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〃you must stop；〃 he said as she set him on an upturned oil drum； in the feeble light of one of those anbaric bulbs that swung on its cable overhead。 〃this is far enough。 no more。〃
〃but we made an agreement；〃 lyra said。
〃no； no。 not to these lengths。〃
〃all right。 leave us。 you fly on back。 will can cut a window into your world； or any world you like； and you can fly through and be safe； thats all right； we dont mind。〃
〃do you realize what youre doing？〃
〃yes。〃
〃you dont。 youre a thoughtless； irresponsible； lying child。 fantasy es so easily to you that your whole nature is riddled with dishonesty； and you dont even admit the truth when it stares you in the face。 well； if you cant see it； ill tell you plainly： you cannot； you must not risk your death。 you must e back with us now。 ill call lord asriel and we can be safe in the fortress in hours。〃
lyra felt a great sob of rage building up in her chest； and stamped her foot； unable to keep still。
〃you dont know；〃 she cried； 〃you just dont know what i got in my head or my heart； do you？ i dont know if you people ever have children； maybe you lay eggs or something； i wouldnt be surprised； because youre not kind； youre not generous； youre not considerate； youre not cruel； even； that would be better； if you were cruel； because itd mean you took us serious； you didnt just go along with us when it suited you。。。 oh； i cant trust you at all now！ you said youd help and wed do it together； and now you want to stop us； youre the dishonest one； tialys！〃
〃i wouldnt let a child of my own speak to me in the insolent； high…handed way youre speaking； lyra； why i havent punished you before。。。”
〃then go ahead！ punish me； since you can！ take your bloody spurs and dig em in hard； go on！ heres my hand； do it！ you got no idea whats in my heart； you proud； selfish creature； you got no notion how i feel sad and wicked and sorry about my friend roger； you kill people just like that；” she snapped her finger； 〃they dont matter to you； but its a torment and a sorrow to me that i never said good…bye to him； and i want to say sorry and make it as good as i can； youd never understand that； for all your pride； for all your grown…up cleverness； and if i have to die to do whats proper； then i will； and be happy while i do。 i seen worse than that。 so if you want to kill me； you hard man； you strong man； you poison bearer； you chevalier； you do it； go on； kill me。 then me and roger can play in the land of the dead forever； and laugh at you； you pitiful thing。〃
what tialys might have done then wasnt hard to see； for he was ablaze from head to foot with a
passionate anger； shaking with it； but he didnt have time to move before a voice spoke behind lyra； and they both felt a chill fall over them。 lyra turned around； knowing what shed see and dreading it despite her bravado。
the death stood very close； smiling kindly； his face exactly like those of all the others shed seen； but this was hers； her very own death； and pantalaimon at her breast howled and shivered； and his ermine shape flowed up around her neck and tried to push her away from the death。 but by doing that； he only pushed himself closer； and realizing it； he shrank back toward her again； to her warm throat and the strong pulse of her heart。
lyra clutched him to her and faced the death directly。 she couldnt remember what hed said； and out of the corner of her eye； she could see tialys quickly preparing the lodestone resonator； busy。
〃youre my death； ent you？〃 she said。
〃yes； my dear；〃 he said。
〃you ent going to take me yet； are you？〃
〃you wanted me。 i am always here。〃
〃yes； but。。。 i did； yes； but。。。 i want to go to the land of the dead； thats true。 but not to die。 i dont want to die。 i love being alive； and i love my daemon； and 。。。 daemons dont go down there； do they？ i seen em vanish and just go out like candles when people die。 do they have daemons in the land of the dead？〃
〃no；〃 he said。 〃your daemon vanishes into the air； and you vanish under the ground。〃
〃then i want to take my daemon with me when i go to the land of the dead；〃 she said firmly。 〃and i want to e back again。 has it ever been known； for people to do that？〃
〃not for many； many ages。 eventually； child； you will e to the land of the dead with no effort； no risk； a safe； calm journey； in the pany of your own death； your special； devoted friend； whos been beside you every moment of your life； who knows you better than yourself。。。”
〃but pantalaimon is my special and devoted friend！ i dont know you； death； i know pan and i love pan and if he ever； if we ever。。。”
the death was nodding。 he seemed interested and kindly； but she couldnt for a moment forget what he was： her very own death； and so close。
〃i know itll be an effort to go on now；〃 she said more steadily； 〃and dangerous； but i want to； death； i do truly。 and so does will。 we both had people taken away too soon； and we need to make amends； at least i do。〃
〃everyone wishes they could speak again to those whove gone to the land of the dead。 why should there be an exception for you？〃
〃because；〃 she began； lying； 〃because theres something ive got to do there； not just seeing my friend roger； something else。 it was a task put on me by an angel； and no one else can do it； only me。 its too important to wait till i die in the natural way； its got to be done now。 see； the angel manded me。 thats why we came here； me and will。 we got to。〃
behind her； tialys put away his instrument and sat watching the child plead with her own death to be taken where no one should go。
the death scratched his head and held up his hands； but nothing could stop lyras words； nothing could deflect her desire； not even fear： shed seen worse than death； she claimed； and she had； too。
so eventually her death said：
〃if nothing can put you off； then all i can say is； e with me； and i will take you there； into the land of the dead。 ill be your guide。 i can show you the way in； but as for getting out again； youll have to manage by yourself。〃
〃and my friends；〃 said lyra。 〃my friend will and the others。〃
〃lyra；〃 said tialys； 〃against every instinct； well go with you。 i was angry with you a minute ago。 but you make it hard。。。〃
lyra knew that this was a time to conciliate； and she was happy to do that； having gotten her way。
〃yes；〃 she said； 〃i am sorry； tialys； but if you hadnt got angry； wed never have found this gentleman to guide us。 so im glad you were here； you and the lady； im really grateful to you for being with us。〃
so lyra persuaded her own death to guide her and the others into the land where roger had gone； and wills father； and tony makarios； and so many others； and her death told her to go down to the jetty when the first light came to the sky； and prepare to leave。
but pantalaimon was trembling and shivering； and nothing lyra could do could soothe him into stillness； or quiet the soft little moan he couldnt help uttering。 so her sleep was broken and shallow； on the floor of the shack with all the other sleepers； and her death sat watchfully beside her。
．co
TWENTY … CLIMBING
gxiaoshuowang
the mulefa made many kinds of rope and cord； and mary malone