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ing of yours； too； salmakia； because your face is drawn and your hands are pale and tight。 yes； we have daemons； whatever they are。 maybe the people in lyras world are the only living beings to know they have。 maybe thats why it was one of them who started the revolt。〃
he slipped off the dragonflys back and tethered it safely； and then took out the lodestone resonator。 but he had hardly begun to touch it when he stopped。
〃no response；〃 he said somberly。
〃so were beyond everything？〃
〃beyond help； certainly。 well； we knew we were ing to the land of the dead。〃
〃the boy would go with her to the end of the world。〃
〃will his knife open the way back； do you think？〃
〃im sure he thinks so。 but oh； tialys； i dont know。〃
〃hes very young。 well； they are both young。 you know； if she doesnt survive this； the question of whether shell choose the right thing when shes tempted wont arise。 it wont matter anymore。〃
〃do you think shes chosen already？ when she chose to leave her daemon on the shore？ was that the choice she had to make？〃
the chevalier looked down on the slow…moving millions on the floor of the land of the dead； all drifting after that bright and living spark lyra silvertongue。 he could just make out her hair； the lightest thing in the gloom； and beside it the boys head； black…haired and solid and strong。
〃no；〃 he said； 〃not yet。 thats still to e； whatever it may be。〃
〃then we must bring her to it safely。〃
〃bring them both。 theyre bound together now。〃
the lady salmakia flicked the cobweb…light rein； and her dragonfly darted off the branch at once and sped down toward the living children； with the chevalier close behind。
but they didnt stop with them； having skimmed low to make sure they were all right； they flew on ahead； partly because the dragonflies were restless； and partly because they wanted to find out how far this dismal place extended。
lyra saw them flashing overhead and felt a pang of relief that there was still something that darted and glowed with beauty。 then； unable to keep her idea to herself anymore； she turned to will； but she had to whisper。 she put her lips to his ear； and in a noisy rush of warmth； he heard her say：
〃will； i want us to take all these poor dead ghost kids outside； the grownups as well； we could set em free！ well find roger and your father； and then lets open the way to the world outside； and set em all free！〃
he turned and gave her a true smile； so warm and happy she felt something stumble and falter inside her； at least； it felt like that； but without pantalaimon she couldnt ask herself what it meant。 it might have been a new way for her heart to heat。 deeply surprised； she told herself to walk straight and stop feeling giddy。
so they moved on。 the whisper roger was spreading out faster than they could move； the words 〃roger； lyras e； roger； lyras here〃 passed from one ghost to another like the electric message that one cell in the body passes on to the next。
and tialys and salmakia； cruising above on their tireless dragonflies； and looking all around as they flew； eventually noticed a new kind of movement。 some way off there was a little gyration of activity。 skimming down closer； they found themselves ignored； for the first time； because something more interesting was gripping the minds of all the ghosts。 they were talking excitedly in their near…silent whispers； they were pointing； they were urging someone forward。
salmakia flew down low； but couldnt land： the press was too great； and none of their hands or shoulders would support her； even if they dared to try。 she saw a young ghost boy with an honest； unhappy face； dazed and puzzled by what he was being told； and she called out：
〃roger？ is that roger？〃
he looked up； bemused； nervous； and nodded。
salmakia flew back up to her panion； and together they sped back to lyra。 it was a long way； and hard to navigate； but by watching the patterns of movement； they finally found her。
〃there she is；〃 said tialys； and called： 〃lyra！ lyra！ your friend is there！〃
lyra looked up and held out her hand for the dragonfly。 the great insect landed at once； its red and yellow gleaming like enamel； and its filmy wings stiff and still on either side。 tialys kept his balance as she held him at eye level。
〃where？〃 she said； breathless with excitement。 〃is he far off？〃
〃an hours walk；〃 said the chevalier。 〃but he knows youre ing。 the others have told him； and we made sure it was him。 just keep going； and soon youll find him。〃
tialys saw will make the effort to stand up straight and force himself to find some more energy。 lyra was charged with it already； and plied the gallivespians with questions： how did roger seem？ had he spoken to them？ no； of course； but did he seem glad？ were the other children aware of what was happening； and were they helping； or were they just in the way？
and so on。 tialys tried to answer everything truthfully and patiently； and step by step the living girl drew closer to the boy she had brought to his death。
。。
TWENTY…THREE … NO WAY OUT
小=＿说。网
〃will；〃 said lyra； 〃what dyou think the harpies will do when we let the ghosts out？〃
because the creatures were getting louder and flying closer； and there were more and more of them all the time； as if the gloom were gathering itself into little clots of malice and giving them wings。 the ghosts kept looking up fearfully。
〃are we getting close？〃 lyra called to the lady salmakia。
〃not far now；〃 she called down； hovering above them。 〃you could see him if you climbed that rock。〃
but lyra didnt want to waste time。 she was trying with all her heart to put on a cheerful face for roger； but every moment in front of her minds eye was that terrible image of the little dog…pan abandoned on the jetty as the mist closed around him； and she could barely keep from howling。 she must； though； she must be hopeful for roger； she always had been。
when they did e face to face； it happened quite suddenly。 in among the press of all the ghosts； there he was； his familiar features wan but his expression as full of delight as a ghost could be。 he rushed to embrace her。
but he passed like cold smoke through her arms； and though she felt his little hand clutch at her heart； it had no strength to hold on。 they could never truly touch again。
but he could whisper； and his voice said； 〃lyra； i never thought id ever see you again； i thought even if you did e down here when you was dead； youd be much older； youd be a grownup； and you wouldnt want to speak to me。。。”
〃why ever not？〃
〃because i done the wrong thing when pan got my daemon away from lord asriels！ we shouldve run； we shouldnt have tried to fight her！ we shouldve run to you！ then she wouldnt have been able to get my daemon again； and when the cliff fell away； my daemon wouldve still been with me！〃
〃but that werent your fault； stupid！〃 lyra said。 〃it was me that brung you there in the first place； and i shouldve let you go back with the other kids and the gyptians。 it was my fault。 im so sorry； roger； honest； it was my fault； you wouldntve been here otherwise。。。〃
〃well；〃 he said； 〃i dunno。 maybe i wouldve got dead some other way。 but it werent your fault； lyra； see。〃
she felt herself beginning to believe it； but all the same； it was heartrending to see the poor little cold thing； so close and yet so out of reach。 she tried to grasp his wrist； though her fingers closed in the empty air； but he understood and sat down beside her。
the other ghosts withdrew a little； leaving them alone； and will moved apart； too； to sit down and nurse his hand。 it was bleeding again； and while tialys flew fiercely at the ghosts to force them away； salmakia helped will tend to the wound。
but lyra and roger were oblivious to that。
〃and you ent dead；〃 he said。 〃howd you e here if youre still alive？ and wheres pan？〃
〃oh； roger； i had to leave him on the shore； it was the worst thing i ever had to do； it hurt so much； you know how it hurts； and he just stood there； just looking； oh； i felt like a murderer； roger； but i had to； or else i couldnt have e！〃
〃i been pretending to talk to you all the time since i died；〃 he said。 〃i been wishing i could； an