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〃quick work；〃 said the chevalier。 〃a hundred to one he doesnt tell them about his assassin； though。〃
he told her about the plan to kill lyra。 she was not surprised。
〃its the logical thing to do；〃 she said。 〃very logical people。 tialys； do you think we shall ever see this child？〃
〃i dont know； but i should like to。 go well； salmakia。 tomorrow at the fountain。〃
unsaid behind that brief exchange was the one thing they never spoke of： the shortness of their lives pared with those of humans。 gallivespians lived to nine years or ten； rarely more； and tialys and salmakia were both in their eighth year。 they didnt fear old age； their people died in the full strength and vigor of their prime； suddenly； and their childhoods were very brief； but pared with their lives； the life of a child like lyra would extend as far into the future as the lives of the witches extended past lyras own。
the chevalier returned to the college of st。 jerome and began to pose the message he would send to lord roke on the lodestone resonator。
but while tialys was at the rendezvous talking to salmakia； the president sent for father gomez。 in his study they prayed together for an hour； and then father macphail granted the young priest the preemptive absolution that would make his murder of lyra no murder at all。 father gomez seemed transfigured； the certainty that ran through his veins seemed to make his very eyes incandescent。
they discussed practical arrangements； money； and so forth； and then the president said； 〃once you leave here； father gomez； you will be pletely cut off； forever； from any help we can give。 you can
never e back； you will never hear from us。 i cant offer you any better advice than this： dont look for the child。 that would give you away。 instead； look for the tempter。 follow the tempter； and she will lead you to the child。〃
〃she？〃 said father gomez； shocked。
〃yes； she；〃 said father macphail。 〃we have learned that much from the alethiometer。 the world the tempter es from is a strange one。 you will see many things that will shock and startle you； father gomez。 dont let yourself be distracted by their oddness from the sacred task you have to do。 i have faith；〃 he added kindly； 〃in the power of your faith。 this woman is traveling； guided by the powers of evil； to a place where she may； eventually； meet the child in time to tempt her。 that is； of course； if we do not succeed in removing the girl from her present location。 that remains our first plan。 you； father gomez； are our ultimate guarantee that if that falls through； the infernal powers will still not prevail。〃
father gomez nodded。 his daemon； a large and iridescent green…backed beetle； clicked her wing cases。
the president opened a drawer and handed the young priest a folded packet of papers。
〃here is all we know about the woman；〃 he said； 〃and the world she es from； and the place she was last seen。 read it well； my dear luis； and go with my blessing。〃
he had never used the priests given name before。 father gomez felt tears of joy prick his eyes as he kissed the president farewell。
—
youre lyra。〃
then she realized what that meant。 she felt dizzy； even in her dream； she felt a great burden settle on her shoulders。 and to make it even heavier； sleep was closing in again； and rogers face was receding into shadow。
〃well； i。。。 i know。。。 theres all kinds of people on our side； like dr。 malone。。 。you know theres another oxford； roger； just like ours。 well； she 。。。 i found her in。。。 shed help 。。。 but theres only one person really who。。。〃
it was almost impossible now to see the little boy； and her thoughts were spreading out and wandering away like sheep in a field。
〃but we can trust him； roger； i swear；〃 she said with a final effort；
。。
SEVEN … MARY MALONE
almost at the same time； the tempter whom father gomez was setting out to follow was being tempted herself。
〃thank you； no； no； thats all i need； no more； honestly； thank you；〃 said dr。 mary malone to the old couple in the olive grove as they tried to give her more food than she could carry。
they lived here isolated and childless； and they had been afraid of the specters theyd seen among the silver…gray trees； but when mary malone came up the road with her rucksack； the specters had taken fright and drifted away。 the old couple had weled mary into their little vine…sheltered farmhouse； had plied her with wine and cheese and bread and olives； and now didnt want to let her go。
〃i must go on；〃 said mary again； 〃thank you； youve been very kind； i cant carry； oh； all right； another little cheese； thank you。。。”
they evidently saw her as a talisman against the specters。 she wished she could be。 in her week in the world of cittagazze； she had seen enough devastation； enough specter…eaten adults and wild； scavenging children； to have a horror of those ethereal vampires。 all she knew was that they did drift away when she approached； but she couldnt stay with everyone who wanted her to； because she had to move on。
she found room for the last little goats cheese wrapped in its vine leaf； smiled and bowed again； and took a last drink from the spring that bubbled up among the gray rocks。 then she clapped her hands gently together as the old couple were doing； and turned firmly away and left。
she looked more decisive than she felt。 the last munication with those entities she called shadow particles； and lyra called dust； had been on the screen of her puter； and at their instruction she had destroyed that。 now she was at a loss。 theyd told her to go through the opening in the oxford she had lived in； the oxford of wills world； which shed done； to find herself dizzy and quaking with wonder in this extraordinary other world。 beyond that； her only task was to find the boy and the girl； and then play the serpent； whatever that meant。
so shed walked and explored and inquired； and found nothing。 but now； she thought； as she turned up the little track away from the olive grove； she would have to look for guidance。
once she was far enough away from the little farmstead to be sure she wouldnt be disturbed； she sat under the pine trees and opened her rucksack。 at t