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eventually that stopped； and then the woman did a curious thing： she took a pair of scissors and trimmed the girls hair； holding her sleeping head this way and that to see the best effect。 she took one dark blond curl and put it in a little gold locket she had around her own neck。 ama could tell why： she was going to work some further magic with it。 but the woman held it to her lips first。。。 oh； this was strange。
the golden monkey drew out the last of the porcupine quills and said something to the woman； who reached up to snatch a roosting bat from the cave ceiling。 the little black thing flapped and squealed in a needle…thin voice that pierced ama from one ear to the other； and then she saw the woman hand the bat to her daemon； and she saw the daemon pull one of the black wings out and out and out till it snapped and broke and hung from a white string of sinew； while the dying bat screamed and its fellows flapped around in anguished puzzlement。 crack； crack； snap； as the golden monkey pulled the little thing apart limb by limb； and the woman lay moodily on her sleeping bag by the fire and slowly ate a box of chocolate。
time passed。 light faded and the moon rose； and the woman and her daemon fell asleep。
ama； stiff and painful； crept up from her hiding place and tiptoed out past the sleepers； and didnt make a sound till she was halfway down the path。
with fear giving her speed； she ran along the narrow trail； her daemon as an owl on silent wings beside her。 the clean cold air； the constant motion of the treetops； the brilliance of the moon…painted clouds in the dark sky； and the millions of stars all calmed her a little。
she stopped in sight of the little huddle of stone houses and her daemon perched on her fist。
〃she lied！〃 ama said。 〃she lied to us！ what can we do； kulang？ can we tell dada？ what can we do？〃
〃dont tell；〃 said her daemon。 〃more trouble。 weve got the medicine。 we can wake her。 we can go there when the womans away again； and wake the girl up； and take her away。〃
the thought filled them both with fear。 but it had been said； and the little paper package was safe in amas pocket； and they knew how to use it。
—
wake up； i cant see her； i think shes close by； shes hurt me。。。”
〃oh； lyra； dont be frightened！ if youre frightened； too； ill go mad。。。”
they tried to hold each other tight； but their arms passed through the empty air。 lyra tried to say what she meant； whispering close to his little pale face in the darkness：
〃im just trying to wake up； im so afraid of sleeping all my life and then dying； i want to wake up first！ i wouldnt care if it was just for an hour； as long as i was properly alive and awake。 i dont know if this is real or not； even； but i will help you； roger！ i swear i will！〃
〃but if youre dreaming； lyra； you might not believe it when you wake up。 thats what id do； id just think it was only a dream。〃
．。
FIVE … THE ADAMANT TOWER
（小//说；网/
〃no！〃 she said fiercely； a lake of molten sulphur extended the length of an immense canyon； releasing its mephitic vapors in sudden gusts and belches and barring the way of the solitary winged figure who stood at its edge。
if he took to the sky； the enemy scouts who had spotted him； and lost him； would find him again at once； but if he stayed on the ground； it would take so long to get past this noxious pit that his message might arrive too late。
he would have to take the greater risk。 he waited until a cloud of stinking smoke billowed off the yellow surface； and darted upward into the thick of it。
four pairs of eyes in different parts of the sky all saw the brief movement； and at once four pairs of wings beat hard against the smoke…fouled air； hurling the watchers forward to the cloud。
then began a hunt in which the pursuers couldnt see the quarry and the quarry could see nothing at all。 the first to break out of the cloud on the far side of the lake would have the advantage； and that might mean survival； or it might mean a successful kill。
and unluckily for the single flier； he found the clear air a few seconds after one of his pursuers。 at once they closed with each other； trailing streams of vapor； and dizzy； both of them； from the sickening fumes。 the quarry had the best of it at first； but then another hunter flew free of the cloud。 in a swift and furious struggle； all three of them； twisting in the air like scraps of flame； rose and fell and rose again； only to fall； finally； among the rocks on the far side。 the other two hunters never emerged from the cloud。
at the western end of a range of saw…toothed mountains； on a peak that manded wide views of the plain below and the valleys behind； a fortress of basalt seemed to grow out of the mountain as if some volcano had thrust it up a million years ago。
in vast caverns beneath the rearing walls； provisions of every sort were stored and labeled； in the arsenals and magazines； engines of war were being calibrated； armed； and tested； in the mills below the mountain； volcanic fires fed mighty forges where phosphor and titanium were being melted and bined in alloys never known or used before。
on the most exposed side of the fortress； at a point deep in the shadow of a buttress where the mighty walls rose sheer out of the ancient lava…flows； there was a small gate； a postern where a sentry watched day and night and challenged all who sought to enter。
while the watch was being changed on the ramparts above； i the sentry stamped once or twice and slapped his gloved hands on his upper arms for warmth； for it was the coldest hour of the night； and the little naphtha flare in the bracket beside him gave no heat。 his relief would e in another ten minutes； and he was looking forward to the mug of chocolate； the smokeleaf； and most of all his bed。
to hear a hammering at the little door was the last thing he expected。 however； he was alert； and he snapped open the spy hole； at the same time opening the tap that allowed a flow of naphtha past the pilot light in the buttress outside。 in the glare it threw； he saw three hooded figures carrying between them a fourth； whose shape was indistinct； and who seemed ill； or wounded。
the figure in