pp.thegoldencompass-第41部分

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eak　to　Roger's　daemon　Salcilia。
　　She　was　a　chaffinch；　and　she　fluttered　so　wildly　that　Pantalaimon　had　to　be　a　cat　and　leap　at　her；　pinning　her　down　to　whisper。　Such　brisk　fights　or　scuffles　between　children's　daemons　were　mon；　luckily；　and　no　one　took　much　notice；　but　Roger　went　pale　at　once。　Lyra　had　never　seen　anyone　so　white。　He　looked　up　at　the　blank　haughty　stare　she　gave　him；　and　the　color　flooded　back　into　his　cheeks　as　he　brimmed　over　with　hope；　excitement；　and　joy；　and　only　Pantalaimon；　shaking　Salcilia　firmly；　was　able　to　keep　Roger　from　shouting　out　and　leaping　up　to　greet　his　best　friend；　his　rade　in　arms；　his　Lyra。
　　But　he　saw　how　she　looked　away　disdainfully；　and　he　followed　her　example　faithfully；　as　he'd　done　in　a　hundred　Oxford　battles　and　campaigns。　No　one　must　know；　of　course；　because　they　were　both　in　deadly　danger。　She　rolled　her　eyes　at　her　new　friends；　and　they　collected　their　trays　of　cornflakes　and　toast　and　sat　together；　an　instant　gang；　excluding　everyone　else　in　order　to　gossip　about　them。
　　You　can't　keep　a　large　group　of　children　in　one　place　for　long　without　giving　them　plenty　to　do；　and　in　some　ways　Bolvangar　was　run　like　a　school；　with　timetabled　activities　such　as　gymnastics　and　〃art。〃　Boys　and　girls　were　kept　separate　except　for　breaks　and　mealtimes；　so　it　wasn't　until　midmorning；　after　an　hour　and　a　half　of　sewing　directed　by　one　of　the　nurses；　that　Lyra　had　the　chance　to　talk　to　Roger。　But　it　had　to　look　natural；　that　was　the　difficulty。　All　the　children　there　were　more　or　less　at　the　same　age；　and　it　was　the　age　when　most　boys　talk　to　boys　and　girls　to　girls；　each　making　a　conspicuous　point　of　ignoring　the　opposite　sex。
　　She　found　her　chance　in　the　canteen　again；　when　the　children　came　in　for　a　drink　and　a　biscuit。　Lyra　sent　Pantalaimon；　as　a　fly；　to　talk　to　Salcilia　on　the　wall　next　to　their　table　while　she　and　Roger　kept　quietly　in　their　separate　groups。　It　was　difficult　to　talk　while　your　daemon's　attention　was　somewhere　else；　so　Lyra　pretended　to　look　glum　and　rebellious　as　she　sipped　her　milk　with　the　other　girls。　Half　her　thoughts　were　with　the　tiny　buzz　of　talk　between　the　daemons；　and　she　wasn't　really　listening；　but　at　one　point　she　heard　another　girl　with　bright　blond　hair　say　a　name　that　made　her　sit　up。
　　It　was　the　name　of　Tony　Makarios。　As　Lyra's　attention　snapped　toward　that；　Pantalaimon　had　to　slow　down　his　whispered　conversation　with　Roger's　daemon；　and　both　children　listened　to　what　the　girl　was　saying。
　　〃No；　I　know　why　they　took　him；〃　she　said；　as　heads　clustered　close　nearby。　〃It　was　because　his　daemon　didn't　change。　They　thought　he　was　older　than　he　looked；　or　summing；　and　he　weren't　really　a　young　kid。　But　really　his　daemon　never　changed　very　often　because　Tony　hisself　never　thought　much　about　anything。　I　seen　her　change。　She　was　called　Ratter　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Why　are　they　so　interested　in　daemons？〃　said　Lyra。
　　〃No　one　knows；〃　said　the　blond　girl。
　　〃I　know；〃　said　one　boy　who'd　been　listening。　〃What　they　do　is　kill　your　daemon　and　then　see　if　you　die。〃
　　〃Well；　how　e　they　do　it　over　and　over　with　different　kids？〃　said　someone。　〃They'd　only　need　to　do　it　once；　wouldn't　they？〃
　　〃I　know　what　they　do；〃　said　the　first　girl。
　　She　had　everyone's　attention　now。　But　because　they　didn't　want　to　let　the　staff　know　what　they　were　talking　about；　they　had　to　adopt　a　strange；　half…careless；　indifferent　manner；　while　listening　with　passionate　curiosity。
　　〃How？〃　said　someone。
　　〃　'Cause　I　was　with　him　when　they　came　for　him。　We　was　in　the　linen　room；〃　she　said。
　　She　was　blushing　hotly。　If　she　was　expecting　jeers　and　teasing；　they　didn't　e。　All　the　children　were　subdued；　and　no　one　even　smiled。
　　The　girl　went　on：　〃We　was　keeping　quiet　and　then　the　nurse　came　in；　the　one　with　the　soft　voice。　And　she　says；　e　on；　Tony；　I　know　you're　there；　e　on；　we　won't　hurt　you　。　。　。　。And　he　says；　What's　going　to　happen？　And　she　says；　We　just　put　you　to　sleep；　and　then　we　do　a　little　operation；　and　then　you　wake　up　safe　and　sound。　But　Tony　didn't　believe　her。　He　says…〃
　　〃The　holes！〃　said　someone。　〃They　make　a　hole　in　your　head　like　the　Tartars！　I　bet！〃
　　〃Shut　up！　What　else　did　the　nurse　say？〃　someone　else　put　in。　By　this　time；　a　dozen　or　more　children　were　clustered　around　her　table；　their　daemons　as　desperate　to　know　as　they　were；　all　wide…eyed　and　tense。
　　The　blond　girl　went　on：　〃Tony　wanted　to　know　what　they　was　gonna　do　with　Ratter；　see。　And　the　nurse　says；　Well；　she's　going　to　sleep　too；　just　like　when　you　do。　And　Tony　says；　You're　gonna　kill　her；　en't　yer？　1　know　you　are。　We　all　know　that's　what　happens。　And　the　nurse　says；　No；　of　course　not。　It's　just　a　little　operation。　Just　a　little　cut。　It　won't　even　hurt；　but　we　put　you　to　sleep　to　make　sure。
　　All　the　room　had　gone　quiet　now。　The　nurse　who'd　been　supervising　had　left　for　a　moment；　and　the　hatch　to　the　kitchen　was　shut　so　no　one　could　hear　from　there。
　　〃What　sort　of　cut？〃　said　a　boy；　his　voice　quiet　and　frightened。　〃Did　she　say　what　sort　of　cut？〃
　　〃She　just　said；　It's　something　to　make　you　more　grown　up。　She　said　everyone　had　to　have　it；　that's　why　grownups'　daemons　don't　change　like　ours　do。　So　they　have　a　cut　to　make　them　one　shape　forever；　and　that's　how　you　get　grown　up。〃
　　〃But…〃
　　〃Does　that　mean…〃
　　〃What；　all　grownups've　had　this　cut？〃
　　〃What　about…〃
　　Suddenly　all　the　voices　stopped　as　if　they　themselves　had　been　cut；　and　all　eyes　turned　to　the　door。　Sister　Clara　stood　there；　bland　and　mild　and　matter…of…fact；　and　beside　her　was　a　man　in　a　white　coat　whom　Lyra　hadn't　seen　before。
　　〃Bridget　McGinn；〃　he　said。
　　The　blond　girl　stood　up　trembling。　Her　squirrel　daemon　clutched　her　breast。
　　〃Yes；　sir？〃　she　said；　her　voice　hardly　audible。
　　〃Finish　your　drink　and　e　with　Sister　Clara；〃　he　said。　〃The　rest　of　you　run　along　and　go　to　your　classes。〃
　　Obediently　the　children　stacked　their　mugs　on　the　stainless…steel　trolley　before　leaving　in　silence。　No　one　looked　at　Bridget　McGinn　except　Lyra；　and　she　saw　the　blond　girl's　face　vivid　with　fear。
　　The　rest　of　that　morning　was　spent　in　exercise。　There　was　a　small　gymnasium　at　the　station；　because　it　was　hard　to　exercise　outside　during　the　long　polar　night；　and　each　group　of　children　took　turns　to　play　in　there；　under　the　supervision　of　a　nurse。　They　had　to　form　teams　and　throw　balls　around；　and　at　first　Lyra；　who　had　never　in　her　life　played　at　anything　like　this；　was　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　But　she　was　quick　and　athletic；　and　a　natural　leader；　and　soon　found　herself　enjoying　it。　The　shouts　of　the　children；　the　shrieks　and　hoots　of　the　daemons；　filled　the　little　gymnasium　and　soon　banished　fearful　thoughts；　which　of　course　was　exactly　what　the　exercise　was　intended　to　do。
　　
　　At　lunchtime；　when　the　children　were　lining　up　once　again　in　the　canteen；　Lyra　felt　Pantalaimon　give　a　chirrup　of　recognition；　and　turned　to　find　Billy　Costa　standing　just　behind　her。
　　〃Roger　told　me　you　was　here；〃　he　muttered。
　　〃Your　brother's　ing；　and　John　Faa　and　a　whole　band　of　gyptians；〃　she　said。　〃They're　going　to　take　you　home。〃
　　He　nearly　cried　aloud　with　joy；　but　subdued　the　cry　into　a　cough。
　　〃And　you　got　to　call　me　Lizzie；〃　Lyra　said；　〃never　Lyra。　And　you　got　to　tell　me　everything　you　know；　right。〃
　　They　sat　together；　with　Roger　close　by。　It　was　easier　to　do　this　at　lunchtime；　when　children　spent　more　time　ing　and　going　between　the　tables　and　the　counter；　where　bland…looking　adults　served　equally　bland　food。　Under　the　clatter　of　knives　and　forks　and　plates　Billy　and　Roger　both　told　her　as　much　as　they　knew。　Billy　had　heard　from　a　nurse　that　children　who　had　had　the　operation　were　often　taken　to　hostels　further　south；　which　might　explain　how　Tony　Makarios　came　to　be　wandering　in　the　wild。　But　Roger　had　something　even　more　interesting　to　tell　her。
　　〃I　found　a　hiding　place；〃　he　said。
　　〃What？　Where？〃
　　〃See　that　picture　。　。　。　〃　He　meant　the　big　photogram　of　the　tropical　beach。　〃If　you　look　in　the　top　right　corner；　you　see　that　ceiling　panel？〃
　　The　ceiling　consisted　of　large　rectangular　panels　set　in　a　framework　of　metal　strips；　and　the　corner　of　the　panel　above　the　picture　had　lifted　slightly。
　　〃I　saw　that；〃　Roger　said；　〃and　I　thought　the　others　might　be　like　it；　so　I　lifted　'em；　and　they're　all　loose。　They　just　lift　up。　Me　and　this　boy　tried　it　one　night　in　our　dormitory；　before　they　took　him　away。　There's　a　space　up　there　and　you　can　crawl　inside　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃How　far　can　you　crawl　in　the　ceiling？〃
　　〃I　dunno。　We　just　went　in　a　little　way。　We　reckoned　when　it　was　time　we　could　hide　up　there；　but　they'd　probably　find　us。〃
　　Lyra　saw　it　not　as　a　hiding　place　but　as　a　highway。　It　was　the　best　thing　she'd　heard　since　she'd　arrived。　But　before　they　could　talk　any　more；　a　doctor　banged　on　a　table　with　a　spoon　and　began　to　speak。
　　〃Listen；　children；〃　he　said。　〃Listen　carefully。　Every　so　often　we　have　to　have　a　fire　drill。　It's　very　important　that　we　all　get　dressed　properly　and　make　our　way　outside　without　any　panic。　So　we're　going　to　have　a　practice　fire　drill　this　afternoon。　When　the　bell；　rings　you　must　stop　whatever　you're　doing　and　do　what　the　nearest　grownup　says。　Remember　where　they　take　you。　That's　the　place　you　must　go　to　if　there's　a　real　fire。〃
　　Well；　thought　Lyra；　there's　an　idea。
　　During　the　first　part　of　the　afternoon；　Lyra　and　four　other　girls　were　tested　for　Dust。　The　doctors　didn't　say　that　was　what　they　were　doing；　but　it　was　easy　to　guess。　They　were　taken　one　by　one　to　a　laboratory；　and　of　course　this　made　them　all　very　frightened；　how　cruel　it　would　be；　Lyra　thought；　if　she　perished　without　striking　a　blow　at　them！　But　they　were　not　going　to　do　that　operation　just　yet；　it　seemed。
　　〃We　want　to　make　some　measurements；〃　the　doctor　explained。　It　was　hard　to　tell　the　difference　between　these　people：　all　the　men　looked　similar　in　their　white　coats　and　with　their　clipboards　and　pencils；　and　the　women　resembled　one　another　too；　the　uniforms　and　their　strange　bland　calm　manner　making　them　all　look　like　sisters。
　　〃I　was　measured　yesterday；〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Ah；　we're　making　different　measurements　today。　Stand　on　the　metal　plate…oh；　slip　your　shoes　of