pp.thegoldencompass-第42部分

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　　timidly　at　the　drink　in　the　monkey's　clutch。　It　was　innocuous：　an　infusion　of　chamomile；　nothing　more。　He　crept　back　to　Lyra's　shoulder　and　whispered；　〃Drink　it。〃
　　She　sat　up　and　took　the　hot　cup　in　both　hands；　alternately　sipping　and　blowing　to　cool　it。　She　kept　her　eyes　down。　She　must　pretend　harder　than　she'd　ever　done　in　her　life。
　　〃Lyra；　darling；〃　Mrs。　Coulter　murmured；　stroking　her　hair。　〃I　thought　we'd　lost　you　forever！　What　happened？　Did　you　get　lost？　Did　someone　take　you　out　of　the　flat？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　Lyra　whispered。
　　〃Who　was　it；　dear？〃
　　〃A　man　and　a　woman。〃
　　〃Guests　at　the　party？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　They　said　you　needed　something　that　was　downstairs　and　I　went　to　get　it　and　they　grabbed　hold　of　me　and　took　me　in　a　car　somewhere。　But　when　they　stopped；　I　ran　out　quick　and　dodged　away　and　they　never　caught　me。　But　I　didn't　know　where　I　was　。　。　。　。〃
　　Another　sob　shook　her　briefly；　but　they　were　weaker　now；　and　she　could　pretend　this　one　was　caused　by　her　story。
　　〃And　I　just　wandered　about　trying　to　find　my　way　back；　only　these　Gobblers　caught　me　。　。　。　。And　they　put　me　in　a　van　with　some　other　kids　and　took　me　somewhere；　a　big　building；　I　dunno　where　it　was。〃
　　With　every　second　that　went　past；　with　every　sentence　she　spoke；　she　felt　a　little　strength　flowing　back。　And　now　that　she　was　doing　something　difficult　and　familiar　and　never　quite　predictable；　namely　lying；　she　felt　a　sort　of　mastery　again；　the　same　sense　of　plexity　and　control　that　the　alethiometer　gave　her。　She　had　to　be　careful　not　to　say　anything　obviously　impossible；　she　had　to　be　vague　in　some　places　and　invent　plausible　details　in　others；　she　had　to　be　an　artist；　in　short。
　　〃How　long　did　they　keep　you　in　this　building？〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter。
　　Lyra's　journey　along　the　canals　and　her　time　with　the　gyp…tians　had　taken　weeks：　she'd　have　to　account　for　that　time。　She　invented　a　voyage　with　the　Gobblers　to　Trollesund；　and　then　an　escape；　lavish　with　details　from　her　observation　of　the　town；　and　a　time　as　maid…of…all…work　at　Einarsson's　Bar；　and　then　a　spell　working　for　a　family　of　farmers　inland；　and　then　being　caught　by　the　Samoyeds　and　brought　to　Bolvangar。
　　〃And　they　were　going　to…going　to　cut…〃
　　〃Hush；　dear；　hush。　I'm　going　to　find　out　what's　been　going　on。〃
　　〃But　why　were　they　going　to　do　that？　I　never　done　anything　wrong！　All　the　kids　are　afraid　of　what　happens　in　there；　and　no　one　knows。　But　it's　horrible。　It's　worse　than　anything　。　。　。　。Why　are　they　doing　that；　Mrs。　Coulter？　Why　are　they　so　cruel？〃
　　〃There；　there　。　。　。　You're　safe；　my　dear。　They　won't　ever　do　it　to　you。　Now　I　know　you're　here；　and　you're　safe；　you'll　never　be　in　danger　again。　No　one's　going　to　harm　you；　Lyra　darling；　no　one's　ever　going　to　hurt　you　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃But　they　do　it　to　other　children！　Why？〃
　　〃Ah；　my　love…〃
　　〃It's　Dust；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Did　they　tell　you　that？　Did　the　doctors　say　that？〃
　　〃The　kids　know　it。　All　the　kids　talk　about　it；　but　no　one　knows！　And　they　nearly　done　it　to　me…you　got　to　tell　me！　You　got　no　right　to　keep　it　secret；　not　anymore！〃
　　〃Lyra　。　。　。　Lyra；　Lyra。　Darling；　these　are　big　difficult　ideas；　Dust　and　so　on。　It's　not　something　for　children　to　worry　about。　But　the　doctors　do　it　for　the　children's　own　good；　my　love。　Dust　is　something　bad；　something　wrong；　something　evil　and　wicked。
　　Grownups　and　their　daemons　are　infected　with　Dust　so　deeply　that　it's　too　late　for　them。　They　can't　be　helped　。　。　。　。But　a　quick　operation　on　children　means　they're　safe　from　it。　Dust　just　won't　stick　to　them　ever　again。　They're　safe　and　happy　and…〃
　　Lyra　thought　of　little　Tony　Makarios。　She　leaned　forward　suddenly　and　retched。　Mrs。　Coulter　moved　back　and　let　go。
　　〃Are　you　all　right；　dear？　Go　to　the　bathroom…〃
　　Lyra　swallowed　hard　and　brushed　her　eyes。
　　〃You　don't　have　to　do　that　to　us；〃　she　said。　〃You　could　just　leave　us。　I　bet　Lord　Asriel　wouldn't　let　anyone　do　that　if　he　knew　what　was　going　on。　If　he's　got　Dust　and　you've　got　Dust；　and　the　Master　of　Jordan　and　every　other　grownup's　got　Dust；　it　must　be　all　right。　When　I　get　out　I'm　going　to　tell　all　the　kids　in　the　world　about　this。　Anyway；　if　it　was　so　good；　why'd　you　stop　them　doing　it　to　me？　If　it　was　good；　you　should've　let　them　do　it。　You　should　have　been　glad。〃
　　Mrs。　Coulter　was　shaking　her　head　and　smiling　a　sad　wise　smile。
　　〃Darling；〃　she　said；　〃some　of　what's　good　has　to　hurt　us　a　little；　and　naturally　it's　upsetting　for　others　if　you're　upset　。　。　。　。　But　it　doesn't　mean　your　daemon　is　taken　away　from　you。　He's　still　there！　Goodness　me；　a　lot　of　the　grownups　here　have　had　the　operation。　The　nurses　seem　happy　enough；　don't　they？〃
　　Lyra　blinked。　Suddenly　she　understood　their　strange　blank　incuriosity；　the　way　their　little　trotting　daemons　seemed　to　be　sleepwalking。
　　Say　nothing；　she　thought；　and　shut　her　mouth　hard。
　　〃Darling；　no　one　would　ever　dream　of　performing　an　operation　on　a　child　without　testing　it　first。　And　no　one　in　a　thousand　years　would　take　a　child's　daemon　away　altogether！　All　that　happens　is　a　little　cut；　and　then　everything's　peaceful。　Forever！　You　see；　your　daemon's　a　wonderful　friend　and　　panion　when　you're　young；　but　at　the　age　we　call　puberty；　the　age　you're　ing　to　very　soon；　darling；　daemons　bring　all　sort　of　troublesome　thoughts　and　feelings；　and　that's　what　lets　Dust　in。　A　quick　little　operation　before　that；　and　you're　never　troubled　again。　And　your　daemon　stays　with　you；　only　。　。　。　just　not　connected。　Like　a　。　。　。　like　a　wonderful　pet；　if　you　like。　The　best　pet　in　the　world！　Wouldn't　you　like　that？〃
　　Oh；　the　wicked　liar；　oh；　the　shameless　untruths　she　was　telling！　And　even　if　Lyra　hadn't　known　them　to　be　lies　（Tony　Makarios；　those　caged　daemons）　she　would　have　hated　it　with　a　furious　passion。　Her　dear　soul；　the　daring　panion　of　her　heart；　to　be　cut　away　and　reduced　to　a　little　trotting　pet？　Lyra　nearly　blazed　with　hatred；　and　Pantalaimon　in　her　arms　became　a　polecat；　the　most　ugly　and　vicious　of　all　his　forms；　and　snarled。
　　But　they　said　nothing。　Lyra　held　Pantalaimon　tight　and　let　Mrs。　Coulter　stroke　her　hair。
　　〃Drink　up　your　chamomile；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter　softly。　〃We'll　have　them　make　up　a　bed　for　you　in　here。　There's　no　need　to　go　back　and　share　a　dormitory　with　other　girls；　not　now　I've　got　my　little　assistant　back。　My　favorite！　The　best　assistant　in　the　world。　D'you　know；　we　searched　all　over　London　for　you；　darling？　We　had　the　police　searching　every　town　in　the　land。　Oh；　I　missed　you　so　much！　I　can't　tell　you　how　happy　I　am　to　find　you　again　。　。　。　。〃
　　All　the　time；　the　golden　monkey　was　prowling　about　restlessly；　one　minute　perching　on　the　table　swinging　his　tail；　the　next　clinging　to　Mrs。　Coulter　and　chittering　softly　in　her　ear；　the　next　pacing　the　floor　with　tail　erect。　He　was　betraying　Mrs。　Coulter's　impatience；　of　course；　and　finally　she　couldn't　hold　it　in。
　　〃Lyra；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　that　the　Master　of　Jordan　gave　you　something　before　you　left。　Isn't　that　right？　He　gave　you　an　alethiometer。　The　trouble　is；　it　wasn't　his　to　give。　It　was　left　in　his　care。　It's　really　too　valuable　to　be　carried　about…d'you　know；　it's　one　of　only　two　or　three　in　the　world！　I　think　the　Master　gave　it　to　you　in　the　hope　that　it　would　fall　into　Lord　Asriel's　hands。　He　told　you　not　to　tell　me　about　it；　didn't　he？〃
　　Lyra　twisted　her　mouth。
　　〃Yes；　I　can　see。　Well；　never　mind；　darling；　because　you　didn't　tell　me；　did　you？　So　you　haven't　broken　any　promises。　But　listen；　dear；　it　really　ought　to　be　properly　looked　after。　I'm　afraid　it's　so　rare　and　delicate　that　we　can't　let　it　be　at　risk　any　longer。〃
　　〃Why　shouldn't　Lord　Asriel　have　it？〃　Lyra　said；　not　moving。
　　〃Because　of　what　he's　doing。　You　know　he's　been　sent　away　to　exile；　because　he's　got　something　dangerous　and　wicked　in　mind。　He　needs　the　alethiometer　to　finish　his　plan；　but　believe　me；　dear；　the　last　thing　anyone　should　do　is　let　him　have　it。　The　Master　of　Jordan　was　sadly　mistaken。　But　now　that　you　know；　it　really　would　be　better　to　let　me　have　it；　wouldn't　it？　It　would　save　you　the　trouble　of　carrying　it　around；　and　all　the　worry　of　looking　after　it…and　really　it　must　have　been　such　a　puzzle；　wondering　what　a　silly　old　thing　like　that　was　any　good　for　。　。　。　。〃
　　Lyra　wondered　how　she　had　ever；　ever；　ever　found　this　woman　to　be　so　fascinating　and　clever。
　　〃So　if　you've　got　it　now；　dear；　you'd　really　better　let　me　have　it　to　look　after。　It's　in　that　belt　around　your　waist；　isn't　it？　Yes；　that　was　a　clever　thing　to　do；　putting　it　away　like　this　。　。　。　。〃
　　Her　hands　were　at　Lyra's　skirt；　and　then　she　was　unfastening　the　stiff　oilcloth。　Lyra　tensed　herself。　The　golden　monkey　was　crouching　at　the　end　of　the　bed；　trembling　with　anticipation；　little　black　hands　to　his　mouth。　Mrs。　Coulter　pulled　the　belt　away　from　Lyra's　waist　and　unbuttoned　the　pouch。　She　was　breathing　fast。　She　took　out　the　black　velvet　cloth　and　unfolded　it；　finding　the　tin　box　Iorek　Byrnison　had　made。
　　Pantalaimon　was　a　cat　again；　tensed　to　spring。　Lyra　drew　her　legs　up　away　from　Mrs。　Coulter；　and　swung　them　down　to　the　floor　so　that　she　too　could　run　when　the　time　came。
　　〃What's　this？〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter；　as　if　amused。　〃What　a　funny　old　tin！　Did　you　put　it　in　here　to　keep　it　safe；　dear？　All　this　moss　。　。　。　You　have　been　careful；　haven't　you？　Another　tin；　inside　the　first　one！　And　soldered！　Who　did　this；　dear？〃
　　She　was　too　intent　on　opening　it　to　wait　for　an　answer。　She　had　a　knife　in　her　handbag　with　a　lot　of　different　attachments；　and　she　pulled　out　a　blade　and　dug　it　under　the　lid。
　　At　once　a　furious　buzzing　filled　the　room。
　　Lyra　and　Pantalaimon　held　themselves　still。　Mrs。　Coulter；　puzzled；　curious；　pulled　at　the　lid；　and　the　golden　monkey　bent　close　to　look。
　　Then　in　a　dazzling　moment　the　black　form　of　the　spy…fly　hurtled　out　of　the　tin　and　crashed　hard　into　the　monkey's　face。
　　He　screamed　and　flung　himself　backward；　and　of　course　it　was　hurting　Mrs。　Coulter　too；　and　she　cried　out　in　pain　and　fright　with　the　monkey；　and　then　the　little　clockwork　devil　swarmed　upward　at　her；　up　her　breast　and　throat　toward　her　face。
　　Lyra　didn't　hesitate。　Pantalaimon　sprang　for　the　door　and　she　was　after　him　at　once；　and　she　tore　it　open　and　raced　away　faster　than　she　had　ever　run　in　her　life。
　　〃Fire　alarm！〃　Pantalaimon　shrieked；　as　he　flew　ahead　of　her。
　　She　saw　a　button　on　the　next　corner；　and　smashed　the　glass　with　her　desperate　fist。　She　ran　on；　heading　toward　the　dormitories；　smashed　another　alarm　and　another；　and　then　people　began　to　e　out　into　the　corridor；　looking　up　and　down　for　the　fire。
　　By　this　time　she　was　near　the　kitchen；　and　Pantalaimon　flashed　a　thought　into　her　mind；　and　she　darted　in。　A　moment　later　she　had　turned　on　all　the　gas　taps　and　flung　a　match　at　the　nearest　burner。　Then　she　dragged　a　bag　of　flour　from　a　shelf　and　hurled　it　at　the　edge　of　a　table　so　it　burst　and　filled　the　air　with　white；　because　she　had　heard　that　flour　will　explode　if　it's　treated　like　that　near　a　flame。
　　Then　she　ran　out　and　on　as　fast　as　she　could　toward　her　own　dormitory。　The　corridors　were　full　now：　children　running　this　way　and　that；　vivid　with　excitement；　for　the　word　escape　had　got　around。　The　oldest　were　makin