pp.thegoldencompass-第32部分

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ve　brought　a　lantern　。　。　。　。
　　There　was　no　choice；　and　anyway；　she　didn't　want　the　bear　to　see　her　being　afraid。　He　had　spoken　of　mastering　his　fear：　that　was　what　she'd　have　to　do。　She　lifted　the　strap　of　reindeer　hide　holding　the　latch　in　place；　and　tugged　hard　against　the　frost　binding　the　door　shut。　It　opened　with　a　snap。　She　had　to　kick　aside　the　snow　piled　against　the　foot　of　the　door　before　she　could　pull　it　open；　and　Pantalaimon　was　no　help；　running　back　and　forth　in　his　ermine　shape；　a　white　shadow　over　the　white　ground；　uttering　little　frightened　sounds。
　　〃Pan；　for　God's　sake！〃　she　said。　〃Be　a　bat。　Go　and　look　for　me　。　。　。　。〃
　　But　he　wouldn't；　and　he　wouldn't　speak　either。　She　had　never　seen　him　like　this　except　once；　when　she　and　Roger　in　the　crypt　at　Jordan　had　moved　the　d^mon…coins　into　the　wrong　skulls。　He　was　even　more　frightened　than　she　was。　As　for　Iorek　Byrnison；　he　was　lying　in　the　snow　nearby；　watching　in　silence。
　　〃e　out；〃　Lyra　said　as　loud　as　she　dared。　〃e　out！〃
　　Not　a　sound　came　in　answer。　She　pulled　the　door　a　little　wider；　and　Pantalaimon　leaped　up　into　her　arms；　pushing　and　pushing　at　her　in　his　cat　form；　and　said；　〃Go　away！　Don't　stay　here！　Oh；　Lyra；　go　now！　Turn　back！〃
　　Trying　to　hold　him　still；　she　was　aware　of　Iorek　Byrnison　getting　to　his　feet；　and　turned　to　see　a　figure　hastening　down　the　track　from　the　village；　carrying　a　lantern。　When　he　came　close　enough　to　speak；　he　raised　the　lantern　and　held　it　to　show　his　face：　an　old　man　with　a　broad；　lined　face；　and　eyes　nearly　lost　in　a　thousand　wrinkles。　His　daemon　was　an　arctic　fox。
　　He　spoke；　and　Iorek　Byrnison　said：
　　〃He　says　that　it's　not　the　only　child　of　that　kind。　He's　seen　others　in　the　forest。　Sometimes　they　die　quickly；　sometimes　they　don't　die。　This　one　is　tough；　he　thinks。　But　it　would　be　better　for　him　if　he　died。〃
　　〃Ask　him　if　I　can　borrow　his　lantern；〃　Lyra　said。
　　The　bear　spoke；　and　the　man　handed　it　to　her　at　once；　nodding　vigorously。　She　realized　that　he'd　e　down　in　order　to　bring　it　to　her；　and　thanked　him；　and　he　nodded　again　and　stood　back；　away　from　her　and　the　hut　and　away　from　the　bear。
　　Lyra　thought　suddenly：　what　if　the　child　is　Roger？　And　she　prayed　with　all　her　force　that　it　wouldn't　be。　Pantalaimon　was　clinging　to　her；　an　ermine　again；　his　little　claws　hooked　deep　into　her　anorak。
　　She　lifted　the　lantern　high　and　took　a　step　into　the　shed；　and　then　she　saw　what　it　was　that　the　Oblation　Board　was　doing；　and　what　was　the　nature　of　the　sacrifice　the　children　were　having　to　make。
　　The　little　boy　was　huddled　against　the　wood　drying　rack　where　hung　row　upon　row　of　gutted　fish；　all　as　stiff　as　boards。　He　was　clutching　a　piece　of　fish　to　him　as　Lyra　was　clutching　Pantalaimon；　with　her　left　hand；　hard；　against　her　heart；　but　that　was　all　he　had；　a　piece　of　dried　fish；　because　he　had　no　da；mon　at　all。　The　Gobblers　had　cut　it　away。　That　was　intercision；　and　this　was　a　severed　child。
　　
　　
　　THIRTEEN　
　　FENCING
　　
　　Her　first　impulse　was　to　turn　and　run；　or　to　be　sick。　A　human　being　with　no　daemon　was　like　someone　without　a　face；　or　with　their　ribs　laid　open　and　their　heart　torn　out：　something　unnatural　and　uncanny　that　belonged　to　the　world　of　night…ghasts；　not　the　waking　world　of　sense。
　　So　Lyra　clung　to　Pantalaimon　and　her　head　swam　and　her　gorge　rose；　and　cold　as　the　night　was；　a　sickly　sweat　moistened　her　flesh　with　something　colder　still。
　　〃Ratter；〃　said　the　boy。　〃You　got　my　Ratter？〃
　　Lyra　was　in　no　doubt　what　he　meant。
　　〃No；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　as　frail　and　frightened　as　she　felt。　Then；　〃What's　your　name？〃
　　〃Tony　Makarios；〃　he　said。　〃Where's　Ratter？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　。　。　。　〃　she　began；　and　swallowed　hard　to　govern　her　nausea。　〃The　Gobblers　。　。　。　〃　But　she　couldn't　finish。　She　had　to　go　out　of　the　shed　and　sit　down　by　herself　in　the　snow；　except　that　of　course　she　wasn't　by　herself；　she　was　never　by　herself；　because　Pantalaimon　was　always　there。　Oh；　to　be　cut　from　him　as　this　little　boy　had　been　parted　from　his　Ratter！　The　worst　thing　in　the　world！　She　found　herself　sobbing；　and　Pantalaimon　was　whimpering　too；　and　in　both　of　them　there　was　a　passionate　pity　and　sorrow　for　the　half…boy。
　　Then　she　got　to　her　feet　again。
　　〃e　on；〃　she　called　in　a　trembling　voice。　〃Tony；　e　out。　We're　going　to　take　you　somewhere　safe。〃
　　There　was　a　stir　of　movement　in　the　fish　house；　and　he　appeared　at　the　door；　still　clutching　his　dried　fish。　He　was　dressed　in　warm　enough　garments；　a　thickly　padded　and　quilted　coal…silk　anorak　and　fur　boots；　but　they　had　a　secondhand　look　and　didn't　fit　well。　In　the　wider　light　outside　that　came　from　the　faint　trails　of　the　Aurora　and　the　snow…covered　ground　he　looked　more　lost　and　piteous　even　than　he　had　at　first；　crouching　in　the　lantern　light　by　the　fish　racks。
　　The　villager　who'd　brought　the　lantern　had　retreated　a　few　yards；　and　called　down　to　them。
　　Iorek　Byrnison　interpreted：　〃He　says　you　must　pay　for　that　fish。〃
　　Lyra　felt　like　telling　the　bear　to　kill　him；　but　she　said；　〃We're　taking　the　child　away　for　them。　They　can　afford　to　give　one　fish　to　pay　for　that。〃
　　The　bear　spoke。　The　man　muttered；　but　didn't　argue。　Lyra　set　his　lantern　down　in　the　snow　and　took　the　half…boy's　hand　to　guide　him　to　the　bear。　He　came　helplessly；　showing　no　surprise　and　no　fear　at　the　great　white　beast　standing　so　close；　and　when　Lyra　helped　him　to　sit　on　Iorek's　back；　all　he　said　was：
　　〃I　dunno　where　my　Ratter　is。〃
　　〃No；　nor　do　we；　Tony；〃　she　said。　〃But　we'll　。　。　。　we'll　punish　the　Gobblers。　We'll　do　that；　I　promise。　Iorek；　is　it　all　right　if　I　sit　up　there　too？〃
　　〃My　armor　weighs　far　more　than　children；〃　he　said。
　　So　she　scrambled　up　behind　Tony　and　made　him　cling　to　the　long　stiff　fur；　and　Pantalaimon　sat　inside　her　hood；　warm　and　close　and　full　of　pity。　Lyra　knew　that　Pantalaimon's　impulse　was　to　reach　out　and　cuddle　the　little　half…child；　to　lick　him　and　gentle　him　and　warm　him　as　his　own　daemon　would　have　done；　but　the　great　taboo　prevented　that；　of　course。
　　They　rose　through　the　village　and　up　toward　the　ridge；　and　the　villagers'　faces　were　open　with　horror　and　a　kind　of　fearful　relief　at　seeing　that　hideously　mutilated　creature　taken　away　by　a　girl　and　a　great　white　bear。
　　In　Lyra's　heart；　revulsion　struggled　with　passion；　and　passion　won。　She　put　her　arms　around　the　skinny　little　form　to　hold　him　safe。　The　journey　back　to　the　main　party　was　colder；　and　harder；　and　darker；　but　it　seemed　to　pass　more　quickly　for　all　that。　Iorek　Byrnison　was　tireless；　and　Lyra's　riding　became　automatic；　so　that　she　was　never　in　danger　of　falling　off。　The　cold　body　in　her　arms　was　so　light　that　in　one　way　he　was　easy　to　manage；　but　he　was　inert；　he　sat　stiffly　without　moving　as　the　bear　moved；　so　in　another　way　he　was　difficult　too。
　　From　time　to　time　the　half…boy　spoke。
　　〃What's　that　you　said？〃　asked　Lyra。
　　〃I　says　is　she　gonna　know　where　I　am？〃
　　〃Yeah；　she'll　know；　she'll　find　you　and　we'll　find　her。　Hold　on　tight　now；　Tony。　It　en't　far　from　here　。　。　。　。〃
　　The　bear　loped　onward。　Lyra　had　no　idea　how　tired　she　was　until　they　caught　up　with　the　gyptians。　The　sledges　had　stopped　to　rest　the　dogs；　and　suddenly　there　they　all　were；　Farder　Coram；　Lord　Faa；　Lee　Scoresby；　all　lunging　forward　to　help　and　then　falling　back　silent　as　they　saw　the　other　figure　with　Lyra。　She　was　so　stiff　that　she　couldn't　even　loosen　her　arms　around　his　body；　and　John　Faa　himself　had　to　pull　them　gently　open　and　lift　her　off。
　　〃Gracious　God；　what　is　this？〃　he　said。　〃Lyra；　child；　what　have　you　found？〃

　　〃He's　called　Tony；〃　she　mumbled　through　frozen　lips。　〃And　they　cut　his　daemon　away。　That's　what　the　Gobblers　do。〃
　　The　men　held　back；　fearful；　but　the　bear　spoke；　to　Lyra's　weary　amazement；　chiding　them。
　　〃Shame　on　you！　Think　what　this　child　has　done！　You　might　not　have　more　courage；　but　you　should　be　ashamed　to　show　less。〃
　　〃You're　right；　Iorek　Byrnison；〃　said　John　Faa；　and　turned　to　give　orders。　〃Build　that　fire　up　and　heat　some　soup　for　the　child。　For　both　children。　Farder　Coram；　is　your　shelter　rigged？〃
　　〃It　is；　John。　Bring　her　over　and　we'll　get　her　warm　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃And　the　little　boy；〃　said　someone　else。　〃He　can　eat　and　get　warm；　even　if　。　。　。　〃
　　Lyra　was　trying　to　tell　John　Faa　about　the　witches；　but　they　were　all　so　busy；　and　she　was　so　tired。　After　a　confusing　few　minutes　full　of　lantern　light；　woodsmoke；　figures　hurrying　to　and　fro；　she　felt　a　gentle　nip　on　her　ear　from　Pantalaimon's　ermine　teeth；　and　woke　to　find　the　bear's　face　a　few　inches　from　hers。
　　〃The　witches；〃　Pantalaimon　whispered。　〃I　called　Iorek。〃
　　〃Oh　yeah；〃　she　mumbled。　〃Iorek；　thank　you　for　taking　me　there　and　back。　I　might　not　remember　to　tell　Lord　Faa　about　the　witches；　so　you　better　do　that　instead　of　me。〃
　　She　heard　the　bear　agree；　and　then　she　fell　asleep　properly。
　　
　　When　she　woke　up；　it　was　as　close　to　daylight　as　it　was　ever　going　to　get。　The　sky　was　pale　in　the　southeast；　and　the　air　was　suffused　with　a　gray　mist；　through　which　the　gyptians　moved　like　bulky　ghosts；　loading　sledges　and　harnessing　dogs　to　the　traces。
　　She　saw　it　all　from　the　shelter　on　Farder　Coram's　sledge；　inside　which　she　lay　under　a　heap　of　furs。　Pantalaimon　was　fully　awake　before　she　was；　trying　the　shape　of　an　arctic　fox　before　reverting　to　his　favorite　ermine。
　　Iorek　Byrnison　was　asleep　in　the　snow　nearby；　his　head　on　his　great　paws；　but　Farder　Coram　was　up　and　busy；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　Pantalaimon　emerge；　he　limped　across　to　wake　Lyra　properly。
　　She　saw　him　ing；　and　sat　up　to　speak。
　　〃Farder　Coram；　I　know　what　it　was　that　I　couldn't　understand！　The　alethiometer　kept　saying　bird　and　not；　and　that　didn't　make　sense；　because　it　meant　no　daemon　and　I　didn't　see　how　it　could　be　。　。　。　。What　is　it？〃
　　〃Lyra；　I'm　afraid　to　tell　you　this　after　what　you　done；　but　that　little　boy　died　an　hour　ago。　He　couldn't　settle；　he　couldn't　stay　in　one　place；　he　kept　asking　after　his　daemon；　where　she　was；　was　she　a　ing　soon；　and　all；　and　he　kept　such　a　tight　hold　on　that　bare　old　piece　of　fish　as　if　。　。　。　Oh；　I　can't　speak　of　it；　child；　but　he　closed　his　eyes　finally　and　fell　still；　and　that　was　the　first　time　he　looked　peaceful；　for　he　was　like　any　other　dead　person　then；　with　their　daemon　gone　in　the　course　of　nature。　They've　been　a　trying　to　dig　a　grave　for　him；　but　the　earth's　bound　like　iron。　So　John　Faa　ordered　a　fire　built；　and　they're　a　going　to　cremate　him；　so　as　not　to　have　him　despoiled　by　carrion　eaters。
　　〃Child；　you　did　a　brave　thing　and　a　good　thing；　and　I'm　proud　of　you。　Now　we　know　what　terrible　wickedness　those　people　are　capable　of；　we　can　see　our　duty　plainer　than　ever。　What　you　must　do　is　rest　and　eat；　because　you　fell　asleep　too　soon　to　restore　yourself　last　night；　and　you　have　to　eat　in　these　temperatures　to　stop　yourself　getting　weak　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　was　fussing　around；　tucking　the　furs　into　place；　tightening　the　tension　rope　across　the　body　of　the　sledge；　running　the　traces　through　his　hands　to　untangle　them。
　　〃Farder　Coram；　where　is　the　little　boy　now？　Have　they　burned　him　yet？〃
　　〃No；　Lyra；　he's　a　lying　back　there。〃
　　〃I　want　to　go　and　see　him。〃
　　He　couldn't　refuse　her　that；　for　sh