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〃because；〃 she began； lying； 〃because theres something ive got to do there； not just seeing my friend roger； something else。 it was a task put on me by an angel； and no one else can do it； only me。 its too important to wait till i die in the natural way； its got to be done now。 see； the angel manded me。 thats why we came here； me and will。 we got to。〃
behind her； tialys put away his instrument and sat watching the child plead with her own death to be taken where no one should go。
the death scratched his head and held up his hands； but nothing could stop lyras words； nothing could deflect her desire； not even fear： shed seen worse than death； she claimed； and she had； too。
so eventually her death said：
〃if nothing can put you off； then all i can say is； e with me； and i will take you there； into the land of the dead。 ill be your guide。 i can show you the way in； but as for getting out again； youll have to manage by yourself。〃
〃and my friends；〃 said lyra。 〃my friend will and the others。〃
〃lyra；〃 said tialys； 〃against every instinct； well go with you。 i was angry with you a minute ago。 but you make it hard。。。〃
lyra knew that this was a time to conciliate； and she was happy to do that； having gotten her way。
〃yes；〃 she said； 〃i am sorry； tialys； but if you hadnt got angry； wed never have found this gentleman to guide us。 so im glad you were here； you and the lady； im really grateful to you for being with us。〃
so lyra persuaded her own death to guide her and the others into the land where roger had gone； and wills father； and tony makarios； and so many others； and her death told her to go down to the jetty when the first light came to the sky； and prepare to leave。
but pantalaimon was trembling and shivering； and nothing lyra could do could soothe him into stillness； or quiet the soft little moan he couldnt help uttering。 so her sleep was broken and shallow； on the floor of the shack with all the other sleepers； and her death sat watchfully beside her。
．co
TWENTY … CLIMBING
gxiaoshuowang
the mulefa made many kinds of rope and cord； and mary malone spent a morning inspecting and testing the ones atals family had in their stores before choosing what she wanted。 the principle of twisting and winding hadnt caught on in their world； so all the cords and ropes were braided； but they were strong and flexible； and mary soon found exactly the sort she wanted。
what are you doing？ said atal。
the mulefa had no term for climb； so mary had to do a lot of gesturing and roundabout explaining。 atal was horrified。
to go into the high part of the trees？
i must see what is happening； mary explained。 now you can help me prepare the rope。
once in california； mary had met a mathematician who spent every weekend climbing among the trees。 mary had done a little rock climbing； and shed listened avidly as he had talked about the techniques and equipment。 she had decided to try it herself as soon as she had the chance。 of course shed never expected to be climbing trees in another universe； and climbing solo didnt greatly appeal； either； but there was no choice about that。 what she could do was make it as safe as possible beforehand。
she took a coil long enough to reach over one of the branches of a high tree and back down to the ground； and strong enough to bear several times her weight。 then she cut a large number of short pieces of a smaller but very tough cord and made slings with them： short loops tied with a fishermans knot； which could make hand… and footholds when she tied them to the main line。
then there was the problem of getting the rope over the branch in the first place。 an hour or twos experimenting with some fine tough cord and a length of springy branch produced a bow； the swiss army knife cut some arrows； with stiff leaves in place of feathers to stabilize them in flight； and finally； after a days work； mary was ready to begin。 but the sun was setting； and her hands were tired； and she ate and slept； preoccupied； while the mulefa discussed her endlessly in their quiet； musical whispers。
first thing in the morning； she set off to shoot an arrow over a branch。 some of the mulefa gathered to watch； anxious for her safety。 climbing was so alien to creatures with wheels that the very thought of it horrified them。
privately mary knew how they felt。 she swallowed her nervousness and tied an end of the thinnest； lightest line to one of her arrows； and sent it flying upward from the bow。
she lost the first arrow： it stuck in the bark partway up and wouldnt e out。 she lost the second because； although it did clear the branch； it didnt fall far enough to reach the ground on the other side； and pulling it back； she caught it and snapped it。 the long line fell back attached to the broken shaft； and she tried again with the third and last； and this time it worked。
pulling carefully and steadily so as not to snag the line and break it； she hauled the prepared rope up and
over until both ends were on the ground。 then she tied them both securely to a massive buttress of one of the roots； as thick around as her own hips。 so it should be fairly solid； she thought。 it had better be。 what she couldnt tell from the ground； of course； was what kind of branch the whole thing； including her； would be depending on。 unlike climbing on rock； where you could fasten the rope to pitons on the cliff face every few yards so you never had far to fall； this business involved one very long free length of rope； and one very long fall if anything went wrong。 to make herself a little more secure； she braided together three small ropes into a harness； and passed it around both hanging ends of the main rope with a loose knot that she could tighten the moment she began to slip。
mary put her foot in the first sling and began to climb。
she reached the canopy in less time than shed anticipated。 the climbing was straightforward； the rope was kindly on her hands； and although she hadnt wanted to think about the problem of getting on top of the first branch； she found that the deep fissures in the bark helped her to get a solid purchase and feel secure。 in fact； only fifteen minutes after shed left the