pp.thegoldencompass-第29部分

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he'd　never　seen　any　before。
　　The　two　men　stood　by　the　window　and　watched　as　she　kicked　her　way　through　the　snow；　Pantalaimon　bouncing　beside　her　as　a　hare；　to　stand　in　front　of　the　wooden　shed；　head　down；　manipulating　the　alethiometer。　After　a　few　seconds　she　reached　forward　and　unhesitatingly　picked　out　one　of　the　many　sprays　of　pine　and　held　it　up。
　　Dr。　Lanselius　nodded。
　　Lyra；　intrigued　and　eager　to　fly；　held　it　above　her　head　and　jumped；　and　ran　about　in　the　snow　trying　to　be　a　witch。　The　consul　turned　to　Farder　Coram　and　said：　〃Do　you　realize　who　this　child　is？〃
　　〃She's　the　daughter　of　Lord　Asriel；〃　said　Farder　Coram。
　　〃And　her　mother　is　Mrs。　Coulter；　of　the　Oblation　Board。〃
　　〃And　apart　from　that？〃
　　The　old　gyptian　had　to　shake　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　any　more。　But　she's　a　strange　innocent　creature；　and　I　wouldn't　have　her　harmed　for　the　world。　How　she　es　to　read　that　instrument　I　couldn't　guess；　but　I　believe　her　when　she　talks　of　it。　Why；　Dr。　Lanselius？　What　do　you　know　about　her？〃
　　〃The　witches　have　talked　about　this　child　for　centuries　past；〃　said　the　consul。　〃Because　they　live　so　close　to　the　place　where　the　veil　between　the　worlds　is　thin；　they　hear　immortal　whispers　from　time　to　time；　in　the　voices　of　those　beings　who　pass　between　the　worlds。　And　they　have　spoken　of　a　child　such　as　this；　who　has　a　great　destiny　that　can　only　be　fulfilled　elsewhere…not　in　this　world；　but　far　beyond。　Without　this　child；　we　shall　all　die。　So　the　witches　say。　But　she　must　fulfill　this　destiny　in　ignorance　of　what　she　is　doing；　because　only　in　her　ignorance　can　we　be　saved。　Do　you　understand　that；　Farder　Coram？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　〃I'm　unable　to　say　that　I　do。〃
　　〃What　it　means　is　that　she　must　be　free　to　make　mistakes。　We　must　hope　that　she　does　not；　but　we　can't　guide　her。　I　am　glad　to　have　seen　this　child　before　I　die。〃
　　〃But　how　did　you　recognize　her　as　being　that　particular　child？　And　what　did　you　mean　about　the　beings　who　pass　between　the　worlds？　I'm　at　a　loss　to　understand　you；　Dr。　Lanselius；　for　all　that　I　judge　you're　an　honest　man　。　。　。　。〃
　　But　before　the　consul　could　answer；　the　door　opened　and　Lyra　came　in　bearing　a　little　branch　of　pine。
　　〃This　is　the　one！〃　she　said。　〃I　tested　'em　all；　and　this　is　it；　I'm　sure。　But　it　won't　fly　for　me。〃
　　The　consul　said；　〃Well；　Lyra；　that　is　remarkable。　You　are　lucky　to　have　an　instrument　like　that；　and　I　wish　you　well　with　it。　I　would　like　to　give　you　something　to　take　away　with　you　。　。　。　。〃
　　He　took　the　spray　and　broke　off　a　twig　for　her。
　　〃Did　she　really　fly　with　this？〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Yes；　she　did。　But　then　she　is　a　witch；　and　you　are　not。　I　can't　give　you　all　of　it；　because　I　need　it　to　contact　her；　but　this　will　be　enough。　Look　after　it。〃
　　〃Yes；　I　will；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you。〃
　　And　she　tucked　it　into　her　purse　beside　the　alethiometer。　Farder　Coram　touched　the　spray　of　pine　as　if　for　luck；　and　on　his　face　was　an　expression　Lyra　had　never　seen　before：　almost　a　longing。　The　consul　showed　them　to　the　door；　where　he　shook　hands　with　Farder　Coram；　and　shook　Lyra's　hand　too。
　　〃I　hope　you　find　success；〃　he　said；　and　stood　on　his　doorstep　in　the　piercing　cold　to　watch　them　up　the　little　street。
　　〃He　knew　the　answer　about　the　Tartars　before　I　did；〃　Lyra　told　Farder　Coram。　〃The　alethiometer　told　me；　but　I　never　said。　It　was　the　crucible。〃
　　〃I　expect　he　was　testing　you；　child。　But　you　done　right　to　be　polite；　being　as　we　can't　be　sure　what　he　knows　already。　And　that　was　a　useful　tip　about　the　bear。　I　don't　know　how　we　would　a　heard　otherwise。〃
　　They　found　their　way　to　the　depot；　which　was　a　couple　of　concrete　warehouses　in　a　scrubby　area　of　waste　ground　where　thin　weeds　grew　between　gray　rocks　and　pools　of　icy　mud。　A　surly　man　in　an　office　told　them　that　they　could　find　the　bear　off　duty　at　six；　but　they'd　have　to　be　quick；　because　he　usually　went　straight　to　the　yard　behind　Einarsson's　Bar；　where　they　gave　him　drink。
　　Then　Farder　Coram　took　Lyra　to　the　best　outfitter's　in　town　and　bought　her　some　proper　cold…weather　clothing。　They　bought　a　parka　made　of　reindeer　skin；　because　reindeer　hair　is　hollow　and　insulates　well；　and　the　hood　was　lined　with　wolverine　fur；　because　that　sheds　the　ice　that　forms　when　you　breathe。　They　bought　underclothing　and　boot　liners　of　reindeer　calf　skin；　and　silk　gloves　to　go　inside　big　fur　mittens。　The　boots　and　mittens　were　made　of　skin　from　the　reindeer's　forelegs；　because　that　is　extra　tough；　and　the　boots　were　soled　with　the　skin　of　the　bearded　seal；　which　is　as　tough　as　walrus　hide；　but　lighter。　Finally　they　bought　a　waterproof　cape　that　enveloped　her　pletely；　made　of　semitransparent　seal　intestine。
　　With　all　that　on；　and　a　silk　muffler　around　her　neck　and　a　woollen　cap　over　her　ears　and　the　big　hood　pulled　forward；　she　was　unfortably　warm；　but　they　were　going　to　much　colder　regions　than　this。
　　John　Faa　had　been　supervising　the　unloading　of　the　ship；　and　was　keen　to　hear　about　the　witch　consul's　words；　and　even　keener　to　learn　of　the　bear。
　　〃We'll　go　to　him　this　very　evening；〃　he　said。　〃Have　you　ever　spoken　to　such　a　creature；　Farder　Coram？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　have；　and　fought　one；　too；　though　not　by　myself；　thank　God。　We　must　be　ready　to　treat　with　him；　John。　He'll　ask　a　lot；　I've　no　doubt；　and　be　surly　and　difficult　to　manage；　but　we　must　have　him。〃
　　〃Oh；　we　must。　And　what　of　your　witch？〃
　　〃Well；　she's　a　long　way　off；　and　a　clan　queen　now；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃I　did　hope　it　might　be　possible　for　a　message　to　reach　her；　but　it　would　take　too　long　to　wait　for　a　reply。〃
　　〃Ah；　well。　Now　let　me　tell　you　what　I've　found；　old　friend。〃　For　John　Faa　had　been　fidgeting　with　impatience　to　tell　them　something。　He　had　met　a　prospector　on　the　quayside；　a　New　Dane　from　the　country　of　Texas；　and　this　man　had　a　balloon；　of　all　things。　The　expedition　he'd　been　hoping　to　join　had　failed　for　lack　of　funds　even　before　it　had　left　Amsterdam；　so　he　was　stranded。
　　〃Think　what　we　might　do　with　the　help　of　an　aeronaut；　Farder　Coram！〃　said　John　Faa；　rubbing　his　great　hands　together。　〃I've　engaged　him　to　sign　up　with　us。　Seems　to　me　we　struck　lucky　a　ing　here。〃
　　〃Luckier　still　if　we　had　a　clear　idea　of　where　we　were　going；〃　said　Farder　Coram；　but　nothing　could　damp　John　Faa's　pleasure　in　being　on　campaign　once　more。
　　
　　After　darkness　had　fallen；　and　when　the　stores　and　equipment　had　all　been　safely　unloaded　and　stood　in　waiting　on　the　quay；　Farder　Coram　and　Lyra　walked　along　the　waterfront　and　looked　for　Einarsson's　Bar。　They　found　it　easily　enough：　a　crude　concrete　shed　with　a　red　neon　sign　flashing　irregularly　over　the　door　and　the　sound　of　loud　voices　through　the　condensation…frosted　windows。
　　A　pitted　alley　beside　it　led　to　a　sheet…metal　gate　into　a　rear　yard；　where　a　lean…to　shed　stood　crazily　over　a　floor　of　frozen　mud。　Dim　yellow　light　through　the　rear　window　of　the　bar　showed　a　vast　pale　form　crouching　upright　and　gnawing　at　a　haunch　of　meat　which　it　held　in　both　hands。　Lyra　had　an　impression　of　bloodstained　muzzle　and　face；　small　malevolent　black　eyes；　and　an　immensity　of　dirty　matted　yellowish　fur。　As　it　gnawed；　hideous　growling；　crunching；　sucking　noises　came　from　it。
　　Farder　Coram　stood　by　the　gate　and　called：
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison！〃
　　The　bear　stopped　eating。　As　far　as　they　could　tell；　he　was　looking　at　them　directly；　but　it　was　impossible　to　read　any　expression　on　his　face。
　　〃Iorek　Byrnison；〃　said　Farder　Coram　again。　〃May　I　speak　to　you？〃
　　Lyra's　heart　was　thumping　hard；　because　something　in　the　bear's　presence　made　her　feel　close　to　coldness；　danger；　brutal　power；　but　a　power　controlled　by　intelligence；　and　not　a　human　intelligence；　nothing　like　a　human；　because　of　course　bears　had　no　daemons。　This　strange　hulking　presence　gnawing　its　meat　was　like　nothing　she　had　ever　imagined；　and　she　felt　a　profound　admiration　and　pity　for　the　lonely　creature。
　　He　dropped　the　reindeer　leg　in　the　dirt　and　slumped　on　all　fours　to　the　gate。　Then　he　reared　up　massively；　ten　feet　or　more　high；　as　if　to　show　how　mighty　he　was；　to　remind　them　how　useless　the　gate　would　be　as　a　barrier；　and　he　spoke　to　them　from　that　height。
　　〃Well？　Who　are　you？〃
　　His　voice　was　so　deep　it　seemed　to　shake　the　earth。　The　rank　smell　that　came　from　his　body　was　almost　overpowering。
　　〃I'm　Farder　Coram；　from　the　gyptian　people　of　Eastern　Anglia。　And　this　little　girl　is　Lyra　Belacqua。〃
　　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃We　want　to　offer　you　employment；　Iorek　Byrnison。〃
　　〃I　am　employed。〃
　　The　bear　dropped　on　all　fours　again。　It　was　very　hard　to　detect　any　expressive　tones　in　his　voice；　whether　of　irony　or　anger；　because　it　was　so　deep　and　so　flat。
　　〃What　do　you　do　at　the　sledge　depot？〃　Farder　Coram　asked。
　　〃I　mend　broken　machinery　and　articles　of　iron。　I　lift　heavy　objects。〃
　　〃What　kind　of　work　is　that　for　a　panserbjorn？〃
　　〃Paid　work。〃
　　Behind　the　bear；　the　door　of　the　bar　opened　a　little　way　and　a　man　put　down　a　large　earthenware　jar　before　looking　up　to　peer　at　them。
　　〃Who's　that？〃　he　said。
　　〃Strangers；〃　said　the　bear。
　　The　bartender　looked　as　if　he　was　going　to　ask　something　more；　but　the　bear　lurched　toward　him　suddenly　and　the　man　shut　the　door　in　alarm。　The　bear　hooked　a　claw　through　the　handle　of　the　jar　and　lifted　it　to　his　mouth。　Lyra　could　smell　the　tang　of　the　raw　spirits　that　splashed　out。
　　After　swallowing　several　times；　the　bear　put　the　jar　down　and　turned　back　to　gnaw　his　haunch　of　meat；　heedless　of　Farder　Coram　and　Lyra；　it　seemed；　but　then　he　spoke　again。
　　〃What　work　are　you　offering？〃
　　〃Fighting；　in　all　probability；〃　said　Farder　Coram。　〃We're　moving　north　until　we　find　a　place　where　they've　taken　some　children　captive。　When　we　find　it；　we'll　have　to　fight　to　get　the　children　free；　and　then　we'll　bring　them　back。〃
　　〃And　what　will　you　pay？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　offer　you；　Iorek　Byrnison。　If　gold　is　desirable　to　you；　we　have　gold。〃
　　〃No　good。〃
　　〃What　do　they　pay　you　at　the　sledge　depot？〃
　　〃My　keep　here　in　meat　and　spirits。〃
　　Silence　from　the　bear；　and　then　he　dropped　the　ragged　bone　and　lifted　the　jar　to　his　muzzle　again；　drinking　the　powerful　spirits　like　water。
　　〃F