pp.thegoldencompass-第1部分

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　　OXFORD
　　
　　
　　ONE　
　　THE　DECANTER　OF　TOKAY
　　
　　
　　Lyra　and　her　daemon　moved　through　the　darkening　hall；　taking　care　to　keep　to　one　side；　out　of　sight　of　the　kitchen。　The　three　great　tables　that　ran　the　length　of　the　hall　were　laid　already；　the　silver　and　the　glass　catching　what　little　light　there　was；　and　the　long　benches　were　pulled　out　ready　for　the　guests。　Portraits　of　former　Masters　hung　high　up　in　the　gloom　along　the　walls。　Lyra　reached　the　dais　and　looked　back　at　the　open　kitchen　door；　and；　seeing　no　one；　stepped　up　beside　the　high　table。　The　places　here　were　laid　with　gold；　not　silver；　and　the　fourteen　seats　were　not　oak　benches　but　mahogany　chairs　with　velvet　cushions。
　　Lyra　stopped　beside　the　Master's　chair　and　flicked　the　biggest　glass　gently　with　a　fingernail。　The　sound　rang　clearly　through　the　hall。
　　〃You're　not　taking　this　seriously；〃　whispered　her　daemon。　〃Behave　yourself。〃
　　Her　daemon's　name　was　Pantalaimon；　and　he　was　currently　in　the　form　of　a　moth；　a　dark　brown　one　so　as　not　to　show　up　in　the　darkness　of　the　hall。
　　〃They're　making　too　much　noise　to　hear　from　the　kitchen；〃　Lyra　whispered　back。　〃And　the　Steward　doesn't　e　in　till　the　first　bell。　Stop　fussing。〃
　　But　she　put　her　palm　over　the　ringing　crystal　anyway；　and　Pantalaimon　fluttered　ahead　and　through　the　slightly　open　door　of　the　Retiring　Room　at　the　other　end　of　the　dais。　After　a　moment　he　appeared　again。
　　〃There's　no　one　there；〃　he　whispered。　〃But　we　must　be　quick。〃
　　Crouching　behind　the　high　table；　Lyra　darted　along　and　through　the　door　into　the　Retiring　Room；　where　she　stood　up　and　looked　around。　The　only　light　in　here　came　from　the　fireplace；　where　a　bright　blaze　of　logs　settled　slightly　as　she　looked；　sending　a　fountain　of　sparks　up　into　the　chimney。　She　had　lived　most　of　her　life　in　the　College；　but　had　never　seen　the　Retiring　Room　before：　only　Scholars　and　their　guests　were　allowed　in　here；　and　never　females。　Even　the　maidservants　didn't　clean　in　here。　That　was　the　Butler's　job　alone。
　　Pantalaimon　settled　on　her　shoulder。
　　〃Happy　now？　Can　we　go？〃　he　whispered。
　　〃Don't　be　silly！　I　want　to　look　around！〃
　　It　was　a　large　room；　with　an　oval　table　of　polished　rosewood　on　which　stood　various　decanters　and　glasses；　and　a　silver　smoking　stand　with　a　rack　of　pipes。　On　a　sideboard　nearby　there　was　a　little　chafing　dish　and　a　basket　of　poppy　heads。
　　〃They　do　themselves　well；　don't　they；　Pan？〃　she　said　under　her　breath。
　　She　sat　in　one　of　the　green　leather　armchairs。　It　was　so　deep　she　found　herself　nearly　lying　down；　but　she　sat　up　again　and　tucked　her　legs　under　her　to　look　at　the　portraits　on　the　walls。　More　old　Scholars；　probably；　robed；　bearded；　and　gloomy；　they　stared　out　of　their　frames　in　solemn　disapproval。
　　〃What　d'you　think　they　talk　about？〃　Lyra　said；　or　began　to　say；　because　before　she'd　finished　the　question　she　heard　voices　outside　the　door。
　　〃Behind　the　chair…quick！〃　whispered　Pantalaimon；　and　in　a　flash　Lyra　was　out　of　the　armchair　and　crouching　behind　it。　It　wasn't　the　best　one　for　hiding　behind：　she'd　chosen　one　in　the　very　center　of　the　room；　and　unless　she　kept　very　quiet　。　。　。　
　　The　door　opened；　and　the　light　changed　in　the　room；　one　of　the　iners　was　carrying　a　lamp；　which　he　put　down　on　the　sideboard。　Lyra　could　see　his　legs；　in　their　dark　green　trousers　and　shiny　black　shoes。　It　was　a　servant。
　　Then　a　deep　voice　said；　〃Has　Lord　Asriel　arrived　yet？〃
　　It　was　the　Master。　As　Lyra　held　her　breath；　she　saw　the　servant's　daemon　（a　dog；　like　all　servants'　daemons）　trot　in　and　sit　quietly　at　his　feet；　and　then　the　Master's　feet　became　visible　too；　in　the　shabby　black　shoes　he　always　wore。
　　〃No；　Master；〃　said　the　Butler。　〃No　word　from　the　aerodock；　either。〃
　　〃I　expect　he'll　be　hungry　when　he　arrives。　Show　him　straight　into　Hall；　will　you？〃
　　〃Very　good；　Master。〃
　　〃And　you've　decanted　some　of　the　special　Tokay　for　him？〃
　　〃Yes；　Master。　The　1898；　as　you　ordered。　His　Lordship　is　very　partial　to　that；　I　remember。〃
　　〃Good。　Now　leave　me；　please。〃
　　〃Do　you　need　the　lamp；　Master？〃
　　〃Yes；　leave　that　too。　Look　in　during　dinner　to　trim　it；　will　you？〃
　　The　Butler　bowed　slightly　and　turned　to　leave；　his　daemon　trotting　obediently　after　him。　From　her　not…much…of…a…hiding　place　Lyra　watched　as　the　Master　went　to　a　large　oak　wardrobe　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　took　his　gown　from　a　hanger；　and　pulled　it　laboriously　on。　The　Master　had　been　a　powerful　man；　but　he　was　well　over　seventy　now；　and　his　movements　were　stiff　and　slow。　The　Master's　daemon　had　the　form　of　a　raven；　and　as　soon　as　his　robe　was　on；　she　jumped　down　from　the　wardrobe　and　settled　in　her　accustomed　place　on　his　right　shoulder。
　　Lyra　could　feel　Pantalaimon　bristling　with　anxiety；　though　he　made　no　sound。　For　herself；　she　was　pleasantly　excited。
　　The　visitor　mentioned　by　the　Master；　Lord　Asriel；　was　her　uncle；　a　man　whom　she　admired　and　feared　greatly。　He　was　said　to　be　involved　in　high　politics；　in　secret　exploration；　in　distant　warfare；　and　she　never　knew　when　he　was　going　to　appear。　He　was　fierce：　if　he　caught　her　in　here　she'd　be　severely　punished；　but　she　could　put　up　with　that。
　　What　she　saw　next；　however；　changed　things　pletely。
　　The　Master　took　from　his　pocket　a　folded　paper　and　laid　it　on　the　table　beside　the　wine。　He　took　the　stopper　out　of　the　mouth　of　a　decanter　containing　a　rich　golden　wine；　unfolded　the　paper；　and　poured　a　thin　stream　of　white　powder　into　the　decanter　before　crumpling　the　paper　and　throwing　it　into　the　fire。　Then　he　took　a　pencil　from　his　pocket；　stirred　the　wine　until　the　powder　had　dissolved；　and　replaced　the　stopper。
　　His　daemon　gave　a　soft　brief　squawk。　The　Master　replied　in　an　undertone；　and　looked　around　with　his　hooded；　clouded　eyes　before　leaving　through　the　door　he'd　e　in　by。
　　Lyra　whispered；　〃Did　you　see　that；　Pan？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　did！　Now　hurry　out；　before　the　Steward　es！〃
　　But　as　he　spoke；　there　came　the　sound　of　a　bell　ringing　once　from　the　far　end　of　the　hall。
　　〃That's　the　Steward's　bell！〃　said　Lyra。　〃I　thought　we　had　more　time　than　that。〃
　　Pantalaimon　fluttered　swiftly　to　the　hall　door；　and　swiftly　back。
　　〃The　Steward's　there　already；〃　he　said。　〃And　you　can't　get　out　of　the　other　door　。　。　。　〃
　　The　other　door；　the　one　the　Master　had　entered　and　left　by；　opened　onto　the　busy　corridor　between　the　library　and　the　Scholars'　mon　room。　At　this　time　of　day　it　was　thronged　with　men　pulling　on　their　gowns　for　dinner；　or　hurrying　to　leave　papers　or　briefcases　in　the　mon　room　before　moving　nto　the　hall。　Lyra　had　planned　to　leave　the　way　she'd　e；　banking　on　another　few　minutes　before　the　Steward's　bell　rang。
　　And　if　she　hadn't　seen　the　Master　tipping　that　powder　into　the　wine；　she　might　have　risked　the　Steward's　anger；　or　hoped　to　avoid　being　noticed　in　the　busy　corridor。　But　she　was　confused；　and　that　made　her　hesitate。
　　Then　she　heard　heavy　footsteps　on　the　dais。　The　Steward　was　ing　to　make　sure　the　Retiring　Room　was　ready　for　the　Scholars'　poppy　and　wine　after　dinner。　Lyra　darted　to　the　oak　wardrobe；　opened　it；　and　hid　inside；　pulling　the　door　shut　just　as　the　Steward　entered。　She　had　no　fear　for　Pantalaimon：　the　room　was　somber　colored；　and　he　could　always　creep　under　a　chair。
　　She　heard　the　Steward's　heavy　wheezing；　and　through　the　crack　where　the　door　hadn't　quite　shut　she　saw　him　adjust　the　pipes　in　the　rack　by　the　smoking　stand　and　cast　a　glance　over　the　decanters　and　glasses。　Then　he　smoothed　the　hair　over　his　ears　with　both　palms　and　said　something　to　his　daemon。　He　was　a　servant；　so　she　was　a　dog；　but　a　superior　servant；　so　a　superior　dog。　In　fact；　she　had　the　form　of　a　red　setter。　The　daemon　seemed　suspicious；　and　cast　around　as　if　she'd　sensed　an　intruder；　but　didn't　make　for　the　wardrobe；　to　Lyra's　intense　relief。　Lyra　was　afraid　of　the　Steward；　who　had　twice　beaten　her。
　　Lyra　heard　a　tiny　whisper；　obviously　Pantalaimon　had　squeezed　in　beside　her。
　　〃We're　going　to　have　to　stay　here　now。　Why　don't　you　listen　to　me？〃
　　She　didn't　reply　until　the　Steward　had　left。　It　was　his　job　to　supervise　the　waiting　at　the　high　table；　she　could　hear　the　Scholars　ing　into　the　hall；　the　murmur　of　voices；　the　shuffle　of　feet。
　　〃It's　a　good　thing　I　didn't；〃　she　whispered　back。　〃We　wouldn't　have　seen　the　Master　put　poison　in　the　wine　otherwise。　Pan；　that　was　the　Tokay　he　asked　the　Butler　about！　They're　going　to　kill　Lord　Asriel！〃
　　〃You　don't　know　it's　poison。〃
　　〃Oh；　of　course　it　is。　Don't　you　remember；　he　made　the　Butler　leave　the　room　before　he　did　it？　If　it　was　innocent；　it　wouldn't　have　mattered　the　Butler　seeing。　And　I　know　there's　something　going　on…something　political。　The　servants　have　been　talking　about　it　for　days。　Pan；　we　could　prevent　a　murder！〃
　　〃I've　never　heard　such　nonsense；〃　he　said　shortly。　〃How　do　you　think　you're　going　to　keep　still　for　four　hours　in　this　poky　wardrobe？　Let　me　go　and　look　in　the　corridor。　I'll　tell　you　when　it's　clear。〃
　　He　fluttered　from　her　shoulder；　and　she　saw　his　little　shadow　appear　in　the　crack　of　light。
　　〃It's　no　good；　Pan；　I'm　staying；〃　she　said。　〃There's　another　robe　or　something　here。　I'll　put　that　on　the　floor　and　make　myself　fortable。　I've　just　got　to　see　what　they　do。〃
　　She　had　been　crouching。　She　carefully　stood　up；　feeling　around　for　the　clothes　hangers　in　order　not　to　make　a　noise；　and　found　that　the　wardrobe　was　bigger　than　she'd　thought。　There　were　several　academic　robes　and　hoods；　some　with　fur　around　them；　most　faced　with　silk。
　　〃I　wonder　if　these　are　all　the　Master's？〃　she　whispered。　〃When　he　gets　honorary　degrees　from　other　places；　perhaps　they　give　him　fancy　robes　and　he　keeps　them　here　for　dressing…up　。　。　。　。Pan；　do　you　really　think　it's　not　poison　in　that　wine？〃
　　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　it　is；　like　you　do。　And　I　think　it's　none　of　our　business。　And　I　think　it　would　be　the　silliest　thing　you've　ever　done　in　a　lifetime　of　silly　things　to　interfere。　It's　nothing　to　do　with　us。〃
　　〃Don't　be　stupid；〃　Lyra　said。　〃I　can't　sit　in　here　and　watch　them　give　him　poison！〃
　　〃e　somewhere　else；　then。〃
　　〃You're　a　coward；　Pan。〃
　　〃Certainly　I　am。　May　I　ask　what　you　intend　to　do？　Are　you　going　to　le