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naged to score a line deep enough for her to risk snapping the sheet。 she laid a thin stick under the score line and pushed sharply down on the lacquer； as shed seen a glazier cutting glass； and it worked： now she had two sheets。
she put them together and looked through。 the amber color was denser； and like a photographic filter it emphasized some colors and held back others； giving a slightly different cast to the landscape。 the curious thing was that the doubleness had disappeared； and everything was single again； but there was no sign of shadows。
she moved the two pieces apart； watching how the appearance of things changed as she did so。 when they were about a hand span apart； a curious thing happened： the amber coloring disappeared； and everything seemed its normal color； but brighter and more vivid。
at that point atal came along to see what she was doing。
can you see sraf now？ she said。
no； but i can see other things； mary said； and tried to show her。
atal was interested； but politely； not with the sense of discovery that was animating mary； and presently the zalif tired of looking through the small pieces of lacquer and settled down on the grass to maintain her wheels and claws。 sometimes the mulefa would groom each others claws； out of pure sociability； and once or twice atal had invited mary to attend to hers。 mary； in turn； let atal tidy her hair； enjoying how the soft trunk lifted it and let it fall； stroking and massaging her scalp。
she sensed that atal wanted this now； so she put down the two pieces of lacquer and ran her hands over the astonishing smoothness of atals claws； that surface smoother and slicker than teflon that rested on the lower rim of the central hole and served as a bearing when the wheel turned。 the contours matched exactly； of course； and as mary ran her hands around the inside of the wheel； she could feel no difference in texture： it was as if the mulefa and the seedpod really were one creature； which by a miracle could disassemble itself and put itself together again。
atal was soothed； and so was mary； by this contact。 her friend was young and unmarried； and there were no young males in this group； so she would have to marry a zalif from outside； but contact wasnt easy； and sometimes mary thought that atal was anxious about her future。 so she didnt begrudge the time she spent with her； and now she was happy to clean the wheel holes of all the dust and grime that accumulated there； and smooth the fragrant oil gently over her friends claws while atals trunk lifted and straightened her hair。
when atal had had enough； she set herself on the wheels again and moved away to help with the evening meal。 mary turned back to her lacquer； and almost at once she made her discovery。
she held the two plates a hand span apart so that they showed that clear； bright image shed seen before； but something had happened。
as she looked through； she saw a swarm of golden sparkles surrounding the form of atal。 they were only visible through one small part of the lacquer； and then mary realized why： at that point she had touched the surface of it with her oily fingers。
atal； she called。 quick！ e back！
atal turned and wheeled back。
let me take a little oil； mary said； just enough to put on the lacquer。
atal willingly let her run her fingers around the wheel holes again； and watched curiously as mary coated one of the pieces with a film of the clear； sweet substance。
then she pressed the plates together and moved them around to spread the oil evenly； and held them a hand span apart once more。
and when she looked through； everything was changed。 she could see shadows。 if shed been in the jordan college retiring room when lord asriel had projected the photograms hed made with the special emulsion； she would have recognized the effect。 everywhere she looked she could see gold； just as atal had described it： sparkles of light； floating and drifting and sometimes moving in a current of purpose。 among it all was the world she could see with the naked eye； the grass； the river； the trees； but wherever she saw a conscious being； one of the mulefa； the light was thicker and more full of movement。 it didnt obscure their shapes in any way； if anything it made them clearer。
i didnt know it was beautiful； mary said to atal。
why； of course it is； her friend replied。 it is strange to think that you couldnt see it。 look at the little one。。。
she indicated one of the small children playing in the long grass； leaping clumsily after grasshoppers； suddenly stopping to examine a leaf； falling over； scrambling up again to rush and tell his mother something； being distracted again by a piece of stick； trying to pick it up； finding ants on his trunk and hooting with agitation。 there was a golden haze around him； as there was around the shelters； the fishing nets； the evening fire： stronger than theirs； though not by much。 but unlike theirs it was full of little swirling currents of intention that eddied and broke off and drifted about； to disappear as new ones were born。
around his mother； on the other hand； the golden sparkles were much stronger； and the currents they moved in were more settled and powerful。 she was preparing food； spreading flour on a flat stone； making the thin bread like chapatis or tortillas； watching her child at the same time； and the shadows； or the sraf； or the dust； that bathed her looked like the very image of responsibility and wise care。
so at last you can see； said atal。 well； now you must e with me。
mary looked at her friend in puzzlement。 atal’s tone was strange： it was as if she were saying； finally youre ready； weve been waiting； now things must change。
and others were appearing； from over the brow of the hill； from out of their shelters； from along the river： members of the group； but strangers； too； mulefa who were new to her； and who looked curiously toward where she was standing。 the sound of their wheels on the hard…packed earth was low and steady。
where must i go？ mary said。 why are they all ing here？
dont worry； said atal； e with me； we shall not hurt you。
it seemed to have been long planned； this meeting； for they all knew