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〃not much；〃 he said。 〃i picked up pantalaimon and you picked up； the other one and we came through； and it was moonlight everywhere； and i put him down to close the window。〃
〃and your； the other daemon just jumped out of my arms；〃 she said。 〃and i was trying to see mr。 scoresby through the window； and iorek； and to see where pan had gone； and when i looked around； they just werent there。〃
〃it doesnt feel like when we went into the world of the dead； though。 like when we were really separated。〃
〃no；〃 she agreed。 〃theyre somewhere near all right。 i remember when we were young we used to try and play hide…and…seek； except it never really worked； because i was too big to hide from him and i always used to know exactly where he was； even if he was camouflaged as a moth or something。 but this is strange；〃 she said； passing her hands over her head involuntarily as if she were trying to dispel some enchantment。 〃he ent here； but i dont feel torn apart； i feel safe； and i know he is。〃
〃theyre together； i think；〃 will said。
〃yeah。 they must be。〃
he stood up suddenly。
〃look；〃 he said； 〃over there。。。〃
he was shading his eyes and pointing。 she followed his gaze and saw a distant tremor of movement； quite different from the shimmer of the heat haze。
〃animals？〃 she said doubtfully。
〃and listen；〃 he said； putting his hand behind his ear。
now hed pointed it out； she could hear a low； persistent rumble； almost like thunder； a very long way off。
〃theyve disappeared；〃 will said； pointing。
the little patch of moving shadows had vanished； but the rumble went on for a few moments。 then it became suddenly quieter； though it had been very quiet already。 the two of them were still gazing in the same direction； and shortly afterward they saw the movement start up again。 and a few moments later came the sound。
〃they went behind a ridge or something；〃 said will。 〃are they closer？〃
〃cant really see。 yes； theyre turning； look； theyre ing this way。〃
〃well； if we have to fight them； i want a drink first；〃 said will； and he took the rucksack down to the stream； where he drank deep and washed off most of the dirt。 his wound had bled a lot。 he was a mess； he longed for a hot shower with plenty of soap； and for some clean clothes。
lyra was watching the。。。 whatever they were； they were very strange。
〃will；〃 she called； 〃theyre riding on wheels。。。〃
but she said it uncertainly。 he climbed back a little way up the slope and shaded his eyes to look。 it was possible to see individuals now。 the group； or herd； or gang； was about a dozen strong； and they were moving； as lyra said； on wheels。 they looked like a cross between antelopes and motorcycles； but they were stranger than that； even： they had trunks like small elephants。
and they were making for will and lyra； with an air of intention。 will took out the knife； but lyra； sitting on the grass beside him； was already turning the hands of the alethiometer。
it responded quickly； while the creatures were still a few hundred yards away。 the needle darted swiftly left and right； and left and left； and lyra felt her mind dart to the meanings and land on them as lightly as a bird。
〃theyre friendly；〃 she said； 〃its all right； will； theyre looking for us； they knew we were here。。。 and its odd； i cant quite make it out。。。 dr。 malone ？〃
she said the name half to herself； because she couldnt believe dr。 malone would be in this world。 still； the alethiometer indicated her clearly； although of course it couldnt give her name。 lyra put it away and stood up slowly beside will。
〃i think we should go down to them；〃 she said。 〃they ent going to hurt us。〃
some of them had stopped； waiting。 the leader moved ahead a little； trunk raised； and they could see how he propelled himself with powerful backward strokes of his lateral limbs。 some of the creatures had gone to the pond to drink； the others waited； but not with the mild； passive curiosity of cows gathering at a gate。 these were individuals； lively with intelligence and purpose。 they were people。
will and lyra moved down the slope until they were close enough to speak to them。 in spite of what lyra had said； will kept his hand on the knife。
〃i dont know if you understand me；〃 lyra said cautiously； 〃but i know youre friendly。 i think we should。。。”
the leader moved his trunk and said； 〃e see mary。 you ride。 we carry。 e see mary。〃
〃oh！〃 she said； and turned to will； smiling with delight。
two of the creatures were fitted with bridles and stirrups of braided cord。 not saddles； their diamond…shaped backs turned out to be fortable enough without them。 lyra had ridden a bear； and will had ridden a bicycle； but neither had ridden a horse； which was the closest parison。 however； riders of horses are usually in control； and the children soon found that they were not： the reins and the stirrups were there simply to give them something to hold on to and balance with。 the creatures themselves made all the decisions。
〃where are…〃 will began to say； but had to stop and regain his balance as the creature moved under him。
the group swung around and moved down the slight slope； going slowly through the grass。 the movement was humpy； but not unfortable； because the creatures had no spine； will and lyra felt that they were sitting on chairs with a well…sprung seat。
soon they came to what they hadnt seen clearly from the bluff： one of those patches of black or dark brown ground。 and they were as surprised to find roads of smooth rock lacing through the prairie as mary malone had been sometime before。
the creatures rolled onto the surface and set off； soon picking up speed。 the road was more like a watercourse than a highway。 in places it broadened into wide areas like small lakes； and at others it split into narrow channels； only to bine again unpredictably。 it was quite unlike the brutal； rational way roads in wills world sliced through hillsides and leapt across valleys on bridges of concrete。 this was part of the landscape； not an imposition on it。
they were going faster and faster。 it took will and lyra a while to get used to the living impulse of the muscles and the shuddering thunder of the har