pp.thegoldencompass-第30部分

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n　into　the　house　came　running　out　and　stood　to　face　the　cellar　window；　rifle　at　his　shoulder；　and　then　the　window　tore　open　pletely；　and　out　climbed　Iorek　Byrnison；　the　bear　in　armor。
　　Without　it；　he　was　formidable。　With　it；　he　was　terrifying。　It　was　rust…red；　and　crudely　riveted　together：　great　sheets　and　plates　of　dented　discolored　metal　that　scraped　and　screeched　as　they　rode　over　one　another。　The　helmet　was　pointed　like　his　muzzle；　with　slits　for　eyes；　and　it　left　the　lower　part　of　his　jaw　bare　for　tearing　and　biting。
　　The　sentry　fired　several　shots；　and　the　policemen　leveled　their　weapons　too；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　merely　shook　the　bullets　off　like　raindrops；　and　lunged　forward　in　a　screech　and　clang　of　metal　before　the　sentry　could　escape；　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground。　His　daemon；　a　husky　dog；　darted　at　the　bear's　throat；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　took　no　more　notice　of　him　than　he　would　of　a　fly；　and　dragging　the　sentry　to　him　with　one　vast　paw；　he　bent　and　enclosed　his　head　in　his　jaws。　Lyra　could　see　exactly　what　would　happen　next：　he'd　crush　the　man's　skull　like　an　egg；　and　there　would　follow　a　bloody　fight；　more　deaths；　and　more　delay；　and　they　would　never　get　free；　with　or　without　the　bear。
　　Without　even　thinking；　she　darted　forward　and　put　her　hand　on　the　one　vulnerable　spot　in　the　bear's　armor；　the　gap　that　appeared　between　the　helmet　and　the　great　plate　over　his　shoulders　when　he　bent　his　head；　where　she　could　see　the　yellow…white　fur　dimly　between　the　rusty　edges　of　metal。　She　dug　her　fingers　in；　and　Pantalaimon　instantly　flew　to　the　same　spot　and　became　a　wildcat；　crouched　to　defend　her；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　was　still；　and　the　riflemen　held　their　fire。
　　〃Iorek！〃　she　said　in　a　fierce　undertone。　〃Listen！　You　owe　me　a　debt；　right。　Well；　now　you　can　repay　it。　Do　as　I　ask。　Don't　fight　these　men。　Just　turn　around　and　walk　away　with　me。　We　want　you；　Iorek；　you　can't　stay　here。　Just　e　down　to　the　harbor　with　me　and　don't　even　look　back。　Farder　Coram　and　Lord　Faa；　let　them　do　the　talking；　they'll　make　it　all　right。　Leave　go　this　man　and　e　away　with　me　。　。　。　。〃
　　The　bear　slowly　opened　his　jaws。　The　sentry's　head；　bleeding　and　wet　and　ash…pale；　fell　to　the　ground　as　he　fainted；　and　his　dsmon　set　about　calming　and　gentling　him　as　the　bear　stepped　away　beside　Lyra。
　　No　one　else　moved。　They　watched　the　bear　turn　away　from　his　victim　at　the　bidding　of　the　girl　with　the　cat　daemon；　and　then　they　shuffled　aside　to　make　room　as　Iorek　Byrnison　padded　heavily　through　the　midst　of　them　at　Lyra's　side　and　made　for　the　harbor。
　　Her　mind　was　all　on　him；　and　she　didn't　see　the　confusion　behind　her；　the　fear　and　the　anger　that　rose　up　safely　when　he　was　gone。　She　walked　with　him；　and　Pantalaimon　padded　ahead　of　them　both　as　if　to　clear　the　way。
　　When　they　reached　the　harbor；　Iorek　Byrnison　dipped　his　head　and　unfastened　the　helmet　with　a　claw；　letting　it　clang　on　the　frozen　ground。　Gyptians　came　out　of　the　cafe；　having　sensed　that　something　was　going　on；　and　watched　in　the　gleam　of　the　anbaric　lights　on　the　ship's　deck　as　Iorek　Byrnison　shrugged　off　the　rest　of　his　armor　and　left　it　in　a　heap　on　the　quayside。　Without　a　word　to　anyone　he　padded　to　the　water　and　slipped　into　it　without　a　ripple；　and　vanished。
　　〃What's　happened？〃　said　Tony　Costa；　hearing　the　indignant　voices　from　the　streets　above；　as　the　townsfolk　and　the　police　made　their　way　to　the　harbor。
　　Lyra　told　him；　as　clearly　as　she　could。
　　〃But　where's　he　gone　now？〃　he　said。　〃He　en't　just　left　his　armor　on　the　ground？　They'll　have　it　back；　as　soon's　they　get　here！〃
　　Lyra　was　afraid　they　might；　too；　for　around　the　corner　came　the　first　policemen；　and　then　more；　and　then　the　sysselman　and　the　priest　and　twenty　or　thirty　onlookers；　with　John　Faa　and　Farder　Coram　trying　to　keep　up。
　　But　when　they　saw　the　group　on　the　quayside　they　stopped；　for　someone　else　had　appeared。　Sitting　on　the　bear's　armor　with　one　ankle　resting　on　the　opposite　knee　was　the　long…limbed　form　of　Lee　Scoresby；　and　in　his　hand　was　the　longest　pistol　Lyra　had　ever　seen；　casually　pointing　at　the　ample　stomach　of　the　sysselman。
　　〃Seems　to　me　you　ain't　taken　very　good　care　of　my　friend's　armor；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃Why；　look　at　the　rust！　And　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　to　find　moths　in　it；　too。　Now　you　just　stand　where　you　are；　still　and　easy；　and　don't　anybody　move　till　the　bear　es　back　with　some　lubrication。　Or　I　guess　you　could　all　go　home　and　read　the　newspaper。　'S　up　to　you。〃
　　〃There　he　is！〃　said　Tony；　pointing　to　a　ramp　at　the　far　end　of　the　quay；　where　Iorek　Byrnison　was　emerging　from　the　water；　dragging　something　dark　with　him。　Once　he　was　up　on　the　quayside　he　shook　himself；　sending　great　sheets　of　water　flying　in　all　directions；　till　his　fur　was　standing　up　thickly　again。　Then　he　bent　to　take　the　black　object　in　his　teeth　once　more　and　dragged　it　along　to　where　his　armor　lay。　It　was　a　dead　seal。
　　〃Iorek；〃　said　the　aeronaut；　standing　up　lazily　and　keeping　his　pistol　firmly　fixed　on　the　sysselman。　〃Howdy。〃
　　The　bear　looked　up　and　growled　briefly；　before　ripping　the　seal　open　with　one　claw。　Lyra　watched　fascinated　as　he　laid　the　skin　out　flat　and　tore　off　strips　of　blubber；　which　he　then　rubbed　all　over　his　armor；　packing　it　carefully　into　the　places　where　the　plates　moved　over　one　another。
　　〃Are　you　with　these　people？〃　the　bear　said　to　Lee　Scoresby　as　he　worked。
　　〃Sure。　I　guess　we're　both　hired　hands；　Iorek。〃
　　〃Where's　your　balloon？〃　said　Lyra　to　the　Texan。
　　〃Packed　away　in　two　sledges；〃　he　said。　〃Here　es　the　boss。〃
　　John　Faa　and　Farder　Coram；　together　with　the　sysselman；　came　down　the　quay　with　four　armed　policemen。
　　〃Bear！〃　said　the　sysselman；　in　a　high；　harsh　voice。　〃For　now；　you　are　allowed　to　depart　in　the　pany　of　these　people。　But　let　me　tell　you　that　if　you　appear　within　the　town　limits　again；　you　will　be　treated　mercilessly。〃
　　Iorek　Byrnison　took　not　the　slightest　notice；　but　continued　to　rub　the　seal　blubber　all　over　his　armor；　the　care　and　attention　he　was　paying　the　task　reminding　Lyra　of　her　own　devotion　to　Pantalaimon。　Just　as　the　bear　had　said：　the　armor　was　his　soul。　The　sysselman　and　the　policemen　withdrew；　and　slowly　the　other　townspeople　turned　and　drifted　away；　though　a　few　remained　to　watch。
　　John　Faa　put　his　hands　to　his　mouth　and　called：　〃Gyptians！〃
　　They　were　all　ready　to　move。　They　had　been　itching　to　get　under　way　ever　since　they　had　disembarked；　the　sledges　were　packed；　the　dog　teams　were　in　their　traces。
　　John　Faa　said；　〃Time　to　move　out；　friends。　We're　all　assembled　now；　and　the　road　lies　open。　Mr。　Scoresby；　you　all　a　loaded？〃
　　〃Ready　to　go；　Lord　Faa。〃
　　〃And　you；　Iorek　Byrnison？〃
　　〃When　I　am　clad；〃　said　the　bear。
　　He　had　finished　oiling　the　armor。　Not　wanting　to　waste　the　seal　meat；　he　lifted　the　carcass　in　his　teeth　and　flipped　it　onto　the　back　of　Lee　Scoresby's　larger　sledge　before　donning　the　armor。　It　was　astonishing　to　see　how　lightly　he　dealt　with　it：　the　sheets　of　metal　were　almost　an　inch　thick　in　places；　and　yet　he　swung　them　round　and　into　place　as　if　they　were　silk　robes。　It　took　him　less　than　a　minute；　and　this　time　there　was　no　harsh　scream　of　rust。
　　So　in　less　than　half　an　hour；　the　expedition　was　on　its　way　northward。　Under　a　sky　peopled　with　millions　of　stars　and　a　glaring　moon；　the　sledges　bumped　and　clattered　over　the　ruts　and　stones　until　they　reached　clear　snow　at　the　edge　of　town。　Then　the　sound　changed　to　a　quiet　crunch　of　snow　and　creak　of　timber；　and　the　dogs　began　to　step　out　eagerly；　and　the　motion　became　swift　and　smooth。
　　Lyra；　wrapped　up　so　thickly　in　the　back　of　Farder　Coram's　sledge　that　only　her　eyes　were　exposed；　whispered　to　Pantalaimon：
　　〃Can　you　see　Iorek？〃
　　〃He's　padding　along　beside　Lee　Scoresby's　sledge；〃　the　daemon　replied；　looking　back　in　his　ermine　form　as　he　clung　to　her　wolverine…fur　hood。
　　Ahead　of　them；　over　the　mountains　to　the　north；　the　pale　arcs　and　loops　of　the　Northern　Lights　began　to　glow　and　tremble。　Lyra　saw　through　half…closed　eyes；　and　felt　a　sleepy　thrill　of　perfect　happiness；　to　be　speeding　north　under　the　Aurora。　Pantalaimon　struggled　against　her　sleepiness；　but　it　was　too　strong；　he　curled　up　as　a　mouse　inside　her　hood。　He　could　tell　her　when　they　woke；　and　it　was　probably　a　marten；　or　a　dream；　or　some　kind　of　harmless　local　spirit；　but　something　was　following　the　train　of　sledges；　swinging　lightly　from　branch　to　branch　of　the　close…clustering　pine　trees；　and　it　put　him　uneasily　in　mind　of　a　monkey。
　　
　　
　　TWELVE　
　　THE　LOST　BOY
　　
　　They　traveled　for　several　hours　and　then　stopped　to　eat。　While　the　men　were　lighting　fires　and　melting　snow　for　water；　with　Iorek　Byrnison　watching　Lee　Scoresby　roast　seal　meat　close　by；　John　Faa　spoke　to　Lyra。
　　〃Lyra；　can　you　see　that　instrument　to　read　it？〃　he　said。
　　The　moon　itself　had　long　set。　The　light　from　the　Aurora　was　brighter　than　moonlight；　but　it　was　inconstant。　However；　Lyra's　eyes　were　keen；　and　she　fumbled　inside　her　furs　and　tugged　out　the　black　velvet　bag。
　　〃Yes；　I　can　see　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　know　where　most　of　the　symbols　are　by　now　anyway。　What　shall　I　ask　it；　Lord　Faa？〃
　　〃I　want　to　know　more　about　how　they're　defending　this　place；　Bolvangar；〃　he　said。
　　Without　even　having　to　think　about　it；　she　found　her　fingers　moving　the　hands　to　point　to　the　helmet；　the　griffin；　and　the　crucible；　and　felt　her　mind　settle　into　the　right　meanings　like　a　plicated　diagram　in　three　dimensions。　At　once　the　needle　began　to　swing　round；　back；　round　and　on　further；　like　a　bee　dancing　its　message　to　the　hive。　She　watched　it　calmly；　content　not　to　know　at　first　but　to　know　that　a　meaning　was　ing；　and　then　it　began　to　clear。　She　let　it　dance　on　until　it　was　certain。
　　〃It's　just　like　the　witch's　daemon　said；　Lord　Faa。　There's　a　pany　of　Tartars　guarding　the　station；　and　they　got　wires　all　round　it。　They　don't　really　expect　to　be　attacked；　that's　what　the　symbol　reader　says。　But　Lord　Faa　。　。　。　〃
　　〃What；　child？〃
　　〃It's　a　telling　me　something　else。　In　the　next　valley　there's　a　village　by　a　lake　where　the　folk　are　troubled　by　a　ghost。〃
　　John　Faa　shook　his　head　impatiently；　and　said；　〃That　don't　matter　now。　There's　bound　to　be　spirits　of　all　kinds　among　these　forests。　Tell　me　again　about　them　Tartars。　How　many；　for　instance？　What　are　they　armed　with？〃
　　Lyra　dutifully　asked；　and　reported　the　answer：
　　〃There's　sixty　men　with　rifles；　and　they　got　a　couple　of　larger　guns；　sort　of　cannons。　They　got　fire　throwers　too。　And　。　。　。　　Their　daemons　are　all　wolves；　that's　what　it　says。〃
　　That　caused　a　stir　among　the　older　gyptians；　those　who'd　campaigned　before。
　　〃The　Sibirsk　regiments　have　wolf　daemons；〃　said　one。
　　John　Faa　said；　〃I　never　met　fiercer。　We　shall　have　to　fight　like　tigers。　And　consult　the　bear；　he's　a　shrewd　warrior；　that　one。〃
　　Lyra　was　impatient；　and　said；　〃But　Lord　Faa；　this　ghost…I　think　it's　the　ghost　of　one　of　the　kids！〃
　　〃Well；　even　if　it　is；　Lyra；　I　don't　know　what　anyone　could　do　about　it。　Sixty　Sibirsk　riflemen；　and　fire　throwers　。　。　。　Mr。　Scoresby；　step　over　here　if　you　would；　for　a　moment。〃
　　While　the　aeronaut　came　to　the　sledge；　Lyra　slipped　away　and　spoke　to　the　bear。
　　〃Iore