pp.thegoldencompass-第16部分

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　　Lyra　stood　up　shakily；　holding　the　wildcat　Pantalaimon　to　her　breast。　He　was　twisting　to　look　at　something；　and　she　followed　his　gaze；　understanding　and　suddenly　curious　too：　what　had　happened　to　the　dead　men's　daemons？　They　were　fading；　that　was　the　answer；　fading　and　drifting　away　like　atoms　of　smoke；　for　all　that　they　tried　to　cling　to　their　men。　Pantalaimon　hid　his　eyes；　and　Lyra　hurried　blindly　after　Tony　Costa。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　said。
　　〃Quiet；　gal。　There's　enough　trouble　awake　without　stirring　more。　We'll　talk　on　the　boat。〃
　　He　led　her　over　a　little　wooden　bridge　into　the　heart　of　the　canal　basin。　The　other　two　men　were　padding　silently　after　them。　Tony　turned　along　the　waterfront　and　out　onto　a　wooden　jetty；　from　which　he　stepped　on　board　a　narrowboat　and　swung　open　the　door　to　the　cabin。
　　〃Get　in；〃　he　said。　〃Quick　now。〃
　　Lyra　did　so；　patting　her　bag　（which　she　had　never　let　go　of；　even　in　the　net）　to　make　sure　the　alethiometer　was　still　there。　In　the　long　narrow　cabin；　by　the　light　of　a　lantern　on　a　hook；　she　saw　a　stout　powerful　woman　with　gray　hair；　sitting　at　a　table　with　a　paper。　Lyra　recognized　her　as　Billy's　mother。
　　〃Who's　this？〃　the　woman　said。　〃That's　never　Lyra？〃
　　〃That's　right。　Ma；　we　got　to　move。　We　killed　two　men　out　in　the　basin。　We　thought　they　was　Gobblers；　but　I　reckon　they　were　Turk　traders。　They'd　caught　Lyra。　Never　mind　talk…we'll　do　that　on　the　move。〃
　　〃e　here；　child；〃　said　Ma　Costa。
　　Lyra　obeyed；　half　happy；　half　apprehensive；　for　Ma　Costa　had　hands　like　bludgeons；　and　now　she　was　sure：　it　was　their　boat　she　had　captured　with　Roger　and　the　other　collegers。　But　the　boat　mother　set　her　hands　on　either　side　of　Lyra's　face；　and　her　daemon；　a　hawk；　bent　gently　to　lick　Pantalaimon's　wildcat　head。　Then　Ma　Costa　folded　her　great　arms　around　Lyra　and　pressed　her　to　her　breast。
　　〃I　dunno　what　you're　a　doing　here；　but　you　look　wore　out。　You　can　have　Billy's　crib；　soon's　I've　got　a　hot　drink　in　you。　Set　you　down　there；　child。〃
　　It　looked　as　if　her　piracy　was　forgiven；　or　at　least　forgotten。　Lyra　slid　onto　the　cushioned　bench　behind　a　well…scrubbed　pine　table　top　as　the　low　rumble　of　the　gas　engine　shook　the　boat。
　　〃Where　we　going？〃　Lyra　asked。
　　Ma　Costa　was　setting　a　saucepan　of　milk　on　the　iron　stove　and　riddling　the　grate　to　stir　the　fire　up。
　　〃Away　from　here。　No　talking　now。　We'll　talk　in　the　morning。〃
　　And　she　said　no　more；　handing　Lyra　a　cup　of　milk　when　it　was　ready；　swinging　herself　up　on　deck　when　the　boat　began　to　move；　exchanging　occasional　whispers　with　the　men。　Lyra　sipped　the　milk　and　lifted　a　corner　of　the　blind　to　watch　the　dark　wharves　move　past。　A　minute　or　two　later　she　was　sound　asleep。
　　
　　She　awoke　in　a　narrow　bed；　with　that　forting　engine　rumble　deep　below。　She　sat　up；　banged　her　head；　cursed；　felt　around；　and　got　up　more　carefully。　A　thin　gray　light　showed　her　three　other　bunks；　each　empty　and　neatly　made；　one　below　hers　and　the　other　two　across　the　tiny　cabin。　She　swung　over　the　side　to　find　herself　in　her　underclothes；　and　saw　the　dress　and　the　wolfskin　coat　folded　at　the　end　of　her　bunk　together　with　her　shopping　bag。　The　alethiometer　was　still　there。
　　She　dressed　quickly　and　went　through　the　door　at　the　end　to　find　herself　in　the　cabin　with　the　stove；　where　it　was　warm。
　　There　was　no　one　there。　Through　the　windows　she　saw　a　gray　swirl　of　fog　on　each　side；　with　occasional　dark　shapes　that　might　have　been　buildings　or　trees。
　　Before　she　could　go　out　on　deck；　the　outer　door　opened　and　Ma　Costa　came　down；　swathed　in　an　old　tweed　coat　on　which　the　damp　had　settled　like　a　thousand　tiny　pearls。
　　〃Sleep　well？〃　she　said；　reaching　for　a　frying　pan。　〃Now　sit　down　out　the　way　and　I'll　make　ye　some　breakfast。　Don't　stand　about；　there　en't　room。〃
　　〃Where　are　we？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃On　the　Grand　Junction　Canal。　You　keep　out　of　sight；　child。　I　don't　want　to　see　you　topside。　There's　trouble。〃
　　She　sliced　a　couple　of　rashers　of　bacon　into　the　frying　pan；　and　cracked　an　egg　to　go　with　them。
　　〃What　sort　of　trouble？〃
　　〃Nothing　we　can't　cope　with；　if　you　stay　out　the　way。〃
　　And　she　wouldn't　say　any　more　till　Lyra　had　eaten。　The　boat　slowed　at　one　point；　and　something　banged　against　the　side；　and　she　heard　men's　voices　raised　in　anger；　but　then　someone's　joke　made　them　laugh；　and　the　voices　drew　away　and　the　boat　moved　on。
　　Presently　Tony　Costa　swung　down　into　the　cabin。　Like　his　mother；　he　was　pearled　with　damp；　and　he　shook　his　woollen　hat　over　the　stove　to　make　the　drops　jump　and　spit。
　　〃What　we　going　to　tell　her；　Ma？〃
　　〃Ask　first；　tell　after。〃
　　He　poured　some　coffee　into　a　tin　cup　and　sat　down。　He　was　a　powerful；　dark…faced　man；　and　now　that　she　could　see　him　in　daylight；　Lyra　saw　a　sad　grimness　in　his　expression。
　　〃Right；〃　he　said。　〃Now　you　tell　us　what　you　was　doing　in　London；　Lyra。　We　had　you　down　as　being　took　by　the　Gobblers。〃
　　〃I　was　living　with　this　lady；　right　。　。　。　〃
　　Lyra　clumsily　collected　her　story　and　shook　it　into　order　as　if　she　were　settling　a　pack　of　cards　ready　for　dealing。　She　told　them　everything；　except　about　the　alethiometer。
　　〃And　then　last　night　at　this　cocktail　party　I　found　out　what　they　were　really　doing。　Mrs。　Coulter　was　one　of　the　Gobblers　herself；　and　she　was　going　to　use　me　to　help　her　catch　more　kids。　And　what　they　do　is…〃
　　Ma　Costa　left　the　cabin　and　went　out　to　the　cockpit。　Tony　waited　till　the　door　was　shut；　and　cut　in：
　　〃We　know　what　they　do。　Least；　we　know　part　of　it。　We　know　they　don't　e　back。　Them　kids　is　taken　up　north；　far　out　the　way；　and　they　do　experiments　on　'em。　At　first　we　reckoned　they　tried　out　different　diseases　and　medicines；　but　there'd　be　no　reason　to　start　that　all　of　a　sudden　two　or　three　years　back。　Then　we　thought　about　the　Tartars；　maybe　there's　some　secret　deal　they're　making　up　Siberia　way；　because　the　Tartars　want　to　move　north　just　as　much　as　the　rest；　for　the　coal　spirit　and　the　fire　mines；　and　there's　been　rumors　of　war　for　even　longer　than　the　Gobblers　been　going。　And　we　reckoned　the　Gobblers　were　buying　off　the　Tartar　chiefs　by　giving　'em　kids；　cause　the　Tartars　eat　'em；　don't　they？　They　bake　children　and　eat　〃em。〃
　　〃They　never！〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃They　do。　There's　plenty　of　other　things　to　be　told；　and　all。　You　ever　heard　of　the　Nalkainens？〃
　　Lyra　said；　〃No。　Not　even　with　Mrs。　Coulter。　What　are　they？〃
　　〃That's　a　kind　of　ghost　they　have　up　there　in　those　forests。　Same　size　as　a　child；　and　they　got　no　heads。　They　feel　their　way　about　at　night　and　if　you're　a　sleeping　out　in　the　forest　they　get　ahold　of　you　and　won't　nothing　make　'em　let　go。　Nalkainens；　that's　a　northern　word。　And　the　Windsuckers；　they're　dangerous　too。　They　drift　about　in　the　air。　You　e　across　clumps　of　'em　floated　together　sometimes；　or　caught　snagged　on　a　bramble。　As　soon　as　they　touch　you；　all　the　strength　goes　out　of　you。　You　can't　see　'em　except　as　a　kind　of　shimmer　in　the　air。　And　the　Breathless　Ones　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Who　are　they？〃
　　〃Warriors　half…killed。　Being　alive　is　one　thing；　and　being　dead's　another；　but　being　half…killed　is　worse　than　either。　They　just　can't　die；　and　living　is　altogether　beyond　'em。　They　wander　about　forever。　They're　called　the　Breathless　Ones　because　of　what's　been　done　to　'em。〃
　　〃And　what's　that？〃　said　Lyra；　wide…eyed。
　　〃The　North　Tartars　snap　open　their　ribs　and　pull　out　their　lungs。　There's　an　art　to　it。　They　do　it　without　killing　'em；　but　their　lungs　can't　work　anymore　without　their　daemons　pumping　'em　by　hand；　so　the　result　is　they're　halfway　between　breath　and　no　breath；　life　and　death；　half…killed；　you　see。　And　their　daemons　got　to　pump　and　pump　all　day　and　night；　or　else　perish　with　'em。　You　e　across　a　whole　platoon　of　Breathless　Ones　in　the　forest　sometimes；　I've　heard。　And　then　there's　the　panserbj0rne…you　heard　of　them？　That　means　armored　bears。　They're　great　white　bears；　and…〃
　　〃Yes！　I　have　heard　of　them！　One　of　the　men　last　night；　he　said　that　my　uncle；　Lord　Asriel；　he's　being　imprisoned　in　a　fortress　guarded　by　the　armored　bears。〃
　　〃Is　he；　now？　And　what　was　he　doing　up　there？〃
　　〃Exploring。　But　the　way　the　man　was　talking　I　don't　think　my　uncle's　on　the　same　side　as　the　Gobblers。　I　think　they　were　glad　he　was　in　prison。〃
　　〃Well；　he　won't　get　out　if　the　armored　bears　are　guarding　him。　They're　like　mercenaries；　you　know　what　I　mean　by　that？　They　sell　their　strength　to　whoever　pays。　They　got　hands　like　men；　and　they　learned　the　trick　of　working　iron　way　back；　meteoric　iron　mostly；　and　they　make　great　sheets　and　plates　of　it　to　cover　theirselves　with。　They　been　raiding　the　Skraelings　for　centuries。　They're　vicious　killers；　absolutely　pitiless。　But　they　keep　their　word。　If　you　make　a　bargain　with　a　panserbj0m；　you　can　rely　on　it。〃
　　Lyra　considered　these　horrors　with　awe。
　　〃Ma　don't　like　to　hear　about　the　North；〃　Tony　said　after　a　few　moments；　〃because　of　what　might've　happened　to　Billy。　We　know　they　took　him　up　north；　see。〃
　　〃How　d'you　know　that？〃
　　〃We　caught　one　of　the　Gobblers；　and　made　him　talk。　That's　how　we　know　a　little　about　what　they're　doing。　Them　two　last　night　weren't　Gobblers；　they　were　too　clumsy。　If　they'd　been　Gobblers　we'd've　took　'em　alive。　See；　the　gyptian　people；　we　been　hit　worse　than　most　by　these　Gobblers；　and　we're　a　ing　together　to　decide　what　to　do　about　it。　That's　what　we　was　doing　in　the　basin　last　night；　taking　on　stores；　'cause　we're　going　to　a　big　muster　up　in　the　fens；　what　we　call　a　roping。　And　what　I　reckon　is　we're　a　going　to　send　out　a　rescue　party；　when　we　heard　what　all　the　other　gyptians　know；　when　we　put　our　knowledge　together。　That's　what　I'd　do；　if　I　was　John　Faa。〃
　　〃Who's　John　Faa？〃
　　〃The　king　of　the　gyptians。〃
　　〃And　you're　really　going　to　rescue　the　kids？　What　about　Roger？〃
　　〃Who's　Roger？〃
　　〃The　Jordan　College　kitchen　boy。　He　was　took　same　as　Billy　the　day　before　I　e　away　with　Mrs。　Coulter。　I　bet　if　I　was　took；　he'd　e　and　rescue　me。　If　you're　going　to　rescue　Billy；　I　want　to　e　too　and　rescue　Roger。〃
　　And　Uncle　Asriel；　she　thought；　but　she　didn't　mention　that。
　　
　　
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　　JOHN　FAA
　　
　　Now　that　Lyra　had　a　task　in　mind；　she　felt　much　better。　Helping　Mrs。　Coulter　had　been　all　very　well；　but　Pantalaimon　was　right：　she　wasn't　really　doing　any　work　there；　she　was　just　a　pretty　pet。　On　the　gyptian　boat；　there　was　real　work　to　do；　and　Ma　Costa　made　sure　she　did　it。　She　cleaned　and　swept；　she　peeled　potatoes　and　made　tea；　she　greased　the　propeller　shaft　bearings；　she　kept　the　weed　trap　clear　over　the　propeller；　she　washed　dishes；　she　opened　lock　gates；　she　tied　the　boat　up　at　mooring　posts；　and　within　a　couple　of　days　she　was　as　much　at　home　with　this　new　life　as　if　she'd　been　born　gyptian。
　　What　she　didn't　notice　was　that　the　Costas　were　alert　every　second　for　unusual　signs　of　interest　in　Lyra　from　the　waterside　people。　If　she　hadn't　realized　it；　she　was　important；　and　Mrs。　Coulter　and　the　Oblation　Board　were　bound　to　be　searching　everywhere　for　her。　Indeed；　Tony　heard　from　gos…sip　in　pubs　along　the　way　that　the　police　were　making　raids　on　houses　and　farms　and　building　yards　and　factories　without　any　explanation；　though　there　was　a　rumor　that　they　were　searching