pp.thegoldencompass-第19部分

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　　〃But　Lord　Asriel　wouldn't　stand　for　that。　He　had　a　hatred　of　priors　and　monks　and　nuns；　and　being　a　high…handed　man　he　just　rode　in　one　day　and　carried　you　off。　Not　to　look　after　himself；　nor　to　give　to　the　gyptians；　he　took　you　to　Jordan　College；　and　dared　the　law　to　undo　it。
　　〃Well；　the　law　let　things　be。　Lord　Asriel　went　back　to　his　explorations；　and　you　grew　up　at　Jordan　College。　The　one　thing　he　said；　your　father；　the　one　condition　he　made；　was　that　your　mother　shouldn't　be　let　see　you。　If　she　ever　tried　to　do　that；　she　was　to　be　prevented；　and　he　was　to　be　told；　because　all　the　anger　in　his　nature　had　turned　against　her　now。　The　Master　promised　faithfully　to　do　that；　and　so　time　passed。
　　〃Then　e　all　this　anxiety　about　Dust。　And　all　over　the　country；　all　over　the　world；　wise　men　and　women　too　began　a　worrying　about　it。　It　weren't　of　any　account　to　us　gyptians；　until　they　started　taking　our　kids。　That's　when　we　got　interested。　And　we　got　connections　in　all　sorts　of　places　you　wouldn't　imagine；　including　Jordan　College。　You　wouldn't　know；　but　there's　been　someone　a　watching　over　you　and　reporting　to　us　ever　since　you　been　there。　'Cause　we　got　an　interest　in　you；　and　that　gyptian　woman　who　nursed　you；　she　never　stopped　being　anxious　on　your　behalf。〃
　　〃Who　was　it　watching　over　me？〃　said　Lyra。　She　felt　immensely　important　and　strange；　that　all　her　doings　should　be　an　object　of　concern　so　far　away。
　　〃It　was　a　kitchen　servant。　It　was　Bernie　Johansen；　the　pastry　cook。　He's　half…gyptian；　you　never　knew　that；　I'll　be　bound。〃
　　Bernie　was　a　kindly；　solitary　man；　one　of　those　rare　people　whose　daemon　was　the　same　sex　as　himself。　It　was　Bernie　she'd　shouted　at　in　her　despair　when　Roger　was　taken。　And　Bernie　had　been　telling　the　gyptians　everything！　She　marveled。
　　〃So　anyway；〃　John　Faa　went　on；　〃we　heard　about　you　going　away　from　Jordan　College；　and　how　it　came　about　at　a　time　when　Lord　Asriel　was　imprisoned　and　couldn't　prevent　it。　And　we　remembered　what　he'd　said　to　the　Master　that　he　must　never　do；　and　we　remembered　that　the　man　your　mother　had　married；　the　politician　Lord　Asriel　killed；　was　called　Edward　Coulter。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Coulter？〃　said　Lyra；　quite　stupefied。　〃She　en't　my　mother？〃
　　〃She　is。　And　if　your　father　had　been　free；　she　wouldn't　never　have　dared　to　defy　him；　and　you'd　still　be　at　Jordan；　not　knowing　a　thing。　But　what　the　Master　was　a　doing　letting　you　go　is　a　mystery　I　can't　explain。　He　was　charged　with　your　care。　All　I　can　guess　is　that　she　had　some　power　over　him。〃
　　Lyra　suddenly　understood　the　Master's　curious　behavior　on　the　morning　she'd　left。
　　〃But　he　didn't　want　to　。　。　。　〃　she　said；　trying　to　remember　it　exactly。　〃He　。　。　。　I　had　to　go　and　see　him　first　thing　that　morning；　and　I　mustn't　tell　Mrs。　Coulter　。　。　。　。It　was　like　he　wanted　to　protect　me　from　her　。　。　。　〃　She　stopped；　and　looked　at　the　two　men　carefully；　and　then　decided　to　tell　them　the　whole　truth　about　the　Retiring　Room。　〃See；　there　was　something　else。
　　That　evening　I　hid　in　the　Retiring　Room；　I　saw　the　Master　try　to　poison　Lord　Asriel。　I　saw　him　put　some　powder　in　the　wine　and　I　told　my　uncle　and　he　knocked　the　decanter　off　the　table　and　spilled　it。　So　I　saved　his　life。　I　could　never　understand　why　the　Master　would　want　to　poison　him；　because　he　was　always　so　kind。　Then　on　the　morning　I　left　he　called　me　in　early　to　his　study；　and　I　had　to　go　secretly　so　no　one　would　know；　and　he　said　。　。　。　〃　Lyra　racked　her　brains　to　try　and　remember　exactly　what　it　was　the　Master　had　said。　No　good；　she　shook　her　head。　〃The　only　thing　I　could　understand　was　that　he　gave　me　something　and　I　had　to　keep　it　secret　from　her；　from　Mrs。　Coulter。　I　suppose　it's　all　right　if　I　tell　you　。　。　。　。〃
　　She　felt　in　the　pocket　of　the　wolfskin　coat　and　took　out　the　velvet　package。　She　laid　it　on　the　table；　and　she　sensed　John　Faa's　massive　simple　curiosity　and　Farder　Coram's　bright　flickering　intelligence　both　trained　on　it　like　searchlights。
　　When　she　laid　the　alethiometer　bare；　it　was　Farder　Coram　who　spoke　first。
　　〃I　never　thought　I'd　ever　set　eyes　on　one　of　them　again。　That's　a　symbol　reader。　Did　he　tell　you　anything　about　it；　child？〃
　　〃No。　Only　that　I'd　have　to　work　out　how　to　read　it　by　myself。　And　he　called　it　an　alethiometer。〃
　　〃What's　that　mean？〃　said　John　Faa；　turning　to　his　panion。
　　〃That's　a　Greek　word。　I　reckon　it's　from　aktheia；　which　means　truth。　It's　a　truth　measure。　And　have　you　worked　out　how　to　use　it？〃　he　said　to　her。
　　〃No。　Least；　I　can　make　the　three　short　hands　point　to　different　pictures；　but　I　can't　do　anything　with　the　long　one。　It　goes　all　over。　Except　sometimes；　right；　sometimes　when　I'm　sort　of　concentrating；　I　can　make　the　long　needle　go　this　way　or　that　just　by　thinking　it。〃
　　〃What's　it　do；　Farder　Coram？〃　said　John　Faa。　〃And　how　do　you　read　it？〃
　　〃All　these　pictures　round　the　rim；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　holding　it　delicately　toward　John　Faa's　blunt　strong　gaze；　〃they're　symbols；　and　each　one　stands　for　a　whole　series　of　things。　Take　the　anchor；　there。　The　first　meaning　of　that　is　hope；　because　hope　holds　you　fast　like　an　anchor　so　you　don't　give　way。　The　second　meaning　is　steadfastness。　The　third　meaning　is　snag；　or　prevention。　The　fourth　meaning　is　the　sea。　And　so　on；　down　to　ten；　twelve；　maybe　a　never…ending　series　of　meanings。〃
　　〃And　do　you　know　them　all？〃
　　〃I　know　some；　but　to　read　it　fully　I'd　need　the　book。　I　seen　the　book　and　I　know　where　it　is；　but　I　en't　got　it。〃
　　〃We'll　e　back　to　that；〃　said　John　Faa。　〃Go　on　with　how　you　read　it。〃
　　〃You　got　three　hands　you　can　control；〃　Farder　Coram　explained；　〃and　you　use　them　to　ask　a　question。　By　pointing　to　three　symbols　you　can　ask　any　question　you　can　imagine；　because　you've　got　so　many　levels　of　each　one。　Once　you　got　your　question　framed；　the　other　needle　swings　round　and　points　to　more　symbols　that　give　you　the　answer。〃
　　〃But　how　does　it　know　what　level　you're　a　thinking　of　when　you　set　the　question？〃　said　John　Faa。
　　〃Ah；　by　itself　it　don't。　It　only　works　if　the　questioner　holds　the　levels　in　their　mind。　You　got　to　know　all　the　meanings；　first；　and　there　must　be　a　thousand　or　more。　Then　you　got　to　be　able　to　hold　'em　in　your　mind　without　fretting　at　it　or　pushing　for　an　answer；　and　just　watch　while　the　needle　wanders。　When　it's　gone　round　its　full　range；　you'll　know　what　the　answer　is。　I　know　how　it　works　because　I　seen　it　done　once　by　a　wise　man　in　Uppsala；　and　that's　the　only　time　I　ever　saw　one　before。　Do　you　know　how　rare　these　are？〃
　　〃The　Master　told　me　there　was　only　six　made；〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Whatever　the　number；　it　en't　large。〃
　　〃And　you　kept　this　secret　from　Mrs。　Coulter；　like　the　Master　told　you？〃　said　John　Faa。
　　〃Yes。　But　her　daemon；　right；　he　used　to　go　in　my　room。　And　I'm　sure　he　found　it。〃
　　〃I　see。　Well；　Lyra；　I　don't　know　if　we'll　ever　understand　the　full　truth；　but　this　is　my　guess；　as　good　as　I　can　make　it。　The　Master　was　given　a　charge　by　Lord　Asriel　to　look　after　you　and　keep　you　safe　from　your　mother。　And　that　was　what　he　did；　for　ten　years　or　more。　Then　Mrs。　Coulter's　friends　in　the　Church　helped　her　set　up　this　Oblation　Board；　for　what　purpose　we　don't　know；　and　there　she　was；　as　powerful　in　her　way　as　Lord　Asriel　was　in　his。　Your　parents；　both　strong　in　the　world；　both　ambitious；　and　the　Master　of　Jordan　holding　you　in　the　balance　between　them。
　　〃Now　the　Master's　got　a　hundred　things　to　look　after。　His　first　concern　is　his　College　and　the　scholarship　there。　So　if　he　sees　a　threat　to　that；　he　has　to　move　agin　it。　And　the　Church　in　recent　times；　Lyra；　it's　been　a　getting　more　manding。　There's　councils　for　this　and　councils　for　that；　there's　talk　of　reviving　the　Office　of　Inquisition；　God　forbid。　And　the　Master　has　to　tread　warily　between　all　these　powers。　He　has　to　keep　Jordan　College　on　the　right　side　of　the　Church；　or　it　won't　survive。
　　〃And　another　concern　of　the　Master　is　you；　child。　Bernie　Johansen　was　always　clear　about　that。　The　Master　of　Jordan　and　the　other　Scholars；　they　loved　you　like　their　own　child。　They'd　do　anything　to　keep　you　safe；　not　just　because　they'd　promised　to　Lord　Asriel　that　they　would；　but　for　your　own　sake。　So　if　the　Master　gave　you　up　to　Mrs。　Coulter　when　he'd　promised　Lord　Asriel　he　wouldn't；　he　must　have　thought　you'd　be　safer　with　her　than　in　Jordan　College；　in　spite　of　all　appearances。　And　when　he　set　out　to　poison　Lord　Asriel；　he　must　have　thought　that　what　Lord　Asriel　was　a　doing　would　place　all　of　them　in　danger；　and　maybe　all　of　us；　too；　maybe　all　the　world。　I　see　the　Master　as　a　man　having　terrible　choices　to　make；　whatever　he　chooses　will　do　harm；　but　maybe　if　he　does　the　right　thing；　a　little　less　harm　will　e　about　than　if　he　chooses　wrong。　God　preserve　me　from　having　to　make　that　sort　of　choice。
　　〃And　when　it　e　to　the　point　where　he　had　to　let　you　go；　he　gave　you　the　symbol　reader　and　bade　you　keep　it　safe。　I　wonder　what　he　had　in　mind　for　you　to　do　with　it；　as　you　couldn't　read　it；　I'm　foxed　as　to　what　he　was　a　thinking。〃
　　〃He　said　Uncle　Asriel　presented　the　alethiometer　to　Jordan　College　years　before；〃　Lyra　said；　struggling　to　remember。　〃He　was　going　to　say　something　else；　and　then　someone　knocked　at　the　door　and　he　had　to　stop。　What　I　thought　was；　he　might　have　wanted　me　to　keep　it　away　from　Lord　Asriel　too。〃
　　〃Or　even　the　opposite；〃　said　John　Faa。
　　〃What　d'you　mean；　John？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　〃He　might　have　had　it　in　mind　to　ask　Lyra　to　return　it　to　Lord　Asriel；　as　a　kind　of　repense　for　trying　to　poison　him。　He　might　have　thought　the　danger　from　Lord　Asriel　had　passed。　Or　that　Lord　Asriel　could　read　some　wisdom　from　this　instrument　and　hold　back　from　his　purpose。　If　Lord　Asriel's　held　captive　now；　it　might　help　set　him　free。　Well；　Lyra；　you　better　take　this　symbol　reader　and　keep　it　safe。　If　you　kept　it　safe　so　far；　I　en't　worried　about　leaving　it　with　you。　But　there　might　e　a　time　when　we　need　to　consult　it；　and　I　reckon　we'll　ask　for　it　then。〃
　　He　folded　the　velvet　over　it　and　slid　it　back　across　the　table。　Lyra　wanted　to　ask　all　kinds　of　questions；　but　suddenly　she　felt　shy　of　this　massive　man；　with　his　little　eyes　so　sharp　and　kindly　among　their　folds　and　wrinkles。
　　One　thing　she　had　to　ask；　though。
　　〃Who　was　the　gyptian　woman　who　nursed　me　？〃
　　〃Why；　it　was　Billy　Costa's　mother；　of　course。　She　won't　have　told　you；　because　I　en't　let　her；　but　she　knows　what　we're　a　talking　of　here；　so　it's　all　out　in　the　open。
　　〃Now　you　best　be　getting　back　to　her。　You　got　plenty　to　be　a　thinking　of；　child。　When　three　days　is　gone　past；　we'll　have　another　roping　and　discuss　all　there　is　to　do。　You　be　a　good　girl。　Goodnight；　Lyra。〃
　　〃Goodnight；　Lord　Faa。　Goodnight；　Farder　Coram；〃　she　said　politely；　clutching　the　alethiometer　to　her　breast　with　one　hand　and　scooping　up　Pantalaimon　with　the　other。
　　Both　old　men　smiled　kindly　at　her。　Outside　the　door　of　the　parley　room　Ma　Costa　was　waiting；　and　as　if　nothing　had　happened　since　Lyra　was　born；　the　boat　mother　gathered　her　into　her　great　arms　and　kissed　her　before　bearing　her　off　to　bed。
　　
　　
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　　Lyra　had　to　adjust　to　her　new　sense　of　her　own　story；　and　that　couldn't　be　done　in　a　day。　To　see　Lord　Asriel　as　her　father　was