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and it had an effect on the ghosts； too： seeing will standing unafraid and unharmed； they began to drift back toward the travelers。 they watched the harpies cautiously； but for all that； the lure of the warm flesh and blood； those strong heartbeats； was too much to resist。
lyra stood up to join will。 her wound had opened again； and fresh blood was trickling down her cheek； but she wiped it aside。
〃will；〃 she said； 〃im so glad we came down here together。。。〃
he heard a tone in her voice and he saw an expression on her face that he knew and liked more than anything hed ever known： it showed she was thinking of something daring； but she wasnt ready to speak of it yet。
he nodded； to show hed understood。
the ghost girl said； 〃this way； e with us； well find them！〃
and both of them felt the strangest sensation； as if little ghost hands were reaching inside and tugging at their ribs to make them follow。
so they set off across the floor of that great desolate plain； and the harpies wheeled higher and higher overhead； screaming and screaming。 but they kept their distance； and the gallivespians flew above； keeping watch。
as they walked along； the ghosts talked to them。
〃excuse me；〃 said one ghost girl； 〃but wheres your daemons？ excuse me for asking。 but。。。〃
lyra was conscious every single second of her dear； abandoned pantalaimon。 she couldnt speak easily； so will answered instead。
〃we left our daemons outside；〃 he said； 〃where its safe for them。 well collect them later。 did you have a daemon？〃
〃yes；〃 said the ghost； 〃his name was sandling。。。 oh； i loved him。。。〃
〃and had he settled？〃 said lyra。
〃no； not yet。 he used to think hed be a bird； and i hoped he wouldnt； because i liked him all furry in bed at night。 but he was a bird more and more。 whats your daemon called？〃
lyra told her； and the ghosts pressed forward eagerly again。 they all wanted to talk about their daemons； every one。
〃mine was called matapan。。。”
〃we used to play hide…and…seek； shed change like a chameleon and i couldnt see her at all； she was ever so good。。。”
〃once i hurt my eye and i couldnt see and he guided me all the way home。。。”
〃he never wanted to settle； but i wanted to grow up； and we used to argue。。。”
〃she used to curl up in my hand and go to sleep。。。”
〃are they still there； somewhere else？ will we see them again？〃
〃no。 when you die； your daemon just goes out like a candle flame。 i seen it happen。 i never saw my castor； though； i never said good…bye。。。”
〃they ent nowhere！ they must be somewhere！ my daemons still there somewhere； i know he is！〃
the jostling ghosts were animated and eager； their eyes shining and their cheeks warm； as if they were borrowing life from the travelers。
will said； 〃is there anyone here from my world； where we dont have daemons？〃
a thin ghost boy of his own age nodded； and will turned to him。
〃oh yes；〃 came the answer。 〃we didnt understand what daemons were； but we knew what it felt like to be without them。 theres people here from all kinds of worlds。〃
〃i knew my death；〃 said one girl； 〃i knew him all the while i was growing up。 when i heard them talk about daemons； i thought they meant something like our deaths。 i miss him now。 i wont never see him again。 im over and done with； thats the last thing he said to me； and then he went forever。 when he was with me； i always knew there was someone i could trust； someone who knew where we was going and what to do。 but i aint got him no more。 i dont know whats going to happen ever again。〃
〃there aint nothing going to happen！〃 someone else said。 〃nothing； forever！〃
〃you dont know；〃 said another。 〃they came； didnt they ？ no one ever knew that was going to happen。〃
she meant will and lyra。
〃this is the first thing that ever happened here；〃 said a ghost boy。 〃maybe its all going to change now。〃
〃what would you do； if you could？〃 said lyra。
〃go up to the world again！〃
〃even if it meant you could only see it once； would you still want to do that？〃
〃yes！ yes！ yes！〃
〃well； anyway； ive got to find roger；〃 said lyra； burning with her new idea； but it was for will to know first。
on the floor of the endless plain； there was a vast； slow movement among the uncountable ghosts。 the children couldnt see it； but tialys and salmakia； flying above； watched the little pale figures all moving with an effect that looked like the migration of immense flocks of birds or herds of reindeer。 at the center of the movement were the two children who were not ghosts； moving steadily on； not leading； and not following； but somehow focusing the movement into an intention of all the dead。
the spies； their thoughts moving even more quickly than their darting steeds； exchanged a glance and brought the dragonflies to rest side by side on a dry； withered branch。
〃do we have daemons； tialys？〃 said the lady。
〃since we got into that boat； i have felt as if my heart had been torn out and thrown still beating on the shore；〃 he said。 〃but it wasnt； its still working in my breast。 so something of mine is out there with the little girls daemon； and something of yours； too； salmakia； because your face is drawn and your hands are pale and tight。 yes； we have daemons； whatever they are。 maybe the people in lyras world are the only living beings to know they have。 maybe thats why it was one of them who started the revolt。〃
he slipped off the dragonflys back and tethered it safely； and then took out the lodestone resonator。 but he had hardly begun to touch it when he stopped。
〃no response；〃 he said somberly。
〃so were beyond everything？〃
〃beyond help； certainly。 well； we knew we were ing to the land of the dead。〃
〃the boy would go with her to the end of the world。〃
〃will his knife open the way back； do you think？〃
〃im sure he thinks so。 but oh； tialys； i dont know。〃
〃hes very young。 well； they are both young。 you know； if she doesnt survive this； the question of whether shell choose the right thing when shes tempted wont arise。 it wont matter anymore。〃
〃do you think shes chosen already？ when she chose to leave her daemon on the shore？ was that the choice she had to make？〃
the chevalier looked down on the slow…moving millions on the floor of the land of the dead； all drifting after that bright and living spark lyra silvertongue。 he could just make out her hair； the lightest thing in the gloom； and beside it the boys head； black…haired and solid and strong。
〃no；〃 he said； 〃not yet。 thats still to e； whatever it may be。〃
〃then we must bring her to it safely。〃
〃bring them both。 theyre bound together now。〃
the lady salmakia flicked the cobweb…light rein； and her dragonfly darted off the branch at once and sped down toward the living children； with the chevalier close behind。
but they didnt stop with them； having skimmed low to make sure they were all right； they flew on ahead； partly because the dragonflies were restless； and partly because they wanted to find out how far this dismal place extended。
lyra saw them flashing overhead and felt a pang of relief that there was still something that darted and glowed with beauty。 then； unable to keep her idea to herself anymore； she turned