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matter loved dust。 it didnt want to see it go。 that was the meaning of this night； and it was marys meaning； too。
had she thought there was no meaning in life； no purpose； when god had gone？ yes； she had thought that。
〃well； there is now；〃 she said aloud； and again； louder： 〃there is now！〃
as she looked again at the clouds and the moon in the dust flow； they looked as frail and doomed as a dam of little twigs and tiny pebbles trying to hold back the mississippi。 but they were trying； all the same。 theyd go on trying till the end of everything。
how long she stayed out； mary didnt know。 when the intensity of her feeling began to subside； and exhaustion took its place； she made her way slowly down the hill toward the village。
and when she was halfway down； near a little grove of knot…wood bushes； she saw something strange out on the mudflats。 there was a glow of white； a steady movement： something ing up with the tide。
she stood still； gazing intently。 it couldnt be the tualapi； because they always moved in a flock； and this was on its own。
but everything about it was the same； the sail…like wings； the long neck； it was one of the birds； no doubt about it。 she had never heard of their moving about alone； and she hesitated before running down to warn the villagers； because the thing had stopped； in any case。 it was floating on the water close to the path。
and it was ing apart。。。 no； something was getting off its back。
the something was a man。
she could see him quite clearly； even at that distance； the moonlight was brilliant； and her eyes were adjusted to it。 she looked through the spyglass； and put the matter beyond doubt： it was a human figure； radiating dust。
he was carrying something： a long stick of some kind。 he came along the path quickly and easily； not running； but moving like an athlete or a hunter。 he was dressed in simple dark clothes that would normally conceal him well； but through the spyglass he showed up as if he were under a spotlight。
and as he came closer to the village； she realized what that stick was。 he was carrying a rifle。
she felt as if someone had poured icy water over her heart。 every separate hair on her flesh stirred。
she was too far away to do anything： even if shed shouted； he wouldnt have heard。 she had to watch as he stepped into the village； looking to the left and right； stopping every so often to listen； moving from house to house。
marys mind felt like the moon and the clouds trying to hold back the dust as she cried out silently： dont look under the tree； go away from the tree 。。。
but he moved closer and closer to it； finally stopping outside her own house。 she couldnt bear it； she put the spyglass in her pocket and began to run down the slope。 she was about to call out； anything； a wild cry； but just in time she realized that it might wake will or lyra and make them reveal themselves； and she choked it back。
then； because she couldnt bear not knowing what the man was doing； she stopped and fumbled for the spyglass again； and had to stand still while she looked through it。
he was opening the door of her house。 he was going inside it。 he vanished from sight； although there was a stir in the dust he left behind； like smoke when a hand is passed through it。 mary waited for an endless minute； and then he appeared again。
he stood in her doorway； looking around slowly from left to right； and his gaze swept past the tree。
then he stepped off the threshold and stood still； almost at a loss。 mary was suddenly conscious of how exposed she was on the bare hillside； an easy rifle shot away； but he was only interested in the village； and
when another minute or so had gone by； he turned and walked quietly away。
she watched every step he took down the river path； and saw quite clearly how he stepped onto the birds back and sat cross…legged as it turned to glide away。 five minutes later they were lost to sight。
。。
THIRTY…FIVE … OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY
大＿
〃dr。 malone；〃 said lyra in the morning； 〃will and me have got to look for our daemons。 when weve found them； well know what to do。 but we cant be without them for much longer。 so we just want to go and look。〃
〃where will you go？〃 said mary； heavy…eyed and headachy after her disturbed night。 she and lyra were on the riverbank； lyra to wash； and mary to look； surreptitiously； for the mans footprints。 so far she hadnt found any。
〃dont know；〃 said lyra。 〃but theyre out there somewhere。 as soon as we came through from the battle； they ran away as if they didnt trust us anymore。 cant say i blame them； either。 but we know theyre in this world； and we thought we saw them a couple of times； so maybe we can find them。〃
〃listen；〃 mary said reluctantly； and told lyra about the man shed seen the night before。
as she spoke； will came to join them； and both he and lyra listened； wide…eyed and serious。
〃hes probably just a traveler and he found a window and wandered through from somewhere else；〃 lyra said when mary had finished。 〃like wills father did。 theres bound to be all kinds of openings now。 anyway； if he just turned around and left； he cant have meant to do anything bad； can he？〃
〃i dont know。 i didnt like it。 and im worried about you going off on your own； or i would be if i didnt know youd already done far more dangerous things than that。 oh； i dont know。 but please be careful。 please look all around。 at least out on the prairie you can see someone ing from a long way off。。。〃
〃if we do； we can escape straight away into another world； so he wont he able to hurt us；〃 will said。
they were determined to go； and mary was reluctant to argue。
〃at least；〃 she said； 〃promise that you wont go in among the trees。 if that man is still around； he might be hiding in a wood or a grove and you wouldnt see him in time to escape。〃
〃we promise；〃 said lyra。
〃well； ill pack you some food in case youre out all day。〃
mary took some flat bread and cheese and some sweet； thirst…quenching red fruits； wrapped them in a cloth； and tied a cord around it for one of them to carry over a shoulder。
〃good hunting；〃 she said as they left。 〃please take care。〃
she was still anxious。 she stood watching them all the way to the foot of the slope。
〃i wonder why shes so sad；〃 will said as he and lyra climbed the road up to the ridge。
〃shes probably wondering if shell ever go home again；〃 said lyra。 〃and if her laboratoryll still be hers when she does。 and maybe shes sad about the man she was in love with。〃
〃mmm；〃 said will。 〃dyou think well ever go home？〃
〃dunno。 i dont suppose ive got a home anyway。 they probably couldnt have me back at jordan college； and i cant live with the bears or the witches。 maybe i could live with the gyptians。 i wouldnt mind that； if theyd have me。〃
〃what about lord asriels world？ wouldnt you want to live there？〃
〃its going to fail； remember；〃 she said。
〃why？〃
〃because of what your fathers ghost said； just before we came out。 about daemons； and how they can only live for a long time if they stay in their own world。 but probably lord asriel； i mean my father；
couldnt have thought about that； because no one knew enough about oth