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； and i have never been troubled before； never in doubt。 now i am full of doubt。 doubt is a human thing； not a bear thing。 if i am being human； somethings wrong； somethings bad。 and ive made it worse。〃
〃but when the first bear made the first piece of armor； wasnt that bad； too； in the same way？〃
iorek was silent。 they walked on till they came to a big drift of snow； and iorek lay in it and rolled this way and that； sending flurries of snow up into the dark air； so that it looked as if he himself were made of snow； he was the personification of all the snow in the world。
when he was finished； he rolled over and stood up and shook himself vigorously； and then； seeing will still waiting for an answer to his question； said：
〃yes； i think it might have been； too。 but before that first armored bear； there were no others。 we know of nothing before that。 that was when custom began。 we know our customs； and they are firm and solid and we follow them without change。 bear nature is weak without custom； as bear flesh is unprotected without armor。
〃but i think i have stepped outside bear nature in mending this knife。 i think ive been as foolish as lofur rakinson。 time will tell。 but i am uncertain and doubtful。 now you must tell me： why did the knife break？〃
will rubbed his aching head with both hands。
〃the woman looked at me and i thought she had the face of my mother；〃 he said； trying to recollect the experience with all the honesty he had。 〃and the knife came up against something it couldnt cut； and because my mind was pushing it through and forcing it back both at the same time； it snapped。 thats what i think。 the woman knew what she was doing； im sure。 shes very clever。〃
〃when you talk of the knife； you talk of your mother and father。〃
〃do i？ yes。。。 i suppose i do。〃
〃what are you going to do with it？〃
〃i dont know。〃
suddenly iorek lunged at will and cuffed him hard with his left paw： so hard that will fell half…stunned into the snow and tumbled over and over until he ended some way down the slope with his head ringing。
iorek came down slowly to where will was struggling up； and said； 〃answer me truthfully。〃
will was tempted to say； 〃you wouldnt have done that if id had the knife in my hand。〃 but he knew that iorek knew that； and knew that he knew it； and that it would be discourteous and stupid to say it； but he was tempted； all the same。
he held his tongue until he was standing upright； facing iorek directly。
〃i said i dont know；〃 he said； trying hard to keep his voice calm； 〃because i havent looked clearly at what it is that im going to do。 at what it means。 it frightens me。 and it frightens lyra； too。 anyway； i agreed as soon as i heard what she said。〃
〃and what was that？〃
〃we want to go down to the land of the dead and talk to the ghost of lyras friend roger； the one who
got killed on svalbard。 and if there really is a world of the dead； then my father will be there； too； and if we can talk to ghosts； i want to talk to him。
〃but im divided； im pulled apart； because also i want to go back and look after my mother； because i could； and also the angel balthamos told me i should go to lord asriel and offer the knife to him； and i think maybe he was right as well。。。〃
〃he fled；〃 said the bear。
〃he wasnt a warrior。 he did as much as he could； and then he couldnt do any more。 he wasnt the only one to be afraid； im afraid； too。 so i have to think it through。 maybe sometimes we dont do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous； and we dont want to look scared； so we go and do the wrong thing just because its dangerous。 were more concerned with not looking scared than with judging right。 its very hard。 thats why i didnt answer you。〃
〃i see；〃 said the bear。
they stood in silence for what felt like a long time； especially to will； who had little protection from the bitter cold。 but iorek hadnt finished yet； and will was still weak and dizzy from the blow； and didnt quite trust his feet； so they stayed where they were。
〃well； i have promised myself in many ways；〃 said the bear…king。 〃it may be that in helping you i have brought final destruction on my kingdom。 and it may be that i have not； and that destruction was ing anyway； maybe i have held it off。 so i am troubled； having to do un…bearlike deeds and speculate and doubt like a human。
〃and i shall tell you one thing。 you know it already； but you dont want to； which is why i tell you openly； so that you dont mistake it。 if you want to succeed in this task； you must no longer think about your mother。 you must put her aside。 if your mind is divided； the knife will break。
〃now im going to say farewell to lyra。 you must wait in the cave； those two spies will not let you out of their sight； and i do not want them listening when i speak to her。〃
will had no words； though his breast and his throat were full。 he managed to say； 〃thank you； iorek byrnison；〃 but that was all he could say。
he walked with iorek up the slope toward the cave； where the fire glow still shone warmly in the vast surrounding dark。
there iorek carried out the last process in the mending of the subtle knife。 he laid it among the brighter cinders until the blade was glowing； and will and lyra saw a hundred colors swirling in the smoky depths of the metal； and when he judged the moment was right； iorek told will to take it and plunge it directly into the snow that had drifted outside。
the rosewood handle was charred and scorched； but will wrapped his hand in several folds of a shirt and did as iorek told him。 in the hiss and flare of steam； he felt the atoms finally settle together； and he knew that the knife was as keen as before； the point as infinitely rare。
but it did look different。 it was shorter； and much less elegant； and there was a dull silver surface over each of the joins。 it looked ugly now； it looked like what it was； wounded。
when it was cool enough； he packed it away in the rucksack and sat； ignoring the spies； to wait for lyra to e back。
iorek had taken her a little farther up the slope； to a point out of sight of the cave； and there he had let her sit cradled in the shelter of his great arms； with pantalaimon nestling mouse…formed at her breast。 iorek bent his head over her and nuzzled at her scorched and smoky hands。 without a word he began to lick them clean； his tongue was soothing on the burns； and she felt as safe as she had ever felt in her life。
but when her hands were free of soot and dirt； iorek spoke。 she felt his voice vibrate against her back。
〃lyra silvertongue； what is this plan to visit the dead？〃
〃it came to me in a dream； iorek。 i saw rogers ghost； and i knew he was calling to me。。。 you remember
roger。 well； after we left you； he was killed； and it was my fault； at least i felt it was。 and i think i should just finish what i began； thats all： i should go and say sorry； and if i can； i should rescue him from there。 if will can open a way to the world of the dead； then we must do it。〃
〃can is not the same as must。〃
〃but if you must and you can； then theres no excuse。〃
〃while you are alive； your business is with life。〃
〃no； iorek；〃 she said gently； 〃our business is to keep promises； no matter how difficult they are。 you know； secretly； im deadly scared。 and i wish id never had that dream； and i wish will hadnt thought of using the knife to go there。 but we did； so we cant get out of it。〃
lyra felt pantalaimon trembling and stroked him with her sore hands。
〃we dont know how to get there； though；〃 she went on。 〃we wont know anything till we try。 what are you going to do； iorek？〃
〃im going back north； with my people。 we cant live in the mountains。 even the snow is different。 i thought we could live here； but we can live more easily in the sea； even if it is warm。
that was worth learning。 and besides； i think we will be needed。 i can feel war； lyra silvertongue； i can smell it； i can hear it。 i spoke to serafina pekkala before i came this way； and she told me she was going to lord faa and the gyptians。 if there is war； we shall be needed。〃
lyra sat up； excited at hearing the names of her old friends。 but iorek hadnt finished。 he went on：
〃if you do no