pp.thegoldencompass-第22部分

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　　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　to　love　him　for　his　knowledge　and　for　the　firm　way　he　directed　her。
　　〃What's　that　hourglass　mean；　Farder　Coram？〃　she　asked；　over　the　alethiometer；　one　sunny　morning　in　his　boat。　〃It　keeps　ing　back　to　that。〃
　　〃There's　often　a　clue　there　if　you　look　more　close。　What's　that　little　old　thing　on　top　of　it？〃
　　She　screwed　up　her　eyes　and　peered。
　　〃That's　a　skull！〃
　　〃So　what　d'you　think　that　might　mean？〃
　　〃Death　。　。　。　Is　that　death？〃
　　〃That's　right。　So　in　the　hourglass　range　of　meanings　you　get　death。　In　fact；　after　time；　which　is　the　first　one；　death　is　the　second　one。〃
　　〃D'you　know　what　I　noticed；　Farder　Coram？　The　needle　stops　there　on　the　second　go…round！　On　the　first　round　it　kind　of　twitches；　and　on　the　second　it　stops。　Is　that　saying　it's　the　second　meaning；　then？〃
　　〃Probably。　What　are　you　asking　it；　Lyra？〃
　　〃I'm　a　thinking…〃　she　stopped；　surprised　to　find　that　she'd　actually　been　asking　a　question　without　realizing　it。　〃I　just　put　three　pictures　together　because　。　。　。　！　was　thinking　about　Mr。　de　Ruyter；　see　。　。　。　。And　I　put　together　the　serpent　and　the　crucible　and　the　beehive；　to　ask　how　he's　a　getting　on　with　his　spying；　and…〃
　　〃Why　them　three　symbols？〃
　　〃Because　I　thought　the　serpent　was　cunning；　like　a　spy　ought　to　be；　and　the　crucible　could　mean　like　knowledge；　what　you　kind　of　distill；　and　the　beehive　was　hard　work；　like　bees　are　always　working　hard；　so　out　of　the　hard　work　and　the　cunning　es　the　knowledge；　see；　and　that's　the　spy's　job；　and　I　pointed　to　them　and　I　thought　the　question　in　my　mind；　and　the　needle　stopped　at　death　。　。　。　。D'you　think　that　could　be　really　working；　Farder　Coram？〃
　　〃It's　working　all　right；　Lyra。　What　we　don't　know　is　whether　we're　reading　it　right。　That's　a　subtle　art。　I　wonder　if…〃
　　Before　he　could　finish　his　sentence；　there　was　an　urgent　knock　at　the　door；　and　a　young　gyptian　man　came　in。
　　〃Beg　pardon；　Farder　Coram；　there's　Jacob　Huismans　just　e　back；　and　he's　sore　wounded。〃
　　〃He　was　with　Benjamin　de　Ruyter；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃What's　happened？〃
　　〃He　won't　speak；〃　said　the　young　man。　〃You　better　e；　Farder　Coram；　'cause　he　won't　last　long；　he's　a　bleeding　inside。〃
　　Farder　Coram　and　Lyra　exchanged　a　look　of　alarm　and　wonderment；　but　only　for　a　second；　and　then　Farder　Coram　was　hobbling　out　on　his　sticks　as　fast　as　he　could　manage；　with　his　daemon　padding　ahead　of　him。　Lyra　came　too；　hopping　with　impatience。
　　The　young　man　led　them　to　a　boat　tied　up　at　the　sugar…beet　jetty；　where　a　woman　in　a　red　flannel　apron　held　open　the　door　for　them。　Seeing　her　suspicious　glance　at　Lyra；　Farder　Coram　said；　〃It's　important　the　girl　hears　what　Jacob's　got　to　say；　mistress。〃
　　So　the　woman　let　them　in　and　stood　back；　with　her　squirrel　daemon　perched　silent　on　the　wooden　clock。　On　a　bunk　under　a　patchwork　coverlet　lay　a　man　whose　white　face　was　damp　with　sweat　and　whose　eyes　were　glazed。
　　〃I've　sent　for　the　physician；　Farder　Coram；〃　said　the　woman　shakily。　〃Please　don't　agitate　him。　He's　in　an　agony　of　pain。　He　e　in　off　Peter　Hawker's　boat　just　a　few　minutes　ago。〃
　　〃Where's　Peter　now？〃
　　〃He's　a　tying　up。　It　was　him　said　I　had　to　send　for　you。〃
　　〃Quite　right。　Now；　Jacob；　can　ye　hear　me？〃
　　Jacob's　eyes　rolled　to　look　at　Farder　Coram　sitting　on　the　opposite　bunk；　a　foot　or　two　away。
　　〃Hello；　Farder　Coram；〃　he　murmured。
　　Lyra　looked　at　his　daemon。　She　was　a　ferret；　and　she　lay　very　still　beside　his　head；　curled　up　but　not　asleep；　for　her　eyes　were　open　and　glazed　like　his。
　　〃What　happened？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　〃Benjamin's　dead；〃　came　the　answer。　〃He's　dead；　and　Gerard's　captured。〃
　　His　voice　was　hoarse　and　his　breath　was　shallow。　When　he　stopped　speaking；　his　daemon　uncurled　painfully　and　licked　his　cheek；　and　taking　strength　from　that　he　went　on：
　　〃We　was　breaking　into　the　Ministry　of　Theology；　because　Benjamin　had　heard　from　one　of　the　Gobblers　we　caught　that　the　headquarters　was　there；　that's　where　all　the　orders　was　ing　from　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　stopped　again。
　　〃You　captured　some　Gobblers？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　Jacob　nodded；　and　cast　his　eyes　at　his　daemon。　It　was　unusual　for　daemons　to　speak　to　humans　other　than　their　own；　but　it　happened　sometimes；　and　she　spoke　now。
　　〃We　caught　three　Gobblers　in　Clerkenwell　and　made　them　tell　us　who　they　were　working　for　and　where　the　orders　came　from　and　so　on。　They　didn't　know　where　the　kids　were　being　taken；　except　it　was　north　to　Lapland　。　。　。　。〃
　　She　had　to　stop　and　pant　briefly；　her　little　chest　fluttering；　before　she　could　go　on。
　　〃And　so　them　Gobblers　told　us　about　the　Ministry　of　Theology　and　Lord　Boreal。　Benjamin　said　him　and　Gerard　Hook　should　break　into　the　Ministry　and　Frans　Broekman　and　Tom　Mendham　should　go　and　find　out　about　Lord　Boreal。〃
　　〃Did　they　do　that？〃
　　〃We　don't　know。　They　never　came　back。　Farder　Coram；　it　were　like　everything　we　did；　they　knew　about　before　we　did　it；　and　for　all　we　know　Frans　and　Tom　were　swallowed　alive　as　soon　as　they　got　near　Lord　Boreal。〃
　　〃e　back　to　Benjamin；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　hearing　Jacob's　breathing　getting　harsher　and　seeing　his　eyes　close　in　pain。
　　Jacob's　daemon　gave　a　little　mew　of　anxiety　and　love；　and　the　woman　took　a　step　or　two　closer；　her　hands　to　her　mouth；　but　she　didn't　speak；　and　the　daemon　went　on　faintly：
　　〃Benjamin　and　Gerard　and　us　went　to　the　Ministry　at　White　Hall　and　found　a　little　side　door；　it　not　being　fiercely　guarded；　and　we　stayed　on　watch　outside　while　they　unfastened　the　lock　and　went　in。　They　hadn't　been　in　but　a　minute　when　we　heard　a　cry　of　fear；　and　Benjamin's　daemon　came　a　flying　out　and　beckoned　to　us　for　help　and　flew　in　again；　and　we　took　our　knife　and　ran　in　after　her；　only　the　place　was　dark；　and　full　of　wild　forms　and　sounds　that　were　confusing　in　their　frightful　movements；　and　we　cast　about；　but　there　was　a　motion　above；　and　a　fearful　cry；　and　Benjamin　and　his　daemon　fell　from　a　high　staircase　above　us；　his　daemon　a　tugging　and　a　fluttering　to　hold　him　up；　but　all　in　vain；　for　they　crashed　on　the　stone　floor　and　both　perished　in　a　moment。
　　〃And　we　couldn't　see　anything　of　Gerard；　but　there　was　a　howl　from　above　in　his　voice　and　we　were　too　terrified　and　stunned　to　move；　and　then　an　arrow　shot　down　at　our　shoulder　and　pierced　deep　down　within　。　。　。　。〃
　　The　daemon's　voice　was　fainter；　and　a　groan　came　from　the　wounded　man。　Farder　Coram　leaned　forward　and　gently　pulled　back　the　counterpane；　and　there　protruding　from　Jacob's　shoulder　was　the　feathered　end　of　an　arrow　in　a　mass　of　clotted　blood。　The　shaft　and　the　head　were　so　deep　in　the　poor　man's　chest　that　only　six　inches　or　so　remained　above　the　skin。　Lyra　felt　faint。
　　There　was　the　sound　of　feet　and　voices　outside　on　the　jetty。
　　Farder　Coram　sat　up　and　said；　〃Here's　the　physician；　Jacob。　We'll　leave　you　now。　We'll　have　a　longer　talk　when　you're　feeling　better。〃
　　He　clasped　the　woman's　shoulder　on　the　way　out。　Lyra　stuck　close　to　him　on　the　jetty；　because　there　was　a　crowd　gathering　already；　whispering　and　pointing。　Farder　Coram　gave　orders　for　Peter　Hawker　to　go　at　once　to　John　Faa；　and　then　said：
　　〃Lyra；　as　soon　as　we　know　whether　Jacob's　going　to　live　or　die；　we　must　have　another　talk　about　that　alethiometer。　You　go　and　occupy　yourself　elsewhere；　child；　we'll　send　for　you。〃
　　Lyra　wandered　away　on　her　own；　and　went　to　the　reedy　bank　to　sit　and　throw　mud　into　the　water。　She　knew　one　thing：　she　was　not　pleased　or　proud　to　be　able　to　read　the　alethiometer…　she　was　afraid。　Whatever　power　was　making　that　needle　swing　and　stop；　it　knew　things　like　an　intelligent　being。
　　〃I　reckon　it's　a　spirit；〃　Lyra　said；　and　for　a　moment　she　was　tempted　to　throw　the　little　thing　into　the　middle　of　the　fen。
　　〃I'd　see　a　spirit　if　there　was　one　in　there；〃　said　Pantalaimon。　〃Like　that　old　ghost　in　Godstow。　I　saw　that　when　you　didn't。〃
　　〃There's　more　than　one　kind　of　spirit；〃　said　Lyra　reprovingly。　〃You　can't　see　all　of　'em。　Anyway；　what　about　those　old　dead　Scholars　without　their　heads？　I　saw　them；　remember。〃
　　〃That　was　only　a　night…ghast。〃
　　〃It　was　not。　They　were　proper　spirits　all　right；　and　you　know　it。　But　whatever　spirits's　moving　this　blooming　needle　en't　that　sort　of　spirit。〃
　　〃It　might　not　be　a　spirit；〃　said　Pantalaimon　stubbornly。
　　〃Well；　what　else　could　it　be？〃
　　〃It　might　be　。　。　。　it　might　be　elementary　particles。〃　She　scoffed。
　　〃It　could　be！〃　he　insisted。　〃You　remember　that　photomill　they　got　at　Gabriel？　Well；　then。〃
　　At　Gabriel　College　there　was　a　very　holy　object　kept　on　the　high　altar　of　the　oratory；　covered　（now　Lyra　thought　about　it）　with　a　black　velvet　cloth；　like　the　one　around　the　alethiometer。　She　had　seen　it　when　she　acpanied　the　Librarian　of　Jordan　to　a　service　there。　At　the　height　of　the　invocation　the　Intercessor　lifted　the　cloth　to　reveal　in　the　dimness　a　glass　dome　inside　which　there　was　something　too　distant　to　see；　until　he　pulled　a　string　attached　to　a　shutter　above；　letting　a　ray　of　sunlight　through　to　strike　the　dome　exactly。　Then　it　became　clear：　a　little　thing　like　a　weathervane；　with　four　sails　black　on　one　side　and　white　on　the　other；　that　began　to　whirl　around　as　the　light　struck　it。　It　illustrated　a　moral　lesson；　the　Intercessor　explained；　and　went　on　to　explain　what　that　was。　Five　minutes　later　Lyra　had　forgotten　the　moral；　but　she　hadn't　forgotten　the　little　whirling　vanes　in　the　ray　of　dusty　light。　They　were　delightful　whatever　they　meant；　and　all　done　by　the　power　of　photons；　said　the　Librarian　as　they　walked　home　to　Jordan。
　　So　perhaps　Pantalaimon　was　right。　If　elementary　particles　could　push　a　photomill　around；　no　doubt　they　could　make　light　work　of　a　needle；　but　it　still　troubled　her。
　　〃Lyra！　Lyra！〃
　　It　was　Tony　Costa；　waving　to　her　from　the　jetty。
　　〃e　over　here；〃　he　called。　〃You　got　to　go　and　see　John　Faa　at　the　Zaal。　Run；　gal；　it's　urgent。〃
　　She　found　John　Faa　with　Farder　Coram　and　the　other　leaders；　looking　troubled。
　　John　Faa　spoke：
　　〃Lyra；　child；　Farder　Coram　has　told　me　about　your　reading　of　that　instrument。　And　I'm　sorry　to　say　that　poor　Jacob　has　just　died。　I　think　we're　going　to　have　to　take　you　with　us　after　all；　against　my　inclinations。　I'm　troubled　in　my　mind　about　it；　but　there　don't　seem　to　be　any　alternative。　As　soon　as　Jacob's　buried　according　to　custom；　we'll　take　our　way。　You　understand　me；　Lyra：　you're　a　ing　too；　but　it　en't　an　occasion　for　joy　or　jubilation。　There's　trouble　and　danger　ahead　for　all　of　us。
　　〃I'm　a　putting　you　under　Farder　Coram's　wing。　Don't　you　be　a　trouble　or　a　hazard　to　him；　or　you'll　be　a　feeling　the　force　of　my　wrath。　Now　cut　along　and　explain　to　Ma　Costa；　and　hold　yourself　in　readiness　to　leave。〃
　　
　　The　next　two　weeks　passed　more　busily　than　any　time　of　Lyra's　life　so　far。　Busily；　but　not　quickly；　for　there　were　tedious　stretches　of　waiting；　of　hiding　in　damp　crabbed　closets；　of　watching　a　dismal　rain…soaked　autumn　landscape　roll　past　the　window；　of　hiding　again；　of　sleeping　near　the　gas　fumes　of　the　engine　and　waking　with　a　sick　headache；　and　worst　of　all；　of　nev