared　to　spring；　but　the　priest　merely　listened　to　mrs。　coulters　steady　breathing；　looked　closely　to　see　whether　she　was　asleep；　and　then　turned　to　the　bedside　table。

he　covered　the　bulb　of　the　battery　light　with　his　hand　and　switched　it　on；　letting　a　thin　gleam　escape　through　his　fingers。　he　peered　at　the　table　so　closely　that　his　nose　nearly　touched　　the　surface；　but　whatever　he　was　looking　for；　he　didnt　find　it。　mrs。　coulter　had　put　a　few　things　there　before　she　got　into　bed；　a　couple　of　coins；　a　ring；　her　watch；　but　brother　louis　wasnt　interested　in　those。

he　turned　to　her　again；　and　then　he　saw　what　he　was　looking　for；　uttering　a　soft　hiss　between　his　teeth。　lord　roke　could　see　his　dismay：　the　object　of　his　search　was　the　locket　on　the　gold　chain　around　mrs。　coulters　neck。

lord　roke　moved　silently　along　the　skirting　board　toward　the　door。

the　priest　crossed　himself　again；　for　he　was　going　to　have　to　touch　her。　holding　his　breath；　he　bent　over　the　bed；　and　the　golden　monkey　stirred。

the　young　man　froze；　hands　outstretched。　his　rabbit　daemon　trembled　at　his　feet；　no　use　at　all：　she　could　at　least　have　kept　watch　for　the　poor　man；　lord　roke　thought。　the　monkey　turned　over　in　his　sleep　and　fell　still　again。

after　a　minute　poised　like　a　waxwork；　brother　louis　lowered　his　shaking　hands　to　mrs。　coulters　neck。　he　fumbled　for　so　long　that　lord　roke　thought　the　dawn　would　break　before　he　got　the　catch　undone；　but　finally　he　lifted　the　locket　gently　away　and　stood　up。

lord　roke；　as　quick　and　as　quiet　as　a　mouse；　was　out　of　the　door　before　the　priest　had　turned　around。　he　waited　in　the　dark　corridor；　and　when　the　young　man　tiptoed　out　and　turned　the　key；　the　gallivespian　began　to　follow　him。

brother　louis　made　for　the　tower；　and　when　the　president　opened　his　door；　lord　roke　darted　through　and　made　for　the　priedieu　in　the　corner　of　the　room。　there　he　found　a　shadowy　ledge　where　he　crouched　and　listened。

father　macphail　was　not　alone：　fra　pavel；　the　alethiometrist；　was　busy　with　his　books；　and　another

figure　stood　nervously　by　the　window。　this　was　dr。　cooper；　the　experimental　theologian　from　bolvangar。　they　both　looked　up。

〃well　done；　brother　louis；〃　said　the　president。　〃bring　it　here；　sit　down；　show　me；　show　me。　well　done！〃

fra　pavel　moved　some　of　his　books；　and　the　young　priest　laid　the　gold　chain　on　the　table。　the　others　bent　over　to　look　as　father　macphail　fiddled　with　the　catch。　dr。　cooper　offered　him　a　pocketknife；　and　then　there　was　a　soft　click。

〃ah！〃　sighed　the　president。

lord　roke　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　desk　so　that　he　could　see。　in　the　naphtha　lamplight　there　was　a　gleam　of　dark　gold：　it　was　a　lock　of　hair；　and　the　president　was　twisting　it　between　his　fingers；　turning　it　this　way　and　that。

〃are　we　certain　this　is　the　childs？〃　he　said。

〃i　am　certain；〃　came　the　weary　voice　of　fra　pavel。

〃and　is　there　enough　of　it；　dr。　cooper？〃

the　pale…faced　man　bent　low　and　took　the　lock　from　father　macphails　fingers。　he　held　it　up　to　the　light。

〃oh　yes；〃　he　said。　〃one　single　hair　would　he　enough。　this　is　ample。〃

〃im　very　pleased　to　hear　it；〃　said　the　president。　〃now；　brother　louis；　you　must　return　the　locket　to　the　good　ladys　neck。〃

the　priest　sagged　faintly：　he　had　hoped　his　task　was　over。　the　president　placed　the　curl　of　lyras　hair　in　an　envelope　and　shut　the　locket；　looking　up　and　around　as　he　did　so；　and　lord　roke　had　to　drop　out　of　sight。

〃father　president；〃　said　brother　louis；　〃i　shall　of　course　do　as　you　mand；　hut　may　i　know　why　you　need　the　childs　hair？〃

〃no；　brother　louis；　because　it　would　disturb　you。　leave　these　matters　to　us。　off　you　go。〃

the　young　man　took　the　locket　and　left；　smothering　his　resentment。　lord　roke　thought　of　going　back　with　him　and　waking　mrs。　coulter　just　as　he　was　trying　to　replace　the　chain；　in　order　to　see　what　shed　do；　but　it　was　more　important　to　find　out　what　these　people　were　up　to。

as　the　door　closed；　the　gallivespian　went　back　into　the　shadows　and　listened。

〃how　did　you　know　where　she　had　it？〃　said　the　scientist。

〃every　time　she　mentioned　the　child；〃　the　president　said；　〃her　hand　went　to　the　locket。　now　then；　how　soon　can　it　be　ready？〃

〃a　matter　of　hours；〃　said　dr。　cooper。

〃and　the　hair？　what　do　you　do　with　that？〃

〃we　place　the　hair　in　the　resonating　chamber。　you　understand；　each　individual　is　unique；　and　the　arrangement　of　genetic　particles　quite　distinct。。。　well；　as　soon　as　its　analyzed；　the　information　is　coded　in　a　series　of　anbaric　pulses　and　transferred　to　the　aiming　device。　that　locates　the　origin　of　the　material；　the　hair；　wherever　she　may　be。　its　a　process　that　actually　makes　use　of　the　barnard…stokes　heresy；　the　many…worlds　idea。。。〃

〃dont　alarm　yourself；　doctor。　fra　pavel　has　told　me　that　the　child　is　in　another　world。　please　go　on。　the　force　of　the　bomb　is　directed　by　means　of　the　hair？〃

〃yes。　to　each　of　the　hairs　from　which　these　ones　were　cut。　thats　right。〃

〃so　when　its　detonated；　the　ch