pp.thegoldencompass-第52部分

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was　not　a　flicker　of　movement　from　the　spectators：　but　all　eyes　followed　them。
　　Finally　the　warriors　were　still　and　silent；　watching　each　other　face　to　face　across　the　width　of　the　bat　ground。
　　Then　with　a　roar　and　a　blur　of　snow　both　bears　moved　at　the　same　moment。　Like　two　great　masses　of　rock　balanced　on　adjoining　peaks　and　shaken　loose　by　an　earthquake；　which　bound　down　the　mountainsides　gathering　speed；　leaping　over　crevasses　and　knocking　trees　into　splinters；　until　they　crash　into　each　other　so　hard　that　both　are　smashed　to　powder　and　flying　chips　of　stone：　that　was　how　the　two　bears　came　together。　The　crash　as　they　met　resounded　in　the　still　air　and　echoed　back　from　the　palace　wall。　But　they　weren't　destroyed；　as　rock　would　have　been。　They　both　fell　aside；　and　the　first　to　rise　was　Iorek。　He　twisted　up　in　a　lithe　spring　and　grappled　with　lofur；　whose　armor　had　been　damaged　by　the　collision　and　who　couldn't　easily　raise　his　head。　Iorek　made　at　once　for　the　vulnerable　gap　at　his　neck。　He　raked　the　white　fur；　and　then　hooked　his　claws　beneath　the　edge　of　lofur's　helmet　and　wrenched　it　forward。
　　Sensing　the　danger；　lofur　snarled　and　shook　himself　as　Lyra　had　seen　Iorek　shake　himself　at　the　water's　edge；　sending　sheets　of　water　flying　high　into　the　air。　And　Iorek　fell　away；　dislodged；　and　with　a　screech　of　twisting　metal　lofur　stood　up　tall；　straightening　the　steel　of　his　back　plates　by　sheer　strength。　Then　like　an　avalanche　he　hurled　himself　down　on　Iorek；　who　was　still　trying　to　rise。
　　Lyra　felt　her　own　breath　knocked　out　of　her　by　the　force　of　that　crashing　fall。　Certainly　the　very　ground　shook　beneath　her。　How　could　Iorek　survive　that？　He　was　struggling　to　twist　himself　and　gain　a　purchase　on　the　ground；　but　his　feet　were　uppermost；　and　lofur　had　fixed　his　teeth　somewhere　near　Iorek's　throat。　Drops　of　hot　blood　were　flying　through　the　air：　one　landed　on　Lyra's　furs；　and　she　pressed　her　hand　to　it　like　a　token　of　love。
　　Then　Iorek's　rear　claws　dug　into　the　links　of　lofur's　chain…mail　sark　and　ripped　downward。　The　whole　front　came　away；　and　lofur　lurched　sideways　to　look　at　the　damage；　leaving　Iorek　to　scramble　upright　again。
　　For　a　moment　the　two　bears　stood　apart；　getting　their　breath　back。　lofur　was　hampered　now　by　that　chain　mail；　because　from　a　protection　it　had　changed　all　at　once　into　a　hindrance：　it　was　still　fastened　at　the　bottom；　and　trailed　around　his　rear　legs。　However；　Iorek　was　worse　off。　He　was　bleeding　freely　from　a　wound　at　his　neck；　and　panting　heavily。
　　But　he　leaped　at　lofur　before　the　king　could　disentangle　himself　from　the　clinging　chain　mail；　and　knocked　him　head　over　heels；　following　up　with　a　lunge　at　the　bare　part　of　lofur's　neck；　where　the　edge　of　the　helmet　was　bent。　lofur　threw　him　off；　and　then　the　two　bears　were　at　each　other　again；　throwing　up　fountains　of　snow　that　sprayed　in　all　directions　and　sometimes　made　it　hard　to　see　who　had　the　advantage。
　　Lyra　watched；　hardly　daring　to　breathe；　and　squeezing　her　hands　together　so　tight　it　hurt。　She　thought　she　saw　lofur　tearing　at　a　wound　in　Iorek's　belly；　but　that　couldn't　be　right；　because　a　moment　later；　after　another　convulsive　explosion　of　snow；　both　bears　were　standing　upright　like　boxers；　and　Iorek　was　slashing　with　mighty　claws　at　lofur's　face；　with　lofur　hitting　back　just　as　savagely。
　　Lyra　trembled　at　the　weight　of　those　blows。　As　if　a　giant　were　swinging　a　sledgehammer；　and　that　hammer　were　armed　with　five　steel　spikes　。　。　。　
　　Iron　clanged　on　iron；　teeth　crashed　on　teeth；　breath　roared　harshly；　feet　thundered　on　the　hard…packed　ground。　The　snow　around　was　splashed　with　red　and　trodden　down　for　yards　into　a　crimson　mud。
　　lofur's　armor　was　in　a　pitiful　state　by　this　time；　the　plates　torn　and　distorted；　the　gold　inlay　torn　out　or　smeared　thickly　with　blood；　and　his　helmet　gone　altogether。　Iorek's　was　in　much　better　condition；　for　all　its　ugliness：　dented；　but　intact；　standing　up　far　better　to　the　great　sledgehammer　blows　of　the　bear…king；　and　turning　aside　those　brutal　six…inch　claws。
　　But　against　that；　lofur　was　bigger　and　stronger　than　Iorek；　and　Iorek　was　weary　and　hungry；　and　had　lost　more　blood。　He　was　wounded　in　the　belly；　on　both　arms；　and　at　the　neck；　whereas　lofur　was　bleeding　only　from　his　lower　jaw。　Lyra　longed　to　help　her　dear　friend；　but　what　could　she　do？
　　And　it　was　going　badly　for　Iorek　now。　He　was　limping；　every　time　he　put　his　left　forepaw　on　the　ground；　they　could　see　that　it　hardly　bore　his　weight。　He　never　used　it　to　strike　with；　and　the　blows　from　his　right　hand　were　feebler；　too；　almost　little　pats　pared　with　the　mighty　crushing　buffets　he'd　delivered　only　a　few　minutes　before。
　　lofur　had　noticed。　He　began　to　taunt　Iorek；　calling　him　broken…hand；　whimpering　cub；　rust…eaten；　soon…to…die；　and　other　names；　all　the　while　swinging　blows　at　him　from　right　and　left　which　Iorek　could　no　longer　parry。　Iorek　had　to　move　backward；　a　step　at　a　time；　and　to　crouch　low　under　the　rain　of　blows　from　the　jeering　bear…king。
　　Lyra　was　in　tears。　Her　dear；　her　brave　one；　her　fearless　defender；　was　going　to　die；　and　she　would　not　do　him　the　treachery　of　looking　away；　for　if　he　looked　at　her　he　must　see　her　shining　eyes　and　their　love　and　belief；　not　a　face　hidden　in　cowardice　or　a　shoulder　fearfully　turned　away。
　　So　she　looked；　but　her　tears　kept　her　from　seeing　what　was　really　happening；　and　perhaps　it　would　not　have　been　visible　to　her　anyway。　It　certainly　was　not　seen　by　lofur。
　　Because　Iorek　was　moving　backward　only　to　find　clean　dry　footing　and　a　firm　rock　to　leap　up　from；　and　the　useless　left　arm　was　really　fresh　and　strong。　You　could　not　trick　a　bear；　but；　as　Lyra　had　shown　him；　lofur　did　not　want　to　be　a　bear；　he　wanted　to　be　a　man；　and　Iorek　was　tricking　him。
　　At　last　he　found　what　he　wanted：　a　firm　rock　deep…anchored　in　the　permafrost。　He　backed　against　it；　tensing　his　legs　and　choosing　his　moment。
　　It　came　when　lofur　reared　high　above；　bellowing　his　triumph；　and　turning　his　head　tauntingly　toward　Iorek's　apparently　weak　left　side。
　　That　was　when　Iorek　moved。　Like　a　wave　that　has　been　building　its　strength　over　a　thousand　miles　of　ocean；　and　which　makes　little　stir　in　the　deep　water；　but　which　when　it　reaches　the　shallows　rears　itself　up　high　into　the　sky；　terrifying　the　shore　dwellers；　before　crashing　down　on　the　land　with　irresistible　power…so　Iorek　Byrnison　rose　up　against　lofur；　exploding　upward　from　his　firm　footing　on　the　dry　rock　and　slashing　with　a　ferocious　left　hand　at　the　exposed　jaw　of　lofur　Raknison。
　　It　was　a　horrifying　blow。　It　tore　the　lower　part　of　his　jaw　clean　off；　so　that　it　flew　through　the　air　scattering　blood　drops　in　the　snow　many　yards　away。
　　lofur's　red　tongue　lolled　down；　dripping　over　his　open　throat。　The　bear…king　was　suddenly　voiceless；　biteless；　helpless；　Iorek　needed　nothing　more。　He　lunged；　and　then　his　teeth　were　in　lofur's　throat；　and　he　shook　and　shook　this　way；　that　way；　lifting　the　huge　body　off　the　ground　and　battering　it　down　as　if　lofur　were　no　more　than　a　seal　at　the　water's　edge。
　　Then　he　ripped　upward；　and　lofur　Raknison's　life　came　away　in　his　teeth。
　　There　was　one　ritual　yet　to　perform。　Iorek　sliced　open　the　dead　king's　unprotected　chest；　peeling　the　fur　back　to　expose　the　narrow　white　and　red　ribs　like　the　timbers　of　an　upturned　boat。　Into　the　rib　cage　Iorek　reached；　and　he　plucked　out　lofur's　heart；　red　and　steaming；　and　ate　it　there　in　front　of　lofur's　subjects。
　　Then　there　was　acclamation；　pandemonium；　a　crush　of　bears　surging　forward　to　pay　homage　to　lofur's　conqueror。
　　Iorek　Byrnison's　voice　rose　above　the　clamor。
　　〃Bears！　Who　is　your　king？〃
　　And　the　cry　came　back；　in　a　roar　like　that　of　all　the　sea…smooth　pebbles　in　the　world　in　an　ocean…battering　storm：
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison！〃
　　The　bears　knew　what　they　must　do。　Every　single　badge　and　sash　and　coronet　was　thrown　off　at　once　and　trampled　contemptuously　underfoot；　to　be　forgotten　in　a　moment。　They　were　Iorek's　bears　now；　and　true　bears；　not　uncertain　semi…humans　conscious　only　of　a　torturing　inferiority。　They　swarmed　to　the　palace　and　began　to　hurl　great　blocks　of　marble　from　the　topmost　towers；　rocking　the　battlemented　walls　with　their　mighty　fists　until　the　stones　came　loose；　and　then　hurling　them　over　the　cliffs　to　crash　on　the　jetty　hundreds　of　feet　below。
　　Iorek　ignored　them　and　unhooked　his　armor　to　attend　to　his　wounds；　but　before　he　could　begin；　Lyra　was　beside　him；　stamping　her　foot　on　the　frozen　scarlet　snow　and　shouting　to　the　bears　to　stop　smashing　the　palace；　because　there　were　prisoners　inside。　They　didn't　hear；　but　Iorek　did；　and　when　he　roared　they　stopped　at　once。
　　〃Human　prisoners？〃　Iorek　said。
　　〃Yes…lofur　Raknison　put　them　in　the　dungeons…they　ought　to　e　out　first　and　get　shelter　somewhere；　else　they'll　be　killed　with　all　the　falling　rocks…〃
　　Iorek　gave　swift　orders；　and　some　bears　hurried　into　the　palace　to　release　the　prisoners。　Lyra　turned　to　Iorek。
　　〃Let　me　help　you…I　want　to　make　sure　you　en't　too　badly　hurt；　Iorek　dear…oh；　I　wish　there　was　some　bandages　or　something！　That's　an　awful　cut　on　your　belly…〃
　　A　bear　laid　a　mouthful　of　some　stiff　green　stuff；　thickly　frosted；　on　the　ground　at　Iorek's　feet。
　　〃Bloodmoss；〃　said　Iorek。　〃Press　it　in　the　wounds　for　me；　Lyra。　Fold　the　flesh　over　it　and　then　hold　some　snow　there　till　it　freezes。〃
　　He　wouldn't　let　any　bears　attend　to　him；　despite　their　eagerness。　Besides；　Lyra's　hands　were　deft；　and　she　was　desperate　to　help；　so　the　small　human　bent　over　the　great　bear…king；　packing　in　the　bloodmoss　and　freezing　the　raw　flesh　till　it　stopped　bleeding。　When　she　had　finished；　her　mittens　were　sodden　with　Iorek's　blood；　but　his　wounds　were　stanched。
　　And　by　that　time　the　prisoners…a　dozen　or　so　men；　shivering　and　blinking　and　huddling　together…had　e　out。　There　was　no　point　in　talking　to　the　professor；　Lyra　decided；　because　the　poor　man　was　mad；　and　she　would　have　liked　to　know　who　the　other　men　were；　but　there　were　many　other　urgent　things　to　do。　And　she　didn't　want　to　distract　Iorek；　who　was　giving　rapid　orders　and　sending　bears　scurrying　this　way　and　that；　but　she　was　anxious　about　Roger；　and　about　Lee　Scoresby　and　the　witches；　and　she　was　hungry　and　tired　。　。　。　。　She　thought　the　best　thing　she　could　do　just　then　was　to　keep　out　of　the　way。
　　So　she　curled　up　in　a　quiet　corner　of　the　bat　ground　with　Pantalaimon　as　a　wolverine　to　keep　her　warm；　and　piled　snow　over　herself　as　a　bear　would　do；　and　went　to　sleep。
　　
　　Something　nudged　her　foot；　and　a　strange　bear　voice　said；　〃Lyra　Silvertongue；　the　king　wants　you。〃
　　She　woke　up　nearly　dead　with　cold；　and　couldn't　open　her　eyes；　for　they　had　frozen　shut；　but　Pantalaimon　licked　them　to　melt　the　ice　on　her　eyelashes；　and　soon　she　was　able　to　see　the　young　bear　speaking　to　her　in　the　moonlight。
　　She　tried　to　stand；　but　fell　over　twice。
　　The　bear　said；　〃Ride　on　me；〃　and　crouched　to　offer　his　broad　back；　and　half…clinging；　half…falling；　she　managed　to　stay　on　while　he　took　her　to　a　steep　hollow；　where　many　bears　were　assembled。
　　And　among　them　was　a　small　figure　who　ran　toward　her；　and　whose　daemon　leaped　up　to　greet　Pantalaimon。
　　〃Roger！〃　she　said。
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison　mad