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a mistake。 moving suddenly； the woman seized pantalaimon； and holding his mouse body in a fierce grip； she touched the tip of a spur to his leg。 lyra gasped： it was like the shock when the men at bolvangar had seized him。 no one should touch someone elses daemon； it was a violation。
but then she saw that will had swept up the man in his right hand； holding him tightly around the legs so he couldnt use his spurs； and was holding him high。
〃stalemate again；〃 said the lady calmly。 〃put the chevalier down； boy。〃
〃let go of lyras daemon first；〃 said will。 〃im not in the mood to argue。〃
lyra saw with a cold thrill that will was perfectly ready to dash the gallivespians head against the rock。 and both little people knew it。
salmakia lifted her foot away from pantalaimons leg； and at once he fought free of her grasp and changed into a wildcat； hissing ferociously； fur on end； tail lashing。 his bared teeth were a hands breadth from the ladys face； and she gazed at him with perfect posure。 after a moment he turned and fled to lyras breast； ermine…shaped； and will carefully placed tialys back on the rock beside his partner。
〃you should show some respect；〃 the chevalier said to lyra。 〃you are a thoughtless； insolent child； and several brave men have died this evening in order to make you safe。 youd do better to act politely。〃
〃yes；〃 she said humbly； 〃im sorry； i will。 honest。〃
〃as for you。。。” he went on； turning to will。
but will interrupted： 〃as for me； im not going to be spoken to like that； so dont try。 respect goes two ways。 now listen carefully。 you are not in charge here； we are。 if you want to stay and help； then you do as we say。 otherwise； go back to lord asriel now。 theres no arguing about it。〃
lyra could see the pair of them bristling； but tialys was looking at wills hand； which was on the sheath at his belt； and she knew he was thinking that while will had the knife； he was stronger than they were。 at all costs they mustnt know it was broken； then。
〃very well；〃 said the chevalier。 〃we shall help you； because thats the task weve been given。 but you must let us know what you intend to do。〃
〃thats fair；〃 said will。 〃ill tell you。 were going back into lyras world as soon as weve rested； and were going to find a friend of ours； a bear。 hes not far away。〃
〃the bear with the armor？ very well；〃 said salmakia。 〃we saw him fight。 well help you do that。 but then you must e with us to lord asriel。〃
〃yes；〃 said lyra； lying earnestly； 〃oh yes； well do that then all right。〃
pantalaimon was calmer now； and curious； so she let him climb to her shoulder and change。 he became a dragonfly； as big as the two that were skimming through the air as they spoke； and darted up to join them。
〃that poison；〃 lyra said； turning back to the gallivespians； 〃in your spurs； i mean； is it deadly？ because you stung my mother； mrs。 coulter； didnt you？ will she die？〃
〃it was only a light sting；〃 said tialys。 〃a full dose would have killed her； yes； but a small scratch will make her weak and drowsy for half a day or so。〃
and full of maddening pain； he knew； but he didnt tell her that。
〃i need to talk to lyra in private；〃 said will。 〃were just going to move away for a minute。〃
〃with that knife；〃 said the chevalier； 〃you can cut through from one world to another； isnt that so？〃
〃dont you trust me？〃
〃no。〃
〃all right； ill leave it here； then。 if i havent got it； i cant use it。〃
he unbuckled the sheath and laid it on the rock； and then he and lyra walked away and sat where they could see the gallivespians。 tialys was looking closely at the knife handle； but he wasnt touching it；
〃well just have to put up with them；〃 will said。 〃as soon as the knifes mended； well escape。〃
〃theyre so quick； will；〃 she said。 〃and they wouldnt care； theyd kill you。〃
〃i just hope iorek can mend it。 i hadnt realized how much we need it。〃
〃he will；〃 she said confidently。
she was watching pantalaimon as he skimmed and darted through the air； snapping up tiny moths like the other dragonflies。 he couldnt go as far as they could； but he was just as fast； and even more brightly patterned。 she raised her hand and he settled on it； his long； transparent wings vibrating。
〃do you think we can trust them while we sleep？〃 will said。
〃yes。 theyre fierce； but i think theyre honest。〃
they went back to the rock； and will said to the gallivespians； 〃im going to sleep now。 well move on in the morning。〃
the chevalier nodded； and will curled up at once and fell asleep。
lyra sat down beside him； with pantalaimon cat…formed and warm in her lap。 how lucky will was that she was awake now to look after him！ he was truly fearless； and she admired that beyond measure； but he wasnt good at lying and betraying and cheating； which all came to her as naturally as breathing。 when she thought of that； she felt warm and virtuous； because she did it for will； never for herself。
she had intended to look at the alethiometer again； but to her deep surprise she found herself as weary as if shed been awake all that time instead of unconscious； and she lay down close by and closed her eyes； just for a brief nap； as she assured herself before she fell asleep。
．co
FOURTEEN … KNOW WHAT IT IS
@小‘说〃网
will and lyra slept through the night and woke up when the sun struck their eyelids。 they actually awoke within seconds of each other； with the same thought； but when they looked around； the chevalier tialys was calmly on guard close by。
〃the force of the consistorial court has retreated；〃 he told them。 〃mrs。 coulter is in the hands of king ogunwe； and on her way to lord asriel。〃
〃how do you know？〃 said will； sitting up stiffly。 〃have you been back through the window？〃
〃no。 we talk through the lodestone resonator。 i reported our conversation；〃 tialys said to lyra； 〃to my mander； lord roke； and he has agreed that we should go with you to the bear； and that once you have seen him； you will e with us。 so we are allies； and we shall help you as much as we can。〃
〃good；〃 said will。 〃then lets eat together。 do you eat our food？〃
〃thank you； yes；〃 said the lady。
will took out his last few dried peaches and the stale flat loaf of rye bread； which was all he had left； and shared it among them； though of course the spies did not take much。
〃as for water； there doesnt seem to be any around here on this world；〃 will said。 〃well have to wait till we go back through before we can have a drink。〃
〃then we better do that soon；〃 said lyra。
first； though； she took out the alethiometer and asked if there was still any danger in the valley。 no； came the answer； all the soldiers have gone； and the villagers are in their homes； so they prepared to leave。
the window looked strange in the dazzling air of the desert； giving onto the deep…shaded bush； a square of thick green vegetation hanging in the air like a painting。 the gallivespians wanted to look at it； and were astounded to see how it was just not there from the back； and how it only sprang into being when you came round from the side。
〃ill have to close it once were through；〃 will said。
lyra tried to pinch the edges together after they went through； but her