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a burning stick settled in the fire； a night bird called。
suddenly； for no reason will could see； both angels looked up and in the same direction。 he followed their gaze； but saw nothing。 he had seen his cat do this once： look up alert from her half…sleep and watch
something or someone invisible e into the room and walk across。 that had made his hair stand up； and so did this。
〃put out the fire；〃 balthamos whispered。
will scooped up some earth with his good hand and doused the flames。 at once the cold struck into his bones； and he began to shiver。 he pulled the cloak around himself and looked up again。
and now there was something to see： above the clouds a shape was glowing； and it was not the moon。
he heard baruch murmur； 〃the chariot？ could it be？〃
〃what is it？〃 will whispered。
baruch leaned close and whispered back； 〃they know were here。 theyve found us。 will； take your knife and。。。”
before he could finish； something hurtled out of the sky and crashed into balthamos； in a fraction of a second baruch had leapt on it； and balthamos was twisting to free his wings。 the three beings fought this way and that in the dimness； like great wasps caught in a mighty spiders web； making no sound： all will could hear was the breaking twigs and the brushing leaves as they struggled together。
he couldnt use the knife： they were all moving too quickly。 instead； he took the electric torch from the rucksack and switched it on。
none of them expected that。 the attacker threw up his wings； balthamos flung his arm across his eyes； and only baruch had the presence of mind to hold on。 but will could see what it was； this enemy： another angel； much bigger and stronger than they were； and baruchs hand was clamped over his mouth。
〃will！〃 cried balthamos。 〃the knife … cut a way out …〃
and at the same moment the attacker tore himself free of baruchs hands； and cried：
〃lord regent！ i have them！ lord regent！〃
his voice made wills head ring； he had never heard such a cry。 and a moment later the angel would have sprung into the air； but will dropped his torch and leapt forward。 he had killed a cliff…ghast； but using the knife on a being shaped like himself was much harder。 nevertheless； he gathered the great beating wings into his arms and slashed again and again at the feathers until the air was filled with whirling flakes of white； remembering even in the sweep of violent sensations the words of balthamos： you have true flesh； we have not。 human beings were stronger than angels； stronger even than great powers like this one； and it was true： he was bearing the angel down to the ground。
the attacker was still shouting in that ear…splitting voice： 〃lord regent！ to me； to me！〃
will managed to glance upward and saw the clouds stirring and swirling； and that gleam； something immense； growing more powerful； as if the clouds themselves were being luminous with energy； like plasma。
balthamos cried； 〃will； e away and cut through； before he es。。。”
but the angel was struggling hard； and now he had one wing free and he was forcing himself up from the ground； and will had to hang on or lose him entirely。 baruch sprang to help him； and forced the attackers head back and back。
〃no！〃 cried balthamos again。 〃no！ no！〃
he hurled himself at will； shaking his arm； his shoulder； his hands； and the attacker was trying to shout again； but baruchs hand was over his mouth。 from above came a deep tremor； like a mighty dynamo； almost too low to hear； though it shook the very atoms of the air and jolted the marrow in wills bones。
〃hes ing。。。” balthamos said； almost sobbing； and now will did catch some of his fear。 〃please； please； will。。。”
will looked up。
the clouds were parting； and through the dark gap a figure was speeding down： small at first； but as it
came closer second by second； the form became bigger and more imposing。 he was making straight for them； with unmistakable malevolence。
〃will； you must；〃 said baruch urgently。
will stood up； meaning to say 〃hold him tight；〃 but even as the words came to his mind； the angel sagged against the ground； dissolving and spreading out like mist； and then he was gone。 will looked around； feeling foolish and sick。
〃did i kill him？〃 he said shakily。
〃you had to；〃 said baruch。 〃but now。。。”
〃i hate this；〃 said will passionately； 〃truly； truly； i hate this killing！ when will it stop？〃
〃we must go；〃 said balthamos faintly。 〃quickly will； quickly； please。。。”
they were both mortally afraid。
will felt in the air with the tip of the knife： any world； out of this one。 he cut swiftly； and looked up： that other angel from the sky was only seconds away； and his expression was terrifying。 even from that distance； and even in that urgent second or so； will felt himself searched and scoured from one end of his being to the other by some vast； brutal； and merciless intellect。
and what was more； he had a spear； he was raising it to hurl。。。
and in the moment it took the angel to check his flight and turn upright and pull back his arm to fling the weapon； will followed baruch and balthamos through and closed the window behind him。 as his fingers pressed the last inch together； he felt a shock of air； but it was gone； he was safe： it was the spear that would have passed through him in that other world。
they were on a sandy beach under a brilliant moon。 giant fernlike trees grew some way inland； low dunes extended for miles along the shore。 it was hot and humid。
〃who was that？〃 said will； trembling； facing the two angels。
〃that was metatron；〃 said balthamos。 〃you should have。。。”
〃metatron？ whos he？ why did he attack？ and dont lie to me。〃
〃we must tell him；〃 said baruch to his panion。 〃you should have done so already。〃
〃yes； i should have；〃 balthamos agreed； 〃but i was cross with him； and anxious for you。〃
〃tell me now； then；〃 said will。 〃and remember； its no good telling me what i should do； none of it matters to me； none。 only lyra matters； and my mother。 and that；〃 he added to balthamos； 〃is the point of all this metaphysical speculation； as you called it。〃
baruch said； 〃i think we should tell you our information。 will； th