按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ed her swiftly before calling to will。
〃you！ boy！〃 he said； and although his voice was small in volume； it was as deep as a grown mans。 〃have you got the knife？〃
〃of course i have；〃 said will。 if they didnt know it was broken； he wasnt going to tell them。
〃you and the girl will have to follow us。 who is the other child？〃
〃ama； from the village；〃 said will。
〃tell her to return there。 move now； before the swiss e。〃
will didnt hesitate。 whatever these two intended； he and lyra could still get away through the window hed opened behind the bush on the path below。
so he helped her up and watched curiously as the two small figures leapt on； what？ birds？ no； dragonflies； as large as seagulls； which had been waiting in the darkness。 then they darted forward to the cave mouth； where mrs。 coulter lay。 she was half…stunned with pain and drowsy from the chevaliers sting； but she reached up as they went past her； and cried：
〃lyra！ lyra； my daughter； my dear one！ lyra； dont go！ dont go！〃
lyra looked down at her； anguished； but then she stepped over her mothers body and loosened mrs。 coulters feeble clutch from her ankle。 the woman was sobbing now； will saw the tears glistening on her cheeks。
crouching just beside the cave mouth； the three children waited until there was a brief pause in the shooting； and then followed the dragonflies as they darted down the path。 the light had changed： as well as the cold anbaric gleam from the zeppelins floodlights； there was the leaping orange of flames。
will looked back once。 in the glare mrs。 coulters face was a mask of tragic passion； and her daemon clung piteously to her as she knelt and held out her arms； crying：
〃lyra！ lyra； my love！ my hearts treasure； my little child； my only one！ oh； lyra； lyra； dont go； dont leave me！ my darling daughter； youre tearing my heart。。。”
and a great and furious sob shook lyra herself； for； after all； mrs。 coulter was the only mother she would ever have； and will saw a cascade of tears run down the girls cheeks。
but he had to be ruthless。 he pulled at lyras hand； and as the dragonfly rider darted close to his head； urging them to hurry； he led her at a crouching run down the path and away from the cave。 in wills left hand； bleeding again from the blow hed landed on the monkey； was mrs。 coulters pistol。
〃make for the top of the cliff；〃 said the dragonfly rider； 〃and give yourself up to the africans。 theyre your best hope。〃
mindful of those sharp spurs； will said nothing； though he hadnt the least intention of obeying。 there was only one place he was making for； and that was the window behind the bush； so he kept his head low and ran fast； and lyra and ama ran behind him。
〃halt！〃
there was a man； three men； blocking the path ahead； uniformed； white men with crossbows and snarling wolf…dog daemons； the swiss guard。
〃iorek！〃 cried will at once。 〃iorek byrnison！〃 he could hear the bear crashing and snarling not far away； and hear the screams and cries of the soldiers unlucky enough to meet him。
but someone else came from nowhere to help them： balthamos； in a blur of desperation； hurled himself between the children and the soldiers。 the men fell back； amazed； as this apparition shimmered into being in front of them。
but they were trained warriors； and a moment later their daemons leapt at the angel； savage teeth flashing white in the gloom； and balthamos flinched： he cried out in fear and shame； and shrank back。 then he sprang upward； beating his wings hard。 will watched in dismay as the figure of his guide and friend soared up to vanish out of sight among the treetops。
lyra was following it all with still…dazed eyes。 it had taken no more than two or three seconds； but it was enough for the swiss to regroup； and now their leader was raising his crossbow； and will had no choice： he swung up the pistol and clamped his right hand to the butt and pulled the trigger； and the blast shook his bones； but the bullet found the mans heart。
the soldier fell back as if hed been kicked by a horse。 simultaneously the two little spies launched themselves at the other two； leaping from the dragonflies at their victims before will could blink。 the woman found a neck； the man a wrist； and each made a quick backward stab with a heel。 a choking； anguished gasp； and the two swiss died； their daemons vanishing in mid…howl。
will leapt over the bodies； and lyra went with him； running hard and fast with pantalaimon racing wildcat…formed at their heels。 wheres ama？ will thought； and he saw her in the same moment dodging down a different path。 now shell be safe； he thought； and a second later he saw the pale gleam of the window deep behind the bushes。 he seized lyras arm and pulled her toward it。 their faces were scratched； their clothes were snagged； their ankles twisted on roots and rocks； but they found the window and tumbled through； into the other world； onto the bone…white rocks under the glaring moon； where only the scraping of the insects broke the immense silence。
and the first thing will did was to hold his stomach and retch； heaving and heaving with a mortal horror。 that was two men now that hed killed； not to mention the youth in the tower of the angels。。。 will did not want this。 his body revolted at what his instinct had made him do； and the result was a dry； sour； agonizing spell of kneeling and vomiting until his stomach and his heart were empty。
lyra watched helpless nearby； nursing pan； rocking him against her breast。
will finally recovered a little and looked around。 and at once he saw that they werent alone in this world； because the little spies were there； too； with their packs laid on the ground nearby。 their dragonflies were skimming over the rocks； snapping up moths。 the man was massaging the shoulder of the woman； and both of them looked at the children sternly。 their eyes were so bright and their features so distinct that there was no doubt about their feelings； and will knew they were a formidable pair； whoever they were。
he said to lyra； 〃the alethiometers in my rucksack； there。〃
〃oh； will； i did so hope youd find it； whatever happened。 did you find your father？ and my dream； will； its too