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〃there she is；〃 said tialys； and called： 〃lyra！ lyra！ your friend is there！〃
lyra looked up and held out her hand for the dragonfly。 the great insect landed at once； its red and yellow gleaming like enamel； and its filmy wings stiff and still on either side。 tialys kept his balance as she held him at eye level。
〃where？〃 she said； breathless with excitement。 〃is he far off？〃
〃an hours walk；〃 said the chevalier。 〃but he knows youre ing。 the others have told him； and we made sure it was him。 just keep going； and soon youll find him。〃
tialys saw will make the effort to stand up straight and force himself to find some more energy。 lyra was charged with it already； and plied the gallivespians with questions： how did roger seem？ had he spoken to them？ no； of course； but did he seem glad？ were the other children aware of what was happening； and were they helping； or were they just in the way？
and so on。 tialys tried to answer everything truthfully and patiently； and step by step the living girl drew closer to the boy she had brought to his death。
。。
TWENTY…THREE … NO WAY OUT
小=＿说。网
〃will；〃 said lyra； 〃what dyou think the harpies will do when we let the ghosts out？〃
because the creatures were getting louder and flying closer； and there were more and more of them all the time； as if the gloom were gathering itself into little clots of malice and giving them wings。 the ghosts kept looking up fearfully。
〃are we getting close？〃 lyra called to the lady salmakia。
〃not far now；〃 she called down； hovering above them。 〃you could see him if you climbed that rock。〃
but lyra didnt want to waste time。 she was trying with all her heart to put on a cheerful face for roger； but every moment in front of her minds eye was that terrible image of the little dog…pan abandoned on the jetty as the mist closed around him； and she could barely keep from howling。 she must； though； she must be hopeful for roger； she always had been。
when they did e face to face； it happened quite suddenly。 in among the press of all the ghosts； there he was； his familiar features wan but his expression as full of delight as a ghost could be。 he rushed to embrace her。
but he passed like cold smoke through her arms； and though she felt his little hand clutch at her heart； it had no strength to hold on。 they could never truly touch again。
but he could whisper； and his voice said； 〃lyra； i never thought id ever see you again； i thought even if you did e down here when you was dead； youd be much older； youd be a grownup； and you wouldnt want to speak to me。。。”
〃why ever not？〃
〃because i done the wrong thing when pan got my daemon away from lord asriels！ we shouldve run； we shouldnt have tried to fight her！ we shouldve run to you！ then she wouldnt have been able to get my daemon again； and when the cliff fell away； my daemon wouldve still been with me！〃
〃but that werent your fault； stupid！〃 lyra said。 〃it was me that brung you there in the first place； and i shouldve let you go back with the other kids and the gyptians。 it was my fault。 im so sorry； roger； honest； it was my fault； you wouldntve been here otherwise。。。〃
〃well；〃 he said； 〃i dunno。 maybe i wouldve got dead some other way。 but it werent your fault； lyra； see。〃
she felt herself beginning to believe it； but all the same； it was heartrending to see the poor little cold thing； so close and yet so out of reach。 she tried to grasp his wrist； though her fingers closed in the empty air； but he understood and sat down beside her。
the other ghosts withdrew a little； leaving them alone； and will moved apart； too； to sit down and nurse his hand。 it was bleeding again； and while tialys flew fiercely at the ghosts to force them away； salmakia helped will tend to the wound。
but lyra and roger were oblivious to that。
〃and you ent dead；〃 he said。 〃howd you e here if youre still alive？ and wheres pan？〃
〃oh； roger； i had to leave him on the shore； it was the worst thing i ever had to do； it hurt so much； you know how it hurts； and he just stood there； just looking； oh； i felt like a murderer； roger； but i had to； or else i couldnt have e！〃
〃i been pretending to talk to you all the time since i died；〃 he said。 〃i been wishing i could； and wishing so hard。。。just wishing i could get out； me and all the other dead uns； cause this is a terrible place； lyra； its hopeless； theres no change when youre dead； and them bird…things。。。 you know what they do？ they wait till youre resting； you cant never sleep properly； you just sort of doze； and they e up quiet beside you and they whisper all the bad things you ever did when you was alive； so you cant forget em。 they know all the worst things about you。 they know how to make you feel horrible； just thinking of all the stupid things and bad things you ever did。 and all the greedy and unkind thoughts you ever had； they know em all； and they shame you up and they make you feel sick with yourself。。。 but you cant get away from em。〃
〃well；〃 she said； 〃listen。〃
dropping her voice and leaning closer to the little ghost； just as she used to do when they were planning mischief at jordan； ： she went on：
〃you probably dont know； but the witches； you remember serafina pekkala； the witchesve got a prophecy about me。 they dont know i know； no one does。 i never spoke to anyone about it before。 but when i was in trollesund； and farder coram the gyptian took me to see the witches consul； dr。 lanselius； he gave me like a kind of a test。 he said i had to go outside and pick out the right piece of cloud…pine out of all the others to show i could really read the alethiometer。
〃well； i done that； and then i came in quickly； because it was cold and it only took a second； it was easy。 the consul was talking to farder coram； and they didnt know i could hear em。 he said the witches had this prophecy about me； i was going to do something great and important； and it was going to be in another world。。。
〃only i never spoke of it； and i reckon i must have even forgot it； there was so much else going on。 so it sort of sunk out of my mind。 i never even talked about it with pan； cause he would have laughed； i reckon。
〃but then later o