pp.thegoldencompass-第28部分

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　　Farder　Coram　introduced　them　both。　The　goose　daemon　looked　hard　at　Lyra。
　　〃I　have　heard　of　this　child；〃　he　said。　〃She　is　talked　about　among　witches。　So　you　have　e　to　make　war？〃
　　〃Not　war；　Kaisa。　We　are　going　to　free　the　children　taken　from　us。　And　I　hope　the　witches　will　help。〃
　　〃Not　all　of　them　will。　Some　clans　are　working　with　the　Dust　hunters。〃
　　〃Is　that　what　you　call　the　Oblation　Board？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　this　board　may　be。　They　are　Dust　hunters。　They　came　to　our　regions　ten　years　ago　with　philosophical　instruments。　They　paid　us　to　allow　them　to　set　up　stations　in　our　lands；　and　they　treated　us　with　courtesy。〃
　　〃What　is　this　Dust？〃
　　〃It　es　from　the　sky。　Some　say　it　has　always　been　there；　some　say　it　is　newly　falling。　What　is　certain　is　that　when　people　bee　aware　of　it；　a　great　fear　es　over　them；　and　they'll　stop　at　nothing　to　discover　what　it　is。　But　it　is　not　of　any　concern　to　witches。〃

　　〃And　where　are　they　now；　these　Dust　hunters？〃
　　〃Four　days　northeast　of　here；　at　a　place　called　Bolvangar。　Our　clan　made　no　agreement　with　them；　and　because　of　our　longstanding　obligation　to　you；　Farder　Coram；　I　have　e　to　show　you　how　to　find　these　Dust　hunters。〃
　　Farder　Coram　smiled；　and　John　Faa　clapped　his　great　hands　together　in　satisfaction。
　　〃Thank　you　kindly；　sir；〃　he　said　to　the　goose。　〃But　tell　us　this：　do　you　know　anything　more　about　these　Dust　hunters？　What　do　they　do　at　this　Bolvangar？〃
　　〃They　have　put　up　buildings　of　metal　and　concrete；　and　some　underground　chambers。　They　burn　coal　spirit；　which　they　bring　in　at　great　expense。　We　don't　know　what　they　do；　but　there　is　an　air　of　hatred　and　fear　over　the　place　and　for　miles　around。　Witches　can　see　these　things　where　other　humans　can't。　Animals　keep　away　too。　No　birds　fly　there；　lemmings　and　foxes　have　fled。　Hence　the　name　Bolvangar：　the　fields　of　evil。　They　don't　call　it　that。　They　call　it　'the　station。'　But　to　everyone　else　it　is　Bolvangar。〃
　　〃And　how　are　they　defended？〃
　　〃They　have　a　pany　of　Northern　Tartars　armed　with　rifles。　They　are　good　soldiers；　but　they　lack　practice；　because　no　one　has　ever　attacked　the　settlement　since　it　was　built。　Then　there　is　a　wire　fence　around　the　pound；　which　is　filled　with　anbaric　force。　There　may　be　other　means　of　defense　that　we　don't　know　about；　because　as　I　say　they　have　no　interest　for　us。〃
　　Lyra　was　bursting　to　ask　a　question；　and　the　goose　dasmon　knew　it　and　looked　at　her　as　if　giving　permission。
　　〃Why　do　the　witches　talk　about　me？〃　she　said。
　　〃Because　of　your　father；　and　his　knowledge　of　the　other　worlds；〃　the　daemon　replied。
　　That　surprised　all　three　of　them。　Lyra　looked　at　Farder　Coram；　who　looked　back　in　mild　wonder；　and　at　John　Faa；　whose　expression　was　troubled。
　　　〃Other　worlds？〃　John　Faa　said。　〃Pardon　me；　sir；　but　what　worlds　would　those　be？　Do　you　mean　the　stars？〃
　　〃Indeed　no。〃
　　〃Perhaps　the　world　of　spirits？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　〃Nor　that。〃
　　〃Is　it　the　city　in　the　lights？〃　said　Lyra。　〃It　is；　en't　it？〃
　　The　goose　turned　his　stately　head　toward　her。　His　eyes　were　black；　surrounded　by　a　thin　line　of　pure　sky…blue；　and　their　gaze　was　intense。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃Witches　have　known　of　the　other　worlds　for　thousands　of　years。　You　can　see　them　sometimes　in　the　Northern　Lights。　They　aren't　part　of　this　universe　at　all；　even　the　furthest　stars　are　part　of　this　universe；　but　the　lights　show　us　a　different　universe　entirely。　Not　further　away；　but　interpenetrating　with　this　one。　Here；　on　this　deck；　millions　of　other　universes　exist；　unaware　of　one　another　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　raised　his　wings　and　spread　them　wide　before　folding　them　again。
　　〃There；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　just　brushed　ten　million　other　worlds；　and　they　knew　nothing　of　it。　We　are　as　close　as　a　heartbeat；　but　we　can　never　touch　or　see　or　hear　these　other　worlds　except　in　the　Northern　Lights。〃
　　〃And　why　there？〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　〃Because　the　charged　particles　in　the　Aurora　have　the　property　of　making　the　matter　of　this　world　thin；　so　that　we　can　see　through　it　for　a　brief　time。　Witches　have　always　known　this；　but　we　seldom　speak　of　it。〃
　　〃My　father　believes　in　it；〃　Lyra　said。　〃I　know　because　I　heard　him　talking　and　showing　pictures　of　the　Aurora。〃
　　〃Is　this　anything　to　do　with　Dust？〃　said　John　Faa。
　　〃Who　can　say？〃　said　the　goose　daemon。　〃All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　the　Dust　hunters　are　as　frightened　of　it　as　if　it　were　deadly　poison。　That　is　why　they　imprisoned　Lord　Asriel。〃
　　〃But　why？〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃They　think　he　intends　to　use　Dust　in　some　way　in　order　to　make　a　bridge　between　this　world　and　the　world　beyond　the　Aurora。〃
　　There　was　a　lightness　in　Lyra's　head。
　　She　heard　Farder　Coram　say；　〃And　does　he？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　the　goose　daemon。　〃They　don't　believe　he　can；　because　they　think　he　is　mad　to　believe　in　the　other　worlds　in　the　first　place。　But　it　is　true：　that　is　his　intention。　And　he　is　so　powerful　a　figure　that　they　feared　he　would　upset　their　own　plans；　so　they　made　a　pact　with　the　armored　bears　to　capture　him　and　keep　him　imprisoned　in　the　fortress　of　Svalbard；　out　of　the　way。　Some　say　they　helped　the　new　bear　king　to　gain　his　throne；　as　part　of　the　bargain。〃
　　Lyra　said；　〃Do　the　witches　want　him　to　make　this　bridge？　Are　they　on　his　side　or　against　him？〃
　　〃That　is　a　question　with　too　plicated　an　answer。　Firstly；　the　witches　are　not　united。　There　are　differences　of　opinion　among　us。　Secondly；　Lord　Asriel's　bridge　will　have　a　bearing　on　a　war　being　waged　at　the　present　between　some　witches　and　various　other　forces；　some　in　the　spirit　world。　Possession　of　the　bridge；　if　it　ever　existed；　would　give　a　huge　advantage　to　whoever　held　it。　Thirdly；　Serafina　Pekkala's　clan…my　clan…is　not　yet　part　of　any　alliance；　though　great　pressure　is　being　put　on　us　to　declare　for　one　side　or　another。　You　see；　these　are　questions　of　high　politics；　and　not　easily　answered。〃
　　〃What　about　the　bears？〃　said　Lyra。　〃Whose　side　are　they　on？〃
　　〃On　the　side　of　anyone　who　pays　them。　They　have　no　interest　whatever　in　these　questions；　they　have　no　daemons；　they　are　unconcerned　about　human　problems。　At　least；　that　is　how　bears　used　to　be；　but　we　have　heard　that　their　new　king　is　intent　on　changing　their　old　ways　。　。　。　。At　any　rate；　the　Dust　hunters　have　paid　them　to　imprison　Lord　Asriel；　and　they　will　hold　him　on　Svalbard　until　the　last　drop　of　blood　drains　from　the　body　of　the　last　bear　alive。〃
　　〃But　not　all　bears！〃　Lyra　said。　〃There's　one　who　en't　on　Svalbard　at　all。　He's　an　outcast　bear；　and　he's　going　to　e　with　us。〃
　　The　goose　gave　Lyra　another　of　his　piercing　looks。　This　time　she　could　feel　his　cold　surprise。
　　Farder　Coram　shifted　unfortably；　and　said；　〃The　fact　is；　Lyra；　I　don't　think　he　is。　We　heard　he's　serving　out　a　term　as　an　indentured　laborer；　he　en't　free；　as　we　thought　he　might　be；　he's　under　sentence。　Till　he's　discharged　he　won't　be　free　to　e；　armor　or　no　armor；　and　he　won't　never　have　that　back；　either。〃
　　〃But　he　said　they　tricked　him！　They　made　him　drunk　and　stole　it　away！〃
　　〃We　heard　a　different　story；〃　said　John　Faa。　〃He's　a　dangerous　rogue；　is　what　we　heard。〃
　　〃If…〃　Lyra　was　passionate；　she　could　hardly　speak　for　indignation。　〃…if　the　alethiometer　says　something；　I　know　it's　true。　And　I　asked　it；　and　it　said　that　he　was　telling　the　truth；　they　did　trick　him；　and　they're　telling　lies　and　not　him。　I　believe　him；　Lord　Faa！　Farder　Coram…you　saw　him　too；　and　you　believe　him；　don't　you？〃
　　〃I　thought　I　did；　child。　I　en't　so　certain　of　things　as　you　are。〃
　　〃But　what　are　they　afraid　of？　Do　they　think　he's　going　to　go　round　killing　people　as　soon's　he　gets　his　armor　on？　He　could　kill　dozens　of　'em　now！〃
　　〃He　has　done；〃　said　John　Faa。　〃Well；　if　not　dozens；　then　some。　When　they　first　took　his　armor　away；　he　went　a　rampaging　round　looking　for　it。　He　tore　open　the　police　house　and　the　bank　and　I　don't　know　where　else；　and　there's　at　least　two　men　who　died。　The　only　reason　they　didn't　shoot　to　kill　him　is　because　of　his　wondrous　skill　with　metals；　they　wanted　to　use　him　like　a　laborer。〃
　　〃Like　a　slave！〃　Lyra　said　hotly。　〃They　hadn't　got　the　right！〃
　　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　they　might　have　shot　him　for　the　killings　he　done；　but　they　didn't。　And　they　bound　him　over　to　labor　in　the　town's　interest　until　he's　paid　off　the　damage　and　the　blood　money。〃
　　〃John；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃I　don't　know　how　you　feel；　but　it's　my　belief　they'll　never　let　him　have　that　armor　back。　The　longer　they　keep　him；　the　more　angry　he'll　be　when　he　gets　it。〃
　　〃But　if　we　get　his　armor　back；　he'll　e　with　us　and　never　bother　'em　again；〃　said　Lyra。　〃I　promise；　Lord　Faa。〃
　　〃And　how　are　we　going　to　do　that？〃
　　〃I　know　where　it　is！〃
　　There　was　a　silence；　in　which　they　all　three　became　aware　of　the　witch's　daemon　and　his　fixed　stare　at　Lyra。　All　three　turned　to　him；　and　their　own　daemons　too；　who　had　until　then　affected　the　extreme　politeness　of　keeping　their　eyes　modestly　away　from　this　singular　creature；　here　without　his　body。
　　〃You　won't　be　surprised；〃　said　the　goose；　〃to　know　that　the　alethiometer　is　one　other　reason　the　witches　are　interested　in　you；　Lyra。　Our　consul　told　us　about　your　visit　this　morning。　I　believe　it　was　Dr。　Lanselius　who　told　you　about　the　bear。〃
　　〃Yes；　it　was；〃　said　John　Faa。　〃And　she　and　Farder　Coram　went　theirselves　and　talked　to　him。　I　daresay　what　Lyra　says　is　true；　but　if　we　go　breaking　the　law　of　these　people　we'll　only　get　involved　in　a　quarrel　with　them；　and　what　we　ought　to　be　doing　is　pushing　on　towards　this　Bolvangar；　bear　or　no　bear。〃
　　〃Ah；　but　you　en't　seen　him；　John；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃And　I　do　believe　Lyra。　We　could　promise　on　his　behalf；　maybe。　He　might　make　all　the　difference。〃
　　〃What　do　you　think；　sir？〃　said　John　Faa　to　the　witch's　daemon。
　　〃We　have　few　dealings　with　bears。　Their　desires　are　as　strange　to　us　as　ours　are　to　them。　If　this　bear　is　an　outcast；　he　might　be　less　reliable　than　they　are　said　to　be。　You　must　decide　for　yourselves。〃
　　〃We　will；〃　said　John　Faa　firmly。　〃But　now；　sir；　can　you　tell　us　how　to　get　to　Bolvangar　from　here？〃
　　The　goose　daemon　began　to　explain。　He　spoke　of　valleys　and　hills；　of　the　tree　line　and　the　tundra；　of　star　sightings。　Lyra　listened　awhile；　and　then　lay　back　in　the　deck　chair　with　Pantalaimon　curled　around　her　neck；　and　thought　of　the　grand　vision　the　goose　daemon　had　brought　with　him。　A　bridge　between　two　worlds　。　。　。　This　was　far　more　splendid　than　anything　she　could　have　hoped　for！　And　only　her　great　father　could　have　conceived　it。　As　soon　as　they　had　rescued　the　children；　she　would　go　to　Svalbard　with　the　bear　and　take　Lord　Asriel　the　alethiometer；　and　use　it　to　help　set　him　free；　and　they'd　build　the　bridge　together；　and　be　the　first　across　。　。　。　。
　　
　　Sometime　in　the　night　John　Faa　must　have　carried　Lyra　to　her　bunk；　because　that　was　where　she　awoke。　The　dim　sun　was　as　high　in　the　sky　as　it　was　going　to　get；　only　a　hand's　breadth　above　the　horizon；　so　it　must　be　nearly　noon；　she　thought。　Soon；　when　they　moved　further　north；　there　would　be　no　sun　at　all。
　　She　dressed　quickly　and　ran　on　deck　to　find　nothing　very　much　happening。　All　the　stores　had　been　unloaded；　sledges　and　dog　teams　had　been　hired　and　were　waiting　to　go；　every