THE AMBER SPYGLASS- 第36部分

〃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　here。　were　leaving。〃

〃you　lied！〃

〃no；〃　said　lyra；　〃i　lied。　will　doesnt　lie。　you　didnt　think　of　that。〃

〃but　where　are　you　going？〃

will　didnt　answer。　he　felt　forward　in　the　dim　air　and　cut　an　opening。

salmakia　said；　〃this　is　a　mistake。　you　should　realize　that；　and　listen　to　us。　you　havent　thought。。。”

〃yes；　we　have；〃　said　will；　〃weve　thought　hard；　and　well　tell　you　what　weve　thought　tomorrow。　you　can　e　where　were　going；　or　you　can　go　back　to　lord　asriel。〃

the　window　opened　onto　the　world　into　which　he　had　escaped　with　baruch　and　balthamos；　and　where　hed　slept　safely：　the　warm　endless　beach　with　the　fernlike　trees　behind　the　dunes。　he　said：

〃here；　well　sleep　here；　thisll　do。〃

he　let　them　through　and　closed　it　behind　them　at　once。　while　he　and　lyra　lay　down　where　they　were；　exhausted；　the　lady　salmakia　kept　watch；　and　the　chevalier　opened　his　lodestone　resonator　and　began　to　play　a　message　into　the　dark。

……



SIXTEEN　…　THE　INTENTION　CRAFT

　生？
〃my　child！　my　daughter！　where　is　she？　what　have　you　done？　my　lyra；　youd　do　better　to　tear　the　fibers　from　my　heart；　she　was　safe　with　me；　safe；　and　now　where　is　she？〃

mrs。　coulters　cry　resounded　through　the　little　chamber　at　the　top　of　the　adamant　tower。　she　was　bound　to　a　chair；　her　hair　disheveled；　her　clothing　torn；　her　eyes　wild；　and　her　monkey　daemon　thrashed　and　struggled　on　the　floor　in　the　coils　of　a　silver　chain。

lord　asriel　sat　nearby；　scribbling　on　a　piece　of　paper；　taking　no　notice。　an　orderly　stood　beside　him；　glancing　nervously　at　the　woman。　when　lord　asriel　handed　him　the　paper；　he　saluted　and　hurried　out；　his　terrier　daemon　close　at　his　heels　with　her　tail　tucked　low。

lord　asriel　turned　to　mrs。　coulter。

〃lyra？　frankly；　i　dont　care；〃　he　said；　his　voice　quiet　and　hoarse。　〃the　wretched　child　should　have　stayed　where　she　was　put；　and　done　what　she　was　told。　i　cant　waste　any　more　time　or　resources　on　her；　if　she　refuses　to　be　helped；　let　her　deal　with　the　consequences。〃

〃you　dont　mean　that；　asriel；　or　you　wouldnt　have…〃

〃i　mean　every　word　of　it。　the　fuss　shes　caused　is　out　of　all　proportion　to　her　merits。　an　ordinary　english　girl；　not　very　clever。。。”

〃she　is！〃　said　mrs。　coulter。

〃all　right；　bright　but　not　intellectual；　impulsive；　dishonest；　greedy。。。”

〃brave；　generous；　loving。〃

〃a　perfectly　ordinary　child；　distinguished　by　nothing。。。”　〃perfectly　ordinary？　lyra？　shes　unique。

think　of　what　shes　done　already。　dislike　her　if　you　will；　asriel；　but　dont　you　dare　patronize　your　daughter。　and　she　was　safe　with　me；　until。。。”

〃youre　right；〃　he　said；　getting　up。　〃she　is　unique。　to　have　tamed　and　softened　you；　thats　no　everyday　feat。　shes　drawn　your　poison；　marisa。　shes　taken　your　teeth　out。　your　fires　been　quenched　in　a　drizzle　of　sentimental　piety。　who　would　have　thought　it？　the　pitiless　agent　of　the　church；　the　fanatical　persecutor　of　children；　the　inventor　of　hideous　machines　to　slice　them　apart　and　look　in　their　terrified　little　beings　for　any　evidence　of　sin；　and　along　es　a　foul…mouthed；　ignorant　little　brat　with　dirty　fingernails；　and　you　cluck　and　settle　your　feathers　over　her　like　a　hen。　well；　i　admit：　the　child　must　have　some　gift　ive　never　seen　myself。　but　if　all　it　does　is　turn　you　into　a　doting　mother；　its　a　pretty　thin；　drab；　puny　little　gift。　and　now　you　might　as　well　be　quiet。　ive　asked　my　chief　manders　to　e　in　for　an　urgent　conference；　and　if　you　cant　control　your　noise；　ill　have　you　gagged。〃

mrs。　coulter　was　more　like　her　daughter　than　she　knew。　her　answer　to　this　was　to　spit　in　lord　asriels　face。　he　wiped　it　calmly　away　and　said；　〃a　gag　would　put　an　end　to　that　kind　of　behavior；　too。〃

〃oh；　do　correct　me；　asriel；〃　she　said。　〃someone　who　displays　to　his　under…officers　a　captive　tied　to　a　chair　is　clearly　a　prince　of　politeness。　untie　me；　or　ill　force　you　to　gag　me。〃

〃as　you　wish；〃　he　said；　and　took　a　silk　scarf　from　the　drawer；　but　before　he　could　tie　it　around　her　mouth；　she　shook　her　head。

〃no；　no；〃　she　said；　〃asriel；　dont；　i　beg　you；　please　dont　humiliate　me。〃

angry　tears　dashed　from　her　eyes。

〃very　well；　ill　untie　you；　but　he　can　stay　in　his　chains；〃　he　said；　and　dropped　the　scarf　back　in　the　drawer　before　cutting　her　bonds　with　a　clasp　knife。

she　rubbed　her　wrists；　stood　up；　stretched；　and　only　then　noticed　the　condition　of　her　clothes　and　hair。　she　looked　haggard　and　pale；　the　last　of　the　gallivespian　venom　still　remained　in　her　body；　causing　agonizing　pains　in　her　joints；　but　she　was　not　going　to　show　him　that。

lord　asriel　said；　〃you　can　wash　in　there；〃　indicating　a　small　room　hardly　bigger　than　a　closet。

she　picked　up　her　chained　daemon；　whose　baleful　eyes　glared　at　lord　asriel　over　her　shoulder；　and　went　through　to　make　herself　tidier。

the　orderly　came　in　to　announce：

〃his　majesty　king　ogunwe　and　the　lord　roke。〃

the　african　general　and　the　gallivespian　came　in：　king　ogunwe　in　a　clean　uniform；　with　a　wound　on　his　temple　freshly　dressed；　and　lord　roke　gliding　swiftly　to　the　table　astride　his　blue　hawk。

lord　asriel　greeted　them　warmly　and　offered　wine。　the　bird　let　his　rider　step　off；　and　then　flew　to　the　bracket　by　the　door　as　the　orderly　announced　the　third　of　lord　asriels　high　manders；　an　angel　by　the　name　of　xaphania。　she　was　of　a　much　higher　rank　than　baruch　or　balthamos；　and　visible　by　a　shimmering；　disconcerting　light　that　seemed　to　e　from　somewhere　else。

by　this　time　mrs。　coulter　had　emerged；　much　tidied；　and　all　three　manders　bowed　to　her；　and　if　she　was　surprised　at　their　appearance；　she　gave　no　sign；　but　inclined　her　head　and　sat　down　peaceably；　holding　the　pinioned　monkey　in　her　arms。

without　wasting　time；　lord　asriel　said；　〃tell　me　what　happened；　king　ogunwe。〃

the　african；　powerful　and　deep…voiced；　said；　〃we　killed　seventeen　swiss　guards　and　destroyed　two　zeppelins。　we　lost　five　men　and　one　gyropter。　the　girl　and　the　boy　escaped。　we　captured　the　lady　coulter；　despite　her　courageous　defense；　and　brought　her　here。　i　hope　she　feels　we　treated　her　courteously。〃

〃i　am　quite　content　with　the　way　you　treated　me；　sir；〃　she　said；　with　the　faintest　possible　stress　on　the　you。

〃any　damage　to　the　other　gyropters？　any　wounded？〃　said　lord　asriel。

〃some　damage　and　some　wounds；　but　all　minor。〃

〃good。　thank　you；　king；　your　force　did　well。　my　lord　roke；　what　have　you　heard？〃

the　gallivespian　said；　〃my　spies　are　with　the　boy　and　girl　in　another　world。　both　children　are　safe　and　well；　though　the　girl　has　been　kept　in　a　drugged　sleep　for　many　days。　the　boy　lost　the　use　of　his　knife　during　the　events　in　the　cave：　by　some　accident；　it　broke　in　pieces。　but　it　is　now　whole　again；　thanks　to　a　creature　from　the　north　of　your　world；　lord　asriel；　a　giant　bear；　very　skilled　at　smithwork。　as　soon　as　the　knife　was　mended；　the　boy　cut　through　into　another　world；　where　they　are　now。　my　spies　are　with　them；　of　course；　but　there　is　a　difficulty：　while　the　boy　has　the　knife；　he　cannot　be　pelled　to　do　anything；　and　yet　if　they　were　to　kill　him　in　his　sleep；　the　knife　would　be　useless　to　us。　for　the　time　being；　the　chevalier　tialys　and　the　lady　salmakia　will　go　with　them　wherever　they　go；　so　at　least　we　can　keep　track　of　them。　they　seem　to　have　a　plan　in　mind；　they　are　refusing　to　e　here；　at　any　rate。　my　two　will　not　lose　them。〃

〃are　they　safe　in　this　other　world　theyre　in　now？〃　said　lord　asriel。

〃theyre　on　a　beach　near　a　forest　of　large　tree…ferns。　there　is　no　sign　of　animal　life　nearby。　as　we　speak；　both　boy　and　girl　are　asleep；　i　spoke　to　the　chevalier　tialys　not　five　minutes　ago。〃

〃thank　you；〃　said　lord　asriel。　〃now　that　your　two　agents　are　following　the　children；　of　course；　we　have　no　eyes　in　the　magisterium　anymore。　we　shall　have　to　rely　on　the　alethiometer。　at　least。。。”

then　mrs。　coulter　spoke；　to　their　surprise。

〃i　dont　know　about　the　other　branches；〃　she　said；　〃but　as　far　as　the　consistorial　court　is　concerned；　the　reader　they　rely　on　is　fra　pavel　rasek。　and　hes　thorough；　but　slow。　they　wont　know　where　lyra　is　for　another　few　hours。〃

lord　asriel　said；　〃thank　you；　marisa。　do　you　have　any　idea　what　lyra　and　this　boy　intend　to　do　next？〃

〃no；〃　she　said；　〃none。　ive　spoken　to　the　boy；　and　he　seemed　；。：；　to　be　a　stubborn　child；　and　one　well　used　to　keeping　secrets。　i　cant　guess　what　he　would　do。　as　for　lyra；　she　is　quite　impossible　to　read。〃

〃my　lord；〃　said　king　ogunwe；　〃may　we　know　whether　the　lady　is　now　part　of　this　manding　council？　if　so；　what　is　her　function？　if　not；　should　she　not　be　taken　elsewhere？〃

〃she　is　our　captive　and　my　guest；　and　as　a　distinguished　former　agent　of　the　church；　she　may　have　information　that　would　be　useful。〃

〃will　she　reveal　anything　willingly？　or　will　she　need　to　be　tortured？〃　said　lord　roke；　watching　her　directly　as　he　spoke。

mrs。　coulter　laughed。

〃i　would　have　thought　lord　asriels　manders　would　know　better　than　to　expect　truth　to　e　out　of　torture；〃　she　said。

lord　asriel　couldnt　help　enjoying　her　barefaced　insincerity。

〃i　will　guarantee　mrs。　coulters　behavior；〃　he　said。　〃she　knows　what　will　happen　if　she　betrays　us；　though　she　will　not　have　the　chance。　however；