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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 hard wheels on the hard stone。 lyra found it more difficult than will at first； because she had never ridden a bicycle； and she didnt know the trick of leaning into the corner； but she saw how he was doing it； and soon she was finding the speed exhilarating。
the wheels made too much noise for them to speak。 instead； they had to point： at the trees； in amazement at their size and splendor； at a flock of birds； the strangest they had ever seen； their fore and aft wings giving them a twisting； screwing motion through the air； at a fat blue lizard as long as a horse basking in the very middle of the road （the wheeled creatures divided to ride on either side of it； and it took no notice at all）。
the sun was high in the sky when they began to slow down。
and in the air； unmistakable； was the salt smell of the sea。 the road was rising toward a bluff； and presently they were moving no faster than a walk。
lyra； stiff and sore； said； 〃can you stop？ i want to get off and walk。〃
her creature felt the tug at the bridle； and whether or not he understood her words； he came to a halt。 wills did； too； and both children climbed down； finding themselves stiff and shaken after the continued jolting and tensing。
the creatures wheeled around to talk together； their trunks moving elegantly in time with the sounds they made。 after a minute they moved on； and will and lyra were happy to walk among the hay…scented； grass…warm creatures who trundled beside them。 one or two had gone on ahead to the top of the rise； and the children； now that they no longer had to concentrate on hanging on； were able to watch how they moved； and admire the grace and power with which they propelled themselves forward and leaned and turned。
as they came to the top of the rise； they stopped； and will and lyra heard the leader say； 〃mary close。 mary there。〃
they looked down。 on the horizon there was the blue gleam of the sea。 a broad； slow…moving river wound through rich grassland in the middle distance； and at the foot of the long slope； among copses of small trees and rows of vegetables； stood a village of thatched houses。 more creatures like these moved about among the houses； or tended crops； or worked among the trees。
〃now ride again；〃 said the leader。
there wasnt far to go。 will and lyra climbed up once more； and the other creatures looked closely at their balance and checked the stirrups with their trunks； as if to make sure they were safe。
then they set off； beating the road with their lateral limbs； and urging themselves forward down the slope until they were moving at a terrific pace。 will and lyra clung tight with hands and knees。 they felt the air whip past their faces； flinging their hair back and pressing on their eyeballs。 the thundering of the wheels； the rush of the grassland on either side； the sure and powerful lean into the broad curve ahead； the clearheaded rapture of speed； the creatures loved this； and will and lyra felt their joy and laughed in happy response。
they stopped in the center of the village； and the others； who had seen them ing； gathered around raising their trunks and speaking words of wele。
and then lyra cried； 〃dr。 malone！〃
mary had e out of one of the huts； her faded blue shirt； her stocky figure； her warm； ruddy cheeks both strange and familiar。
lyra ran and embraced her； and the woman hugged her tight； and will stood back； careful and doubtful。
mary kissed lyra warmly and then came forward to wele will。 and then came a curious little mental dance of sympathy and awkwardness； which took place in a second or less。
moved by passion for the state they were in； mary first meant to embrace him as well as lyra。 but mary was grown up； and will was nearly grown； and she could see that that kind of response would have made a child of him； because while she might have embraced a child； she would never have done that to a man she didnt know； so she drew back mentally； wanting above all to honor this friend of lyras and not cause him to lose face。
so instead she held out her hand and he shook it； and a current of understanding and respect passed between them； so powerful that it became liking at once and each of them felt that they had made a lifelong friend； as indeed they had。
〃this is will；〃 said lyra； 〃hes from your world； remember； i told you about him。。。”
〃im mary malone；〃 she said； 〃and youre hungry； the pair of you； you look half…starved。〃
she turned to the creature by her side and spoke some of those singing； hooting sounds； moving her arm as she did so。
at once the creatures moved away； and some of them brought cushions and rugs from the nearest house and laid them on the firm soil under a tree nearby； whose dense leaves and low…hanging branches gave a cool and fragrant shade。
and as soon as they were fortable； their hosts brought smooth wooden bowls brimming with milk； which had a faint lemony astringency and was wonderfully refreshing； and small nuts like hazels； but with a richer buttery taste； and salad plucked fresh from the soil； sharp； peppery leaves mingled with soft； thick ones that oozed a creamy sap； and little cherry…sized roots tasting like sweet carrots。
but they couldnt eat much。 it was too rich。 will wanted to do justice to their generosity； but the only thing he could easily swallow； apart from the drink； was some flat； slightly scorched floury bread like chapatis or tortillas。 it was plain and nourishing； and that was all will could cope with。 lyra tried some of everything； but like will she soon found that a little was quite enough。
mary managed to avoid asking any questions。 these two had passed through an experience that had marked them deeply； they didnt want to talk about it yet。
so she answered their questions about the mulefa； and told them briefly how she had arrived in this world； and then she left them under the shade of the tree； because she could see their eyelids drooping and their heads nodding。
〃you dont have to do anything now but sleep；〃 she said。
the afternoon air was warm