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f dry bread； or when you fall off a high building； in the middle of your pain and travail； your death es to you kindly and says； easy now； easy； child； you e along o me； and you go with them in a boat out across the lake into the mist。 what happens there； no one knows。 no ones ever e back。〃
the woman told a child to call the deaths in； and he scampered to the door and spoke to them。 will and lyra watched in wonder； and the gallivespians drew closer together； as the deaths； one for each of the family； came in through the door： pale； unremarkable figures in shabby clothes； just drab and quiet and dull。
〃these are your deaths？〃 said tialys。
〃indeed； sir；〃 said peter。
〃do you know when theyll tell you its time to go？〃
〃no。 but you know theyre close by； and thats a fort。〃
tialys said nothing； but it was clear that he felt it would be anything but a fort。 the deaths stood politely along the wall； and it was strange to see how little space they took up； and to find how little notice they attracted。 lyra and will soon found themselves ignoring them altogether； though will thought： those men i killed； their deaths were close beside them all the time； they didnt know； and i didnt know。。。
the woman； martha； dished the stew onto chipped enamel plates and put some in a bowl for the deaths to pass among themselves。 they didnt eat； but the good smell kept them content。 presently all the family and their guests were eating hungrily； and peter asked the children where theyd e from； and what their world was like。
〃ill tell you all about it；〃 said lyra。
as she said that； as she took charge； part of her felt a little stream of pleasure rising upward in her breast like the bubbles in champagne。 and she knew will was watching； and she was happy that he could see her doing what she was best at； doing it for him and for all of them。
she started by telling about her parents。 they were a duke and duchess； very important and wealthy； who had been cheated out of their estate by a political enemy and thrown into prison。 but they managed to escape by climbing down a rope with the baby lyra in her fathers arms； and they regained the family fortune； only to be attacked and murdered by outlaws。 lyra would have been killed as well； and roasted and eaten； had not will rescued her just in time and taken her back to the wolves； in the forest where he was being brought ；； up as one of them。 he had fallen overboard as a baby from the side of his fathers ship and been washed up on a desolate shore； where a female wolf had suckled him and kept him alive。
the people ate up this nonsense with placid credulity； and even the deaths crowded close to listen； perching on the bench or lying on the floor close by； gazing at her with their mild and courteous faces as she spun out the tale of her life with will in the forest。
he and lyra stayed with the wolves for a while； and then moved to oxford to work in the kitchens of jordan college。 there they met roger； and when jordan was attacked by the brickburners who lived in the clay beds； they had to escape in a hurry； so she and will and roger captured a gyptian narrow boat and sailed it all the way down the thames； nearly getting caught at abingdon lock； and then theyd been sunk by the wapping pirates and had to swim for safety to a three…masted clipper just setting off for hang chow in cathay to trade for tea。
and on the clipper theyd met the gallivespians； who were strangers from the moon； blown down to the earth by a fierce gale out of the milky way。 theyd taken refuge in the crows nest； and she and will and roger used to take turns going up there to see them； only one day roger lost his footing and plunged down into davy joness locker。
they tried to persuade the captain to turn the ship around and look for him； but he was a hard； fierce man only interested in the profit hed make by getting to cathay quickly； and he clapped them in irons。 but the gallivespians brought them a file； and。。。
and so on。 from time to time shed turn to will or the spies for confirmation； and salmakia would add a detail or two； or will would nod； and the story wound itself up to the point where the children and their friends from the moon had to find their way to the land of the dead in order to learn； from her parents； the secret of where the family fortune had been buried。
〃and if we knew our deaths； in our land；〃 she said； 〃like you do here； it would be easier； probably； but i think were really lucky to find our way here； sos we could get your advice。 and thank you very much for being so kind and listening； and for giving us this meal； it was really nice。
〃but what we need now； you see； or in the morning maybe； is we need to find a way out across the water where the dead people go； and see if we can get there； too。 is there any boats we could sort of hire？〃
they looked doubtful。 the children； flushed with tiredness； looked with sleepy eyes from one grownup to the other； but no one could suggest where they could find a boat。
then came a voice that hadnt spoken before。 from the depths of the bedclothes in the corner came a dry…cracked…nasal tone； not a womans voice； not a living voice： it was the voice of the grandmothers death。
〃the only way youll cross the lake and go to the land of the dead；〃 he said； and he was leaning up on his elbow； pointing with a skinny finger at lyra； 〃is with your own deaths。 you must call up your own deaths。 i have heard of people like you； who keep their deaths at bay。 you dont like them； and out of courtesy they stay out of sight。 but theyre not far off。 whenever you turn your head； your deaths dodge behind you。 wherever you look； they hide。 they can hide in a teacup。 or in a dewdrop。 or in a breath of wind。 not like me and old magda here；〃 he said； and he pinched her withered cheek； and she pushed his hand away。 〃we live together in kindness and friendship。 thats the answer； thats it； thats what youve got to do； say wele； make friends； be kind； invite your deaths to e close to you； and see what you can get
them to agree to。〃
his words fell into lyras mind like heavy stones； and will； too； felt the deadly weight of them。
〃how should we do that？〃 he s