pp.thegoldencompass-第57部分

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　　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　where　she　had　been　standing　was　the　plume　of　a　green…feathered　arrow。　The　head　and　the　shaft　were　buried　in　the　snow。
　　Impossible。！　she　thought　weakly；　but　it　was　true；　for　another　arrow　clattered　off　the　armor　of　Iorek；　standing　above　her。　These　were　not　Serafina　Pekkala's　witches；　they　were　from　another　clan。　They　circled　above；　a　dozen　of　them　or　more；　swooping　down　to　shoot　and　soaring　up　again；　and　Lyra　swore　with　every　word　she　knew。
　　Iorek　Byrnison　gave　swift　orders。　It　was　clear　that　the　bears　were　practiced　at　witch　fighting；　for　they　had　moved　at　once　into　a　defensive　formation；　and　the　witches　moved　just　as　smoothly　into　attack。　They　could　only　shoot　accurately　from　close　range；　and　in　order　not　to　waste　arrows　they　would　swoop　down；　fire　at　the　lowest　part　of　their　dive；　and　turn　upward　at　once。　But　when　they　reached　the　lowest　point；　and　their　hands　were　busy　with　bow　and　arrow；　they　were　vulnerable；　and　the　bears　would　explode　upward　with　raking　paws　to　drag　them　down。　More　than　one　fell；　and　was　quickly　dispatched。
　　Lyra　crouched　low　beside　a　rock；　watching　for　a　witch　dive。　A　few　shot　at　her；　but　the　arrows　fell　wide；　and　then　Lyra；　looking　up　at　the　sky；　saw　the　greater　part　of　the　witch　flight　peel　off　and　turn　back。
　　If　she　was　relieved　by　that；　her　relief　didn't　last　more　than　a　few　moments。　Because　from　the　direction　in　which　they'd　flown；　she　saw　many　others　ing　to　join　them；　and　in　midair　with　them　there　was　a　group　of　gleaming　lights；　and　across　the　broad　expanse　of　the　Svalbard　plain；　under　the　radiance　of　the　Aurora；　she　heard　a　sound　she　dreaded。　It　was　the　harsh　throb　of　a　gas　engine。　The　zeppelin；　with　Mrs。　Coulter　and　her　troops　on　board；　was　catching　up。
　　Iorek　growled　an　order　and　the　bears　moved　at　once　into　another　formation。　In　the　lurid　flicker　from　the　sky　Lyra　watched　as　they　swiftly　unloaded　their　fire　hurler。　The　advance　guard　of　the　witch　flight　had　seen　them　too；　and　began　to　swoop　downward　and　rain　arrows　on　them；　but　for　the　most　part　the　bears　trusted　to　their　armor　and　worked　swiftly　to　erect　the　apparatus：　a　long　arm　extending　upward　at　an　angle；　a　cup　or　bowl　a　yard　across；　and　a　great　iron　tank　wreathed　in　smoke　and　steam。
　　As　she　watched；　a　bright　flame　gushed　out；　and　a　team　of　bears　swung　into　practiced　action。　Two　of　them　hauled　the　long　arm　of　the　fire　thrower　down；　another　scooped　shovelfuls　of　fire　into　the　bowl；　and　at　an　order　they　released　it；　to　hurl　the　flaming　sulfur　high　into　the　dark　sky。
　　The　witches　were　swooping　so　thickly　above　them　that　three　fell　in　flames　at　the　first　shot　alone；　but　it　was　soon　clear　that　the　real　target　was　the　zeppelin。　The　pilot　either　had　never　seen　a　fire　hurler　before；　or　was　underestimating　its　power；　for　he　flew　straight　on　toward　the　bears　without　climbing　or　turning　a　fraction　to　either　side。
　　Then　it　became　clear　that　they　had　a　powerful　weapon　in　the　zeppelin　too：　a　machine　rifle　mounted　on　the　nose　of　the　gondola。　Lyra　saw　sparks　flying　up　from　some　of　the　bears'　armor；　and　saw　them　huddle　over　beneath　its　protection；　before　she　heard　the　rattle　of　the　bullets。　She　cried　out　in　fear。
　　〃They're　safe；〃　said　Iorek　Byrnison。　〃Can't　pierce　armor　with　little　bullets。〃
　　The　fire　thrower　worked　again：　this　time　a　mass　of　blazing　sulfur　hurtled　directly　upward　to　strike　the　gondola　and　burst　in　a　cascade　of　flaming　fragments　on　all　sides。　The　zeppelin　banked　to　the　left；　and　roared　away　in　a　wide　arc　before　making　again　for　the　group　of　bears　working　swiftly　beside　the　apparatus。　As　it　neared；　the　arm　of　the　fire　thrower　creaked　downward；　the　machine　rifle　coughed　and　spat；　and　two　bears　fell；　to　a　low　growl　from　Iorek　Byrnison；　and　when　the　aircraft　was　nearly　overhead；　a　bear　shouted　an　order；　and　the　spring…loaded　arm　shot　upward　again。
　　This　time　the　sulfur　hurtled　against　the　envelope　of　the　zeppelin's　gas　bag。　The　rigid　frame　held　a　skin　of　oiled　silk　in　place　to　contain　the　hydrogen；　and　although　this　was　tough　enough　to　withstand　minor　scratches；　a　hundredweight　of　blazing　rock　was　too　much　for　it。　The　silk　ripped　straight　through；　and　sulfur　and　hydrogen　leaped　to　meet　each　other　in　a　catastrophe　of　flame。
　　At　once　the　silk　became　transparent；　the　entire　skeleton　of　the　zeppelin　was　visible；　dark　against　an　inferno　of　orange　and　red　and　yellow；　hanging　in　the　air　for　what　seemed　like　an　impossibly　long　time　before　drifting　to　the　ground　almost　reluctantly。　Little　figures　black　against　the　snow　and　the　fire　came　tottering　or　running　from　it；　and　witches　flew　down　to　help　drag　them　away　from　the　flames。　Within　a　minute　of　the　zeppelin's　hitting　the　ground　it　was　a　mass　of　twisted　metal；　a　pall　of　smoke；　and　a　few　scraps　of　fluttering　fire。
　　But　the　soldiers　on　board；　and　the　others　too　（though　Lyra　was　too　far　away　by　now　to　spot　Mrs。　Coulter；　she　knew　she　was　there）；　wasted　no　time。　With　the　help　of　the　witches　they　dragged　the　machine　gun　out　and　set　it　up；　and　began　to　fight　in　earnest　on　the　ground。
　　〃On；〃　said　Iorek。　〃They　will　hold　out　for　a　long　time。〃
　　He　roared；　and　a　group　of　bears　peeled　away　from　the　main　group　and　attacked　the　Tartars'　right　flank。　Lyra　could　feel　his　desire　to　be　there　among　them；　but　all　the　time　her　nerves　were　screaming：　On！　On！　and　her　mind　was　filled　with　pictures　of　Roger　and　Lord　Asriel；　and　Iorek　Byrnison　knew；　and　turned　up　the　mountain　and　away　from　the　fight；　leaving　his　bears　to　hold　back　the　Tartars。
　　On　they　climbed。　Lyra　strained　her　eyes　to　look　ahead；　but　not　even　Pantalaimon's　owl　eyes　could　see　any　movement　on　the　flank　of　the　mountain　they　were　climbing。　Lord　Asriel's　sledge　tracks　were　clear；　however；　and　Iorek　followed　them　swiftly；　loping　through　the　snow　and　kicking　it　high　behind　them　as　he　ran。　Whatever　happened　behind　now　was　simply　that：　behind。　Lyra　had　left　it。　She　felt　she　was　leaving　the　world　altogether；　so　remote　and　intent　she　was；　so　high　they　were　climbing；　so　strange　and　uncanny　was　the　light　that　bathed　them。
　　〃Iorek；〃　she　said；　〃will　you　find　Lee　Scoresby？〃
　　〃Alive　or　dead；　I　will　find　him。〃
　　〃And　if　you　see　Serafina　Pekkala　。　。　。　〃
　　〃I　will　tell　her　what　you　did。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Iorek；〃　she　said。
　　They　spoke　no　more　for　some　time。　Lyra　felt　herself　moving　into　a　kind　of　trance　beyond　sleep　and　waking：　a　state　of　conscious　dreaming；　almost；　in　which　she　was　dreaming　that　she　was　being　carried　by　bears　to　a　city　in　the　stars。
　　She　was　going　to　say　something　about　it　to　Iorek　Byrnison；　when　he　slowed　down　and　came　to　a　halt。
　　〃The　tracks　go　on；〃　said　Iorek　Byrnison。　〃But　I　cannot。〃
　　Lyra　jumped　down　and　stood　beside　him　to　look。　He　was　standing　at　the　edge　of　a　chasm。　Whether　it　was　a　crevasse　in　the　ice　or　a　fissure　in　the　rock　was　hard　to　say；　and　made　little　difference　in　any　case；　all　that　mattered　was　that　it　plunged　downward　into　unfathomable　gloom。
　　And　the　tracks　of　Lord　Asriel's　sledge　ran　to　the　brink　。　。　。　　and　on；　across　a　bridge　of　pacted　snow。
　　This　bridge　had　clearly　felt　the　strain　of　the　sledge's　weight；　for　a　crack　ran　across　it　close　to　the　other　edge　of　the　chasm；　and　the　surface　on　the　near　side　of　the　crack　had　settled　down　a　foot　or　so。　It　might　support　the　weight　of　a　child：　it　would　certainly　not　stand　under　the　weight　of　an　armored　bear。
　　And　Lord　Asriel's　tracks　ran　on　beyond　the　bridge　and　further　up　the　mountain。　If　she　went　on；　it　would　have　to　be　by　herself。
　　Lyra　turned　to　Iorek　Byrnison。
　　〃I　got　to　go　across；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you　for　all　you　done。　I　don't　know　what's　going　to　happen　when　I　get　to　him。　We　might　all　die；　whether　I　get　to　him　or　not。　But　if　I　e　back；　I'll　e　and　see　you　to　thank　you　properly；　King　Iorek　Byrnison。〃
　　She　laid　a　hand　on　his　head。　He　let　it　lie　there　and　nodded　gently。
　　〃Goodbye；　Lyra　Silvertongue；〃　he　said。
　　Her　heart　thumping　painfully　with　love；　she　turned　away　and　set　her　foot　on　the　bridge。　The　snow　creaked　under　her；　and　Pantalaimon　flew　up　and　over　the　bridge；　to　settle　in　the　snow　on　the　far　side　and　encourage　her　onward。　Step　after　step　she　took；　and　wondered　with　every　step　whether　it　would　be　better　to　run　swiftly　and　leap　for　the　other　side；　or　go　slowly　as　she　was　doing　and　tread　as　lightly　as　possible。　Halfway　across　there　came　another　loud　creak　from　the　snow；　a　piece　fell　off　near　her　feet　and　tumbled　into　the　abyss；　and　the　bridge　settled　down　another　few　inches　against　the　crack。
　　She　stood　perfectly　still。　Pantalaimon　was　crouched；　leopard…formed；　ready　to　leap　down　and　reach　for　her。
　　The　bridge　held。　She　took　another　step；　then　another；　and　then　she　felt　something　settling　down　below　her　feet　and　leaped　for　the　far　side　with　all　her　strength。　She　landed　belly…down　in　the　snow　as　the　entire　length　of　the　bridge　fell　into　the　crevasse　with　a　soft　whoosh　behind　her。
　　Pantalaimon's　claws　were　in　her　furs；　holding　tight。
　　After　a　minute　she　opened　her　eyes　and　crawled　up　away　from　the　edge。　There　was　no　way　back。　She　stood　and　raised　her　hand　to　the　watching　bear。　Iorek　Byrnison　stood　on　his　hind　legs　to　acknowledge　her；　and　then　turned　and　made　off　down　the　mountain　in　a　swift　run　to　help　his　subjects　in　the　battle　with　Mrs。　Coulter　and　the　soldiers　from　the　zeppelin。
　　Lyra　was　alone。
　　
　　
　　TWENTY…THREE
　　THE　BRIDGE　TO　THE　STARS
　　
　　Once　Iorek　Byrnison　was　out　of　sight；　Lyra　felt　a　great　weakness　ing　over　her；　and　she　turned　blindly　and　felt　for　Pantalaimon；　〃Oh；　Pan；　dear；　I　can't　go　on！　I'm　so　frightened…and　so　tired…all　this　way；　and　I'm　scared　to　death！　I　wish　it　was　someone　else　instead　of　me；　I　do　honestly！〃
　　Her　daemon　nuzzled　at　her　neck　in　his　cat　form；　warm　and　forting。
　　〃I　just　don't　know　what　we　got　to　do；〃　Lyra　sobbed。　〃It's　too　much　for　us；　Pan；　we　can't　。　。　。　〃
　　She　clung　to　him　blindly；　rocking　back　and　forth　and　letting　the　sobs　cry　out　wildly　over　the　bare　snow。
　　〃And　even　if…if　Mrs。　Coulter　got　to　Roger　first；　there'd　be　no　saving　him；　because　she'd　take　him　back　to　Bolvangar；　or　worse；　and　they'd　kill　me　out　of　vengeance　。　。　。　。Why　do　they　do　these　things　to　children；　Pan？　Do　they　all　hate　children　so　much；　that　they　want　to　tear　them　apart　like　this？　Why　do　they　do　it？〃
　　But　Pantalaimon　had　no　answer；　all　he　could　do　was　hug　her　close。　Little　by　little；　as　the　storm　of　fear　subsided；　she　came　to　a　sense　of　herself　again。　She　was　Lyra；　cold　and　frightened　by　all　means；　but　herself。
　　〃I　wish　。　。　。　〃　she　said；　and　stopped。　There　was　nothing　that　could　be　gained　by　wishing　for　it。　A　final　deep　shaky　breath；　and　she　was　ready　to　go　on。
　　The　moon　had　set　by　now；　and　the　sky　to　the　south　was　profoundly　dark；　though　the　billions　of　stars　lay　on　it　like　diamonds　on　velvet。　They　were　outshone；　though；　by　the　Aurora；　outshone　a　hundred　times。　Never　had　Lyra　seen　it　so　brilliant　and　dramatic；　with　every　twitch　and　shiver；　new　miracles　of　light　danced　across　the　sky。　And　behind　the　ever…changing　gauze　of　light；　that　other　world；　that　sunlit　city；　was　clear　and　solid。
　　The　higher　they　climbed；　the　more　the　bleak　land　spread　out　below　them。　To　the　north　lay　the　frozen　se