pp.thegoldencompass-第23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！


che；　and　worst　of　all；　of　never　once　being　allowed　out　into　the　air　to　run　along　the　bank　or　clamber　over　the　deck　or　haul　at　the　lock　gates　or　catch　a　mooring　rope　thrown　from　the　lockside。
　　Because；　of　course；　she　had　to　remain　hidden。　Tony　Costa　told　her　of　the　gossip　in　the　waterside　pubs：　that　there　was　a　hunt　the　length　of　the　kingdom　for　a　little　fair…haired　girl；　with　a　big　reward　for　her　discovery　and　severe　punishment　for　anyone　concealing　her。　There　were　strange　rumors　too：　people　said　she　was　the　only　child　to　have　escaped　from　the　Gobblers；　and　she　had　terrible　secrets　in　her　possession。　Another　rumor　said　she　wasn't　a　human　child　at　all　but　a　pair　of　spirits　in　the　form　of　child　and　daemon；　sent　to　this　world　by　the　infernal　powers　in　order　to　work　great　ruin；　and　yet　another　rumor　said　it　was　no　child　but　a　fully　grown　human；　shrunk　by　magic　and　in　the　pay　of　the　Tartars；　e　to　spy　on　good　English　people　and　prepare　the　way　for　a　Tartar　invasion。
　　Lyra　heard　these　tales　at　first　with　glee　and　later　with　despondency。　All　those　people　hating　and　fearing　her！　And　she　longed　to　be　out　of　this　narrow　boxy　cabin。　She　longed　to　be　north　already；　in　the　wide　snows　under　the　blazing　Aurora。　And　sometimes　she　longed　to　be　back　at　Jordan　College；　scrambling　over　the　roofs　with　Roger　with　the　Steward's　bell　tolling　half　an　hour　to　dinnertime　and　the　clatter　and　sizzle　and　shouting　of　the　kitchen　。　。　。　。Then　she　wished　passionately　that　nothing　had　changed；　nothing　would　ever　change；　that　she　could　be　Lyra　of　Jordan　College　forever　and　ever。
　　The　one　thing　that　drew　her　out　of　her　boredom　and　irritation　was　the　alethiometer。　She　read　it　every　day；　sometimes　with　Farder　Coram　and　sometimes　on　her　own；　and　she　found　that　she　could　sink　more　and　more　readily　into　the　calm　state　in　which　the　symbol　meanings　clarified　themselves；　and　those　great　mountain　ranges　touched　by　sunlight　emerged　into　vision。
　　She　struggled　to　explain　to　Farder　Coram　what　it　felt　like。
　　〃It's　almost　like　talking　to　someone；　only　you　can't　quite　hear　them；　and　you　feel　kind　of　stupid　because　they're　cleverer　than　you；　only　they　don't　get　cross　or　any　thing　。　。　。　。　And　they　know　such　a　lot；　Farder　Coram！　As　if　they　knew　everything；　almost！　Mrs。　Coulter　was　clever；　she　knew　ever　such　a　lot；　but　this　is　a　different　kind　of　knowing　。　。　。　。It's　like　understanding；　I　suppose　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　would　ask　specific　questions；　and　she　would　search　for　answers。
　　〃What's　Mrs。　Coulter　doing　now？〃　he'd　say；　and　her　hands　would　move　at　once；　and　he'd　say；　〃Tell　me　what　you're　doing。〃
　　〃Well；　the　Madonna　is　Mrs。　Coulter；　and　I　think　my　mother　when　I　put　the　hand　there；　and　the　ant　is　busy…that's　easy；　that's　the　top　meaning；　and　the　hourglass　has　got　time　in　its　meanings；　and　partway　down　there's　now；　and　I　just　fix　my　mind　on　it。〃
　　〃And　how　do　you　know　where　these　meanings　are？〃
　　〃I　kind　of　see　'em。　Or　feel　'em　rather；　like　climbing　down　a　ladder　at　night；　you　put　your　foot　down　and　there's　another　rung。　Well；　I　put　my　mind　down　and　there's　another　meaning；　and　I　kind　of　sense　what　it　is。　Then　I　put　'em　all　together。　There's　a　trick　in　it　like　focusing　your　eyes。〃
　　〃Do　that　then；　and　see　what　it　says。〃
　　Lyra　did。　The　long　needle　began　to　swing　at　once；　and　stopped；　moved　on；　stopped　again　in　a　precise　series　of　sweeps　and　pauses。　It　was　a　sensation　of　such　grace　and　power　that　Lyra；　sharing　it；　felt　like　a　young　bird　learning　to　fly。　Farder　Coram；　watching　from　across　the　table；　noted　the　places　where　the　needle　stopped；　and　watched　the　little　girl　holding　her　hair　back　from　her　face　and　biting　her　lower　lip　just　a　little；　her　eyes　following　the　needle　at　first　but　then；　when　its　path　was　settled；　looking　elsewhere　on　the　dial。　Not　randomly；　though。　Farder　Coram　was　a　chess　player；　and　he　knew　how　chess　players　looked　at　a　game　in　play。　An　expert　player　seemed　to　see　lines　of　force　and　influence　on　the　board；　and　looked　along　the　important　lines　and　ignored　the　weak　ones；　and　Lyra's　eyes　moved　the　same　way；　according　to　some　similar　magnetic　field　that　she　could　see　and　he　couldn't。
　　The　needle　stopped　at　the　thunderbolt；　the　infant；　the　serpent；　the　elephant；　and　at　a　creature　Lyra　couldn't　find　a　name　for：　a　sort　of　lizard　with　big　eyes　and　a　tail　curled　around　the　twig　it　stood　on。　It　repeated　the　sequence　time　after　time；　while　Lyra　watched。
　　〃What's　that　lizard　mean？〃　said　Farder　Coram；　breaking　into　her　concentration。
　　〃It　don't　make　sense　。　。　。　。！　can　see　what　it　says；　but　I　must　be　misreading　it。　The　thunderbolt　I　think　is　anger；　and　the　child　　。　。　。　I　think　it's　me　。　。　。　l　was　getting　a　meaning　for　that　lizard　thing；　but　you　talked　to　me；　Farder　Coram；　and　I　lost　it。　See；　it's　just　floating　any　old　where。〃
　　〃Yes；　I　see　that。　I'm　sorry；　Lyra。　You　tired　now？　D'you　want　to　stop？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't；〃　she　said；　but　her　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　eyes　bright。　She　had　all　the　signs　of　fretful　overexcitement；　and　it　was　made　worse　by　her　long　confinement　in　this　stuffy　cabin。
　　He　looked　out　of　the　window。　It　was　nearly　dark；　and　they　were　traveling　along　the　last　stretch　of　inland　water　before　reaching　the　coast。　Wide　brown　scummed　expanses　of　an　estuary　extended　under　a　dreary　sky　to　a　distant　group　of　coal…spirit　tanks；　rusty　and　cobwebbed　with　pipework；　beside　a　refinery　where　a　thick　smear　of　smoke　ascended　reluctantly　to　join　the　clouds。
　　〃Where　are　we？〃　said　Lyra。　〃Can　I　go　outside　just　for　a　bit；　Farder　Coram？〃
　　〃This　is　Colby　water；〃　he　said。　〃The　estuary　of　the　river　Cole。　When　we　reach　the　town；　we'll　tie　up　by　the　Smoke…market　and　go　on　foot　to　the　docks。　We'll　be　there　in　an　hour　or　two　。　。　。　。〃
　　But　it　was　getting　dark；　and　in　the　wide　desolation　of　the　creek　nothing　was　moving　but　their　own　boat　and　a　distant　coal　barge　laboring　toward　the　refinery；　and　Lyra　was　so　flushed　and　tired；　and　she'd　been　inside　for　so　long；　and　so　Farder　Coram　went　on：
　　〃Well；　I　don't　suppose　it'll　matter　just　for　a　few　minutes　in　the　open　air。　I　wouldn't　call　it　fresh；　ten't　fresh　except　when　it's　blowing　off　the　sea；　but　you　can　sit　out　on　top　and　look　around　till　we　get　closer　in。〃
　　Lyra　leaped　up；　and　Pantalaimon　became　a　seagull　at　once；　eager　to　stretch　his　wings　in　the　open。　It　was　cold　outside；　and　although　she　was　well　wrapped　up；　Lyra　was　soon　shivering。　Pantalaimon；　on　the　other　hand；　leaped　into　the　air　with　a　loud　caw　of　delight；　and　wheeled　and　skimmed　and　darted　now　ahead　of　the　boat；　now　behind　the　stern。　Lyra　exulted　in　it；　feeling　with　him　as　he　flew；　and　urging　him　mentally　to　provoke　the　old　tillerman's　cormorant　daemon　into　a　race。　But　she　ignored　him　and　settled　down　sleepily　on　the　handle　of　the　tiller　near　her　man。
　　There　was　no　life　out　on　this　bitter　brown　expanse；　and　only　the　steady　chug　of　the　engine　and　the　subdued　splashing　of　the　water　under　the　bows　broke　the　wide　silence。　Heavy　clouds　hung　low　without　offering　rain；　the　air　beneath　was　grimy　with　smoke。　Only　Pantalaimon's　flashing　elegance　had　anything　in　it　of　life　and　joy。
　　As　he　soared　up　out　of　a　dive　with　wide　wings　white　against　the　gray；　something　black　hurtled　at　him　and　struck。　He　fell　sideways　in　a　flutter　of　shock　and　pain；　and　Lyra　cried　out；　feeling　it　sharply。　Another　little　black　thing　joined　the　first；　they　moved　not　like　birds　but　like　flying　beetles；　heavy　and　direct；　and　with　a　droning　sound。
　　As　Pantalaimon　fell；　trying　to　twist　away　and　make　for　the　boat　and　Lyra's　desperate　arms；　the　black　things　kept　driving　into　him；　droning；　buzzing；　and　murderous。　Lyra　was　nearly　mad　with　Pantalaimon's　fear　and　her　own；　but　then　something　swept　past　her　and　upward。
　　It　was　the　tillerman's　daemon；　and　clumsy　and　heavy　as　she　looked；　her　flight　was　powerful　and　swift。　Her　head　snapped　this　way　and　that…there　was　a　flutter　of　black　wings；　a　shiver　of　white…and　a　little　black　thing　fell　to　the　tarred　roof　of　the　cabin　at　Lyra's　feet　just　as　Pantalaimon　landed　on　her　outstretched　hand。
　　Before　she　could　fort　him；　he　changed　into　his　wildcat　shape　and　sprang　down　on　the　creature；　batting　it　back　from　the　edge　of　the　roof；　where　it　was　crawling　swiftly　to　escape。　Pantalaimon　held　it　firmly　down　with　a　needle…filled　paw　and　looked　up　at　the　darkening　sky；　where　the　black　wing　flaps　of　the　cormorant　were　circling　higher　as　she　cast　around　for　the　other。
　　Then　the　cormorant　glided　swiftly　back　and　croaked　something　to　the　tillerman；　who　said；　〃It's　gone。　Don't　let　that　other　one　escape。　Here…〃　and　he　flung　the　dregs　out　of　the　tin　mug　he'd　been　drinking　from；　and　tossed　it　to　Lyra。
　　She　clapped　it　over　the　creature　at　once。　It　buzzed　and　snarled　like　a　little　machine。
　　〃Hold　it　still；〃　said　Farder　Coram　from　behind　her；　and　then　he　was　kneeling　to　slip　a　piece　of　card　under　the　mug。
　　〃What　is　it；　Farder　Coram？〃　she　said　shakily。
　　〃Let's　go　below　and　have　a　look。　Take　it　careful；　Lyra。　Hold　that　tight。〃
　　She　looked　at　the　tillerman's　daemon　as　she　passed；　intending　to　thank　her；　but　her　old　eyes　were　closed。　She　thanked　the　tillerman　instead。
　　〃You　oughter　stayed　below〃　was　all　he　said。
　　She　took　the　mug　into　the　cabin；　where　Farder　Coram　had　found　a　beer　glass。　He　held　the　tin　mug　upside　down　over　it　and　then　slipped　the　card　out　from　between　them；　so　that　the　creature　fell　into　the　glass。　He　held　it　up　so　they　could　see　the　angry　little　thing　clearly。
　　It　was　about　as　long　as　Lyra's　thumb；　and　dark　green；　not　black。　Its　wing　cases　were　erect；　like　a　ladybird's　about　to　fly；　and　the　wings　inside　were　beating　so　furiously　that　they　were　only　a　blur。　Its　six　clawed　legs　were　scrabbling　on　the　smooth　glass。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said。
　　Pantalaimon；　a　wildcat　still；　crouched　on　the　table　six　inches　away；　his　green　eyes　following　it　round　and　round　inside　the　glass。
　　〃If　you　was　to　crack　it　open；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃you'd　find　no　living　thing　in　there。　No　animal　nor　insect；　at　any　rate。　I　seen　one　of　these　things　afore；　and　I　never　thought　I'd　see　one　again　this　far　north。　Afric　things。　There's　a　clockwork　running　in　there；　and　pinned　to　the　spring　of　it；　there's　a　bad　spirit　with　a　spell　through　its　heart。〃
　　〃But　who　sent　it？〃
　　〃You　don't　even　need　to　read　the　symbols；　Lyra；　you　can　guess　as　easy　as　I　can。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Coulter？〃
　　'〃Course。　She　en't　only　explored　up　north；　there's　strange　things　aplenty　in　the　southern　wild。　It　was　Morocco　where　I　saw　one　of　these　last。　Deadly　dangerous；　while　the　spirit's　in　it；　it　won't　never　stop；　and　when　you　let　the　spirit　free；　it's　so　monstrous　angry　it'll　kill　the　first　thing　it　gets　at。〃
　　〃But　what　was　it　after？〃
　　〃Spying。　I　was　a　cursed　fool　to　let　you　up　above。　And　I　should　have　let　you　think　your　way　through　the　symbols　without　interrupting。〃
　　〃I　see　it　now！〃　said　Lyra；　suddenly　excited。　〃It　means　air；　that　lizard　thing！　I　saw　that；　but　I　couldn't　see　why；　so　I　tried　to　work　it　out　and　I　lost　it。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃then　I　see　it　too。　It　en't　a　lizard；　that's　why；　it's　a　chameleon。　And　it　stands　for　air　because　they　don't　eat　nor　drink；　they　just　live　on　air。〃
　　〃And　the　elephant…〃
　　〃Africa；〃　he　said；　and　〃Aha。〃
　　They　looked　at　each　other。　With　every　revelation　of　the　alethiometer's　p