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lyra sat up； excited at hearing the names of her old friends。 but iorek hadnt finished。 he went on：
〃if you do not find a way out of the world of the dead； we shall not meet again； because i have no ghost。 my body will remain on the earth； and then bee part of it。 but if it turns out that you and i both survive； then you will always be a wele and honored visitor to svalbard； and the same is true of will。 has he told you what happened when we met？〃
〃no；〃 said lyra； 〃except that it was by a river。〃
〃he outfaced me。 i thought no one could ever do that； but this half…grown boy was too daring for me； and too clever。 i am not happy that you should do what you plan； but there is no one i would trust to go with you except that boy。 you are worthy of each other。 go well； lyra silvertongue； my dear friend。〃
she reached up and put her arms around his neck； and pressed her face into his fur； unable to speak。
after a minute he stood up gently and disengaged her arms； and then he turned and walked silently away into the dark。 lyra thought his outline was lost almost at once against the pallor of the snow…covered ground； but it might have been that her eyes were full of tears。
when will heard her footsteps on the path； he looked at the spies and said； 〃dont you move。 look； heres the knife； im not going to use it。 stay here。〃
he went outside and found lyra standing still； weeping； with pantalaimon as a wolf raising his face to the black sky。 she was quite silent。 the only light came from the pale reflection in the snowbank of the remains of the fire； and that； in turn； was reflected from her wet cheeks； and her tears found their own reflection in wills eyes； and so those photons wove the two children together in a silent web。
〃i love him so much； will！〃 she managed to whisper shakily。 〃and he looked old！ he looked hungry and old and sad。。。 is it all ing onto us now； will？ we cant rely on anyone else now； can we。。。 its just us。 but we ent old enough yet。 were only young。。。 were too young。。。 if poor mr。 scoresbys dead and ioreks old。。。 its all ing onto us； whats got to be done。〃
〃we can do it；〃 he said。 〃im not going to look back anymore。 we can do it。 but weve got to sleep now； and if we stay in this world； those gyropter things might e； the ones the spies sent for。。。 im going to cut through now and well find another world to sleep in； and if the spies e with us； thats too bad； well have to get rid of them another time。〃
〃yes；〃 she said； and sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her nose and rubbed her eyes with
both palms。 〃lets do that。 you sure the knife will work？ you tested it？〃
〃i know itll work。〃
with pantalaimon tiger…formed to deter the spies； they hoped； will and lyra went back and picked up their rucksacks。
〃what are you doing？〃 said salmakia。
〃going into another world；〃 said will； taking out the knife。 it felt like being whole again； he hadnt realized how much he loved it。
〃but you must wait for lord asriels gyropters；〃 said tialys； his voice hard。
〃were not going to；〃 said will。 〃if you e near the knife； ill kill you。 e through with us if you must； but you cant make us stay here。 were leaving。〃
〃you lied！〃
〃no；〃 said lyra； 〃i lied。 will doesnt lie。 you didnt think of that。〃
〃but where are you going？〃
will didnt answer。 he felt forward in the dim air and cut an opening。
salmakia said； 〃this is a mistake。 you should realize that； and listen to us。 you havent thought。。。”
〃yes； we have；〃 said will； 〃weve thought hard； and well tell you what weve thought tomorrow。 you can e where were going； or you can go back to lord asriel。〃
the window opened onto the world into which he had escaped with baruch and balthamos； and where hed slept safely： the warm endless beach with the fernlike trees behind the dunes。 he said：
〃here； well sleep here； thisll do。〃
he let them through and closed it behind them at once。 while he and lyra lay down where they were； exhausted； the lady salmakia kept watch； and the chevalier opened his lodestone resonator and began to play a message into the dark。
……
SIXTEEN … THE INTENTION CRAFT
生？
〃my child！ my daughter！ where is she？ what have you done？ my lyra； youd do better to tear the fibers from my heart； she was safe with me； safe； and now where is she？〃
mrs。 coulters cry resounded through the little chamber at the top of the adamant tower。 she was bound to a chair； her hair disheveled； her clothing torn； her eyes wild； and her monkey daemon thrashed and struggled on the floor in the coils of a silver chain。
lord asriel sat nearby； scribbling on a piece of paper； taking no notice。 an orderly stood beside him； glancing nervously at the woman。 when lord asriel handed him the paper； he saluted and hurried out； his terrier daemon close at his heels with her tail tucked low。
lord asriel turned to mrs。 coulter。
〃lyra？ frankly； i dont care；〃 he said； his voice quiet and hoarse。 〃the wretched child should have stayed where she was put； and done what she was told。 i cant waste any more time or resources on her； if she refuses to be helped； let her deal with the consequences。〃
〃you dont mean that； asriel； or you wouldnt have…〃
〃i mean every word of it。 the fuss shes caused is out of all proportion to her merits。 an ordinary english girl； not very clever。。。”
〃she is！〃 said mrs。 coulter。
〃all right； bright but not intellectual； impulsive； dishonest； greedy。。。”
〃brave； generous； loving。〃
〃a perfectly ordinary child； distinguished by nothing。。。” 〃perfectly ordinary？ lyra？ shes unique。
think of what shes done already。 dislike her if you will； asriel； but dont you dare patronize your daughter。 and she was safe with me； until。。。”
〃youre right；〃 he said； getting up。 〃she is unique。 to have tamed and softened you； thats no everyday feat。 shes drawn your poison； marisa。 shes taken your teeth out。 your fires been quenched in a drizzle of sentimental piety。 who would have thought it？ the pitiless agent of the church； the fanatical persecutor of children； the inventor of hideous machines to slice them apart and look in their terrified little beings for any evidence of sin； and along es a foul…mo