pp.thegoldencompass-第47部分

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　fight　him。　They　might　kill　him　。　。　。　。I　love　Iorek。　I　love　him　so　much　I　wish　he　wasn't　ing。〃

　　〃Has　he　told　you　who　he　is？〃
　　〃Only　his　name。　And　it　was　the　consul　at　Trollesund　who　told　us　that。〃
　　〃He　is　highborn。　He　is　a　prince。　In　fact；　if　he　had　not　mitted　a　great　crime；　he　would　be　the　king　of　the　bears　by　now。〃
　　〃He　told　me　their　king　was　called　lofur　Raknison。〃
　　〃lofur　Raknison　became　king　when　Iorek　Byrnison　was　exiled。　lofur　is　a　prince；　of　course；　or　he　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　rule；　but　he　is　clever　in　a　human　way；　he　makes　alliances　and　treaties；　he　lives　not　as　bears　do；　in　ice　forts；　but　in　a　new…built　palace；　he　talks　of　exchanging　ambassadors　with　human　nations　and　developing　the　fire　mines　with　the　help　of　human　engineers　。　。　。　。He　is　very　skillful　and　subtle。　Some　say　that　he　provoked　Iorek　into　the　deed　for　which　he　was　exiled；　and　others　say　that　even　if　he　didn't；　he　encourages　them　to　think　he　did；　because　it　adds　to　his　reputation　for　craft　and　subtlety。〃
　　〃What　did　Iorek　do？　See；　one　reason　I　love　Iorek；　it's　because　of　my　father　doing　what　he　did　and　being　punished。　Seems　to　me　they're　like　each　other。　Iorek　told　me　he'd　killed　another　bear；　but　he　never　said　how　it　came　about。〃
　　〃The　fight　was　over　a　she…bear。　The　male　whom　Iorek　killed　would　not　display　the　usual　signals　of　surrender　when　it　was　clear　that　Iorek　was　stronger。　For　all　their　pride；　bears　never　fail　to　recognize　superior　force　in　another　bear　and　surrender　to　it；　but　for　some　reason　this　bear　didn't　do　it。　Some　say　that　lofur　Raknison　worked　on　his　mind；　or　gave　him　confusing　herbs　to　eat。　At　any　rate；　the　young　bear　persisted；　and　Iorek　Byrnison　allowed　his　temper　to　master　him。　The　case　was　not　hard　to　judge；　he　should　have　wounded；　not　killed。〃
　　〃So　otherwise　he'd　be　king；〃　Lyra　said。　〃And　I　heard　something　about　lofur　Raknison　from　the　Palmerian　Professor　at　Jordan；　'cause　he'd　been　to　the　North　and　met　him。　He　said　。　。　。　　I　wish　I　could　remember　what　it　was　。　。　。　。I　think　he'd　tricked　his　way　on　to　the　throne　or　something　。　。　。　。But　you　know；　Iorek　said　to　me　once　that　bears　couldn't　be　tricked；　and　showed　me　that　I　couldn't　trick　him。　It　sounds　as　if　they　was　both　tricked；　him　and　the　other　bear。　Maybe　only　bears　can　trick　bears；　maybe　people　can't。　Except　。　。　。　The　people　at　Trollesund；　they　tricked　him；　didn't　they？　When　they　got　him　drunk　and　stole　his　armor？〃
　　〃When　bears　act　like　people；　perhaps　they　can　be　tricked；〃　said　Serafina　Pekkala。　〃When　bears　act　like　bears；　perhaps　they　can't。　No　bear　would　normally　drink　spirits。　Iorek　Byrnison　drank　to　forget　the　shame　of　exile；　and　it　was　only　that　which　let　the　Trollesund　people　trick　him。〃
　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Lyra；　nodding。　She　was　satisfied　with　that　idea。　She　admired　Iorek　almost　without　limit；　and　she　was　glad　to　find　confirmation　of　his　nobility。　〃That's　clever　of　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　wouldn't　have　known　that　if　you　hadn't　told　me。　I　think　you're　probably　cleverer　than　Mrs。　Coulter。〃
　　They　flew　on。　Lyra　chewed　some　of　the　seal　meat　she　found　in　her　pocket。
　　〃Serafina　Pekkala；〃　she　said　after　some　time；　〃what's　Dust？　'Cause　it　seems　to　me　that　all　this　trouble's　about　Dust；　only　no　one's　told　me　what　it　is。〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Serafina　Pekkala　told　her。　〃Witches　have　never　worried　about　Dust。　All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　where　there　are　priests；　there　is　fear　of　Dust。　Mrs。　Coulter　is　not　a　priest；　of　course；　but　she　is　a　powerful　agent　of　the　Magisterium；　and　it　was　she　who　set　up　the　Oblation　Board　and　persuaded　the　Church　to　pay　for　Bolvangar；　because　of　her　interest　in　Dust。　We　can't　understand　her　feelings　about　it。　But　there　are　many　things　we　have　never　understood。　We　see　the　Tartars　making　holes　in　their　skulls；　and　we　can　only　wonder　at　the　strangeness　of　it。　So　Dust　may　be　strange；　and　we　wonder　at　it；　but　we　don't　fret　and　tear　things　apart　to　examine　it。　Leave　that　to　the　Church。〃
　　〃The　Church？〃　said　Lyra。　Something　had　e　back　to　her：　she　remembered　talking　with　Pantalaimon；　in　the　fens；　about　what　it　might　be　that　was　moving　the　needle　of　the　alethiometer；　and　they　had　thought　of　the　photomill　on　the　high　altar　at　Gabriel　College；　and　how　elementary　particles　pushed　the　little　vanes　around。　The　Intercessor　there　was　clear　about　the　link　between　elementary　particles　and　religion。　〃Could　be；〃　she　said；　nodding。　〃Most　Church　things；　they　keep　secret；　after　all。　But　most　Church　things　are　old；　and　Dust　en't　old；　as　far　as　I　know。　I　wonder　if　Lord　Asriel　might　tell　me　。　。　。　。〃
　　She　yawned。
　　〃I　better　lie　down；〃　she　said　to　Serafina　Pekkala；　〃else　I'll　probably　freeze。　I　been　cold　down　on　the　ground；　but　I　never　been　this　cold。　I　think　I　might　die　if　I　get　any　colder。〃
　　〃Then　lie　down　and　wrap　yourself　in　the　furs。〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　will。　If　I　was　going　to　die；　I'd　rather　die　up　here　than　down　there；　any　day。　I　thought　when　they　put　us　under　that　blade　thing；　I　thought　that　was　it　。　。　。　。We　both　did。　Oh；　that　was　cruel。　But　we'll　lie　down　now。　Wake　us　up　when　we　get　there；〃　she　said；　and　got　down　on　the　pile　of　furs；　clumsy　and　aching　in　every　part　of　her　with　the　profound　intensity　of　the　cold；　and　lay　as　close　as　she　could　to　the　sleeping　Roger。
　　And　so　the　four　travelers　sailed　on；　sleeping　in　the　ice…encrusted　balloon；　toward　the　rocks　and　glaciers；　the　fire　mines　and　the　ice　forts　of　Svalbard。
　　
　　Serafina　Pekkala　called　to　the　aeronaut；　and　he　woke　at　once；　groggy　with　cold；　but　aware　from　the　movement　of　the　basket　that　something　was　wrong。　It　was　swinging　wildly　as　strong　winds　buffeted　the　gas　bag；　and　the　witches　pulling　the　rope　were　barely　managing　to　hold　it。　If　they　let　go；　the　balloon　would　be　swept　off　course　at　once；　and　to　judge　by　his　glance　at　the　pass；　would　be　swept　toward　Nova　Zembla　at　nearly　a　hundred　miles　an　hour。
　　〃Where　are　we？〃　Lyra　heard　him　call。　She　was　half…waking　herself；　uneasy　because　of　the　motion；　and　so　cold　that　every　part　of　her　body　was　numb。
　　She　couldn't　hear　the　witch's　reply；　but　through　her　half…closed　hood　she　saw；　in　the　light　of　an　anbaric　lantern；　Lee　Scoresby　hold　on　to　a　strut　and　pull　at　a　rope　leading　up　into　the　gas　bag　itself。　He　gave　a　sharp　tug　as　if　against　some　obstruction；　and　looked　up　into　the　buffeting　dark　before　looping　the　rope　around　a　cleat　on　the　suspension　ring。
　　〃I'm　letting　out　some　gas！〃　he　shouted　to　Serafina　Pekkala。　〃We'll　go　down。　We're　way　too　high。〃
　　The　witch　called　something　in　return；　but　again　Lyra　couldn't　hear　it。　Roger　was　waking　too；　the　creaking　of　the　basket　was　enough　to　wake　the　deepest　sleeper；　never　mind　the　rocking　and　bumping。　Roger's　daemon　and　Pantalaimon　clung　together　like　marmosets；　and　Lyra　concentrated　on　lying　still　and　not　leaping　up　in　fear。
　　'〃S　all　right；〃　Roger　said；　sounding　much　more　cheerful　than　she　was。　〃Soon's　we　get　down　we　can　make　a　fire　and　get　warm。　I　got　some　matches　in　me　pocket。　I　pinched　'em　out　the　kitchen　at　Bolvangar。〃
　　The　balloon　was　certainly　descending；　because　they　were　enveloped　a　second　later　in　thick　freezing　cloud。　Scraps　and　wisps　of　it　flew　through　the　basket；　and　then　everything　was　obscured；　all　at　once。　It　was　like　the　thickest　fog　Lyra　had　ever　known。　After　a　moment　or　two　there　came　another　cry　from　Serafina　Pekkala；　and　the　aeronaut　unlooped　the　rope　from　the　cleat　and　let　go。　It　sprang　upward　through　his　hands；　and　even　over　the　creak　and　the　buffeting　and　the　howl　of　wind　through　the　rigging　Lyra　heard　or　felt　a　mighty　thump　from　somewhere　far　above。
　　Lee　Scoresby　saw　her　wide　eyes。
　　〃That's　the　gas　valve！〃　he　shouted。　〃It　works　on　a　spring　to　hold　the　gas　in。　When　I　pull　it　down；　some　gas　escapes　outta　the　top；　and　we　lose　buoyancy　and　go　down。〃
　　〃Are　we　nearly…〃
　　She　didn't　finish；　because　something　hideous　happened。　A　creature　half　the　size　of　a　man；　with　leathery　wings　and　hooked　claws；　was　crawling　over　the　side　of　the　basket　toward　Lee　Scoresby。　It　had　a　flat　head；　with　bulging　eyes　and　a　wide　frog　mouth；　and　from　it　came　wafts　of　abominable　stink。　Lyra　had　no　time　to　scream；　even；　before　Iorek　Byrnison　reached　up　and　cuffed　it　away。　It　fell　out　of　the　basket　and　vanished　with　a　shriek。
　　〃Cliff…ghast；〃　said　Iorek　briefly。
　　The　next　moment　Serafina　Pekkala　appeared；　and　clung　to　the　side　of　the　basket；　speaking　urgently。
　　〃The　cliff…ghasts　are　attacking。　We'll　bring　the　balloon　to　the　ground；　and　then　we　must　defend　ourselves。　They're…〃
　　But　Lyra　didn't　hear　the　rest　of　what　she　said；　because　there　was　a　rending；　ripping　sound；　and　everything　tilted　sideways。　Then　a　terrific　blow　hurled　the　three　humans　against　the　side　of　the　balloon　where　Iorek　Byrnison's　armor　was　stacked；　Iorek　put　out　a　great　paw　to　hold　them　in；　because　the　basket　was　jolting　so　violently。　Serafina　Pekkala　had　vanished。　The　noise　was　appalling：　over　every　other　sound　there　came　the　shrieking　of　the　cliff…ghasts；　and　Lyra　saw　them　hurtling　past；　and　smelled　their　foul　stench。
　　Then　there　came　another　jerk；　so　sudden　that　it　threw　them　all　to　the　floor　again；　and　the　basket　began　to　sink　with　frightening　speed；　spinning　all　the　while。　It　felt　as　if　they　had　torn　loose　from　the　balloon；　and　were　dropping　unchecked　by　anything；　and　then　came　another　series　of　jerks　and　crashes；　the　basket　being　tossed　rapidly　from　side　to　side　as　if　they　were　bouncing　between　rock　walls。
　　The　last　thing　Lyra　saw　was　Lee　Scoresby　firing　his　long…barreled　pistol　directly　in　the　face　of　a　cliff…ghast；　and　then　she　shut　her　eyes　tight；　and　clung　to　Iorek　Byrnison's　fur　with　passionate　fear。　Howls；　shrieks；　the　lash　and　whistle　of　the　wind；　the　creak　of　the　basket　like　a　tormented　animal；　all　filled　the　wild　air　with　hideous　noise。
　　Then　came　the　biggest　jolt　of　all；　and　she　found　herself　hurled　out　altogether。　Her　grip　was　torn　loose；　and　all　the　breath　was　knocked　out　of　her　lungs　as　she　landed　in　such　a　tangle　that　she　couldn't　tell　which　way　was　up；　and　her　face　in　the　tight…pulled　hood　was　full　of　powder；　dry；　cold；　crystals…
　　It　was　snow；　she　had　landed　in　a　snowdrift。　She　was　so　battered　that　she　could　hardly　think。　She　lay　quite　still　for　several　seconds　before　feebly　spitting　out　the　snow　in　her　mouth；　and　then　she　blew　just　as　feebly　until　there　was　a　little　space　to　breathe　in。
　　Nothing　seemed　to　be　hurting　in　particular；　she　just　felt　utterly　breathless。　Cautiously　she　tried　to　move　hands；　feet；　arms；　legs；　and　to　raise　her　head。
　　She　could　see　very　little；　because　her　hood　was　still　filled　with　snow。　With　an　effort；　as　if　her　hands　weighed　a　ton　each；　she　brushed　it　off　and　peered　out。　She　saw　a　world　of　gray；　of　pale　grays　and　dark　grays　and　blacks；　where　fog　drifts　wandered　like　wraiths。
　　The　only　sounds　she　could　hear　were　the　distant　cries　of　the　cliff…ghasts；　high　above；　and　the　crash　of　waves　on　rocks；　some　way　off。
　　〃Iorek！〃　she　cried。　Her　voice　was　faint　and　shaky；　and　she　tried　again；　but　no　one　answered。　〃Roger！〃　she　called；　with　the　same　result。
　　She　might　have　been　alone　in　the　world；　but　of　course　she　never　was；　and　Pantalaimon　crept　out　of　her　anorak　as　a　mouse　to　keep　her　pany。
　　〃I've　checked　the　alethiometer；〃　he　said；　〃and　it's　all　right。　Nothing's　broken。〃
　　〃We're　lost；　Pan！〃　she　said。　〃Did　you　se