pp.thegoldencompass-第54部分

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ce　or　that；　some　openly；　some　smuggled　in　by　the　visitors　he　insisted　he　was　entitled　to　have。　By　land；　sea；　and　air；　Lord　Asriel　assembled　his　materials；　and　within　six　months　of　his　mittal；　he　had　all　the　equipment　he　wanted。
　　And　so　he　worked；　thinking　and　planning　and　calculating；　waiting　for　the　one　thing　he　needed　to　plete　the　task　that　so　terrified　the　Oblation　Board。　It　was　drawing　closer　every　minute。
　　
　　Lyra's　first　glimpse　of　her　father's　prison　came　when　Iorek　Byrnison　stopped　at　the　foot　of　a　ridge　for　the　children　to　move　and　stretch　themselves；　because　they　had　been　getting　dangerously　cold　and　stiff。
　　〃Look　up　there；〃　he　said。
　　A　wide　broken　slope　of　tumbled　rocks　and　ice；　where　a　track　had　been　laboriously　cleared；　led　up　to　a　crag　outlined　against　the　sky。　There　was　no　Aurora；　but　the　stars　were　brilliant。　The　crag　stood　black　and　gaunt；　but　at　its　summit　was　a　spacious　building　from　which　light　spilled　lavishly　in　all　directions：　not　the　smoky　inconstant　gleam　of　blubber　lamps；　nor　the　harsh　white　of　anbaric　spotlights；　but　the　warm　creamy　glow　of　naphtha。
　　The　windows　from　which　the　light　emerged　also　showed　Lord　Asriel's　formidable　power。　Glass　was　expensive；　and　large　sheets　of　it　were　prodigal　of　heat　in　these　fierce　latitudes；　so　to　see　them　here　was　evidence　of　wealth　and　influence　far　greater　than　lofur　Raknison's　vulgar　palace。
　　Lyra　and　Roger　mounted　their　bears　for　the　last　time；　and　Iorek　led　the　way　up　the　slope　toward　the　house。　There　was　a　courtyard　that　lay　deep　under　snow；　surrounded　by　a　low　wall；　and　as　Iorek　pushed　open　the　gate　they　heard　a　bell　ring　somewhere　in　the　building。
　　Lyra　got　down。　She　could　hardly　stand。　She　helped　Roger　down　too；　and；　supporting　each　other；　the　children　stumbled　through　the　thigh…deep　snow　toward　the　steps　up　to　the　door。
　　Oh；　the　warmth　there　would　be　inside　that　house！　Oh；　the　peaceful　rest！
　　She　reached　for　the　handle　of　the　bell；　but　before　she　could　reach　it；　the　door　opened。　There　was　a　small　dimly　lit　vestibule　to　keep　the　warm　air　in；　and　standing　under　the　lamp　was　a　figure　she　recognized：　Lord　Asriel's　manservant　Thorold；　with　his　pinscher　daemon　Anfang。
　　Lyra　wearily　pushed　back　her　hood。
　　〃Who　。　。　。　〃　Thorold　began；　and　then　saw　who　it　was；　and　went　on：　〃Not　Lyra？　Little　Lyra？　Am　I　dreaming？〃
　　He　reached　behind　him　to　open　the　inner　door。
　　A　hall；　with　a　coal　fire　blazing　in　a　stone　grate；　warm　naphtha　light　glowing　on　carpets；　leather　chairs；　polished　wood　。　。　。　　It　was　like　nothing　Lyra　had　seen　since　leaving　Jordan　College；　and　it　brought　a　choking　gasp　to　her　throat。
　　Lord　Asriel's　snow…leopard　daemon　growled。
　　Lyra's　father　stood　there；　his　powerful　dark…eyed　face　at　first　fierce；　triumphant；　and　eager；　and　then　the　color　faded　from　it；　his　eyes　widened；　in　horror；　as　he　recognized　his　daughter。
　　〃No！　No！〃
　　He　staggered　back　and　clutched　at　the　mantelpiece。　Lyra　couldn't　move。
　　〃Get　out！〃　Lord　Asriel　cried。　〃Turn　around；　get　out；　go！　I　did　not　send　for　you！〃
　　She　couldn't　speak。　She　opened　her　mouth　twice；　three　times；　and　then　managed　to　say：
　　〃No；　no；　I　came　because…〃
　　He　seemed　appalled；　he　kept　shaking　his　head；　he　held　up　his　hands　as　if　to　ward　her　off；　she　couldn't　believe　his　distress。
　　She　moved　a　step　closer　to　reassure　him；　and　Roger　came　to　stand　with　her；　anxious。　Their　daemons　fluttered　out　into　the　warmth；　and　after　a　moment　Lord　Asriel　passed　a　hand　across　his　brow　and　recovered　slightly。　The　color　began　to　return　to　his　cheeks　as　he　looked　down　at　the　two。
　　〃Lyra；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　Lyra？〃
　　〃Yes；　Uncle　Asriel；〃　she　said；　thinking　that　this　wasn't　the　time　to　go　into　their　true　relationship。　〃I　came　to　bring　you　the　alethiometer　from　the　Master　of　Jordan。〃
　　〃Yes；　of　course　you　did；〃　he　said。　〃Who　is　this？〃
　　〃It's　Roger　Parslow；〃　she　said。　〃He's　the　kitchen　boy　from　Jordan　College。　But…〃
　　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃
　　〃I　was　just　going　to　say；　there's　Iorek　Byrnison　outside；　he's　brought　us　here。　He　came　with　me　all　the　way　from　Trollesund；　and　we　tricked　lofur…〃
　　〃Who's　Iorek　Byrnison？〃
　　〃An　armored　bear。　He　brought　us　here。〃
　　〃Thorold；〃　he　called；　〃run　a　hot　bath　for　these　children；　and　prepare　them　some　food。　Then　they　will　need　to　sleep。　Their　clothes　are　filthy；　find　them　something　to　wear。　Do　it　now；　while　I　talk　to　this　bear。〃
　　Lyra　felt　her　head　swim。　Perhaps　it　was　the　heat；　or　perhaps　it　was　relief。　She　watched　the　servant　bow　and　leave　the　hall；　and　Lord　Asriel　go　into　the　vestibule　and　close　the　door　behind；　and　then　she　half…fell　into　the　nearest　chair。
　　Only　a　moment　later；　it　seemed；　Thorold　was　speaking　to　her。
　　〃Follow　me；　miss；〃　he　was　saying；　and　she　hauled　herself　up　and　went　with　Roger　to　a　warm　bathroom；　where　soft　towels　hung　on　a　heated　rail；　and　where　a　tub　of　water　steamed　in　the　naphtha　light。
　　〃You　go　first；〃　said　Lyra。　〃I'll　sit　outside　and　we'll　talk。〃
　　So　Roger；　wincing　and　gasping　at　the　heat；　got　in　and　washed。　They　had　swum　naked　together　often　enough；　frolicking　in　the　Isis　or　the　Cherwell　with　other　children；　but　this　was　different。
　　〃I'm　afraid　of　your　uncle；〃　said　Roger　through　the　open　door。　〃I　mean　your　father。〃
　　〃Better　keep　calling　him　my　uncle。　I'm　afraid　of　him　too；　sometimes。〃
　　〃When　we　first　e　in；　he　never　saw　me　at　all。　He　only　saw　you。　And　he　was　horrified；　till　he　saw　me。　Then　he　calmed　down　all　at　once。〃
　　〃He　was　just　shocked；〃　said　Lyra。　〃Anyone　would　be；　to　see　someone　they　didn't　expect。　He　last　saw　me　after　that　time　in　the　Retiring　Room。　It's　bound　to　be　a　shock。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Roger；　〃it's　more　than　that。　He　was　looking　at　me　like　a　wolf；　or　summing。〃
　　〃You're　imagining　it。〃
　　〃I　en't。　I'm　more　scared　of　him　than　I　was　of　Mrs。　Coulter；　and　that's　the　truth。〃
　　He　splashed　himself。　Lyra　took　out　the　alethiometer。
　　〃D'you　want　me　to　ask　the　symbol　reader　about　it？〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Well；　I　dunno。　There's　things　I'd　rather　not　know。　Seems　to　me　everything　I　heard　of　since　the　Gobblers　e　to　Oxford；　everything's　been　bad。　There　en't　been　nothing　good　more　than　about　five　minutes　ahead。　Like　I　can　see　now；　this　bath's　nice；　and　there's　a　nice　warm　towel　there；　about　five　minutes　away。　And　once　I'm　dry；　maybe　I'll　think　of　summing　nice　to　eat；　but　no　further　ahead　than　that。　And　when　I've　eaten；　maybe　I'll　look　forward　to　a　kip　in　a　fortable　bed。　But　after　that；　I　dunno；　Lyra。　There's　been　terrible　things　we　seen；　en't　there？　And　more　a　ing；　more'n　likely。　So　I　think　I'd　rather　not　know　what's　in　the　future。　I'll　stick　to　the　present。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Lyra　wearily。　〃There's　times　I　feel　like　that　too。〃
　　So　although　she　held　the　alethiometer　in　her　hands　for　a　little　longer；　it　was　only　for　fort；　she　didn't　turn　the　wheels；　and　the　swinging　of　the　needle　passed　her　by。　Pantalaimon　watched　it　in　silence。
　　After　they'd　both　washed；　and　eaten　some　bread　and　cheese　and　drunk　some　wine　and　hot　water；　the　servant　Thorold　said；　〃The　boy　is　to　go　to　bed。　I'll　show　him　where　to　go。　His　Lordship　asks　if　you'd　join　him　in　the　library；　Miss　Lyra。〃
　　Lyra　found　Lord　Asriel　in　a　room　whose　wide　windows　overlooked　the　frozen　sea　far　below。　There　was　a　coal　fire　under　a　wide　chimneypiece；　and　a　naphtha　lamp　turned　down　low；　so　there　was　little　in　the　way　of　distracting　reflections　between　the　occupants　of　the　room　and　the　bleak　starlit　panorama　outside。　Lord　Asriel；　reclining　in　a　large　armchair　on　one　side　of　the　fire；　beckoned　her　to　e　and　sit　in　the　other　chair　facing　him。
　　〃Your　friend　Iorek　Byrnison　is　resting　outside；〃　he　said。　〃He　prefers　the　cold。〃
　　〃Did　he　tell　you　about　his　fight　with　lofur　Raknison？〃
　　〃Not　in　detail。　But　I　understand　that　he　is　now　the　king　of　Svalbard。　Is　that　true？〃
　　〃Of　course　it's　true。　Iorek　never　lies。〃
　　〃He　seems　to　have　appointed　himself　your　guardian。〃
　　〃No。　John　Faa　told　him　to　look　after　me；　and　he's　doing　it　because　of　that。　He's　following　John　Faa's　orders。〃
　　〃How　does　John　Faa　e　into　this？〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　if　you　tell　me　something；〃　she　said。　〃You're　my　father；　en't　you？〃
　　〃Yes。　So　what？〃
　　〃So　you　should　have　told　me　before；　that's　what。　You　shouldn't　hide　things　like　that　from　people；　because　they　feel　stupid　when　they　find　out；　and　that's　cruel。　What　difference　would　it　make　if　I　knew　I　was　your　daughter？　You　could　have　said　it　years　ago。　You　could've　told　me　and　asked　me　to　keep　it　secret；　and　I　would；　no　matter　how　young　I　was；　I'd　have　done　that　if　you　asked　me。　I'd　have　been　so　proud　nothing　would've　torn　it　out　of　me；　if　you　asked　me　to　keep　it　secret。　But　you　never。　You　let　other　people　know；　but　you　never　told　me。〃
　　〃Who　did　tell　you？〃
　　〃John　Faa。〃
　　〃Did　he　tell　you　about　your　mother？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Then　there's　not　much　left　for　me　to　tell。　I　don't　think　I　want　to　be　interrogated　and　condemned　by　an　insolent　child。　I　want　to　hear　what　you've　seen　and　done　on　the　way　here。〃
　　〃I　brought　you　the　bloody　alethiometer；　didn't　I？〃　Lyra　burst　out。　She　was　very　near　to　tears。　〃I　looked　after　it　all　the　way　from　Jordan；　I　hid　it　and　I　treasured　it；　all　through　what's　happened　to　us；　and　I　learned　about　using　it；　and　I　carried　it　all　this　bloody　way　when　I　could've　just　given　up　and　been　safe；　and　you　en't　even　said　thank　you；　nor　showed　any　sign　that　you're　glad　to　see　me。　I　don't　know　why　I　ever　done　it。　But　I　did；　and　I　kept　on　going；　even　in　lofur　Raknison's　stinking　palace　with　all　them　bears　around　me　I　kept　on　going；　all　on　me　own；　and　I　tricked　him　into　fighting　with　Iorek　so's　I　could　e　on　here　for　your　sake　。　。　。　。And　when　you　did　see　me；　you　like　to　fainted；　as　if　I　was　some　horrible　thing　you　never　wanted　to　see　again。　You　en't　human；　Lord　Asriel。　You　en't　my　father。　My　father　wouldn't　treat　me　like　that。　Fathers　are　supposed　to　love　their　daughters；　en't　they？　You　don't　love　me；　and　I　don't　love　you；　and　that's　a　fact。　I　love　Farder　Coram；　and　I　love　Iorek　Byrnison；　I　love　an　armored　bear　more'n　I　love　my　father。　And　I　bet　Iorek　Byrnison　loves　me　more'n　you　do。〃
　　〃You　told　me　yourself　he's　only　following　John　Faa's　orders。
　　If　you're　going　to　be　sentimental；　I　shan't　waste　time　talking　to　you。〃
　　〃Take　your　bloody　alethiometer；　then；　and　I'm　going　back　with　Iorek。〃
　　〃Where？〃
　　〃Back　to　the　palace。　He　can　fight　with　Mrs。　Coulter　and　the　Oblation　Board；　when　they　turn　up。　If　he　loses；　then　I'll　die　too；　I　don't　care。　If　he　wins；　we'll　send　for　Lee　Scoresby　and　I'll　sail　away　in　his　balloon　and…〃
　　〃Who's　Lee　Scoresby？〃
　　〃An　aeronaut。　He　brought　us　here　and　then　we　crashed。　Here　you　are；　here's　the　alethiometer。　It's　all　in　good　order。〃
　　He　made　no　move　to　take　it；　and　she　laid　it　on　the　brass　fender　around　the　hearth。
　　〃And　I　suppose　I　ought　to　tell　you　that　Mrs。　Coulter's　on　her　way　to　Svalbard；　and　as　soon　as　she　hears　what's　happened　to　lofur　Raknison；　she'll　be　on　her　way　here。　In　a　zeppelin；　with　a　whole　lot　of　soldiers；　and　they're　going　to　kill　us　all；　by　order　of　the　Magisterium。〃
　　〃They'll　never　reach　us；〃　he　said　calmly。
　　He　was　so　quiet　and　relaxed　that　some　of　her　ferocity　dwindled。
　　〃You　don't　know；〃　she　said　uncertainly。
　　〃Yes　I　do。〃
　　〃Have　you　got　another