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le the party began to feel cold again； and presently they came out； quite suddenly； into the night air。
they were at a place where part of the mountain had been hacked away； making a space as wide and open as a parade ground。 farther along they could see； dimly lit； great iron doors in the mountainside； some open and some shut； and from out of one of the mighty doorways； men were hauling something draped in a tarpaulin。
〃what is that？〃 mrs。 coulter said to the african king； and he replied：
〃the intention craft。〃
mrs。 coulter had no idea what that could mean； and watched with intense curiosity as they prepared to take off the tarpaulin。
she stood close to king ogunwe； as if for shelter； and said； 〃how does it work？ what does it do？〃
〃were about to see；〃 said the king。
it looked like some kind of plex drilling apparatus； or the cockpit of a gyropter； or the cabin of a massive crane。 it had a glass canopy over a seat with at least a dozen levers and handles banked in front of it。 it stood on six legs； each jointed and sprung at a different angle to the body； so that it seemed both energetic and ungainly； and the body itself was a mass of pipe work； cylinders； pistons； coiled cables； switchgear； valves； and gauges。 it was hard to tell what was structure and what was not； because it was only lit from behind； and most of it was hidden in gloom。
lord roke on his hawk had glided up to it directly； circling above； examining it from all sides。 lord asriel and the angel were close in discussion with the engineers； and men were clambering down from the craft itself； one carrying a clipboard； another a length of cable。
mrs。 coulters eyes gazed at the craft hungrily； memorizing every part of it； making sense of its plexity。 and as she watched； lord asriel swung himself up into the seat； fastening a leather harness around his waist and shoulders； and setting a helmet securely on his head。 his daemon； the snow leopard； sprang up to follow him； and he turned to adjust something beside her。 the engineer called up； lord asriel replied； and the men withdrew to the doorway。
the intention craft moved； though mrs。 coulter was not sure how。 it was almost as if it had quivered； though there it was； quite still； poised with a strange energy on those six insect legs。 as she looked； it moved again； and then she saw what was happening： various parts of it were revolving； turning this way and that；
scanning the dark sky overhead。 lord asriel sat busily moving this lever； checking that dial； adjusting that control； and then suddenly the intention craft vanished。
somehow； it had sprung into the air。 it was hovering above them now； as high as a treetop； turning slowly to the left。 there was no sound of an engine； no hint of how it was held against gravity。 it simply hung in the air。
〃listen；〃 said king ogunwe。 〃to the south。〃
she turned her head and strained to hear。 there was a wind that moaned around the edge of the mountain； and there were the deep hammer blows from the presses； which she felt through the soles of her feet； and there was the sound of voices from the lit doorway； but at some signal the voices stopped and the lights were extinguished。 and in the quiet mrs。 coulter could hear； very faintly； the chop…chop…chop of gyropter engines on the gusts of wind。
〃who are they？〃 she said quietly。
〃decoys；〃 said the king。 〃my pilots； flying a mission to tempt the enemy to follow。 watch。〃
she widened her eyes； trying to see anything against the heavy dark with its few stars。 above them； the intention craft hung as firmly as if it were anchored and bolted there； no gust of wind had the slightest effect on it。 no light came from the cockpit； so it was very difficult to see； and the figure of lord asriel was out of sight pletely。
then she caught the first sight of a group of lights low in the sky； at the same moment as the engine sound became loud enough to hear steadily。 six gyropters； flying fast； one of them seemingly in trouble； for smoke trailed from it； and it flew lower than the others。 they were making for the mountain； but on a course to take them past it and beyond。
and behind them； in close pursuit； came a motley collection of fliers。 it was not easy to make out what they were； but mrs。 coulter saw a heavy gyropter of a strange kind； two straight…winged aircraft； one great bird that glided with effortless speed carrying two armed riders； and three or four angels。
〃a raiding party；〃 said king ogunwe。
they were closing on the gyropters。 then a line of light blazed from one of the straight…winged aircraft； followed a second or two later by a sound； a deep crack。 but the shell never reached its target； the crippled gyropter； because in the same instant as they saw the light； and before they heard the crack； the watchers on the mountain saw a flash from the intention craft； and a shell exploded in midair。
mrs。 coulter had hardly time to understand that almost instantaneous sequence of light and sound before the battle was under way。 nor was it at all easy to follow； because the sky was so dark and the movement of every flier so quick； but a series of nearly silent flashes lit the mountainside； acpanied by short hisses like the escape of steam。 each flash struck somehow at a different raider： the aircraft caught fire or exploded； the giant bird uttered a scream like the tearing of a mountain…high curtain and plummeted onto the rocks far below； and as for the angels； each of them simply vanished in a drift of glowing air； a myriad particles twinkling and glowing dimmer until they flickered out like a dying firework。
then there was silence。 the wind carried away the sound of the decoy gyropters； which had now disappeared around the flank of the mountain； and no one watching spoke。 flames far below glared on the underside of the intention craft； still somehow hovering in the air and now turning slowly as if to look around。 the destruction of the raiding party was so plete that mrs。 coulter； who had seen many things to be shocked by； was nevertheless shocked by this。 as she looked up at the intention craft； it seemed to shimmer or dislodge itself； and then there it was； solidly on the ground