pp.thegoldencompass-第17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！


ctories　without　any　explanation；　though　there　was　a　rumor　that　they　were　searching　for　a　missing　girl。　And　that　in　itself　was　odd；　considering　all　the　kids　that　had　gone　missing　without　being　looked　for。　Gyptians　and　land　folk　alike　were　getting　jumpy　and　nervous。
　　And　there　was　another　reason　for　the　Costas'　interest　in　Lyra；　but　she　wasn't　to　learn　that　for　a　few　days　yet。
　　So　they　took　to　keeping　her　below　decks　when　they　passed　a　lockkeeper's　cottage　or　a　canal　basin；　or　anywhere　there　were　likely　to　be　idlers　hanging　about。　Once　they　passed　through　a　town　where　the　police　were　searching　all　the　boats　that　came　along　the　waterway；　and　holding　up　the　traffic　in　both　directions。　The　Costas　were　equal　to　that；　though。　There　was　a　secret　partment　beneath　Ma's　bunk；　where　Lyra　lay　cramped　for　two　hours　while　the　police　banged　up　and　down　the　length　of　the　boat　unsuccessfully。
　　〃Why　didn't　their　daemons　find　me；　though？〃　she　asked　afterward；　and　Ma　showed　her　the　lining　of　the　secret　space：　cedarwood；　which　had　a　soporific　effect　on　daemons；　and　it　was　true　that　Pantalaimon　had　spent　the　whole　time　happily　asleep　by　Lyra's　head。
　　Slowly；　with　many　halts　and　detours；　the　Costas'　boat　drew　nearer　the　fens；　that　wide　and　never　fully　mapped　wilderness　of　huge　skies　and　endless　marshland　in　Eastern　Anglia。　The　furthest　fringe　of　it　mingled　indistinguishably　with　the　creeks　and　tidal　inlets　of　the　shallow　sea；　and　the　other　side　of　the　sea　mingled　indistinguishably　with　Holland；　and　parts　of　the　fens　had　been　drained　and　dyked　by　Hollanders；　some　of　whom　had　settled　there；　so　the　language　of　the　fens　was　thick　with　Dutch。　But　parts　had　never　been　drained　or　planted　or　settled　at　all；　and　in　the　wildest　central　regions；　where　eels　slithered　and　waterbirds　flocked；　where　eerie　marsh　fires　flick…ered　and　waylurkers　tempted　careless　travelers　to　their　doom　in　the　swamps　and　bogs；　the　gyptian　people　had　always　found　it　safe　to　muster。
　　And　now　by　a　thousand　winding　channels　and　creeks　and　watercourses；　gyptian　boats　were　moving　in　toward　the　byanplats；　the　only　patch　of　slightly　higher　ground　in　the　hundreds　of　square　miles　of　marsh　and　bog。　There　was　an　ancient　wooden　meeting　hall　there　with　a　huddle　of　permanent　dwellings　around　it；　and　wharves　and　jetties　and　an　eelmarket。
　　When　the　gyptians　called　a　byanroping…a　summons　or　muster　of　families…so　many　boats　filled　the　waterways　that　you　could　walk　for　a　mile　in　any　direction　over　their　decks；　or　so　it　was　said。　The　gyptians　ruled　in　the　fens。　No　one　else　dared　enter；　and　while　the　gyptians　kept　the　peace　and　traded　fairly；　the　landlopers　turned　a　blind　eye　to　the　incessant　smuggling　and　the　occasional　feuds。　If　a　gyptian　body　floated　ashore　down　the　coast；　or　got　snagged　in　a　fishnet；　well…it　was　only　a　gyptian。
　　Lyra　listened　enthralled　to　tales　of　the　fen　dwellers；　of　the　great　ghost　dog　Black　Shuck；　of　the　marsh　fires　arising　from　bubbles　of　witch　oil；　and　began　to　think　of　herself　as　gyptian　even　before　they　reached　the　fens。　She　had　soon　slipped　back　into　her　Oxford　voice；　and　now　she　was　acquiring　a　gyptian　one；　plete　with　Fen…Dutch　words。　Ma　Costa　had　to　remind　her　of　a　few　things。
　　〃You　en't　gyptian；　Lyra。　You　might　pass　for　gyptian　with　practice；　but　there's　more　to　us　than　gyptian　language。　There's　deeps　in　us　and　strong　currents。　We're　water　people　all　through；　and　you　en't；　you're　a　fire　person。　What　you're　most　like　is　marsh　fire；　that's　the　place　you　have　in　the　gyptian　scheme；　you　got　witch　oil　in　your　soul。　Deceptive；　that's　what　you　are；　child。〃　Lyra　was　hurt。
　　〃I　en't　never　deceived　anyone！　You　ask　。　。　。　〃　There　was　no　one　to　ask；　of　course；　and　Ma　Costa　laughed；　but　kindly。
　　〃Can't　you　see　I'm　a　paying　you　a　pliment；　you　gosling？〃　she　said；　and　Lyra　was　pacified；　though　she　didn't　understand。
　　When　they　reached　the　byanplats　it　was　evening；　and　the　sun　was　about　to　set　in　a　splash　of　bloody　sky。　The　low　island　and　the　Zaal　were　humped　blackly　against　the　light；　like　the　clustered　buildings　around；　threads　of　smoke　rose　into　the　still　air；　and　from　the　press　of　boats　all　around　came　the　smells　of　frying　fish；　of　smokeleaf；　of　jenniver　spirit。
　　They　tied　up　close　to　the　Zaal　itself；　at　a　mooring　Tony　said　had　been　used　by　their　family　for　generations。　Presently　Ma　Costa　had　the　frying　pan　going；　with　a　couple　of　fat　eels　hissing　and　sputtering　and　the　kettle　on　for　potato　powder。　Tony　and　Kerim　oiled　their　hair；　put　on　their　finest　leather　jackets　and　blue　spotted　neckerchiefs；　loaded　their　fingers　with　silver　rings；　and　went　to　greet　some　old　friends　in　the　neighboring　boats　and　drink　a　glass　or　two　in　the　nearest　bar。　They　came　back　with　important　news。
　　〃We　got　here　just　in　time。　The　Roping's　this　very　night。　And　they're　a　saying　in　the　town…what　d'you　think　of　this？…　they're　saying　that　the　missing　child's　on　a　gyptian　boat；　and　she's　a　going　to　appear　tonight　at　the　Roping！〃
　　He　laughed　loudly　and　ruffled　Lyra's　hair。　Ever　since　they'd　entered　the　fens　he　had　been　more　and　more　good　tempered；　as　if　the　savage　gloom　his　face　showed　outside　were　only　a　disguise。　And　Lyra　felt　an　excitement　growing　in　her　breast　as　she　ate　quickly　and　washed　the　dishes　before　bing　her　hair；　tucking　the　alethiometer　into　the　wolfskin　coat　pocket；　and　jumping　ashore　with　all　the　other　families　making　their　way　up　the　slope　to　the　Zaal。
　　She　had　thought　Tony　was　joking。　She　soon　found　that　he　wasn't；　or　else　that　she　looked　less　like　a　gyptian　than　she'd　thought；　for　many　people　stared；　and　children　pointed；　and　by　the　time　they　reached　the　great　doors　of　the　Zaal　they　were　walking　alone　between　a　crowd　on　either　side；　who　had　fallen　back　to　stare　and　give　them　room。
　　And　then　Lyra　began　to　feel　truly　nervous。　She　kept　close　to　Ma　Costa；　and　Pantalaimon　became　as　big　as　he　could　and　took　his　panther　shape　to　reassure　her。　Ma　Costa　trudged　up　the　steps　as　if　nothing　in　the　world　could　possibly　either　stop　her　or　make　her　go　more　quickly；　and　Tony　and　Kerim　walked　proudly　on　either　side　like　princes。
　　The　hall　was　lit　by　naphtha　lamps；　which　shone　brightly　enough　on　the　faces　and　bodies　of　the　audience；　but　left　the　lofty　rafters　hidden　in　darkness。　The　people　ing　in　had　to　struggle　to　find　room　on　the　floor；　where　the　benches　were　already　crowded；　but　families　squeezed　up　to　make　space；　children　occupying　laps　and　daemons　curling　up　underfoot　or　perching　out　of　the　way　on　the　rough　wooden　walls。
　　At　the　front　of　the　Zaal　there　was　a　platform　with　eight　carved　wooden　chairs　set　out。　As　Lyra　and　the　Costas　found　space　to　stand　along　the　edge　of　the　hall；　eight　men　appeared　from　the　shadows　at　the　rear　of　the　platform　and　stood　in　front　of　the　chairs。　A　ripple　of　excitement　swept　over　the　audience　as　they　hushed　one　another　and　shoved　themselves　into　spaces　on　the　nearest　bench。　Finally　there　was　silence　and　seven　of　the　men　on　the　platform　sat　down。
　　The　one　who　remained　was　in　his　seventies；　but　tall　and　bull　necked　and　powerful。　He　wore　a　plain　canvas　jacket　and　a　checked　shirt；　like　many　gyptian　men；　there　was　nothing　to　mark　him　out　but　the　air　of　strength　and　authority　he　had。　Lyra　recognized　it：　Uncle　Asriel　had　it；　and　so　did　the　Master　of　Jordan。　This　man's　daemon　was　a　crow；　very　like　the　Master's　raven。
　　〃That's　John　Faa；　the　lord　of　the　western　gyptians；〃　Tony　whispered。
　　John　Faa　began　to　speak；　in　a　deep　slow　voice。　〃Gyptians！　Wele　to　the　Roping。　We've　e　to　listen　and　e　to　decide。　You　all　know　why。　There　are　many　families　here　who've　lost　a　child。　Some　have　lost　two。　Someone　is　taking　them。　To　be　sure；　landlopers　are　losing　children　too。　We　have　no　quarrel　with　landlopers　over　this。
　　〃Now　there's　been　talk　about　a　child　and　a　reward。　Here's　the　truth　to　stop　all　gossip。　The　child's　name　is　Lyra　Belacqua；　and　she's　being　sought　by　the　landloper　police。　There　is　a　reward　of　one　thousand　sovereigns　for　giving　her　up　to　them。　She's　a　landloper　child；　and　she's　in　our　care；　and　there　she's　going　to　stay。　Anyone　tempted　by　those　thousand　sovereigns　had　better　find　a　place　neither　on　land　nor　on　water。　We　en't　giving　her　up。〃
　　Lyra　felt　a　blush　from　the　roots　of　her　hair　to　the　soles　of　her　feet；　Pantalaimon　became　a　brown　moth　to　hide。　Eyes　all　around　were　turning　to　them；　and　she　could　only　look　up　at　Ma　Costa　for　reassurance。
　　But　John　Faa　was　speaking　again：
　　〃Talk　all　we　may；　we　won't　change　owt。　We　must　act　if　we　want　to　change　things。　Here's　another　fact　for　you：　the　Gobblers；　these　child　thieves；　are　a　taking　their　prisoners　to　a　town　in　the　far　North；　way　up　in　the　land　of　dark。　I　don't　know　what　they　do　with　'em　there。　Some　folk　say　they　kill　'em；　other　folk　say　different。　We　don't　know。
　　〃What　we　do　know　is　that　they　do　it　with　the　help　of　the　landloper　police　and　the　clergy。　Every　power　on　land　is　helping　'em。　Remember　that。　They　know　what's　going　on　and　they'll　help　it　whenever　they　can。
　　〃So　what　I'm　proposing　en't　easy。　And　I　need　your　agreement。　I'm　proposing　that　we　send　a　band　of　fighters　up　north　to　rescue　them　kids　and　bring　'em　back　alive。　I'm　proposing　that　we　put　our　gold　into　this；　and　all　the　craft　and　courage　we　can　muster。　Yes；　Raymond　van　Gerrit？〃
　　A　man　in　the　audience　had　raised　his　hand；　and　John　Faa　sat　down　to　let　him　speak。
　　〃Beg　pardon；　Lord　Faa。　There's　landloper　kids　as　well　as　gyptians　been　taken　captive。　Are　you　saying　we　should　rescue　them　as　well？〃
　　John　Faa　stood　up　to　answer。
　　〃Raymond；　are　you　saying　we　should　fight　our　way　through　every　kind　of　danger　to　a　little　group　of　frightened　children；　and　then　say　to　some　of　them　that　they　can　e　home；　and　to　the　rest　that　they　have　to　stay？　No；　you're　a　better　man　than　that。　Well；　do　I　have　your　approval；　my　friends？〃
　　The　question　caught　them　by　surprise；　for　there　was　a　moment's　hesitation；　but　then　a　full…throated　roar　filled　the　hall；　and　hands　were　clapped　in　the　air；　fists　shaken；　voices　raised　in　excited　clamor。　The　rafters　of　the　Zaal　shook；　and　from　their　perches　up　in　the　dark　a　score　of　sleeping　birds　woke　up　in　fear　and　flapped　their　wings；　and　little　showers　of　dust　drifted　down。
　　John　Faa　let　the　noise　continue　for　a　minute；　and　then　raised　his　hand　for　silence　again。
　　〃This'll　take　a　while　to　organize。　I　want　the　heads　of　the　families　to　raise　a　tax　and　muster　a　levy。　We'll　meet　again　here　in　three　days'　time。　In　between　now　and　then　I'm　a　going　to　talk　with　the　child　I　mentioned　before；　and　with　Farder　Coram；　and　form　a　plan　to　put　before　you　when　we　meet。　Goodnight　to　ye　all。〃
　　His　massive；　plain；　blunt　presence　was　enough　to　calm　them。　As　the　audience　began　to　move　out　of　the　great　doors　into　the　chilly　evening；　to　go　to　their　boats　or　to　the　crowded　bars　of　the　little　settlement；　Lyra　said　to　Ma　Costa：
　　〃Who　are　the　other　men　on　the　platform？〃
　　〃The　heads　of　the　six　families；　and　the　other　man　is　Farder　Coram。〃
　　It　was　easy　to　see　who　she　meant　by　the　other　man；　because　he　was　the　oldest　one　there。　He　walked　with　a　stick；　and　all　the　time　he'd　been　sitting　behind　John　Faa　he'd　been　trembling　as　if　with　an　ague。
　　〃e　on；〃　said　Tony。　〃I'd　best　take　you　up　to　pay　your　respects　to　John　Faa。　You　call　him　Lord　Faa。　I　don't　know　what　you'll　be　asked；　but　m