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and days。〃
her eyes were still heavy； and she was racked by deep yawns； but she was desperate to be awake； and he helped her up； putting her arm over his shoulder and taking much of her weight。 ama watched timidly； for now that the strange girl was awake； she was nervous of her。 will breathed in the scent of lyras sleepy body with a happy satisfaction： she was here； she was real。
they sat on a rock。 lyra held his hand and rubbed her eyes。
〃whats happening； will？〃 she whispered。
〃ama here got some powder to wake you up；〃 he said； speaking very quietly； and lyra turned to the girl； seeing her for the first time； and put her hand on amas shoulder in thanks。 〃i got here as soon as i could；〃 will went on； 〃but some soldiers did； too。 i dont know who they are。 well get out as soon as we can。〃
outside； the noise and confusion were reaching a height； one of the gyropters had taken a fusillade from a zeppelins machine gun while the riflemen were jumping out on the cliff top； and it burst into flames； not only killing the crew but also preventing the remaining gyropters from landing。
another zeppelin； meanwhile； had found a clear space farther down the valley； and the crossbow men who disembarked from it were now running up the path to reinforce those already in action。 mrs。 coulter was following as much as she could see from the cave mouth； and now she raised her pistol； supporting it with both hands； and took careful aim before firing。 will saw the flash from the muzzle； but heard nothing over the explosions and gunfire from outside。
if she does that again； he thought； ill rush and knock her over； and he turned to whisper that to balthamos； but the angel was nowhere near。 instead； will saw with dismay； he was cowering against the wall of the cave； back in his angel form； trembling and whimpering。
〃balthamos！〃 will said urgently。 〃e on； they cant hurt you！ and you have to help us！ you can fight； you know that； youre not a coward； and we need you。。。”
but before the angel could reply； something else happened。
mrs。 coulter cried out and reached down to her ankle； and simultaneously the golden monkey snatched at something in midair； with a snarl of glee。
a voice； a womans voice； but somehow minute； came from the thing in the monkeys paw：
〃tialys！ tialys！〃
it was a tiny woman； no bigger than lyras hand； and the monkey was already pulling and pulling at one of her arms so that she cried out in pain。 ama knew he wouldnt stop till hed torn it off； but will leapt forward as he saw the pistol fall from mrs。 coulters hand。
and he caught the gun； but then mrs。 coulter fell still； and will became aware of a strange stalemate。
the golden monkey and mrs。 coulter were both utterly motionless。 her face was distorted with pain and fury； but she dared not move； because standing on her shoulder was a tiny man with his heel pressed against her neck； his hands entwined in her hair； and will； through his astonishment； saw on that heel a glistening horny spur and knew what had caused her to cry out a moment before。 he must have stung her ankle。
but the little man couldnt hurt mrs。 coulter anymore； because of the danger his partner was in at the hands of the monkey； and the monkey couldnt harm her； in case the little man dug his poison spur into mrs。 coulters jugular vein。 none of them could move。
breathing deeply and swallowing hard to govern the pain； mrs。 coulter turned her tear…dashed eyes to will and said calmly； 〃so； master will； what do you think we should do now？〃
m。
THIRTEEN … TIALYS AND SALMAKIA
小=＿说。网
holding the heavy gun； will swept his hand sideways and knocked the golden monkey off his perch； stunning him so that mrs。 coulter groaned aloud and the monkeys paw relaxed enough to let the tiny woman struggle free。
in a moment she leapt up to the rocks； and the man sprang away from mrs。 coulter； both of them moving as quickly as grasshoppers。 the three children had no time to be astonished。 the man was concerned： he felt his panions shoulder and arm tenderly； and embraced her swiftly before calling to will。
〃you！ boy！〃 he said； and although his voice was small in volume； it was as deep as a grown mans。 〃have you got the knife？〃
〃of course i have；〃 said will。 if they didnt know it was broken； he wasnt going to tell them。
〃you and the girl will have to follow us。 who is the other child？〃
〃ama； from the village；〃 said will。
〃tell her to return there。 move now； before the swiss e。〃
will didnt hesitate。 whatever these two intended； he and lyra could still get away through the window hed opened behind the bush on the path below。
so he helped her up and watched curiously as the two small figures leapt on； what？ birds？ no； dragonflies； as large as seagulls； which had been waiting in the darkness。 then they darted forward to the cave mouth； where mrs。 coulter lay。 she was half…stunned with pain and drowsy from the chevaliers sting； but she reached up as they went past her； and cried：
〃lyra！ lyra； my daughter； my dear one！ lyra； dont go！ dont go！〃
lyra looked down at her； anguished； but then she stepped over her mothers body and loosened mrs。 coulters feeble clutch from her ankle。 the woman was sobbing now； will saw the tears glistening on her cheeks。
crouching just beside the cave mouth； the three children waited until there was a brief pause in the shooting； and then followed the dragonflies as they darted down the path。 the light had changed： as well as the cold anbaric gleam from the zeppelins floodlights； there was the leaping orange of flames。
will looked back once。 in the glare mrs。 coulters face was a mask of tragic passion； and her daemon clung piteously to her as she knelt and held out her arms； crying：
〃lyra！ lyra； my love！ my hearts treasure； my little child； my only one！ oh； lyra； lyra； dont go； dont leave me！ my darling daughter； youre tearing my heart。。。”
and a great and furious sob shook lyra herself； for； after all； mrs。 coulter was the only mother she would ever have； and will saw a cascade of tears run down the girls cheeks。
but he had to be ruthless。 he pulled at lyras hand； and as the dragonfly rider darted close to his head； urging them to hurry； he led her at a crouching run down the path and away from the cave。 in wills left hand； bleeding again from the blow hed landed on the monkey； was mrs。 coulters pistol。
〃make for the top of the cliff；〃 said the dragonfly rider； 〃and give yourself up to the africans。 theyre your best hope。〃
mindful of those sharp spurs； will said nothing； though he hadnt the least intention of obeying。 there was only one place he was making for； and that was the window behind the bush； so he kept his head low and ran fast； and lyra and ama ran behind him。
〃halt！〃
there was a man； three men； blocking the path ahead； uniformed； white men with crossbows and snarling wolf…dog daemons； the swiss guard。
〃iorek！〃 cried will at once。 〃iorek byrnison！〃 he could hear the bear crashing and snarling not far away； and hear the screams and cries of the soldiers unlucky enough to meet him。
but someone else came from nowhere to help them： balthamos； in a blur of desperation； hurled himself between the children and the soldiers。 the men fell back； amazed； as this apparition shimmered into being in front of them。
but they were trained warriors； and a moment later their daemons leapt at the angel； savage teeth flashing white in the gloom； and balthamos flinched： he cried out in fear and shame； and shrank back。 then he sprang upward； beating his wings hard。 will watched in dismay as the figure of his guide and friend soared up to vanish out of sight among the treetops。
lyra was following it all with still…dazed eyes。 it had taken no more than two or three seconds； but it was enough for the swiss to regroup； and now their leader was raising his crossbow； and will had no choice： he swung up the pistol and clamped his right hand to the butt and pulled the trigger； and the blast shook his bones； but the bullet found the mans heart。
the soldier fell back as if hed been kicked by a horse。 simultaneously the two little spies launched themselves at the other two； leaping from the dragonflies at their victi