pp.thegoldencompass-第25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！


　　All　the　time　they　were　steaming　north；　and　it　grew　colder　daily。　The　ship's　stores　were　searched　for　oilskins　that　could　be　cut　down　for　her；　and　Jerry　showed　her　how　to　sew；　an　art　she　learned　willingly　from　him；　though　she　had　scorned　it　at　Jordan　and　avoided　instruction　from　Mrs。　Lonsdale。　Together　they　made　a　waterproof　bag　for　the　alethiometer　that　she　could　wear　around　her　waist；　in　case　she　fell　in　the　sea；　she　said。　With　it　safely　in　place　she　clung　to　the　rail　in　her　oilskins　and　sou'wester　as　the　stinging　spray　broke　over　the　bows　and　surged　along　the　deck。　She　still　felt　seasick　occasionally；　especially　when　the　wind　got　up　and　the　ship　plunged　heavily　over　the　crests　of　the　gray…green　waves；　and　then　it　was　Pantalaimon's　job　to　distract　her　from　it　by　skimming　the　waves　as　a　stormy　petrel；　because　she　could　feel　his　boundless　glee　in　the　dash　of　wind　and　water；　and　forget　her　nausea。　From　time　to　time　he　even　tried　being　a　fish；　and　once　joined　a　school　of　dolphins；　to　their　surprise　and　pleasure。　Lyra　stood　shivering　in　the　fo'c'sle　and　laughed　with　delight　as　her　beloved　Pantalaimon；　sleek　and　powerful；　leaped　from　the　water　with　half　a　dozen　other　swift　gray　shapes。　He　had　to　stay　close　to　the　ship；　of　course；　for　he　could　never　go　far　from　her；　but　she　sensed　his　desire　to　speed　as　far　and　as　fast　as　he　could；　for　pure　exhilaration。　She　shared　his　pleasure；　but　for　her　it　wasn't　simple　pleasure；　for　there　was　pain　and　fear　in　it　too。　Suppose　he　loved　being　a　dolphin　more　than　he　loved　being　with　her　on　land？　What　would　she　do　then？
　　Her　friend　the　able　seaman　was　nearby；　and　he　paused　as　he　adjusted　the　canvas　cover　of　the　forward　hatch　to　look　out　at　the　little　girl's　daemon　skimming　and　leaping　with　the　dolphins。　His　own　daemon；　a　seagull；　had　her　head　tucked　under　her　wing　on　the　capstan。　He　knew　what　Lyra　was　feeling。
　　〃I　remember　when　I　first　went　to　sea；　my　Belisaria　hadn't　settled　on　one　form；　I　was　that　young；　and　she　loved　being　a　porpoise。　I　was　afraid　she'd　settle　like　that。　There　was　one　old　sailorman　on　my　first　vessel　who　could　never　go　ashore　at　all；　because　his　daemon　had　settled　as　a　dolphin；　and　he　could　never　leave　the　water。　He　was　a　wonderful　sailor；　best　navigator　you　ever　knew；　could　have　made　a　fortune　at　the　fishing；　but　he　wasn't　happy　at　it。　He　was　never　quite　happy　till　he　died　and　he　could　be　buried　at　sea。〃
　　〃Why　do　daemons　have　to　settle？〃　Lyra　said。　〃I　want　Pantalaimon　to　be　able　to　change　forever。　So　does　he。〃
　　〃Ah；　they　always　have　settled；　and　they　always　will。　That's　part　of　growing　up。　There'll　e　a　time　when　you'll　be　tired　of　his　changing　about；　and　you'll　want　a　settled　kind　of　form　for　him。〃
　　〃I　never　will！〃
　　〃Oh；　you　will。　You'll　want　to　grow　up　like　all　the　other　girls。　Anyway；　there's　pensations　for　a　settled　form。〃
　　〃What　are　they？〃
　　〃Knowing　what　kind　of　person　you　are。　Take　old　Belisaria。　She's　a　seagull；　and　that　means　I'm　a　kind　of　seagull　too。　I'm　not　grand　and　splendid　nor　beautiful；　but　I'm　a　tough　old　thing　and　I　can　survive　anywhere　and　always　find　a　bit　of　food　and　pany。　That's　worth　knowing；　that　is。　And　when　your　daemon　settles；　you'll　know　the　sort　of　person　you　are。〃
　　〃But　suppose　your　daemon　settles　in　a　shape　you　don't　like？〃
　　〃Well；　then；　you're　discontented；　en't　you？　There's　plenty　of　folk　as'd　like　to　have　a　lion　as　a　daemon　and　they　end　up　with　a　poodle。　And　till　they　learn　to　be　satisfied　with　what　they　are；　they're　going　to　be　fretful　about　it。　Waste　of　feeling；　that　is。〃
　　But　it　didn't　seem　to　Lyra　that　she　would　ever　grow　up。
　　
　　One　morning　there　was　a　different　smell　in　the　air；　and　the　ship　was　moving　oddly；　with　a　brisker　rocking　from　side　to　side　instead　of　the　plunging　and　soaring。　Lyra　was　on　deck　a　minute　after　she　woke　up；　gazing　greedily　at　the　land：　such　a　strange　sight；　after　all　that　water；　for　though　they　had　only　been　at　sea　a　few　days；　Lyra　felt　as　if　they'd　been　on　the　ocean　for　months。　Directly　ahead　of　the　ship　a　mountain　rose；　green　flanked　and　snow…capped；　and　a　little　town　and　harbor　lay　below　it：　wooden　houses　with　steep　roofs；　an　oratory　spire；　cranes　in　the　harbor；　and　clouds　of　gulls　wheeling　and　crying。　The　smell　was　of　fish；　but　mixed　with　it　came　land　smells　too：　pine　resin　and　earth　and　something　animal　and　musky；　and　something　else　that　was　cold　and　blank　and　wild：　it　might　have　been　snow。　It　was　the　smell　of　the　North。
　　Seals　frisked　around　the　ship；　showing　their　clown　faces　above　the　water　before　sinking　back　without　a　splash。　The　wind　that　lifted　spray　off　the　white…capped　waves　was　monstrously　cold；　and　searched　out　every　gap　in　Lyra's　wolfskin；　and　her　hands　were　soon　aching　and　her　face　numb。　Pantalaimon；　in　his　ermine　shape；　warmed　her　neck　for　her；　but　it　was　too　cold　to　stay　outside　for　long　without　work　to　do；　even　to　watch　the　seals；　and　Lyra　went　below　to　eat　her　breakfast　porridge　and　look　through　the　porthole　in　the　saloon。
　　Inside　the　harbor　the　water　was　calm；　and　as　they　moved　past　the　massive　breakwater　Lyra　began　to　feel　unsteady　from　the　lack　of　motion。　She　and　Pantalaimon　avidly　watched　as　the　ship　inched　ponderously　toward　the　quayside。　During　the　next　hour　the　sound　of　the　engine　died　away　to　a　quiet　background　rumble；　voices　shouted　orders　or　queries；　ropes　were　thrown；　gangways　lowered；　hatches　opened。
　　〃e　on；　　Lyra；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　　〃Is　everything　packed？〃
　　Lyra's　possessions；　such　as　they　were；　had　been　packed　ever　since　she'd　woken　up　and　seen　the　land。　All　she　had　to　do　was　run　to　the　cabin　and　pick　up　the　shopping　bag；　and　she　was　ready。
　　The　first　thing　she　and　Farder　Coram　did　ashore　was　to　visit　the　house　of　the　witch　consul。　It　didn't　take　long　to　find　it；　the　little　town　was　clustered　around　the　harbor；　with　the　oratory　and　the　governor's　house　the　only　buildings　of　any　size。　The　witch　consul　lived　in　a　green…painted　wooden　house　within　sight　of　the　sea；　and　when　they　rang　the　bell　it　jangled　loudly　in　the　quiet　street。
　　A　servant　showed　them　into　a　little　parlor　and　brought　them　coffee。　Presently　the　consul　himself　came　in　to　greet　them。　He　was　a　fat　man　with　a　florid　face　and　a　sober　black　suit；　whose　name　was　Martin　Lanselius。　His　dsmon　was　a　little　serpent；　the　same　intense　and　brilliant　green　as　his　eyes；　which　were　the　only　witchlike　thing　about　him；　though　Lyra　was　not　sure　what　she　had　been　expecting　a　witch　to　look　like。
　　〃How　can　I　help　you；　Farder　Coram？〃　he　said。
　　〃In　two　ways；　Dr。　Lanselius。　First；　I'm　anxious　to　get　in　touch　with　a　witch　lady　I　met　some　years　ago；　in　the　fen　country　of　Eastern　Anglia。　Her　name　is　Serafina　Pekkala。〃
　　Dr。　Lanselius　made　a　note　with　a　silver　pencil。
　　〃How　long　ago　was　your　meeting　with　her？〃　he　said。
　　〃Must　be　forty　years。　But　I　think　she　would　remember。〃
　　〃And　what　is　the　second　way　in　which　you　seek　my　help？〃
　　〃I'm　representing　a　number　of　gyptian　families　who've　lost　children。　We've　got　reason　to　believe　there's　an　organization　capturing　these　children；　ours　and　others；　and　bringing　them　to　the　North　for　some　unknown　purpose。　I'd　like　to　know　whether　you　or　your　people　have　heard　of　anything　like　this　a　going　on。〃
　　Dr。　Lanselius　sipped　his　coffee　blandly。
　　〃It's　not　impossible　that　notice　of　some　such　activity　might　have　e　our　way；〃　he　said。　〃You　realize；　the　relations　between　my　people　and　the　Northlanders　are　perfectly　cordial。　It　would　be　difficult　for　me　to　justify　disturbing　them。〃
　　Farder　Coram　nodded　as　if　he　understood　very　well。
　　〃To　be　sure；〃　he　said。　〃And　it　wouldn't　be　necessary　for　me　to　ask　you　if　I　could　get　the　information　any　other　way。　That　was　why　I　asked　about　the　witch　lady　first。〃
　　Now　Dr。　Lanselius　nodded　as　if　he　understood。　Lyra　watched　this　game　with　puzzlement　and　respect。　There　were　all　kinds　of　things　going　on　beneath　it；　and　she　saw　that　the　witch　consul　was　ing　to　a　decision。
　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course；　that's　true；　and　you'll　realize　that　your　name　is　not　unknown　to　us；　Farder　Coram。　Serafina　Pekkala　is　queen　of　a　witch　clan　in　the　region　of　Lake　Enara。　As　for　your　other　question；　it　is　of　course　understood　that　this　information　is　not　reaching　you　through　me。〃
　　〃Quite　so。〃
　　〃Well；　in　this　very　town　there　is　a　branch　of　an　organization　called　the　Northern　Progress　Exploration　pany；　which　pretends　to　be　searching　for　minerals；　but　which　is　really　controlled　by　something　called　the　General　Oblation　Board　of　London。　This　organization；　I　happen　to　know；　imports　children。　This　is　not　generally　known　in　the　town；　the　Norroway　government　is　not　officially　aware　of　it。　The　children　don't　remain　here　long。　They　are　taken　some　distance　inland。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　where；　Dr。　Lanselius？〃
　　〃No。　I　would　tell　you　if　I　did。〃
　　〃And　do　you　know　what　happens　to　them　there？〃
　　For　the　first　time；　Dr。　Lanselius　glanced　at　Lyra。　She　looked　stolidly　back。　The　little　green　serpent　daemon　raised　her　head　from　the　consul's　collar　and　whispered　tongue…flickeringly　in　his　ear。

　　The　consul　said；　〃I　have　heard　the　phrase　the　M。aystadt　process　in　connection　with　this　matter。　I　think　they　use　that　in　order　to　avoid　calling　what　they　do　by　its　proper　name。　I　have　also　heard　the　word　intercision；　but　what　it　refers　to　I　could　not　say。〃
　　〃And　are　there　any　children　in　the　town　at　the　moment？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　He　was　stroking　his　daemon's　fur　as　she　sat　alert　in　his　lap。　Lyra　noticed　that　she　had　stopped　purring。
　　〃No；　I　think　not；〃　said　Dr。　Lanselius。　〃A　group　of　about　twelve　arrived　a　week　ago　and　moved　out　the　day　before　yesterday。〃
　　〃Ah！　As　recent　as　that？　Then　that　gives　us　a　bit　of　hope。　How　did　they　travel；　Dr。　Lanselius？〃
　　〃By　sledge。〃
　　〃And　you　have　no　idea　where　they　went？〃
　　〃Very　little。　It　is　not　a　subject　we　are　interested　in。〃
　　〃Quite　so。　Now；　you've　answered　all　my　questions　very　fairly；　sir；　and　here's　just　one　more。　If　you　were　me；　what　question　would　you　ask　of　the　Consul　of　the　Witches？〃
　　For　the　first　time　Dr。　Lanselius　smiled。
　　〃I　would　ask　where　I　could　obtain　the　services　of　an　armored　bear；〃　he　said。
　　Lyra　sat　up；　and　felt　Pantalaimon's　heart　leap　in　her　hands。
　　〃I　understood　the　armored　bears　to　be　in　the　service　of　the　Oblation　Board；〃　said　Farder　Coram　in　surprise。　〃I　mean；　the　Northern　Progress　pany；　or　whatever　they're　calling　themselves。〃
　　〃There　is　at　least　one　who　is　not。　You　will　find　him　at　the　sledge　depot　at　the　end　of　Langlokur　Street。　He　earns　a　living　there　at　the　moment；　but　such　is　his　temper　and　the　fear　he　engenders　in　the　dogs；　his　employment　might　not　last　for　long。〃
　　〃Is　he　a　renegade；　then？〃
　　〃It　seems　so。　His　name　is　Iorek　Byrnison。　You　asked　what　I　would　ask；　and　I　told　you。　Now　here　is　what　I　would　do：　I　would　seize　the　chance　to　employ　an　armored　bear；　even　if　it　were　far　more　remote　than　this。〃
　　Lyra　could　hardly　sit　still。　Farder　Coram；　however；　knew　the　etiquette　for　meetings　such　as　this；　and　took　another　spiced　honey　cake　from　the　plate。　While　he　ate　it；　Dr。　Lanselius　turned　to　Lyra。
　　〃I　understand　that　you　are　in　possession　of　an　alethiome…ter；〃　he　said；　to　her　great　surprise；　for　how　could　he　have　known　that？
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　and　then；　prompted　by　a　nip　from　P