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ng approached； he was footsore and weary。
〃slow progress；〃 said balthamos sourly。
〃i cant help that；〃 said will。 〃if you cant say anything useful； dont speak at all。〃
by the time he reached the edge of the forest； the sun was low and the air heavy with pollen； so much so that he sneezed several times； startling a bird that flew up shrieking from somewhere nearby。
〃that was the first living thing ive seen today；〃 will said。
〃where are you going to camp？〃 said balthamos。
the angel was occasionally visible now in the long shadows of the trees。 what will could see of his expression was petulant。
will said； 〃ill have to stop here somewhere。 you could help look for a good spot。 i can hear a stream； see if you can find it。〃
the angel disappeared。 will trudged on； through the low clumps of heather and bog myrtle； wishing there was such a thing as a path for his feet to follow； and eyeing the light with apprehension： he must choose where to stop soon； or the dark would force him to stop without a choice。
〃left；〃 said balthamos； an arms length away。 〃a stream and a dead tree for firewood。 this way。。。〃
will followed the angels voice and soon found the spot he described。 a stream splashed swiftly between mossy rocks； and disappeared over a lip into a narrow little chasm dark under the overarching trees。 beside the stream； a grassy bank extended a little way back to bushes and undergrowth。
before he let himself rest； he set about collecting wood； and soon came across a circle of charred stones in the grass； where someone else had made a fire long before。 he gathered a pile of twigs and heavier branches and with the knife cut them to a useful length before trying to get them lit。 he didnt know the best way to go about it； and wasted several matches before he managed to coax the flames into life。
the angel watched with a kind of weary patience。
once the fire was going； will ate two oatmeal biscuits； some dried meat； and some kendal mint cake； washing it down with gulps of cold water。 balthamos sat nearby； silent； and finally will said：
〃are you going to watch me all the time？ im not going anywhere。〃
〃im waiting for baruch。 he will e back soon； and then i shall ignore you； if you like。〃
〃would you like some food？〃
balthamos moved slightly： he was tempted。
〃i mean； i dont know if you eat at all；〃 will said； 〃but if youd like something； youre wele。〃
〃what is that。。。〃 said the angel fastidiously； indicating the kendal mint cake。
〃mostly sugar； i think； and peppermint。 here。〃
will broke off a square and held it out。 balthamos inclined his head and sniffed。 then he picked it up；
his fingers light and cool against wills palm。
〃i think this will nourish me；〃 he said。 〃one piece is quite enough； thank you。〃
he sat and nibbled quietly。 will found that if he looked at the fire； with the angel just at the edge of his vision； he had a much stronger impression of him。
〃where is baruch？〃 he said。 〃can he municate with you？〃
〃i feel that he is close。 hell be here very soon。 when he returns； we shall talk。 talking is best。〃
and barely ten minutes later the soft sound of wingbeats came to their ears； and balthamos stood up eagerly。 the next moment； the two angels were embracing； and will； gazing into the flames； saw their mutual affection。 more than affection： they loved each other with a passion。
baruch sat down beside his panion； and will stirred the fire； so that a cloud of smoke drifted past the two of them。 it had the effect of outlining their bodies so that he could see them both clearly for the first time。 balthamos was slender； his narrow wings were folded elegantly behind his shoulders； and his face bore an expression that mingled haughty disdain with a tender； ardent sympathy； as if he would love all things if only his nature could let him forget their defects。 but he saw no defects in baruch； that was clear。 baruch seemed younger； as balthamos had said he was； and was more powerfully built； his wings snow…white and massive。 he had a simpler nature； he looked up to balthamos as to the fount of all knowledge and joy。 will found himself intrigued and moved by their love for each other。
〃did you find out where lyra is？〃 he said； impatient for news。
〃yes；〃 said baruch。 〃there is a himalayan valley； very high up； near a glacier where the light is turned into rainbows by the ice。 i shall draw you a map in the soil so you dont mistake it。 the girl is captive in a cave among the trees； kept asleep by the woman。〃
〃asleep？ and the womans alone？ no soldiers with her？〃
〃alone； yes。 in hiding。〃
〃and lyras not harmed？〃
〃no。 just asleep； and dreaming。 let me show you where they are。〃
with his pale finger； baruch traced a map in the bare soil beside the fire。 will took his notebook and copied it exactly。 it showed a glacier with a curious serpentine shape； flowing down between three almost identical mountain peaks。
〃now；〃 said the angel； 〃we go closer。 the valley with the cave runs down from the left side of the glacier； and a river of meltwater runs through it。 the head of the valley is here。。。〃
he drew another map； and will copied that； and then a third； getting closer in each time； so that will felt he could find his way there without difficulty； provided that hed crossed the four or five thousand miles between the tundra and the mountains。 the knife was good for cutting between worlds； but it couldnt abolish distance within them。
〃there is a shrine near the glacier；〃 baruch ended by saying； 〃with red silk banners half…torn by the winds。 and a young girl brings food to the cave。 they think the woman is a saint who will bless them if they look after her needs。〃
〃do they；〃 said will。 〃and shes hiding。。。 thats what i dont understand。 hiding from the church？〃
〃it seems so。〃
will folded the maps carefully away。 he had set the tin cup on the stones at the edge of the fire to heat some water； and now he trickled some powdered coffee into it； stirring it with a stick； and wrapped his hand in a handkerchief before picking it up to drink。
a burning stick settled in the fire； a night bird called。
suddenly； for no reason will could see； both angel