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〃she is in the hands of mrs。 coulter；〃 said fra pavel。 〃and they are in the himalaya。 so far； that is all i have been able to tell。 i shall go at once and ask for a more precise location； and as soon as i have it； i shall tell the court； but。。。〃
he stopped； shrinking in fear； and held the glass to his lips with a trembling hand。
〃yes； fra pavel？〃 said father macphail。 〃hold nothing back。〃
〃i believe； father president； that the society of the work of the holy spirit knows more about this than i do。〃
fra pavels voice was so faint it was almost a whisper。
〃is that so？〃 said the president； his eyes seeming to radiate his passion as they glared。
fra pavels daemon uttered a little frog whimper。 the cleric knew about the rivalry between the different branches of the magisterium； and knew that to get caught in the cross fire between them would be very dangerous； but to hold back what he knew would be more dangerous still。
〃i believe；〃 he went on； trembling； 〃that they are much closer to finding out exactly where the child is。 they have other sources of knowledge forbidden to me。〃
〃quite so；〃 said the inquirer。 〃and did the alethiometer tell you about this？〃
〃yes； it did。〃
〃very well。 fra pavel； you would do well to continue that line of investigation。 whatever you need in the way of clerical or secretarial help is yours to mand。 please stand down。〃
fra pavel bowed； and with his frog daemon on his shoulder； he gathered his notes and left the
courtroom。 the nuns flexed their fingers。
father macphail tapped a pencil on the oak bench in front of him。
〃sister agnes； sister monica；〃 he said； 〃you may leave us now。 please have the transcription on my desk by the end of the day。〃
the two nuns bowed their heads and left。
〃gentlemen；〃 said the president； for that was the mode of address in the consistorial court； 〃lets adjourn。〃
the twelve members； from the oldest （father makepwe； ancient and rheumy…eyed） to the youngest （father gomez； pale and trembling with zealotry）； gathered their notes and followed the president through to the council chamber； where they could face one another across a table and talk in the utmost privacy。
the current president of the consistorial court was a scot called hugh macphail。 he had been elected young。 presidents served for life； and he was only in his forties； so it was to be expected that father macphail would mold the destiny of the consistorial court； and thus of the whole church； for many years to e。 he was a dark…featured man； tall and imposing； with a shock of wiry gray hair； and he would have been fat were it not for the brutal discipline he imposed on his body： he drank only water and ate only bread and fruit； and he exercised for an hour daily under the supervision of a trainer of champion athletes。 as a result； he was gaunt and lined and restless。 his daemon was a lizard。
once they were seated； father macphail said：
〃this； then； is the state of things。 there seem to be several points to bear in mind。
〃firstly； lord asriel。 a witch friendly to the church reports that he is assembling a great army； including forces that may be angelic。 his intentions； as far as the witch knows； are malevolent toward the church； and toward the authority himself。
〃secondly； the oblation board。 their actions in setting up the research program at bolvangar； and in funding mrs。 coulters activities； suggest that they are hoping to replace the consistorial court of discipline as the most powerful and effective arm of the holy church。 we have been outpaced； gentlemen。 they have acted ruthlessly and skillfully。 we should be chastised for our laxity in letting it happen。 i shall return to what we might do about it shortly。
〃thirdly； the boy in fra pavels testimony； with the knife that can do these extraordinary things。 clearly we must find him and gain possession of it as soon as possible。
〃fourthly； dust。 i have taken steps to find out what the oblation board has discovered about it。 one of the experimental theologians working at bolvangar has been persuaded to tell us what exactly they discovered。 i shall talk to him this afternoon downstairs。〃
one or two of the priests shifted unfortably； for 〃downstairs〃 meant the cellars below the building： white…tiled rooms with points for anbaric current； soundproofed and well…drained。
〃whatever we do learn about dust； though；〃 the president went on； 〃we must bear our purpose firmly in mind。 the oblation board sought to understand the effects of dust； we must destroy it altogether。 nothing less than that。 if in order to destroy dust we also have to destroy the oblation board； the college of bishops； every single agency by which the holy church does the work of the authority； then so be it。 it may be； gentlemen； that the holy church itself was brought into being to perform this very task and to perish in the doing of it。 but better a world with no church and no dust than a world where every day we have to struggle under the hideous burden of sin。 better a world purged of all that！〃
blazing…eyed； father gomez nodded passionately。
〃and finally；〃 said father macphail； 〃the child。 still just a child； i think。 this eve； who is going to be tempted and who； if precedent is any guide； will fall； and whose fall will involve us all in ruin。 gentlemen； of all the ways of dealing with the problem she sets us； i am going to propose the most radical； and i have confidence in your agreement。
〃i propose to send a man to find her and kill her before she can be tempted。〃
〃father president；〃 said father gomez at once； 〃i have done preemptive penance every day of my adult life。 i have studied； i have trained。。。”
the president held up his hand。 preemptive penance and absolution were doctrines researched and developed by the consistorial court； but not known to the wider church。 they involved doing penance for a sin not yet mitted； intense and fervent penance acpanied by scourging and flagellation； so as to build up； as it were； a store of credit。 when the penance had reached the appropriate level for a particular sin； the penitent was granted absolution in advance； though he might never be called on to mit the sin。 it