THE AMBER SPYGLASS- 第9部分

〃thank　you；　pagdzin　tulku〃　said　ama；　taking　the　package　and　placing　it　in　the　pocket　of　her　innermost　shirt。　〃i　wish　i　had　another　honey　bread　to　give　you。〃

〃one　is　enough；〃　said　the　healer。　〃now　go；　and　next　time　you　e；　tell　me　the　whole　truth；　not　part　of　it。〃

the　girl　was　abashed；　and　bowed　very　low　to　hide　her　confusion。　she　hoped　she　hadnt　given　too　much　away。

next　evening　she　hurried　to　the　valley　as　soon　as　she　could；　carrying　some　sweet　rice　wrapped　in　a　heart…fruit　leaf。　she　was　bursting　to　tell　the　woman　what　she　had　done；　and　to　give　her　the　medicine　and　receive　her　praise　and　thanks；　and　eager　most　of　all　for　the　enchanted　sleeper　to　wake　and　talk　to　her。　they　could　be　friends！

but　as　she　turned　the　corner　of　the　path　and　looked　upward；　she　saw　no　golden　monkey；　no　patient　woman　seated　at　the　cave　mouth。　the　place　was　empty。　she　ran　the　last　few　yards；　afraid　they　had　gone　forever；　but　there　was　the　chair　the　woman　sat　in；　and　the　cooking　equipment；　and　everything　else。

ama　looked　into　the　darkness　farther　back　in　the　cave；　her　heart　beating　fast。　surely　the　sleeper　hadnt　woken　already：　in　the　dimness　ama　could　make　out　the　shape　of　the　sleeping　bag；　the　lighter　patch　that　was　the　girls　hair；　and　the　curve　of　her　sleeping　daemon。

she　crept　a　little　closer。　there　was　no　doubt　about　it；　they　had　gone　out　and　left　the　enchanted　girl　alone。

a　thought　struck　ama　like　a　musical　note：　suppose　she　woke　her　before　the　woman　returned。。。

but　she　had　hardly　time　to　feel　the　thrill　of　that　idea　before　she　heard　sounds　on　the　path　outside；　and　in　a　shiver　of　guilt　she　and　her　daemon　darted　behind　a　ridge　of　rock　at　the　side　of　the　cave。　she　shouldnt　be　here。　she　was　spying。　it　was　wrong。

and　now　that　golden　monkey　was　squatting　in　the　entrance；　sniffing　and　turning　his　head　this　way　and　that。　ama　saw　him　bare　his　sharp　teeth；　and　felt　her　own　daemon　burrow　into　her　clothes；　mouse…formed

and　trembling。

〃what　is　it？〃　said　the　womans　voice；　speaking　to　the　monkey；　and　then　the　cave　darkened　as　her　form　came　into　the　entrance。　〃has　the　girl　been？　yes；　theres　the　food　she　left。　she　shouldnt　e　in；　though。　we　must　arrange　a　spot　on　the　path　for　her　to　leave　the　food　at。〃

without　a　glance　at　the　sleeper；　the　woman　stooped　to　bring　the　fire　to　life；　and　set　a　pan　of　water　to　heat　while　her　daemon　crouched　nearby　watching　over　the　path。　from　time　to　time　he　got　up　and　looked　around　the　cave；　and　ama；　getting　cramped　and　unfortable　in　her　narrow　hiding　place；　wished　ardently　that　shed　waited　outside　and　not　gone　in。　how　long　was　she　going　to　be　trapped？

the　woman　was　mixing　some　herbs　and　powders　into　the　heating　water。　ama　could　smell　the　astringent　flavors　as　they　drifted　out　with　the　steam。　then　came　a　sound　from　the　back　of　the　cave：　the　girl　was　murmuring　and　stirring。　ama　turned　her　head：　she　could　see　the　enchanted　sleeper　moving；　tossing　from　side　to　side；　throwing　an　arm　across　her　eyes。　she　was　waking！

and　the　woman　took　no　notice！

she　heard　all　right；　because　she　looked　up　briefly；　but　she　soon　turned　back　to　her　herbs　and　the　boiling　water。　she　poured　the　decoction　into　a　beaker　and　let　it　stand；　and　only　then　turned　her　full　attention　to　the　waking　girl。

ama　could　understand　none　of　these　words；　but　she　heard　them　with　increasing　wonder　and　suspicion：

〃hush；　dear；〃　the　woman　said。　〃dont　worry　yourself。　youre　safe。〃

〃roger；〃　the　girl　murmured；　half…awake。　〃serafina！　wheres　roger　gone。。。　where　is　he？〃

〃no　one　here　but　us；〃　her　mother　said；　in　a　singsong　voice；　half…crooning。　〃lift　yourself　and　let　mama　wash　you。。。up　you　e；　my　love。。。〃

ama　watched　as　the　girl；　moaning；　struggling　into　wakefulness；　tried　to　push　her　mother　away；　and　the　woman　dipped　a　sponge　into　the　bowl　of　water　and　mopped　at　her　daughters　face　and　body　before　patting　her　dry。

by　this　time　the　girl　was　nearly　awake；　and　the　woman　had　to　move　more　quickly。

〃wheres　serafina？　and　will？　help　me；　help　me！　i　dont　want　to　sleep；　no；　no！　i　wont！　no！〃

the　woman　was　holding　the　beaker　in　one　steely…firm　hand　while　her　other　was　trying　to　lift　lyras　head。

〃be　still；　dear；　be　calm；　hush　now；　drink　your　tea。。。”

but　the　girl　lashed　out　and　nearly　spilled　the　drink；　and　cried　louder：

〃leave　me　alone！　i　want　to　go！　let　me　go！　will；　will；　help　me；　oh；　help　me…”

the　woman　was　gripping　her　hair　tightly；　forcing　her　head　back；　cramming　the　beaker　against　her　mouth。

〃i　wont！　you　dare　touch　me；　and　iorek　will　tear　your　head　off！　oh；　iorek；　where　are　you？　iorek　byrnison！　help　me；　iorek！　i　wont；　i　wont。。。”

then；　at　a　word　from　the　woman；　the　golden　monkey　sprang　on　lyras　daemon；　gripping　him　with　hard　black　fingers。　the　daemon　flicked　from　shape　to　shape　more　quickly　than　ama　had　ever　seen　a　daemon　change　before：　cat…snake…rat…fox…bird…wolf…cheetah…lizard…polecat…

but　the　monkeys　grip　never　slackened；　and　then　pantalaimon　became　a　porcupine。

the　monkey　screeched　and　let　go。　three　long　quills　were　stuck　shivering　in　his　paw。　mrs。　coulter　snarled　and　with　her　free　hand　slapped　lyra　hard　across　the　face；　a　vicious　backhand　crack　that　threw　her　flat；　and　before　lyra　could　gather　her　wits；　the　beaker　was　at　her　mouth　and　she　had　to　swallow　or　choke。

ama　wished　she　could　shut　her　ears：　the　gulping；　crying；　coughing；　sobbing；　pleading；　retching　was　almost　too　much　to　hear。　but　little　by　little　it　died　away；　and　only　a　shaky　sob　or　two　came　from　the　girl；　who　was　now　sinking　once　more　into　sleep；　enchanted　sleep？　poisoned　sleep！　drugged；　deceitful　sleep！

ama　saw　a　streak　of　white　materialize　at　the　girls　throat　as　her　daemon　effortfully　changed　into　a　long；　sinuous；　snowy…furred　creature　with　brilliant　black　eyes　and　black…tipped　tail；　and　laid　himself　alongside　her　neck。

and　the　woman　was　singing　softly；　crooning　baby　songs；　smoothing　the　hair　off　the　girls　brow；　patting　her　hot　face　dry；　humming　songs　to　which　even　ama　could　tell　she　didnt　know　the　words；　because　all　she　could　sing　was　a　string　of　nonsense　syllables；　la…la…la；　ba…ba…boo…boo；　her　sweet　voice　mouthing　gibberish。

eventually　that　stopped；　and　then　the　woman　did　a　curious　thing：　she　took　a　pair　of　scissors　and　trimmed　the　girls　hair；　holding　her　sleeping　head　this　way　and　that　to　see　the　best　effect。　she　took　one　dark　blond　curl　and　put　it　in　a　little　gold　locket　she　had　around　her　own　neck。　ama　could　tell　why：　she　was　going　to　work　some　further　magic　with　it。　but　the　woman　held　it　to　her　lips　first。。。　oh；　this　was　strange。

the　golden　monkey　drew　out　the　last　of　the　porcupine　quills　and　said　something　to　the　woman；　who　reached　up　to　snatch　a　roosting　bat　from　the　cave　ceiling。　the　little　black　thing　flapped　and　squealed　in　a　needle…thin　voice　that　pierced　ama　from　one　ear　to　the　other；　and　then　she　saw　the　woman　hand　the　bat　to　her　daemon；　and　she　saw　the　daemon　pull　one　of　the　black　wings　out　and　out　and　out　till　it　snapped　and　broke　and　hung　from　a　white　string　of　sinew；　while　the　dying　bat　screamed　and　its　fellows　flapped　around　in　anguished　puzzlement。　crack；　crack；　snap；　as　the　golden　monkey　pulled　the　little　thing　apart　limb　by　limb；　and　the　woman　lay　moodily　on　her　sleeping　bag　by　the　fire　and　slowly　ate　a　box　of　chocolate。

time　passed。　light　faded　and　the　moon　rose；　and　the　woman　and　her　daemon　fell　asleep。

ama；　stiff　and　painful；　crept　up　from　her　hiding　place　and　tiptoed　out　past　the　sleepers；　and　didnt　make　a　sound　till　she　was　halfway　down　the　path。

with　fear　giving　her　speed；　she　ran　along　the　narrow　trail；　her　daemon　as　an　owl　on　silent　wings　beside　her。　the　clean　cold　air；　the　constant　motion　of　the　treetops；　the　brilliance　of　the　moon…painted　clouds　in　the　dark　sky；　and　the　millions　of　stars　all　calmed　her　a　little。

she　stopped　in　sight　of　the　little　huddle　of　stone　houses　and　her　daemon　perched　on　her　fist。

〃she　lied！〃　ama　said。　〃she　lied　to　us！　what　can　we　do；　kulang？　can　we　tell　dada？　what　can　we　do？〃

〃dont　tell；〃　said　her　daemon。　〃more　trouble。　weve　got　the　medicine。　we　can　wake　her。　we　can　go　there　when　the　womans　away　again；　and　wake　the　girl　up；　and　take　her　away。〃

the　thought　filled　them　both　with　fear。　but　it　had　been　said；　and　the　little　paper　package　was　safe　in　amas　pocket；　and　they　knew　how　to　use　it。

—

wake　up；　i　cant　see　her；　i　think　shes　close　by；　shes　hurt　me。。。”

〃oh；　lyra；　dont　be　frightened！　if　youre　frightened；　too；　ill　go　mad。。。”

they　tried　to　hold　each　other　tight；　but　their　arms　passed　through　the　empty　air。　lyra　tried　to　say　what　she　meant；　whispering　close　to　his　little　pale　face　in　the　darkness：

〃im　just　trying　to　wake　up；　im　so　afraid　of　sleeping　all　my　life　and　then　dying；　i　want　to　wake　up　first！　i　wouldnt　care　if　it　was　just　for　an　hour；　as　long　as　i　was　properly　alive　and　awake。　i　dont　know　if　this　is　real　or　not；　even；　but　i　will　help　you；　roger！　i　swear　i　will！〃

〃but　if　youre　dreaming；　lyra；　you　might　not　believe　it　when　you　wake　up。　thats　what　id　do；　id　just　think　it　was　only　a　dream。〃

．。



FIVE　…　THE　ADAMANT　TOWER

（小//说；网/
〃no！〃　she　said　fiercely；　a　lake　of　molten　sulphur　extended　the　length　of　an　immense　canyon；　releasing　its　mephitic　vapors　in　sudden　gusts　and　belches　and　barring　the　way　of　the　solitary　winged　figure　who