n the slope with his head ringing。
iorek came down slowly to where will was struggling up； and said； 〃answer me truthfully。〃
will was tempted to say； 〃you wouldnt have done that if id had the knife in my hand。〃 but he knew that iorek knew that； and knew that he knew it； and that it would be discourteous and stupid to say it； but he was tempted； all the same。
he held his tongue until he was standing upright； facing iorek directly。
〃i said i dont know；〃 he said； trying hard to keep his voice calm； 〃because i havent looked clearly at what it is that im going to do。 at what it means。 it frightens me。 and it frightens lyra； too。 anyway； i agreed as soon as i heard what she said。〃
〃and what was that？〃
〃we want to go down to the land of the dead and talk to the ghost of lyras friend roger； the one who
got killed on svalbard。 and if there really is a world of the dead； then my father will be there； too； and if we can talk to ghosts； i want to talk to him。
〃but im divided； im pulled apart； because also i want to go back and look after my mother； because i could； and also the angel balthamos told me i should go to lord asriel and offer the knife to him； and i think maybe he was right as well。。。〃
〃he fled；〃 said the bear。
〃he wasnt a warrior。 he did as much as he could； and then he couldnt do any more。 he wasnt the only one to be afraid； im afraid； too。 so i have to think it through。 maybe sometimes we dont do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous； and we dont want to look scared； so we go and do the wrong thing just because its dangerous。 were more concerned with not looking scared than with judging right。 its very hard。 thats why i didnt answer you。〃
〃i see；〃 said the bear。
they stood in silence for what felt like a long time； especially to will； who had little protection from the bitter cold。 but iorek hadnt finished yet； and will was still weak and dizzy from the blow； and didnt quite trust his feet； so they stayed where they were。
〃well； i have promised myself in many ways；〃 said the bear…king。 〃it may be that in helping you i have brought final destruction on my kingdom。 and it may be that i have not； and that destruction was ing anyway； maybe i have held it off。 so i am troubled； having to do un…bearlike deeds and speculate and doubt like a human。
〃and i shall tell you one thing。 you know it already； but you dont want to； which is why i tell you openly； so that you dont mistake it。 if you want to succeed in this task； you must no longer think about your mother。 you must put her aside。 if your mind is divided； the knife will break。
〃now im going to say farewell to lyra。 you must wait in the cave； those two spies will not let you out of their sight； and i do not want them listening when i speak to her。〃
will had no words； though his breast and his throat were full。 he managed to say； 〃thank you； iorek byrnison；〃 but that was all he could say。
he walked with iorek up the slope toward the cave； where the fire glow still shone warmly in the vast surrounding dark。
there iorek carried out the last process in the mending of the subtle knife。 he laid it among the brighter cinders until the blade was glowing； and will and lyra saw a hundred colors swirling in the smoky depths of the metal； and when he judged the moment was right； iorek told will to take it and plunge it directly into the snow that had drifted outside。
the rosewood handle was charred and scorched； but will wrapped his hand in several folds of a shirt and did as iorek told him。 in the hiss and flare of steam； he felt the atoms finally settle together； and he knew that the knife was as keen as before； the point as infinitely rare。
but it did look different。 it was shorter； and much less elegant； and there was a dull silver surface over each of the joins。 it looked ugly now； it looked like what it was； wounded。
when it was cool enough； he packed it away in the rucksack and sat； ignoring the spies； to wait for lyra to e back。
iorek had taken her a little farther up the slope； to a point out of sight of the cave； and there he had let her sit cradled in the shelter of his great arms； with pantalaimon nestling mouse…formed at her breast。 iorek bent his head over her and nuzzled at her scorched and smoky hands。 without a word he began to lick them clean； his tongue was soothing on the burns； and she felt as safe as she had ever felt in her life。
but when her hands were free of soot and dirt； iorek spoke。 she felt his voice vibrate against her back。
〃lyra silvertongue； what is this plan to visit the dead？〃
〃it came to me in a dream； iorek。 i saw rogers ghost； and i knew he was calling to me。。。 you remember
roger。 well； after we left you； he was killed； and it was my fault； at least i felt it was。 and i think i should just finish what i began； thats all： i should go and say sorry； and if i can； i should rescue him from there。 if will can open a way to the world of the dead； then we must do it。〃
〃can is not the same as must。〃
〃but if you must and you can； then theres no excuse。〃
〃while you are alive； your business is with life。〃
〃no； iorek；〃 she said gently； 〃our business is to keep promises； no matter how difficult they are。 you know； secretly； im deadly scared。 and i wish id never had that dream； and i wish will hadnt thought of using the knife to go there。 but we did； so we cant get out of it。〃
lyra felt pantalaimon trembling and stroked him with her sore hands。
〃we dont know how to get there； though；〃 she went on。 〃we wont know anything till we try。 what are you going to do； iorek？〃
〃im going back north； with my people。 we cant live in the mountains。 even the snow is different。 i thought we could live here； but we can live more easily in the sea； even if it is warm。
that was worth learning。 and besides； i think we will be needed。 i can feel war； lyra silvertongue； i can smell it； i can hear it。 i spoke to serafina pekkala before i came this way； and she told me she was going to lord faa and the gyptians。 if there is war； we shall be needed。〃
lyra sat up； excited at hearing the names of her old friends。 but iorek hadnt finished。 he went on：
〃if you do not find a way out of the world of the dead； we shall not meet again； because i have no ghost。 my body will remain on the earth； and then bee part of it。 but if it turns out that you and i both survive； then you will always be a wele and honored visitor to svalbard； and the same is true of will。 has he told you what happened when we met？〃
〃no；〃 said lyra； 〃except that it was by a river。〃
〃he outfaced me。 i thought no one could ever do that； but this half…grown boy was too daring for me； and too clever。 i am not happy that you should do what you plan； but there is no one i would trust to go with you except that boy。 you are worthy of each other。 go well； lyra silvertongue； my dear friend。〃
she reached up and put her arms around his neck； and pressed her face into his fur； unable to speak。
after a minute he stood up gently and disengaged her arms； and then he turned and walked silently away into the dark。 lyra thought his outline was lost almost at once against the pallor of the snow…covered ground； but it might have been that her eyes were full of tears。
when will heard her footsteps on the path； he looked at the spies and said； 〃dont you move。 look； heres the knife； im not going to use it。 stay here。〃
he went outside and found lyra standing still； weeping； with pantalaimon as a wolf raising his face to the black sky。 she was quite silent。 the only light came from the pale reflection in the snowbank of the remains of the fire； and that； in turn； was reflected from her wet cheeks； and her tears found their own reflection in wills eyes； and so those photons wove the two children together in a silent web。
〃i love him so much； will！〃 she managed to whisper shakily。 〃and he looked old！ he looked hungry and old and sad。。。 is it all ing onto us now； will？ we cant rely on anyone else now； can we。。。 its just us。 but we ent old enough yet。 were only young。。。 were too young。。。 if poor mr。 scoresbys dead and ioreks old。。。 its all ing onto us； whats got to be done。〃
〃we can do it；〃 he said。 〃im not going to look back anymore。 we can do it。 but weve got to sleep now； and if we stay in this world； those gyropter things might e； the ones the spies sent for。。。 im going to cut through now and well find another world to sleep in； and if the spies e with us； thats too bad； well have to get rid of them another time。〃
〃yes；〃 she said； and sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her nose and rubbed her eyes with
both palms。 〃lets do that。 you sure the knife will work？ you tested it？〃
〃i know itll work。〃
with pantalaimon tiger…formed to deter the spies； they hoped； will and lyra went back and picked up their rucksacks。
〃what are you doing？〃 said salmakia。
〃going into another world；〃 said will； taking out the knife。 it felt like being whole again； he hadnt realized how much he loved it。
〃but you must wait for lord asriels gyropters；〃 said tialys； his voice hard。
〃were not going to；〃 said will。 〃if you e near the knife； ill kill you。 e through with us if you must； but you cant make us stay he