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〃if you go away from us；〃 said tialyss clear voice； 〃you must leave the knife。 if you wont leave the knife； you must talk to each other here。〃
〃cant we be private？〃 lyra said indignantly。 〃we dont want you listening to what we say！〃
〃then go away； but leave the knife。〃
there was no one else nearby； after all； and certainly the gallivespians wouldnt be able to use it。 will rummaged in the rucksack for the water bottle and a couple of biscuits； and handing one to lyra； he went with her up the slope of the dune。
〃i asked the alethiometer；〃 she told him； 〃and it said we shouldnt try and escape from the little people； because they were going to save our lives。 so maybe were stuck with em。〃
〃have you told them what were going to do？〃
〃no！ and i wont； either。 cause theyll only tell lord asriel on that speaking…fiddle and hed go there and stop us； so we got to just go； and not talk about it in front of them。〃
〃they are spies； though；〃 will pointed out。 〃they must be good at listening and hiding。 so maybe we better not mention it at all。 we know where were going。 so well just go and not talk about it； and theyll have to put up with it and e along。〃
〃they cant hear us now。 theyre too far off。 will； i asked how we get there； too。 it said to follow the knife； just that。〃
〃sounds easy；〃 he said。 〃but i bet it isnt。 dyou know what iorek told me？〃
〃no。 he said； when i went to say good…bye； he said it would be very difficult for you； but he thought
you could do it。 but he never told me why。。。〃
〃the knife broke because i thought of my mother；〃 he explained。 〃so ive got to put her out of my mind。 but。。。 its like when someone says dont think about a crocodile； you do； you cant help it。。。〃
〃well； you cut through last night all right；〃 she said。
〃yeah； because i was tired； i think。 well； well see。 just follow the knife？〃
〃thats all it said。〃
〃might as well go now； then。 except theres not much food left。 we ought to find something to take with us； bread and fruit or something。 so first ill find a world where we can get food； and then well start looking properly。〃
〃all right；〃 said lyra； quite happy to be moving again； with pan and will； alive and awake。
they made their way back to the spies； who were sitting alertly by the knife； packs on their backs。
〃we should like to know what you intend；〃 said salmakia。
〃well； were not ing to lord asriel anyway；〃 said will。 〃weve got something else to do first。〃
〃and will you tell us what that is； since its clear we cant stop you from doing it？〃
〃no；〃 said lyra； 〃because youd just go and tell them。 youll have to e along without knowing where were going。 of course you could always give up and go back to them。〃
〃certainly not；〃 said tialys。
〃we want some kind of guarantee；〃 said will。 〃youre spies； so youre bound to be dishonest； thats your trade。 we need to know we can trust you。 last night we were all too tired and we couldnt think about it； but thered be nothing to stop you waiting till we were asleep and then stinging us to make us helpless and calling up lord asriel on that lodestone thing。 you could do that easily。 so we need to have a proper guarantee that you wont。 a promise isnt enough。〃
the two gallivespians trembled with anger at this slur on their honor。
tialys； controlling himself； said； 〃we dont accept one…sided demands。 you must give something in exchange。 you must tell us what your intentions are； and then i shall give the lodestone resonator into your care。 you must let me have it when i want to send a message； but you will always know when that happens； and we shall not be able to use it without your agreement。 that will be our guarantee。 and now you tell us where you are going； and why。〃
will and lyra exchanged a glance to confirm it。
〃all right；〃 lyra said； 〃thats fair。 so heres where were going： were going to the world of the dead。 we dont know where it is； but the knifell find it。 thats what were going to do。〃
the two spies were looking at her with openmouthed incredulity。
then salmakia blinked and said； 〃what you say doesnt make sense。 the dead are dead； thats all。 there is no world of the dead。〃
〃i thought that was true； as well；〃 said will。 〃but now im not sure。 at least with the knife we can find out。〃
〃but why？〃
lyra looked at will and saw him nod。
〃well；〃 she said； 〃before i met will； long before i was asleep； i led this friend into danger； and he was killed。 i thought i was rescuing him； only i was making things worse。 and while i was asleep i dreamed of him and i thought maybe i could make amends if i went where hes gone and said i was sorry。 and will wants to find his father； who died just when he found him before。 see； lord asriel wouldnt think of that。 nor would mrs。 coulter。 if we went to him wed have to do what he wants； and he wouldnt think of roger at all； thats my friend who died； it wouldnt matter to him。 but it matters to me。 to us。 so thats what we want to do。〃
〃child；〃 said tialys； 〃when we die； everything is over。 there is no other life。 you have seen death。 youve seen dead bodies； and youve seen what happens to a daemon when death es。 it vanishes。 what else can there be to live on after that？〃
〃were going to go and find out；〃 said lyra。 〃and now weve told you； ill take your resonator lodestone。〃
she held out her hand； and leopard…pantalaimon stood； tail swinging slowly； to reinforce her demand。 tialys unslung the pack from his back and laid it in her palm。 it was surprisingly heavy； no burden for her； of course； but she marveled at his strength。
〃and how long do you think this expedition will take？〃 said the chevalier。
〃we dont know；〃 lyra told him。 〃we dont know anything about it； any more than you do。 well just go there and see。〃
〃first thing；〃 will said； 〃weve got to get some water and some more food； something easy to carry。 so im going to find a world where we can do that； and then well set off。〃
tialys and salmakia mounted their dragonflies and held them quivering on the ground。 the great insects were eager for flight； but the mand of their riders was absolute； and lyra； watching them in daylight for the first time； saw the extraordinary fin