pp.thegoldencompass-第37部分

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　　〃Except　when　Mrs。　Coulter　es；〃　said　Annie。
　　Lyra　had　to　stop　herself　crying　out；　and　Pantalaimon　fluttered　his　wings　so　sharply　that　the　other　girls　noticed。
　　〃He's　nervous；〃　said　Lyra；　soothing　him。　〃They　must've　gave　us　some　sleeping　pills；　like　you　said；　'cause　we're　all　dozy。　Who's　Mrs。　Coulter？〃
　　〃She's　the　one　who　trapped　us；　most　of　us；　anyway；〃　said　Martha。　〃They　all　talk　about　her；　the　other　kids。　When　she　es；　you　know　there's　going　to　be　kids　disappearing。〃
　　〃She　likes　watching　the　kids；　when　they　take　us　away；　she　likes　seeing　what　they　do　to　us。　This　boy　Simon；　he　reckons　they　kill　us；　and　Mrs。　Coulter　watches。〃
　　〃They　kill　us？〃　said　Lyra；　shuddering。
　　〃Must　do。　'Cause　no　one　es　back。〃
　　〃They're　always　going　on　about　daemons　too；〃　said　Bella。　〃Weighing　them　and　measuring　them　and　all　。　。　。　〃
　　〃They　touch　your　daemons？〃
　　〃No！　God！　They　put　scales　there　and　your　daemon　has　to　get　on　them　and　change；　and　they　make　notes　and　take　pictures。　And　they　put　you　in　this　cabinet　and　measure　Dust；　all　the　time；　they　never　stop　measuring　Dust。〃
　　〃What　dust？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃We　dunno；〃　said　Annie。　〃Just　something　from　space。　Not　real　dust。　If　you　en't　got　any　Dust；　that's　good。　But　everyone　gets　Dust　in　the　end。〃
　　〃You　know　what　I　heard　Simon　say？〃　said　Bella。　〃He　said　that　the　Tartars　make　holes　in　their　skulls　to　let　the　Dust　in。〃
　　〃Yeah；　he'd　know；〃　said　Annie　scornfully。　〃I　think　I'll　ask　Mrs。　Coulter　when　she　es。〃
　　〃You　wouldn't　dare！〃　said　Martha　admiringly。
　　〃I　would。〃
　　〃When's　she　ing？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃The　day　after　tomorrow；〃　said　Annie。
　　A　cold　drench　of　terror　went　down　Lyra's　spine；　and　Pantalaimon　crept　very　close。　She　had　one　day　in　which　to　find　Roger　and　discover　whatever　she　could　about　this　place；　and　either　escape　or　be　rescued；　and　if　all　the　gyptians　had　been　killed；　who　would　help　the　children　stay　alive　in　the　icy　wilderness？
　　The　other　girls　went　on　talking；　but　Lyra　and　Pantalaimon　nestled　down　deep　in　the　bed　and　tried　to　get　warm；　knowing　that　for　hundreds　of　miles　all　around　her　little　bed　there　was　nothing　but　fear。
　　
　　
　　FIFTEEN　
　　THE　DAEMON　CAGES
　　
　　It　wasn't　Lyra's　way　to　brood；　she　was　a　sanguine　and　practical　child；　and　besides；　she　wasn't　imaginative。　No　one　with　much　imagination　would　have　thought　seriously　that　it　was　possible　to　e　all　this　way　and　rescue　her　friend　Roger；　or；　having　thought　it；　an　imaginative　child　would　immediately　have　e　up　with　several　ways　in　which　it　was　impossible。　Being　a　practiced　liar　doesn't　mean　you　have　a　powerful　imagination。　Many　good　liars　have　no　imagination　at　all；　it's　that　which　gives　their　lies　such　wide…eyed　conviction。
　　So　now　that　she　was　in　the　hands　of　the　Oblation　Board；　Lyra　didn't　fret　herself　into　terror　about　what　had　happened　to　the　gyptians。　They　were　all　good　fighters；　and　even　though　Pantalaimon　said　he'd　seen　John　Faa　shot；　he　might　have　been　mistaken；　or　if　he　wasn't　mistaken；　John　Faa　might　not　have　been　seriously　hurt。　It　had　been　bad　luck　that　she'd　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　Samoyeds；　but　the　gyptians　would　be　along　soon　to　rescue　her；　and　if　they　couldn't　manage　it；　nothing　would　stop　Iorek　Byrnison　from　getting　her　out；　and　then　they'd　fly　to　Svalbard　in　Lee　Scoresby's　balloon　and　rescue　Lord　Asriel。
　　In　her　mind；　it　was　as　easy　as　that。
　　So　next　morning；　when　she　awoke　in　the　dormitory；　she　was　curious　and　ready　to　deal　with　whatever　the　day　would　bring。　And　eager　to　see　Roger…in　particular；　eager　to　see　him　before　he　saw　her。
　　She　didn't　have　long　to　wait。　The　children　in　their　different　dormitories　were　woken　at　half…past　seven　by　the　nurses　who　looked　after　them。　They　washed　and　dressed　and　went　with　the　others　to　the　canteen　for　breakfast。
　　And　there　was　Roger。
　　He　was　sitting　with　five　other　boys　at　a　table　just　inside　the　door。　The　line　for　the　hatch　went　right　past　them；　and　she　was　able　to　pretend　to　drop　a　handkerchief　and　crouch　to　pick　it　up；　bending　low　next　to　his　chair；　so　that　Pantalaimon　could　speak　to　Roger's　daemon　Salcilia。
　　She　was　a　chaffinch；　and　she　fluttered　so　wildly　that　Pantalaimon　had　to　be　a　cat　and　leap　at　her；　pinning　her　down　to　whisper。　Such　brisk　fights　or　scuffles　between　children's　daemons　were　mon；　luckily；　and　no　one　took　much　notice；　but　Roger　went　pale　at　once。　Lyra　had　never　seen　anyone　so　white。　He　looked　up　at　the　blank　haughty　stare　she　gave　him；　and　the　color　flooded　back　into　his　cheeks　as　he　brimmed　over　with　hope；　excitement；　and　joy；　and　only　Pantalaimon；　shaking　Salcilia　firmly；　was　able　to　keep　Roger　from　shouting　out　and　leaping　up　to　greet　his　best　friend；　his　rade　in　arms；　his　Lyra。
　　But　he　saw　how　she　looked　away　disdainfully；　and　he　followed　her　example　faithfully；　as　he'd　done　in　a　hundred　Oxford　battles　and　campaigns。　No　one　must　know；　of　course；　because　they　were　both　in　deadly　danger。　She　rolled　her　eyes　at　her　new　friends；　and　they　collected　their　trays　of　cornflakes　and　toast　and　sat　together；　an　instant　gang；　excluding　everyone　else　in　order　to　gossip　about　them。
　　You　can't　keep　a　large　group　of　children　in　one　place　for　long　without　giving　them　plenty　to　do；　and　in　some　ways　Bolvangar　was　run　like　a　school；　with　timetabled　activities　such　as　gymnastics　and　〃art。〃　Boys　and　girls　were　kept　separate　except　for　breaks　and　mealtimes；　so　it　wasn't　until　midmorning；　after　an　hour　and　a　half　of　sewing　directed　by　one　of　the　nurses；　that　Lyra　had　the　chance　to　talk　to　Roger。　But　it　had　to　look　natural；　that　was　the　difficulty。　All　the　children　there　were　more　or　less　at　the　same　age；　and　it　was　the　age　when　most　boys　talk　to　boys　and　girls　to　girls；　each　making　a　conspicuous　point　of　ignoring　the　opposite　sex。
　　She　found　her　chance　in　the　canteen　again；　when　the　children　came　in　for　a　drink　and　a　biscuit。　Lyra　sent　Pantalaimon；　as　a　fly；　to　talk　to　Salcilia　on　the　wall　next　to　their　table　while　she　and　Roger　kept　quietly　in　their　separate　groups。　It　was　difficult　to　talk　while　your　daemon's　attention　was　somewhere　else；　so　Lyra　pretended　to　look　glum　and　rebellious　as　she　sipped　her　milk　with　the　other　girls。　Half　her　thoughts　were　with　the　tiny　buzz　of　talk　between　the　daemons；　and　she　wasn't　really　listening；　but　at　one　point　she　heard　another　girl　with　bright　blond　hair　say　a　name　that　made　her　sit　up。
　　It　was　the　name　of　Tony　Makarios。　As　Lyra's　attention　snapped　toward　that；　Pantalaimon　had　to　slow　down　his　whispered　conversation　with　Roger's　daemon；　and　both　children　listened　to　what　the　girl　was　saying。
　　〃No；　I　know　why　they　took　him；〃　she　said；　as　heads　clustered　close　nearby。　〃It　was　because　his　daemon　didn't　change。　They　thought　he　was　older　than　he　looked；　or　summing；　and　he　weren't　really　a　young　kid。　But　really　his　daemon　never　changed　very　often　because　Tony　hisself　never　thought　much　about　anything。　I　seen　her　change。　She　was　called　Ratter　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Why　are　they　so　interested　in　daemons？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃No　one　knows；〃　said　the　blond　girl。
　　〃I　know；〃　said　one　boy　who'd　been　listening。　〃What　they　do　is　kill　your　daemon　and　then　see　if　you　die。〃
　　〃Well；　how　e　they　do　it　over　and　over　with　different　kids？〃　said　someone。　〃They'd　only　need　to　do　it　once；　wouldn't　they？〃
　　〃I　know　what　they　do；〃　said　the　first　girl。
　　She　had　everyone's　attention　now。　But　because　they　didn't　want　to　let　the　staff　know　what　they　were　talking　about；　they　had　to　adopt　a　strange；　half…careless；　indifferent　manner；　while　listening　with　passionate　curiosity。
　　〃How？〃　said　someone。
　　〃　'Cause　I　was　with　him　when　they　came　for　him。　We　was　in　the　linen　room；〃　she　said。
　　She　was　blushing　hotly。　If　she　was　expecting　jeers　and　teasing；　they　didn't　e。　All　the　children　were　subdued；　and　no　one　even　smiled。
　　The　girl　went　on：　〃We　was　keeping　quiet　and　then　the　nurse　came　in；　the　one　with　the　soft　voice。　And　she　says；　e　on；　Tony；　I　know　you're　there；　e　on；　we　won't　hurt　you　。　。　。　。And　he　says；　What's　going　to　happen？　And　she　says；　We　just　put　you　to　sleep；　and　then　we　do　a　little　operation；　and　then　you　wake　up　safe　and　sound。　But　Tony　didn't　believe　her。　He　says…〃
　　〃The　holes！〃　said　someone。　〃They　make　a　hole　in　your　head　like　the　Tartars！　I　bet！〃
　　〃Shut　up！　What　else　did　the　nurse　say？〃　someone　else　put　in。　By　this　time；　a　dozen　or　more　children　were　clustered　around　her　table；　their　daemons　as　desperate　to　know　as　they　were；　all　wide…eyed　and　tense。
　　The　blond　girl　went　on：　〃Tony　wanted　to　know　what　they　was　gonna　do　with　Ratter；　see。　And　the　nurse　says；　Well；　she's　going　to　sleep　too；　just　like　when　you　do。　And　Tony　says；　You're　gonna　kill　her；　en't　yer？　1　know　you　are。　We　all　know　that's　what　happens。　And　the　nurse　says；　No；　of　course　not。　It's　just　a　little　operation。　Just　a　little　cut。　It　won't　even　hurt；　but　we　put　you　to　sleep　to　make　sure。
　　All　the　room　had　gone　quiet　now。　The　nurse　who'd　been　supervising　had　left　for　a　moment；　and　the　hatch　to　the　kitchen　was　shut　so　no　one　could　hear　from　there。
　　〃What　sort　of　cut？〃　said　a　boy；　his　voice　quiet　and　frightened。　〃Did　she　say　what　sort　of　cut？〃
　　〃She　just　said；　It's　something　to　make　you　more　grown　up。　She　said　everyone　had　to　have　it；　that's　why　grownups'　daemons　don't　change　like　ours　do。　So　they　have　a　cut　to　make　them　one　shape　forever；　and　that's　how　you　get　grown　up。〃
　　〃But…〃
　　〃Does　that　mean…〃
　　〃What；　all　grownups've　had　this　cut？〃
　　〃What　about…〃
　　Suddenly　all　the　voices　stopped　as　if　they　themselves　had　been　cut；　and　all　eyes　turned　to　the　door。　Sister　Clara　stood　there；　bland　and　mild　and　matter…of…fact；　and　beside　her　was　a　man　in　a　white　coat　whom　Lyra　hadn't　seen　before。
　　〃Bridget　McGinn；〃　he　said。
　　The　blond　girl　stood　up　trembling。　Her　squirrel　daemon　clutched　her　breast。
　　〃Yes；　sir？〃　she　said；　her　voice　hardly　audible。
　　〃Finish　your　drink　and　e　with　Sister　Clara；〃　he　said。　〃The　rest　of　you　run　along　and　go　to　your　classes。〃
　　Obediently　the　children　stacked　their　mugs　on　the　stainless…steel　trolley　before　leaving　in　silence。　No　one　looked　at　Bridget　McGinn　except　Lyra；　and　she　saw　the　blond　girl's　face　vivid　with　fear。
　　The　rest　of　that　morning　was　spent　in　exercise。　There　was　a　small　gymnasium　at　the　station；　because　it　was　hard　to　exercise　outside　during　the　long　polar　night；　and　each　group　of　children　took　turns　to　play　in　there；　under　the　supervision　of　a　nurse。　They　had　to　form　teams　and　throw　balls　around；　and　at　first　Lyra；　who　had　never　in　her　life　played　at　anything　like　this；　was　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　But　she　was　quick　and　athletic；　and　a　natural　leader；　and　soon　found　herself　enjoying　it。　The　shouts　of　the　children；　the　shrieks　and　hoots　of　the　daemons；　filled　the　little　gymnasium　and　soon　banished　fearful　thoughts；　which　of　course　was　exactly　what　the　exercise　was　intended　to　do。
　　
　　At　lunchtime；　when　the　children　were　lining　up　once　again　in　the　canteen；　Lyra　felt　Pantalaimon　give　a　chirrup　of　recognition；　and　turned　to　find　Billy　Costa　standing　just　behind　her。
　　〃Roger　told　me　you　was　here；〃　he　muttered。
　　〃Your　brother's　ing；　and　John　Faa　and　a　whole　band　of　gyptians；〃　she　said。　〃They're　going　to　take　you　home。〃
　　He　nearly　cried　aloud　with　joy；　but　subdued　the　cry　into　a　co