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〃but wheres the rest leaving from？〃 said lyra。
both daemons looked at will； and at the knife。
〃every time we made an opening；〃 said kirjava； and again will felt that little thrill： shes me； and im her； 〃every time anyone made an opening between the worlds； us or the old guild men； anyone； the knife cut into the emptiness outside。 the same emptiness there is down in the abyss。 we never knew。 no one knew； because the edge was too fine to see。 but it was quite big enough for dust to leak out of。 if they closed it up again at once； there wasnt time for much to leak out； but there were thousands that they never closed up。 so all this time； dust has been leaking out of the worlds and into nothingness。〃
the understanding was beginning to dawn on will and lyra。 they fought it； they pushed it away； but it was just like the gray light that seeps into the sky and extinguishes the stars： it crept past every barrier they could put up and under every blind and around the edges of every curtain they could draw against it。
〃every opening；〃 lyra said in a whisper。
〃every single one； they must all be closed？〃 said will。
〃every single one；〃 said pantalaimon； whispering like lyra。
〃oh； no；〃 said lyra。 〃no； it cant be true 。。。”
〃and so we must leave our world to stay in lyras；〃 said kirjava； 〃or pan and lyra must leave theirs and e to stay in ours。 theres no other choice。〃
then the full bleak daylight struck in。
and lyra cried aloud。 pantalaimons owl cry the night before had frightened every small creature that heard it； but it was nothing to the passionate wail that lyra uttered now。 the daemons were shocked； and will； seeing their reaction； understood why： they didnt know the rest of the truth； they didnt know what will and lyra themselves had learned。
lyra was shaking with anger and grief； striding up and down with clenched fists and turning her tear…streaming face this way and that as if looking for an answer。 will jumped up and seized her shoulders； and felt her tense and trembling。
〃listen；〃 he said； 〃lyra； listen： what did my father say？〃
〃oh；〃 she cried； tossing her head this way and that； 〃he said； you know what he said； you were there； will； you listened； too！〃
he thought she would die of her grief there and then。 she flung herself into his arms and sobbed； clinging passionately to his shoulders； pressing her nails into his hack and her face into his neck； and all he could hear was； 〃no； no； no。。。〃
〃listen；〃 he said again； 〃lyra； lets try and remember it exactly。 there might be a way through。 there might be a loophole。〃
he disengaged her arms gently and made her sit down。 at once pantalaimon； frightened； flowed up onto her lap； and the cat daemon tentatively came close to will。 they hadnt touched yet； but now he put out a hand to her； and she moved her cat face against his fingers and then stepped delicately onto his lap。
〃he said。。。” lyra began； gulping； 〃he said that people could spend a little time in other worlds without being affected。 they could。 and we have； havent we？ apart from what we had to do to go into the world of the dead； were still healthy； arent we？〃
〃they can spend a little time； but not a long time；〃 will said。 〃my father had been away from his world； my world； for ten years。 and he was nearly dying when i found him。 ten years； thats all。〃
〃but what about lord boreal？ sir charles？ he was healthy enough； wasnt he？〃
〃yes； but remember； he could go back to his own world whenever he liked and get healthy again。 thats where you saw him first； after all； in your world。 he must have found some secret window that no one else knew about。〃
〃well； we could do that！〃
〃we could； except that。。。〃
〃all the windows must be closed；〃 said pantalaimon。 〃all of them。〃
〃but how do you know？〃 demanded lyra。
〃an angel told us；〃 said kirjava。 〃we met an angel。 she told us all about that； and other things as well。 its true； lyra。〃
〃she？〃 said lyra passionately； suspicious。
〃it was a female angel；〃 said kirjava。
〃ive never heard of one of them。 maybe she was lying。〃
will was thinking through another possibility。 〃suppose they closed all the other windows；〃 he said； 〃and we just made one when we needed to； and went through as quickly as we could and closed it up immediately； that would be safe； surely？ if we didnt leave much time for dust to go out？〃
〃yes！〃
〃wed make it where no one could ever find it；〃 he went on； 〃and only us two would know。。。”
〃oh； it would work！ im sure it would！〃 she said。
〃and we could go from one to the other； and stay healthy。。。”
but the daemons were distressed； and kirjava was murmuring； 〃no； no。〃
and pantalaimon said； 〃the specters。。。 she told us about the specters； too。〃
〃the specters？〃 said will。 〃we saw them during the battle； for the first time。 what about them？〃
〃well； we found out where they e from；〃 said kirjava。 〃and this is the worst thing： theyre like the children of the abyss。 every time we open a window with the knife； it makes a specter。 its like a little bit of the abyss that floats out and enters the world。 thats why the cittagazze world was so full of them； because of all the windows they left open there。〃
〃and they grow by feeding on dust；〃 said pantalaimon。 〃and on daemons。 because dust and daemons are sort of similar； grown…up daemons anyway。 and the specters get bigger and stronger as they do。。。〃
will felt a dull horror at his heart； and kirjava pressed herself against his breast； feeling it； too； and trying to fort him。
〃so every time ive used the knife；〃 he said； 〃every single time； ive made another specter e to life？〃
he remembered iorek byrnison； in the cave where hed forged the knife again； saying； 〃what you dont know is what the knife does on its own。 your intentions may be good。 the knife has intentions； too。〃
lyras eyes were watching him； wide with anguish。
〃oh； we cant； will！〃 she said。 〃we cant do that to people； not let other specters out； not now weve seen what they do！〃
〃all right；〃 he said； getting to his feet； holding his daemon close to his breast。 〃then well have to； one of us will have to； ill e to your world and。。。〃
she knew what he was going