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〃tialys？ salmakia？〃 said will shakily。
〃both here； both alive；〃 said the chevaliers voice near his ear。
the air was full of dust； and of the cordite smell of smashed rock。 it was hard to breathe； and impossible to see： the dragonfly was dead。
〃mr。 scoresby？〃 said lyra。 〃we cant see anything。。。 what happened？〃
〃im here；〃 said lee； close by。 〃i guess the bomb went off； and i guess it missed。〃
〃bomb？〃 said lyra； frightened； but then she said； 〃roger； are you there？〃
〃yeah；〃 came the little whisper。 〃mr。 parry； he saved me。 i was going to fall； and he caught hold。〃
〃look；〃 said the ghost of john parry。 〃but hold still to the rock； and dont move。〃
the dust was clearing； and from somewhere there was light： a strange faint golden glimmer； like a luminous misty rain falling all around them。 it was enough to strike their hearts ablaze with fear； for it lit up what lay to their left； the place into which it was all falling； or flowing； like a river over the edge of a waterfall。
it was a vast black emptiness； like a shaft into the deepest darkness。 the golden light flowed into it and died。 they could see the other side； but it was much farther away than will could have thrown a stone。 to their right； a slope of rough stones； loose and precariously balanced； rose high into the dusty gloom。
the children and their panions were clinging to what was not even a ledge； just some lucky hand… and footholds； on the edge of that abyss； and there was no way out except forward； along the slope； among the shattered rocks and the teetering boulders； which； it seemed； the slightest touch would send hurtling down below。
and behind them； as the dust cleared； more and more of the ghosts were gazing in horror at the abyss。 they were crouching on the slope； too frightened to move。 only the harpies were unafraid； they took to their wings and soared above； scanning backward and forward； flying back to reassure those still in the tunnel； flying ahead to search for the way out。
lyra checked： at least the alethiometer was safe。 suppressing her fear； she looked around； found rogers little face； and said：
〃e on； then； were all still here； we ent been hurt。 and we can see now； at least。 so just keep going； just keep on moving。 we cant go any other way than round the edge of this。。。〃 she gestured at the abyss。 〃so we just got to keep going ahead。 i swear will and mell just keep on till we do。 so dont be scared； dont give up； dont lag behind。 tell the others。 i cant look back all the time because i got to watch where im going； so i got to trust you to e on steady after us； all right？〃
the little ghost nodded。 and so； in a shocked silence； the column of the dead began their journey along the edge of the abyss。 how long it took； neither lyra nor will could guess； how fearful and dangerous it was； they were never able to forget。 the darkness below was so profound that it seemed to pull the eyesight down into it； and a ghastly dizziness swam over their minds when they looked。 whenever they could； they looked ahead of them fixedly； on this rock； that foothold； this projection； that loose slope of gravel； and kept their eyes from the gulf； but it pulled； it tempted； and they couldnt help glancing into it； only to feel their balance tilting and their eyesight swimming and a dreadful nausea gripping their throats。
from time to time the living ones looked back and saw the infinite line of the dead winding out of the crack theyd e through： mothers pressing their infants faces to their breasts； aged fathers clambering slowly； little children clutching the skirts of the person in front； young boys and girls of rogers age keeping staunch and careful； so many of them。。。 and all following will and lyra； so they still hoped； toward the open air。
but some didnt trust them。 they crowded close behind； and both children felt cold hands on their
hearts and their entrails； and they heard vicious whispers：
〃where is the upper world？ how much farther？〃
〃were frightened here！〃
〃we should never have e； at least back in the world of the dead we had a little light and a little pany； this is far worse！〃
〃you did a wrong thing when you came to our land！ you should have stayed in your own world and waited to die before you came down to disturb us！〃
〃by what right are you leading us？ you are only children！ who gave you the authority？〃
will wanted to turn and denounce them； but lyra held his arm； they were unhappy and frightened； she said。
then the lady salmakia spoke； and her clear； calm voice carried a long way in the great emptiness。
〃friends； be brave！ stay together and keep going！ the way is hard； but lyra can find it。 be patient and cheerful and well lead you out； dont fear！〃
lyra felt herself strengthened by hearing this； and that was really the ladys intention。 and so they toiled on； with painful effort。
〃will；〃 said lyra after some minutes； 〃can you hear that wind？〃
〃yes； i can；〃 said will。 〃but i cant feel it at all。 and i tell you something about that hole down there。 its the same kind of thing as when i cut a window。 the same kind of edge。 theres something special about that kind of edge； once youve felt it you never forget it。 and i can see it there； just where the rock falls away into the dark。 but that big space down there； thats not another world like all the others。 its different。 i dont like it。 i wish i could close it up。〃
〃you havent closed every window youve made。〃
〃no； because i couldnt； some of them。 but i know i should。 things go wrong if theyre left open。 and one that big。。。〃 he gestured downward； not wanting to look。 〃its wrong。 something bad will happen。〃
while they were talking together； another conversation had been taking place a little way off： the chevalier tialys was talking quietly with the ghosts of lee scoresby and john parry。
〃so what are you saying； john？〃 said lee。 〃youre saying we ought not to go out into the open air？ man； every single part of me is aching to join the rest of the living universe again！〃
〃yes； and so am i；〃 said wills father。 〃but i believe that if those of us who are used to fighting could manage to hold ourselves back； we might be able to throw ourselves into the battle on asriels side。 and if it came at the right moment； it might make all the difference。〃
〃ghosts？〃 said tialys； trying to hold the skepticism from his voice； and failing。 〃how could you fight？〃
〃we couldnt hurt living creatures； thats quite true。 but asriels army is going to contend with other kinds of being as well。〃
〃those specters；〃 said lee。
〃just what i was thinking。 they make for the daemon； dont they？ and our daemons are long gone。 its worth a try； lee。〃
〃well； im with you； my friend。〃
〃and you； sir；〃 said john parrys ghost to the chevalier： 〃i have spoken to the ghosts of your people。 will you live long enough to see the world again； before you die and e back as a ghost？〃
〃its true； our lives are short pared to yours。 i have a few days more to live；〃 said tialys； 〃and the lady salmakia a little longer； perhaps。 but thanks to what those children are doing； our exile as ghosts will not be permanent。 i have been proud to help them。〃
they moved on。 and