pp.thegoldencompass-第45部分

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　　〃Witches。　There's　one　witch　lady　who　wants　to　talk　to　you。　When　we　get　clear　of　the　cloud；　we'll　get　our　bearings　and　then　we　can　sit　and　have　a　yarn。〃
　　〃Iorek；〃　said　Lyra；　〃thank　you　for　ing。〃　The　bear　grunted；　and　settled　down　to　lick　the　blood　off　his　fur。　His　weight　meant　that　the　basket　was　tilted　to　one　side；　but　that　didn't　matter。　Roger　was　wary；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　took　no　more　notice　of　him　than　of　a　flake　of　snow。　Lyra　contented　herself　with　clinging　to　the　rim　of　the　basket；　just　under　her　chin　when　she　was　standing；　and　peering　wide…eyed　into　the　swirling　cloud。
　　Only　a　few　seconds　later　the　balloon　passed　out　of　the　cloud　altogether　and；　still　rising　rapidly；　soared　on　into　the　heavens。
　　What　a　sight！
　　Directly　above　them　the　balloon　swelled　out　in　a　huge　curve。　Above　and　ahead　of　them　the　Aurora　was　blazing；　with　more　brilliance　and　grandeur　than　she　had　ever　seen。　It　was　all　around；　or　nearly；　and　they　were　nearly　part　of　it。　Great　swathes　of　incandescence　trembled　and　parted　like　angels'　wings　beating；　cascades　of　luminescent　glory　tumbled　down　invisible　crags　to　lie　in　swirling　pools　or　hang　like　vast　waterfalls。
　　So　Lyra　gasped　at　that；　and　then　she　looked　below；　and　saw　a　sight　almost　more　wondrous。
　　As　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　to　the　very　horizon　in　all　directions；　a　tumbled　sea　of　white　extended　without　a　break。　Soft　peaks　and　vaporous　chasms　rose　or　opened　here　and　there；　but　mostly　it　looked　like　a　solid　mass　of　ice。
　　And　rising　through　it　in　ones　and　twos　and　larger　groups　as　well　came　small　black　shadows；　those　ragged　figures　of　such　elegance；　witches　on　their　branches　of　cloud…pine。
　　They　flew　swiftly；　without　any　effort；　up　and　toward　the　balloon；　leaning　to　one　side　or　another　to　steer。　And　one　of　them；　the　archer　who'd　saved　Lyra　from　Mrs。　Coulter；　flew　directly　alongside　the　basket；　and　Lyra　saw　her　clearly　for　the　first　time。
　　She　was　young…younger　than　Mrs。　Coulter；　and　fair；　with　bright　green　eyes；　and　clad　like　all　the　witches　in　strips　of　black　silk；　but　wearing　no　furs；　no　hood　or　mittens。　She　seemed　to　feel　no　cold　at　all。　Around　her　brow　was　a　simple　chain　of　little　red　flowers。　She　sat　on　her　cloud…pine　branch　as　if　it　were　a　steed；　and　seemed　to　rein　it　in　a　yard　from　Lyra's　wondering　gaze。
　　〃Lyra？〃
　　〃Yes！　And　are　you　Serafina　Pekkala？〃
　　〃I　am。〃
　　Lyra　could　see　why　Farder　Coram　loved　her；　and　why　it　was　breaking　his　heart；　though　she　had　known　neither　of　those　things　a　moment　before。　He　was　growing　old；　he　was　an　old　broken　man；　and　she　would　be　young　for　generations。
　　〃Have　you　got　the　symbol　reader？〃　said　the　witch；　in　a　voice　so　like　the　high　wild　singing　of　the　Aurora　itself　that　Lyra　could　hardly　hear　the　sense　for　the　sweet　sound　of　it。
　　〃Yes。　I　got　it　in　my　pocket；　safe。〃
　　Great　wingbeats　told　of　another　arrival；　and　then　he　was　gliding　beside　her：　the　gray　goose　daemon。　He　spoke　briefly　and　then　wheeled　away　to　glide　in　a　wide　circle　around　the　balloon　as　it　continued　to　rise。
　　〃The　gyptians　have　laid　waste　to　Bolvangar；〃　said　Serafina　Pekkala。　〃They　have　killed　twenty…two　guards　and　nine　of　the　staff；　and　they've　set　light　to　every　part　of　the　buildings　that　still　stood。　They　are　going　to　destroy　it　pletely。〃
　　〃What　about　Mrs。　Coulter？〃
　　〃No　sign　of　her。〃
　　〃And　the　kids？　They　got　all　the　kids　safely？〃
　　〃Every　one。　They　are　all　safe。〃
　　Serafina　Pekkala　cried　out　in　a　wild　yell；　and　other　witches　circled　and　flew　in　toward　the　balloon。
　　〃Mr。　Scoresby；〃　she　said。　〃The　rope；　if　you　please。〃
　　〃Ma'am；　I'm　very　grateful。　We're　still　rising。　I　guess　we'll　go　on　up　awhile　yet。　How　many　of　you　will　it　take　to　pull　us　north？〃
　　〃We　are　strong〃　was　all　she　said。
　　Lee　Scoresby　was　attaching　a　coil　of　stout　rope　to　the　leather…covered　iron　ring　that　gathered　the　ropes　running　over　the　gas　bag；　and　from　which　the　basket　itself　was　suspended。　When　it　was　securely　fixed；　he　threw　the　free　end　out；　and　at　once　six　witches　darted　toward　it；　caught　hold；　and　began　to　pull；　urging　the　cloud…pine　branches　toward　the　Polar　Star。
　　As　the　balloon　began　to　move　in　that　direction；　Pan…talaimon　came　to　perch　on　the　edge　of　the　basket　as　a　tern。　Roger's　daemon　came　out　to　look；　but　crept　back　again　soon；　for　Roger　was　fast　asleep；　as　was　Iorek　Byrnison。　Only　Lee　Scoresby　was　awake；　calmly　chewing　a　thin　cigar　and　watching　his　instruments。
　　〃So；　Lyra；〃　said　Serafina　Pekkala。　〃Do　you　know　why　you're　going　to　Lord　Asriel？〃
　　Lyra　was　astonished。　〃To　take　him　the　alethiometer；　of　course！〃　she　said。
　　She　had　never　considered　the　question；　it　was　obvious。　Then　she　recalled　her　first　motive；　from　so　long　ago　that　she'd　almost　forgotten　it。
　　〃Or　。　。　。　　To　help　him　escape。　That's　it。　We're　going　to　help　him　get　away。〃
　　But　as　she　said　that；　it　sounded　absurd。　Escape　from　Svalbard？　Impossible！
　　〃Try；　anyway；〃　she　added　stoutly。　〃Why？〃
　　〃I　think　there　are　things　I　need　to　tell　you；〃　said　Serafina　Pekkala。
　　〃About　Dust？〃
　　It　was　the　first　thing　Lyra　wanted　to　know。
　　〃Yes；　among　other　things。　But　you　are　tired　now；　and　it　will　be　a　long　flight。　We'll　talk　when　you　wake　up。〃
　　Lyra　yawned。　It　was　a　jaw…cracking；　lung…bursting　yawn　that　lasted　almost　a　minute；　or　felt　like　it；　and　for　all　that　Lyra　struggled；　she　couldn't　resist　the　onrush　of　sleep。　Serafina　Pekkala　reached　a　hand　over　the　rim　of　the　basket　and　touched　her　eyes；　and　as　Lyra　sank　to　the　floor；　Pantalaimon　fluttered　down；　changed　to　an　ermine；　and　crawled　to　his　sleeping　place　by　her　neck。
　　The　witch　settled　her　branch　into　a　steady　speed　beside　the　basket　as　they　moved　north　toward　Svalbard。
　　
　　
　　
　　PART　　THREE
　　SVALBARD
　　
　　
　　EIGHTEEN　
　　FOG　AND　ICE
　　
　　Lee　Scoresby　arranged　some　furs　over　Lyra。　She　curled　up　close　to　Roger　and　they　lay　together　asleep　as　the　balloon　swept　on　toward　the　Pole。　The　aeronaut　checked　his　instruments　from　time　to　time；　chewed　on　the　cigar　he　would　never　light　with　the　inflammable　hydrogen　so　close；　and　huddled　deeper　into　his　own　furs。
　　〃This　little　girl's　pretty　important；　huh？〃　he　said　after　several　minutes。
　　〃More　than　she　will　know；〃　Serafina　Pekkala　said。
　　〃Does　that　mean　there's　gonna　be　much　in　the　way　of　armed　pursuit？　You　understand；　I'm　speaking　as　a　practical　man　with　a　living　to　earn。　I　can't　afford　to　get　busted　up　or　shot　to　pieces　without　some　kind　of　pensation　agreed　to　in　advance。　I　ain't　trying　to　lower　the　tone　of　this　expedition；　believe　me；　ma'am。　But　John　Faa　and　the　gyptians　paid　me　a　fee　that's　enough　to　cover　my　time　and　skill　and　the　normal　wear　and　tear　on　the　balloon；　and　that's　all。　It　didn't　include　acts…of…war　insurance。　And　let　me　tell　you；　ma'am；　when　we　land　Iorek　Byrnison　on　Svalbard；　that　will　count　as　an　act　of　war。〃
　　He　spat　a　piece　of　smokeleaf　delicately　overboard。
　　〃So　I'd　like　to　know　what　we　can　expect　in　the　way　of　mayhem　and　ructions；〃　he　finished。
　　〃There　may　be　fighting；〃　said　Serafina　Pekkala。　〃But　you　have　fought　before。〃
　　〃Sure；　when　I'm　paid。　But　the　fact　is；　I　thought　this　was　a　straightforward　transportation　contract；　and　I　charged　according。　And　I'm　a　wondering　now；　after　that　little　dust…up　down　there；　I'm　a　wondering　how　far　my　transportation　responsibility　extends。　Whether　I'm　bound　to　risk　my　life　and　my　equipment　in　a　war　among　the　bears；　for　example。　Or　whether　this　little　child　has　enemies　on　Svalbard　as　hot…tempered　as　the　ones　back　at　Bolvangar。　I　merely　mention　all　this　by　way　of　making　conversation。〃
　　〃Mr。　Scoresby；〃　said　the　witch；　〃I　wish　I　could　answer　your　question。　All　I　can　say　is　that　all　of　us；　humans；　witches；　bears；　are　engaged　in　a　war　already；　although　not　all　of　us　know　it。　Whether　you　find　danger　on　Svalbard　or　whether　you　fly　off　unharmed；　you　are　a　recruit；　under　arms；　a　soldier。〃
　　〃Well；　that　seems　kinda　precipitate。　Seems　to　me　a　man　should　have　a　choice　whether　to　take　up　arms　or　not。〃
　　〃We　have　no　more　choice　in　that　than　in　whether　or　not　to　be　born。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　like　choice；　though；〃　he　said。　〃I　like　choosing　the　jobs　I　take　and　the　places　I　go　and　the　food　I　eat　and　the　panions　I　sit　and　yarn　with。　Don't　you　wish　for　a　choice　once　in　a　while　？〃
　　Serafina　Pekkala　considered；　and　then　said；　〃Perhaps　we　don't　mean　the　same　thing　by　choice；　Mr。　Scoresby。　Witches　own　nothing；　so　we're　not　interested　in　preserving　value　or　making　profits；　and　as　for　the　choice　between　one　thing　and　another；　when　you　live　for　many　hundreds　of　years；　you　know　that　every　opportunity　will　e　again。　We　have　different　needs。　You　have　to　repair　your　balloon　and　keep　it　in　good　condition；　and　that　takes　time　and　trouble；　I　see　that；　but　for　us　to　fly；　all　we　have　to　do　is　tear　off　a　branch　of　cloud…pine；　any　will　do；　and　there　are　plenty　more。　We　don't　feel　cold；　so　we　need　no　warm　clothes。　We　have　no　means　of　exchange　apart　from　mutual　aid。　If　a　witch　needs　something；　another　witch　will　give　it　to　her。　If　there　is　a　war　to　be　fought；　we　don't　consider　cost　one　of　the　factors　in　deciding　whether　or　not　it　is　right　to　fight。　Nor　do　we　have　any　notion　of　honor；　as　bears　do；　for　instance。　An　insult　to　a　bear　is　a　deadly　thing。　To　us　。　。　。　　inconceivable。　How　could　you　insult　a　witch？　What　would　it　matter　if　you　did？〃
　　〃Well；　I'm　kinda　with　you　on　that。　Sticks　and　stones；　I'll　break　yer　bones；　but　names　ain't　worth　a　quarrel。　But　ma'am；　you　see　my　dilemma；　I　hope。　I'm　a　simple　aeronaut；　and　I'd　like　to　end　my　days　in　fort。　Buy　a　little　farm；　a　few　head　of　cattle；　some　horses　。　。　。　Nothing　grand；　you　notice。　No　palace　or　slaves　or　heaps　of　gold。　Just　the　evening　wind　over　the　sage；　and　a　ceegar；　and　a　glass　of　bourbon　whiskey。　Now　the　trouble　is；　that　costs　money。　So　I　do　my　flying　in　exchange　for　cash；　and　after　every　job　I　send　some　gold　back　to　the　Wells　Fargo　Bank；　and　when　I've　got　enough；　ma'am；　I'm　gonna　sell　this　balloon　and　book　me　a　passage　on　a　steamer　to　Port　Galveston；　and　I'll　never　leave　the　ground　again。〃
　　〃There's　another　difference　between　us；　Mr。　Scoresby。　A　witch　would　no　sooner　give　up　flying　than　give　up　breathing。　To　fly　is　to　be　perfectly　ourselves。〃
　　〃I　see　that；　ma'am；　and　I　envy　you；　but　I　ain't　got　your　sources　of　satisfaction。　Flying　is　just　a　job　to　me；　and　I'm　just　a　technician。　I　might　as　well　be　adjusting　valves　in　a　gas　engine　or　wiring　up　anbaric　circuits。　But　I　chose　it；　you　see。　It　was　my　own　free　choice。　Which　is　why　I　find　this　notion　of　a　war　I　ain't　been　told　nothing　about　kinda　troubling。〃
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison's　quarrel　with　his　king　is　part　of　it　too；〃　said　the　witch。　〃This　child　is　destined　to　play　a　part　in　that。〃
　　〃You　speak　of　destiny；〃　he　said；　〃as　if　it　was　fixed。　And　I　ain't　sure　I　like　that　any　more　than　a　war　I'm　enlisted　in　without　knowing　about　it。　Where's　my　free　will；　if　you　please？　And　this　child　seems　to　me　to　have　more　free　will　than　anyone　I　ever　met。　Are　you　telling　me　that　she's　just　some　kind　of　clockwork　toy　wound　up　and　set　going　on　a　course　she　can't　change？〃
　　〃We　are　all　subject　to　the　fates。　But　we　must　all　act　as　if　we　are　not；〃　said　the　witch；　〃or　die　of　despair。　There　is　a　curious　prophecy　about　this　child：　she　is　destined　to　bring　about　the　end　of　destiny。　But　she　must