pp.thegoldencompass-第46部分

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　　〃She　just　said；　It's　something　to　make　you　more　grown　up。　She　said　everyone　had　to　have　it；　that's　why　grownups'　daemons　don't　change　like　ours　do。　So　they　have　a　cut　to　make　them　one　shape　forever；　and　that's　how　you　get　grown　up。〃
　　〃But…〃
　　〃Does　that　mean…〃
　　〃What；　all　grownups've　had　this　cut？〃
　　〃What　about…〃
　　Suddenly　all　the　voices　stopped　as　if　they　themselves　had　been　cut；　and　all　eyes　turned　to　the　door。　Sister　Clara　stood　there；　bland　and　mild　and　matter…of…fact；　and　beside　her　was　a　man　in　a　white　coat　whom　Lyra　hadn't　seen　before。
　　〃Bridget　McGinn；〃　he　said。
　　The　blond　girl　stood　up　trembling。　Her　squirrel　daemon　clutched　her　breast。
　　〃Yes；　sir？〃　she　said；　her　voice　hardly　audible。
　　〃Finish　your　drink　and　e　with　Sister　Clara；〃　he　said。　〃The　rest　of　you　run　along　and　go　to　your　classes。〃
　　Obediently　the　children　stacked　their　mugs　on　the　stainless…steel　trolley　before　leaving　in　silence。　No　one　looked　at　Bridget　McGinn　except　Lyra；　and　she　saw　the　blond　girl's　face　vivid　with　fear。
　　The　rest　of　that　morning　was　spent　in　exercise。　There　was　a　small　gymnasium　at　the　station；　because　it　was　hard　to　exercise　outside　during　the　long　polar　night；　and　each　group　of　children　took　turns　to　play　in　there；　under　the　supervision　of　a　nurse。　They　had　to　form　teams　and　throw　balls　around；　and　at　first　Lyra；　who　had　never　in　her　life　played　at　anything　like　this；　was　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　But　she　was　quick　and　athletic；　and　a　natural　leader；　and　soon　found　herself　enjoying　it。　The　shouts　of　the　children；　the　shrieks　and　hoots　of　the　daemons；　filled　the　little　gymnasium　and　soon　banished　fearful　thoughts；　which　of　course　was　exactly　what　the　exercise　was　intended　to　do。
　　
　　At　lunchtime；　when　the　children　were　lining　up　once　again　in　the　canteen；　Lyra　felt　Pantalaimon　give　a　chirrup　of　recognition；　and　turned　to　find　Billy　Costa　standing　just　behind　her。
　　〃Roger　told　me　you　was　here；〃　he　muttered。
　　〃Your　brother's　ing；　and　John　Faa　and　a　whole　band　of　gyptians；〃　she　said。　〃They're　going　to　take　you　home。〃
　　He　nearly　cried　aloud　with　joy；　but　subdued　the　cry　into　a　cough。
　　〃And　you　got　to　call　me　Lizzie；〃　Lyra　said；　〃never　Lyra。　And　you　got　to　tell　me　everything　you　know；　right。〃
　　They　sat　together；　with　Roger　close　by。　It　was　easier　to　do　this　at　lunchtime；　when　children　spent　more　time　ing　and　going　between　the　tables　and　the　counter；　where　bland…looking　adults　served　equally　bland　food。　Under　the　clatter　of　knives　and　forks　and　plates　Billy　and　Roger　both　told　her　as　much　as　they　knew。　Billy　had　heard　from　a　nurse　that　children　who　had　had　the　operation　were　often　taken　to　hostels　further　south；　which　might　explain　how　Tony　Makarios　came　to　be　wandering　in　the　wild。　But　Roger　had　something　even　more　interesting　to　tell　her。
　　〃I　found　a　hiding　place；〃　he　said。
　　〃What？　Where？〃
　　〃See　that　picture　。　。　。　〃　He　meant　the　big　photogram　of　the　tropical　beach。　〃If　you　look　in　the　top　right　corner；　you　see　that　ceiling　panel？〃
　　The　ceiling　consisted　of　large　rectangular　panels　set　in　a　framework　of　metal　strips；　and　the　corner　of　the　panel　above　the　picture　had　lifted　slightly。
　　〃I　saw　that；〃　Roger　said；　〃and　I　thought　the　others　might　be　like　it；　so　I　lifted　'em；　and　they're　all　loose。　They　just　lift　up。　Me　and　this　boy　tried　it　one　night　in　our　dormitory；　before　they　took　him　away。　There's　a　space　up　there　and　you　can　crawl　inside　。　。　。　。〃
　　〃How　far　can　you　crawl　in　the　ceiling？〃
　　〃I　dunno。　We　just　went　in　a　little　way。　We　reckoned　when　it　was　time　we　could　hide　up　there；　but　they'd　probably　find　us。〃
　　Lyra　saw　it　not　as　a　hiding　place　but　as　a　highway。　It　was　the　best　thing　she'd　heard　since　she'd　arrived。　But　before　they　could　talk　any　more；　a　doctor　banged　on　a　table　with　a　spoon　and　began　to　speak。
　　〃Listen；　children；〃　he　said。　〃Listen　carefully。　Every　so　often　we　have　to　have　a　fire　drill。　It's　very　important　that　we　all　get　dressed　properly　and　make　our　way　outside　without　any　panic。　So　we're　going　to　have　a　practice　fire　drill　this　afternoon。　When　the　bell；　rings　you　must　stop　whatever　you're　doing　and　do　what　the　nearest　grownup　says。　Remember　where　they　take　you。　That's　the　place　you　must　go　to　if　there's　a　real　fire。〃
　　Well；　thought　Lyra；　there's　an　idea。
　　During　the　first　part　of　the　afternoon；　Lyra　and　four　other　girls　were　tested　for　Dust。　The　doctors　didn't　say　that　was　what　they　were　doing；　but　it　was　easy　to　guess。　They　were　taken　one　by　one　to　a　laboratory；　and　of　course　this　made　them　all　very　frightened；　how　cruel　it　would　be；　Lyra　thought；　if　she　perished　without　striking　a　blow　at　them！　But　they　were　not　going　to　do　that　operation　just　yet；　it　seemed。
　　〃We　want　to　make　some　measurements；〃　the　doctor　explained。　It　was　hard　to　tell　the　difference　between　these　people：　all　the　men　looked　similar　in　their　white　coats　and　with　their　clipboards　and　pencils；　and　the　women　resembled　one　another　too；　the　uniforms　and　their　strange　bland　calm　manner　making　them　all　look　like　sisters。
　　〃I　was　measured　yesterday；〃　Lyra　said。
　　〃Ah；　we're　making　different　measurements　today。　Stand　on　the　metal　plate…oh；　slip　your　shoes　off　first。　Hold　your　daemon；　if　you　like。　Look　forward；　that's　it；　stare　at　the　little　green　light。　Good　girl　。　。　。　〃
　　Something　flashed。　The　doctor　made　her　face　the　other　way　and　then　to　left　and　right；　and　each　time　something　clicked　and　flashed。
　　〃That's　fine。　Now　e　over　to　this　machine　and　put　your　hand　into　the　tube。　Nothing　to　harm　you；　I　promise。　Straighten　your　fingers。　That's　it。〃
　　〃What　are　you　measuring？〃　she　said。　〃Is　it　Dust？〃
　　〃Who　told　you　about　Dust？〃
　　〃One　of　the　other　girls；　I　don't　know　her　name。　She　said　we　was　all　over　Dust。　I　en't　dusty；　at　least　I　don't　think　I　am。　I　had　a　shower　yesterday。〃
　　〃Ah；　it's　a　different　sort　of　dust。　You　can't　see　it　with　your　ordinary　eyesight。　It's　a　special　dust。　Now　clench　your　fist…　that's　right。　Good。　Now　if　you　feel　around　in　there；　you'll　find　a　sort　of　handle　thing…got　that？　Take　hold　of　that；　there's　a　good　girl。　Now　can　you　put　your　other　hand　over　this　way…　rest　it　on　this　brass　globe。　Good。　Fine。　Now　you'll　feel　a　slight　tingling；　nothing　to　worry　about；　it's　just　a　slight　anbaric　current　。　。　。　。〃
　　Pantalaimon；　in　his　most　tense　and　wary　wildcat　form；　prowled　with　lightning…eyed　suspicion　around　the　apparatus；　continually　returning　to　rub　himself　against　Lyra。
　　She　was　sure　by　now　that　they　weren't　going　to　perform　the　operation　on　her　yet；　and　sure　too　that　her　disguise　as　Lizzie　Brooks　was　secure；　so　she　risked　a　question。
　　〃Why　do　you　cut　people's　daemons　away？〃
　　〃What？　Who's　been　talking　to　you　about　that？〃
　　〃This　girl；　I　dunno　her　name。　She　said　you　cut　people's　daemons　away。〃
　　〃Nonsense　。　。　。　〃
　　He　was　agitated；　though。　She　went　on：
　　'〃Cause　you　take　people　out　one　by　one　and　they　never　e　back。　And　some　people　reckon　you　just　kill　'em；　and　other　people　say　different；　and　this　girl　told　me　you　cut…〃
　　〃It's　not　true　at　all。　When　we　take　children　out；　it's　because　it's　time　for　them　to　move　on　to　another　place。　They're　growing　up。　I'm　afraid　your　friend　is　alarming　herself。　Nothing　of　the　sort！　Don't　even　think　about　it。　Who　is　your　friend？〃
　　〃I　only　e　here　yesterday；　I　don't　know　anyone's　name。〃
　　〃What　does　she　look　like？〃
　　〃I　forget。　I　think　she　had　sort　of　brown　hair　。　。　。　light　brown；　maybe　。　。　。　！　dunno。〃

　　The　doctor　went　to　speak　quietly　to　the　nurse。　As　the　two　of　them　conferred；　Lyra　watched　their　daemons。　This　nurse's　was　a　pretty　bird；　just　as　neat　and　incurious　as　Sister　Clara's　dog；　and　the　doctor's　was　a　large　heavy　moth。　Neither　moved。　They　were　awake；　for　the　bird's　eyes　were　bright　and　the　moth's　feelers　waved　languidly；　but　they　weren't　animated；　as　she　would　have　expected　them　to　be。　Perhaps　they　weren't　really　anxious　or　curious　at　all。
　　Presently　the　doctor　came　back　and　they　went　on　with　the　examination；　weighing　her　and　Pantalaimon　separately；　looking　at　her　from　behind　a　special　screen；　measuring　her　heartbeat；　placing　her　under　a　little　nozzle　that　hissed　and　gave　off　a　smell　like　fresh　air。
　　In　the　middle　of　one　of　the　tests；　a　loud　bell　began　to　ring　and　kept　ringing。
　　〃The　fire　alarm；〃　said　the　doctor；　sighing。　〃Very　well。　Lizzie；　follow　Sister　Betty。〃
　　〃But　all　their　outdoor　clothes　are　down　in　the　dormitory　building；　Doctor。　She　can't　go　outside　like　this。　Should　we　go　there　first；　do　you　think？〃
　　He　was　annoyed　at　having　his　experiments　interrupted；　and　snapped　his　fingers　in　irritation。
　　〃I　suppose　this　is　just　the　sort　of　thing　the　practice　is　meant　to　show　up；〃　he　said。　〃What　a　nuisance。〃
　　〃When　I　came　yesterday；〃　Lyra　said　helpfully；　〃Sister　Clara　put　my　other　clothes　in　a　cupboard　in　that　first　room　where　she　looked　at　me。　The　one　next　door。　I　could　wear　them。〃
　　〃Good　idea！〃　said　the　nurse。　〃Quick；　then。〃
　　With　a　secret　glee；　Lyra　hurried　there　behind　the　nurse　and　retrieved　her　proper　furs　and　leggings　and　boots；　and　pulled　them　on　quickly　while　the　nurse　dressed　herself　in　coal　silk。
　　Then　they　hurried　out。　In　the　wide　arena　in　front　of　the　main　group　of　buildings；　a　hundred　or　so　p