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〃the gate to the land of the dead is on this island；〃 said the boatman。 〃everyone es here； kings； queens； murderers； poets； children； everyone es this way； and none e back。〃
〃we shall e back；〃 whispered lyra fiercely。
he said nothing； but his ancient eyes were full of pity。
as they moved closer； they could see branches of cypress and yew hanging down low over the water； dark green； dense； and gloomy。 the land rose steeply； and the trees grew so thickly that hardly a ferret could slip between them； and at that thought lyra gave a little half…hiccup…half…sob； for pan would have shown her how well he could do it； but not now； maybe not ever again。
〃are we dead now？〃 will said to the boatman。
〃makes no difference；〃 he said。 〃theres some that came here never believing they were dead。 they insisted all the way that they were alive； it was a mistake； someone would have to pay； made no difference。 theres others who longed to be dead when they were alive； poor souls； lives full of pain or misery； killed themselves for a chance of a blessed rest； and found that nothing had changed except for the worse； and this time there was no escape； you cant make yourself alive again。 and theres been others so frail and sickly； little infants； sometimes； that theyre scarcely born into the living before they e down to the dead。 ive rowed this boat with a little crying baby on my lap many； many times； that never knew the difference
between up there and down here。 and old folk； too； the rich ones are the worst； snarling and savage and cursing me； railing and screaming： what did i think i was？ hadnt they gathered and saved all the gold they could garner？ wouldnt i take some now； to put them back ashore？ theyd have the law on me； they had powerful friends； they knew the pope and the king of this and the duke of that； they were in a position to see i was punished and chastised。。。 but they knew what the truth was in the end： the only position they were in was in my boat going to the land of the dead； and as for those kings and popes； theyd be in here； too； in their turn； sooner than they wanted。
i let em cry and rave； they cant hurt me； they fall silent in the end。
〃so if you dont know whether youre dead or not； and the little girl swears blind shell e out again to the living； i say nothing to contradict you。 what you are； youll know soon enough。〃
all the time he had been steadily rowing along the shore； and now he shipped the oars； slipping the handles down inside the boat and reaching out to his right for the first wooden post that rose out of the lake。
he pulled the boat alongside the narrow wharf and held it still for them。 lyra didnt want to get out： as long as she was near the boat； then pantalaimon would be able to think of her properly； because that was how he last saw her； but when she moved away from it； he wouldnt know how to picture her anymore。 so she hesitated； but the dragonflies flew up； and will got out； pale and clutching his chest； so she had to as well。
〃thank you；〃 she said to the boatman。 〃when you go back； if you see my daemon； tell him i love him the best of everything in the land of the living or the dead； and i swear ill e back to him； even if no ones ever done it before； i swear i will。〃
〃yes； ill tell him that；〃 said the old boatman。
he pushed off； and the sound of his slow oar strokes faded away in the mist。
the gallivespians flew back； having gone a little way； and perched on the childrens shoulders as before； she on lyra； he on will。 so they stood； the travelers； at the edge of the land of the dead。 ahead of them there was nothing but mist； though they could see from the darkening of it that a great wall rose in front of them。
lyra shivered。 she felt as if her skin had turned into lace and the damp and hitter air could flow in and out of her ribs； scaldingly cold on the raw wound where pantalaimon had been。 still； she thought； roger must have felt like that as he plunged down the mountainside； trying to cling to her desperate fingers。
they stood still and listened。 the only sound was an endless drip…drip…drip of water from the leaves； and as they looked up； they felt one or two drops splash coldly on their cheeks。
〃cant stay here；〃 said lyra。
they moved off the wharf； keeping close together； and made their way to the wall。 gigantic stone blocks； green with ancient slime； rose higher into the mist than they could see。 and now that they were closer； they could hear the sound of cries behind it； though whether they were human voices crying was impossible to tell： high； mournful shrieks and wails that hung in the air like the drifting filaments of a jellyfish； causing pain wherever they touched。
〃theres a door；〃 said will in a hoarse； strained voice。
it was a battered wooden postern under a slab of stone。 before will could lift his hand and open it； one of those high； harsh cries sounded very close by； jarring their ears and frightening them horribly。
immediately the gallivespians darted into the air； the dragonflies like little warhorses eager for battle。 but the thing that flew down swept them aside with a brutal blow from her wing； and then settled heavily on a ledge just above the childrens heads。 tialys and salmakia gathered themselves and soothed their shaken mounts。
the thing was a great bird the size of a vulture； with the face and breasts of a woman。 will had seen pictures of creatures like her； and the word harpy came to mind as soon as he saw her clearly。 her face was
smooth and unwrinkled； but aged beyond even the age of the witches： she had seen thousands of years pass； and the cruelty and misery of all of them had formed the hateful expression on her features。 but as the travelers saw her more clearly； she became even more repulsive。 her eye sockets were clotted with filthy slime； and the redness of her lips was caked and crusted as if she had vomited ancient blood again and again。 her matted； filthy black hair hung down to her shoulders； her jagged claws gripped the stone fiercely； her powerful dark wings were folded along her back； and a drift of putrescent stink wafted from her every time she moved。
will and lyra； both of them sick and full