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but the man didnt notice them。 he was still trying to understand what had happened。
〃are you a ghost？〃 will said cautiously。
the man reached out his hand； and will tried to take it； but his fingers closed on the air。 a tingle of cold was all he felt。
when he saw it happen； the man looked at his own hand； appalled。 the numbness was beginning to wear off； and he could feel the pity of his state。
〃truly；〃 he said； 〃i am dead。。。 im dead； and im going to hell。。。〃
〃hush；〃 said lyra； 〃well go together。 whats your name？〃
〃dirk jansen i was；〃 he said； 〃but already i。。。 i dont know what to do。。。 dont know where to go。。。〃
will opened the door。 the barnyard looked the same； the kitchen garden was unchanged； the same hazy sun shone down。 and there was the mans body； untouched。
a little groan broke from dirk jansens throat； as if there were no denying it anymore。 the dragonflies darted out of the door and skimmed over the ground and then shot up high； faster than birds。 the man was looking around helplessly； raising his hands； lowering them again； uttering little cries。
〃i cant stay here。。。 cant stay；〃 he was saying。 〃but this aint the farm i knew。 this is wrong。 i got to go。。。〃
〃where are you going； mr。 jansen？〃 said lyra。
〃down the road。 dunno。 got to go。 cant stay here。。。〃
salmakia flew down to perch on lyras hand。 the dragonflys little claws pricked as the lady said； 〃there are people walking from the village； people like this man； all walking in the same direction。〃
〃then well go with them；〃 said will； and swung his rucksack over his shoulder。
dirk jansen was already passing his own body； averting his t eyes。 he looked almost as if he were drunk； stopping； moving on； wandering to left and right； stumbling over little ruts and stones on the path his living feet had known so well。
lyra came after will； and pantalaimon became a kestrel and flew up as high as he could； making lyra gasp。
〃theyre right；〃 he said when he came down。 〃theres lines of people all ing from the village。 dead people。。。〃
and soon they saw them； too： twenty or so men； women； and children； all moving as dirk jansen had done； uncertain and shocked。 the village was half a mile away； and the people were ing toward them； close together in the middle of the road。 when dirk jansen saw the other ghosts； he broke into a stumbling run； and they held out their hands to greet him。
〃even if they dont know where theyre going； theyre all going there together；〃 lyra said。 〃we better just go with them。〃
〃dyou think they had daemons in this world？〃 said will。
〃cant tell。 if you saw one of em in your world； would you know he was a ghost？〃
〃its hard to say。 they dont look normal； exactly。。。there was a man i used to see in my town； and he used to walk about outside the shops always holding the same old plastic bag； and he never spoke to anyone or went inside。 and no one ever looked at him。 i used to pretend he was a ghost。 they look a bit like him。 maybe my worlds full of ghosts and i never knew。〃
〃i dont think mine is；〃 said lyra doubtfully。
〃anyway； this must be the world of the dead。 these people have just been killed； those soldiers mustve done it； and here they are； and its just like the world they were alive in。 i thought itd be a lot different。。。〃
〃will； its fading；〃 she said。 〃look！〃
she was clutching his arm。 he stopped and looked around； and she was right。 not long before he had found the window in oxford and stepped through into the other world of cittagazze； there had been an eclipse of the sun； and like millions of others will had stood outside at midday and watched as the bright daylight faded and dimmed until a sort of eerie twilight covered the houses； the trees； the park。 everything was just as clear as in full daylight； but there was less light to see it by； as if all the strength were draining out of a dying sun。
what was happening now was like that； but odder； because the edges of things were losing their definition as well and being blurred。
〃its not like going blind； even；〃 said lyra； frightened； 〃because its not that we cant see things； its like the things themselves are fading。。。〃
the color was slowly seeping out of the world。 a dim green gray for the bright green of the trees and the grass； a dim sand gray for the vivid yellow of a field of corn； a dim blood gray for the red bricks of a neat farmhouse 。。。
the people themselves； closer now； had begun to notice； too； and were pointing and holding one anothers arms for reassurance。
the only bright things in the whole landscape were the brilliant red…and…yellow and electric blue of the dragonflies； and their little riders； and will and lyra； and pantalaimon； who was hovering kestrel…shaped close above。
they were close to the first of the people now； and it was clear： they were all ghosts。 will and lyra took a step toward each other； but there was nothing to fear； for the ghosts were far more afraid of them and were hanging back； unwilling to approach。
will called out； 〃dont be afraid。 were not going to hurt you。 where are you going？〃 〃
they looked at the oldest man among them； as if he were their guide。
〃were going where all the others go；〃 he said。 〃seems as if i know； but i cant remember learning it。 seems as if its along the road。 well know it when we get there。〃
〃mama；〃 said a child； 〃whys it getting dark in the daytime？〃
〃hush； dear； dont fret；〃 the mother said。 〃cant make anything better by fretting。 were dead； i expect。〃
〃but where are we going？〃 the child said。 〃i dont want to be dead； mama！〃
〃were going to see grandpa；〃 the mother said desperately。
but the child wouldnt be consoled and wept bitterly。 others in the group looked at the mother with sympathy or annoyance； but there was nothing they could do to help； and they all walked on disconsolately through the fading landscape as the childs thin cries went on； and on； and on。
the chevalier tialys had spoken to salmakia before skimming ahead； and will and lyra watched the dragonfly with eyes greedy for its brightness and vigor as it got smaller and smaller。 the lady flew down and perched her insect on wills hand。
〃the chevalier has gone