pp.thegoldencompass-第58部分

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　　The　higher　they　climbed；　the　more　the　bleak　land　spread　out　below　them。　To　the　north　lay　the　frozen　sea；　pacted　here　and　there　into　ridges　where　two　sheets　of　ice　had　pressed　together；　but　otherwise　flat　and　white　and　endless；　reaching　to　the　Pole　itself　and　far　beyond；　featureless；　lifeless；　colorless；　and　bleak　beyond　Lyra's　imagination。　To　the　east　and　west　were　more　mountains；　great　jagged　peaks　thrusting　sharply　upward；　their　scarps　piled　high　with　snow　and　raked　by　the　wind　into　bladelike　edges　as　sharp　as　scimitars。　To　the　south　lay　the　way　they　had　e；　and　Lyra　looked　most　longingly　back；　to　see　if　she　could　spy　her　dear　friend　Iorek　Byrnison　and　his　troops；　but　nothing　stirred　on　the　wide　plain。　She　was　not　even　sure　if　she　could　see　the　burned　wreckage　of　the　zeppelin；　or　the　crimson…stained　snow　around　the　corpses　of　the　warriors。
　　Pantalaimon　flew　high；　and　swooped　back　to　her　wrist　in　his　owl　form。
　　〃They're　just　beyond　the　peak！〃　he　said。　〃Lord　Asriel's　laid　out　all　his　instruments；　and　Roger　can't　get　away…〃
　　And　as　he　said　that；　the　Aurora　nickered　and　dimmed；　like　an　anbaric　bulb　at　the　end　of　its　life；　and　then　went　out　altogether。　In　the　gloom；　though；　Lyra　sensed　the　presence　of　the　Dust；　for　the　air　seemed　to　be　full　of　dark　intentions；　like　the　forms　of　thoughts　not　yet　born。
　　In　the　enfolding　dark　she　heard　a　cry：
　　〃Lyra！　Lyra！〃
　　〃I'm　ing！〃　she　cried　back；　and　stumbled　upward；　clambering；　sprawling；　struggling；　at　the　end　of　her　strength；　but　hauling　herself　on　and　further　on　through　the　ghostly…gleaming　snow。
　　〃Lyra！　Lyra！〃
　　〃I'm　nearly　there；〃　she　gasped。　〃Nearly　there；　Roger！〃
　　Pantalaimon　was　changing　rapidly；　in　his　agitation：　lion；　ermine；　eagle；　wildcat；　hare；　salamander；　owl；　leopard；　every　form　he'd　ever　taken；　a　kaleidoscope　of　forms　among　the　Dust…
　　〃Lyra！〃
　　Then　she　reached　the　summit；　and　saw　what　was　happening。
　　Fifty　yards　away　in　the　starlight　Lord　Asriel　was　twisting　together　two　wires　that　led　to　his　upturned　sledge；　on　which　stood　a　row　of　batteries　and　jars　and　pieces　of　apparatus；　already　frosted　with　crystals　of　cold。　He　was　dressed　in　heavy　furs；　his　face　illuminated　by　the　flame　of　a　naphtha　lamp。　Crouching　like　the　Sphinx　beside　him　was　his　daemon；　her　beautiful　spotted　coat　glossy　with　power；　her　tail　moving　lazily　in　the　snow。
　　In　her　mouth　she　held　Roger's　daemon。
　　The　little　creature　was　struggling；　flapping；　fighting；　one　moment　a　bird；　the　next　a　dog；　then　a　cat；　a　rat；　a　bird　again；　and　calling　every　moment　to　Roger　himself；　who　was　a　few　yards　off；　straining；　trying　to　pull　away　against　the　heart…deep　tug；　and　crying　out　with　the　pain　and　the　cold。　He　was　calling　his　daemon's　name；　and　calling　Lyra；　he　ran　to　Lord　Asriel　and　plucked　his　arm；　and　Lord　Asriel　brushed　him　aside。　He　tried　again；　crying　and　pleading；　begging；　sobbing；　and　Lord　Asriel　took　no　notice　except　to　knock　him　to　the　ground。
　　They　were　on　the　edge　of　a　cliff。　Beyond　them　was　nothing　but　a　huge　illimitable　dark。　They　were　a　thousand　feet　or　more　above　the　frozen　sea。
　　All　this　Lyra　saw　by　starlight　alone；　but　then；　as　Lord　Asriel　connected　his　wires；　the　Aurora　blazed　all　of　a　sudden　into　brilliant　life。　Like　the　long　finger　of　blinding　power　that　plays　between　two　terminals；　except　that　this　was　a　thousand　miles　high　and　ten　thousand　miles　long：　dipping；　soaring；　undulating；　glowing；　a　cataract　of　glory。
　　He　was　controlling　it　。　。　。　
　　Or　leading　power　down　from　it；　for　there　was　a　wire　running　off　a　huge　reel　on　the　sledge；　a　wire　that　ran　directly　upward　to　the　sky。　Down　from　the　dark　swooped　a　raven；　and　Lyra　knew　it　for　a　witch　daemon。　A　witch　was　helping　Lord　Asriel；　and　she　had　flown　that　wire　into　the　heights。
　　And　the　Aurora　was　blazing　again。
　　He　was　nearly　ready。
　　He　turned　to　Roger　and　beckoned；　and　Roger　helplessly　came；　shaking　his　head；　begging；　crying；　but　helplessly　going　forward。
　　〃No！　Run！〃　Lyra　cried；　and　hurled　herself　down　the　slope　at　him。
　　Pantalaimon　leaped　at　the　snow　leopard　and　snatched　Roger's　daemon　from　her　jaws。　In　a　moment　the　snow　leopard　had　leaped　after　him；　and　Pantalaimon　let　the　other　daemon　go；　and　both　young　daemons；　changing　flick…flick…flick；　turned　and　battled　with　the　great　spotted　beast。
　　She　slashed　left…right　with　needle…filled　paws；　and　her　snarling　roar　drowned　even　Lyra's　cries。　Both　children　were　fighting　her；　too；　or　fighting　the　forms　in　the　turbid　air；　those　dark　intentions；　that　came　thick　and　crowding　down　the　streams　of　Dust…
　　And　the　Aurora　swayed　above；　its　continual　surging　flicker　picking　out　now　this　building；　now　that　lake；　now　that　row　of
　　palm　trees；　so　close　you'd　think　that　you　could　step　from　this　world　to　that。
　　Lyra　leaped　up　and　seized　Roger's　hand。
　　She　pulled　hard；　and　then　they　tore　away　from　Lord　Asriel　and　ran；　hand　in　hand；　but　Roger　cried　and　twisted；　because　his　daemon　was　caught　again；　held　fast　in　the　snow　leopard's　jaws；　and　Lord　Asriel　himself　was　reaching　down　toward　her　with　a　wire；　and　Lyra　knew　the　heart…convulsing　pain　of　separation；　and　tried　to　stop…
　　But　they　couldn't　stop。
　　The　cliff　was　sliding　away　beneath　them。
　　An　entire　shelf　of　snow；　sliding　inexorably　down…
　　The　frozen　sea；　a　thousand　feet　below…
　　〃LYRA！〃
　　Her　heartbeats；　leaping　in　anguish　with　Roger's…
　　Tight…clutching　hands…
　　His　body；　suddenly　limp　in　hers；　and　high　above；　the　greatest　wonder。
　　At　the　moment　he　fell　still；　the　vault　of　heaven；　star…studded；　profound；　was　pierced　as　if　by　a　spear。
　　A　jet　of　light；　a　jet　of　pure　energy　released　like　an　arrow　from　a　great　bow；　shot　upward　from　the　spot　where　Lord　Asriel　had　joined　the　wire　to　Roger's　daemon。　The　sheets　of　light　and　color　that　were　the　Aurora　tore　apart；　a　great　rending；　grinding；　crunching；　tearing　sound　reached　from　one　end　of　the　universe　to　the　other；　there　was　dry　land　in　the　sky…
　　Sunlight！
　　Sunlight　shining　on　the　fur　of　a　golden　monkey　。　。　。　。
　　For　the　fall　of　the　snow　shelf　had　halted；　perhaps　an　unseen　ledge　had　broken　its　fall；　and　Lyra　could　see；　over　the　trampled　snow　of　the　summit；　the　golden　monkey　spring　out　of　the　air　to　the　side　of　the　leopard；　and　she　saw　the　two　daemons　bristle；　wary　and　powerful。　The　monkey's　tail　was　erect；　the　snow　leopard's　swept　powerfully　from　side　to　side。　Then　the　monkey　reached　out　a　tentative　paw；　the　leopard　lowered　her　head　with　a　graceful　sensual　acknowledgment；　they　touched…
　　And　when　Lyra　looked　up　from　them；　Mrs。　Coulter　herself　stood　there；　clasped　in　Lord　Asriel's　arms。　Light　played　around　them　like　sparks　and　beams　of　intense　anbaric　power。　Lyra；　helpless；　could　only　imagine　what　had　happened：　somehow　Mrs。　Coulter　must　have　crossed　that　chasm；　and　followed　her　up　here　。　。　。　。
　　Her　own　parents；　together！
　　And　embracing　so　passionately：　an　undreamed…of　thing。
　　Her　eyes　were　wide。　Roger's　body　lay　in　her　arms；　still；　quiet；　at　rest。　She　heard　her　parents　talking：
　　Her　mother　said；　〃They'll　never　allow　it…〃
　　Her　father　said；　〃Allow　it？　We've　gone　beyond　being　allowed；　as　if　we　were　children。　I've　made　it　possible　for　anyone　to　cross；　if　they　wish。〃
　　〃They'll　forbid　it！　They'll　seal　it　off　and　exmunicate　anyone　who　tries！〃
　　〃Too　many　people　will　want　to。　They　won't　be　able　to　prevent　them。　This　will　mean　the　end　of　the　Church；　Marisa；　the　end　of　the　Magisterium；　the　end　of　all　those　centuries　of　darkness！　Look　at　that　light　up　there：　that's　the　sun　of　another　world！　Feel　the　warmth　of　it　on　your　skin；　now！〃
　　〃They　are　stronger　than　anyone；　Asriel！　You　don't　know…〃
　　〃I　don't　know？　I？　No　one　in　the　world　knows　better　than　I　how　strong　the　Church　is！　But　it　isn't　strong　enough　for　this。　The　Dust　will　change　everything；　anyway。　There's　no　stopping　it　now。〃
　　〃Is　that　what　you　wanted？　To　choke　us　and　kill　us　all　with　sin　and　darkness？〃
　　〃I　wanted　to　break　out；　Marisa！　And　I　have。　Look；　look　at　the　palm　trees　waving　on　the　shore！　Can　you　feel　that　wind？　A　wind　from　another　world！　Feel　it　on　your　hair；　on　your　face　。　。　。　。〃
　　Lord　Asriel　pushed　back　Mrs。　Coulter's　hood　and　turned　her　head　to　the　sky；　running　his　hands　through　her　hair。　Lyra　watched　breathless；　not　daring　to　move　a　muscle。
　　The　woman　clung　to　Lord　Asriel　as　if　she　were　dizzy；　and　shook　her　head；　distressed。
　　〃No…no…they're　ing；　Asriel…they　know　where　I've　gone…〃
　　〃Then　e　with　me；　away　and　out　of　this　world！〃
　　〃I　daren't…〃
　　〃You？　Dare　not？　Your　child　would　e。　Your　child　would　dare　anything；　and　shame　her　mother。〃
　　〃Then　take　her　and　wele。　She's　more　yours　than　mine；　Asriel。〃
　　〃Not　so。　You　took　her　in；　you　tried　to　mold　her。　You　wanted　her　then。〃
　　〃She　was　too　coarse；　too　stubborn。　I'd　left　it　too　late　。　。　。　。But　where　is　she　now？　I　followed　her　footsteps　up　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃You　want　her；　still？　Twice　you've　tried　to　hold　her；　and　twice　she's　got　away。　If　I　were　her；　I'd　run；　and　keep　on　running；　sooner　than　give　you　a　third　chance。〃
　　His　hands；　still　clasping　her　head；　tensed　suddenly　and　drew　her　toward　him　in　a　passionate　kiss。　Lyra　thought　it　seemed　more　like　cruelty　than　love；　and　looked　at　their　daemons；　to　see　a　strange　sight：　the　snow　leopard　tense；　crouching　with　her　claws　just　pressing　in　the　golden　monkey's　flesh；　and　the　monkey　relaxed；　blissful；　swooning　on　the　snow。
　　Mrs。　Coulter　pulled　fiercely　back　from　the　kiss　and　said；　〃No；　Asriel…my　place　is　in　this　world；　not　that…〃
　　〃e　with　me！〃　he　said；　urgent；　powerful。　〃e　and　work　with　me！〃
　　〃We　couldn't　work　together；　you　and　I。〃
　　〃No？　You　and　I　could　take　the　universe　to　pieces　and　put　it　together　again；　Marisa！　We　could　find　the　source　of　Dust　and　stifle　it　forever！　And　you'd　like　to　be　part　of　that　great　work；　don't　lie　to　me　about　it。　Lie　about　everything　else；　lie　about　the　Oblation　Board；　lie　about　your　lovers…yes；　I　know　about　Boreal；　and　I　care　nothing…lie　about　the　Church；　lie　about　the　child；　even；　but　don't　lie　about　what　you　truly　want　。　。　。　。〃
　　And　their　mouths　were　fastened　together　with　a　powerful　greed。　Their　daemons　were　playing　fiercely；　the　snow　leopard　rolled　over　on　her　back；　and　the　monkey　raked　his　claws　in　the　soft　fur　of　her　neck；　and　she　growled　a　deep　rumble　of　pleasure。
　　〃If　I　don't　e；　you'll　try　and　destroy　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Coulter；　breaking　away。
　　〃Why　should　I　want　to　destroy　you？〃　he　said；　laughing；　with　the　light　of　the　other　world　shining　around　his　head。　〃e　with　me；　work　with　me；　and　I'll　care　whether　you　live　or　die。　Stay　here；　and　you　lose　my　interest　at　once。　Don't　flatter　yourself　that　I'd　give　you　a　second's　thought。　Now　stay　and　work　your　mischief　in　this　world；　or　e　with　me。〃
　　Mrs。　Coulter　hesitated；　her　eyes　closed；　she　seemed　to　sway　as　if　she　were　fainting；　but　she　kept　her　balance　and　opened　her　eyes　again；　with　an　infinite　beautiful　sadness　in　them。
　　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃No。〃
　　Their　daemons　were　apart　again。　Lord　Asriel　reached　down　and　curled　his　strong　fingers　into　the　snow　leopard's　fur。　Then　he　turned　his　back　and　walked　away　without　another　word。　The　golden　monkey　leaped　into　Mrs。　Coulter's　arms；　making　little　sounds　of　distress；　reaching　out　to　the　snow　leopard　as　she　paced　away；　and　Mrs。　Coulter's　face　was　a　ma