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here was an iron stove against one wall； with a clotheshorse in front of it； where some dingy shirts were steaming； and on a dressing table there was a shrine of plastic flowers； seashells； colored scent bottles； and other gaudy bits and pieces； all surrounding the picture of a jaunty skeleton with a top hat and dark glasses。
the shanty was crowded： as well as the man and the woman and the two young children； there was a baby in a crib； an older man； and in one corner； in a heap of blankets； a very old woman； who was lying and watching everything with glittering eyes； her face as wrinkled as the blankets。 as lyra looked at her； she had a shock： the blankets stirred； and a very thin arm emerged； in a black sleeve； and then another face； a mans； so ancient it was almost a skeleton。 in fact； he looked more like the skeleton in the picture than like a living human being； and then will； too； noticed； and all the travelers together realized that he was one of those shadowy； polite figures like the ones outside。 and all of them felt as nonplussed as the man had been when hed first seen them。
in fact； all the people in the crowded little shack； all except the baby； who was asleep； were at a loss for words。 it was lyra who found her voice first。
〃thats very kind of you；〃 she said； 〃thank you； good evening； were very pleased to be here。 and like i said； were sorry to have arrived without any death； if thats the normal way of things。 but we wont disturb you any more than we have to。 you see； were looking for the land of the dead； and thats how we happened to e here。 but we dont know where it is； or whether this is part of it； or how to get there； or what。 so if you can tell us anything about it； well be very grateful。〃
the people in the shack were still staring； but lyras words eased the atmosphere a little； and the woman invited them to sit at the table； drawing out a bench。 will and lyra lifted the sleeping dragonflies up
to a shelf in a dark corner； where tialys said they would rest till daylight； and then the gallivespians joined them on the table。
the woman had been preparing a dish of stew； and she peeled a couple of potatoes and cut them into it to make it go farther； urging her husband to offer the travelers some other refreshment while it cooked。 he brought out a bottle of clear and pungent spirit that smelled to lyra like the gyptians jenniver； and the two spies accepted a glass into which they dipped little vessels of their own。
lyra would have expected the family to stare most at the gallivespians； but their curiosity was directed just as much； she thought； at her and will。 she didnt wait long to ask why。
〃youre the first people we ever saw without a death；〃 said the man； whose name； theyd learned； was peter。 〃since we e here； that is。 were like you； we e here before we was dead； by some chance or accident。 we got to wait till our death tells us its time。〃
〃your death tells you？〃 said lyra。
〃yes。 what we found out when we e here； oh； long ago for most of us； we found we all brought our deaths with us。 this is where we found out。 we had em all the time； and we never knew。 see； everyone has a death。 it goes everywhere with em； all their life long； right close by。 our deaths； theyre outside； taking the air； theyll e in by and by。 grannys death； hes there with her； hes close to her； very close。〃
〃doesnt it scare you； having your death close by all the time？〃 said lyra。
〃why ever would it？ if hes there； you can keep an eye on him。 id be a lot more nervous not knowing where he was。〃
〃and everyone has their own death？〃 said will； marveling。
〃why； yes； the moment youre born； your death es into the world with you； and its your death that takes you out。〃
〃ah；〃 said lyra； 〃thats what we need to know； because were trying to find the land of the dead； and we dont know how to get there。 where do we go then； when we die？〃
〃your death taps you on the shoulder； or takes your hand； and says； e along o me； its time。 it might happen when youre sick with a fever； or when you choke on a piece of dry bread； or when you fall off a high building； in the middle of your pain and travail； your death es to you kindly and says； easy now； easy； child； you e along o me； and you go with them in a boat out across the lake into the mist。 what happens there； no one knows。 no ones ever e back。〃
the woman told a child to call the deaths in； and he scampered to the door and spoke to them。 will and lyra watched in wonder； and the gallivespians drew closer together； as the deaths； one for each of the family； came in through the door： pale； unremarkable figures in shabby clothes； just drab and quiet and dull。
〃these are your deaths？〃 said tialys。
〃indeed； sir；〃 said peter。
〃do you know when theyll tell you its time to go？〃
〃no。 but you know theyre close by； and thats a fort。〃
tialys said nothing； but it was clear that he felt it would be anything but a fort。 the deaths stood politely along the wall； and it was strange to see how little space they took up； and to find how little notice they attracted。 lyra and will soon found themselves ignoring them altogether； though will thought： those men i killed； their deaths were close beside them all the time； they didnt know； and i didnt know。。。
the woman； martha； dished the stew onto chipped enamel plates and put some in a bowl for the deaths to pass among themselves。 they didnt eat； but the good smell kept them content。 presently all the family and their guests were eating hungrily； and peter asked the children where theyd e from； and what their world was like。
〃ill tell you all about it；〃 said lyra。
as she said that； as she took charge； part of her felt a little stream of pleasure rising upward in her breast like the bubbles in champagne。 and she knew will was watching； and she was happy that he could see her doing what she was best at； doing it for him and for all of them。
she started by telling about her parents。 they were a duke and duchess； very important and wealthy； who had been cheated out of their estate by a political enemy and thrown into prison。 but they managed to escape by climbing down a rope with the baby lyra in her fathers arms； and they regained the family fortune； only to be attacked and murdered by outlaws。 lyra would have been killed as well； and roasted and eaten； had not will rescued her just in time and taken her back to the wolves； in the forest where he was being brought ；； up as one of them。 he had fallen overboard as a baby from the side of his fathers ship and been washed up on a desolate shore； where a female wolf had suckled him and kept him alive。
the people ate up this nonsense with placid credulity； and even the deaths crowded close to listen； perching on the bench or lying on the floor close by； gazing at her with their mild and courteous faces as she spun out the tale of her life with will in the forest。
he and lyra stayed with the wolves for a while； and then moved to oxford to work in the kitchens of jordan college。 there they met roger； and when jordan was attacked by the brickburners who lived in the clay beds； they had to escape in a hurry； so she and will and roger captured a gyptian narrow boat and sailed it all the way down the thames； nearly getting caught at abingdon lock； and then theyd been sunk by the wapping pirates and had to swim for safety to a three…masted clipper just setting off for hang chow in cathay to trade for tea。
and on the clipper theyd met the gallivespians； who were strangers from the moon； blown down to the earth by a fierce gale out of the milky way。 theyd taken refuge in the crows nest； and she and will and roger used to take turns going up there to see them； only one day roger lost his footing and plunged down into davy joness locker。
they tried to persuade the captain to turn the ship around and look for him； but he was a hard； fierce man only interested in the profit hed make by getting to cathay quickly； and he clapped them in irons。 but the gallivespians brought them a file； and。。。
and so on。 from time to time shed turn to will or the spies for confirmation； and salmakia would add a detail or two； or will would nod； and the story wound itself up to the point where th