pp.thegoldencompass-第20部分

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el　as　her　father　was　one　thing；　but　to　accept　Mrs。　Coulter　as　her　mother　was　nowhere　near　so　easy。　A　couple　of　months　ago　she　would　have　rejoiced；　of　course；　and　she　knew　that　too；　and　felt　confused。
　　But；　being　Lyra；　she　didn't　fret　about　it　for　long；　for　there　was　the　fen　town　to　explore　and　many　gyptian　children　to　amaze。　Before　the　three　days　were　up　she　was　an　expert　with　a　punt　（in　her　eyes；　at　least）　and　she'd　gathered　a　gang　of　urchins　about　her　with　tales　of　her　mighty　father；　so　unjustly　made　captive。
　　〃And　then　one　evening　the　Turkish　Ambassador　was　a　guest　at　Jordan　for　dinner。　And　he　was　under　orders　from　the　Sultan　hisself　to　kill　my　father；　right；　and　he　had　a　ring　on　his　finger　with　a　hollow　stone　full　of　poison。　And　when　the　wine　e　round　he　made　as　if　to　reach　across　my　father's　glass；　and　he　sprinkled　the　poison　in。　It　was　done　so　quick　that　no　one　else　saw　him；　but…〃
　　〃What　sort　of　poison？〃　demanded　a　thin…faced　girl。
　　〃Poison　out　of　a　special　Turkish　serpent；〃　Lyra　invented；　〃what　they　catch　by　playing　a　pipe　to　lure　out　and　then　they　throw　it　a　sponge　soaked　in　honey　and　the　serpent　bites　it　and　can't　get　his　fangs　free；　and　they　catch　it　and　milk　the　venom　out　of　it。　Anyway；　my　father　seen　what　the　Turk　done；　and　he　says；　Gentlemen；　I　want　to　propose　a　toast　of　friendship　between　Jordan　College　and　the　College　of　Izmir；　which　was　the　college　the　Turkish　Ambassador　belonged　to。　And　to　show　our　willingness　to　be　friends；　he　says；　we'll　swap　glasses　and　drink　each　other's　wine。
　　〃And　the　Ambassador　was　in　a　fix　then；　'cause　he　couldn't　refuse　to　drink　without　giving　deadly　insult；　and　he　couldn't　drink　it　because　he　knew　it　was　poisoned。　He　went　pale　and　he　fainted　right　away　at　the　table。　And　when　he　e　round　they　was　all　still　sitting　there；　waiting　and　looking　at　him。　And　then　he　had　to　either　drink　the　poison　or　own　up。〃
　　〃So　what　did　he　do？〃
　　〃He　drunk　it。　It　took　him　five　whole　minutes　to　die；　and　he　was　in　torment　all　the　time。〃
　　〃Did　you　see　it　happen？〃
　　〃No；　'cause　girls　en't　allowed　at　the　High　Table。　But　I　seen　his　body　afterwards　when　they　laid　him　out。　His　skin　was　all　withered　like　an　old　apple；　and　his　eyes　were　starting　from　his　head。　In　fact；　they　had　to　push　'em　back　in　the　sockets　。　。　。　。〃
　　And　so　on。
　　Meanwhile；　around　the　edges　of　the　fen　country；　the　police　were　knocking　at　doors；　searching　attics　and　outhouses；　inspecting　papers　and　interrogating　everyone　who　claimed　to　have　seen　a　blond　little　girl；　and　in　Oxford　the　search　was　even　fiercer。　Jordan　College　was　scoured　from　the　dustiest　boxroom　to　the　darkest　cellar；　and　so　were　Gabriel　and　St。　Michael's；　till　the　heads　of　all　the　colleges　issued　a　joint　protest　asserting　their　ancient　rights。　The　only　notion　Lyra　had　of　the　search　for　her　was　the　incessant　drone　of　the　gas　engines　of　airships　crisscrossing　the　skies。　They　weren't　visible；　because　the　clouds　were　low　and　by　statute　airships　had　to　keep　a　certain　height　above　fen　country；　but　who　knew　what　cunning　spy　devices　they　might　carry？　Best　to　keep　under　cover　when　she　heard　them；　or　wear　the　oilskin　sou'wester　over　her　bright　distinctive　hair。
　　And　she　questioned　Ma　Costa　about　every　detail　of　the　story　of　her　birth。　She　wove　the　details　into　a　mental　tapestry　even　clearer　and　sharper　than　the　stories　she　made　up；　and　lived　over　and　over　again　the　flight　from　the　cottage；　the　concealment　in　the　closet；　the　harsh…voiced　challenge；　the　clash　of　swords…
　　〃Swords？　Great　God；　girl；　you　dreaming？〃　Ma　Costa　said。　〃Mr。　Coulter　had　a　gun；　and　Lord　Asriel　knocked　it　out　his　hand　and　struck　him　down　with　one　blow。　Then　there　was　two　shots。　I　wonder　you　don't　remember；　you　ought　to；　little　as　you　were。　The　first　shot　was　Edward　Coulter；　who　reached　his　gun　and　fired；　and　the　second　was　Lord　Asriel；　who　tore　it　out　his　grasp　a　second　time　and　turned　it　on　him。　Shot　him　right　between　the　eyes　and　dashed　his　brains　out。　Then　he　says　cool　as　paint；　'e　out；　Mrs。　Costa；　and　bring　the　baby；'　because　you　were　setting　up　such　a　howl；　you　and　that　daemon　both；　and　he　took　you　up　and　dandled　you　and　sat　you　on　his　shoulders；　walking　up　and　down　in　high　good　humor　with　the　dead　man　at　his　feet；　and　called　for　wine　and　bade　me　swab　the　floor。〃
　　By　the　end　of　the　fourth　repetition　of　the　story　Lyra　was　perfectly　convinced　she　did　remember　it；　and　even　volunteered　details　of　the　color　of　Mr。　Coulter's　coat　and　the　cloaks　and　furs　hanging　in　the　closet。　Ma　Costa　laughed。
　　And　whenever　she　was　alone；　Lyra　took　out　the　alethiome…ter　and　pored　over　it　like　a　lover　with　a　picture　of　the　beloved。　So　each　image　had　several　meanings；　did　it？　Why　shouldn't　she　work　them　out？　Wasn't　she　Lord　Asriel's　daughter？
　　Remembering　what　Farder　Coram　had　said；　she　tried　to　focus　her　mind　on　three　symbols　taken　at　random；　and　clicked　the　hands　round　to　point　at　them；　and　found　that　if　she　held　the　alethiometer　just　so　in　her　palms　and　gazed　at　it　in　a　particular　lazy　way；　as　she　thought　of　it；　the　long　needle
　　would　begin　to　move　more　purposefully。　Instead　of　its　wayward　divagations　around　the　dial　it　swung　smoothly　from　one　picture　to　another。　Sometimes　it　would　pause　at　three；　sometimes　two；　sometimes　five　or　more；　and　although　she　understood　nothing　of　it；　she　gained　a　deep　calm　enjoyment　from　it；　unlike　anything　she'd　known。　Pantalaimon　would　crouch　over　the　dial；　sometimes　as　a　cat；　sometimes　as　a　mouse；　swinging　his　head　round　after　the　needle；　and　once　or　twice　the　two　of　them　shared　a　glimpse　of　meaning　that　felt　as　if　a　shaft　of　sunlight　had　struck　through　clouds　to　light　up　a　majestic　line　of　great　hills　in　the　distance…something　far　beyond；　and　never　suspected。　And　Lyra　thrilled　at　those　times　with　the　same　deep　thrill　she'd　felt　all　her　life　on　hearing　the　word　North。
　　So　the　three　days　passed；　with　much　ing　and　going　between　the　multitude　of　boats　and　the　Zaal。　And　then　came　the　evening　of　the　second　roping。　The　hall　was　more　crowded　than　before；　if　that　was　possible。　Lyra　and　the　Costas　got　there　in　time　to　sit　at　the　front；　and　as　soon　as　the　flickering　lights　showed　that　the　place　was　crammed；　John　Faa　and　Farder　Coram　came　out　on　the　platform　and　sat　behind　the　table。　John　Faa　didn't　have　to　make　a　sign　for　silence；　he　just　put　his　great　hands　flat　on　the　table　and　looked　at　the　people　below；　and　the　hubbub　died。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　done　what　I　asked。　And　better　than　I　hoped。　I'm　a　going　to　call　on　the　heads　of　the　six　families　now　to　e　up　here　and　give　over　their　gold　and　recount　their　promises。　Nicholas　Rokeby；　you　e　first。〃
　　A　stout　black…bearded　man　climbed　onto　the　platform　and　laid　a　heavy　leather　bag　on　the　table。
　　〃That's　our　gold；〃　he　said。　〃And　we　offer　thirty…eight　men。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Nicholas；〃　said　John　Faa。　Farder　Coram　was　making　a　note。　The　first　man　stood　at　the　back　of　the　platform　as　John　Faa　called　for　the　next；　and　the　next；　and　each　came　up；　laid　a　bag　on　the　table；　and　announced　the　number　of　men　he　could　muster。　The　Costas　were　part　of　the　Stefanski　family；　and　naturally　Tony　had　been　one　of　the　first　to　volunteer。　Lyra　noticed　his　hawk　daemon　shifting　from　foot　to　foot　and　spreading　her　wings　as　the　Stefanski　money　and　the　promise　of　twenty…three　men　were　laid　before　John　Faa。
　　When　the　six　family　heads　had　all　e　up；　Farder　Coram　showed　his　piece　of　paper　to　John　Faa；　who　stood　up　to　address　the　audience　again。
　　〃Friends；　that's　a　muster　of　one　hundred　and　seventy　men。　I　thank　you　proudly。　As　for　the　gold；　I　make　no　doubt　from　the　weight　of　it　that　you've　all　dug　deep　in　your　coffers；　and　my　warm　thanks　go　out　for　that　as　well。
　　〃What　we're　a　going　to　do　next　is　this。　We're　a　going　to　charter　a　ship　and　sail　north；　and　find　them　kids　and　set　'em　free。　From　what　we　know；　there　might　be　some　fighting　to　do。　It　won't　be　the　first　time；　nor　it　won't　be　the　last；　but　we　never　had　to　fight　yet　with　people　who　kidnap　children；　and　we　shall　have　to　be　unmon　cunning。　But　we　en't　going　to　e　back　without　our　kids。　Yes；　Dirk　Vries？〃
　　A　man　stood　up　and　said；　〃Lord　Faa；　do　you　know　why　they　captured　them　kids？〃
　　〃We　heard　it's　a　theological　matter。　They're　making　an　experiment；　but　what　nature　it　is　we　don't　know。　To　tell　you　all　the　truth；　we　don't　even　know　whether　any　harm　is　a　ing　to　'em。　But　whatever　it　is；　good　or　bad；　they　got　no　right　to　reach　out　by　night　and　pluck　little　children　out　the　hearts　of　their　families。　Yes；　Raymond　van　Gerrit？〃
　　The　man　who'd　spoken　at　the　first　meeting　stood　up　and　said；　〃That　child；　Lord　Faa；　the　one　you　spoke　of　as　being　sought；　the　one　as　is　sitting　in　the　front　row　now。　I　heard　as　all　the　folk　living　around　the　edge　of　the　fens　is　having　their
　　houses　turned　upside　down　on　her　account。　I　heard　there's　a　move　in　Parliament　this　very　day　to　rescind　our　ancient　privileges　on　account　of　this　child。　Yes；　friends；〃　he　said；　over　the　babble　of　shocked　whispers；　〃they're　a　going　to　pass　a　law　doing　away　with　our　right　to　free　movement　in　and　out　the　fens。　Now；　Lord　Faa；　what　we　want　to　know　is　this：　who　is　this　child　on　account　of　which　we　might　e　to　such　a　pass？　She　en't　a　gyptian　child；　not　as　I　heard。　How　es　it　that　a　landloper　child　can　put　us　all　in　danger？〃
　　Lyra　looked　up　at　John　Faa's　massive　frame。　Her　heart　was　thumping　so　much　she　could　hardly　hear　the　first　words　of　his　reply。
　　〃Now　spell　it　out；　Raymond；　don't　be　shy；〃　he　said。　〃You　want　us　to　give　this　child　up　to　them　she's　a　fleeing　from；　is　that　right？〃
　　The　man　stood　obstinately　frowning；　but　said　nothing。
　　〃Well；　perhaps　you　would；　and　perhaps　you　wouldn't；〃　John　Faa　continued。　〃But　if　any　man　or　woman　needs　a　reason　for　doing　good；　ponder　on　this。　That　little　girl　is　the　daughter　of　Lord　Asriel；　no　less。　For　them　as　has　forgotten；　it　were　Lord　Asriel　who　interceded　with　the　Turk　for　the　life　of　Sam　Broekman。　It　were　Lord　Asriel　who　allowed　gyptian　boats　free　passage　on　the　canals　through　his　property。　It　were　Lord　Asriel　who　defeated　the　Watercourse　Bill　in　Parliament；　to　our　great　and　lasting　benefit。　And　it　were　Lord　Asriel　who　fought　day　and　night　in　the　floods　of　'53；　and　plunged　headlong　in　the　water　twice　to　pull　out　young　Ruud　and　Nellie　Koopman。　You　forgotten　that？　Shame；　shame　on　you；　shame。
　　〃And　now　that　same　Lord　Asriel　is　held　in　the　farthest　coldest　darkest　regions　of　the　wild；　captive；　in　the　fortress　of　Svalbard。　Do　I　need　to　tell　you　the　kind　of　creatures　a　guarding　him　there？　And　this　is　his　little　daughter　in　our　care；　and　Raymond　van　Gerrit　would　hand　her　over　to　the　authorities　for　a　bit　of　peace　and　quiet。　Is　that　right；　Raymond？　Stand　up　and　answer；　man。〃
　　But　Raymond　van　Gerrit　had　sunk　to　his　seat；　and　nothing　would　make　him　stand。　A　low　hiss　of　disapproval　sounded　through　the　great　hall；　and　Lyra　felt　the　shame　he　must　be　feeling；　as　well　as　a　deep　glow　of　pride　in　her　brave　father。
　　John　Faa　turned　away；　and　looked　at　the　other　men　on　the　platform。
　　〃Nicholas　Rokeby；　I'm　a　putting　you　in　charge　of　finding　a　vessel；　and　manding　her　once　we　sail。　Adam　Stefanski；　I　want　you　to　take　charge　of　the　arms　and　munitions；　and　mand　the　fighting。　Roger　van　Poppel；　you　look　to　all　the　other　stores；　from　food　to　cold…weather　clothing。　Simon　Hartmann；　yo