按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had happened； or whether it could be mended； but he was the knife bearer； and he had to gather it up safely。 as he found each piece； he lifted it carefully； every nerve in his body aware of his missing fingers； and slipped it into the sheath。 he could see the pieces quite easily； because the metal caught the gleam from outside： seven of them； the smallest being the point itself。 he picked them all up and then turned back to try and make sense of the fight outside。
somewhere above the trees； the zeppelins were hovering； and men were sliding down ropes； but the wind made it difficult for the pilots to hold the aircraft steady。 meanwhile； the first gyropters had arrived above the cliff。 there was only room for them to land one at a time； and then the african riflemen had to make their way down the rock face。 it was one of them who had been picked off by a lucky shot from the swaying zeppelins。
by this time； both sides had landed some troops。 some had been killed between the sky and the ground； several more were wounded and lay on the cliff or among the trees。 but neither force had yet reached the cave； and still the power inside it lay with mrs。 coulter。
will said above the noise：
〃what are you going to do？〃
〃hold you captive。〃
〃what； as hostages？ why should they take any notice of that？ they want to kill us all anyway。〃
〃one force does； certainly；〃 she said； 〃but im not sure about the other。 we must hope the africans win。〃
she sounded happy； and in the glare from outside； will saw her face full of joy and life and energy。
〃you broke the knife；〃 he said。
〃no； i didnt。 i wanted it whole； so we could get away。 you were the one who broke it。〃
lyras voice came urgently： 〃will？〃 she muttered。 〃is that will？〃
〃lyra！〃 he said； and knelt quickly beside her。 ama was helping her sit up。
〃whats happening？〃 lyra said。 〃where are we？ oh； will； i had this dream。。。〃
〃were in a cave。 dont move too fast； youll get dizzy。 just take it carefully。 find your strength。 youve been asleep for days and days。〃
her eyes were still heavy； and she was racked by deep yawns； but she was desperate to be awake； and he helped her up； putting her arm over his shoulder and taking much of her weight。 ama watched timidly； for now that the strange girl was awake； she was nervous of her。 will breathed in the scent of lyras sleepy body with a happy satisfaction： she was here； she was real。
they sat on a rock。 lyra held his hand and rubbed her eyes。
〃whats happening； will？〃 she whispered。
〃ama here got some powder to wake you up；〃 he said； speaking very quietly； and lyra turned to the girl； seeing her for the first time； and put her hand on amas shoulder in thanks。 〃i got here as soon as i could；〃 will went on； 〃but some soldiers did； too。 i dont know who they are。 well get out as soon as we can。〃
outside； the noise and confusion were reaching a height； one of the gyropters had taken a fusillade from a zeppelins machine gun while the riflemen were jumping out on the cliff top； and it burst into flames； not only killing the crew but also preventing the remaining gyropters from landing。
another zeppelin； meanwhile； had found a clear space farther down the valley； and the crossbow men who disembarked from it were now running up the path to reinforce those already in action。 mrs。 coulter was following as much as she could see from the cave mouth； and now she raised her pistol； supporting it with both hands； and took careful aim before firing。 will saw the flash from the muzzle； but heard nothing over the explosions and gunfire from outside。
if she does that again； he thought； ill rush and knock her over； and he turned to whisper that to balthamos； but the angel was nowhere near。 instead； will saw with dismay； he was cowering against the wall of the cave； back in his angel form； trembling and whimpering。
〃balthamos！〃 will said urgently。 〃e on； they cant hurt you！ and you have to help us！ you can fight； you know that； youre not a coward； and we need you。。。”
but before the angel could reply； something else happened。
mrs。 coulter cried out and reached down to her ankle； and simultaneously the golden monkey snatched at something in midair； with a snarl of glee。
a voice； a womans voice； but somehow minute； came from the thing in the monkeys paw：
〃tialys！ tialys！〃
it was a tiny woman； no bigger than lyras hand； and the monkey was already pulling and pulling at one of her arms so that she cried out in pain。 ama knew he wouldnt stop till hed torn it off； but will leapt forward as he saw the pistol fall from mrs。 coulters hand。
and he caught the gun； but then mrs。 coulter fell still； and will became aware of a strange stalemate。
the golden monkey and mrs。 coulter were both utterly motionless。 her face was distorted with pain and fury； but she dared not move； because standing on her shoulder was a tiny man with his heel pressed against her neck； his hands entwined in her hair； and will； through his astonishment； saw on that heel a glistening horny spur and knew what had caused her to cry out a moment before。 he must have stung her ankle。
but the little man couldnt hurt mrs。 coulter anymore； because of the danger his partner was in at the hands of the monkey； and the monkey couldnt harm her； in case the little man dug his poison spur into mrs。 coulters jugular vein。 none of them could move。
breathing deeply and swallowing hard to govern the pain； mrs。 coulter turned her tear…dashed eyes to will and said calmly； 〃so； master will； what do you think we should do now？〃
m。
THIRTEEN … TIALYS AND SALMAKIA
小=＿说。网
holding the heavy gun； will swept his hand sideways and knocked the golden monkey off his perch； stunning him so that mrs。 coulter groaned aloud and the monkeys paw relaxed enough to let the tiny woman struggle free。
in a moment she leapt up to the rocks； and the man sprang away from mrs。 coulter； both of them moving as quickly as grasshoppers。 the three children had no time to be astonished。 the man was concerned： he felt his panions shoulder and arm tenderly； and embraced her swiftly before calling to will。
〃you！ boy！〃 he said； and although his voice was small in v