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tightly as the angel came toward them； with the light of another world shining on her。 she was unclothed； but that meant nothing。 what clothes could an angel wear anyway？ lyra thought。 it was impossible to tell if she was old or young； but her expression was austere and passionate； and both will and lyra felt as if she knew them to their hearts。
〃will；〃 she said； 〃i have e to ask your help。〃
〃my help？ how can i help you？〃
〃i want you to show me how to close the openings that the knife makes。〃
will swallowed。 〃ill show you；〃 he said； 〃and in return； can you help us？〃
〃not in the way you want。 i can see what youve been talking about。 your sorrow has left traces in the air。 this is no fort； but believe me； every single being who knows of your dilemma wishes things could be otherwise； but there are fates that even the most powerful have to submit to。 there is nothing i can do to help you change the way things are。〃
〃why。。。” lyra began； and found her voice weak and trembling； 〃why cant i read the alethiometer anymore？ why cant i even do that？ that was the one thing i could do really well； and its just not there anymore； it just vanished as if it had never e。。。〃
〃you read it by grace；〃 said xaphania； looking at her； 〃and you can regain it by work。〃
〃how long will that take？〃
〃a lifetime。〃
〃that long。。。〃
〃but your reading will be even better then； after a lifetime of thought and effort； because it will e from conscious understanding。 grace attained like that is deeper and fuller than grace that es freely； and furthermore； once youve gained it； it will never leave you。〃
〃you mean a full lifetime； dont you？〃 lyra whispered。 〃a whole long life？ not。。。 not just。。。 a few years。。。〃
〃yes； i do；〃 said the angel。
〃and must all the windows be closed？〃 said will。 〃every single one ？〃
〃understand this；〃 said xaphania： 〃dust is not a constant。 theres not a fixed quantity that has always been the same。 conscious beings make dust； they renew it all the time； by thinking and feeling and reflecting； by gaining wisdom and passing it on。
〃and if you help everyone else in your worlds to do that； by helping them to learn and understand about themselves and each other and the way everything works； and by showing them how to be kind instead of cruel； and patient instead of hasty； and cheerful instead of surly； and above all how to keep their minds open and free and curious。。。 then they will renew enough to replace what is lost through one window。 so there could be one left open。〃
will trembled with excitement； and his mind leapt to a single point： to a new window in the air between his world and lyras。 and it would be their secret； and they could go through whenever they chose； and live for a while in each others worlds； not living fully in either； so their daemons would keep their health； and they could grow up together and maybe； much later on； they might have children； who would be secret citizens of two worlds； and they could bring all the learning of one world into the other； they could do all kinds of good。。。
but lyra was shaking her head。
〃no；〃 she said in a quiet wail； 〃we cant； will。。。”
and he suddenly knew her thought； and in the same anguished tone； he said； 〃no； the dead。。。”
〃we must leave it open for them！ we must！〃
〃yes； otherwise。。。〃
〃and we must make enough dust for them； will； and keep the window open。。。”
she was trembling。 she felt very young as he held her to his side。
〃and if we do；〃 he said shakily； 〃if we live our lives properly and think about them as we do； then therell be something to tell the harpies about as well。 weve got to tell people that； lyra。〃
〃the true stories； yes；〃 she said； 〃the true stories the harpies want to hear in exchange。 yes。 so if people live their whole lives and theyve got nothing to tell about it when theyve finished； then theyll never leave the world of the dead。 weve got to tell them that； will。〃
〃alone； though。。。〃
〃yes；〃 she said； 〃alone。〃
and at the word alone； will felt a great wave of rage and despair moving outward from a place deep within him； as if his mind were an ocean that some profound convulsion had disturbed。 all his life hed been alone； and now he must be alone again； and this infinitely precious blessing that had e to him must be taken away almost at once。 he felt the wave build higher and steeper to darken the sky； he felt the crest tremble and begin to spill； he felt the great mass crashing down with the whole weight of the ocean behind it against the iron…bound coast of what had to be。 and he found himself gasping and shaking and crying aloud with more anger and pain than he had ever felt in his life； and he found lyra just as helpless in his arms。 but as the wave expended its force and the waters withdrew； the bleak rocks remained； there was no arguing with fate； neither his despair nor lyras had moved them a single inch。
how long his rage lasted； he had no idea。 but eventually it had to subside； and the ocean was a little calmer after the convulsion。 the waters were still agitated； and perhaps they would never be truly calm again； but the great force had gone。
they turned to the angel and saw she had understood； and that she felt as sorrowful as they did。 but she could see farther than they could； and there was a calm hope in her expression； too。
will swallowed hard and said； 〃all right。 ill show you how to close a window。 but ill have to open one first； and make another specter。 i never knew about them； or else id have been more careful。〃
〃we shall take care of the specters；〃 said xaphania。 will took the knife and faced the sea。 to his surprise； his hands were quite steady。 he cut a window into his own world； and they found themselves looking at a great factory or chemical plant； where plicated pipe work ran between buildings and storage tanks； where lights glowed at every corner； where wisps of steam rose into the air。
〃its strange to think that angels dont know the way to do this；〃 will said。
〃the knife was a human invention。〃
〃and youre going to close them all except one；〃 will said。 〃all except the one from the world of the dead。〃
〃yes； that is a promise。 but it is