pp.thegoldencompass-第9部分

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　　〃What　did　they　look　like？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃Well　。　。　。　l　　never　　properly　　saw　　'em；〃　　Charlie　　said。　　　〃I　saw　their　truck；　though；〃　he　added。　〃They　e　in　a　white　truck。　They　put　the　little　boy　in　the　truck　and　drove　off　quick。〃
　　〃But　why　do　they　call　'em　Gobblers？〃　Lyra　asked。
　　'〃Cause　they　eat　'em；〃　said　the　first　gyptian　boy。　〃Someone　told　us　in　Northampton。　They　been　up　there　and　all。　This　girl　in　Northampton；　her　brother　was　took；　and　she　said　the　men　as　took　him　told　her　they　was　going　to　eat　him。　Everyone　knows　that。　They　gobble　'em　up。〃
　　A　gyptian　girl　standing　nearby　began　to　cry　loudly。
　　〃That's　Billy's　cousin；〃　said　Charlie。
　　Lyra　said；　〃Who　saw　Billy　last？〃
　　〃Me；〃　said　half　a　dozen　voices。　〃I　seen　him　holding　Johnny
　　Fiorelli's　old　horse…I　seen　him　by　the　toffee…apple　seller…I　seen　him　swinging　on　the　crane…〃
　　When　Lyra　had　sorted　it　out；　she　gathered　that　Billy　had　been　seen　for　certain　not　less　than　two　hours　previously。
　　〃So；〃　she　said；　〃sometime　in　the　last　two　hours　there　must've　been　Gobblers　here　。　。　。　。〃
　　They　all　looked　around；　shivering　in　spite　of　the　warm　sun；　the　crowded　wharf；　the　familiar　smells　of　tar　and　horses　and　smokeleaf。　The　trouble　was　that　because　no　one　knew　what　these　Gobblers　looked　like；　anyone　might　be　a　Gobbler；　as　Lyra　pointed　out　to　the　appalled　gang；　who　were　now　all　under　her　sway；　collegers　and　gyptians　alike。
　　〃They're　bound　to　look　like　ordinary　people；　else　they'd　be　seen　at　once；〃　she　explained。　〃If　they　only　came　at　night；　they　could　look　like　anything。　But　if　they　e　in　the　daylight；　they　got　to　look　ordinary。　So　any　of　these　people　might　be　Gobblers　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃They　en't；〃　said　a　gyptian　uncertainly。　〃I　know　'em　all。〃
　　〃All　right；　not　these；　but　anyone　else；〃　said　Lyra。　〃Let's　go　and　look　for　'em！　And　their　white　truck！〃
　　And　that　precipitated　a　swarm。　Other　searchers　soon　joined　the　first　ones；　and　before　long；　thirty　or　more　gyptian　children　were　racing　from　end　to　end　of　the　wharves；　running　in　and　out　of　stables；　scrambling　over　the　cranes　and　derricks　in　the　boatyard；　leaping　over　the　fence　into　the　wide　meadow；　swinging　fifteen　at　a　time　on　the　old　swing　bridge　over　the　green　water；　and　running　full　pelt　through　the　narrow　streets　of　Jericho；　between　the　little　brick　terraced　houses　and　into　the　great　square…towered　oratory　of　St。　Barnabas　the　Chymist。　Half　of　them　didn't　know　what　they　were　looking　for；　and　thought　it　was　just　a　lark；　but　those　closest　to　Lyra　felt　a　real　fear　and　apprehension　every　time　they　glimpsed　a　solitary　figure　down　an　alley　or　in　the　dimness　of　the　oratory：　was　it　a　Gobbler？
　　But　of　course　it　wasn't。　Eventually；　with　no　success；　and　with　the　shadow　of　Billy's　real　disappearance　hanging　over　them　all；　the　fun　faded　away。　As　Lyra　and　the　two　College　boys　left　Jericho　when　suppertime　neared；　they　saw　the　gyptians　gathering　on　the　wharf　next　to　where　the　Costas'　boat　was　moored。　Some　of　the　women　were　crying　loudly；　and　the　men　were　standing　in　angry　groups；　with　all　their　daemons　agitated　and　rising　in　nervous　flight　or　snarling　at　shadows。
　　〃I　bet　them　Gobblers　wouldn't　dare　e　in　here；〃　said　Lyra　to　Simon　Parslow；　as　the　two　of　them　stepped　over　the　threshold　into　the　great　lodge　of　Jordan。
　　〃No；〃　he　said　uncertainly。　〃But　I　know　there's　a　kid　missing　from　the　market。〃
　　〃Who？〃　Lyra　said。　She　knew　most　of　the　market　children；　but　she　hadn't　heard　of　this。
　　〃Jessie　Reynolds；　out　the　saddler's。　She　weren't　there　at　shutting…up　time　yesterday；　and　she'd　only　gone　for　a　bit　of　fish　for　her　dad's　tea。　She　never　e　back　and　no　one'd　seen　her。　They　searched　all　through　the　market　and　everywhere。〃
　　〃I　never　heard　about　that！〃　said　Lyra；　indignant。　She　considered　it　a　deplorable　lapse　on　the　part　of　her　subjects　not　to　tell　her　everything　and　at　once。
　　〃Well；　it　was　only　yesterday。　She　might've　turned　up　now。〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　ask；〃　said　Lyra；　and　turned　to　leave　the　lodge。
　　But　she　hadn't　got　out　of　the　gate　before　the　Porter　called　her。
　　〃Here；　Lyra！　You're　not　to　go　out　again　this　evening。　Master's　orders。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃I　told　you；　Master's　orders。　He　says　if　you　e　in；　you　stay　in。〃
　　〃You　catch　me；〃　she　said；　and　darted　out　before　the　old　man　could　leave　his　doorway。
　　She　ran　across　the　narrow　street　and　down　into　the　alley　where　the　vans　unloaded　goods　for　the　covered　market。　This　being　shutting…up　time；　there　were　few　vans　there　now；　but　a　knot　of　youths　stood　smoking　and　talking　by　the　central　gate　opposite　the　high　stone　wall　of　St。　Michael's　College。　Lyra　knew　one　of　them；　a　sixteen…year…old　she　admired　because　he　could　spit　further　than　anyone　else　she'd　ever　heard　of；　and　she　went　and　waited　humbly　for　him　to　notice　her。
　　〃Yeah？　What　do　you　want？〃　he　said　finally。
　　〃Is　Jessie　Reynolds　disappeared？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Why？〃
　　'〃Cause　a　gyptian　kid　disappeared　today　and　all。〃
　　〃They're　always　disappearing；　gyptians。　After　every　horse　fair　they　disappear。〃
　　〃So　do　horses；〃　said　one　of　his　friends。
　　〃This　is　different；〃　said　Lyra。　〃This　is　a　kid。　We　was　looking　for　him　all　afternoon　and　the　other　kids　said　the　Gobblers　got　him。〃
　　〃The　what？〃
　　〃The　Gobblers；〃　she　said。　〃En't　you　heard　of　the　Gobblers？〃
　　It　was　news　to　the　other　boys　as　well；　and　apart　from　a　few　coarse　ments　they　listened　closely　to　what　she　told　them。
　　〃Gobblers；〃　said　Lyra's　acquaintance；　whose　name　was　Dick。　〃It's　stupid。　These　gyptians；　they　pick　up　all　kinds　of　stupid　ideas。〃
　　〃They　said　there　was　Gobblers　in　Banbury　a　couple　of　weeks　ago；〃　Lyra　insisted；　〃and　there　was　five　kids　taken。　They　probably　e　to　Oxford　now　to　get　kids　from　us。　It　must've　been　them　what　got　Jessie。〃
　　〃There　was　a　kid　lost　over　Cowley　way；〃　said　one　of　the　other　boys。　〃I　remember　now。　My　auntie；　she　was　there　yesterday；　'cause　she　sells　fish　and　chips　out　a　van；　and　she　heard　about　it　。　。　。　。Some　little　boy；　that's　it　。　。　。　I　dunno　about　the　Gobblers；　though。　They　en't　real；　Gobblers。　Just　a　story。〃
　　〃They　are！〃　Lyra　said。　〃The　gyptians　seen　'em。　They　reckon　they　eat　the　kids　they　catch；　and　。　。　。　〃
　　She　stopped　in　midsentence；　because　something　had　suddenly　e　into　her　mind。　During　that　strange　evening　she'd　spent　hidden　in　the　Retiring　Room；　Lord　Asriel　had　shown　a　lantern　slide　of　a　man　with　streams　of　light　pouring　from　his　hand；　and　there'd　been　a　small　figure　beside　him；　with　less　light　around　it；　and　he'd　said　it　was　a　child；　and　someone　had　asked　if　it　was　a　severed　child；　and　her　uncle　had　said　no；　that　was　the　point。　Lyra　remembered　that　severed　meant　〃cut。〃
　　And　then　something　else　hit　her　heart：　where　was　Roger？
　　She　hadn't　seen　him　since　the　morning　。　。　。　。
　　Suddenly　she　felt　afraid。　Pantalaimon；　as　a　miniature　lion；　sprang　into　her　arms　and　growled。　She　said　goodbye　to　the　youths　by　the　gate　and　walked　quietly　back　into　Turl　Street；　and　then　ran　full　pelt　for　Jordan　lodge；　tumbling　in　through　the　door　a　second　before　the　now　cheetah…shaped　daemon。
　　The　Porter　was　sanctimonious。
　　〃I　had　to　ring　the　Master　and　tell　him；〃　he　said。　〃He　en't　pleased　at　all。　I　wouldn't　be　in　your　shoes；　not　for　money　I　wouldn't。〃
　　〃Where's　Roger？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃I　en't　seen　him。　He'll　be　for　it；　too。　Ooh；　when　Mr。　Cawson　catches　him…〃
　　Lyra　ran　to　the　kitchen　and　thrust　her　way　into　the　hot；　clangorous；　steaming　bustle。
　　〃Where's　Roger？〃　she　shouted。
　　〃Clear　off；　Lyra！　We're　busy　here！〃
　　〃But　where　is　he？　Has　he　turned　up　or　not？〃
　　No　one　seemed　interested。
　　〃But　where　is　he？　You　must've　heard！〃　Lyra　shouted　at　the　chef；　who　boxed　her　ears　and　sent　her　storming　away。
　　Bernie　the　pastry　cook　tried　to　calm　her　down；　but　she　wouldn't　be　consoled。
　　〃They　got　him！　Them　bloody　Gobblers；　they　oughter　catch　'em　and　bloody　kill　'em！　I　hate　'em！　You　don't　care　about　Roger…〃
　　〃Lyra；　we　all　care　about　Roger…〃
　　〃You　don't；　else　you'd　all　stop　work　and　go　and　look　for　him　right　now！　I　hate　you！〃
　　〃There　could　be　a　dozen　reasons　why　Roger　en't　turned　up。　Listen　to　sense。　We　got　dinner　to　prepare　and　serve　in　less　than　an　hour；　the　Master's　got　guests　in　the　lodging；　and　he'll　be　eating　over　there；　and　that　means　Chef'11　have　to　attend　to　getting　the　food　there　quick　so　it　don't　go　cold；　and　what　with　one　thing　and　another；　Lyra；　life's　got　to　go　on。　I'm　sure　Roger'11　turn　up　。　。　。　。〃
　　Lyra　turned　and　ran　out　of　the　kitchen；　knocking　over　a　stack　of　silver　dish　covers　and　ignoring　the　roar　of　anger　that　arose。　She　sped　down　the　steps　and　across　the　quadrangle；　between　the　chapel　and　Palmer's　Tower　and　into　the　Yaxley　Quad；　where　the　oldest　buildings　of　the　College　stood。
　　Pantalaimon　scampered　before　her；　flowing　up　the　stairs　to　the　very　top；　where　Lyra's　bedroom　was。　Lyra　barged　open　the　door；　dragged　her　rickety　chair　to　the　window；　flung　wide　the　casement；　and　scrambled　out。　There　was　a　lead…lined　stone　gutter　a　foot　wide　just　below　the　window；　and　once　she　was　standing　in　that；　she　turned　and　clambered　up　over　the　rough　tiles　until　she　stood　on　the　topmost　ridge　of　the　roof。　There　she　opened　her　mouth　and　screamed。　Pantalaimon；　who　always　became　a　bird　once　on　the　roof；　flew　round　and　round　shrieking　rook　shrieks　with　her。
　　The　evening　sky　was　awash　with　peach；　apricot；　cream：　tender　little　ice…cream　clouds　in　a　wide　orange　sky。　The　spires　and　towers　of　Oxford　stood　around　them；　level　but　no　higher；　the　green　woods　of　Chateau…Vert　and　White　Ham　rose　on　either　side　to　the　east　and　the　west。　Rooks　were　cawing　somewhere；　and　bells　were　ringing；　and　from　the　oxpens　the　steady　beat　of　a　gas　engine　announced　the　ascent　of　the　evening　Royal　Mail　zeppelin　for　London。　Lyra　watched　it　climb　away　beyond　the　spire　of　St。　Michael's　Chapel；　as　big　at　first　as　the　tip　of　her　little　finger　when　she　held　it　at　arm's　length；　and　then　steadily　smaller　until　it　was　a　dot　in　the　pearly　sky。
　　She　turned　and　looked　down　into　the　shadowed　quadrangle；　where　the　black…gowned　figures　of　the　Scholars　were　already　beginning　to　drift　in　ones　and　twos　toward　the　buttery；　their　daemons　strutting　or　fluttering　alongside　or　perching　calmly　on　their　shoulders。　The　lights　were　going　on　in　the　Hall；　she　could　see　the　stained…glass　windows　gradually　beginning　to　glow　as　a　servant　moved　up　the　tables　lighting　the　naphtha　lamps。　The　Steward's　bell　began　to　toll；　announcing　half　an　hour　before　dinner。
　　This　was　her　world。　She　wanted　it　to　stay　the　same　forever　and　ever；　but　it　was　changing　around　her；　for　someone　out　there　was　stealing　children。　She　sat　on　the　roof　ridge；　chin　in　hands。
　　〃We　better　rescue　him；　Pantalaimon；〃　she　said。　He　answered　in　his　rook　voice　from　the　chimney。　〃It'll　be　dangerous；〃　he　said。　'〃Course！　I　know　that。〃
　　〃Remember　what　they　said　in　the　Retiring　Room。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Something　about　a　child　up　in　the　Arctic。　The　one　that　wasn't　attracting　the　Dust。〃
　　〃They　said　it　was　an　entire　child　。　。　。　。What　about　it？〃
　　〃That　might　be　what　they're　going　to　do　to　Roger　and　the　gyptians　and　the　other　kids。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Well；　what　does　entire　mean？〃
　　〃Dunno。　They　cut　'em　in　half；　probably。　I　reckon　they　make　slaves　out　of　'em。　That'd　be　more　use。　They　probably　got　mines　up　there。　Uranium　mi