pp.thegoldencompass-第42部分

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　　〃I　was　measured　yesterday；〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Ah；　we're　making　different　measurements　today。　Stand　on　the　metal　plate…oh；　slip　your　shoes　off　first。　Hold　your　daemon；　if　you　like。　Look　forward；　that's　it；　stare　at　the　little　green　light。　Good　girl　。　。　。　〃
　　Something　flashed。　The　doctor　made　her　face　the　other　way　and　then　to　left　and　right；　and　each　time　something　clicked　and　flashed。
　　〃That's　fine。　Now　e　over　to　this　machine　and　put　your　hand　into　the　tube。　Nothing　to　harm　you；　I　promise。　Straighten　your　fingers。　That's　it。〃
　　〃What　are　you　measuring？〃　she　said。　〃Is　it　Dust？〃
　　〃Who　told　you　about　Dust？〃
　　〃One　of　the　other　girls；　I　don't　know　her　name。　She　said　we　was　all　over　Dust。　I　en't　dusty；　at　least　I　don't　think　I　am。　I　had　a　shower　yesterday。〃
　　〃Ah；　it's　a　different　sort　of　dust。　You　can't　see　it　with　your　ordinary　eyesight。　It's　a　special　dust。　Now　clench　your　fist…　that's　right。　Good。　Now　if　you　feel　around　in　there；　you'll　find　a　sort　of　handle　thing…got　that？　Take　hold　of　that；　there's　a　good　girl。　Now　can　you　put　your　other　hand　over　this　way…　rest　it　on　this　brass　globe。　Good。　Fine。　Now　you'll　feel　a　slight　tingling；　nothing　to　worry　about；　it's　just　a　slight　anbaric　current　。　。　。　。〃
　　Pantalaimon；　in　his　most　tense　and　wary　wildcat　form；　prowled　with　lightning…eyed　suspicion　around　the　apparatus；　continually　returning　to　rub　himself　against　Lyra。
　　She　was　sure　by　now　that　they　weren't　going　to　perform　the　operation　on　her　yet；　and　sure　too　that　her　disguise　as　Lizzie　Brooks　was　secure；　so　she　risked　a　question。
　　〃Why　do　you　cut　people's　daemons　away？〃
　　〃What？　Who's　been　talking　to　you　about　that？〃
　　〃This　girl；　I　dunno　her　name。　She　said　you　cut　people's　daemons　away。〃
　　〃Nonsense　。　。　。　〃
　　He　was　agitated；　though。　She　went　on：
　　'〃Cause　you　take　people　out　one　by　one　and　they　never　e　back。　And　some　people　reckon　you　just　kill　'em；　and　other　people　say　different；　and　this　girl　told　me　you　cut…〃
　　〃It's　not　true　at　all。　When　we　take　children　out；　it's　because　it's　time　for　them　to　move　on　to　another　place。　They're　growing　up。　I'm　afraid　your　friend　is　alarming　herself。　Nothing　of　the　sort！　Don't　even　think　about　it。　Who　is　your　friend？〃
　　〃I　only　e　here　yesterday；　I　don't　know　anyone's　name。〃
　　〃What　does　she　look　like？〃
　　〃I　forget。　I　think　she　had　sort　of　brown　hair　。　。　。　light　brown；　maybe　。　。　。　！　dunno。〃

　　The　doctor　went　to　speak　quietly　to　the　nurse。　As　the　two　of　them　conferred；　Lyra　watched　their　daemons。　This　nurse's　was　a　pretty　bird；　just　as　neat　and　incurious　as　Sister　Clara's　dog；　and　the　doctor's　was　a　large　heavy　moth。　Neither　moved。　They　were　awake；　for　the　bird's　eyes　were　bright　and　the　moth's　feelers　waved　languidly；　but　they　weren't　animated；　as　she　would　have　expected　them　to　be。　Perhaps　they　weren't　really　anxious　or　curious　at　all。
　　Presently　the　doctor　came　back　and　they　went　on　with　the　examination；　weighing　her　and　Pantalaimon　separately；　looking　at　her　from　behind　a　special　screen；　measuring　her　heartbeat；　placing　her　under　a　little　nozzle　that　hissed　and　gave　off　a　smell　like　fresh　air。
　　In　the　middle　of　one　of　the　tests；　a　loud　bell　began　to　ring　and　kept　ringing。
　　〃The　fire　alarm；〃　said　the　doctor；　sighing。　〃Very　well。　Lizzie；　follow　Sister　Betty。〃
　　〃But　all　their　outdoor　clothes　are　down　in　the　dormitory　building；　Doctor。　She　can't　go　outside　like　this。　Should　we　go　there　first；　do　you　think？〃
　　He　was　annoyed　at　having　his　experiments　interrupted；　and　snapped　his　fingers　in　irritation。
　　〃I　suppose　this　is　just　the　sort　of　thing　the　practice　is　meant　to　show　up；〃　he　said。　〃What　a　nuisance。〃
　　〃When　I　came　yesterday；〃　Lyra　said　helpfully；　〃Sister　Clara　put　my　other　clothes　in　a　cupboard　in　that　first　room　where　she　looked　at　me。　The　one　next　door。　I　could　wear　them。〃
　　〃Good　idea！〃　said　the　nurse。　〃Quick；　then。〃
　　With　a　secret　glee；　Lyra　hurried　there　behind　the　nurse　and　retrieved　her　proper　furs　and　leggings　and　boots；　and　pulled　them　on　quickly　while　the　nurse　dressed　herself　in　coal　silk。
　　Then　they　hurried　out。　In　the　wide　arena　in　front　of　the　main　group　of　buildings；　a　hundred　or　so　people；　adults　and　children；　were　milling　about：　some　in　excitement；　some　in　irritation；　many　just　bewildered。
　　〃See？〃　one　adult　was　saying。　〃It's　worth　doing　this　to　find　out　what　chaos　we'd　be　in　with　a　real　fire。〃
　　Someone　was　blowing　a　whistle　and　waving　his　arms；　but　no　one　was　taking　much　notice。　Lyra　saw　Roger　and　beckoned。　Roger　tugged　Billy　Costa's　arm　and　soon　all　three　of　them　were　together　in　a　maelstrom　of　running　children。
　　〃No　one'll　notice　if　we　take　a　look　around；〃　said　Lyra。　〃It'll　take　'em　ages　to　count　everyone；　and　we　can　say　we　just　followed　someone　else　and　got　lost。〃
　　They　waited　till　most　of　the　grownups　were　looking　the　other　way；　and　then　Lyra　scooped　up　some　snow　and　rammed　it　into　a　loose　powdery　snowball；　and　hurled　it　at　random　into　the　crowd。　In　a　moment　all　the　children　were　doing　it；　and　the　air　was　full　of　flying　snow。　Screams　of　laughter　covered　pletely　the　shouts　of　the　adults　trying　to　regain　control；　and　then　the　three　children　were　around　the　corner　and　out　of　sight。
　　The　snow　was　so　thick　that　they　couldn't　move　quickly；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　matter；　no　one　was　following。　Lyra　and　the　others　scrambled　over　the　curved　roof　of　one　of　the　tunnels；　and　found　themselves　in　a　strange　moonscape　of　regular　hummocks　and　hollows；　all　swathed　in　white　under　the　black　sky　and　lit　by　reflections　from　the　lights　around　the　arena。
　　〃What　we　looking　for？〃　said　Billy。
　　〃Dunno。　Just　looking；〃　said　Lyra；　and　led　the　way　to　a　squat；　square　building　a　little　apart　from　the　rest；　with　a　low…powered　anbaric　light　at　the　corner。
　　The　hubbub　from　behind　was　as　loud　as　ever；　but　more　distant。　Clearly　the　children　were　making　the　most　of　their　freedom；　and　Lyra　hoped　they'd　keep　it　up　for　as　long　as　they　could。　She　moved　around　the　edge　of　the　square　building；　looking　for　a　window。　The　roof　was　only　seven　feet　or　so　off　the　ground；　and　unlike　the　other　buildings；　it　had　no　roofed　tunnel　to　connect　it　with　the　rest　of　the　station。
　　There　was　no　window；　but　there　was　a　door。　A　notice　above　it　said　ENTRY　STRICTLY　FORBIDDEN　in　red　letters。
　　Lyra　set　her　hand　on　it　to　try；　but　before　she　could　turn　the　handle；　Roger　said：
　　〃Look！　A　bird！　Or…〃
　　His　or　was　an　exclamation　of　doubt；　because　the　creature　swooping　down　from　the　black　sky　was　no　bird　at　all：　it　was　someone　Lyra　had　seen　before。
　　〃The　witch's　daemon！〃
　　The　goose　beat　his　great　wings；　raising　a　flurry　of　snow　as　he　landed。
　　〃Greetings；　Lyra；〃　he　said。　〃I　followed　you　here；　though　you　didn't　see　me。　I　have　been　waiting　for　you　to　e　out　into　the　open。　What　is　happening？〃
　　She　told　him　quickly。

　　〃Where　are　the　gyptians？〃　she　said。　〃Is　John　Faa　safe？　Did　they　fight　off　the　Samoyeds？〃
　　〃Most　of　them　are　safe。　John　Faa　is　wounded；　though　not　severely。　The　men　who　took　you　were　hunters　and　raiders　who　often　prey　on　parties　of　travelers；　and　alone　they　can　travel　more　quickly　than　a　large　party。　The　gyptians　are　still　a　day's　journey　away。〃
　　The　two　boys　were　staring　in　fear　at　the　goose　daemon　and　at　Lyra's　familiar　manner　with　him；　because　of　course　they'd　never　seen　a　daemon　without　his　human　before；　and　they　knew　little　about　witches。
　　Lyra　said　to　them；　〃Listen；　you　better　go　and　keep　watch；　right。　Billy；　you　go　that　way；　and　Roger；　watch　out　the　way　we　just　e。　We　en't　got　long。〃
　　They　ran　off　to　do　as　she　said；　and　then　Lyra　turned　back　to　the　door。
　　〃Why　are　you　trying　to　get　in　there？〃　said　the　goose　daemon。
　　〃Because　of　what　they　do　here。　They　cut…〃　she　lowered　her　voice；　〃they　cut　people's　daemons　away。　Children's。　And　I　think　maybe　they　do　it　in　here。　At　least；　there's　something　here；　and　I　was　going　to　look。　But　it's　locked　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　can　open　it；〃　said　the　goose；　and　beat　his　wings　once　or　twice；　throwing　snow　up　against　the　door；　and　as　he　did；　Lyra　heard　something　turn　in　the　lock。
　　〃Go　in　carefully；〃　said　the　daemon。
　　Lyra　pulled　open　the　door　against　the　snow　and　slipped　inside。　The　goose　daemon　came　with　her。　Pantalaimon　was　agitated　and　fearful；　but　he　didn't　want　the　witch's　daemon　to　see　his　fear；　so　he　had　flown　to　Lyra's　breast　and　taken　sanctuary　inside　her　furs。
　　As　soon　as　her　eyes　had　adjusted　to　the　light；　Lyra　saw　why。
　　In　a　series　of　glass　cases　on　shelves　around　the　walls　were　all　the　daemons　of　the　severed　children：　ghostlike　forms　of　cats；　or　birds；　or　rats；　or　other　creatures；　each　bewildered　and　frightened　and　as　pale　as　smoke。
　　The　witch's　daemon　gave　a　cry　of　anger；　and　Lyra　clutched　Pantalaimon　to　her　and　said；　〃Don't　look！　Don't　look！〃
　　〃Where　are　the　children　of　these　daemons？〃　said　the　goose　daemon；　shaking　with　rage。
　　Lyra　explained　fearfully　about　her　encounter　with　little　Tony　Makarios；　and　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　poor　caged　daemons；　who　were　clustering　forward　pressing　their　pale　faces　to　the　glass。　Lyra　could　hear　faint　cries　of　pain　and　misery。　In　the　dim　light　from　a　low…powered　anbaric　bulb　she　could　see　a　name　on　a　card　at　the　front　of　each　case；　and　yes；　there　was　an　empty　one　with　Tony　Makarios　on　it。　There　were　four　or　five　other　empty　ones　with　names　on　them；　too。
　　〃I　want　to　let　these　poor　things　go！〃　she　said　fiercely。　〃I'm　going　to　smash　the　glass　and　let　'em　out…〃
　　And　she　looked　around　for　something　to　do　it　with；　but　the　place　was　bare。　The　goose　daemon　said；　〃Wait。〃
　　He　was　a　witch's　daemon；　and　much　older　than　she　was；　and　stronger。　She　had　to　do　as　he　said。
　　〃We　must　make　these　people　think　someone　forgot　to　lock　the　place　and　shut　the　cages；〃　he　explained。　〃If　they　see　broken　glass　and　footprints　in　the　snow；　how　long　do　you　think　your　disguise　will　last？　And　it　must　hold　out　till　the　gyptians　e。　Now　do　exactly　as　I　say：　take　a　handful　of　snow；　and　when　I　tell　you；　blow　a　little　of　it　against　each　cage　in　turn。〃
　　She　ran　outside。　Roger　and　Billy　were　still　on　guard；　and　there　was　still　a　noise　of　shrieking　and　laughter　from　the　arena；　because　only　a　minute　or　so　had　gone　by。
　　She　grabbed　a　big　double　handful　of　the　light　powdery　s