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〃listen；〃 said lyra； 〃please listen。 we came here； me and my friends； because we got to find a boy called roger。 he ent been here long； just a few weeks； so he wont know very many people； but if you know where he is。。。〃
but even as she spoke； she knew that they could stay here till they grew old； searching everywhere and looking at every face； and still they might never see more than a tiny fraction of the dead。 she felt despair sit on her shoulders； as heavy as if the harpy herself were perching there。
however； she clenched her teeth and tried to hold her chin high。 we got here； she thought； thats part of it anyway。
the first ghost girl was saying something in that lost little whisper。
〃why do we want to find him？〃 said will。 〃well； lyra wants to speak to him。 but theres someone i want to find as well。 i want to find my father； john parry。 hes here； too； somewhere； and i want to speak to him before i go back to the world。 so please ask； if you can； ask for roger and for john parry to e and speak to lyra and to will。 ask them。。。”
but suddenly the ghosts all turned and fled； even the grownups； like dry leaves scattered by a sudden gust of wind。 in a moment the space around the children was empty； and then they heard why。 screams； cries； shrieks came from the air above； and then the harpies were on them； with gusts of rotten stink； battering wings； and those raucous screams； jeering； mocking； cackling； deriding。
lyra shrank to the ground at once； covering her ears； and will； knife in hand； crouched over her。 he could see tialys and salmakia skimming toward them； but they were some way off yet； and he had a moment or two to watch the harpies as they wheeled and dived。 he saw their human faces snap at the air； as if they were eating insects； and he heard the words they were shouting； scoffing words； filthy words； all about his mother； words that shook his heart； but part of his mind was quite cold and separate； thinking； calculating； observing。 none of them wanted to e anywhere near the knife。
to see what would happen； he stood up。 one of them； it might have been no…name herself； had to swerve heavily out of the way； because shed been diving low； intending to skim just over his head。 her
heavy wings beat clumsily； and she only just made the turn。 he could have reached out and slashed off her head with the knife。
by this time the gallivespians had arrived； and the two of them were about to attack； but will called： 〃tialys！ e here！ salmakia； e to my hand！〃
they landed on his shoulders； and he said； 〃watch。 see what they do。 they only e and scream。 i think it was a mistake when she hit lyra。 i dont think they want to touch us at all。 we can ignore them。〃
lyra looked up； wide…eyed。 the creatures flew around wills head； sometimes only a foot or so away； but they always swerved aside or upward at the last moment。 he could sense the two spies eager for battle； and the dragonflies wings were quivering with desire to dart through the air with their deadly riders； but they held themselves back： they could see he was right。
and it had an effect on the ghosts； too： seeing will standing unafraid and unharmed； they began to drift back toward the travelers。 they watched the harpies cautiously； but for all that； the lure of the warm flesh and blood； those strong heartbeats； was too much to resist。
lyra stood up to join will。 her wound had opened again； and fresh blood was trickling down her cheek； but she wiped it aside。
〃will；〃 she said； 〃im so glad we came down here together。。。〃
he heard a tone in her voice and he saw an expression on her face that he knew and liked more than anything hed ever known： it showed she was thinking of something daring； but she wasnt ready to speak of it yet。
he nodded； to show hed understood。
the ghost girl said； 〃this way； e with us； well find them！〃
and both of them felt the strangest sensation； as if little ghost hands were reaching inside and tugging at their ribs to make them follow。
so they set off across the floor of that great desolate plain； and the harpies wheeled higher and higher overhead； screaming and screaming。 but they kept their distance； and the gallivespians flew above； keeping watch。
as they walked along； the ghosts talked to them。
〃excuse me；〃 said one ghost girl； 〃but wheres your daemons？ excuse me for asking。 but。。。〃
lyra was conscious every single second of her dear； abandoned pantalaimon。 she couldnt speak easily； so will answered instead。
〃we left our daemons outside；〃 he said； 〃where its safe for them。 well collect them later。 did you have a daemon？〃
〃yes；〃 said the ghost； 〃his name was sandling。。。 oh； i loved him。。。〃
〃and had he settled？〃 said lyra。
〃no； not yet。 he used to think hed be a bird； and i hoped he wouldnt； because i liked him all furry in bed at night。 but he was a bird more and more。 whats your daemon called？〃
lyra told her； and the ghosts pressed forward eagerly again。 they all wanted to talk about their daemons； every one。
〃mine was called matapan。。。”
〃we used to play hide…and…seek； shed change like a chameleon and i couldnt see her at all； she was ever so good。。。”
〃once i hurt my eye and i couldnt see and he guided me all the way home。。。”
〃he never wanted to settle； but i wanted to grow up； and we used to argue。。。”
〃she used to curl up in my hand and go to sleep。。。”
〃are they still there； somewhere else？ will we see them again？〃
〃no。 when you die； your daemon just goes out like a candle flame。 i seen it happen。 i never saw my castor； though； i never said good…bye。。。”
〃they ent nowhere！ they must be somewhere！ my daemons still there somewhere； i know he is！〃
the jostling ghosts were animated and eager； their eyes shining and their cheeks warm； as if they were borrowing life from the travelers。
will said； 〃is there anyone here from my world； where we dont have daemons？〃
a thin ghost boy of his own age nodded； and will turned to him。
〃oh yes；〃 came the answer。 〃we didnt understand what daemons were； but we knew what it felt like to be without them。 theres people here from all kinds of worlds。〃
〃i knew my death；〃 said one girl； 〃i knew him all the while i was growing up。 when i heard them talk about daemons； i thought they meant something like our deaths。 i miss him now。 i wont never see him again。 im over and done with； thats the last thing he said to me； and then he went forever。 when he was with me； i always knew there was someone i could trust； someone who knew where we was going and what to do。 but i aint got him no more。 i dont know whats going to happen ever again。〃
〃there aint nothing going to happen！〃 someone else said。 〃nothing； forever！〃
〃you dont know；〃 said another。 〃they came； didnt they ？ no one ever knew that was going to happen。〃
she meant will and lyra。
〃this is the first thing that ever happened here；〃 said a ghost boy。 〃maybe its all going to change now。〃
〃what would you do； if you could？〃 said lyra。
〃go up to the world again！〃
〃even if it meant you could only see it once； would you still want to do that？〃
〃yes！ yes！ yes！〃
〃well； anyway； ive got to find roger；〃 said lyra； burning with her new idea； but it was for will to know first。
on the floor of the endless plain； there was a vast； slow movement among the uncountable ghosts。 the children couldnt see it； but tialys and salmakia； flying above； watched the little pale figures all moving with an effect that looked like the migration of immense flocks of birds or herds of reindeer。 at the center of the movement were the two children who were not ghosts； moving steadily on； not leading； and not following； but somehow focusing the movement into an intention of all the dead。
the spies； their thoughts moving even more quickly than their darting steeds； exchanged a glance and brought the dragonflies to rest side by side on a dry； withered branch。
〃do we have daemons； tialys？〃 said the lady。
〃since we got into that boat； i have felt as if my heart had been torn out and thrown still beating on the shore；〃 he said。 〃but it wasnt； its still working in my breast。 so something of mine is out there with the little girls daemon； and something of yours； too； salmaki