pp.thegoldencompass-第43部分

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d　escape　had　got　around。　The　oldest　were　making　for　the　storerooms　where　the　clothing　was　kept；　and　herding　the　younger　ones　with　them。　Adults　were　trying　to　control　it　all；　and　none　of　them　knew　what　was　happening。　Shouting；　pushing；　crying；　jostling　people　were　everywhere。
　　Through　it　all　Lyra　and　Pantalaimon　darted　like　fish；　making　always　for　the　dormitory；　and　just　as　they　reached　it；　there　was　a　dull　explosion　from　behind　that　shook　the　building。
　　The　other　girls　had　fled：　the　room　was　empty。　Lyra　dragged　the　locker　to　the　corner；　jumped　up；　hauled　the　furs　out　of　the　ceiling；　felt　for　the　alethiometer。　It　was　still　there。　She　tugged　the　furs　on　quickly；　pulling　the　hood　forward；　and　then　Pantalaimon；　a　sparrow　at　the　door；　called：
　　〃Now！〃
　　She　ran　out。　By　luck　a　group　of　children　who'd　already　found　some　cold…weather　clothing　were　racing　down　the　corridor　toward　the　main　entrance；　and　she　joined　them；　sweating；　her　heart　thumping；　knowing　that　she　had　to　escape　or　die。
　　The　way　was　blocked。　The　fire　in　the　kitchen　had　taken　quickly；　and　whether　it　was　the　flour　or　the　gas；　something　had　brought　down　part　of　the　roof。　People　were　clambering　over　twisted　struts　and　girders　to　get　up　to　the　bitter　cold　air。　The　smell　of　gas　was　strong。　Then　came　another　explosion；　louder　than　the　first　and　closer。　The　blast　knocked　several　people　over；　and　cries　of　fear　and　pain　filled　the　air。
　　Lyra　struggled　up；　and　with　Pantalaimon　calling；　〃This　way！　This　way！〃　among　the　other　daemon…cries　and　flutter…ings；　she　hauled　herself　over　the　rubble。　The　air　she　was　breathing　was　frozen；　and　she　hoped　that　the　children　had　managed　to　find　their　outdoor　clothing；　it　would　be　a　fine　thing　to　escape　from　the　station　only　to　die　of　cold。
　　There　really　was　a　blaze　now。　When　she　got　out　onto　the　roof　under　the　night　sky；　she　could　see　flames　licking　at　the　edges　of　a　great　hole　in　the　side　of　the　building。　There　was　a　throng　of　children　and　adults　by　the　main　entrance；　but　this　time　the　adults　were　more　agitated　and　the　children　more　fearful：　much　more　fearful。
　　〃Roger！　Roger！〃　Lyra　called；　and　Pantalaimon；　keen…eyed　as　an　owl；　hooted　that　he'd　seen　him。
　　A　moment　later　they　found　each　other。
　　〃Tell　'em　all　to　e　with　me！〃　Lyra　shouted　into　his　ear。
　　〃They　won't…they're　all　panicky…〃
　　〃Tell　'em　what　they　do　to　the　kids　that　vanish！　They　cut　their　demons　off　with　a　big　knife！　Tell　'em　what　you　saw　this　afternoon…all　them　daemons　we　let　out！　Tell　'em　that's　going　to　happen　to　them　too　unless　they　get　away！〃
　　Roger　gaped；　horrified；　but　then　collected　his　wits　and　ran　to　the　nearest　group　of　hesitating　children。　Lyra　did　the　same；　and　as　the　message　passed　along；　some　children　cried　out　and　clutched　their　daemons　in　fear。
　　〃e　with　me！〃　Lyra　shouted。　〃There's　a　rescue　a　ing！　We　got　to　get　out　of　the　pound！　e　on；　run！〃
　　The　children　heard　her　and　followed；　streaming　across　the　enclosure　toward　the　avenue　of　lights；　their　boots　pattering　and　creaking　in　the　hard…packed　snow。
　　Behind　them；　adults　were　shouting；　and　there　was　a　rumble　and　crash　as　another　part　of　the　building　fell　in。　Sparks　gushed　into　the　air；　and　flames　billowed　out　with　a　sound　like　tearing　cloth；　but　cutting　through　this　came　another　sound；　dreadfully　close　and　violent。　Lyra　had　never　heard　it　before；　but　she　knew　it　at　once：　it　was　the　howl　of　the　Tartar　guards'　wolf　daemons。　She　felt　weak　from　head　to　foot；　and　many　children　turned　in　fear　and　stumbled　to　a　stop；　for　there　running　at　a　low　swift　tireless　lope　came　the　first　of　the　Tartar　guards；　rifle　at　the　ready；　with　the　mighty　leaping　grayness　of　his　daemon　beside　him。
　　Then　came　another；　and　another。　They　were　all　in　padded　mail；　and　they　had　no　eyes…or　at　least　you　couldn't　see　any　eyes　behind　the　snow　slits　of　their　helmets。　The　only　eyes　you　could　see　were　the　round　black　ends　of　the　rifle　barrels　and　the　blazing　yellow　eyes　of　the　wolf　daemons　above　the　slaver　dripping　from　their　jaws。
　　Lyra　faltered。　She　hadn't　dreamed　of　how　frightening　those　wolves　were。　And　now　that　she　knew　how　casually　people　at　Bolvangar　broke　the　great　taboo；　she　shrank　from　the　thought　of　those　dripping　teeth　。　。　。　。
　　The　Tartars　ran　to　stand　in　a　line　across　the　entrance　to　the　avenue　of　lights；　their　daemons　beside　them　as　disciplined　and　drilled　as　they　were。　In　another　minute　there'd　be　a　second　line；　because　more　were　ing；　and　more　behind　them。　Lyra　thought　with　despair：　children　can't　fight　soldiers。　It　wasn't　like　the　battles　in　the　Oxford　claybeds；　hurling　lumps　of　mud　at　the　brickburners'　children。
　　Or　perhaps　it　was！　She　remembered　hurling　a　handful　of　clay　in　the　broad　face　of　a　brickburner　boy　bearing　down　on　her。　He'd　stopped　to　claw　the　stuff　out　of　his　eyes；　and　then　the　townies　leaped　on　him。
　　She'd　been　standing　in　the　mud。　She　was　standing　in　the　snow。
　　Just　as　she'd　done　that　afternoon；　but　in　deadly　earnest　now；　she　scooped　a　handful　together　and　hurled　it　at　the　nearest　soldier。
　　〃Get　'em　in　the　eyes！〃　she　yelled；　and　threw　another。
　　Other　children　joined　in；　and　then　someone's　daemon　had　the　notion　of　flying　as　a　swift　beside　the　snowball　and　nudging　it　directly　at　the　eye　slits　of　the　target…and　then　they　all　joined　in；　and　in　a　few　moments　the　Tartars　were　stumbling　about；　spitting　and　cursing　and　trying　to　brush　the　packed　snow　out　of　the　narrow　gap　in　front　of　their　eyes。
　　〃e　on！〃　Lyra　screamed；　and　flung　herself　at　the　gate　into　the　avenue　of　lights。
　　The　children　streamed　after　her；　every　one；　dodging　the　snapping　jaws　of　the　wolves　and　racing　as　hard　as　they　could　down　the　avenue　toward　the　beckoning　open　dark　beyond。
　　A　harsh　scream　came　from　behind　as　an　officer　shouted　an　order；　and　then　a　score　of　rifle　bolts　worked　at　once；　and　then　there　was　another　scream　and　a　tense　silence；　with　only　the　fleeing　children's　pounding　feet　and　gasping　breath　to　be　heard。
　　They　were　taking　aim。　They　wouldn't　miss。
　　But　before　they　could　fire；　a　choking　gasp　came　from　one　of　the　Tartars；　and　a　cry　of　surprise　from　another。
　　Lyra　stopped　and　turned　to　see　a　man　lying　on　the　snow；　with　a　gray…feathered　arrow　in　his　back。　He　was　writhing　and　twitching　and　coughing　out　blood；　and　the　other　soldiers　were　looking　around　to　left　and　right　for　whoever　had　fired　it；　but　the　archer　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　And　then　an　arrow　came　flying　straight　down　from　the　sky；　and　struck　another　man　behind　the　head。　He　fell　at　once。　A　shout　from　the　officer；　and　everyone　looked　up　at　the　dark　sky。
　　〃Witches！〃　said　Pantalaimon。
　　And　so　they　were：　ragged　elegant　black　shapes　sweeping　past　high　above；　with　a　hiss　and　swish　of　air　through　the　needles　of　the　cloud…pine　branches　they　flew　on。　As　Lyra　watched；　one　swooped　low　and　loosed　an　arrow：　another　man　fell。
　　And　then　all　the　Tartars　turned　their　rifles　up　and　blazed　into　the　dark；　firing　at　nothing；　at　shadows；　at　clouds；　and　more　and　more　arrows　rained　down　on　them。
　　But　the　officer　in　charge；　seeing　the　children　almost　away；　ordered　a　squad　to　race　after　them。　Some　children　screamed。　And　then　more　screamed；　and　they　weren't　moving　forward　anymore；　they　were　turning　back　in　confusion；　terrified　by　the　monstrous　shape　hurtling　toward　them　from　the　dark　beyond　the　avenue　of　lights。
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison！〃　cried　Lyra；　her　chest　nearly　bursting　with　joy。
　　The　armored　bear　at　the　charge　seemed　to　be　conscious　of　no　weight　except　what　gave　him　momentum。　He　bounded　past　Lyra　almost　in　a　blur　and　crashed　into　the　Tartars；　scattering　soldiers；　daemons；　rifles　to　all　sides。　Then　he　stopped　and　whirled　round；　with　a　lithe　athletic　power；　and　struck　two　massive　blows；　one　to　each　side；　at　the　guards　closest　to　him。
　　A　wolf　daemon　leaped　at　him：　he　slashed　at　her　in　midair；　and　bright　fire　spilled　out　of　her　as　she　fell　to　the　snow；　where　she　hissed　and　howled　before　vanishing。　Her　human　died　at　once。
　　The　Tartar　officer；　faced　with　this　double　attack；　didn't　hesitate。　A　long　high　scream　of　orders；　and　the　force　divided　itself　into　two：　one　to　keep　off　the　witches；　the　bigger　part　to　overe　the　bear。　His　troops　were　magnificently　brave。　They　dropped　to　one　knee　in　groups　of　four　and　fired　their　rifles　as　if　they　were　on　the　practice　range；　not　budging　an　inch　as　Iorek's　mighty　bulk　hurtled　toward　them。　A　moment　later　they　were　dead。
　　Iorek　struck　again；　twisting　to　one　side；　slashing；　snarling；　crushing；　while　bullets　flew　about　him　like　wasps　or　flies；　doing　no　harm　at　all。　Lyra　urged　the　children　on　and　out　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　lights。　They　must　get　away；　because　dangerous　as　the　Tartars　were；　far　more　dangerous　were　the　adults　of　Bolvangar。
　　So　she　called　and　beckoned　and　pushed　to　get　the　children　moving。　As　the　lights　behind　them　threw　long　shadows　on　the　snow；　Lyra　found　her　heart　moving　out　toward　the　deep　dark　of　the　arctic　night　and　the　clean　coldness；　leaping　forward　to　love　it　as　Pantalaimon　was　doing；　a　hare　now　delighting　in　his　own　propulsion。
　　〃Where　we　going？〃　someone　said。
　　〃There's　nothing　out　here　but　snow！〃
　　〃There's　a　rescue　party　ing；〃　Lyra　told　them。　〃There's　fifty　gyptians　or　more。　I　bet　there's　some　relations　of　yours；　too。　All　the　gyptian　families　that　lost　a　kid；　they　all　sent　someone。〃
　　〃I　en't　a　gyptian；〃　a　boy　said。
　　〃Don't　matter。　They'll　take　you　anyway。〃
　　〃Where？〃　someone　said　querulously。
　　〃Home；〃　said　Lyra。　〃That's　what　I　e　here　for；　to　rescue　you；　and　I　brung　the　gyptians　here　to　take　you　home　again。　We　just　got　to　go　on　a　bit　further　and　then　we'll　find　'em。　The　bear　was　with　'em；　so　they　can't　be　far　off。〃
　　〃D'you　see　that　bear！〃　one　boy　was　saying。　〃When　he　slashed　open　that　daemon…the　man　died　as　if　someone　whipped　his　heart　out；　just　like　that！〃
　　〃I　never　knew　daemons　could　be　killed；〃　someone　else　said。
　　They　were　all　talking　now；　the　excitement　and　relief　had　loosened　everyone's　tongue。　As　long　as　they　kept　moving；　it　didn't　matter　if　they　talked。
　　〃Is　that　true；〃　said　a　girl；　〃about　what　they　do　back　there？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　Lyra　said。　〃I　never　thought　I'd　ever　see　anyone　without　their　daemon。　But　on　the　way　here；　we　found　this　boy　on　his　own　without　any　daemon。　He　kept　asking　for　her；　where　she　was；　would　she　ever　find　him。　He　was　called　Tony　Makarios。〃
　　〃I　know　him！〃　said　someone；　and　others　joined　in：　〃Yeah；　they　took　him　away　about　a　week　back　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Well；　they　cut　his　daemon　away；〃　said　Lyra；　knowing　how　it　would　affect　them。　〃And　a　little　bit　after　we　found　him；　he　died。　And　all　the　daemons　they　cut　away；　they　kept　them　in　cages　in　a　square　building　back　there。〃
　　〃It's　true；〃　said　Roger。　〃And　Lyra　let　'em　out　during　the　fire　drill。〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　seen　〃em！〃　said　Billy　Costa。　〃I　didn't　know　what　they　was　at　first；　but　I　seen　'em　fly　away　with　that　goose。〃
　　〃But　why　do　they　do　it？〃　demanded　one　boy。　〃Why　do　they　cut　people's　daemons　away？　That's　torture！　Why　do　they　do　it？〃
　　〃Dust；〃　suggested　someone　doubtfully。
　　But　the　boy　laughed　in　scorn。　〃Dust！〃　he　said。　〃There　en't　no　such　thing！　They　just　made　that　up！　I　don't　believe　in　it。〃
　　〃Here；〃　said　someone　else；　〃look　what's　happening　to　the　zeppelin！〃
　　They　all　looked　back。　Beyond　the　dazzle　of　lights；　whe