pp.thegoldencompass-第56部分

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　　Lyra　couldn't　sit　still。　She　got　up　and　walked　to　the　window；　and　stared　over　the　wide　bleak　darkness　with　unseeing　eyes。　They　were　too　cruel。　No　matter　how　important　it　was　to　find　out　about　original　sin；　it　was　too　cruel　to　do　what　they'd　done　to　Tony　Makarios　and　all　the　others。　Nothing　justified　that。
　　〃And　what　were　you　doing？〃　she　said。　〃Did　you　do　any　of　that　cutting？〃
　　〃I'm　interested　in　something　quite　different。　I　don't　think　the　Oblation　Board　goes　far　enough。　I　want　to　go　to　the　source　of　Dust　itself。〃
　　〃The　source？　Where's　it　e　from；　then？〃
　　〃From　the　other　universe　we　can　see　through　the　Aurora。〃
　　Lyra　turned　around　again。　Her　father　was　lying　back　in　his　chair；　lazy　and　powerful；　his　eyes　as　fierce　as　his　daemon's。　She　didn't　love　him；　she　couldn't　trust　him；　but　she　had　to　admire　him；　and　the　extravagant　luxury　he'd　assembled　in　this　desolate　wasteland；　and　the　power　of　his　ambition。
　　〃What　is　that　other　universe？〃　she　said。
　　〃One　of　uncountable　billions　of　parallel　worlds。　The　witches　have　known　about　them　for　centuries；　but　the　first　theologians　to　prove　their　existence　mathematically　were　exmunicated　fifty　or　more　years　ago。　However；　it's　true；　there's　no　possible　way　of　denying　it。
　　〃But　no　one　thought　it　would　ever　be　possible　to　cross　from　one　universe　to　another。　That　would　violate　fundamental　laws；　we　thought。　Well；　we　were　wrong；　we　learned　to　see　the　world　up　there。　If　light　can　cross；　so　can　we。　And　we　had　to　learn　to　see　it；　Lyra；　just　as　you　learned　to　use　the　alethiometer。
　　〃Now　that　world；　and　every　other　universe；　came　about　as　a　result　of　possibility。　Take　the　example　of　tossing　a　coin：　it　can　e　down　heads　or　tails；　and　we　don't　know　before　it　lands　which　way　it's　going　to　fall。　If　it　es　down　heads；　that　means　that　the　possibility　of　its　ing　down　tails　has　collapsed。　Until　that　moment　the　two　possibilities　were　equal。
　　〃But　on　another　world；　it　does　e　down　tails。　And　when　that　happens；　the　two　worlds　split　apart。　I'm　using　the　example　of　tossing　a　coin　to　make　it　clearer。　In　fact；　these　possibility　collapses　happen　at　the　level　of　elementary　particles；　but　they　happen　in　just　the　same　way：　one　moment　several　things　are　possible；　the　next　moment　only　one　happens；　and　the　rest　don't　exist。　Except　that　other　worlds　have　sprung　into　being；　on　which　they　did　happen。
　　〃And　I'm　going　to　that　world　beyond　the　Aurora；〃　he　said；　〃because　I　think　that's　where　all　the　Dust　in　this　universe　es　from。　You　saw　those　slides　I　showed　the　Scholars　in　the　retiring　room。　You　saw　Dust　pouring　into　this　world　from　the　Aurora。　You've　seen　that　city　yourself。　If　light　can　cross　the　barrier　between　the　universes；　if　Dust　can；　if　we　can　see　that　city；　then　we　can　build　a　bridge　and　cross。　It　needs　a　phenomenal　burst　of　energy。　But　I　can　do　it。　Somewhere　out　there　is　the　origin　of　all　the　Dust；　all　the　death；　the　sin；　the　misery；　the　destructiveness　in　the　world。　Human　beings　can't　see　anything　without　wanting　to　destroy　it；　Lyra。　That's　original　sin。　And　I'm　going　to　destroy　it。　Death　is　going　to　die。〃
　　〃Is　that　why　they　put　you　here？〃
　　〃Yes。　They　are　terrified。　And　with　good　reason。〃
　　He　stood　up；　and　so　did　his　daemon；　proud　and　beautiful　and　deadly。　Lyra　sat　still。　She　was　afraid　of　her　father；　and　she　admired　him　profoundly；　and　she　thought　he　was　stark　mad；　but　who　was　she　to　judge？
　　〃Go　to　bed；〃　he　said。　〃Thorold　will　show　you　where　to　sleep。〃
　　He　turned　to　go。
　　〃You've　left　the　alethiometer；〃　she　said。
　　〃Ah；　yes；　I　don't　actually　need　that　now；〃　he　said。　〃It　would　be　no　use　to　me　without　the　books　anyway。　D'you　know；　I　think　the　Master　of　Jordan　was　giving　it　to　you。　Did　he　actually　ask　you　to　bring　it　to　me？〃
　　〃Well；　yes！〃　she　said。　But　then　she　thought　again；　and　realized　that　in　fact　the　Master　never　had　asked　her　to　do　that；　she　had　assumed　it　all　the　time；　because　why　else　would　he　have　given　it　to　her？　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know。　I　thought…〃
　　〃Well；　I　don't　want　it。　It's　yours；　Lyra。〃
　　〃But…〃
　　〃Goodnight；　child。〃
　　Speechless；　too　bewildered　by　this　to　voice　any　of　the　dozen　urgent　questions　that　pressed　at　her　mind；　she　sat　by　the　fire　and　watched　him　leave　the　room。
　　
　　
　　TWENTY…TWO
　　BETRAYAL
　　
　　She　woke　to　find　a　stranger　shaking　her　arm；　and　then　as　Pantalaimon　sprang　awake　and　growled；　she　recognized　Thorold。　He　was　holding　a　naphtha　lamp；　and　his　hand　was　trembling。
　　〃Miss…miss…get　up　quickly。　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　He's　left　no　orders。　I　think　he's　mad；　miss。〃
　　〃What？　What's　happening？〃
　　〃Lord　Asriel；　miss。　He's　been　almost　in　a　delirium　since　you　went　to　bed。　I've　never　seen　him　so　wild。　He　packed　a　lot　of　instruments　and　batteries　in　a　sledge　and　he　harnessed　up　the　dogs　and　left。　But　he's　got　the　boy；　miss！〃
　　〃Roger？　He's　taken　Roger？〃
　　〃He　told　me　to　wake　him　and　dress　him；　and　I　didn't　think　to　argue…I　never　have…the　boy　kept　on　asking　for　you；　miss…but　Lord　Asriel　wanted　him　alone…you　know　when　you　first　came　to　the　door；　miss？　And　he　saw　you　and　couldn't　believe　his　eyes；　and　wanted　you　gone？〃
　　Lyra's　head　was　in　such　a　whirl　of　weariness　and　fear　that　she　could　hardly　think；　but　〃Yes？　Yes？〃　she　said。
　　〃It　was　because　he　needed　a　child　to　finish　his　experiment；　miss！　And　Lord　Asriel　has　a　way　special　to　himself　of　bringing　about　what　he　wants；　he　just　has　to　call　for　something　and…〃
　　Now　Lyra's　head　was　full　of　a　roar；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　stifle　some　knowledge　from　her　own　consciousness。
　　She　had　got　out　of　bed；　and　was　reaching　for　her　clothes；　and　then　she　suddenly　collapsed；　and　a　fierce　cry　of　despair　enveloped　her。　She　was　uttering　it；　but　it　was　bigger　than　she　was；　it　felt　as　if　the　despair　were　uttering　her。　For　she　remembered　his　words：　the　energy　that　links　body　and　daemon　is　immensely　powerful；　and　to　bridge　the　gap　between　worlds　needed　a　phenomenal　burst　of　energy　。　。　。　。
　　She　had　just　realized　what　she'd　done。
　　She　had　struggled　all　this　way　to　bring　something　to　Lord　Asriel；　thinking　she　knew　what　he　wanted；　and　it　wasn't　the　alethiometer　at　all。　What　he　wanted　was　a　child。
　　She　had　brought　him　Roger。
　　That　was　why　he'd　cried　out；　〃I　did　not　send　for　you！〃　when　he　saw　her；　he　had　sent　for　a　child；　and　the　fates　had　brought　him　his　own　daughter。　Or　so　he'd　thought；　until　she'd　stepped　aside　and　shown　him　Roger。
　　Oh；　the　bitter　anguish！　She　had　thought　she　was　saving　Roger；　and　all　the　time　she'd　been　diligently　working　to　betray　him　。　。　。　。
　　Lyra　shook　and　sobbed　in　a　frenzy　of　emotion。　It　couldn't　be　true。
　　Thorold　tried　to　fort　her；　but　he　didn't　know　the　reason　for　her　extremity　of　grief；　and　could　only　pat　her　shoulder　nervously。
　　〃Iorek…〃　she　sobbed；　pushing　the　servant　aside。　〃Where's　Iorek　Byrnison？　The　bear？　Is　he　still　outside？〃
　　The　old　man　shrugged　helplessly。
　　〃Help　me！〃　she　said；　trembling　all　over　with　weakness　and　fear。　〃Help　me　dress。　I　got　to　go。　Now。1　Do　it　quick！〃
　　He　put　the　lamp　down　and　did　as　she　told　him。　When　she　manded；　in　that　imperious　way；　she　was　very　like　her　father；　for　all　that　her　face　was　wet　with　tears　and　her　lips　trembling。　While　Pantalaimon　paced　the　floor　lashing　his　tail；　his　fur　almost　sparking；　Thorold　hastened　to　bring　her　stiff；　reeking　furs　and　help　her　into　them。　As　soon　as　all　the　buttons　were　done　up　and　all　the　flaps　secured；　she　made　for　the　door；　and　felt　the　cold　strike　her　throat　like　a　sword　and　freeze　the　tears　at　once　on　her　cheeks。
　　〃Iorek！〃　she　called。　〃Iorek　Byrnison！　e；　because　I　need　you！〃
　　There　was　a　shake　of　snow；　a　clank　of　metal；　and　the　bear　was　there。　He　had　been　sleeping　calmly　under　the　falling　snow。　In　the　light　spilling　from　the　lamp　Thorold　was　holding　at　the　window；　Lyra　saw　the　long　faceless　head；　the　narrow　eye　slits；　the　gleam　of　white　fur　below　red…black　metal；　and　wanted　to　embrace　him　and　seek　some　fort　from　his　iron　helmet；　his　ice…tipped　fur。
　　〃Well？〃　he　said。
　　〃We　got　to　catch　Lord　Asriel。　He's　taken　Roger　and　he's　a　going　to…I　daren't　think…oh；　Iorek；　I　beg　you；　go　quick；　my　dear！〃
　　〃e　then；〃　he　said；　and　she　leaped　on　his　back。
　　There　was　no　need　to　ask　which　way　to　go：　the　tracks　of　the　sledge　led　straight　out　from　the　courtyard　and　over　the　plain；　and　Iorek　leaped　forward　to　follow　them。　His　motion　was　now　so　much　a　part　of　Lyra's　being　that　to　sit　balanced　was　entirely　automatic。　He　ran　over　the　thick　snowy　mantle　on　the　rocky　ground　faster　than　he'd　ever　done；　and　the　armor　plates　shifted　under　her　in　a　regular　swinging　rhythm。
　　Behind　them；　the　other　bears　paced　easily；　pulling　the　fire　hurler　with　them。　The　way　was　clear；　for　the　moon　was　high　and　the　light　it　cast　over　the　snowbound　world　was　as　bright　as　it　had　been　in　the　balloon：　a　world　of　bright　silver　and　profound　black。　The　tracks　of　Lord　Asriel's　sledge　ran　straight　toward　a　range　of　jagged　hills；　strange　stark　pointed　shapes　jutting　up　into　a　sky　as　black　as　the　alethiometer's　velvet　cloth。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　sledge　itself…or　was　there　a　feather　touch　of　movement　on　the　flank　of　the　highest　peak？　Lyra　peered　ahead；　straining　her　eyes；　and　Pantalaimon　flew　as　high　as　he　could　and　looked　with　an　owl's　clear　vision。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　on　her　wrist　a　moment　later；　〃it's　Lord　Asriel；　and　he's　lashing　his　dogs　on　furiously；　and　there's　a　boy　in　the　back　。　。　。　。〃
　　Lyra　felt　Iorek　Byrnison　change　pace。　Something　had　caught　his　attention。　He　was　slowing　and　lifting　his　head　to　cast　left　and　right。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Lyra　said。
　　He　didn't　say。　He　was　listening　intently；　but　she　could　hear　nothing。　Then　she　did　hear　something：　a　mysterious；　vastly　distant　rustling　and　crackling。　It　was　a　sound　she　had　heard　before：　the　sound　of　the　Aurora。　Out　of　nowhere　a　veil　of　radiance　had　fallen　to　hang　shimmering　in　the　northern　sky。　All　those　unseen　billions　and　trillions　of　charged　particles；　and　possibly；　she　thought；　of　Dust；　conjured　a　radiating　glow　out　of　the　upper　atmosphere。　This　was　going　to　be　a　display　more　brilliant　and　extraordinary　than　any　Lyra　had　yet　seen；　as　if　the　Aurora　knew　the　drama　that　was　taking　place　below；　and　wanted　to　light　it　with　the　most　awe…inspiring　effects。
　　But　none　of　the　bears　were　looking　up：　their　attention　was　all　on　the　earth。　It　wasn't　the　Aurora；　after　all；　that　had　caught　Iorek's　attention。　He　was　standing　stock…still　now；　and　Lyra　slipped　off　his　back；　knowing　that　his　senses　needed　to　cast　around　freely。　Something　was　troubling　him。
　　Lyra　looked　around；　back　across　the　vast　open　plain　leading　to　Lord　Asriel's　house；　back　toward　the　tumbled　mountains　they'd　crossed　earlier；　and　saw　nothing。　The　Aurora　grew　more　intense。　The　first　veils　trembled　and　raced　to　one　side；　and　jagged　curtains　folded　and　unfolded　above；　increasing　in　size　and　brilliance　every　minute；　arcs　and　loops　swirled　across　from　horizon　to　horizon；　and　touched　the　very　zenith　with　bows　of　radiance。　She　could　hear　more　clearly　than　ever　the　immense　singing　hiss　and　swish　of　vast　intangible　forces。
　　〃Witches！〃　came　a　cry　in　a　bear　voice；　and　Lyra　turned　in　joy　and　relief。
　　But　a　heavy　muzzle　knocked　her　forward；　and　with　no　breath　left　to　gasp　she　could　only　pant　and　shudder；　for　there　in　the　place