pp.thegoldencompass-第54部分
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better； because they had no regular group to go to； each child had to be ticked off against the plete list；
and of course they weren't in alphabetical order； and none of the adults was used to keeping control。 So there was a good deal of confusion； despite the fact that no one was running around anymore。
Lyra watched and noticed。 They weren't very good at this at all。 They were slack in a lot of ways； these people； they grumbled about fire drills； they didn't know where the outdoor clothes should be kept； they couldn't get children to stand in line properly； and their slackness might be to her advantage。
They had almost finished when there came another distraction； though； and from Lyra's point of view； it was the worst possible。
She heard the sound as everyone else did。 Heads began to turn and scan the dark sky for the zeppelin； whose gas engine was throbbing clearly in the still air。
The one lucky thing was that it was ing from the direction opposite to the one in which the gray goose had flown。 But that was the only fort。 Very soon it was visible； and a murmur of excitement went around the crowd。 Its fat sleek silver form drifted over the avenue of lights； and its own lights blazed downward from the nose and the cabin slung beneath the body。
The pilot cut the speed and began the plex business of adjusting the height。 Lyra realized what the stout mast was for： of course； it was a mooring mast。 As the adults ushered the children inside； with everyone staring back and pointing； the ground crew clambered up the ladders in the mast and prepared to attach the mooring cables。 The engines were roaring； and snow was swirling up from the ground； and the faces of passengers showed in the cabin windows。
Lyra looked； and there was no mistake。 Pantalaimon clutched at her； became a wildcat； hissed in hatred； because looking out with curiosity was the beautiful dark…haired head of Mrs。 Coulter； with her golden daemon in her lap。
SIXTEEN
THE SILVER GUILLOTINE
Lyra ducked her head at once under the shelter of her wolverine hood； and shuffled in through the double doors with the other children。 Time enough later to worry about what she'd say when they came face to face： she had another problem to deal with first； and that was how to hide her furs where she could get at them without asking permission。
But luckily； there was such disorder inside； with the adults trying to hurry the children through so as to clear the way for the passengers from the zeppelin； that no one was watching very carefully。 Lyra slipped out of the anorak； the leggings； and the boots and bundled them up as small as she could before shoving through the crowded corridors to her dormitory。
Quickly she dragged a locker to the corner； stood on it； and pushed at the ceiling。 The panel lifted； just as Roger had said； and into the space beyond she thrust the boots and leggings。 As an afterthought； she took the alethiometer from her pouch and hid it in the inmost pocket of the anorak before shoving that through too。
She jumped down； pushed back the locker； and whispered to Pantalaimon； 〃We must just pretend to be stupid till she sees us； and then say we were kidnapped。 And nothing about the gyptians or Iorek Byrnison especially。〃
Because Lyra now realized； if she hadn't done so before； that all the fear in her nature was drawn to Mrs。 Coulter as a pass needle is drawn to the Pole。 All the other things
she'd seen； and even the hideous cruelty of the intercision； she could cope with； she was strong enough； but the thought of that sweet face and gentle voice； the image of that golden playful monkey； was enough to melt her stomach and make her pale and nauseated。
But the gyptians were ing。 Think of that。 Think of Iorek Byrnison。 And don't give yourself away； she said； and drifted back toward the canteen； from where a lot of noise was ing。
Children were lining up to get hot drinks； some of them still in their coal…silk anoraks。 Their talk was all of the zep…pelin and its passenger。
〃It was her…with the monkey daemon…〃
〃Did she get you； too？〃
〃She said she'd write to my mum and dad and I bet she never 。 。 。 。〃
〃She never told us about kids getting killed。 She never said nothing about that。〃
〃That monkey； he's the worst…he caught my Karossa and nearly killed her…I could feel all weak 。 。 。 。〃
They were as frightened as Lyra was。 She found Annie and the others； and sat down。
〃Listen；〃 she said； 〃can you keep a secret？〃
〃Yeah！〃
The three faces turned to her； vivid with expectation。
〃There's a plan to escape；〃 Lyra said quietly。 〃There's some people ing to take us away； right； and they'll be here in about a day。 Maybe sooner。 What we all got to do is be ready as soon as the signal goes and get our cold…weather clothes at once and run out。 No waiting about。 You just got to run。 Only if you don't get your anoraks and boots and stuff； you'll die of cold。〃
〃What signal？〃 Annie demanded。
〃The fire bell； like this afternoon。 It's all organized。 All the kids're going to know and none of the grownups。 Especially not her。〃
Their eyes were gleaming with hope and excitement。 And all through the canteen the message was being passed around。 Lyra could tell that the atmosphere had changed。 Outside； the children had been energetic and eager for play； then when they had seen Mrs。 Coulter they were bubbling with a suppressed hysterical fear； but now there was a control and purpose to their talkativeness。 Lyra marveled at the effect hope could have。
She watched through the open doorway； but carefully； ready to duck her head； because there were adult voices ing； and then Mrs。 Coulter herself was briefly visible； looking in and smiling at the happy children； with their hot drinks and their cake； so warm and well fed。 A little shiver ran almost instantaneously through the whole canteen； and every child was still and silent； staring at her。
Mrs。 Coulter smiled and passed on without a word。 Little by little the talk started again。
Lyra said； 〃Where do they go to talk？〃
〃Probably the conference room；〃 said Annie。 〃They took us there once；〃 she added； meaning her and her dasmon。 〃There was about twenty grownups there and one of 'em was giving a lecture and I had to stand there and do what he told me； like seeing how far my Kyrillion could go away from me； and then he hypnotized me and did some other things 。 。 。 。It's a big room with a lot of chairs and tables and a little platform。 It's behind the front office。 Hey； I bet they're going to pretend the fire drill went off all right。 I bet they're scared of her； same as we are 。 。 。 。〃
For the rest of the day； Lyra stayed close to the other girls； watching； saying little； remaining inconspicuous。 There was exercise； there was sewing； there was supper； there was playtime in the lounge： a big shabby room with board games and a few tattered books and a table…tennis table。 At some point Lyra and the others became aware that there was some kind of subdued emergency going on； because the adults were hurrying to and fro or standing in anxious groups talking urgently。 Lyra guessed they'd discovered the daemons' escape； and were wondering how it had happened。
But she didn't see Mrs。 Coulter； which was a relief。 When it was time for bed； she knew she had to let the other girls into her confidence。
〃Listen；〃 she said； 〃do they ever e round and see if we're asleep？〃
〃They just look in once；〃 said Bella。 〃They just flash a lantern round； they don't really look。〃
〃Good。 'Cause I'm going to go and look round。 There's a way through the ceiling that this boy showed me 。 。 。 。〃
She explained； and before she'd even finished； Annie said； 〃I'll e with you！〃
〃No； you better not； 'cause it'll be easier if there's just one person missing。 You can all say you fell asleep and you don't know where I've gone。〃
〃But if I came with you…〃
〃More likely to get caught；〃 said Lyra。
Their two daemons were staring at each other； Pantalaimon as a wildcat； Annie's Kyrillion as a fox。 They were quivering。 Pantalaimon uttered the lowest； softest hiss and bared his teeth； and Kyr
