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〃so what were you going to do？〃 said the president。
〃i was going to keep her safe until the danger had passed。〃
〃what danger would that he？〃 he said； handing her a glass。
〃oh； i think you know what i mean。 somewhere there is a tempter； a serpent； so to speak； and i had to keep them from meeting。〃
〃there is a boy with her。〃
〃yes。 and if you hadnt interfered； they would both be under my control。 as it is； they could be anywhere。 at least theyre not with lord asriel。〃
〃i have no doubt he will be looking for them。 the boy has a knife of extraordinary power。 they would be worth pursuing for that alone。〃
〃im aware of that；〃 said mrs。 coulter。 〃i managed to break ？ it； and he managed to get it mended again。〃
the president wondered why she was smiling。 surely she didnt approve of this wretched boy？
〃we know；〃 he said shortly。
〃well； well；〃 she said。 〃fra pavel must be getting quicker。 when i knew him； it would have taken him a month at least to read all that。〃
she sipped her chocolate； which was thin and weak； how like these wretched priests； she thought； to take their self…righteous abstinence out on their visitors； too。
〃tell me about lord asriel；〃 said the president。 〃tell me everything。〃
mrs。 coulter settled back fortably and began to tell him； not everything； but he never thought for a moment that she would。 she told him about the fortress； about the allies； about the angels； about the mines and the foundries。
father macphail sat without moving a muscle； his lizard daemon absorbing and remembering every word。
〃and how did you get here？〃 he asked。
〃i stole a gyropter。 it ran out of fuel and i had to abandon it in the countryside not far from here。 the rest of the way i walked。〃
〃is lord asriel actively searching for the girl and the boy？〃
〃of course。〃
〃i assume hes after that knife。 you know it has a name？ the cliff…ghasts of the north call it the god…destroyer；〃 he went on； crossing to the window and looking down over the cloisters。 〃thats what asriel is aiming to do； isnt it？ destroy the authority？ there are some people who claim that god is dead already。 presumably； asriel is not one of those； if he retains the ambition to kill him。〃
〃well； where is god；〃 said mrs。 coulter； 〃if hes alive？ and why doesnt he speak anymore？ at the beginning of the world； god walked in the garden and spoke with adam and eve。 then he began to withdraw； and he forbade moses to look at his face。 later； in the time of daniel； he was aged； he was the ancient of days。 where is he now？ is he still alive； at some inconceivable age； decrepit and demented； unable to think or act or speak and unable to die； a rotten hulk？ and if that is his condition； wouldnt it be the most merciful thing； the truest proof of our love for god； to seek him out and give him the gift of death？〃
mrs。 coulter felt a calm exhilaration as she spoke。 she wondered if shed ever get out alive； but it was intoxicating； to speak like that to this man。
〃and dust？〃 he said。 〃from the depths of heresy； what is your view of dust？〃
〃i have no view of dust；〃 she said。 〃i dont know what it is。 no one does。〃
〃i see。 well； i began by reminding you that you are under arrest。 i think its time we found you somewhere to sleep。 youll be quite fortable； no one will hurt you； but youre not going to get away。 and we shall talk more tomorrow。〃
he rang a bell； and brother louis came in almost at once。 〃show mrs。 coulter to the best guest room；〃 said the president。 〃and lock her in。〃
the best guest room was shabby and the furniture was cheap； but at least it was clean。 after the lock had turned behind her； mrs。 coulter looked around at once for the microphone and found one in the elaborate light…fitting and another under the frame of the bed。 she disconnected them both； and then had a horrible surprise。
watching her from the top of the chest of drawers behind the door was lord roke。
she cried out and put a hand on the wall to steady herself。 the gallivespian was sitting cross…legged； entirely at his ease； and neither she nor the golden monkey had seen him。 once the pounding of her heart had subsided； and her breathing had slowed； she said； 〃and when would you have done me the courtesy of letting me know you were here； my lord？ before i undressed； or afterwards？〃
〃before；〃 he said。 〃tell your daemon to calm down； or ill disable him。〃
the golden monkeys teeth were bared； and all his fur was standing on end。 the scorching malice of his expression was enough to make any normal person quail； but lord roke merely smiled。 his spurs glittered in the dim light。
the little spy stood up and stretched。
〃ive just spoken to my agent in lord asriels fortress；〃 he went on。 〃lord asriel presents his pliments and asks you to let him know as soon as you find out what these peoples intentions are。〃
she felt winded； as if lord asriel had thrown her hard in wrestling。 her eyes widened； and she sat down slowly on the bed。
〃did you e here to spy on me； or to help？〃 she said。
〃both； and its lucky for you im here。 as soon as you arrived； they set some anbaric work in motion down in the cellars。 i dont know what it is； but theres a team of scientists working on it right now。 you seem to have galvanized them。〃
〃i dont know whether to be flattered or alarmed。 as a matter of fact； im exhausted； and im going to sleep。 if youre here to help me； you can keep watch。 you can begin by looking the other way。〃
he bowed and faced the wall until she had washed in the chipped basin； dried herself on the thin towel； and undressed and got into bed。 her daemon patrolled the room； checking the wardrobe； the picture rail； the curtains； the view of the dark cloisters out of the window。 lord roke watched him every inch of the way。 finally the golden monkey joined mrs。 coulter； and they fell asleep at once。
lord roke hadnt told her everything that hed learned from lord asriel。 the allies had been tracking the flight of all kinds of beings in the air above the frontiers of the republic； and had noticed a concentration of what might have been angels； and might have been something else entirely； in the west。 they had sent patrols out to investigate； but so far they had learned nothing： whatever it was that hung there had wrapped itself in impenetrable fog。
the spy thought it best not to trouble mrs。 coulter with that； though； she was exhausted。 let her sleep； he decided； and he moved silently about the room； listening at the door； watching out of the window； awake and alert。
an hour after she had first e into the room； he heard a quiet noise outside the door： a faint scratch and a whisper。 at the same moment a dim light outlined the door。 lord roke moved to the farthest corner and stood behind one of the legs of the chair on which mrs。 coulter had thrown her clothes。
a minute went by； and then the key turned very quietly in the lock。 the door opened an inch； no more； and then the light went out。
lord roke could see well enough in the dim glow through the thin curtains； but the intruder was having to wait for his eyes to adjust。 finally the door opened farther； very slowly； and the young priest brother louis stepped in。
he crossed himself and tiptoed to the bed。 lord roke prepared to spring； but the priest merely listened to mrs。 coulters steady breathing； looked closely to see whether she was asleep； and then turned to the bedside table。
he covered the bulb of the battery light with his hand and switched it on； letting a thin gleam escape through his fingers。 he peered at the table so closely that his nose nearly touched the surface； but whatever he was looking for； he didnt find it。 mrs。 coulter had put a few things there before she got into bed； a couple of coins； a ring； her watch； but brother louis wasnt interested in those。
he turned to her again； and then he saw what he was looking for； uttering a soft hiss between his teeth。 lord roke could see his dismay： the object of his search was the locket on the gold chain around mrs。 coulters neck。
lord roke moved silently along the skirting board toward the door。
the priest crossed himself again； for he was going to have to touch her。 holding his breath； he bent over the bed；