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the priest crossed himself again； for he was going to have to touch her。 holding his breath； he bent over the bed； and the golden monkey stirred。
the young man froze； hands outstretched。 his rabbit daemon trembled at his feet； no use at all： she could at least have kept watch for the poor man； lord roke thought。 the monkey turned over in his sleep and fell still again。
after a minute poised like a waxwork； brother louis lowered his shaking hands to mrs。 coulters neck。 he fumbled for so long that lord roke thought the dawn would break before he got the catch undone； but finally he lifted the locket gently away and stood up。
lord roke； as quick and as quiet as a mouse； was out of the door before the priest had turned around。 he waited in the dark corridor； and when the young man tiptoed out and turned the key； the gallivespian began to follow him。
brother louis made for the tower； and when the president opened his door； lord roke darted through and made for the priedieu in the corner of the room。 there he found a shadowy ledge where he crouched and listened。
father macphail was not alone： fra pavel； the alethiometrist； was busy with his books； and another
figure stood nervously by the window。 this was dr。 cooper； the experimental theologian from bolvangar。 they both looked up。
〃well done； brother louis；〃 said the president。 〃bring it here； sit down； show me； show me。 well done！〃
fra pavel moved some of his books； and the young priest laid the gold chain on the table。 the others bent over to look as father macphail fiddled with the catch。 dr。 cooper offered him a pocketknife； and then there was a soft click。
〃ah！〃 sighed the president。
lord roke climbed to the top of the desk so that he could see。 in the naphtha lamplight there was a gleam of dark gold： it was a lock of hair； and the president was twisting it between his fingers； turning it this way and that。
〃are we certain this is the childs？〃 he said。
〃i am certain；〃 came the weary voice of fra pavel。
〃and is there enough of it； dr。 cooper？〃
the pale…faced man bent low and took the lock from father macphails fingers。 he held it up to the light。
〃oh yes；〃 he said。 〃one single hair would he enough。 this is ample。〃
〃im very pleased to hear it；〃 said the president。 〃now； brother louis； you must return the locket to the good ladys neck。〃
the priest sagged faintly： he had hoped his task was over。 the president placed the curl of lyras hair in an envelope and shut the locket； looking up and around as he did so； and lord roke had to drop out of sight。
〃father president；〃 said brother louis； 〃i shall of course do as you mand； hut may i know why you need the childs hair？〃
〃no； brother louis； because it would disturb you。 leave these matters to us。 off you go。〃
the young man took the locket and left； smothering his resentment。 lord roke thought of going back with him and waking mrs。 coulter just as he was trying to replace the chain； in order to see what shed do； but it was more important to find out what these people were up to。
as the door closed； the gallivespian went back into the shadows and listened。
〃how did you know where she had it？〃 said the scientist。
〃every time she mentioned the child；〃 the president said； 〃her hand went to the locket。 now then； how soon can it be ready？〃
〃a matter of hours；〃 said dr。 cooper。
〃and the hair？ what do you do with that？〃
〃we place the hair in the resonating chamber。 you understand； each individual is unique； and the arrangement of genetic particles quite distinct。。。 well； as soon as its analyzed； the information is coded in a series of anbaric pulses and transferred to the aiming device。 that locates the origin of the material； the hair； wherever she may be。 its a process that actually makes use of the barnard…stokes heresy； the many…worlds idea。。。〃
〃dont alarm yourself； doctor。 fra pavel has told me that the child is in another world。 please go on。 the force of the bomb is directed by means of the hair？〃
〃yes。 to each of the hairs from which these ones were cut。 thats right。〃
〃so when its detonated； the child will be destroyed； wherever she is？〃
there was a heavy indrawn breath from the scientist； and then a reluctant 〃yes。〃 he swallowed； and went on； 〃the power needed is enormous。 the anbaric power； just as an atomic bomb needs a high
explosive to force the uranium together and set off the chain reaction； this device needs a colossal current to release the much greater power of the severance process。 i was wondering。。。”
〃it doesnt matter where its detonated； does it？〃
〃no。 that is the point。 anywhere will do。〃
〃and its pletely ready？〃
〃now we have the hair； yes。 but the power； you see。。。”
〃i have seen to that。 the hydro…anbaric generating station at saint…jean…les…eaux has been requisitioned for our use。 they produce enough power there； wouldnt you say？〃
〃yes；〃 said the scientist。
〃then we shall set out at once。 please go and see to the apparatus； dr。 cooper。 have it ready for transportation as soon as you can。 the weather changes quickly in the mountains； and there is a storm on the way。〃
the scientist took the little envelope containing lyras hair and bowed nervously as he left。 lord roke left with him； making no more noise than a shadow。
as soon as they were out of earshot of the presidents room； the gallivespian sprang。 dr。 cooper； below him on the stairs； felt an agonizing stab in his shoulder and grabbed for the banister； but his arm was strangely weak； and he slipped and tumbled down the whole flight； to land semiconscious at the bottom。
lord roke hauled the envelope out of the mans twitching hand with some difficulty； for it was half as big as he was； and set off in the shadows toward the room where mrs。 coulter was asleep。
the gap at the foot of the door was wide enough for him to slip through。 brother louis had e and gone； but he hadnt dared to try and fasten the chain around mrs。 coulters neck： it lay beside her on the pillow。
lord roke pressed her hand to wake her up。 she was profoundly exhausted； but she focused on him at once and sat up； rubbing her eyes。
he explained what had happened and gave her the envelope。
〃you should destroy it at once；〃 he told her。 〃one single hair would be enough； the man said。〃
she looked at the little curl of dark blond hair and shook her head。
〃too late for that；〃 she said。 〃this is only half the lock i cut from lyra。 he must have kept back some of it。〃
lord roke hissed with anger。
〃when he looked around！〃 he said。 〃ach… i moved to be out of his sight； he must have set it aside then。。。〃
〃and theres no way of knowing where hell have put it；〃 said mrs。 coulter。 〃still； if we can find the bomb。。。”
〃shh！〃
that was the golden monkey。 he was crouching by the door； listening； and then they heard it； too： heavy footsteps hurrying toward the room。
mrs。 coulter thrust the envelope and the lock of hair at lord roke； who took it and leapt for the top of the wardrobe。 then she lay down next to her daemon as the key turned noisily in the door。
〃where is it？ what have you done with it？ how did you attack dr。 cooper？〃 said the presidents harsh voice as the light fell across the bed。
mrs。 coulter threw up an arm to shade her eyes and struggled to sit up。
〃you do like to keep your guests entertained；〃 she said drowsily。 〃is this a new game？ what do i have to do？ and who is dr。 cooper？〃
the guard from the gatehouse had e in with father macphail and was shining a torch into the corners of the room and under the bed。 the president was slightly disconcerted： mrs。 coulters eyes were heavy with sleep； and she could hardly see in the glare from the corridor light。 it was obvious that she hadnt left her bed。
〃you have an acplice；〃 he said。 〃someone has attacked a guest of the college。 who is it？ who came here with you？ where is he？〃
〃i havent the faintest idea what youre talking about。 and whats this。。。 ？〃
her hand； which shed put down to help herself sit up； had found the locket on the pillow。 she stopped； picked it up； and looked at the president with wide…open sleepy eyes； and lord roke saw a superb piece of acting as she said； puzzled； 〃but this i