pp.thegoldencompass-第21部分

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van　Poppel；　you　look　to　all　the　other　stores；　from　food　to　cold…weather　clothing。　Simon　Hartmann；　you　be　treasurer；　and　account　to　us　all　for　a　proper　apportionment　of　our　gold。　Benjamin　de　Ruyter；　I　want　you　to　take　charge　of　spying。　There's　a　great　deal　we　ought　to　find　out；　and　I'm　a　giving　you　the　charge　of　that；　and　you'll　report　to　Farder　Coram。　Michael　Canzona；　you're　going　to　be　responsible　for　coordinating　the　first　four　leaders'　work；　and　you'll　report　to　me；　and　if　I　die；　you're　my　second　in　mand　and　you'll　take　over。
　　〃Now　I've　made　my　dispositions　according　to　custom；　and　if　any　man　or　woman　seeks　to　disagree；　they　may　do　so　freely。〃
　　After　a　moment　a　woman　stood　up。
　　〃Lord　Faa；　en't　you　a　taking　any　women　on　this　expedition　to　look　after　them　kids　once　you　found　'em？〃
　　〃No；　Nell。　We　shall　have　little　space　as　it　is。　Any　kids　we　free　will　be　better　off　in　our　care　than　where　they've　been。〃
　　〃But　supposing　you　find　out　that　you　can't　rescue　'em　without　some　women　in　disguise　as　guards　or　nurses　or　whatever？〃
　　〃Well；　I　hadn't　thought　of　that；〃　John　Faa　admitted。　〃We'll　consider　that　most　carefully　when　we　retire　into　the　parley　room；　you　have　my　promise。〃
　　She　sat　down　and　a　man　stood　up。
　　〃Lord　Faa；　I　heard　you　say　that　Lord　Asriel　is　in　captivity。　Is　it　part　of　your　plan　to　rescue　him？　Because　if　it　is；　and　if　he's　in　the　power　of　them　bears　as　I　think　you　said；　that's　going　to　need　more　than　a　hundred　and　seventy　men。　And　good　friend　as　Lord　Asriel　is　to　us；　I　don't　know　as　there's　any　call　on　us　to　go　as　far　as　that。〃
　　〃Adriaan　Braks；　you're　not　wrong。　What　I　had　it　in　my　mind　to　do　was　to　keep　our　eyes　and　ears　open　and　see　what　knowledge　we　can　glean　while　we're　in　the　North。　It　may　be　that　we　can　do　something　to　help　him；　and　it　may　not；　but　you　can　trust　me　not　to　use　what　you've　provided；　man　and　gold；　for　any　purpose　outside　the　stated　one　of　finding　our　children　and　bringing　'em　home。〃
　　Another　woman　stood　up。
　　〃Lord　Faa；　we　don't　know　what　them　Gobblers　might've　been　doing　to　our　children。　We　all　heard　rumors　and　stories　of　fearful　things。　We　hear　about　children　with　no　heads；　or　about　children　cut　in　half　and　sewn　together；　or　about　things　too　awful　to　mention。　I'm　truly　sorry　to　distress　anyone；　but　we　all　heard　this　kind　of　thing；　and　I　want　to　get　it　out　in　the　open。　Now　in　case　you　find　anything　of　that　awful　kind；　Lord　Faa；　I　hope　you're　a　going　to　take　powerful　revenge。　I　hope　you　en't　going　to　let　thoughts　of　mercy　and　gentleness　hold　your　hand　back　from　striking　and　striking　hard；　and　delivering　a　mighty　blow　to　the　heart　of　that　infernal　wickedness。　And　I'm　sure　I　speak　for　any　mother　as　has　lost　a　child　to　the　Gobblers。〃
　　There　was　a　loud　murmur　of　agreement　as　she　sat　down。　Heads　were　nodding　all　over　the　Zaal。
　　John　Faa　waited　for　silence；　and　said：
　　〃Nothing　will　hold　my　hand；　Margaret；　save　only　judgment。　If　I　stay　my　hand　in　the　North；　it　will　only　be　to　strike　the　harder　in　the　South。　To　strike　a　day　too　soon　is　as　bad　as　striking　a　hundred　miles　off。　To　be　sure；　there's　a　warm　passion　behind　what　you　say。　But　if　you　give　in　to　that　passion；　friends；　you're　a　doing　what　I　always　warned　you　agin：　you're　a　placing　the　satisfaction　of　your　own　feelings　above　the　work　you　have　to　do。　Our　work　here　is　first　rescue；　then　punishment。　It　en't　gratification　for　upset　feelings。　Our　feelings　don't　matter。　If　we　rescue　the　kids　but　we　can't　punish　the　Gobblers；　we've　done　the　main　task。　But　if　we　aim　to　punish　the　Gobblers　first　and　by　doing　so　lose　the　chance　of　rescuing　the　kids；　we've　failed。
　　〃But　be　assured　of　this；　Margaret。　When　the　time　es　to　punish；　we　shall　strike　such　a　blow　as'll　make　their　hearts　faint　and　fearful。　We　shall　strike　the　strength　out　of　'em。　We　shall　leave　them　ruined　and　wasted；　broken　and　shattered；　torn　in　a　thousand　pieces　and　scattered　to　the　four　winds。　Don't　you　worry　that　John　Faa's　heart　is　too　soft　to　strike　a　blow　when　the　time　es。　And　the　time　will　e　under　judgment。　Not　under　passion。
　　〃Is　there　anyone　else　who　wants　to　speak？　Speak　if　you　will。〃
　　But　no　one　did；　and　presently　John　Faa　reached　for　the　closing　bell　and　rang　it　hard　and　loud；　swinging　it　high　and　shaking　the　peals　out　of　it　so　that　they　filled　the　hall　and　rang　the　rafters。
　　John　Faa　and　the　other　men　left　the　platform　for　the　parley　room。　Lyra　was　a　little　disappointed。　Didn't　they　want　her　there　too？　But　Tony　laughed。
　　〃They　got　plans　to　make；〃　he　said。　〃You　done　your　part；　Lyra。　Now　it's　for　John　Faa　and　the　council。〃
　　〃But　I　en't　done　nothing　yet！〃　Lyra　protested；　as　she　followed　the　others　reluctantly　out　of　the　hall　and　down　the　cobbled　road　toward　the　jetty。　〃All　I　done　was　run　away　from　Mrs。　Coulter！　That's　just　a　beginning。　I　want　to　go　north！〃
　　〃Tell　you　what；〃　said　Tony；　〃I'll　bring　you　back　a　walrus　tooth；　that's　what　I'll　do。〃
　　Lyra　scowled。　For　his　part；　Pantalaimon　occupied　himself　by　making　monkey　faces　at　Tony's　daemon；　who　closed　her　tawny　eyes　in　disdain。　Lyra　drifted　to　the　jetty　and　hung　about　with　her　new　panions；　dangling　lanterns　on　strings　over　the　black　water　to　attract　the　goggle…eyed　fishes　who　swam　slowly　up　to　be　lunged　at　with　sharp　sticks　and　missed。
　　But　her　mind　was　on　John　Faa　and　the　parley　room；　and　before　long　she　slipped　away　up　the　cobbles　again　to　the　Zaal。　There　was　a　light　in　the　parley　room　window。　It　was　too　high　to　look　through；　but　she　could　hear　a　low　rumble　of　voices　inside。
　　So　she　walked　up　to　the　door　and　knocked　on　it　firmly　five　times。　The　voices　stopped；　a　chair　scraped　across　the　floor；　and　the　door　opened；　spilling　warm　naphtha　light　out　on　the　damp　step。
　　〃Yes？〃　said　the　man　who'd　opened　it。
　　Beyond　him　Lyra　could　see　the　other　men　around　the　table；　with　bags　of　gold　stacked　neatly；　and　papers　and　pens；　and　glasses　and　a　crock　of　jenniver。
　　〃I　want　to　e　north；〃　Lyra　said　so　they　could　all　hear　it。　〃I　want　to　e　and　help　rescue　the　kids。　That's　what　I　set　out　to　do　when　I　run　away　from　Mrs。　Coulter。　And　before　that；　even；　I　meant　to　rescue　my　friend　Roger　the　kitchen　boy　from　Jordan　who　was　took。　I　want　to　e　and　help。　I　can　do　navigation　and　I　can　take　anbaromagnetic　readings　off　the　Aurora；　and　I　know　what　parts　of　a　bear　you　can　eat；　and　all　kind　of　useful　things。　You'd　be　sorry　if　you　got　up　there　and　then　found　you　needed　me　and　found　you'd　left　me　behind。　And　like　that　woman　said；　you　might　need　women　to　play　a　part…well；　you　might　need　kids　too。　You　don't　know。　So　you　oughter　take　me；　Lord　Faa；　excuse　me　for　interrupting　your　talk。〃
　　She　was　inside　the　room　now；　and　all　the　men　and　their　daemons　were　watching　her；　some　with　amusement　and　some　with　irritation；　but　she　had　eyes　only　for　John　Faa。　Pantalaimon　sat　up　in　her　arms；　his　wildcat　eyes　blazing　green。
　　John　Faa　said；　〃Lyra；　there　en't　no　question　of　taking　you　into　danger；　so　don't　delude　yourself；　child。　Stay　here　and　help　Ma　Costa　and　keep　safe。　That's　what　you　got　to　do。〃
　　〃But　I'm　learning　how　to　read　the　alethiometer；　too。　It's　ing　clearer　every　day！　You're　bound　to　need　that…bound　to！〃
　　He　shook　his　head。
　　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　your　heart　was　set　on　going　north；　but　it's　my　belief　not　even　Mrs。　Coulter　was　going　to　take　you。　If　you　want　to　see　the　North；　you'll　have　to　wait　till　all　this　trouble's　over。　Now　off　you　go。〃
　　Pantalaimon　hissed　quietly；　but　John　Faa's　daemon　took　off　from　the　back　of　his　chair　and　flew　at　them　with　black　wings；　not　threateningly；　but　like　a　reminder　of　good　manners；　and　Lyra　turned　on　her　heel　as　the　crow　glided　over　her　head　and　wheeled　back　to　John　Faa。　The　door　shut　behind　her　with　a　decisive　click。
　　〃We　will　go；〃　she　said　to　Pantalaimon。　〃Let　'em　try　to　stop　us。　We　will！〃
　　
　　
　　NINE　
　　THE　SPIES
　　
　　Over　the　next　few　days；　Lyra　concocted　a　dozen　plans　and　dismissed　them　impatiently；　for　they　all　boiled　down　to　stowing　away；　and　how　could　you　stow　away　on　a　narrowboat？　To　be　sure；　the　real　voyage　would　involve　a　proper　ship；　and　she　knew　enough　stories　to　expect　all　kinds　of　hiding　places　on　a　full…sized　vessel：　the　lifeboats；　the　hold；　the　bilges；　whatever　they　were；　but　she'd　have　to　get　to　the　ship　first；　and　leaving　the　fens　meant　traveling　the　gyptian　way。
　　And　even　if　she　got　to　the　coast　on　her　own；　she　might　stow　away　on　the　wrong　ship。　It　would　be　a　fine　thing　to　hide　in　a　lifeboat　and　wake　up　on　the　way　to　High　Brazil。
　　Meanwhile；　all　around　her　the　tantalizing　work　of　assembling　the　expedition　was　going　on　day　and　night。　She　hung　around　Adam　Stefanski；　watching　as　he　made　his　choice　of　the　volunteers　for　the　fighting　force。　She　pestered　Roger　van　Poppel　with　suggestions　about　the　stores　they　needed　to　take：　Had　he　remembered　snow　goggles？　Did　he　know　the　best　place　to　get　arctic　maps？
　　The　man　she　most　wanted　to　help　was　Benjamin　de　Ruyter；　the　spy。　But　he　had　slipped　away　in　the　early　hours　of　the　morning　after　the　second　roping；　and　naturally　no　one　could　say　where　he'd　gone　or　when　he'd　return。　So　in　default；　Lyra　attached　herself　to　Farder　Coram。
　　〃I　think　it'd　be　best　if　I　helped　you；　Farder　Coram；〃　she　said；　〃because　I　probably　know　more　about　the　Gobblers　than　anyone　else；　being　as　I　was　nearly　one　of　them。　Probably　you'll　need　me　to　help　you　understand　Mr。　de　Ruyter's　messages。〃
　　He　took　pity　on　the　fierce；　desperate　little　girl　and　didn't　send　her　away。　Instead　he　talked　to　her；　and　listened　to　her　memories　of　Oxford　and　of　Mrs。　Coulter；　and　watched　as　she　read　the　alethiometer。
　　〃Where's　that　book　with　all　the　symbols　in？〃　she　asked　him　one　day。
　　〃In　Heidelberg；〃　he　said。
　　〃And　is　there　just　the　one？〃
　　〃There　may　be　others；　but　that's　the　one　I've　seen。〃
　　〃I　bet　there's　one　in　Bodley's　Library　in　Oxford；〃　she　said。
　　She　could　hardly　take　her　eyes　off　Farder　Coram's　daemon；　who　was　the　most　beautiful　daemon　she'd　ever　seen。　When　Pantalaimon　was　a　cat；　he　was　lean　and　ragged　and　harsh；　but　Sophonax；　for　that　was　her　name；　was　golden…eyed　and　elegant　beyond　measure；　fully　twice　as　large　as　a　real　cat　and　richly　furred。　When　the　sunlight　touched　her；　it　lit　up　more　shades　of　tawny…brown…leaf…hazel…corn…gold…autumn…mahogany　than　Lyra　could　name。　She　longed　to　touch　that　fur；　to　rub　her　cheeks　against　it；　but　of　course　she　never　did；　for　it　was　the　grossest　breach　of　etiquette　imaginable　to　touch　another　person's　daemon。　Daemons　might　touch　each　other；　of　course；　or　fight；　but　the　prohibition　against　human…daemon　contact　went　so　deep　that　even　in　battle　no　warrior　would　touch　an　enemy's　daemon。　It　was　utterly　forbidden。　Lyra　couldn't　remember　having　to　be　told　that：　she　just　knew　it；　as　instinctively　as　she　felt　that　nausea　was　bad　and　fort　good。　So　although　she　admired　the　fur　of　Sophonax　and　even　speculated　on　what　it　might　feel　like；　she　never　made　the　slightest　move　to　touch　her；　and　never　would。
　　Sophonax　was　as　sleek　and　healthy　and　beautiful　as　Farder　Coram　was　ravaged　and　weak。　He　might　have　been　ill；　or　he　might　have　suffered　a　crippling　blow；　but　the　result　was　that
　　he　could　not　walk　without　leaning　on　two　sticks；　and　he　trembled　constantly　like　an　aspen　leaf。　His　mind　was　sharp　and　clear　and　powerful；　though；　and　soon　Lyra　came　t