pp.thegoldencompass-第51部分

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　think　you're　able　to　call　him　here　from　far　away。　They'll　think　you　can　do　anything。〃
　　〃Yes　。　。　。　〃
　　The　great　bear　was　helpless。　Lyra　found　her　power　over　him　almost　intoxicating；　and　if　Pantalaimon　hadn't　nipped　her　hand　sharply　to　remind　her　of　the　danger　they　were　all　in；　she　might　have　lost　all　her　sense　of　proportion。
　　But　she　came　to　herself　and　stepped　modestly　back　to　watch　and　wait　as　the　bears；　under　lofur's　excited　direction；　prepared　the　bat　ground　for　Iorek　Byrnison；　and　meanwhile　Iorek；　knowing　nothing　about　it；　was　hurrying　ever　closer　toward　what　she　wished　she　could　tell　him　was　a　fight　for　his　life。
　　
　　
　　TWENTY
　　MORTAL　BAT
　　
　　Fights　between　bears　were　mon；　and　the　subject　of　much　ritual。　For　a　bear　to　kill　another　was　rare；　though；　and　when　that　happened　it　was　usually　by　accident；　or　when　one　bear　mistook　the　signals　from　another；　as　in　the　case　of　Iorek　Byrnison。　Cases　of　straightforward　murder；　like　lofur's　killing　of　his　own　father；　were　rarer　still。
　　But　occasionally　there　came　circumstances　in　which　the　only　way　of　settling　a　dispute　was　a　fight　to　the　death。　And　for　that；　a　whole　ceremonial　was　prescribed。
　　As　soon　as　lofur　announced　that　Iorek　Byrnison　was　on　his　way；　and　a　bat　would　take　place；　the　bat　ground　was　swept　and　smoothed；　and　armorers　came　up　from　the　fire　mines　to　check　lofur's　armor。　Every　rivet　was　examined；　every　link　tested；　and　the　plates　were　burnished　with　the　finest　sand。　Just　as　much　attention　was　paid　to　his　claws。　The　gold　leaf　was　rubbed　off；　and　each　separate　six…inch　hook　was　sharpened　and　filed　to　a　deadly　point。　Lyra　watched　with　a　growing　sickness　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach；　for　Iorek　Byrnison　wouldn't　be　having　this　attention；　he　had　been　marching　over　the　ice　for　nearly　twenty…four　hours　already　without　rest　or　food；　he　might　have　been　injured　in　the　crash。　And　she　had　let　him　in　for　this　fight　without　his　knowledge。　At　one　point；　after　lofur　Raknison　had　tested　the　sharpness　of　his　claws　on　a　fresh…killed　walrus；　slicing　its　skin　open　like　paper；　and　the　power　of　his　crashing　blows　on　the　walrus's　skull　（two　blows；　and　it　was　cracked　like　an　egg）；　Lyra　had　to　make　an　excuse　to　lofur　and　go　away　by　herself　to　weep　with　fear。
　　Even　Pantalaimon；　who　could　normally　cheer　her　up；　had　little　to　say　that　was　hopeful。　All　she　could　do　was　consult　the　alethiometer：　he　is　an　hour　away；　it　told　her；　and　again；　she　must　trust　him；　and　（this　was　harder　to　read）　she　even　thought　it　was　rebuking　her　for　asking　the　same　question　twice。
　　By　this　time；　word　had　spread　among　the　bears；　and　every　part　of　the　bat　ground　was　crowded。　Bears　of　high　rank　had　the　best　places；　and　there　was　a　special　enclosure　for　the　she…bears；　including；　of　course；　lofur's　wives。　Lyra　was　profoundly　curious　about　she…bears；　because　she　knew　so　little　about　them；　but　this　was　no　time　to　wander　about　asking　questions。　Instead　she　stayed　close　to　lofur　Raknison　and　watched　the　courtiers　around　him　assert　their　rank　over　the　mon　bears　from　outside；　and　tried　to　guess　the　meaning　of　the　various　plumes　and　badges　and　tokens　they　all　seemed　to　wear。　Some　of　the　highest…ranking；　she　saw；　carried　little　manikins　like　lofur's　rag…doll　daemon；　trying　to　curry　favor；　perhaps；　by　imitating　the　fashion　he'd　begun。　She　was　sardonically　pleased　to　notice　that　when　they　saw　that　lofur　had　discarded　his；　they　didn't　know　what　to　do　with　theirs。　Should　they　throw　them　away？　Were　they　out　of　favor　now？　How　should　they　behave？
　　｛　Because　that　was　the　prevailing　mood　in　his　court；　she　was　beginning　to　see。　They　weren't　sure　what　they　were。　They　weren't　like　Iorek　Byrnison；　pure　and　certain　and　absolute；　there　was　a　constant　pall　of　uncertainty　hanging　over　them；　as　they　watched　one　another　and　watched　lofur。
　　And　they　watched　her；　with　open　curiosity。　She　remained　modestly　close　to　lofur　and　said　nothing；　lowering　her　eyes　whenever　a　bear　looked　at　her。
　　The　fog　had　lifted　by　this　time；　and　the　air　was　clear；　and　as　chance　would　have　it；　the　brief　lifting　of　darkness　toward　noon　coincided　with　the　time　Lyra　thought　Iorek　was　going　to　arrive。　As　she　stood　shivering　on　a　little　rise　of　dense…packed　snow　at　the　edge　of　the　bat　ground；　she　looked　up　toward　the　faint　lightness　in　the　sky；　and　longed　with　all　her　heart　to　see　a　flight　of　ragged　elegant　black　shapes　descending　to　bear　her　away；　or　to　see　the　Aurora's　hidden　city；　where　she　would　be　able　to　walk　safely　along　those　broad　boulevards　in　the　sunlight；　or　to　see　Ma　Costa's　broad　arms；　to　smell　the　friendly　smells　of　flesh　and　cooking　that　enfolded　you　in　her　presence　。　。　。　。
　　She　found　herself　crying；　with　tears　that　froze　almost　as　soon　as　they　formed；　and　which　she　had　to　brush　away　painfully。　She　was　so　frightened。　Bears；　who　didn't　cry；　couldn't　understand　what　was　happening　to　her；　it　was　some　human　process；　meaningless。　And　of　course　Pantalaimon　couldn't　fort　her　as　he　normally　would；　though　she　kept　her　hand　in　her　pocket　firmly　around　his　warm　little　mouse…form；　and　he　nuzzled　at　her　fingers。
　　Beside　her；　the　smiths　were　making　the　final　adjustments　to　lofur　Raknison's　armor。　He　reared　like　a　great　metal　tower；　shining　in　polished　steel；　the　smooth　plates　inlaid　with　wires　of　gold；　his　helmet　enclosed　the　upper　part　of　his　head　in　a　glistening　carapace　of　silver…gray；　with　deep　eye　slits；　and　the　underside　of　his　body　was　protected　by　a　close…fitting　sark　of　chain　mail。　It　was　when　she　saw　this　that　Lyra　realized　that　she　had　betrayed　Iorek　Byrnison；　for　Iorek　had　nothing　like　it。　His　armor　protected　only　his　back　and　sides。　She　looked　at　lofur　Raknison；　so　sleek　and　powerful；　and　felt　a　deep　sickness　in　her；　like　guilt　and　fear　bined。
　　She　said　〃Excuse　me；　Your　Majesty；　if　you　remember　what　I　said　to　you　before　。　。　。　〃
　　Her　shaking　voice　felt　thin　and　weak　in　the　air。　lofur　Raknison　turned　his　mighty　head；　distracted　from　the　target　three　bears　were　holding　up　in　front　for　him　to　slash　at　with　his　perfect　claws。
　　〃Yes？　Yes？〃
　　〃Remember；　I　said　I'd　better　go　and　speak　to　Iorek　Byrnison　first；　and　pretend…〃
　　But　before　she　could　even　finish　her　sentence；　there　was　a　roar　from　the　bears　on　the　watchtower。　The　others　all　knew　what　it　meant　and　took　it　up　with　a　triumphant　excitement。　They　had　seen　Iorek。
　　〃Please？〃　Lyra　said　urgently。　〃I'll　fool　him；　you'll　see。〃
　　〃Yes。　Yes。　Go　now。　Go　and　encourage　him！〃
　　lofur　Raknison　was　hardly　able　to　speak　for　rage　and　excitement。
　　Lyra　left　his　side　and　walked　across　the　bat　ground；　bare　and　clear　as　it　was；　leaving　her　little　footprints　in　the　snow；　and　the　bears　on　the　far　side　parted　to　let　her　through。　As　their　great　bodies　lumbered　aside；　the　horizon　opened；　gloomy　in　the　pallor　of　the　light。　Where　was　Iorek　Byrnison？　She　could　see　nothing；　but　then；　the　watchtower　was　high；　and　they　could　see　what　was　still　hidden　from　her。　All　she　could　do　was　walk　forward　in　the　snow。
　　He　saw　her　before　she　saw　him。　There　was　a　bounding　and　a　heavy　clank　of　metal；　and　in　a　flurry　of　snow　Iorek　Byrnison　stood　beside　her。
　　〃Oh；　Iorek！　I've　done　a　terrible　thing！　My　dear；　you're　going　to　have　to　fight　lofur　Raknison；　and　you　en't　ready…　you're　tired　and　hungry；　and　your　armor's…〃
　　〃What　terrible　thing？〃
　　〃I　told　him　you　was　ing；　because　I　read　it　on　the　symbol　reader；　and　he's　desperate　to　be　like　a　person　and　have　a　daemon；　just　desperate。　So　I　tricked　him　into　thinking　that　I　was　your　daemon；　and　I　was　going　to　desert　you　and　be　his　instead；　but　he　had　to　fight　you　to　make　it　happen。　Because　otherwise；　Iorek；　dear；　they'd　never　let　you　fight；　they　were　going　to　just　burn　you　up　before　you　got　close…〃
　　〃You　tricked　lofur　Raknison？〃
　　〃Yes。　I　made　him　agree　that　he'd　fight　you　instead　of　just　killing　you　straight　off　like　an　outcast；　and　the　winner　would　be　king　of　the　bears。　I　had　to　do　that；　because…〃
　　〃Belacqua？　No。　You　are　Lyra　Silvertongue；〃　he　said。　〃To　fight　him　is　all　I　want。　e；　little　daemon。〃
　　She　looked　at　Iorek　Byrnison　in　his　battered　armor；　lean　and　ferocious；　and　felt　as　if　her　heart　would　burst　with　pride。
　　They　walked　together　toward　the　massive　hulk　of　lofur's　palace；　where　the　bat　ground　lay　flat　and　open　at　the　foot　of　the　walls。　Bears　clustered　at　the　battlements；　white　faces　filled　every　window；　and　their　heavy　forms　stood　like　a　dense　wall　of　misty　white　ahead；　marked　with　the　black　dots　of　eyes　and　noses。　The　nearest　ones　moved　aside；　making　two　lines　for　Iorek　Byrnison　and　his　daemon　to　walk　between。　Every　bear's　eyes　were　fixed　on　them。
　　Iorek　halted　across　the　bat　ground　from　lofur　Raknison。　The　king　came　down　from　the　rise　of　trodden　snow；　and　the　two　bears　faced　each　other　several　yards　apart。
　　Lyra　was　so　close　to　Iorek　that　she　could　feel　a　trembling　in　him　like　a　great　dynamo；　generating　mighty　anbaric　forces。　She　touched　him　briefly　on　the　neck　at　the　edge　of　his　helmet　and　said；　〃Fight　well；　Iorek　my　dear。　You're　the　real　king；　and　he　en't。　He's　nothing。〃
　　Then　she　stood　back。
　　〃Bears！〃　Iorek　Byrnison　roared。　An　echo　rang　back　from　the　palace　walls　and　startled　birds　out　of　their　nests。　He　went　on：　〃The　terms　of　this　bat　are　these。　If　lofur　Raknison　kills　me；　then　he　will　be　king　forever；　safe　from　challenge　or
　　dispute。　If　I　kill　lofur　Raknison；　I　shall　be　your　king。　My　first　order　to　you　all　will　be　to　tear　down　that　palace；　that　perfumed　house　of　mockery　and　tinsel；　and　hurl　the　gold　and　marble　into　the　sea。　Iron　is　bear…metal。　Gold　is　not。　lofur　Raknison　has　polluted　Svalbard。　I　have　e　to　cleanse　it。　lofur　Raknison；　I　challenge　you。〃
　　Then　lofur　bounded　forward　a　step　or　two；　as　if　he　could　hardly　hold　himself　back。
　　〃Bears！〃　he　roared　in　his　turn。　〃Iorek　Byrnison　has　e　back　at　my　invitation。　I　drew　him　here。　It　is　for　me　to　make　the　terms　of　this　bat；　and　they　are　these：　if　I　kill　Iorek　Byrnison；　his　flesh　shall　be　torn　apart　and　scattered　to　the　cliff…ghasts。　His　head　shall　be　displayed　above　my　palace。　His　memory　shall　be　obliterated。　It　shall　be　a　capital　crime　to　speak　his　name　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　continued；　and　then　each　bear　spoke　again。　It　was　a　formula；　a　ritual　faithfully　followed。　Lyra　looked　at　the　two　of　them；　so　utterly　different：　lofur　so　glossy　and　powerful；　immense　in　his　strength　and　health；　splendidly　armored；　proud　and　kinglike；　and　Iorek　smaller；　though　she　had　never　thought　he　would　look　small；　and　poorly　equipped；　his　armor　rusty　and　dented。　But　his　armor　was　his　soul。　He　had　made　it　and　it　fitted　him。　They　were　one。　lofur　was　not　content　with　his　armor；　he　wanted　another　soul　as　well。　He　was　restless　while　Iorek　was　still。
　　And　she　was　aware　that　all　the　other　bears　were　making　the　parison　too。　But　Iorek　and　lofur　were　more　than　just　two　bears。　There　were　two　kinds　of　beardom　opposed　here；　two　futures；　two　destinies。　lofur　had　begun　to　take　them　in　one　direction；　and　Iorek　would　take　them　in　another；　and　in　the　same　moment；　one　future　would　close　forever　as　the　other　began　to　unfold。
　　As　their　ritual　bat　moved　toward　the　second　phase；　the　two　bears　began　to　prowl　restlessly　on　the　snow；　edging　forward；　swinging　their　heads。　There　was　not　a　flicker　of　movement　from　the　spectators：　but　all　eyes　followed　them。
　　Finally　the　warr