pp.thegoldencompass-第26部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　edge　of　the　roof；　where　it　was　crawling　swiftly　to　escape。　Pantalaimon　held　it　firmly　down　with　a　needle…filled　paw　and　looked　up　at　the　darkening　sky；　where　the　black　wing　flaps　of　the　cormorant　were　circling　higher　as　she　cast　around　for　the　other。
　　Then　the　cormorant　glided　swiftly　back　and　croaked　something　to　the　tillerman；　who　said；　〃It's　gone。　Don't　let　that　other　one　escape。　Here…〃　and　he　flung　the　dregs　out　of　the　tin　mug　he'd　been　drinking　from；　and　tossed　it　to　Lyra。
　　She　clapped　it　over　the　creature　at　once。　It　buzzed　and　snarled　like　a　little　machine。
　　〃Hold　it　still；〃　said　Farder　Coram　from　behind　her；　and　then　he　was　kneeling　to　slip　a　piece　of　card　under　the　mug。
　　〃What　is　it；　Farder　Coram？〃　she　said　shakily。
　　〃Let's　go　below　and　have　a　look。　Take　it　careful；　Lyra。　Hold　that　tight。〃
　　She　looked　at　the　tillerman's　daemon　as　she　passed；　intending　to　thank　her；　but　her　old　eyes　were　closed。　She　thanked　the　tillerman　instead。
　　〃You　oughter　stayed　below〃　was　all　he　said。
　　She　took　the　mug　into　the　cabin；　where　Farder　Coram　had　found　a　beer　glass。　He　held　the　tin　mug　upside　down　over　it　and　then　slipped　the　card　out　from　between　them；　so　that　the　creature　fell　into　the　glass。　He　held　it　up　so　they　could　see　the　angry　little　thing　clearly。
　　It　was　about　as　long　as　Lyra's　thumb；　and　dark　green；　not　black。　Its　wing　cases　were　erect；　like　a　ladybird's　about　to　fly；　and　the　wings　inside　were　beating　so　furiously　that　they　were　only　a　blur。　Its　six　clawed　legs　were　scrabbling　on　the　smooth　glass。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said。
　　Pantalaimon；　a　wildcat　still；　crouched　on　the　table　six　inches　away；　his　green　eyes　following　it　round　and　round　inside　the　glass。
　　〃If　you　was　to　crack　it　open；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃you'd　find　no　living　thing　in　there。　No　animal　nor　insect；　at　any　rate。　I　seen　one　of　these　things　afore；　and　I　never　thought　I'd　see　one　again　this　far　north。　Afric　things。　There's　a　clockwork　running　in　there；　and　pinned　to　the　spring　of　it；　there's　a　bad　spirit　with　a　spell　through　its　heart。〃
　　〃But　who　sent　it？〃
　　〃You　don't　even　need　to　read　the　symbols；　Lyra；　you　can　guess　as　easy　as　I　can。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Coulter？〃
　　'〃Course。　She　en't　only　explored　up　north；　there's　strange　things　aplenty　in　the　southern　wild。　It　was　Morocco　where　I　saw　one　of　these　last。　Deadly　dangerous；　while　the　spirit's　in　it；　it　won't　never　stop；　and　when　you　let　the　spirit　free；　it's　so　monstrous　angry　it'll　kill　the　first　thing　it　gets　at。〃
　　〃But　what　was　it　after？〃
　　〃Spying。　I　was　a　cursed　fool　to　let　you　up　above。　And　I　should　have　let　you　think　your　way　through　the　symbols　without　interrupting。〃
　　〃I　see　it　now！〃　said　Lyra；　suddenly　excited。　〃It　means　air；　that　lizard　thing！　I　saw　that；　but　I　couldn't　see　why；　so　I　tried　to　work　it　out　and　I　lost　it。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃then　I　see　it　too。　It　en't　a　lizard；　that's　why；　it's　a　chameleon。　And　it　stands　for　air　because　they　don't　eat　nor　drink；　they　just　live　on　air。〃
　　〃And　the　elephant…〃
　　〃Africa；〃　he　said；　and　〃Aha。〃
　　They　looked　at　each　other。　With　every　revelation　of　the　alethiometer's　power；　they　became　more　awed　by　it。
　　〃It　was　telling　us　about　these　things　all　the　time；〃　said　Lyra。　〃We　oughter　listened。　But　what　can　we　do　about　this　un；　Farder　Coram？　Can　we　kill　it　or　something？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　as　we　can　do　anything。　We　shall　just　have　to　keep　him　shut　up　tight　in　a　box　and　never　let　him　out。　What　worries　me　more　is　the　other　one；　as　got　away。　He'll　be　a　flying　back　to　Mrs。　Coulter　now；　with　the　news　that　he's　seen　you。　Damn　me；　Lyra；　but　I'm　a　fool。〃
　　He　rattled　about　in　a　cupboard　and　found　a　smokeleaf　tin　about　three　inches　in　diameter。　It　had　been　used　for　holding　screws；　but　he　tipped　those　out　and　wiped　the　inside　with　a　rag　before　inverting　the　glass　over　it　with　the　card　still　in　place　over　the　mouth。
　　After　a　tricky　moment　when　one　of　the　creature's　legs　escaped　and　thrust　the　tin　away　with　surprising　strength；　they　had　it　captured　and　the　lid　screwed　down　tight。
　　〃As　soon's　we　get　about　the　ship　I'll　run　some　solder　round　the　edge　to　make　sure　of　it；〃　Farder　Coram　said。
　　〃But　don't　clockwork　run　down？〃
　　〃Ordinary　clockwork；　yes。　But　like　I　said；　this　un's　kept　tight　wound　by　the　spirit　pinned　to　the　end。　The　more　he　struggles；　the　tighter　it's　wound；　and　the　stronger　the　force　is。　Now　let's　put　this　feller　out　the　way　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　wrapped　the　tin　in　a　flannel　cloth　to　stifle　the　incessant　buzzing　and　droning；　and　stowed　it　away　under　his　bunk。
　　It　was　dark　now；　and　Lyra　watched　through　the　window　as　the　lights　of　Colby　came　closer。　The　heavy　air　was　thickening　into　mist；　and　by　the　time　they　tied　up　at　the　wharves　alongside　the　Smokemarket　everything　in　sight　was　softened　and　blurred。　The　darkness　shaded　into　pearly　silver…gray　veils　laid　over　the　warehouses　and　the　cranes；　the　wooden　market　stalls　and　the　granite　many…chimneyed　building　the　market　was　named　after；　where　day　and　night　fish　hung　kippering　in　the　fragrant　oakwood　smoke。　The　chimneys　were　contributing　their　thickness　to　the　clammy　air；　and　the　pleasant　reek　of　smoked　herring　and　mackerel　and　haddock　seemed　to　breathe　out　of　the　very　cobbles。
　　Lyra；　wrapped　up　in　oilskin　and　with　a　large　hood　hiding　her　revealing　hair；　walked　along　between　Farder　Coram　and　the　tillerman。　All　three　daemons　were　alert；　scouting　around　corners　ahead；　watching　behind；　listening　for　the　slightest　footfall。
　　But　they　were　the　only　figures　to　be　seen。　The　citizens　of　Colby　were　all　indoors；　probably　sipping　jenniver　beside　roaring　stoves。　They　saw　no　one　until　they　reached　the　dock；　and　the　first　man　they　saw　there　was　Tony　Costa；　guarding　the　gates。
　　〃Thank　God　you　got　here；〃　he　said　quietly；　letting　them　through。　〃We　just　heard　as　Jack　Verhoeven's　been　shot　and　his　boat　sunk；　and　no　one'd　heard　where　you　was。　John　Faa's　on　board　already　and　jumping　to　go。〃
　　The　vessel　looked　immense　to　Lyra：　a　wheelhouse　and　funnel　amidships；　a　high　fo'c'sle　and　a　stout　derrick　over　a　canvas…covered　hatch；　yellow　light　agleam　in　the　portholes　and　the　bridge；　and　white　light　at　the　masthead；　and　three　or　four　men　on　deck；　working　urgently　at　things　she　couldn't　see。
　　She　hurried　up　the　wooden　gangway　ahead　of　Farder　Coram；　and　looked　around　with　excitement。　Pantalaimon　became　a　monkey　and　clambered　up　the　derrick　at　once；　but　she　called　him　down　again；　Farder　Coram　wanted　them　indoors；　or　below；　as　you　called　it　on　board　ship。
　　Down　some　stairs；　or　a　panionway；　there　was　a　small　saloon　where　John　Faa　was　talking　quietly　with　Nicholas　Rokeby；　the　gyptian　in　charge　of　the　vessel。　John　Faa　did　nothing　hastily。　Lyra　was　waiting　for　him　to　greet　her；　but　he　finished　his　remarks　about　the　tide　and　pilotage　before　turning　to　the　iners。
　　〃Good　evening；　friends；〃　he　said。　〃Poor　Jack　Verhoeven's　dead；　perhaps　you've　heard。　And　his　boys　captured。〃
　　〃We　have　bad　news　too；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　and　told　of　their　encounter　with　the　flying　spirits。
　　John　Faa　shook　his　great　head；　but　didn't　reproach　them。
　　〃Where　is　the　creature　now？〃　he　said。
　　Farder　Coram　took　out　the　leaf　tin　and　laid　it　on　the　table。　Such　a　furious　buzzing　came　from　it　that　the　tin　itself　moved　slowly　over　the　wood。
　　〃I've　heard　of　them　clockwork　devils；　but　never　seen　one；〃　John　Faa　said。　〃There　en't　no　way　of　taming　it　and　turning　it　back；　I　do　know　that　much。　Nor　is　it　any　use　weighing　it　down　with　lead　and　dropping　it　in　the　ocean；　because　one　day　it'd　rust　through　and　out　the　devil　would　e　and　make　for　the　child　wherever　she　was。　No；　we'll　have　to　keep　it　by；　and　exercise　our　vigilance。〃
　　Lyra　being　the　only　female　on　board　（for　John　Faa　had　decided　against　taking　women；　after　much　thought）；　she　had　a　cabin　to　herself。　Not　a　grand　cabin；　to　be　sure；　in　fact；　little　more　than　a　closet　with　a　bunk　and　a　scuttle；　which　was　the　proper　name　for　porthole。　She　stowed　her　few　things　in　the　drawer　below　the　bunk　and　ran　up　excitedly　to　lean　over　the　rail　and　watch　England　vanish　behind；　only　to　find　that　most　of　England　had　vanished　in　the　mist　before　she　got　there。
　　But　the　rush　of　water　below；　the　movement　in　the　air；　the　ship's　lights　glowing　bravely　in　the　dark；　the　rumble　of　the　engine；　the　smells　of　salt　and　fish　and　coal　spirit　were　exciting　enough　by　themselves。　It　wasn't　long　before　another　sensation　joined　them；　as　the　vessel　began　to　roll　in　the　German　Ocean　swell。　When　someone　called　Lyra　down　for　a　bite　of　supper；　she　found　she　was　less　hungry　than　she'd　thought；　and　presently　she　decided　it　would　be　a　good　idea　to　lie　down；　for　Pantalaimon's　sake；　because　the　poor　creature　was　feeling　sadly　ill　at　ease。
　　And　so　began　her　journey　to　the　North。
　　
　　
　　
　　PART　　　TWO
　　BOLVAHGAR
　　
　　
　　TEN　
　　THE　CONSUL　AHD　THE　BEAR
　　
　　John　Faa　and　the　other　leaders　had　decided　that　they　would　make　for　Trollesund；　the　main　port　of　Lapland。　The　witches　had　a　consulate　in　the　town；　and　John　Faa　knew　that　without　their　help；　or　at　least　their　friendly　neutrality；　it　would　be　impossible　to　rescue　the　captive　children。
　　He　explained　his　idea　to　Lyra　and　Farder　Coram　the　next　day；　when　Lyra's　seasickness　had　abated　slightly。　The　sun　was　shining　brightly　and　the　green　waves　were　dashing　against　the　bows；　bearing　white　streams　of　foam　as　they　curved　away。　Out　on　the　deck；　with　the　breeze　blowing　and　the　whole　sea　a…sparkle　with　light　and　movement；　she　felt　little　sickness　at　all；　and　now　that　Pantalaimon　had　discovered　the　delights　of　being　a　seagull　and　then　a　stormy　petrel　and　skimming　the　wave　tops；　Lyra　was　too　absorbed　by　his　glee　to　wallow　in　landlubberly　misery。
　　John　Faa；　Farder　Coram；　and　two　or　three　others　sat　in　the　stern　of　the　ship；　with　the　sun　full　on　them；　talking　about　what　to　do　next。
　　〃Now；　Farder　Coram　knows　these　Lapland　witches；〃　John　Faa　said。　〃And　if　I　en't　mistaken；　there's　an　obligation　there。〃
　　〃That's　right；　John；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃It　were　forty　years　back；　but　that's　nothing　to　a　witch。　Some　of　'em　live　to　many　times　that。〃
　　〃What　happened　to　bring　this　obligation　about；　Farder　Coram？〃　said　Adam　Stefanski；　the　man　in　charge　of　the　fighting　troop。
　　〃I　saved