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couldnt help noticing； but these gentlemen here； are they dead？ im sorry for asking； if its rude； but where we e from its very unusual； and we never saw anyone like them before。 if im being impolite i do beg your pardon。 but you see； in my world； we have daemons； everyone has a daemon； and wed be shocked if we saw someone without one； just like youre shocked to see us。 and now weve been traveling； will and me； this is will； and im lyra； ive learned there are some people who dont seem to have daemons； like will doesnt； and i was scared till i found out they were just ordinary like me really。 so maybe thats why someone from your world might be just a bit sort of nervous when they see us； if you think were different。〃
the man said； 〃lyra？ and will？〃
〃yes； sir；〃 she said humbly。
〃are those your daemons？〃 he said； pointing to the spies on her shoulder。
〃no；〃 said lyra； and she was tempted to say； 〃theyre our servants；〃 but she felt will would have thought that a bad idea； so she said； 〃theyre our friends； the chevalier tialys and the lady salmakia； very distinguished and wise people who are traveling with us。 oh； and this is my daemon；〃 she said； taking mouse…pantalaimon out of her pocket。 〃you see； were harmless； we promise we wont hurt you。 and we do need food and shelter。 well move on tomorrow。 honest。〃
everyone waited。 the mans nervousness was soothed a little by her humble tone； and the spies had the good sense to look modest and harmless。 after a pause the man said：
〃well； though its strange； i suppose these are strange times。。 。e in； then； be wele 。。。〃
the figures outside nodded； one or two of them gave little bows； and they stood aside respectfully as will and lyra walked into the warmth and light。 the man closed the door behind them and hooked a wire over a nail to keep it shut。
it was a single room； lit by a naphtha lamp on the table； and clean but shabby。 the plywood walls were decorated with pictures cut from film…star magazines； and with a pattern made with fingerprints of soot。 there was an iron stove against one wall； with a clotheshorse in front of it； where some dingy shirts were steaming； and on a dressing table there was a shrine of plastic flowers； seashells； colored scent bottles； and other gaudy bits and pieces； all surrounding the picture of a jaunty skeleton with a top hat and dark glasses。
the shanty was crowded： as well as the man and the woman and the two young children； there was a baby in a crib； an older man； and in one corner； in a heap of blankets； a very old woman； who was lying and watching everything with glittering eyes； her face as wrinkled as the blankets。 as lyra looked at her； she had a shock： the blankets stirred； and a very thin arm emerged； in a black sleeve； and then another face； a mans； so ancient it was almost a skeleton。 in fact； he looked more like the skeleton in the picture than like a living human being； and then will； too； noticed； and all the travelers together realized that he was one of those shadowy； polite figures like the ones outside。 and all of them felt as nonplussed as the man had been when hed first seen them。
in fact； all the people in the crowded little shack； all except the baby； who was asleep； were at a loss for words。 it was lyra who found her voice first。
〃thats very kind of you；〃 she said； 〃thank you； good evening； were very pleased to be here。 and like i said； were sorry to have arrived without any death； if thats the normal way of things。 but we wont disturb you any more than we have to。 you see； were looking for the land of the dead； and thats how we happened to e here。 but we dont know where it is； or whether this is part of it； or how to get there； or what。 so if you can tell us anything about it； well be very grateful。〃
the people in the shack were still staring； but lyras words eased the atmosphere a little； and the woman invited them to sit at the table； drawing out a bench。 will and lyra lifted the sleeping dragonflies up
to a shelf in a dark corner； where tialys said they would rest till daylight； and then the gallivespians joined them on the table。
the woman had been preparing a dish of stew； and she peeled a couple of potatoes and cut them into it to make it go farther； urging her husband to offer the travelers some other refreshment while it cooked。 he brought out a bottle of clear and pungent spirit that smelled to lyra like the gyptians jenniver； and the two spies accepted a glass into which they dipped little vessels of their own。
lyra would have expected the family to stare most at the gallivespians； but their curiosity was directed just as much； she thought； at her and will。 she didnt wait long to ask why。
〃youre the first people we ever saw without a death；〃 said the man； whose name； theyd learned； was peter。 〃since we e here； that is。 were like you； we e here before we was dead； by some chance or accident。 we got to wait till our death tells us its time。〃
〃your death tells you？〃 said lyra。
〃yes。 what we found out when we e here； oh； long ago for most of us； we found we all brought our deaths with us。 this is where we found out。 we had em all the time； and we never knew。 see； everyone has a death。 it goes everywhere with em； all their life long； right close by。 our deaths； theyre outside； taking the air； theyll e in by and by。 grannys death； hes there with her； hes close to her； very close。〃
〃doesnt it scare you； having your death close by all the time？〃 said lyra。
〃why ever would it？ if hes there； you can keep an eye on him。 id be a lot more nervous not knowing where he was。〃
〃and everyone has their own death？〃 said will； marveling。
〃why； yes； the moment youre born； your death es into the world with you； and its your death that takes you out。〃
〃ah；〃 said lyra； 〃thats what we need to know； because were trying to find the land of the dead； and we dont know how to get there。 where do we go then； when we die？〃
〃your death taps you on the shoulder； or takes your hand； and says； e along o me； its time。 it might happen when youre sick with a fever； or when you choke on a piece of dry bread； or when you fall off a high building； in the middle of your pain and travail； your deat