pp.thegoldencompass-第36部分

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nd　ripped　right　through　it　like　a　can　opener。　〃My　armor　is　made　of　sky　iron；　made　for　me。　A　bear's　armor　is　his　soul；　just　as　your　daemon　is　your　soul。　You　might　as　well　take　him　away〃　…indicating　Pantalaimon…〃and　replace　him　with　a　doll　full　of　sawdust。　That　is　the　difference。　Now；　where　is　my　armor？〃
　　〃Listen；　you　got　to　promise　not　to　take　vengeance。　They　done　wrong　taking　it；　but　you　just　got　to　put　up　with　that。〃
　　〃All　right。　No　vengeance　afterwards。　But　no　holding　back　as　I　take　it；　either。　If　they　fight；　they　die。〃
　　〃It's　hidden　in　the　cellar　of　the　priest's　house；〃　she　told　him。　〃He　thinks　there's　a　spirit　in　it；　and　he's　been　a　trying　to　conjure　it　out。　But　that's　where　it　is。〃
　　He　stood　high　up　on　his　hind　legs　and　looked　west；　so　that　the　last　of　the　sun　colored　his　face　a　creamy　brilliant　yellow　white　amid　the　gloom。　She　could　feel　the　power　of　the　great　creature　ing　off　him　like　waves　of　heat。
　　〃I　must　work　till　sunset；〃　he　said。　〃I　gave　my　word　this　morning　to　the　master　here。　I　still　owe　a　few　minutes'　work。〃
　　〃The　sun's　set　where　I　am；〃　she　pointed　out；　because　from　her　point　of　view　it　had　vanished　behind　the　rocky　headland　to　the　southwest。
　　He　dropped　to　all　fours。
　　〃It's　true；〃　he　said；　with　his　face　now　in　shadow　like　hers。　〃What's　your　name；　child？〃
　　〃Lyra　Belacqua。〃
　　〃Then　I　owe　you　a　debt；　Lyra　Belacqua；〃　he　said。
　　He　turned　and　lurched　away；　padding　so　swiftly　across　the　freezing　ground　that　Lyra　couldn't　keep　up；　even　running。　She　did　run；　though；　and　Pantalaimon　flew　up　as　a　seagull　to　watch　where　the　bear　went　and　called　down　to　tell　her　where　to　follow。
　　Iorek　Byrnison　bounded　out　of　the　depot　and　along　the　narrow　street　before　turning　into　the　main　street　of　the　town；　past　the　courtyard　of　the　sysselman's　residence　where　a　flag　hung　in　the　still　air　and　a　sentry　marched　stiffly　up　and　down；　down　the　hill　past　the　end　of　the　street　where　the　witch　consul　lived。　The　sentry　by　this　time　had　realized　what　was　happening；　and　was　trying　to　gather　his　wits；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　was　already　turning　a　corner　near　the　harbor。
　　People　stopped　to　watch　or　scuttled　out　of　his　careering　way。　The　sentry　fired　two　shots　in　the　air；　and　set　off　down　the　hill　after　the　bear；　spoiling　the　effect　by　skidding　on　the　icy　slope　and　only　regaining　his　balance　after　seizing　the　nearest　railings。　Lyra　was　not　far　behind。　As　she　passed　the　syssel…man's　house；　she　was　aware　of　a　number　of　figures　ing　out　into　the　courtyard　to　see　what　was　going　on；　and　thought　she　saw　Farder　Coram　among　them；　but　then　she　was　past；　hurtling　down　the　street　toward　the　corner　where　the　sentry　was　already　turning　to　follow　the　bear。
　　The　priest's　house　was　older　than　most；　and　made　of　costly　bricks。　Three　steps　led　up　to　the　front　door；　which　was　now　hanging　in　matchwood　splinters；　and　from　inside　the　house　came　screams　and　the　crashing　and　tearing　of　more　wood。　The　sentry　hesitated　outside；　his　rifle　at　the　ready；　but　then　as　passers…by　began　to　gather　and　people　looked　out　of　windows　from　across　the　street；　he　realized　that　he　had　to　act；　and　fired　a　shot　into　the　air　before　running　in。
　　A　moment　later；　the　whole　house　seemed　to　shake。　Glass　broke　in　three　windows　and　a　tile　slid　off　the　roof；　and　then　a　maidservant　ran　out；　terrified；　her　clucking　hen　of　a　daemon　flapping　after　her。
　　Another　shot　came　from　inside　the　house；　and　then　a　full…throated　roar　made　the　servant　scream。　As　if　fired　from　a　cannon；　the　priest　himself　came　hurtling　out；　with　his　pelican　daemon　in　a　wild　flutter　of　feathers　and　injured　pride。　Lyra　heard　orders　shouted；　and　turned　to　see　a　squad　of　armed　policemen　hurrying　around　the　corner；　some　with　pistols　and　some　with　rifles；　and　not　far　behind　them　came　John　Faa　and　the　stout；　fussy　figure　of　the　sysselman。
　　A　rending；　splintering　sound　made　them　all　look　back　at　the　house。　A　window　at　ground　level；　obviously　opening　on　a　cellar；　was　being　wrenched　apart　with　a　crash　of　glass　and　a　screech　of　tearing　wood。　The　sentry　who'd　followed　Iorek　Byrnison　into　the　house　came　running　out　and　stood　to　face　the　cellar　window；　rifle　at　his　shoulder；　and　then　the　window　tore　open　pletely；　and　out　climbed　Iorek　Byrnison；　the　bear　in　armor。
　　Without　it；　he　was　formidable。　With　it；　he　was　terrifying。　It　was　rust…red；　and　crudely　riveted　together：　great　sheets　and　plates　of　dented　discolored　metal　that　scraped　and　screeched　as　they　rode　over　one　another。　The　helmet　was　pointed　like　his　muzzle；　with　slits　for　eyes；　and　it　left　the　lower　part　of　his　jaw　bare　for　tearing　and　biting。
　　The　sentry　fired　several　shots；　and　the　policemen　leveled　their　weapons　too；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　merely　shook　the　bullets　off　like　raindrops；　and　lunged　forward　in　a　screech　and　clang　of　metal　before　the　sentry　could　escape；　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground。　His　daemon；　a　husky　dog；　darted　at　the　bear's　throat；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　took　no　more　notice　of　him　than　he　would　of　a　fly；　and　dragging　the　sentry　to　him　with　one　vast　paw；　he　bent　and　enclosed　his　head　in　his　jaws。　Lyra　could　see　exactly　what　would　happen　next：　he'd　crush　the　man's　skull　like　an　egg；　and　there　would　follow　a　bloody　fight；　more　deaths；　and　more　delay；　and　they　would　never　get　free；　with　or　without　the　bear。
　　Without　even　thinking；　she　darted　forward　and　put　her　hand　on　the　one　vulnerable　spot　in　the　bear's　armor；　the　gap　that　appeared　between　the　helmet　and　the　great　plate　over　his　shoulders　when　he　bent　his　head；　where　she　could　see　the　yellow…white　fur　dimly　between　the　rusty　edges　of　metal。　She　dug　her　fingers　in；　and　Pantalaimon　instantly　flew　to　the　same　spot　and　became　a　wildcat；　crouched　to　defend　her；　but　Iorek　Byrnison　was　still；　and　the　riflemen　held　their　fire。
　　〃Iorek！〃　she　said　in　a　fierce　undertone。　〃Listen！　You　owe　me　a　debt；　right。　Well；　now　you　can　repay　it。　Do　as　I　ask。　Don't　fight　these　men。　Just　turn　around　and　walk　away　with　me。　We　want　you；　Iorek；　you　can't　stay　here。　Just　e　down　to　the　harbor　with　me　and　don't　even　look　back。　Farder　Coram　and　Lord　Faa；　let　them　do　the　talking；　they'll　make　it　all　right。　Leave　go　this　man　and　e　away　with　me　。　。　。　。〃
　　The　bear　slowly　opened　his　jaws。　The　sentry's　head；　bleeding　and　wet　and　ash…pale；　fell　to　the　ground　as　he　fainted；　and　his　dsmon　set　about　calming　and　gentling　him　as　the　bear　stepped　away　beside　Lyra。
　　No　one　else　moved。　They　watched　the　bear　turn　away　from　his　victim　at　the　bidding　of　the　girl　with　the　cat　daemon；　and　then　they　shuffled　aside　to　make　room　as　Iorek　Byrnison　padded　heavily　through　the　midst　of　them　at　Lyra's　side　and　made　for　the　harbor。
　　Her　mind　was　all　on　him；　and　she　didn't　see　the　confusion　behind　her；　the　fear　and　the　anger　that　rose　up　safely　when　he　was　gone。　She　walked　with　him；　and　Pantalaimon　padded　ahead　of　them　both　as　if　to　clear　the　way。
　　When　they　reached　the　harbor；　Iorek　Byrnison　dipped　his　head　and　unfastened　the　helmet　with　a　claw；　letting　it　clang　on　the　frozen　ground。　Gyptians　came　out　of　the　cafe；　having　sensed　that　something　was　going　on；　and　watched　in　the　gleam　of　the　anbaric　lights　on　the　ship's　deck　as　Iorek　Byrnison　shrugged　off　the　rest　of　his　armor　and　left　it　in　a　heap　on　the　quayside。　Without　a　word　to　anyone　he　padded　to　the　water　and　slipped　into　it　without　a　ripple；　and　vanished。
　　〃What's　happened？〃　said　Tony　Costa；　hearing　the　indignant　voices　from　the　streets　above；　as　the　townsfolk　and　the　police　made　their　way　to　the　harbor。
　　Lyra　told　him；　as　clearly　as　she　could。
　　〃But　where's　he　gone　now？〃　he　said。　〃He　en't　just　left　his　armor　on　the　ground？　They'll　have　it　back；　as　soon's　they　get　here！〃
　　Lyra　was　afraid　they　might；　too；　for　around　the　corner　came　the　first　policemen；　and　then　more；　and　then　the　sysselman　and　the　priest　and　twenty　or　thirty　onlookers；　with　John　Faa　and　Farder　Coram　trying　to　keep　up。
　　But　when　they　saw　the　group　on　the　quayside　they　stopped；　for　someone　else　had　appeared。　Sitting　on　the　bear's　armor　with　one　ankle　resting　on　the　opposite　knee　was　the　long…limbed　form　of　Lee　Scoresby；　and　in　his　hand　was　the　longest　pistol　Lyra　had　ever　seen；　casually　pointing　at　the　ample　stomach　of　the　sysselman。
　　〃Seems　to　me　you　ain't　taken　very　good　care　of　my　friend's　armor；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃Why；　look　at　the　rust！　And　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　to　find　moths　in　it；　too。　Now　you　just　stand　where　you　are；　still　and　easy；　and　don't　anybody　move　till　the　bear　es　back　with　some　lubrication。　Or　I　guess　you　could　all　go　home　and　read　the　newspaper。　'S　up　to　you。〃
　　〃There　he　is！〃　said　Tony；　pointing　to　a　ramp　at　the　far　end　of　the　quay；　where　Iorek　Byrnison　was　emerging　from　the　water；　dragging　something　dark　with　him。　Once　he　was　up　on　the　quayside　he　shook　himself；　sending　great　sheets　of　water　flying　in　all　directions；　till　his　fur　was　standing　up　thickly　again。　Then　he　bent　to　take　the　black　object　in　his　teeth　once　more　and　dragged　it　along　to　where　his　armor　lay。　It　was　a　dead　seal。
　　〃Iorek；〃　said　the　aeronaut；　standing　up　lazily　and　keeping　his　pistol　firmly　fixed　on　the　sysselman。　〃Howdy。〃
　　The　bear　looked　up　and　growled　briefly；　before　ripping　the　seal　open　with　one　claw。　Lyra　watched　fascinated　as　he　laid　the　skin　out　flat　an