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tention craft； it seemed to shimmer or dislodge itself； and then there it was； solidly on the ground again。
king ogunwe hurried forward； as did the other manders and the engineers； who had thrown open the doors and let the light flood out over the proving ground。 mrs。 coulter stayed where she was； puzzling over the workings of the intention craft。
〃why is he showing it to us？〃 her daemon said quietly。
〃surely he cant have read our mind；〃 she replied in the same tone。
they were thinking of the moment in the adamant tower when that sparklike idea had flashed between them。 they had thought of making lord asriel a proposition： of offering to go to the consistorial court of discipline and spying for him。 she knew every lever of power； she could manipulate them all。 it would be hard at first to convince them of her good faith； but she could do it。 and now that the gallivespian spies had left to go with will and lyra； surely asriel couldnt resist an offer like that。
but now； as they looked at that strange flying machine； another idea struck even more forcibly； and she hugged the golden monkey with glee。
〃asriel；〃 she called innocently； 〃may i see how the machine works？〃
he looked down； his expression distracted and impatient； but full of excited satisfaction； too。 he was delighted with the intention craft； she knew he wouldnt be able to resist showing it off。
king ogunwe stood aside； and lord asriel reached down and pulled her up into the cockpit。 he helped her into the seat and watched as she looked around the controls。
〃how does it work？ what powers it？〃 she said。
〃your intentions；〃 he said。 〃hence the name。 if you intend to go forward； it will go forward。〃
〃thats no answer。 e on； tell me。 what sort of engine is it？ how does it fly？ i couldnt see anything aerodynamic at all。 but these controls。。 。from inside； its almost like a gyropter。〃
he was finding it hard not to tell her； and since she was in his power； he did。 he held out a cable at the end of which was a leather grip； deeply marked by his daemons teeth。
〃your demean；〃 he explained； 〃has to hold this handle； whether in teeth； or hands； it doesnt matter。 and you have to wear that helmet。 theres a current flowing between them； and a capacitor amplifies it； oh； its more plicated than that； but the things simple to fly。 we put in controls like a gyropter for the sake of familiarity； but eventually we wont need controls at all。 of course； only a human with a daemon can fly it。〃
〃i see；〃 she said。
and she pushed him hard； so that he fell out of the machine。
in the same moment she slipped the helmet on her head； and the golden monkey snatched up the leather handle。 she reached for the control that in a gyropter would tilt the air foil； and pushed the throttle forward； and at once the intention craft leapt into the air。
but she didnt quite have the measure of it yet。 the craft hung still for some moments； slightly tilted； before she found the controls to move it forward； and in those few seconds； lord asriel did three things。 he leapt to his feet； he put up his hand to stop king ogunwe from ordering the soldiers to fire on the intention craft； and he said； 〃lord roke； go with her； if you would be so kind。〃
the gallivespian urged his blue hawk upward at once； and the bird flew straight to the still…open cabin door。 the 〃 watchers below could see the womans head looking this way and that； and the golden monkey； likewise； and they could see that neither of them noticed the little figure of lord roke leaping from his hawk into the cabin behind them。
a moment later； the intention craft began to move； and the hawk wheeled away to skim down to lord asriels wrist。 no more than two seconds later； the aircraft was already vanishing from sight in the damp and starry air。
lord asriel watched with rueful admiration。
〃well； king； you were quite right；〃 he said； 〃and i should have listened to you in the first place。 she is lyras mother； i might have expected something like that。〃
〃arent you going to pursue her？〃 said king ogunwe。
〃what； and destroy a perfectly good aircraft？ certainly not。〃
〃where dyou think shell go？ in search of the child？〃
〃not at first。 she doesnt know where to find her。 i know exactly what shell do： shell go to the consistorial court and give them the intention craft as an earnest pledge of good faith； and then shell spy。 shell spy on them for us。
shes tried every other kind of duplicity： that onell be a novel experience。 and as soon as she finds out where the girl is； shell go there； and we shall follow。〃
〃and when will lord roke let her know hes e with her？〃
〃oh； i think hell keep that as a surprise； dont you？〃 they laughed； and moved back into the workshops； where a later； more advanced model of the intention craft was awaiting their inspection。
。d 。
SEVENTEEN … OIL AND LACQUER
生小 说＋网
mary malone was constructing a mirror。 not out of vanity； for she had little of that； but because she wanted to test an idea she had。 she wanted to try and catch shadows； and without the instruments in her laboratory she had to improvise with the materials at hand。
mulefa technology had little use for metal。 they did extraordinary things with stone and wood and cord and shell and horn； but what metals they had were hammered from native nuggets of copper and other metals that they found in the sand of the river； and they were never used for toolmaking。 they were ornamental。 mulefa couples； for example； on entering marriage； would exchange strips of bright copper； which were bent around the base of one of their horns with much the same meaning as a wedding ring。
so they were fascinated by the swiss army knife that was marys most valuable possession。
atal； the zatif who was her particular friend； exclaimed with astonishment one day when mary unfolded the knife and showed her all the parts； and explained as well as she could； with her limited language； what they were for。 one attachment was a miniature magnifying glass； with which she began to burn a design onto a dry branch； and it was that which set her thinking about shadows。
they were fishing at the time； but the river was low