pp.thegoldencompass-第4部分

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rdinary　emulsion。　Now　I'd　like　you　to　look　at　a　picture　taken　with　the　special　emulsion。〃
　　He　took　out　the　slide。　Lyra　heard　the　Master　say　quietly；　〃If　he　forces　a　vote；　we　could　try　to　invoke　the　residence　clause。　He　hasn't　been　resident　in　the　College　for　thirty　weeks　out　of　the　last　fifty…two。〃
　　〃He's　already　got　the　Chaplain　on　his　side　。　。　。　〃　the　Librarian　murmured　in　reply。
　　Lord　Asriel　put　a　new　slide　in　the　lantern　frame。　It　showed　the　same　scene。　As　with　the　previous　pair　of　pictures；　many　of　the　features　visible　by　ordinary　light　were　much　dimmer　in　this　one；　and　so　were　the　curtains　of　radiance　in　the　sky。
　　But　in　the　middle　of　the　Aurora；　high　above　the　bleak　landscape；　Lyra　could　see　something　solid。　She　pressed　her　face　to　the　crack　to　see　more　clearly；　and　she　could　see　the　Scholars　near　the　screen　leaning　forward　too。　As　she　gazed；　her　wonder　grew；　because　there　in　the　sky　was　the　unmistakable　outline　of　a　city：　towers；　domes；　walls　。　。　。　Buildings　and　streets；　suspended　in　the　air！　She　nearly　gasped　with　wonder。　The　Cassington　Scholar　said；　〃That　looks　like　。　。　。　a　city。〃
　　〃Exactly　so；〃　said　Lord　Asriel。
　　〃A　city　in　another　world；　no　doubt？〃　said　the　Dean；　with　contempt　in　his　voice。
　　Lord　Asriel　ignored　him。　There　was　a　stir　of　excitement　among　some　of　the　Scholars；　as　if；　having　written　treatises　on　the　existence　of　the　unicorn　without　ever　having　seen　one；　they'd　been　presented　with　a　living　example　newly　captured。　〃Is　this　the　Barnard…Stokes　business？〃　said　the　Palmerian　Professor。　〃It　is；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　want　to　find　out；〃　said　Lord　Asriel。　He　stood　to　one　side　of　the　illuminated　screen。　Lyra　could　see　his　dark　eyes　searching　among　the　Scholars　as　they　peered　up　at　the　slide　of　the　Aurora；　and　the　green　glow　of　his　demon's　eyes　beside　him。　All　the　venerable　heads　were　craning　forward；　their　spectacles　glinting；　only　the　Master　and　the　Librarian　leaned　back　in　their　chairs；　with　their　heads　close　together。
　　The　Chaplain　was　saying；　〃You　said　you　were　searching　for　news　of　the　Grumman　expedition；　Lord　Asriel。
　　Was　Dr。　Grumman　investigating　this　phenomenon　too？〃
　　〃I　believe　he　was；　and　I　believe　he　had　a　good　deal　of　information　about　it。　But　he　won't　be　able　to　tell　us　what　it　was；　because　he's　dead。〃
　　〃No！〃　said　the　Chaplain。
　　〃I'm　afraid　so；　and　I　have　the　proof　here。〃
　　A　ripple　of　excited　apprehension　ran　round　the　Retiring　Room　as；　under　Lord　Asriel's　direction；　two　or　three　of　the　younger　Scholars　carried　the　wooden　box　to　the　front　of　the　room。　Lord　Asriel　took　out　the　last　slide　but　left　the　lantern　on；　and　in　the　dramatic　glare　of　the　circle　of　light　he　bent　to　lever　open　the　box。　Lyra　heard　the　screech　of　nails　ing　out　of　damp　wood。　The　Master　stood　up　to　look；　blocking　Lyra's　view。　Her　uncle　spoke　again：
　　〃If　you　remember；　Grumman's　expedition　vanished　eighteen　months　ago。　The　German　Academy　sent　him　up　there　to　go　as　far　north　as　the　magnetic　pole　and　make　various　celestial　observations。　It　was　in　the　course　of　that　journey　that　he　observed　the　curious　phenomenon　we've　already　seen。　Shortly　after　that；　he　vanished。　It's　been　assumed　that　he　had　an　accident　and　that　his　body's　been　lying　in　a　crevasse　all　this　time。　In　fact；　there　was　no　accident。〃
　　〃What　have　you　got　there？〃　said　the　Dean。　〃Is　that　a　vacuum　container？〃
　　Lord　Asriel　didn't　answer　at　first。　Lyra　heard　the　snap　of　metal　clips　and　a　hiss　as　air　rushed　into　a　vessel；　and　then　there　was　a　silence。　But　the　silence　didn't　last　long。　After　a　moment　or　two　Lyra　heard　a　confused　babble　break　out：　cries　of　horror；　loud　protests；　voices　raised　in　anger　and　fear。
　　〃But　what…〃
　　〃…hardly　human…〃
　　〃…it's　been…〃
　　〃…what's　happened　to　it？〃
　　The　Master's　voice　cut　through　them　all。
　　〃Lord　Asriel；　what　in　God's　name　have　you　got　there？〃
　　〃This　is　the　head　of　Stanislaus　Grumman；〃　said　Lord　Asriel's　voice。
　　Over　the　jumble　of　voices　Lyra　heard　someone　stumble　to　the　door　and　out；　making　incoherent　sounds　of　distress。　She　wished　she　could　see　what　they　were　seeing。
　　Lord　Asriel　said；　〃I　found　his　body　preserved　in　the　ice　off　Svalbard。　The　head　was　treated　in　this　way　by　his　killers。　You'll　notice　the　characteristic　scalping　pattern。　I　think　you　might　be　familiar　with　it；　Sub…Rector。〃
　　The　old　man's　voice　was　steady　as　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　the　Tartars　do　this。　It's　a　technique　you　find　among　the　aboriginals　of　Siberia　and　the　Tungusk。　From　there；　of　course；　it　spread　into　the　lands　of　the　Skraelings；　though　I　understand　that　it　is　now　banned　in　New　Denmark。　May　I　examine　it　more　closely；　Lord　Asriel？〃
　　After　a　short　silence　he　spoke　again。
　　〃My　eyes　are　not　very　clear；　and　the　ice　is　dirty；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　there　is　a　hole　in　the　top　of　the　skull。　Am　I　right？〃
　　〃You　are。〃
　　〃Trepanning？〃
　　〃Exactly。〃
　　That　caused　a　murmur　of　excitement。　The　Master　moved　out　of　the　way　and　Lyra　could　see　again。　The　old　Sub…Rector；　in　the　circle　of　light　thrown　by　the　lantern；　was　holding　a　heavy　block　of　ice　up　close　to　his　eyes；　and　Lyra　could　see　the　object　inside　it：　a　bloody　lump　barely　recognizable　as　a　human　head。　Pantalaimon　fluttered　around　Lyra；　his　distress　affecting　her。
　　〃Hush；〃　she　whispered。　〃Listen。〃
　　〃Dr。　Grumman　was　once　a　Scholar　of　this　College；〃　said　the　Dean　hotly。
　　〃To　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　Tartars…〃
　　〃But　that　far　north？〃
　　〃They　must　have　penetrated　further　than　anyone　imagined！〃
　　〃Did　I　hear　you　say　you　found　it　near　Svalbard？〃　said　the　Dean。
　　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃Are　we　to　understand　that　the　panserbj0rne　had　anything　to　do　with　this？〃
　　Lyra　didn't　recognize　that　word；　but　clearly　the　Scholars　did。
　　〃Impossible；〃　said　the　Cassington　Scholar　firmly。　〃They'd　never　behave　in　that　manner。〃
　　〃Then　you　don't　know　lofur　Raknison；〃　said　the　Palmerian　Professor；　who　had　made　several　expeditions　himself　to　the　arctic　regions。　〃It　wouldn't　surprise　me　at　all　to　learn　that　he　had　taken　to　scalping　people　in　the　Tartar　fashion。〃
　　Lyra　looked　again　at　her　uncle；　who　was　watching　the　Scholars　with　a　glitter　of　sardonic　amusement；　and　saying　nothing。
　　〃Who　is　lofur　Raknison？〃　said　someone。　〃The　king　of　Svalbard；〃　said　the　Palmerian　Professor。　〃Yes；　that's　right；　one　of　the　panserb）0me。　He's　a　usurper；　of　sorts；　tricked　his　way　onto　the　throne；　or　so　I　understand；　but　a　powerful　figure；　by　no　means　a　fool；　in　spite　of　his　ludicrous　affectations…having　a　palace　built　of　imported　marble…setting　up　what　he　calls　a　university…〃
　　〃For　whom？　For　the　bears？〃　said　someone　else；　and　every…one　laughed。
　　But　the　Palmerian　Professor　went　on：　〃For　all　that；　I　tell　you　that　lofur　Raknison　would　be　capable　of　doing　this　to　Grumman。　At　the　same　time；　he　could　be　flattered　into　behaving　quite　differently；　if　the　need　arose。〃
　　〃And　you　know　how；　do　you；　Trelawney？〃　said　the　Dean　sneeringly。
　　〃Indeed　I　do。　Do　you　know　what　he　wants　above　all　else？　Even　more　than　an　honorary　degree？　He　wants　a　daemon！　Find　a　way　to　give　him　a　daemon；　and　he'd　do　anything　for　you。〃
　　The　Scholars　laughed　heartily。
　　Lyra　was　following　this　with　puzzlement；　what　the　Palmerian　Professor　said　made　no　sense　at　all。　Besides；　she　was　impatient　to　hear　more　about　scalping　and　the　Northern　Lights　and　that　mysterious　Dust。　But　she　was　disappointed；　for　Lord　Asriel　had　finished　showing　his　relics　and　pictures；　and　the　talk　soon　turned　into　a　College　wrangle　about　whether　or　not　they　should　give　him　some　money　to　fit　out　another　expedition。　Back　and　forth　the　arguments　ranged；　and　Lyra　felt　her　eyes　closing。　Soon　she　was　fast　asleep；　with　Pantalaimon　curled　around　her　neck　in　his　favorite　sleeping　form　as　an　ermine。
　　
　　She　woke　up　with　a　start　when　someone　shook　her　shoulder。
　　〃Quiet；〃　said　her　uncle。　The　wardrobe　door　was　open；　and　he　was　crouched　there　against　the　light。　〃They've　all　gone；　but　there　are　still　some　servants　around。　Go　to　your　bedroom　now；　and　take　care　that　you　say　nothing　about　this。〃
　　〃Did　they　vote　to　give　you　the　money？〃　she　said　sleepily。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃What's　Dust？〃　she　said；　struggling　to　stand　up　after　having　been　cramped　for　so　long。
　　〃Nothing　to　do　with　you。〃
　　〃It　is　to　do　with　me；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　wanted　me　to　be　a　spy　in　the　wardrobe；　you　ought　to　tell　me　what　I'm　spying　about。　Can　I　see　the　man's　head？〃
　　Pantalaimon's　white　ermine　fur　bristled：　she　felt　it　tickling　her　neck。　Lord　Asriel　laughed　shortly。
　　〃Don't　be　disgusting；〃　he　said；　and　began　to　pack　his　slides　and　specimen　box。　〃Did　you　watch　the　Master？〃
　　〃Yes；　and　he　looked　for　the　wine　before　he　did　anything　else。〃
　　〃Good。　But　I've　scotched　him　for　now。　Do　as　you're　told　and　go　to　bed。〃
　　〃But　where　are　you　going？〃
　　〃Back　to　the　North。　I'm　leaving　in　ten　minutes。〃
　　〃Can　I　e？〃
　　He　stopped　what　he　was　doing；　and　looked　at　her　as　if　for　the　first　time。　His　daemon　turned　her　great　tawny　leopard　eyes　on　her　too；　and　under　the　concentrated　gaze　of　both　of　them；　Lyra　blushed。　But　she　gazed　back　fiercely。
　　〃Your　place　is　here；〃　said　her　uncle　finally。
　　〃But　why？　Why　is　my　place　here？　Why　can't　I　e　to　the　North　with　you？　I　want　to　see　the　Northern　Lights　and　bears　and　icebergs　and　everything。　I　want　to　know　about　Dust。　And　that　city　in　the　air。　Is　it　another　world？〃
　　〃You're　not　ing；　child。　Put　it　out　of　your　head；　the　times　are　too　dangerous。　Do　as　you're　told　and　go　to　bed；　and　if　you're　a　good　girl；　I'll　bring　you　back　a　walrus　tusk　with　some　Eskimo　carving　on　it。　Don't　argue　anymore　or　I　shall　be　angry。〃
　　And　his　daemon　growled　with　a　deep　savage　rumble　that　made　Lyra　suddenly　aware　of　what　it　would　be　like　to　have　teeth　meeting　in　her　throat。
　　She　pressed　her　lips　and　frowned　hard　at　her　uncle。　He　was　pumping　the　air　from　the　vacuum　flask；　and　took　no　notice；　it　was　as　if　he'd　already　forgotten　her。　Without　a　word；　but　with　lips　tight　and　eyes　narrowed；　the　girl　and　her　daemon　left　and　went　to　bed。
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　The　Master　and　the　Librarian　were　old　friends　and　allies；　and　it　was　their　habit；　after　a　difficult　episode；　to　take　a　glass　of　brantwijn　and　console　each　other。　So　after　they'd　seen　Lord　Asriel　away；　they　strolled　to　the　Master's　lodging　and　settled　in　his　study　with　the　curtains　drawn　and　the　fire　refreshed；　their　daemons　in　their　familiar　places　on　knee　or　shoulder；　and　prepared　to　think　through　what　had　just　happened。
　　〃Do　you　really　believe　he　knew　about　the　wine？〃　said　the　Librarian。
　　〃Of　course　he　did。　I　have　no　idea　how；　but　he　knew；　and　he　spilled　the　decanter　himself。　Of　course　he　did。〃
　　〃Forgive　me；　Master；　but　I　can't　help　being　relieved。　I　was　never　happy　about　the　idea　of　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Of　poisoning　him？〃
　　〃Yes。　Of　murder。〃
　　〃Hardly　anyone　would　be　happy　at　that　idea；　Charles。　The　question　was　whether　doing　that　would　be　worse　than　the　consequences　of　not　doing　it。　Well；　some　providence　has　intervened；　and　it　hasn't　happened。　I'm　only　sorry　I　burdened　you　with　the　knowledge　of　it。〃
　　〃No；　no；〃　protested　the　Librarian。　〃But　I　wish　you　had　told　me　more。
　　The　Master　was　silent　for　a　while　before　saying；　〃Yes；　perhaps　I　should　have　done。　The　alethiometer　warns　of　appalling　consequences　i