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〃when？ where？〃
but balthamos couldnt tell； he only knew that half his heart had been extinguished。 he couldnt keep still： he flew up again； scouring the sky as if to seek out baruch in this cloud or that； calling； crying； calling； and then hed be overe with guilt； and fly down to urge will to hide and keep quiet； and promise to watch over him tirelessly； and then the pressure of his grief would crush him to the ground； and hed remember every instance of kindness and courage that baruch had ever shown； and there were thousands； and hed forgotten none of them； and hed cry that a nature so gracious could never be snuffed out； and hed soar into the skies again； casting about in every direction； reckless and wild and stricken； cursing the very air； the clouds； the stars。
finally will said； 〃balthamos； e here。〃
the angel came at his mand； helpless。 shivering inside his cloak； in the hitter cold gloom of the tundra； the boy said to him； 〃you must try to keep quiet now。 you know there are things out there thatll attack if they hear a noise。 i can protect you with the knife if youre nearby； but if they attack you up there； i wont be able to help。 and if you die； too； thatll be the end for me。 balthamos； i need you to help guide me to lyra。 please dont forget that。 baruch was strong； be strong； too。 be like him for me。〃
at first balthamos didnt speak； but then he said； 〃yes。 yes； of course i must。 sleep now； will； and i shall stand guard； i shant fail you。〃
will trusted him； he had to。 and presently he fell asleep again。
when he woke up； soaked with dew and cold to his bones； the angel was standing nearby。 the sun was just rising； and the reeds and the marsh plants were all tipped with gold。
before will could move； balthamos said； 〃ive decided what i must do。 i shall stay with you day and night； and do it cheerfully and willingly； for the sake of baruch。 i shall guide you to lyra； if i can； and then i shall guide you both to lord asriel。 i have lived thousands of years； and unless i am killed； i shall live many thousands of years more； but i never met a nature that made me so ardent to do good； or to be kind； as baruchs did。 i failed so many times； but each time his goodness was there to redeem me。 now its not； i
shall have to try without it。 perhaps i shall fail from time to time； but i shall try all the same。〃
〃then baruch would be proud of you；〃 said will； shivering。
〃shall i fly ahead now and see where we are？〃
〃yes；〃 said will； 〃fly high； and tell me what the lands like farther on。 walking on this marshland is going to take forever。〃
balthamos took to the air。 he hadnt told will everything he was anxious about； because he was trying to do his best and not worry him； but he knew that the angel metatron； the regent； from whom theyd escaped so narrowly； would have wills face firmly imprinted on his mind。 and not only his face； but everything about him that angels were able to see； including parts of which will himself was not aware； such as that aspect of his nature lyra would have called his daemon。 will was in great danger from metatron now； and at some time balthamos would have to tell him； but not quite yet。 it was too difficult。
will； reckoning that it would be quicker to get warm by walking than by gathering fuel and waiting for a fire to catch； simply slung the rucksack over his shoulders； wrapped the cloak around everything； and set off toward the south。 there was a path； muddy and rutted and potholed； so people did sometimes e this way； but the flat horizon was so far away on every side that he had little sense of making progress。
sometime later； when the light was brighter； balthamoss voice spoke beside him。
〃about half a days walk ahead； there is a wide river and a town； where theres a wharf for boats to tie up。 i flew high enough to see that the river goes a long way directly south and north。 if you could get a passage； then you could move much more quickly。〃
〃good；〃 said will fervently。 〃and does this path go to the town？〃
〃it goes through a village； with a church and farms and orchards； and then on to the town。〃
〃i wonder what language they speak。 i hope they dont lock me up if i cant speak theirs。〃
〃as your daemon；〃 said balthamos； 〃i shall translate for you。 i have learned many human languages； i can certainly understand the one they speak in this country。〃
will walked on。 the toil was dull and mechanical； but at least he was moving； and at least every step took him closer to lyra。
the village was a shabby place： a huddle of wooden buildings； with paddocks containing reindeer； and dogs that barked as he approached。 smoke crept out of the tin chimneys and hung low over the shingled roofs。 the ground was heavy and dragged at his feet； and there had obviously been a recent flood： walls were marked with mud to halfway up the doors； and broken beams of wood and loose…hanging sheets of corrugated iron showed where sheds and verandas and outbuildings had been swept away。
but that was not the most curious feature of the place。 at first he thought he was losing his balance； it even made him stumble once or twice； for the buildings were two or three degrees out of the vertical； all leaning the same way。 the dome of the little church had cracked badly。 had there been an earthquake？
dogs were barking with hysterical fury； but not daring to e close。 balthamos； being a daemon； had taken the form of a large snow white dog with black eyes； thick fur； and tight…curled tail； and he snarled so fiercely that the real dogs kept their distance。 they were thin and mangy； and the few reindeer will could see were scabby…coated and listless。
will paused in the center of the little village and looked around； wondering where to go； and as he stood there； two or three men appeared ahead and stood staring at him。 they were the first people he had ever seen in lyras world。 they wore heavy felt coats； muddy boots； and fur hats； and they didnt look friendly。
the white dog changed into a sparrow and flew to wills shoulder。 no one blinked an eye at this： each of the men had a daemon； will saw； dogs； most of them； and that was how things happened in this world。 on his shoulder； balthamos whispered： 〃keep moving。 dont look them in the eye。 keep your head down。 that is the respectful thing to do。〃
will kept walking。 he could make himself inconspicuous； it was his greatest talent。 by the time he got
to them； the men had already lost interest in him。 but then a door opened in the biggest house in the road； and a voice called something loudly。
balthamos said softly； 〃the priest。 you will have to be polite to him。 turn and bow。〃
will did so。 the priest was an immense； gray…bearded man； wearing a black cassock； with a crow daemon on his shoulder。 his restless eyes moved over wills face and body； taking everything in。 he beckoned。
will went to the doorway and bowed again。
the priest said something； and balthamos murmured； 〃hes asking where you e from。 say whatever you like。〃
〃i speak english；〃 will said slowly and clearly。 〃i dont know any other languages。〃
〃ah； english！〃 cried the priest gleefully in english。 〃my dear young man！ wele to our village； our little no…lo