pp.thegoldencompass-第24部分

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　　〃And　the　elephant…〃
　　〃Africa；〃　he　said；　and　〃Aha。〃
　　They　looked　at　each　other。　With　every　revelation　of　the　alethiometer's　power；　they　became　more　awed　by　it。
　　〃It　was　telling　us　about　these　things　all　the　time；〃　said　Lyra。　〃We　oughter　listened。　But　what　can　we　do　about　this　un；　Farder　Coram？　Can　we　kill　it　or　something？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　as　we　can　do　anything。　We　shall　just　have　to　keep　him　shut　up　tight　in　a　box　and　never　let　him　out。　What　worries　me　more　is　the　other　one；　as　got　away。　He'll　be　a　flying　back　to　Mrs。　Coulter　now；　with　the　news　that　he's　seen　you。　Damn　me；　Lyra；　but　I'm　a　fool。〃
　　He　rattled　about　in　a　cupboard　and　found　a　smokeleaf　tin　about　three　inches　in　diameter。　It　had　been　used　for　holding　screws；　but　he　tipped　those　out　and　wiped　the　inside　with　a　rag　before　inverting　the　glass　over　it　with　the　card　still　in　place　over　the　mouth。
　　After　a　tricky　moment　when　one　of　the　creature's　legs　escaped　and　thrust　the　tin　away　with　surprising　strength；　they　had　it　captured　and　the　lid　screwed　down　tight。
　　〃As　soon's　we　get　about　the　ship　I'll　run　some　solder　round　the　edge　to　make　sure　of　it；〃　Farder　Coram　said。
　　〃But　don't　clockwork　run　down？〃
　　〃Ordinary　clockwork；　yes。　But　like　I　said；　this　un's　kept　tight　wound　by　the　spirit　pinned　to　the　end。　The　more　he　struggles；　the　tighter　it's　wound；　and　the　stronger　the　force　is。　Now　let's　put　this　feller　out　the　way　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　wrapped　the　tin　in　a　flannel　cloth　to　stifle　the　incessant　buzzing　and　droning；　and　stowed　it　away　under　his　bunk。
　　It　was　dark　now；　and　Lyra　watched　through　the　window　as　the　lights　of　Colby　came　closer。　The　heavy　air　was　thickening　into　mist；　and　by　the　time　they　tied　up　at　the　wharves　alongside　the　Smokemarket　everything　in　sight　was　softened　and　blurred。　The　darkness　shaded　into　pearly　silver…gray　veils　laid　over　the　warehouses　and　the　cranes；　the　wooden　market　stalls　and　the　granite　many…chimneyed　building　the　market　was　named　after；　where　day　and　night　fish　hung　kippering　in　the　fragrant　oakwood　smoke。　The　chimneys　were　contributing　their　thickness　to　the　clammy　air；　and　the　pleasant　reek　of　smoked　herring　and　mackerel　and　haddock　seemed　to　breathe　out　of　the　very　cobbles。
　　Lyra；　wrapped　up　in　oilskin　and　with　a　large　hood　hiding　her　revealing　hair；　walked　along　between　Farder　Coram　and　the　tillerman。　All　three　daemons　were　alert；　scouting　around　corners　ahead；　watching　behind；　listening　for　the　slightest　footfall。
　　But　they　were　the　only　figures　to　be　seen。　The　citizens　of　Colby　were　all　indoors；　probably　sipping　jenniver　beside　roaring　stoves。　They　saw　no　one　until　they　reached　the　dock；　and　the　first　man　they　saw　there　was　Tony　Costa；　guarding　the　gates。
　　〃Thank　God　you　got　here；〃　he　said　quietly；　letting　them　through。　〃We　just　heard　as　Jack　Verhoeven's　been　shot　and　his　boat　sunk；　and　no　one'd　heard　where　you　was。　John　Faa's　on　board　already　and　jumping　to　go。〃
　　The　vessel　looked　immense　to　Lyra：　a　wheelhouse　and　funnel　amidships；　a　high　fo'c'sle　and　a　stout　derrick　over　a　canvas…covered　hatch；　yellow　light　agleam　in　the　portholes　and　the　bridge；　and　white　light　at　the　masthead；　and　three　or　four　men　on　deck；　working　urgently　at　things　she　couldn't　see。
　　She　hurried　up　the　wooden　gangway　ahead　of　Farder　Coram；　and　looked　around　with　excitement。　Pantalaimon　became　a　monkey　and　clambered　up　the　derrick　at　once；　but　she　called　him　down　again；　Farder　Coram　wanted　them　indoors；　or　below；　as　you　called　it　on　board　ship。
　　Down　some　stairs；　or　a　panionway；　there　was　a　small　saloon　where　John　Faa　was　talking　quietly　with　Nicholas　Rokeby；　the　gyptian　in　charge　of　the　vessel。　John　Faa　did　nothing　hastily。　Lyra　was　waiting　for　him　to　greet　her；　but　he　finished　his　remarks　about　the　tide　and　pilotage　before　turning　to　the　iners。
　　〃Good　evening；　friends；〃　he　said。　〃Poor　Jack　Verhoeven's　dead；　perhaps　you've　heard。　And　his　boys　captured。〃
　　〃We　have　bad　news　too；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　and　told　of　their　encounter　with　the　flying　spirits。
　　John　Faa　shook　his　great　head；　but　didn't　reproach　them。
　　〃Where　is　the　creature　now？〃　he　said。
　　Farder　Coram　took　out　the　leaf　tin　and　laid　it　on　the　table。　Such　a　furious　buzzing　came　from　it　that　the　tin　itself　moved　slowly　over　the　wood。
　　〃I've　heard　of　them　clockwork　devils；　but　never　seen　one；〃　John　Faa　said。　〃There　en't　no　way　of　taming　it　and　turning　it　back；　I　do　know　that　much。　Nor　is　it　any　use　weighing　it　down　with　lead　and　dropping　it　in　the　ocean；　because　one　day　it'd　rust　through　and　out　the　devil　would　e　and　make　for　the　child　wherever　she　was。　No；　we'll　have　to　keep　it　by；　and　exercise　our　vigilance。〃
　　Lyra　being　the　only　female　on　board　（for　John　Faa　had　decided　against　taking　women；　after　much　thought）；　she　had　a　cabin　to　herself。　Not　a　grand　cabin；　to　be　sure；　in　fact；　little　more　than　a　closet　with　a　bunk　and　a　scuttle；　which　was　the　proper　name　for　porthole。　She　stowed　her　few　things　in　the　drawer　below　the　bunk　and　ran　up　excitedly　to　lean　over　the　rail　and　watch　England　vanish　behind；　only　to　find　that　most　of　England　had　vanished　in　the　mist　before　she　got　there。
　　But　the　rush　of　water　below；　the　movement　in　the　air；　the　ship's　lights　glowing　bravely　in　the　dark；　the　rumble　of　the　engine；　the　smells　of　salt　and　fish　and　coal　spirit　were　exciting　enough　by　themselves。　It　wasn't　long　before　another　sensation　joined　them；　as　the　vessel　began　to　roll　in　the　German　Ocean　swell。　When　someone　called　Lyra　down　for　a　bite　of　supper；　she　found　she　was　less　hungry　than　she'd　thought；　and　presently　she　decided　it　would　be　a　good　idea　to　lie　down；　for　Pantalaimon's　sake；　because　the　poor　creature　was　feeling　sadly　ill　at　ease。
　　And　so　began　her　journey　to　the　North。
　　
　　
　　
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　　John　Faa　and　the　other　leaders　had　decided　that　they　would　make　for　Trollesund；　the　main　port　of　Lapland。　The　witches　had　a　consulate　in　the　town；　and　John　Faa　knew　that　without　their　help；　or　at　least　their　friendly　neutrality；　it　would　be　impossible　to　rescue　the　captive　children。
　　He　explained　his　idea　to　Lyra　and　Farder　Coram　the　next　day；　when　Lyra's　seasickness　had　abated　slightly。　The　sun　was　shining　brightly　and　the　green　waves　were　dashing　against　the　bows；　bearing　white　streams　of　foam　as　they　curved　away。　Out　on　the　deck；　with　the　breeze　blowing　and　the　whole　sea　a…sparkle　with　light　and　movement；　she　felt　little　sickness　at　all；　and　now　that　Pantalaimon　had　discovered　the　delights　of　being　a　seagull　and　then　a　stormy　petrel　and　skimming　the　wave　tops；　Lyra　was　too　absorbed　by　his　glee　to　wallow　in　landlubberly　misery。
　　John　Faa；　Farder　Coram；　and　two　or　three　others　sat　in　the　stern　of　the　ship；　with　the　sun　full　on　them；　talking　about　what　to　do　next。
　　〃Now；　Farder　Coram　knows　these　Lapland　witches；〃　John　Faa　said。　〃And　if　I　en't　mistaken；　there's　an　obligation　there。〃
　　〃That's　right；　John；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃It　were　forty　years　back；　but　that's　nothing　to　a　witch。　Some　of　'em　live　to　many　times　that。〃
　　〃What　happened　to　bring　this　obligation　about；　Farder　Coram？〃　said　Adam　Stefanski；　the　man　in　charge　of　the　fighting　troop。
　　〃I　saved　a　witch's　life；〃　Farder　Coram　explained。　〃She　fell　out　of　the　air；　being　pursued　by　a　great　red　bird　like　to　nothing　I'd　seen　before。　She　fell　injured　in　the　marsh　and　I　set　out　to　find　her。　She　was　like　to　drowning；　and　I　got　her　on　board　and　shot　that　bird　down；　and　it　fell　into　a　bog；　to　my　regret；　for　it　was　as　big　as　a　bittern；　and　flame…red。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　the　other　men　murmured；　captured　by　Farder　Coram's　story。
　　〃Now；　when　I　got　her　in　the　boat；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　had　the　most　grim　shock　I'd　ever　known；　because　that　young　woman　had　no　daemon。〃
　　It　was　as　if　he'd　said；　〃She　had　no　head。〃　The　very　thought　was　repugnant。　The　men　shuddered；　their　daemons　bristled　or　shook　themselves　or　cawed　harshly；　and　the　men　soothed　them。　Pantalaimon　crept　into　Lyra's　arms；　their　hearts　beating　together。
　　〃At　least；〃　Farder　Coram　said；　〃that's　what　it　seemed。　Being　as　she'd　fell　out　of　the　air；　I　more　than　suspected　she　was　a　witch。　She　looked　exactly　like　a　young　woman；　thinner　than　some　and　prettier　than　most；　but　not　seeing　that　daemon　gave　me　a　hideous　turn。〃
　　〃En't　they　got　daemons　then；　the　witches？〃　said　the　other　man；　Michael　Canzona。
　　〃Their　daemons　is　invisible；　I　expect；〃　said　Adam　Stefanski。　〃He　was　there　all　the　time；　and　Farder　Coram　never　saw　him。〃
　　〃No；　you're　wrong；　Adam；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃He　weren't　there　at　all。　The　witches　have　the　power　to　separate　their…selves　from　their　daemons　a　mighty　sight　further'n　what　we　can。　If　need　be；　they　can　send　their　daemons　far　abroad　on　the　wind　or　the　clouds；　or　down　below　the　ocean。　And　this　witch　I　found；　she　hadn't　been　resting　above　an　hour　when　her　daemon　came　a　flying　back；　because　he'd　felt　her　fear　and　her　injury；　of　course。　And　it's　my　belief；　though　she　never　admitted　to　this；　that　the　great　red　bird　I　shot　was　another　witch's　daemon；　in　pursuit。　Lord！　That　made　me　shiver；　when　I　thought　of　that。　I'd　have　stayed　my　hand；　I'd　have　taken　any　measures　on　sea　or　land；　but　there　it　was。　Anyway；　there　was　no　doubt　I'd　saved　her　life；　and　she　gave　me　a　token　of　it；　and　said　I　was　to　call　on　her　help　if　ever　it　was　needed。　And　once　she　sent　me　help　when　the　Skraelings　shot　me　with　a　poison　arrow。　We　had　other　connections；　too　。　。　。　。I　haven't　seen　her　from　that　day　to　this；　but　she'll　remember。〃
　　〃And　does　she　live　at　Trollesund；　this　witch？〃
　　〃No；　no。　They　live　in　forests　and　on　the　tundra；　not　in　a　seaport　among　men　and　women。　Their　business　is　with　the　wild。　But　they　keep　a　consul　there；　and　I　shall　get　word　to　her；　make　no　doubt　about　that。〃
　　Lyra　was　keen　to　know　more　about　the　witches；　but　the　men　had　turned　their　talk　to　the　matter　of　fuel　and　stores；　and　presently　she　grew　impatient　to　see　the　rest　of　the　ship。　She　wandered　along　the　deck　toward　the　bows；　and　soon　made　the　acquaintance　of　an　able　seaman　by　flicking　at　him　the　pips　she'd　saved　from　the　apple　she'd　eaten　at　breakfast。　He　was　a　stout　and　placid　man；　and　when　he'd　sworn　at　her　and　been　sworn　at　in　return；　they　became　great　friends。　He　was　called　Jerry。　Under　his　guidance　she　found　out　that　having　something　to　do　prevented　you　from　feeling　seasick；　and　that　even　a　job　like　scrubbing　a　deck　could　be　satisfying；　if　it　was　done　in　a　seamanlike　way。　She　was　very　taken　with　this　notion；　and　later　on　she　folded　the　blankets　on　her　bunk　in　a　seamanlike　way；　and　put　her　possessions　in　the　closet　in　a　seamanlike　way；　and　used　〃stow〃　instead　of　〃tidy〃　for　the　process　of　doing　so。
　　After　two　days　at　sea；　Lyra　decided　that　this　was　the　life　for　her。　She　had　the　run　of　the　ship；　from　the　engine　room　to　the　bridge；　and　she　was　soon　on　first…name　terms　with　all　the　crew。　Captain　Rokeby　let　her　signal　to　a　Hollands　frigate　by　pulling　the　handle　of　the　steam　whistle；　the　cook　suffered　her　help　in　mixing　plum　duff；　and　only　a　stern　word　from　John　Faa　prevented　her　from　climbing　the　foremast　to　inspect　the　horizon　from　the　crow's　nest。
　　All　the　time　they　were　steaming　north；　and　it　grew　colder　daily。　The　ship's　stores　were　searched　for　oilskins　t