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〃it just goes slower；〃 he said。 〃it doesnt flow as fast as the spring es out； so it gathers in these pools。。。 theyve gone in there；〃 he whispered； indicating a little group of trees at the foot of the slope。
they looked at each other； a curiously formal and serious look； before setting off to follow the stream。 the undergrowth got thicker as they went down the valley； the stream went into tunnels of green and emerged in dappled clearings； only to tumble over a lip of stone and bury itself in the green again； and they had to follow it as much by hearing as by sight。
at the foot of the hill； it ran into the little wood of silver…barked trees。
father gomez watched from the top of the ridge。 it hadnt been hard to follow them； despite marys confidence in the open savanna； there was plenty of concealment in the grass and the occasional thickets of string…wood and sap…lacquer bushes。 the two young people had spent a lot of time earlier looking all around as if they thought they were being followed。 he had had to keep some distance away； but as the morning passed； they became more and more absorbed in each other and paid less attention to the landscape。
the one thing he didnt want to do was hurt the boy。 he had a horror of harming an innocent person。 the only way to make sure of his target was to get close enough to see her clearly； which meant following them into the wood。
quietly and cautiously he moved down the course of the stream。 his daemon the green…backed beetle flew overhead； tasting the air； her eyesight was less good than his； but her sense of smell was acute； and she caught the scent of the young peoples flesh very clearly。 she would go a little ahead； perch on a stem of grass； and wait for him； then move on again； and as she caught the trail in the air that their bodies left behind； father gomez found himself praising god for his mission； because it was clearer than ever that the boy and the girl were walking into mortal sin。
he watched them go in among the trees。 they hadnt looked back once since ing over the top of the ridge； but he still kept low； moving down the stream at a crouch； holding the rifle in one hand； balancing with the other。
he was so close to success now that for the first time he found himself speculating on what he would do afterward； and whether he would please the kingdom of heaven more by going back to geneva or staying to evangelize this world。 the first thing to do here would be to convince the four…legged creatures； who seemed to have the rudiments of reason； that their habit of riding on wheels was abominable and satanic； and contrary to the will of god。 break them of that； and salvation would follow。
he reached the foot of the slope； where the trees began； and laid the rifle down silently。
he gazed into the silver…green…gold shadows； and listened； with both hands behind his ears to catch and focus any quiet voices through the insect chirping and the trickle of the stream。 yes： there they were。 theyd stopped。
he bent to pick up the rifle…
and found himself uttering a hoarse and breathless gasp； as something clutched his daemon and pulled her away from him。
but there was nothing there！ where was she？ the pain was atrocious。 he heard her crying； and cast about wildly to left and right； looking for her。
〃keep still；〃 said a voice from the air； 〃and be quiet。 i have your daemon in my hand。〃
〃but； where are you？ who are you？〃
〃my name is balthamos；〃 said the voice。
will and lyra followed the stream into the wood； walking carefully； saying little； until they were in the very center。
there was a little clearing in the middle of the grove； which was floored with soft grass and moss…covered rocks。 the branches laced across overhead； almost shutting out the sky and letting through little moving spangles and sequins of sunlight； so that everything was dappled with gold and silver。
and it was quiet。 only the trickle of the stream； and the occasional rustle of leaves high up in a little curl of breeze； broke the silence。
will put down the package of food； lyra put down her little rucksack。 there was no sign of the daemon shadows anywhere。 they were pletely alone。
they took off their shoes and socks and sat down on the mossy rocks at the edge of the stream； dipping their feet in the cold water and feeling the shock of it invigorate their blood。
〃im hungry；〃 will said。
〃me too；〃 said lyra； though she was also feeling more than that； something subdued and pressing and half…happy and half…painful； so that she wasnt quite sure what it was。
they unfolded the cloth and ate some bread and cheese。 for some reason their hands were slow and clumsy； and they hardly tasted the food； although the bread was floury and crisp from the hot baking…stones； and the cheese was flaky and salty and very fresh。
then lyra took one of those little red fruits。 with a fast…beating heart； she turned to him and said； 〃will。。。〃
and she lifted the fruit gently to his mouth。
she could see from his eyes that he knew at once what she meant； and that he was too joyful to speak。 her fingers were still at his lips； and he felt them tremble； and he put his own hand up to hold hers there； and then neither of them could look； they were confused； they were brimming with happiness。
like two moths clumsily bumping together； with no more weight than that； their lips touched。 then before they knew how it happened； they were clinging together； blindly pressing their faces toward each other。
〃like mary said；〃 he whispered； 〃you know straight away when you like someone； when you were asleep； on the mountain； before she took you away； i told pan。。。”
〃i heard；〃 she whispered； 〃i was awake and i wanted to tell you the same and now i know what i must have felt all the time： i love you； will； i love you。。。”
the word love set his nerves ablaze。 all his body thrilled with it； and he answered her in the same words； kissing her hot face over and over again； drinking in with adoration the scent of her body and her warm； honey…fragrant hair and her sweet； moist mouth that tasted of the little red fruit。
around them there was nothing but silence； as if all the world were holding its breath。
balthamos was terrified。
he moved up the stream and away from the wood； holding the scratching； stinging； biting insect daemon； and trying to conceal himself as much as he could from the man who was stumbling after them。
he mustnt let him catch up。 he knew that father gomez would kill him in a moment。 an angel of his rank was no match for a man； even if that angel was strong and healthy； and balthamos was neither of those； besides which； he was crippled by grief over baruch and shame at having deserted will before。 he no longer even had the strength to fly。
〃stop； stop；〃 said father gomez。 〃please keep still。 i cant see you； lets talk； please； dont hurt my daemon； i beg you。。。”
in fact； the daemon was hurting balthamos。 the angel could see the little green thing dimly through the backs of his clasped hands； and she was sinking her powerful jaws again and again into his palms。 if he opened his hands just for a moment； she would be gone。 balthamos kept them closed。
〃this way；〃 he said； 〃follow me。 e away from the wood。 i want to talk to you； and this is the wrong place。〃
〃but who are you？ i cant see you。 e closer； how can i tell what you are till i see you？ keep still； dont move so quickly！〃
but moving quickly was the only defense balthamos had。 trying to ignore the stinging daemon； he picked his way up the little gully where the stream ran； stepping from rock to rock。
then he made a mistake： trying to look behind him； he slipped and put a foot into the water。
〃ah；〃 came a whisper of satisfaction as father gomez saw the splash。
balthamos withdrew his foot at once and hurried on； but now a wet print appeared on the dry rocks each time he put his foot down。 the priest saw it and leapt forward； and felt the brush of feathers on his hand。
he stopped in astonishment： the word angel reverberated in his mind。 balthamos seized the moment to stumble forward again； and the priest felt himself dragged after him as another brutal pang wrenched his heart。
balthamos said