pp.thegoldencompass-第48部分

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　　〃I've　checked　the　alethiometer；〃　he　said；　〃and　it's　all　right。　Nothing's　broken。〃
　　〃We're　lost；　Pan！〃　she　said。　〃Did　you　see　those　cliff…ghasts？　And　Mr。　Scoresby　shooting　'em？　God　help　us　if　they　e　down　here　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃We　better　try　and　find　the　basket；〃　he　said；　〃maybe。〃
　　〃We　better　not　call　out；〃　she　said。　〃I　did　just　now；　but　maybe　I　better　not　in　case　they　hear　us。　I　wish　I　knew　where　we　were。〃
　　〃We　might　not　like　it　if　we　did；〃　he　pointed　out。　〃We　might　be　at　the　bottom　of　a　cliff　with　no　way　up；　and　the　cliff…ghasts　at　the　top　to　see　us　when　the　fog　clears。〃
　　She　felt　around；　once　she　had　rested　a　few　more　minutes；　and　found　that　she　had　landed　in　a　gap　between　two　ice…covered　rocks。　Freezing　fog　covered　everything；　to　one　side　there　was　the　crash　of　waves　about　fifty　yards　off；　by　the　sound　of　it；　and　from　high　above　there　still　came　the　shrieking　of　the　cliff…ghasts；　though　that　seemed　to　be　abating　a　little。　She　could　see　no　more　than　two　or　three　yards　in　the　murk；　and　even　Pantalaimon's　owl　eyes　were　helpless。
　　She　made　her　way　painfully；　slipping　and　sliding　on　the　rough　rocks；　away　from　the　waves　and　up　the　beach　a　little；　and　found　nothing　but　rock　and　snow；　and　no　sign　of　the　balloon　or　any　of　the　occupants。
　　〃They　can't　have　all　just　vanished；〃　she　whispered。
　　Pantalaimon　prowled；　cat…formed；　a　little　farther　afield；　and　came　across　four　heavy　sandbags　broken　open；　with　the　scattered　sand　already　freezing　hard。
　　〃Ballast；〃　Lyra　said。　〃He　must've　slung　'em　off　to　fly　up　again　。　。　。　。〃
　　She　swallowed　hard　to　subdue　the　lump　in　her　throat；　or　the　fear　in　her　breast；　or　both。
　　〃Oh；　God；　I'm　frightened；〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　they're　safe。〃
　　He　came　to　her　arms　and　then；　mouse…formed；　crept　into　her　hood　where　he　couldn't　be　seen。　She　heard　a　noise；　something　scraping　on　rock；　and　turned　to　see　what　it　was。
　　〃Iorek！〃
　　But　she　choked　the　word　back　unfinished；　for　it　wasn't　Iorek　Byrnison　at　all。　It　was　a　strange　bear；　clad　in　polished　armor　with　the　dew　on　it　frozen　into　frost；　and　with　a　plume　in　his　helmet。
　　He　stood　still；　about　six　feet　away；　and　she　thought　she　really　was　finished。
　　The　bear　opened　his　mouth　and　roared。　An　echo　came　back　from　the　cliffs　and　stirred　more　shrieking　from　far　above。　Out　of　the　fog　came　another　bear；　and　another。　Lyra　stood　still；　clenching　her　little　human　fists。
　　The　bears　didn't　move　until　the　first　one　said；　〃Your　name？〃
　　〃Lyra。〃
　　〃Where　have　you　e　from？〃
　　〃The　sky。〃
　　〃In　a　balloon？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃e　with　us。　You　are　a　prisoner。　Move；　now。　Quickly。〃
　　Weary　and　scared；　Lyra　began　to　stumble　over　the　harsh　and　slippery　rocks；　following　the　bear；　wondering　how　she　could　talk　her　way　out　of　this。
　　
　　
　　NINETEEN　
　　CAPTIVITY
　　
　　The　bears　took　Lyra　up　a　gully　in　the　cliffs；　where　the　fog　lay　even　more　thickly　than　on　the　shore。　The　cries　of　the　cliff…ghasts　and　the　crash　of　the　waves　grew　fainter　as　they　climbed；　and　presently　the　only　sound　was　the　ceaseless　crying　of　seabirds。　They　clambered　in　silence　over　rocks　and　snowdrifts；　and　although　Lyra　peered　wide…eyed　into　the　enfolding　grayness；　and　strained　her　ears　for　the　sound　of　her　friends；　she　might　have　been　the　only　human　on　Svalbard；　and　Iorek　might　have　been　dead。
　　The　bear　sergeant　said　nothing　to　her　until　they　were　on　level　ground。　There　they　stopped。　From　the　sound　of　the　waves；　Lyra　judged　them　to　have　reached　the　top　of　the　cliffs；　and　she　dared　not　run　away　in　case　she　fell　over　the　edge。
　　〃Look　up；〃　said　the　bear；　as　a　waft　of　breeze　moved　aside　the　heavy　curtain　of　the　fog。
　　There　was　little　daylight　in　any　case；　but　Lyra　did　look；　and　found　herself　standing　in　front　of　a　vast　building　of　stone。　It　was　as　tall　at　least　as　the　highest　part　of　Jordan　College；　but　much　more　massive；　and　carved　all　over　with　representations　of　warfare；　showing　bears　victorious　and　Skraelings　surrendering；　showing　Tartars　chained　and　slaving　in　the　fire　mines；　showing　zeppelins　flying　from　all　parts　of　the　world　bearing　gifts　and　tributes　to　the　king　of　the　bears；　lofur　Raknison。
　　At　least；　that　was　what　the　bear　sergeant　told　her　the　carvings　showed。　She　had　to　take　his　word　for　it；　because　every　projection　and　ledge　on　the　deeply　sculpted　facade　was　occu…pied　by　gannets　and　skuas；　which　cawed　and　shrieked　and　wheeled　constantly　around　overhead；　and　whose　droppings　had　coated　every　part　of　the　building　with　thick　smears　of　dirty　white。
　　The　bears　seemed　not　to　see　the　mess；　however；　and　they　led　the　way　in　through　the　huge　arch；　over　the　icy　ground　that　was　filthy　with　the　spatter　of　the　birds。　There　was　a　courtyard；　and　high　steps；　and　gateways；　and　at　every　point　bears　in　armor　challenged　the　iners　and　were　given　a　password。　Their　armor　was　polished　and　gleaming；　and　they　all　wore　plumes　in　their　helmets。　Lyra　couldn't　help　paring　every　bear　she　saw　with　Iorek　Byrnison；　and　always　to　his　advantage；　he　was　more　powerful；　more　graceful；　and　his　armor　was　real　armor；　rust…colored；　bloodstained；　dented　with　bat；　not　elegant；　enameled；　and　decorative　like　most　of　what　she　saw　around　her　now。
　　As　they　went　further　in；　the　temperature　rose；　and　so　did　something　else。　The　smell　in　lofur's　palace　was　repulsive：　rancid　seal　fat；　dung；　blood；　refuse　of　every　sort。　Lyra　pushed　back　her　hood　to　be　cooler；　but　she　couldn't　help　wrinkling　her　nose。　She　hoped　bears　couldn't　read　human　expressions。　There　were　iron　brackets　every　few　yards；　holding　blubber　lamps；　and　in　their　flaring　shadows　it　wasn't　always　easy　to　see　where　she　was　treading；　either。
　　Finally　they　stopped　outside　a　heavy　door　of　iron。　A　guard　bear　pulled　back　a　massive　bolt；　and　the　sergeant　suddenly　swung　his　paw　at　Lyra；　knocking　her　head　over　heels　through　the　doorway。　Before　she　could　scramble　up；　she　heard　the　door　being　bolted　behind　her。
　　It　was　profoundly　dark；　but　Pantalaimon　became　a　firefly；　and　shed　a　tiny　glow　around　them。　They　were　in　a　narrow　cell　where　the　walls　dripped　with　damp；　and　there　was　one　stone　bench　for　furniture。　In　the　farthest　corner　there　was　a　heap　of　rags　she　took　for　bedding；　and　that　was　all　she　could　see。
　　Lyra　sat　down；　with　Pantalaimon　on　her　shoulder；　and　felt　in　her　clothes　for　the　alethiometer。
　　〃It's　certainly　had　a　lot　of　banging　about；　Pan；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　hope　it　still　works。〃
　　Pantalaimon　flew　down　to　her　wrist；　and　sat　there　glowing　while　Lyra　posed　her　mind。　With　a　part　of　her；　she　found　it　remarkable　that　she　could　sit　here　in　terrible　danger　and　yet　sink　into　the　calm　she　needed　to　read　the　alethiometer；　and　yet　it　was　so　much　a　part　of　her　now　that　the　most　plicated　questions　sorted　themselves　out　into　their　constituent　symbols　as　naturally　as　her　muscles　moved　her　limbs：　she　hardly　had　to　think　about　them。
　　She　turned　the　hands　and　thought　the　question：　〃Where　is　Iorek？〃
　　The　answer　came　at　once：　〃A　day's　journey　away；　carried　there　by　the　balloon　after　your　crash；　but　hurrying　this　way。〃
　　〃And　Roger？〃
　　〃With　Iorek。〃
　　〃What　will　Iorek　do？〃
　　〃He　intends　to　break　into　the　palace　and　rescue　you；　in　the　face　of　all　the　difficulties。〃
　　She　put　the　alethiometer　away；　even　more　anxious　than　before。
　　〃They　won't　let　him；　will　they？〃　she　said　to　Pantalaimon。　〃There's　too　many　of　'em。　I　wish　I　was　a　witch；　Pan；　then　you　could　go　off　and　find　him　and　take　messages　and　all；　and　we　could　make　a　proper　plan　。　。　。　。〃
　　Then　she　had　the　fright　of　her　life。
　　A　man's　voice　spoke　in　the　darkness　a　few　feet　away；　and　said；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　She　leaped　up　with　a　cry　of　alarm。　Pantalaimon　became　a　bat　at　once；　shrieking；　and　flew　around　her　head　as　she　backed　against　the　wall。
　　〃Eh？　Eh？〃　said　the　man　again。　〃Who　is　that？　Speak　up！　Speak　up！〃
　　〃Be　a　firefly　again；　Pan；〃　she　said　shakily。　〃But　don't　go　too　close。〃

　　The　little　wavering　point　of　light　danced　through　the　air　and　fluttered　around　the　head　of　the　speaker。　And　it　hadn't　been　a　heap　of　rags　after　all；　it　was　a　gray…bearded　man；　chained　to　the　wall；　whose　eyes　glittered　in　Pantalaimon's　luminance；　and　whose　tattered　hair　hung　over　his　shoulders。　His　daemon；　a　weary…looking　serpent；　lay　in　his　lap；　flicking　out　her　tongue　occasionally　as　Pantalaimon　flew　near。
　　〃What's　your　name？〃　she　said。
　　〃Jotham　Santelia；〃　he　replied。　〃I　am　the　Regius　Professor　of　Cosmology　at　the　University　of　Gloucester。　Who　are　you？〃
　　〃Lyra　Belacqua。　What　have　they　locked　you　up　for？〃
　　〃Malice　and　jealousy　。　。　。　Where　do　you　e　from？　Eh？〃
　　〃From　Jordan　College；〃　she　said。
　　〃What？　Oxford？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Is　that　scoundrel　Trelawney　still　there？　Eh？〃
　　〃The　Palmerian　Professor？　Yes；〃　she　said。
　　〃Is　he；　by　God！　Eh？　They　should　have　forced　his　resignation　long　ago。　Duplicitous　plagiarist！　Coxb！〃
　　Lyra　made　a　neutral　sound。
　　〃Has　he　published　his　paper　on　gamma…ray　photons　yet？〃　the　Professor　said；　thrusting　his　face　up　toward　Lyra's。
　　She　moved　back。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　and　then；　making　it　up　out　of　pure　habit；　〃no；〃　she　went　on。　〃I　remember　now。　He　said　he　still　needed　to　check　some　figures。　And　。　。　。　He　said　he　was　going　to　write　about　Dust　as　well。　That's　it。〃
　　〃Scoundrel！　Thief！　Blackguard！　Rogue！〃　shouted　the　old　man；　and　he　shook　so　violently　that　Lyra　was　afraid　he'd　have　a　fit。　His　daemon　slithered　lethargically　off　his　lap　as　the　Professor　beat　his　fists　against　his　shanks。　Drops　of　saliva　flew　out　of　his　mouth。
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Lyra；　〃I　always　thought　he　was　a　thief。　And　a　rogue　and　all　that。〃
　　If　it　was　unlikely　for　a　scruffy　little　girl　to　turn　up　in　his　cell　knowing　the　very　man　who　figured　in　his　obsessions；　the　Regius　Professor　didn't　notice。　He　was　mad；　and　no　wonder；　poor　old　man；　but　he　might　have　some　scraps　of　information　that　Lyra　could　use。
　　She　sat　carefully　near　him；　not　near　enough　for　him　to　touch；　but　near　enough　for　Pantalaimon's　tiny　light　to　show　him　clearly。
　　〃One　thing　Professor　Trelawney　used　to　boast　about；〃　she　said；　〃was　how　well　he　knew　the　king　of　the　bears…〃
　　〃Boast！　Eh？　Eh？　I　should　say　he　boasts！　He's　nothing　but　a　popinjay！　And　a　pirate！　Not　a　scrap　of　original　research　to　his　name！　Everything　filched　from　better　men！〃
　　〃Yeah；　that's　right；〃　said　Lyra　earnestly。　〃And　when　he　does　do　something　of　his　own；　he　gets　it　wrong。〃
　　〃Yes！　Yes！　Absolutely！　No　talent；　no　imagination；　a　fraud　from　top　to　bottom！〃
　　〃I　mean；　for　example；〃　said　Lyra；　〃I　bet　you　know　more　about　the　bears　than　he　does；　for　a　start。〃
　　〃Bears；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃ha！　I　could　write　a　treatise　on　them！　That's　why　they　shut　me　away；　you　know。〃
　　〃Why's　that？〃
　　〃I　know　too　much　about　them；　and　they　daren't　kill　me。　They　daren't　do　it；　much　as　they'd　like　to。　I　know；　you　see。　I　have　friends。　Yes！　Powerful　friends。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Lyra。　〃And　I　bet　you'd　be　a　wonderful　teacher；〃　she　went　on。　〃Being　as　you　got　so　much　knowledge　and　experience。〃
　　Even　in　the　depths　of　his　madness　a　little　mon　sense　still　flickered；　and　he　looked　at　her　sharply；　almost　as　if　he　suspected　her　of　sarcasm。　But　she　had　been　dealing　with　suspicious　and　cranky　Scholars　all　her　life；　and　she　gazed　back　with　such　bland　admiration　that　he　was　soothed。
　　〃Teacher