pp.thegoldencompass-第12部分

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ew　female　members；　so　I　might　as　well　use　the　privileges　I　have。〃
　　Twenty　minutes'　walk　took　them　to　a　grand　stone…fronted　building　where　they　sat　in　a　wide　dining　room　with　snowy　cloths　and　bright　silver　on　the　tables；　and　ate　calves'　liver　and　bacon。
　　〃Calves'　liver　is　all　right；〃　Mrs。　Coulter　told　her；　〃and　so　is　seal　liver；　but　if　you're　stuck　for　food　in　the　Arctic；　you　mustn't　eat　bear　liver。　That's　full　of　a　poison　that'll　kill　you　in　minutes。〃
　　As　they　ate；　Mrs。　Coulter　pointed　out　some　of　the　members　at　the　other　tables。
　　〃D'you　see　the　elderly　gentleman　with　the　red　tie？　That's　Colonel　Carborn。　He　made　the　first　balloon　flight　over　the　North　Pole。　And　the　tall　man　by　the　window　who's　just　got　up　is　Dr。　Broken　Arrow。〃
　　〃Is　he　a　Skraeling？〃
　　〃Yes。　He　was　the　man　who　mapped　the　ocean　currents　in　the　Great　Northern　Ocean　。　。　。　。〃
　　Lyra　looked　at　them　all；　these　great　men；　with　curiosity　and　awe。　They　were　Scholars；　no　doubt　about　that；　but　they　were　explorers　too。　Dr。　Broken　Arrow　would　know　about　bear　livers；　she　doubted　whether　the　Librarian　of　Jordan　College　would。
　　After　lunch　Mrs。　Coulter　showed　her　some　of　the　precious　arctic　relics　in　the　institute　library…the　harpoon　with　which　the　great　whale　Grimssdur　had　been　killed；　the　stone　carved　with　an　inscription　in　an　unknown　language　which　was　found　in　the　hand　of　the　explorer　Lord　Rukh；　frozen　to　death　in　his　lonely　tent；　a　fire…striker　used　by　Captain　Hudson　on　his　famous　voyage　to　Van　Tieren's　Land。　She　told　the　story　of　each　one；　and　Lyra　felt　her　heart　stir　with　admiration　for　these　great；　brave；　distant　heroes。
　　And　then　they　went　shopping。　Everything　on　this　extraordinary　day　was　a　new　experience　for　Lyra；　but　shopping　was　the　most　dizzying。　To　go　into　a　vast　building　full　of　beautiful　clothes；　where　people　let　you　try　them　on；　where　you　looked　at　yourself　in　mirrors　。　。　。　And　the　clothes　were　so　pretty　。　。　。　。Lyra's　clothes　had　e　to　her　through　Mrs。　Lonsdale；　and　a　lot　of　them　had　been　handed　down　and　much　mended。　She　had　seldom　had　anything　new；　and　when　she　had；　it　had　been　picked　for　wear　and　not　for　looks；　and　she　had　never　chosen　anything　for　herself。　And　now　to　find　Mrs。　Coulter　suggesting　this；　and　praising　that；　and　paying　for　it　all；　and　more　。　。　。　
　　By　the　time　they'd　finished；　Lyra　was　flushed　and　bright…eyed　with　tiredness。　Mrs。　Coulter　ordered　most　of　the　clothes　packed　up　and　delivered；　and　took　one　or　two　things　with　her　when　she　and　Lyra　walked　back　to　the　flat。
　　Then　a　bath；　with　thick　scented　foam。　Mrs。　Coulter　came　into　the　bathroom　to　wash　Lyra's　hair；　and　she　didn't　rub　and　scrape　like　Mrs。　Lonsdale　either。　She　was　gentle。　Pantalaimon　watched　with　powerful　curiosity　until　Mrs。　Coulter　looked　at　him；　and　he　knew　what　she　meant　and　turned　away；　averting　his　eyes　modestly　from　these　feminine　mysteries　as　the　golden　monkey　was　doing。　He　had　never　had　to　look　away　from　Lyra　before。
　　Then；　after　the　bath；　a　warm　drink　with　milk　and　herbs；　and　a　new　flannel　nightdress　with　printed　flowers　and　a　seal'　loped　hem；　and　sheepskin　slippers　dyed　soft　blue；　and　then　bed。
　　So　soft；　this　bed！　So　gentle；　the　anbaric　light　on　the　bed'　side　table！　And　the　bedroom　so　cozy　with　little　cupboards　and　a　dressing　table　and　a　chest　of　drawers　where　her　new　clothes　would　go；　and　a　carpet　from　one　wall　to　the　other；　and　pretty　curtains　covered　in　stars　and　moons　and　planets！　Lyra　lay　stiffly；　too　tired　to　sleep；　too　enchanted　to　question　anything。
　　When　Mrs。　Coulter　had　wished　her　a　soft　goodnight　and　gone　out；　Pantalaimon　plucked　at　her　hair。　She　brushed　him　away；　but　he　whispered；　〃Where's　the　thing？〃
　　She　knew　at　once　what　he　meant。　Her　old　shabby　overcoat　hung　in　the　wardrobe；　a　few　seconds　later；　she　was　back　in　bed；　sitting　up　cross…legged　in　the　lamplight；　with　Pantalaimon　watching　closely　as　she　unfolded　the　black　velvet　and　looked　at　what　it　was　the　Master　had　given　her。
　　〃What　did　he　call　it？〃　she　whispered。
　　〃An　alethiometer。〃
　　There　was　no　point　in　asking　what　that　meant。　It　lay　heavily　in　her　hands；　the　crystal　face　gleaming；　the　golden　body　exquisitely　machined。　It　was　very　like　a　clock；　or　a　pass；　for　there　were　hands　pointing　to　places　around　the　dial；　but　instead　of　the　hours　or　the　points　of　the　pass　there　were　several　little　pictures；　each　of　them　painted　with　extraordinary　precision；　as　if　on　ivory　with　the　finest　and　slenderest　sable　brush。　She　turned　the　dial　around　to　look　at　them　all。　There　was　an　anchor；　an　hourglass　surmounted　by　a　skull；　a　chameleon；　a　bull；　a　beehive　。　。　。　Thirty…six　altogether；　and　she　couldn't　even　guess　what　they　meant。
　　〃There's　a　wheel；　look；〃　said　Pantalaimon。　〃See　if　you　can　wind　it　up。〃
　　There　were　three　little　knurled　winding　wheels；　in　fact；　and　each　of　them　turned　one　of　the　three　shorter　hands；　which　moved　around　the　dial　in　a　series　of　smooth　satisfying　clicks。　You　could　arrange　them　to　point　at　any　of　the　pictures；　and　once　they　had　clicked　into　position；　pointing　exactly　at　the　center　of　each　one；　they　would　not　move。
　　The　fourth　hand　was　longer　and　more　slender；　and　seemed　to　be　made　of　a　duller　metal　than　the　other　three。　Lyra　couldn't　control　its　movement　at　all；　it　swung　where　it　wanted　to；　like　a　pass　needle；　except　that　it　didn't　settle。
　　〃Meter　means　measure；〃　said　Pantalaimon。　〃Like　thermometer。　The　Chaplain　told　us　that。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　that's　the　easy　bit；〃　she　whispered　back。　〃What　d'you　think　it's　for？〃
　　Neither　of　them　could　guess。　Lyra　spent　a　long　time　turning　the　hands　to　point　at　one　symbol　or　another　（angel；　helmet；　dolphin；　globe；　lute；　passes；　candle；　thunderbolt；　horse）　and　watching　the　long　needle　swing　on　its　never…ceasing　errant　way；　and　although　she　understood　nothing；　she　was　intrigued　and　delighted　by　the　plexity　and　the　detail。　Pantalaimon　became　a　mouse　to　get　closer　to　it；　and　rested　his　tiny　paws　on　the　edge；　his　button　eyes　bright　black　with　curiosity　as　he　watched　the　needle　swing。
　　〃What　do　you　think　the　Master　meant　about　Uncle　Asriel？〃　she　said。
　　〃Perhaps　we've　got　to　keep　it　safe　and　give　it　to　him。〃
　　〃But　the　Master　was　going　to　poison　him！　Perhaps　it's　the　opposite。　Perhaps　he　was　going　to　say　don't　give　it　to　him。〃
　　〃No；〃　Pantalaimon　said；　〃it　was　her　we　had　to　keep　it　safe　from…〃
　　There　was　a　soft　knock　on　the　door。
　　Mrs。　Coulter　said；　〃Lyra；　I　should　put　the　light　out　if　I　were　you。　You're　tired；　and　we'll　be　busy　tomorrow。〃
　　Lyra　had　thrust　the　alethiometer　swiftly　under　the　blankets。
　　〃All　right；　Mrs。　Coulter；〃　she　said。
　　〃Goodnight　now。〃
　　〃Goodnight。〃
　　She　snuggled　down　and　switched　off　the　light。　Before　she　fell　asleep；　she　tucked　the　alethiometer　under　the　pillow；　just　in　case。
　　
　　
　　FIVE
　　THE　COCKTAIL　PARTY
　　
　　In　the　days　that　followed；　Lyra　went　everywhere　with　Mrs。　Coulter；　almost　as　if　she　were　a　daemon　herself。　Mrs。　Coulter　knew　a　great　many　people；　and　they　met　in　all　kinds　of　different　places：　in　the　morning　there　might　be　a　meeting　of　geographers　at　the　Royal　Arctic　Institute；　and　Lyra　would　sit　by　and　listen；　and　then　Mrs。　Coulter　might　meet　a　politician　or　a　cleric　for　lunch　in　a　smart　restaurant；　and　they　would　be　very　taken　with　Lyra　and　order　special　dishes　for　her；　and　she　would　learn　how　to　eat　asparagus　or　what　sweetbreads　tasted　like。　And　then　in　the　afternoon　there　might　be　more　shopping；　for　Mrs。　Coulter　was　preparing　her　expedition；　and　there　were　furs　and　oilskins　and　waterproof　boots　to　buy；　as　well　as　sleeping　bags　and　knives　and　drawing　instruments　that　delighted　Lyra's　heart。　After　that　they　might　go　to　tea　and　meet　some　ladies；　as　well　dressed　as　Mrs。　Coulter　if　not　so　beautiful　or　acplished：　women　so　unlike　female　Scholars　or　gyptian　boat　mothers　or　college　servants　as　almost　to　be　a　new　sex　altogether；　one　with　dangerous　powers　and　qualities　such　as　elegance；　charm；　and　grace。　Lyra　would　be　dressed　up　prettily　for　these　occasions；　and　the　ladies　would　pamper　her　and　include　her　in　their　graceful　delicate　talk；　which　was　all　about　people：　this　artist；　or　that　politician；　or　those　lovers。
　　And　when　the　evening　came；　Mrs。　Coulter　might　take　Lyra　to　the　theater；　and　again　there　would　be　lots　of　glamorous　people　to　talk　to　and　be　admired　by；　for　it　seemed　that　Mrs。　Coulter　knew　everyone　important　in　London。
　　In　the　intervals　between　all　these　other　activities　Mrs。　Coulter　would　teach　her　the　rudiments　of　geography　and　mathematics。　Lyra's　knowledge　had　great　gaps　in　it；　like　a　map　of　the　world　largely　eaten　by　mice；　for　at　Jordan　they　had　taught　her　in　a　piecemeal　and　disconnected　way：　a　junior　Scholar　would　be　detailed　to　catch　her　and　instruct　her　in　such…and…such；　and　the　lessons　would　continue　for　a　sullen　week　or　so　until　she　〃forgot〃　to　turn　up；　to　the　Scholar's　relief。　Or　else　a　Scholar　would　forget　what　he　was　supposed　to　teach　her；　and　drill　her　at　great　length　about　the　subject　of　his　current　research；　whatever　that　happened　to　be。　It　was　no　wonder　her　knowledge　was　patchy。　She　knew　about　atoms　and　elementary　particles；　and　anbaromagnetic　charges　and　the　four　fundamental　forces　and　other　bits　and　pieces　of　experimental　theology；　but　nothing　about　the　solar　system。　In　fact；　when　Mrs。　Coulter　realized　this　and　explained　how　the　earth　and　the　other　five　planets　revolved　around　the　sun；　Lyra　laughed　loudly　at　the　joke。
　　However；　she　was　keen　to　show　that　she　did　know　some　things；　and　when　Mrs。　Coulter　was　telling　her　about　electrons；　she　said　expertly；　〃Yes；　they're　negatively　charged　particles。　Sort　of　like　Dust；　except　that　Dust　isn't　charged。〃
　　As　soon　as　she　said　that；　Mrs。　Coulter's　daemon　snapped　his　head　up　to　look　at　her；　and　all　the　golden　fur　on　his　little　body　stood　up；　bristling；　as　if　it　were　charged　itself。　Mrs。　Coulter　laid　a　hand　on　his　back。
　　〃Dust？〃　she　said。
　　〃Yeah。　You　know；　from　space；　that　Dust。〃
　　〃What　do　you　know　about　Dust；　Lyra？〃
　　〃Oh；　that　it　es　out　of　space；　and　it　lights　people　up；　if　you　have　a　special　sort　of　camera　to　see　it　by。　Except　not　children。　It　doesn't　affect　children。〃
　　〃Where　did　you　learn　that　from？〃
　　By　now　Lyra　was　aware　that　there　was　a　powerful　tension　in　the　room；　because　Pantalaimon　had　crept　ermine…like　onto　her　lap　and　was　trembling　violently。
　　〃Just　someone　in　Jordan；〃　Lyra　said　vaguely。　〃I　forget　who。　I　think　it　was　one　of　the　Scholars。〃
　　〃Was　it　in　one　of　your　lessons？〃
　　〃Yes；　it　might　have　been。　Or　else　it　might've　been　just　in　passing。　Yes。　I　think　that　was　it。　This　Scholar；　I　think　he　was　from　New　Denmark；　he　was　talking　to　the　Chaplain　about　Dust　and　I　was　just　passing　and　it　sounded　interesting　so　I　couldn't　help　stopping　to　listen。　That's　what　it　was。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter。
　　〃Is　it　right；　what　he　told　me？　Did　I　get　it　wrong？〃
　　〃Well；　I　don't　know。　I'm　sure　you　know　much　more　than　I　do。　Let's　get　back　to　those　electrons　。　。　。　。〃
　　Later；　Pantalaimon　said；　〃You　know　when　all　the　fur　stood　up　on　her　daemon？　Well；　I　was　behind　him；　and　she　grabbed　his　fur　so　tight　her　knuckles　went　white。　You　couldn't　see。　It　was　a　long　time　till　his　fur　went　down。　I　thought　he　was　going　to　leap　at　you。〃
　　That　was　strange；　no　doubt；　but　neither　of　them　knew　what　to　make　of　it。
　　An