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〃so when its detonated； the child will be destroyed； wherever she is？〃
there was a heavy indrawn breath from the scientist； and then a reluctant 〃yes。〃 he swallowed； and went on； 〃the power needed is enormous。 the anbaric power； just as an atomic bomb needs a high
explosive to force the uranium together and set off the chain reaction； this device needs a colossal current to release the much greater power of the severance process。 i was wondering。。。”
〃it doesnt matter where its detonated； does it？〃
〃no。 that is the point。 anywhere will do。〃
〃and its pletely ready？〃
〃now we have the hair； yes。 but the power； you see。。。”
〃i have seen to that。 the hydro…anbaric generating station at saint…jean…les…eaux has been requisitioned for our use。 they produce enough power there； wouldnt you say？〃
〃yes；〃 said the scientist。
〃then we shall set out at once。 please go and see to the apparatus； dr。 cooper。 have it ready for transportation as soon as you can。 the weather changes quickly in the mountains； and there is a storm on the way。〃
the scientist took the little envelope containing lyras hair and bowed nervously as he left。 lord roke left with him； making no more noise than a shadow。
as soon as they were out of earshot of the presidents room； the gallivespian sprang。 dr。 cooper； below him on the stairs； felt an agonizing stab in his shoulder and grabbed for the banister； but his arm was strangely weak； and he slipped and tumbled down the whole flight； to land semiconscious at the bottom。
lord roke hauled the envelope out of the mans twitching hand with some difficulty； for it was half as big as he was； and set off in the shadows toward the room where mrs。 coulter was asleep。
the gap at the foot of the door was wide enough for him to slip through。 brother louis had e and gone； but he hadnt dared to try and fasten the chain around mrs。 coulters neck： it lay beside her on the pillow。
lord roke pressed her hand to wake her up。 she was profoundly exhausted； but she focused on him at once and sat up； rubbing her eyes。
he explained what had happened and gave her the envelope。
〃you should destroy it at once；〃 he told her。 〃one single hair would be enough； the man said。〃
she looked at the little curl of dark blond hair and shook her head。
〃too late for that；〃 she said。 〃this is only half the lock i cut from lyra。 he must have kept back some of it。〃
lord roke hissed with anger。
〃when he looked around！〃 he said。 〃ach… i moved to be out of his sight； he must have set it aside then。。。〃
〃and theres no way of knowing where hell have put it；〃 said mrs。 coulter。 〃still； if we can find the bomb。。。”
〃shh！〃
that was the golden monkey。 he was crouching by the door； listening； and then they heard it； too： heavy footsteps hurrying toward the room。
mrs。 coulter thrust the envelope and the lock of hair at lord roke； who took it and leapt for the top of the wardrobe。 then she lay down next to her daemon as the key turned noisily in the door。
〃where is it？ what have you done with it？ how did you attack dr。 cooper？〃 said the presidents harsh voice as the light fell across the bed。
mrs。 coulter threw up an arm to shade her eyes and struggled to sit up。
〃you do like to keep your guests entertained；〃 she said drowsily。 〃is this a new game？ what do i have to do？ and who is dr。 cooper？〃
the guard from the gatehouse had e in with father macphail and was shining a torch into the corners of the room and under the bed。 the president was slightly disconcerted： mrs。 coulters eyes were heavy with sleep； and she could hardly see in the glare from the corridor light。 it was obvious that she hadnt left her bed。
〃you have an acplice；〃 he said。 〃someone has attacked a guest of the college。 who is it？ who came here with you？ where is he？〃
〃i havent the faintest idea what youre talking about。 and whats this。。。 ？〃
her hand； which shed put down to help herself sit up； had found the locket on the pillow。 she stopped； picked it up； and looked at the president with wide…open sleepy eyes； and lord roke saw a superb piece of acting as she said； puzzled； 〃but this is my。。。 whats it doing here？ father macphail； whos been in here？ someone has taken this from around my neck。 and； where is lyras hair？ there was a lock of my childs hair in here。 whos taken it？ why？ whats going on？〃
and now she was standing； her hair disordered； passion in her voice； plainly just as bewildered as the president himself。
father macphail took a step backward and put his hand to his head。
〃someone else must have e with you。 there must he an acplice；〃 he said； his voice rasping at the air。 〃where is he hiding？〃
〃i have no acplice；〃 she said angrily。 〃if theres an invisible assassin in this place； i can only imagine its the devil himself。 i dare say he feels quite at home。〃
father macphail said to the guard； 〃take her to the cellars。 put her in chains。 i know just what we can do with this woman； i should have thought of it as soon as she appeared。〃
she looked wildly around and met lord rokes eyes for a fraction of a second； glittering in the darkness near the ceiling。 he caught her expression at once and understood exactly what she meant him to do。
？？
TWENTY…FIVE … SAINT…JEAN…LES…EAUX
小说
the cataract of saint…jean…les…eaux plunged between pinnacles of rock at the eastern end of a spur of the alps； and the generating station clung to the side of the mountain above it。 it was a wild region； a bleak and battered wilderness； and no one would have built anything there at all had it not been for the promise of driving great anbaric generators with the power of the thousands of tons of water that roared through the gorge。
it was the night following mrs。 coulters arrest； and the weather was stormy。 near the sheer stone front of the generating station； a zeppelin slowed to a hover in the buffeting wind。 the searchlights below the craft made it look as if it were standing on several legs of light and gradually lowering itself to lie down。
but the pilot wasnt satisfied； the wind was swept into eddies and cross…gusts by the edges of the mountain。 besides； the cables； the pylons； the transformers