pp.thegoldencompass-第33部分

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　　〃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　she'd　seen　worse　than　a　dead　body；　and　it　might　calm　her。　So　with　Pantalaimon　as　a　white　hare　bounding　delicately　at　her　side；　she　trudged　along　the　line　of　sledges　to　where　some　men　were　piling　brushwood。
　　The　boy's　body　lay　under　a　checkered　blanket　beside　the　path。　She　knelt　and　lifted　the　blanket　in　her　mittened　hands。　One　man　was　about　to　stop　her；　but　the　others　shook　their　heads。
　　Pantalaimon　crept　close　as　Lyra　looked　down　on　the　poor　wasted　face。　She　slipped　her　hand　out　of　the　mitten　and　touched　his　eyes。　They　were　marble…cold；　and　Farder　Coram　had　been　right；　poor　little　Tony　Makarios　was　no　different　from　any　other　human　whose　daemon　had　departed　in　death。　Oh；　if　they　took　Pantalaimon　from　her！　She　swept　him　up　and　hugged　him　as　if　she　meant　to　press　him　right　into　her　heart。　And　all　little　Tony　had　was　his　pitiful　piece　offish　。　。　。　。
　　Where　was　it？
　　She　pulled　the　blanket　down。　It　was　gone。
　　She　was　on　her　feet　in　a　moment；　and　her　eyes　flashed　fury　at　the　men　nearby。
　　〃Where's　his　fish？〃
　　They　stopped；　puzzled；　unsure　what　she　meant；　though　some　of　their　daemons　knew；　and　looked　at　one　another。　One　of　the　men　began　to　grin　uncertainly。
　　〃Don't　you　dare　laugh！　I'll　tear　your　lungs　out　if　you　laugh　at　him！　That's　all　he　had　to　cling　onto；　just　an　old　dried　fish；　that's　all　he　had　for　a　daemon　to　love　and　be　kind　to！　Who's　took　it　from　him？　Where's　it　gone？〃
　　Pantalaimon　was　a　snarling　snow　leopard；　just　like　Lord　Asriel's　daemon；　but　she　didn't　see　that；　all　she　saw　was　right　and　wrong。
　　〃Easy；　Lyra；〃　said　one　man。　〃Easy；　child。〃
　　〃Who's　took　it？〃　she　flared　again；　and　the　gyptian　took　a　step　back　from　her　passionate　fury。
　　〃I　didn't　know；〃　said　another　man　apologetically。　〃I　thought　it　was　just　what　he'd　been　eating。　I　took　it　out　his　hand　because　I　thought　it　was　more　respectful。　That's　all；　Lyra。〃
　　〃Then　where　is　it？〃
　　The　man　said　uneasily；　〃Not　thinking　he　had　a　need　for　it；　I　gave　it　to　my　dogs。　I　do　beg　your　pardon。〃
　　〃It　en't　my　pardon　you　need；　it's　his；〃　she　said；　and　turned　at　once　to　kneel　again；　and　laid　her　hand　on　the　dead　child's　icy　cheek。
　　Then　an　idea　came　to　her；　and　she　fumbled　inside　her　furs。　The　cold　air　struck　through　as　she　opened　her　anorak；　but　in　a　few　seconds　she　had　what　she　wanted；　and　took　a　gold　coin　from　her　purse　before　wrapping　herself　close　again。
　　〃I　want　to　borrow　your　knife；〃　she　said　to　the　man　who'd　taken　the　fish；　and　when　he'd　let　her　have　it；　she　said　to　Pantalaimon：　〃What　was　her　name？〃
　　He　understood；　of　course；　and　said；　〃Ratter。〃
　　She　held　the　coin　tight　in　her　left　mittened　hand　and；　holding　the　knife　like　a　pencil；　scratched　the　lost　daemon's　name　deeply　into　the　gold。
　　〃I　hope　that'll　do；　if　I　provide　for　you　like　a　Jordan　Scholar；〃　she　whispered　to　the　dead　boy；　and　forced　his　teeth　apart　to　slip　the　coin　into　his　mouth。　It　was　hard；　but　she　managed　it；　and　managed　to　close　his　jaw　again。
　　Then　she　gave　the　man　back　his　knife　and　turned　in　the　morning　twilight　to　go　back　to　Farder　Coram。
　　He　gave　her　a　mug　of　soup　straight　off　the　fire；　and　she　sipped　it　greedily。
　　〃What　we　going　to　do　about　them　witches；　Farder　Coram？〃　she　said。　〃I　wonder　if　your　witch　was　one　of　them。〃
　　〃My　witch？　I　wouldn't　presume　that　far；　Lyra。　They　might　be　going　anywhere。　There's　all　kinds　of　concerns　that　play　on　the　life　of　witches；　things　invisible　to　us：　mysterious　sicknesses　they　fall　prey　to；　which　we'd　shrug　off；　causes　of　war　quite　beyond　our　understanding；　joys　and　sorrows　bound　up　with　the　flowering　of　tiny　plants　up　on　the　tundra　。　。　。　。But　I　wish　I'd　seen　them　a　flying；　Lyra。　I　wish　I'd　been　able　to　see　a　sight　like　that。　Now　drink　up　all　that　soup。　D'you　want　some　more？　There's　some　pan…bread　a　cooking　too。　Eat　up；　child；　because　we're　on　our　way　soon。〃
　　The　food　revived　Lyra；　and　presently　the　chill　at　her　soul　began　to　melt。　With　the　others；　she　went　to　watch　the　little　half…child　laid　on　his　funeral　pyre；　and　bowed　her　head　and　closed　her　eyes　for　John　Faa's　prayers；　and　then　the　men　sprinkled　coal　spirit　and　set　matches　to　it；　and　it　was　blazing　in　a　moment。
　　Once　they　were　sure　he　was　safely　burned；　they　set　off　to　travel　again。　It　was　a　ghostly　journey。　Snow　began　to　fall　early　on；　and　soon　the　world　was　reduced　to　the　gray　shadows　of　the　dogs　ahead；　the　lurching　and　creaking　of　the　sledge；　the　biting　cold；　and　a　swirling　sea　of　big　flakes　only　just　darker　than　the　sky　and　only　just　lighter　than　the　ground。
　　Through　it　all　the　dogs　continued　to　run；　tails　high；　breath　puffing　steam。　North　and　further　north　they　ran；　while　the　pallid　noontide　came　and　went　and　the　twilight　wrapped　itself　again　around　the　world。　They　stopped　to　eat　and　drink　and　rest　in　a　fold　of　the　hills；　and　to　get　their　bearings；　and　while　John　Faa　talked　to　Lee　Scoresby　about　the　way　they　might　best　use　the　balloon；　Lyra　thought　of　the　spy…fly；　and　she　asked　Farder　Coram　what　had　happened　to　the　smokeleaf　tin　he'd　trapped　it　in。
　　〃I've　got　it　tucked　away　tight；〃　he　said。　〃It's　down　in　the　bottom　of　that　kit　bag；　but　there's　nothing　to　see；　I　soldered　it　shut　on　board　ship；　like　I　said　I　would。　I　don't　know　what　we're　a　going　to　do　with　it；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　maybe　we　could　drop　it　down　a　fire　mine；　maybe　that　would　settle　it。　But　you　needn't　worry；　Lyra。　While　I've　got　it；　you're　safe。〃　The　first　chance　she　had；　she　plunged　her　arm　down　into　the　stiffly　frosted　canvas　of　the　kit　bag　and　brought　up　the　little　tin。　She　could　feel　the　buzz　it　was　making　before　she　touched　it。
　　While　Farder　Coram　was　talking　to　the　other　leaders；　she　took　the　tin　to　Iorek　Byrnison　and　explained　her　idea。　It　had　e　to　her　when　she　remembered　his　slicing　so　easily　through　the　metal　of　the　engine　cover。
　　He　listened；　and　then　took　the　lid　of　a　biscuit　tin　and　deftly　folded　it　into　a　small　flat　cylinder。　She　marveled　at　the　skill　of　his　hands：　unlike　most　bears；　he　and　his　kin　had　opposable　thumb　claws　with　which　they　could　hold　things　still　to　work　on　them；　and　he　had　some　innate　sense　of　the　strength　and　flexibility　of　metals　which　meant　that　he　only　had　to　lift　it　once　or　twice；　flex　it　this　way　and　that；　and　he　could　run　a　claw　over　it　in　a　circle　to　score　it　for　folding。　He　did　this　now；　folding　the　sides　in　and　in　until　they　stood　in　a　raised　rim　and　then　making　a　lid　to　fit　it。　At　Lyra's　bidding　he　made　two：　one　the　same　size　as　the　original　smokeleaf　tin；　and　another　just　big　enough　to　contain　the　tin　itself　and　a　quantity　of　hairs　and　bits　of　moss　and　lichen　all　packed　down　tight　to　smother　the　noise。　When　it　was　closed；　it　was　the　same　size　and　shape　as　the　alethiometer。
　　When　that　was　done；　she　sat　next　to　Iorek　Byrnison　as　he　gnawed　a　haunch　of　reindeer　that　was　frozen　as　hard　as　wood。
　　〃Iorek；〃　she　said；　〃is　it　hard　not　having　a　daemon？　Don't　you　get　lonely？〃
　　〃Lonely？〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know。　They　tell　me　this　is　cold。　I　don't　know　what　cold　is；　because　I　don't　freeze。　So　I　don't　know　what　lonely　means　either。　Bears　are　made　to　be　solitary。〃
　　〃What　about　the　Svalbard　bears？〃　she　said。　〃There's　thousands　of　them；　en't　there？　That's　what　I　heard。〃
　　He　said　nothing；　but　ripped　the　joint　in　half　with　a　sound　like　a　splitting　log。
　　〃Beg　pardon；　Iorek；〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　I　en't　offended　you。　It's　just　that　I'm　curious。　See；　I'm　extra　curious　about　the　Svalbard　bears　because　of　my　father。〃
　　〃Who　is　your　father？〃
　　〃Lord　Asriel。　And　they　got　him　captive　on　Svalbard；　you　see。　I　think　the　Gobblers　betrayed　him　and　paid　the　bears　to　keep　him　in　prison。〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　am　not　a　Svalbard　bear。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　was　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃No。　I　was　a　Svalbard　bear；　but　I　am　not　now。　I　was　sent　away　as　a　punishment　because　I　killed　another　bear。　So　I　was　deprived　of　my　rank　and　my　wealth　and　my　armor　and　sent　out　to　live　at　the　edge　of　the　human　world　and　fight　when　I　could　find　employment　at　it；　or　work　at　brutal　tasks　and　drown　my　memory　in　raw　spirits。〃
　　〃Why　did　you　kill　the　other　bear？〃
　　〃Anger。　There　are　ways　among　bears　of　turning　away　our　anger　with　each　other；　but　I　was　out　of　my　own　control。　So　I　killed　him　and　I　was　justly　punished。〃
　　〃And　you　were　wealthy　and　high…ranking；〃　said　Lyra；　marveling。　〃Just　like　my　father；　Iorek！　That's　just　the　same　with　him　after　I　was　born。　He　killed　someone　too　and　they　took　all　his　wealth　away。　That　was　long　before　he　got　made　a　prisoner　on　Svalbard；　though。　I　don't　know　anything　about　Svalbard；　except　it's　in　the　farthest　North　。　。　。　。Is　it　all　covered　in　ice？　Can　you　get　there　over　the　frozen　sea？〃
　　〃Not　from　this　coast。　The　sea　is　sometimes　frozen　south　of　it；　sometimes　not。　You　would　need　a　boat。〃
　　〃Or　a　balloon；　maybe。〃
　　〃Or　a　balloon；　yes；　but　then　you　would　need　the　right　wind。〃
　　He　gnawed　the　reindeer　haunch；　and　a　wild　notion　flew　into　Lyra's　mind　as　she　remembered　all　those　witches　in　the　night　sky；　but　she　said　nothing　about　that。　Instead　she　asked　Iorek　Byrnison　about　Svalbard；　and　listened　eagerly　as　he　told　her　of　the　slow…crawling　glaciers；　of　the　rocks　and　ice　floes　where　the　bright…tusked　walruses　lay　in　groups　of　a　hundred　or　more；　of　the　seas　teeming　with　seals；　of　narwhals　clashing　their　long　white　tusks　above　the　icy　water；　of　the　great　grim　iron…bound　coast；　the　cliffs　a　thousand　feet　and　more　high　where　the　foul　cliff…ghasts　perched　and　swooped；　the　coal　pits　and　the　fire　mines　where　the　bearsmiths　hammered　out　mighty　sheets　of　iron　and　riveted　them　into　armor　。　。　。　
　　〃If　they　took　your　armor　away；　Iorek；　where　did　you　get　this　set　from？〃
　　〃I　made　it　myself　in　Nova　Zembla　from　sky　metal。　Until　I　did　that；　I　was　inplete。〃
　　〃So　bears　can　make　their　own　souls　。　。　。　〃　she　said。　There　was　a　great　deal　in　the　world　to　know。　〃Who　is　the　king　of　Svalbard？〃　she　went　on。　〃Do　bears　have　a　king？〃
　　〃He　is　called　lofur　Raknison。〃
　　That　name　shook　a　little　bell　in　Lyra's　mind。　She'd　heard　it　before；　but　where？　And　not　in　a　bear's　voice；　either；　nor　in　a　gyptian's。　The　voice　that　had　spoken　it　was　a　Scholar's；　precise　and　pedantic　and　lazily　arrogant；　very　much　a　Jordan　College　voice。　She　tried　it　again　in　her　mind。　Oh；　she　knew　it　so　well！
　　And　then　she　had　it：　the　Retiring　Room。　The　Scholars　listening　to　Lord　Asriel。　It　was　the　Palmerian　Professor　who　had　said　something　about　lofur　Raknison。　He'd　used　the　word　panserbj0rne；　which　Lyra　didn't　know；　and　she　hadn't　known　that　lofur　Raknison　was　a　bear；　but　what　was　it　he'd　said？　The　king　of　Svalbard　was　vain；　and　he　could　be　flattered。　There　was　something　else；　if　only　she　could　remember　it；　but　so　much　had　happened　since　then　。　。　。　。
　　〃If　your　father　is　a　prisoner　of　the　Svalbard　bears；〃　said　Iorek　Byrnison；　〃he　will　not　escape。　There　is　no　wood　there　to　make　a　boat。　On　the　other　hand；　if　he　is　a　nobleman；　he　will　be　treated　fairly。　They　will　give　him　a　house　to　live　in　and　a　servant　to　wait　on　him；　and　food　and　fuel。〃
　　〃Could　the　bears　ever　be　defeated；　Iorek？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Or　tricked；　maybe？〃
　　He　stopped　gnawing　and　looked　at　her　direct