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ested her or admired her； and if he thought of his own mother。。。
he felt his heart grimace。 he walked away from the bear and stood on a rock from which he could see across the whole valley。 in the clear； cold air he could hear the distant tok…tok of someone chopping wood； he could hear a dull iron bell around the neck of a sheep； he could hear the rustling of the treetops far below。 the tiniest crevices in the mountains at the horizon were clear and sharp to his eyes； as were the vultures wheeling over some near…dead creature many miles away。
there was no doubt about it： balthamos was right。 the woman had cast a spell on him。 it was pleasant and tempting to think about those beautiful eyes and the sweetness of that voice； and to recall the way her arms rose to push back that shining hair。。。
with an effort he came back to his senses and heard another sound altogether： a far…distant drone。
he turned this way and that to locate it； and found it in the north； the very direction he and iorek had e from。
〃zeppelins；〃 said the bears voice； startling will； for he hadnt heard the great creature e near。 iorek stood beside him； looking in the same direction； and then reared up high； fully twice the height of will； his gaze intent。
〃how many？〃
〃eight of them；〃 said iorek after a minute； and then will saw them； too： little specks in a line。
〃can you tell how long it will take them to get here？〃 will said。
〃they will be here not long after nightfall。〃
〃so we wont have very much darkness。 thats a pity。〃
〃what is your plan？〃
〃to make an opening and take lyra through into another world； and close it again before her mother follows。 the girl has a drug to wake lyra up； but she couldnt explain very clearly how to use it； so shell have to e into the cave as well。 i dont want to put her in danger； though。 maybe you could distract mrs。 coulter while we do that。〃
the bear grunted and closed his eyes。 will looked around for the angel and saw his shape outlined in droplets of mist in the late afternoon light。
〃balthamos；〃 he said； 〃im going back into the forest now； to find a safe place to make the first opening。 i need you to keep watch for me and tell me the moment she es near； her or that daemon of hers。〃
balthamos nodded and raised his wings to shake off the moisture。 then he soared up into the cold air and glided out over the valley as will began to search for a world where lyra would be safe。
in the creaking； thrumming double bulkhead of the leading zeppelin； the dragonflies were hatching。 the lady salmakia bent over the splitting cocoon of the electric blue one； easing the damp； filmy wings clear； taking care to let her face be the first thing that imprinted itself on the many…faceted eyes； soothing the fine…stretched nerves； whispering its name to the brilliant creature； teaching it who it was。
in a few minutes the chevalier tialys would do the same to his。 but for now； he was sending a message on the lodestone resonator； and his attention was fully occupied with the movement of the bow and his fingers。
he transmitted：
〃to lord roke：
〃we are three hours from the estimated time of arrival at the valley。 the consistorial court of discipline intends to send a squad to the cave as soon as they land。
〃it will divide into two units。 the first unit will fight its way into the cave and kill the child； removing her head so as to prove her death。 if possible； they will also capture the woman； though if that is impossible； they are to kill her。
〃the second unit is to capture the boy alive。
〃the remainder of the force will engage the gyropters of king ogunwe。 they estimate that the gyropters will arrive shortly after the zeppelins。 in accordance with your orders； the lady salmakia and i will shortly leave the zeppelin and fly directly to the cave； where we shall try to defend the girl against the first unit and hold them at bay until reinforcements arrive。
〃we await your response。〃
the answer came almost immediately。
〃to the chevalier tialys：
〃in the light of your report； here is a change of plan。
〃in order to prevent the enemy from killing the child； which would be the worst possible oute； you and the lady salmakia are to cooperate with the boy。 while he has the knife； he has the initiative； so if he opens another world and takes the girl into it； let him do so； and follow them through。 stay by their side at all times。〃
the chevalier tialys replied：
〃to lord roke：
〃your message is heard and understood。 the lady and i shall leave at once。〃
the little spy closed the resonator and gathered his equipment together。
〃tialys；〃 came a whisper from the dark； 〃its hatching。 you should e now。〃
he leapt up to the strut where his dragonfly had been struggling into the world； and eased it gently free of the broken cocoon。 stroking its great fierce head； he lifted the heavy antennae； still moist and curled； and
let the creature taste the flavor of his skin until it was entirely under his mand。
salmakia was fitting her dragonfly with the harness she carried everywhere： spider…silk reins； stirrups of titanium； a saddle of hummingbird skin。 it was almost weightless。 tialys did the same with his； easing the straps around the insects body； tightening； adjusting。 it would wear the harness till it died。
then he quickly slung the pack over his shoulder and sliced through the oiled fabric of the zeppelins skin。 beside him； the lady had mounted her dragonfly； and now she urged it through the narrow gap into the hammering gusts。 the long； frail wings trembled as she squeezed through； and then the joy of flight took over the creature； and it plunged into the wind。 a few seconds later tialys joined her in the wild air； his mount eager to fight the swift…gathering dusk itself。
the two of them whirled upward in the icy currents； took a few moments to get their bearings； and set their course for the valley。
。。
TWELVE … THE BREAK
～
as darkness fell； this was how things stood。
in his adamant tower； lord asriel paced up and down。 his attention was fixed on the little figure beside the lodestone resonator； and every other report had been diverted； every pa