pp.thegoldencompass-第14部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


dren　to　the　church　to　be　monks　or　nuns。　And　the　unfortunate　brats　were　known　as　oblates。　Means　a　sacrifice；　an　offering；　something　of　that　sort。　So　the　same　idea　was　taken　up　when　they　were　looking　into　the　Dust　business　。　。　。　。As　our　little　friend　probably　knows。　Why　don't　you　go　and　talk　to　Lord　Boreal？〃　he　added　to　Lyra　directly。　〃I'm　sure　he'd　like　to　meet　Mrs。　Coulter's　protegee　。　。　。　。That's　him；　the　man　with　gray　hair　and　the　serpent　daemon。〃
　　He　wanted　to　get　rid　of　Lyra　so　that　he　could　talk　more　privately　with　the　young　woman；　Lyra　could　tell　that　easily。　But　the　young　woman；　it　seemed；　was　still　interested　in　Lyra；　and　slipped　away　from　the　man　to　talk　to　her。
　　〃Stop　a　minute　。　。　。　。What's　your　name？〃
　　〃Lyra。〃
　　〃I'm　Adele　Starminster。　I'm　a　journalist。　Could　I　have　a　quiet　word？〃
　　Thinking　it　only　natural　that　people　should　wish　to　talk　to　her；　Lyra　said　simply；　〃Yes。〃
　　The　woman's　butterfly　daemon　rose　into　the　air；　casting　about　to　left　and　right；　and　fluttered　down　to　whisper　something；　at　which　Adele　Starminster　said；　〃e　to　the　window　seat。〃
　　This　was　a　favorite　spot　of　Lyra's；　it　overlooked　the　river；　and　at　this　time　of　night；　the　lights　across　on　the　south　bank　were　glittering　brilliantly　over　their　reflections　in　the　black　water　of　the　high　tide。　A　line　of　barges　hauled　by　a　tug　moved　upriver。　Adele　Starminster　sat　down　and　moved　along　the　cushioned　seat　to　make　room。
　　〃Did　Professor　Docker　say　that　you　had　some　connection　with　Mrs。　Coulter？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃What　is　it？　You're　not　her　daughter；　by　any　chance？　I　suppose　I　should　know…〃
　　〃No！〃　said　Lyra。　'〃Course　not。　I'm　her　personal　assistant。〃
　　〃Her　personal　assistant？　You're　a　bit　young；　aren't　you？　I　thought　you　were　related　to　her　or　something。　What's　she　like？〃
　　〃She's　very　clever；〃　said　Lyra。　Before　this　evening　she　would　have　said　much　more；　but　things　were　changing。
　　〃Yes；　but　personally；〃　Adele　Starminster　insisted。　〃I　mean；　is　she　friendly　or　impatient　or　what？　Do　you　live　here　with　her？　What's　she　like　in　private？〃
　　〃She's　very　nice；〃　said　Lyra　stolidly。
　　〃What　sort　of　things　do　you　do？　How　do　you　help　her？〃
　　〃I　do　calculations　and　all　that。　Like　for　navigation。〃
　　〃Ah；　I　see　。　。　。　。And　where　do　you　e　from？　What　was　your　name　again？〃
　　〃Lyra。　I　e　from　Oxford。〃
　　〃Why　did　Mrs。　Coulter　pick　you　to…〃
　　She　stopped　very　suddenly；　because　Mrs。　Coulter　herself　had　appeared　close　by。　From　the　way　Adele　Starminster　looked　up　at　her；　and　the　agitated　way　her　daemon　was　fluttering　around　her　head；　Lyra　could　tell　that　the　young　woman　wasn't　supposed　to　be　at　the　party　at　all。
　　〃I　don't　know　your　name；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter　very　quietly；　〃but　I　shall　find　it　out　within　five　minutes；　and　then　you　will　never　work　as　a　journalist　again。　Now　get　up　very　quietly；　without　making　a　fuss；　and　leave。　I　might　add　that　whoever　brought　you　here　will　also　suffer。〃
　　Mrs。　Coulter　seemed　to　be　charged　with　some　kind　of　anbaric　force。　She　even　smelled　different：　a　hot　smell；　like　heated　metal；　came　off　her　body。　Lyra　had　felt　something　of　it　earlier；　but　now　she　was　seeing　it　directed　at　someone　else；　and　poor　Adele　Starminster　had　no　force　to　resist。　Her　daemon　fell　limp　on　her　shoulder　and　flapped　his　gorgeous　wings　once　or　twice　before　fainting；　and　the　woman　herself　seemed　to　be　unable　to　stand　fully　upright。　Moving　in　a　slight　awkward　crouch；　she　made　her　way　through　the　press　of　loudly　talking　guests　and　out　of　the　drawing　room　door。　She　had　one　hand　clutched　to　her　shoulder；　holding　the　swooning　daemon　in　place。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter　to　Lyra。
　　〃I　never　told　her　anything　important；〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃What　was　she　asking？〃
　　〃Just　about　what　I　was　doing　and　who　I　was；　and　stuff　like　that。〃
　　As　she　said　that；　Lyra　noticed　that　Mrs。　Coulter　was　alone；　without　her　daemon。　How　could　that　be？　But　a　moment　later　the　golden　monkey　appeared　at　her　side；　and；　reaching　down；　she　took　his　hand　and　swung　him　up　lightly　to　her　shoulder。　At　once　she　seemed　at　ease　again。
　　〃If　you　e　across　anyone　else　who　obviously　hasn't　been　invited；　dear；　do　e　and　find　me；　won't　you？〃
　　The　hot　metallic　smell　was　vanishing。　Perhaps　Lyra　had　only　imagined　it。　She　could　smell　Mrs。　Coulter's　scent　again；　and　the　roses；　and　the　cigarillo　smoke；　and　the　scent　of　other　women。　Mrs。　Coulter　smiled　at　Lyra　in　a　way　that　seemed　to　say；　〃You　and　I　understand　these　things；　don't　we？〃　and　moved　on　to　greet　some　other　guests。
　　Pantalaimon　was　whispering　in　Lyra's　ear。
　　〃While　she　was　here；　her　daemon　was　ing　out　of　our　bedroom。　He's　been　spying。　He　knows　about　the　alethiometer！〃
　　Lyra　felt　that　that　was　probably　true；　but　there　was　nothing　she　could　do　about　it。　What　had　that　professor　been　saying　about　the　Gobblers？　She　looked　around　to　find　him　again；　but　no　sooner　had　she　seen　him　than　the　missionaire　（in　servant's　dress　for　the　evening）　and　another　man　tapped　the　professor　on　the　shoulder　and　spoke　quietly　to　him；　at　which　he　turned　pale　and　followed　them　out。　That　took　no　more　than　a　couple　of　seconds；　and　it　was　so　discreetly　done　that　hardly　anyone　noticed。　But　it　left　Lyra　feeling　anxious　and　exposed。
　　She　wandered　through　the　two　big　rooms　where　the　party　was　taking　place；　half…listening　to　the　conversations　around　her；　half…interested　in　the　taste　of　the　cocktails　she　wasn't　allowed　to　try；　and　increasingly　fretful。　She　wasn't　aware　that　anyone　was　watching　her　until　the　missionaire　appeared　at　her　side　and　bent　to　say：
　　〃Miss　Lyra；　the　gentleman　by　the　fireplace　would　like　to　speak　to　you。　He's　Lord　Boreal；　if　you　didn't　know。〃
　　Lyra　looked　up　across　the　room。　The　powerful…looking　gray…haired　man　was　looking　directly　at　her；　and　as　their　eyes　met；　he　nodded　and　beckoned。
　　Unwilling；　but　more　interested　now；　she　went　across。
　　〃Good　evening；　child；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　smooth　and　manding。　His　serpent　daemon's　mailed　head　and　emerald　eyes　glittered　in　the　light　from　the　cut…glass　lamp　on　the　wall　nearby。
　　〃Good　evening；〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃How　is　my　old　friend　the　Master　of　Jordan？〃
　　〃Very　well；　thank　you。〃
　　〃I　expect　they　were　all　sorry　to　say　goodbye　to　you。〃
　　〃Yes；　they　were。〃
　　〃And　is　Mrs。　Coulter　keeping　you　busy？　What　is　she　teaching　you？〃
　　Because　Lyra　was　feeling　rebellious　and　uneasy；　she　didn't　answer　this　patronizing　question　with　the　truth；　or　with　one　of　her　usual　flights　of　fancy。　Instead　she　said；　〃I'm　learning　about　Rusakov　Particles；　and　about　the　Oblation　Board。〃
　　He　seemed　to　bee　focused　at　once；　in　the　same　way　that　you　could　focus　the　beam　of　an　anbaric　lantern。　All　his　attention　streamed　at　her　fiercely。
　　〃Suppose　you　tell　me　what　you　know；〃　he　said。
　　〃They're　doing　experiments　in　the　North；〃　Lyra　said。　She　was　feeling　reckless　now。　〃Like　Dr。　Grumman。〃
　　〃Go　on。〃
　　〃They've　got　this　special　kind　of　photogram　where　you　can　see　Dust；　and　when　you　see　a　man；　there's　like　all　light　ing　to　him；　and　there's　none　on　a　child。　At　least；　not　so　much。〃
　　〃Did　Mrs。　Coulter　show　you　a　picture　like　that？〃
　　Lyra　hesitated；　for　this　was　not　lying　but　something　else；　and　she　wasn't　practiced　at　it。
　　〃No；〃　she　said　after　a　moment。　〃I　saw　that　one　at　Jordan　College。〃
　　〃Who　showed　it　to　you？〃
　　〃He　wasn't　really　showing　it　to　me；〃　Lyra　admitted。　〃I　was　just　passing　and　I　saw　it。　And　then　my　friend　Roger　was　taken　by　the　Oblation　Board。　But…〃
　　〃Who　showed　you　that　picture？〃
　　〃My　Uncle　Asriel。〃
　　〃When？〃
　　〃When　he　was　in　Jordan　College　last　time。〃
　　〃I　see。　And　what　else　have　you　been　learning　about？　Did　I　hear　you　mention　the　Oblation　Board？〃
　　〃Yes。　But　I　didn't　hear　about　that　from　him；　I　heard　it　here。〃
　　Which　was　exactly　true；　she　thought。
　　He　was　looking　at　her　narrowly。　She　gazed　back　with　all　the　innocence　she　had。　Finally　he　nodded。
　　〃Then　Mrs。　Coulter　must　have　decided　you　were　ready　to　help　her　in　that　work。　Interesting。　Have　you　taken　part　yet？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Lyra。　What　was　he　talking　about？　Pantalaimon　was　cleverly　in　his　most　inexpressive　shape；　a　moth；　and　couldn't　betray　her　feelings；　and　she　was　sure　she　could　keep　her　own　face　innocent。
　　〃And　has　she　told　you　what　happens　to　the　children？〃
　　〃No；　she　hasn't　told　me　that。　I　only　just　know　that　it's　about　Dust；　and　they're　like　a　kind　of　sacrifice。〃
　　Again；　that　wasn't　exactly　a　lie；　she　thought；　she　had　never　said　that　Mrs。　Coulter　herself　had　told　her。
　　〃Sacrifice　is　rather　a　dramatic　way　of　putting　it。　What's　done　is　for　their　good　as　well　as　ours。　And　of　course　they　all　e　to　Mrs。　Coulter　willingly。　That's　why　she's　so　valuable。　They　must　want　to　take　part；　and　what　child　could　resist　her？　And　if　she's　going　to　use　you　as　well　to　bring　them　in；　so　much　the　better。　I'm　very　pleased。〃
　　He　smiled　at　her　in　the　way　Mrs。　Coulter　had：　as　if　they　were　both　in　on　a　secret。　She　smiled　politely　back　and　he　turned　away　to　talk　to　someone　else。
　　She　and　Pantalaimon　could　sense　each　other's　horror。　She　wanted　to　go　away　by　herself　and　talk　to　him；　she　wanted　to　leave　the　flat；　she　wanted　to　go　back　to　Jordan　College　and　her　little　shabby　bedroom　on　Staircase　Twelve；　she　wanted　to　find　Lord　Asriel…
　　And　as　if　in　answer　to　that　last　wish；　she　heard　his　name　mentioned；　and　wandered　closer　to　the　group　talking　nearby　with　the　pretext　of　helping　herself　to　a　canape　from　the　plate　on　the　table。　A　man　in　a　bishop's　purple　was　saying：
　　〃　。　。　。　No；　I　don't　think　Lord　Asriel　will　be　troubling　us　for　quite　some　time。〃
　　〃And　where　did　you　say　he　was　being　held？〃
　　〃In　the　fortress　of　Svalbard；　I'm　told。　Guarded　by　panser…bj0rne…you　know；　armored　bears。　Formidable　creatures！　He　won't　escape　from　them　if　he　lives　to　be　a　thousand。　The　fact　is　that　I　really　think　the　way　is　clear；　very　nearly　clear…〃
　　〃The　last　experiments　have　confirmed　what　I　always　believed…that　Dust　is　an　emanation　from　the　dark　principle　itself；　and…〃
　　〃Do　I　detect　the　Zoroastrian　heresy？〃
　　〃What　used　to　be　a　heresy…〃
　　〃And　if　we　could　isolate　the　dark　principle…〃
　　〃Svalbard；　did　you　say？〃
　　〃Armored　bears…〃
　　〃The　Oblation　Board…〃
　　〃The　children　don't　suffer；　I'm　sure　of　it…〃
　　〃Lord　Asriel　imprisoned…〃
　　Lyra　had　heard　enough。　She　turned　away；　and　moving　as　quietly　as　the　moth　Pantalaimon；　she　went　into　her　bedroom　and　closed　the　door。　The　noise　of　the　party　was　muffled　at　once。
　　〃Well？〃　she　whispered；　and　he　became　a　goldfinch　on　her　shoulder。
　　〃Are　we　going　to　run　away？〃　he　whispered　back。
　　〃'Course。　If　we　do　it　now　with　all　these　people　about；　she　might　not　notice　for　a　while。〃
　　〃He　will。〃
　　Pantalaimon　meant　Mrs。　Coulter's　daemon。　When　Lyra　thought　of　his　lithe　golden　shape；　she　felt　ill　with　fear。
　　〃I'll　fight　him　this　time；〃　Pantalaimon　said　boldly。　〃I　can　change　and　he　can't。　I'll　change　so　quickly　he　won't　be　able　to　keep　hold。　This　time　I'll　win；　you'll　see。〃
　　Lyra　nodded　distractedly。　What　should　she　wear？　How　could　she　get　out　without　being　seen？
　　〃You'll　have　to　go　and　spy；〃　she　whispered。　〃As　soon　as　it's　clear；　we'll　have　to　run。　Be　a　moth；〃　she　added。　〃Remember；　the　second　there's　no　one　looking　。　。　。　〃
　　She　opened　the　door　a　crack　and　he　crawled　out；　dark　ag