pp.thegoldencompass-第39部分

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　　〃Go　in　carefully；〃　said　the　daemon。
　　Lyra　pulled　open　the　door　against　the　snow　and　slipped　inside。　The　goose　daemon　came　with　her。　Pantalaimon　was　agitated　and　fearful；　but　he　didn't　want　the　witch's　daemon　to　see　his　fear；　so　he　had　flown　to　Lyra's　breast　and　taken　sanctuary　inside　her　furs。
　　As　soon　as　her　eyes　had　adjusted　to　the　light；　Lyra　saw　why。
　　In　a　series　of　glass　cases　on　shelves　around　the　walls　were　all　the　daemons　of　the　severed　children：　ghostlike　forms　of　cats；　or　birds；　or　rats；　or　other　creatures；　each　bewildered　and　frightened　and　as　pale　as　smoke。
　　The　witch's　daemon　gave　a　cry　of　anger；　and　Lyra　clutched　Pantalaimon　to　her　and　said；　〃Don't　look！　Don't　look！〃
　　〃Where　are　the　children　of　these　daemons？〃　said　the　goose　daemon；　shaking　with　rage。
　　Lyra　explained　fearfully　about　her　encounter　with　little　Tony　Makarios；　and　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　poor　caged　daemons；　who　were　clustering　forward　pressing　their　pale　faces　to　the　glass。　Lyra　could　hear　faint　cries　of　pain　and　misery。　In　the　dim　light　from　a　low…powered　anbaric　bulb　she　could　see　a　name　on　a　card　at　the　front　of　each　case；　and　yes；　there　was　an　empty　one　with　Tony　Makarios　on　it。　There　were　four　or　five　other　empty　ones　with　names　on　them；　too。
　　〃I　want　to　let　these　poor　things　go！〃　she　said　fiercely。　〃I'm　going　to　smash　the　glass　and　let　'em　out…〃
　　And　she　looked　around　for　something　to　do　it　with；　but　the　place　was　bare。　The　goose　daemon　said；　〃Wait。〃
　　He　was　a　witch's　daemon；　and　much　older　than　she　was；　and　stronger。　She　had　to　do　as　he　said。
　　〃We　must　make　these　people　think　someone　forgot　to　lock　the　place　and　shut　the　cages；〃　he　explained。　〃If　they　see　broken　glass　and　footprints　in　the　snow；　how　long　do　you　think　your　disguise　will　last？　And　it　must　hold　out　till　the　gyptians　e。　Now　do　exactly　as　I　say：　take　a　handful　of　snow；　and　when　I　tell　you；　blow　a　little　of　it　against　each　cage　in　turn。〃
　　She　ran　outside。　Roger　and　Billy　were　still　on　guard；　and　there　was　still　a　noise　of　shrieking　and　laughter　from　the　arena；　because　only　a　minute　or　so　had　gone　by。
　　She　grabbed　a　big　double　handful　of　the　light　powdery　snow；　and　then　came　back　to　do　as　the　goose　daemon　said。　As　she　blew　a　little　snow　on　each　cage；　the　goose　made　a　clicking　sound　in　his　throat；　and　the　catch　at　the　front　of　the　cage　came　open。
　　When　she　had　unlocked　them　all；　she　lifted　the　front　of　the　first　one；　and　the　pale　form　of　a　sparrow　fluttered　out；　but　fell　to　the　ground　before　she　could　fly。　The　goose　tenderly　bent　and　nudged　her　upright　with　his　beak；　and　the　sparrow　became　a　mouse；　staggering　and　confused。　Pantalaimon　leaped　down　to　fort　her。
　　Lyra　worked　quickly；　and　within　a　few　minutes　every　daemon　was　free。　Some　were　trying　to　speak；　and　they　clustered　around　her　feet　and　even　tried　to　pluck　at　her　leggings；　though　the　taboo　held　them　back。　She　could　tell　why；　poor　things；　they　missed　the　heavy　solid　warmth　of　their　humans'　bodies；　just　as　Pantalaimon　would　have　done；　they　longed　to　press　themselves　against　a　heartbeat。
　　〃Now；　quick；〃　said　the　goose。　〃Lyra；　you　must　run　back　and　mingle　with　the　other　children。　Be　brave；　child。　The　gyptians　are　ing　as　fast　as　they　can。　I　must　help　these　poor　daemons　to　find　their　people　。　。　。　。〃　He　came　closer　and　said　quietly；　〃But　they'll　never　be　one　again。　They're　sundered　forever。　This　is　the　most　wicked　thing　I　have　ever　seen　。　。　。　。Leave　the　footprints　you've　made；　I'll　cover　them　up。　Hurry　now　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Oh；　please！　Before　you　go！　Witches　。　。　。　They　do　fly；　don't　they？　I　wasn't　dreaming　when　I　saw　them　flying　the　other　night？〃
　　〃Yes；　child；　why？〃
　　〃Could　they　pull　a　balloon？〃
　　〃Undoubtedly；　but…〃
　　〃Will　Serafina　Pekkala　be　ing？〃
　　〃There　isn't　time　to　explain　the　politics　of　witch　nations。　There　are　vast　powers　involved　here；　and　Serafina　Pekkala　must　guard　the　interests　of　her　clan。　But　it　may　be　that　what's　happening　here　is　part　of　all　that's　happening　elsewhere。　Lyra；　you're　needed　inside。　Run；　run！〃
　　She　ran；　and　Roger；　who　was　watching　wide…eyed　as　the　pale　daemons　drifted　out　of　the　building；　waded　toward　her　through　the　thick　snow。
　　〃They're…it's　like　the　crypt　in　Jordan…they're　daemons！〃
　　〃Yes；　hush。　Don't　tell　Billy；　though。　Don't　tell　anyone　yet。　e　on　back。〃
　　Behind　them；　the　goose　was　beating　his　wings　powerfully；　throwing　snow　over　the　tracks　they'd　made；　and　near　him；　the　lost　daemons　were　clustering　or　drifting　away；　crying　little　bleak　cries　of　loss　and　longing。　When　the　footprints　were　covered；　the　goose　turned　to　herd　the　pale　daemons　together。　He　spoke；　and　one　by　one　they　changed；　though　you　could　see　the　effort　it　cost　them；　until　they　were　all　birds；　and　like　fledglings　they　followed　the　witch's　daemon；　fluttering　and　falling　and　running　through　the　snow　after　him；　and　finally；　with　great　difficulty；　taking　off。　They　rose　in　a　ragged　line；　pale　and　spectral　against　the　deep　black　sky；　and　slowly　gained　height；　feeble　and　erratic　though　some　of　them　were；　and　though　others　lost　their　will　and　fluttered　downward；　but　the　great　gray　goose　wheeled　round　and　nudged　them　back；　herding　them　gently　on　until　they　were　lost　against　the　profound　dark。
　　Roger　was　tugging　at　Lyra's　arm。
　　〃Quick；〃　he　said；　〃they're　nearly　ready。〃
　　They　stumbled　away　to　join　Billy；　who　was　beckoning　from　the　corner　of　the　main　building。　The　children　were　tired　now；　or　else　the　adults　had　regained　some　authority；　because　people　were　lining　up　raggedly　by　the　main　door；　with　much　jostling　and　pushing。　Lyra　and　the　other　two　slipped　out　from　the　corner　and　mingled　with　them；　but　before　they　did；　Lyra　said：
　　〃Pass　the　word　around　among　all　the　kids…they　got　to　be　ready　to　escape。　They　got　to　know　where　the　outdoor　clothes　are　and　be　ready　to　get　them　and　run　out　as　soon　as　we　give　the　signal。　And　they　got　to　keep　this　a　deadly　secret；　understand？〃
　　Billy　nodded；　and　Roger　said；　〃What's　the　signal？〃
　　〃The　fire　bell；〃　said　Lyra。　〃When　the　time　es；　I'll　set　it　off。〃
　　They　waited　to　be　counted　off。　If　anyone　in　the　Oblation　Board　had　had　anything　to　do　with　a　school；　they　would　have　arranged　this　better；　because　they　had　no　regular　group　to　go　to；　each　child　had　to　be　ticked　off　against　the　plete　list；
　　and　of　course　they　weren't　in　alphabetical　order；　and　none　of　the　adults　was　used　to　keeping　control。　So　there　was　a　good　deal　of　confusion；　despite　the　fact　that　no　one　was　running　around　anymore。
　　Lyra　watched　and　noticed。　They　weren't　very　good　at　this　at　all。　They　were　slack　in　a　lot　of　ways；　these　people；　they　grumbled　about　fire　drills；　they　didn't　know　where　the　outdoor　clothes　should　be　kept；　they　couldn't　get　children　to　stand　in　line　properly；　and　their　slackness　might　be　to　her　advantage。
　　They　had　almost　finished　when　there　came　another　distraction；　though；　and　from　Lyra's　point　of　view；　it　was　the　worst　possible。
　　She　heard　the　sound　as　everyone　else　did。　Heads　began　to　turn　and　scan　the　dark　sky　for　the　zeppelin；　whose　gas　engine　was　throbbing　clearly　in　the　still　air。
　　The　one　lucky　thing　was　that　it　was　ing　from　the　direction　opposite　to　the　one　in　which　the　gray　goose　had　flown。　But　that　was　the　only　fort。　Very　soon　it　was　visible；　and　a　murmur　of　excitement　went　around　the　crowd。　Its　fat　sleek　silver　form　drifted　over　the　avenue　of　lights；　and　its　own　lights　blazed　downward　from　the　nose　and　the　cabin　slung　beneath　the　body。
　　The　pilot　cut　the　speed　and　began　the　plex　business　of　adjusting　the　height。　Lyra　realized　what　the　stout　mast　was　for：　of　course；　it　was　a　mooring　mast。　As　the　adults　ushered　the　children　inside；　with　everyone　staring　back　and　pointing；　the　ground　crew　clambered　up　the　ladders　in　the　mast　and　prepared　to　attach　the　mooring　cables。　The　engines　were　roaring；　and　snow　was　swirling　up　from　the　ground；　and　the　faces　of　passengers　showed　in　the　cabin　windows。
　　Lyra　looked；　　and　there　was　no　mistake。　　Pantalaimon　clutched　at　her；　became　a　wildcat；　hissed　in　hatred；　because　looking　out　with　curiosity　was　the　beautiful　dark…haired　head　of　Mrs。　Coulter；　with　her　golden　daemon　in　her　lap。
　　
　　
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　　Lyra　ducked　her　head　at　once　under　the　shelter　of　her　wolverine　hood；　and　shuffled　in　through　the　double　doors　with　the　other　children。　Time　enough　later　to　worry　about　what　she'd　say　when　they　came　face　to　face：　she　had　another　problem　to　deal　with　first；　and　that　was　how　to　hide　her　furs　where　she　could　get　at　them　without　asking　permission。
　　But　luckily；　there　was　such　disorder　inside；　with　the　adults　trying　to　hurry　the　children　through　so　as　to　clear　the　way　for　the　passengers　from　the　zeppelin；　that　no　one　was　watching　very　carefully。　Lyra　slipped　out　of　the　anorak；　the　leggings；　and　the　boots　and　bundled　them　up　as　small　as　she　could　before　shoving　through　the　crowded　corridors　to　her　dormitory。
　　Quickly　she　dragged　a　locker　to　the　corner；　stood　on　it；　and　pushed　at　the　ceiling。　The　panel　lifted；　just　as　Roger　had　said；　and　into　the　space　beyond　she　thrust　the　boots　and　leggings。　As　an　afterthought；　she　took　the　alethiometer　from　her　pouch　and　hid　it　in　the　inmost　pocket　of　the　anorak　before　shoving　that　through　too。
　　She　jumped　down；　pushed　back　the　locker；　and　whispered　to　Pantalaimon；　〃We　must　just　pretend　to　be　stupid　till　she　sees　us；　and　then　say　we　were　kidnapped。　And　nothing　about　the　gyptians　or　Iorek　Byrnison　especially。〃
　　Because　Lyra　now　realized；　if　she　hadn't　done　so　before；　that　all　the　fear　in　her　nature　was　drawn　to　Mrs。　Coulter　as　a　pass　needle　is　drawn　to　the　Pole。　All　the　other　things
　　she'd　seen；　and　even　the　hideous　cruelty　of　the　intercision；　she　could　cope　with；　she　was　strong　enough；　but　the　thought　of　that　sweet　face　and　gentle　voice；　the　image　of　that　golden　playful　monkey；　was　enough　to　melt　her　stomach　and　make　her　pale　and　nauseated。
　　But　the　gyptians　were　ing。　Think　of　that。　Think　of　Iorek　Byrnison。　And　don't　give　yourself　away；　she　said；　and　drifted　back　toward　the　canteen；　from　where　a　lot　of　noise　was　ing。
　　Children　were　lining　up　to　get　hot　drinks；　some　of　them　still　in　their　coal…silk　anoraks。　Their　talk　was　all　of　the　zep…pelin　and　its　passenger。
　　〃It　was　her…with　the　monkey　daemon…〃
　　〃Did　she　get　you；　too？〃
　　〃She　said　she'd　write　to　my　mum　and　dad　and　I　bet　she　never　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃She　never　told　us　about　kids　getting　killed。　She　never　said　nothing　about　that。〃
　　〃That　monkey；　he's　the　worst…he　caught　my　Karossa　and　nearly　killed　her…I　could　feel　all　weak　。　。　。　。〃
　　They　were　as　frightened　as　Lyra　was。　She　found　Annie　and　the　others；　and　sat　down。
　　〃Listen；〃　she　said；　〃can　you　keep　a　secret？〃
　　〃Yeah！〃
　　The　three　faces　turned　to　her；　vivid　with　expectation。
　　〃There's　a　plan　to　escape；〃　Lyra　said　quietly。　〃There's　some　people　ing　to　take　us　away；　right；　and　they'll　be　here　in　about　a　day。　Maybe　sooner。　What　we　all　got　to　do　is　be　ready　as　soon　as　the　signal　goes　and　get　our　cold…weather　clothes　at　once　and　run　out。　No　waiting　about。　You　just　got　to　run。　Only　if　you　don't　get　your　anoraks　and　boots　and　stuff；　you'll　die　of　cold。〃
　　〃What　signal？〃　Annie　demanded。
　　〃The　fire　bell；　like　this　afternoon。　It's　all　organ