按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
renched his heart。
balthamos said over his shoulder； 〃a little farther； just to the top of the ridge； and we shall talk； i promise。〃
〃talk here！ stop where you are； and i swear i shant touch you！〃
the angel didnt reply： it was too hard to concentrate。 he had to split his attention three ways： behind him to avoid the man； ahead to see where he was going； and on the furious daemon tormenting his hands。
as for the priest； his mind was working quickly。 a truly dangerous opponent would have killed his daemon at once； and ended the matter there and then； this antagonist was afraid to strike。
with that in mind he let himself stumble； and uttered little moans of pain； and pleaded once or twice for the other to stop； all the time watching closely； moving nearer； estimating how big the other was； how quickly he could move； which way he was looking。
〃please；〃 he said brokenly； 〃you dont know how much this hurts； i cant do you any harm； please can we stop and talk？〃
he didnt want to move out of sight of the wood。 they were now at the point where the stream began； and he could see the shape of balthamoss feet very lightly pressing the grass。 the priest had watched every inch of the way； and he was sure now where the angel was standing。
balthamos turned around。 the priest raised his eyes to the place where he thought the angels face would be； and saw him for the first time： just a shimmer in the air； but there was no mistaking it。
the angel wasnt quite close enough to reach in one movement； though； and in truth the pull on his daemon had been painful and weakening。 maybe he should take another step or two。。。
〃sit down；〃 said balthamos。 〃sit down where you are。 not a step closer。〃
〃what do you want？〃 said father gomez； not moving。
〃what do i want？ i want to kill you； but i havent got the strength。〃
〃but are you an angel？〃
〃what does it matter？〃
〃you might have made a mistake。 we might be on the same side。〃
〃no； were not。 i have been following you。 i know whose side youre on； no； no； dont move。 stay there。〃
〃its not too late to repent。 even angels are allowed to do that。 let me hear your confession。〃
〃oh； baruch； help me！〃 cried balthamos in despair； turning away。
and as he cried out； father gomez leapt for him。 his shoulder hit the angels； and knocked balthamos off balance； and in throwing out a hand to save himself； the angel let go of the insect daemon。 the beetle flew free at once； and father gomez felt a surge of relief and strength。 in fact； it was that which killed him； to his great surprise。 he hurled himself so hard at the faint form of the angel； and he expected so much more resistance than he met； that he couldnt keep his balance。 his foot slipped； his momentum carried him down toward the stream； and ； balthamos； thinking of what baruch would have done； kicked aside the priests hand as he flung it out for support。
father gomez fell hard。 his head cracked against a stone； and he fell stunned with his face in the water。 the cold shock woke him at once； but as he choked and feebly tried to rise； balthamos； desperate； ignored the daemon stinging his face and his eyes and his mouth； and used all the little weight he had to hold the mans head down in the water； and he kept it there； and kept it there； and kept it there。
when the daemon suddenly vanished； balthamos let go。 the man was dead。 as soon as he was sure； balthamos hauled the body out of the stream and laid it carefully on the grass； folding the priests hands over his breast and closing his eyes。
then balthamos stood up； sick and weary and full of pain。
〃baruch；〃 he said； 〃oh； baruch； my dear； i can do no more。 will and the girl are safe； and everything will be well； but this is the end for me； though truly i died when you did； baruch； my beloved。〃
a moment later； he was gone。
in the bean field； drowsy in the late afternoon heat； mary heard atals voice； and she couldnt tell excitement from alarm： had another tree fallen？ had the man with the rifle appeared？
look！ look！ atal was saying； nudging marys pocket with her trunk； so mary took the spyglass and did as her friend said； pointing it up to the sky。
tell me what its doing！ said atal。 i can feel it is different； but i cant see。
the terrible flood of dust in the sky had stopped flowing。 it wasnt still； by any means； mary scanned the whole sky with the amber lens； seeing a current here； an eddy there； a vortex farther off； it was in perpetual movement； but it wasnt flowing away anymore。 in fact； if anything； it was falling like snowflakes。
she thought of the wheel trees： the flowers that opened upward would be drinking in this golden rain。 mary could almost feel them weling it in their poor parched throats； which were so perfectly shaped for it； and which had been starved for so long。
the young ones； said atal。
mary turned； spyglass in hand； to see will and lyra returning。 they were some way off； they werent hurrying。 they were holding hands； talking together； heads close； oblivious to everything else； she could see that even from a distance。
she nearly put the spyglass to her eye； but held back； and returned it to her pocket。 there was no need for the glass； she knew what she would see； they would seem to be made of living gold。 they would seem the true image of what human beings always could be； once they had e into their inheritance。
the dust pouring down from the stars had found a living home again； and these children…no…longer…children； saturated with love； were the cause of it all。
。。
THIRTY…SIX … THE BROKEN ARROW
小=＿说。网
the two daemons moved through the silent village； in and out of the shadows； padding cat…formed across the moonlit gathering…floor； pausing outside the open door of marys house。
cautiously they looked inside and saw only the sleeping woman； so they withdrew and moved through the moonlight again； toward the shelter tree。
its long branches trailed their fragrant corkscrew leaves almost down to the ground。 very slowly； very careful not to rustle a leaf or snap a fallen twig； the two shapes slipped in through the leaf curtain and saw what they were seeking： the boy and the girl； fast asleep in each others arms。
they moved closer over the grass and touched the sleepers softly with nose； paw； whiskers； bathing in the life…giving warmth they gave off； but being infinitely careful not to wake them。
as they checked their people （gently cleaning wills fast…healing wound； lifting the lock of hair off lyras face）； there was a soft sound behind them。
instantly； in total silence； both daemons sprang around； being wolves： mad light eyes； bare white teeth； menace in every line。
a woman stood there； outlined by the moon。 it was not mary； and when she spoke； they heard her clearly； though her voice made no sound。
〃e with me；〃 she said。
pantalaimons daemon heart leapt within him； but he said nothing until he could greet her away from the sleepers under the tree。
〃serafina pekkala！〃 he said joyfully。 〃where have you been？ do you know whats happened？〃
〃hush。 lets fly to a place where we can talk；〃 she said； mindful of the sleeping villagers。
her branch of cloud…pine lay by the door of marys house； and as she took it up； the two daemons changed into birds； a nightingale； an owl； and flew with her over the thatched roofs； over the grasslands； over the ridge； and toward the nearest wheel tree grove； as huge as a castle； its crown looking like curds of silver in the moonlight。
there serafina pekkala settled on the highest fortable branch； among the open flowers drinking in the dust； and the two birds perched nearby。
〃you wont be birds for long；〃 she said。 〃very soon now your shapes will settle。 look around and take this sight into your memory。〃
〃what will we be？〃 said pantalaimon。
〃youll find out sooner than you think。 listen；〃 said serafina pekkala； 〃and ill tell you some witch…lore that none but witches know。 the reason i can do that is that you are here with me； and your humans are down there； sleeping。 who are the only people for whom that is possible？〃
〃witches；〃 said pantalaimon； 〃and shamans。 so。。。〃
〃in leaving you both on the shores of the world of the dead； lyra an