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o through and look around the cave to find her； and cut through as soon as ive done that。 so stand back； keep out of the way so i dont accidentally cut you when i e back。 if i get stuck there for any reason； go back and wait by the other window； where we came in。〃
〃we should both go through；〃 ama said； 〃because i know how to wake her； and you dont； and i know the cave better than you do； too。〃
her face was stubborn； her lips pressed together； her fists clenched。 her lizard daemon acquired a ruff and raised it slowly around his neck。
will said； 〃oh； very well。 but we go through quickly and in plete silence； and you do exactly what i say； at once； you understand？〃
she nodded and patted her pocket yet again to check the medicine。
will made a small opening； low down； looked through； and enlarged it swiftly； getting through in a moment on hands and knees。 ama was right behind him； and altogether the window was open for less than ten seconds。
they crouched on the cave floor behind a large rock； with the bird…formed balthamos beside them； their eyes taking some moments to adjust from the moon…drenched brilliance of the other world。 inside the cave it was much darker； and much more full of sound： mostly the wind in the trees； but below that was another sound； too。 it was the roar of a zeppelins engine； and it wasnt far away。
with the knife in his right hand； will balanced himself carefully and looked around。
ama was doing the same； and her owl…eyed daemon was peering this way and that； but lyra was not at this end of the cave。 there was no doubt about it。
will raised his head over the rock and took a long； steady look down toward the entrance； where mrs。 coulter and her daemon lay deep in sleep。
and then his heart sank。 there lay lyra； stretched out in the depths of her sleep； right next to mrs。 coulter。 their outlines had merged in the darkness； no wonder he hadnt seen her。
will touched annas hand and pointed。
〃well just have to do it very carefully；〃 he whispered。
something was happening outside。 the roar of the zeppelins was now much louder than the wind in the trees； and lights were moving about； too； shining down through the branches from above。 the quicker they got lyra out； the better； and that meant darting down there now before mrs。 coulter woke up； cutting through； pulling her to safety； and closing again。
he whispered that to ama。 she nodded。
then； as he was about to move； mrs。 coulter woke up。
she stirred and said something； and instantly the golden monkey sprang to his feet。 will could see his silhouette in the cave mouth； crouching； attentive； and then mrs。 coulter herself sat up； shading her eyes against the light outside。
wills left hand was tight around amas wrist。 mrs。 coulter got up； fully dressed； lithe； alert； not at all as if shed just been asleep。 perhaps shed been awake all the time。 she and the golden monkey were crouching inside the cave mouth； watching and listening； as the light from the zeppelins swung from side to side above the treetops and the engines roared； and shouts； male voices warning or calling orders； made it clear that they should move fast； very fast。
will squeezed amas wrist and darted forward； watching the ground in case he stumbled； running fast and low。
then he was at lyras side； and she was deep asleep； pantalaimon around her neck； and then will held up the knife and felt carefully； and a second later there would have been an opening to pull lyra through into safety…
but he looked up。 he looked at mrs。 coulter。 she had turned around silently； and the glare from the sky； reflected off the damp cave wall； hit her face； and for a moment it wasnt her face at all； it was his own mothers face； reproaching him； and his heart quailed from sorrow； and then as he thrust with the knife； his mind left the point； and with a wrench and a crack； the knife fell in pieces to the ground。
it was broken。
now he couldnt cut his way out at all。
he said to ama； 〃wake her up。 do it now。〃
then he stood up； ready to fight。 hed strangle that monkey first。 he was tensed to meet its leap； and he found he still had the hilt of the knife in his hand； at least he could use it to hit with。
but there was no attack either from the golden monkey or from mrs。 coulter。 she simply moved a little to let the light from outside show the pistol in her hand。 in doing so； she let some of the light shine on what ama was doing： she was sprinkling a powder on lyras upper lip and watching as lyra breathed in； helping it into her nostrils by using her own daemons tail as a brush。
will heard a change in the sounds from outside： there was another note now as well as the roar of the zeppelins。 it sounded familiar； like an intrusion from his own world； and then he recognized the clatter of a helicopter。 then there was another and another； and more lights swept across the ever…moving trees outside； in a brilliant green scatter of radiance。
mrs。 coulter turned briefly as the new sound came to her； but too briefly for will to jump and seize the gun。 as for the monkey daemon； he glared at will without blinking； crouched ready to spring。
lyra was moving and murmuring。 will bent down and squeezed her hand； and the other daemon nudged pantalaimon； lifting his heavy head； whispering to him。
outside there was a shout； and a man fell out of the sky； to land with a sickening crash not five yards from the entrance to the cave。 mrs。 coulter didnt flinch； she looked at him coolly and turned back to will。 a moment later there came a crack of rifle fire from above； and a second after that； a storm of shooting broke out； and the sky was full of explosions； of the crackle of flame； of bursts of gunfire。
lyra was struggling up into consciousness； gasping； sighing； moaning； pushing herself up only to fall back weakly； and pantalaimon was yawning； stretching； snapping at the other daemon； flopping clumsily to one side as his muscles failed to act。
as for will； he was searching the cave floor with the utmost care for the pieces of the broken knife。 no time to wonder how it had happened； or whether it could be mended； but he was the knife bearer； and he had to gather it u