th containing and being contained： its inside was everywhere and its outside was everywhere else。 the clouded mountain affected her in a similar way： it was less like a rock than like a force field； manipulating space itself to enfold and stretch and layer it into galleries and terraces； chambers and colonnades and watchtowers of air and light and vapor。
she felt a strange exultation welling slowly in her breast； and she saw at the same time how to bring the aircraft safely up to the clouded terrace on the southern flank。 the little craft lurched and strained in the turbid air； but she held the course firm； and her daemon guided her down to land on the terrace。
the light shed seen by till now had e from the lightning； the occasional gashes in the cloud where the sun struck through； the fires from the burning angels； the beams of an…baric searchlights； but the light here was different。 it came from the substance of the mountain itself； which glowed and faded in a slow breathlike rhythm； with a mother…of…pearl radiance。
woman and daemon got down from the craft and looked around to see which way they should go。
she had the feeling that other beings were moving rapidly above and below； speeding through the substance of the mountain itself with messages； orders； information。 she couldnt see them； all she could see was confusing； infolded perspectives of colonnade； staircase； terrace； and facade。
before she could make up her mind which way to go； she heard voices and withdrew behind a column。 the voices were singing a psalm and ing closer； and then she saw a procession of angels carrying a litter。
as they neared the place where she was hiding； they saw the intention craft and stopped。 the singing faltered； and some of the bearers looked around in doubt and fear。
mrs。 coulter was close enough to see the being in the litter： an angel； she thought； and indescribably aged。 he wasnt easy to see； because the litter was enclosed all around with crystal that glittered and threw back the enveloping light of the mountain； but she had the impression of terrifying decrepitude； of a face sunken in wrinkles； of trembling hands； and of a mumbling mouth and rheumy eyes。
the aged being gestured shakily at the intention craft； and cackled and muttered to himself； plucking incessantly at his beard； and then threw back his head and uttered a howl of such anguish that mrs。 coulter had to cover her ears。
but evidently the bearers had a task to do； for they gathered themselves and moved farther along the terrace； ignoring the cries and mumbles from inside the litter。 when they reached an open space； they spread their wings wide； and at a word from their leader they began to fly； carrying the litter between them； until they were lost to mrs。 coulters sight in the swirling vapors。
but there wasnt time to think about that。 she and the golden monkey moved on quickly； climbing great staircases； crossing bridges； always moving upward。 the higher they went； the more they felt that sense of invisible activity all around them； until finally they turned a corner into a wide space like a mist…hung piazza； and found themselves confronted by an angel with a spear。
〃who are you？ what is your business？〃 he said。
mrs。 coulter looked at him curiously。 these were the beings who had fallen in love with human women； with the daughters of men； so long ago。
〃no； no；〃 she said gently； 〃please dont waste time。 take me to the regent at once。 hes waiting for me。〃
disconcert them； she thought； keep them off balance； and this angel did not know what he should do； so he did as she told him。 she followed him for some minutes； through those confusing perspectives of light； until they came to an antechamber。 how they had entered； she didnt know； but there they were； and after a brief pause； something in front of her opened like a door。
her daemons sharp nails were pressing into the flesh of her upper arms； and she gripped his fur for reassurance。 facing them was a being made of light。 he was man…shaped； man…sized； she thought； but she was too dazzled to see。 the golden monkey hid his face in her shoulder； and she threw up an arm to hide her eyes。
metatron said； 〃where is she？ where is your daughter？〃
〃ive e to tell you； my lord regent；〃 she said。
〃if she was in your power； you would have brought her。〃
〃she is not； but her daemon is。〃
〃how can that be？〃
〃i swear； metatron； her daemon is in my power。 please； great regent； hide yourself a little； my eyes are dazzled。。。〃
he drew a veil of cloud in front of himself。 now it was like looking at the sun through smoked glass； and her eyes could see him more clearly； though she still pretended to be dazzled by his face。 he was exactly like a man in early middle age； tall； powerful； and manding。 was he clothed？ did he have wings？ she couldnt tell because of the force of his eyes。 she could look at nothing else。
〃please； metatron； hear me。 i have just e from lord asriel。 he has the childs daemon； and he knows that the child will soon e to search for him。〃
〃what does he want with the child？〃
〃to keep her from you until she es of age。 he doesnt know where ive gone； and i must go back to him soon。 im telling you the truth。 look at me； great regent； as i cant easily look at you。 look at me clearly； and tell me what you see。〃
the prince of the angels looked at her。 it was the most searching examination marisa coulter had ever undergone。 every scrap of shelter and deceit was stripped away； and she stood naked； body and ghost and daemon together； under the ferocity of metatrons gaze。
and she knew that her nature would have to answer for her； and she was terrified that what he saw in her would be insufficient。 lyra had lied to iofur raknison with her words； her mother was lying with her whole life。
〃yes； i see；〃 said metatron。
〃what do you see？〃
〃corruption and envy and lust for power。 cruelty and coldness。 a vicious； probing curiosity。 pure； poisonous； toxic malice。 you have never from your earliest years shown a shred of passion or sympathy or kindness without calculating how it would return to your advantage。 you have tortured and killed without regret or hesitation； you have betrayed and intrigued and gloried in your treachery。 you are a cesspit of moral filth。〃
that voice； delivering that judgment； shook mrs。 coulter profoundly。 she knew it was ing； and she dreaded it； and yet she hoped for it； too； and now that it had been said； she felt a little gush of triumph。
she moved closer to him。
〃so you see；〃 she said； 〃i can betray him easily。 i can lead you to where hes taking my daughters daemon； and you can destroy asriel； and the child will walk unsuspecting into your hands。〃
she felt the movement of vapor about her； and her senses became confused。 his next words pierced her flesh like darts of scented ice。
〃when i was a man；〃 he said； 〃i had wives in plenty； but none was as lovely as you。〃
〃when you were a man？〃
〃when i was a man； i was known as enoch； the son of jared； the son of mahalalel； the son of kenan； the son of enosh； the son of seth； the son of adam。 i lived on earth for sixty…five years； and then the authority took me to his kingdom。〃
〃and you had many wives。〃
〃i loved their flesh。 and i understood it when the sons of heaven fell in love with the daughters of earth； and i pleaded their cause with the authority。 but his heart was fixed against them； and he made me prophesy their doom。〃
〃and you have not known a wife for thousands of years。。。〃
〃i have been regent of the kingdom。〃
〃and is it not time you had a consort？〃
that was the moment she felt most exposed and in most danger。 but she trusted to her flesh； and to the strange truth shed learned about angels； perhaps especially those angels who had once been human： lacking flesh； they coveted it and longed for contact with it。 and metatron was close now； close enough to smell the perfume of her hair and to gaze at the texture of her skin； close enough to touch her with scalding hands。
there was a strange sound； like the murmur and crackle you hear before you realize that what youre hearing is your house on fire。
〃tell me what lord asriel is doing； and where he is；〃 he said。
〃i can take you to him now；〃 she said。
the angels carrying the litter left the clouded mountain and flew south。 metatrons orders had been to take the authority to a place of safety away from the battlefield； because he wanted him kept alive for a while yet； but rather than give him a bodyguard of many regiments； which would only attract the enemys attention； he had trusted to the obscurity of the storm； calculating that in these circumstances； a small party would be safer than a large one。
and so it might have been； if a certain cliff…ghast； busy feasting on a half…dead warrior； had not looked up just as a random searchlight caught the side of the crystal litter。
something stirred in the cliff…ghasts memory。 he paused； one hand on the warm liver； and as his brother knocked him aside； the recollection of a babbling arctic fox came to his mind。
at once he spread his leathery wings and bounded upward； and a moment later the rest of the troop followed。
xaphania and her angels had searche