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observations。
the mulefa； practical and anxious to find out； offered at once to build her whatever she needed。 they knew the techniques of using pulleys and tackle； and presently one suggested a way of lifting mary easily into the canopy so as to save her the dangerous labor of climbing。
glad to have something to do； they set about gathering materials at once； braiding and tying and lashing spars and ropes and lines under her guidance； and assembling everything she needed for a treetop observation platform。
after speaking to the old couple by the olive grove； father gomez lost the track。 he spent several days searching and inquiring in every direction； but the woman seemed to have vanished pletely。
he would never have given up； although it was discouraging； the crucifix around his neck and the rifle
at his back were twin tokens of his absolute determination to plete the task。
but it would have taken him much longer if it hadnt been for a difference in the weather。 in the world he was in； it was hot and dry； and he was increasingly thirsty； and seeing a wet patch of rock at the top of a scree； he climbed up to see if there was a spring there。 there wasnt； but in the world of the wheel…pod trees； there had just been a shower of rain； and so it was that he discovered the window and found where mary had gone。
。。
TWENTY…ONE … THE HARPIES
。^生。网
lyra and will each awoke with a heavy dread： it was like being a condemned prisoner on the morning fixed for the execution。 tialys and salmakia were attending to their dragonflies； bringing them moths lassoed near the anbaric lamp over the oil drum outside； flies cut from spiderwebs； and water in a tin plate。 when she saw the expression on lyras face and the way that pantalaimon； mouse…formed； was pressing himself close to her breast； the lady salmakia left what she was doing to e and speak with her。 will； meanwhile； left the hut to walk about outside。
〃you can still decide differently；〃 said salmakia。
〃no； we cant。 we decided already；〃 said lyra； stubborn and fearful at once。
〃and if we dont e back？〃
〃you dont have to e；〃 lyra pointed out。
〃were not going to abandon you。〃
〃then what if you dont e back？〃
〃we shall have died doing something important。〃
lyra was silent。 she hadnt really looked at the lady before； but she could see her very clearly now； in the smoky light of the naphtha lamp； standing on the table just an arms length away。 her face was calm and kindly； not beautiful； not pretty； but the very sort of face you would be glad to see if you were ill or unhappy or frightened。 her voice was low and expressive； with a current of laughter and happiness under the clear surface。 in all the life she could remember； lyra had never been read to in bed； no one had told her stories or sung nursery rhymes with her before kissing her and putting out the light。 but she suddenly thought now that if ever there was a voice that would lap you in safety and warm you with love； it would be a voice like the lady salmakias； and she felt a wish in her heart to have a child of her own； to lull and soothe and sing to； one day； in a voice like that。
〃well；〃 lyra said； and found her throat choked； so she swallowed and shrugged。
〃well see；〃 said the lady； and turned back。
once they had eaten their thin； dry bread and drunk their bitter tea； which was all the people had to offer them； they thanked their hosts； took their rucksacks； and set off through the shanty town for the lakeshore。 lyra looked around for her death； and sure enough； there he was； walking politely a little way ahead； but he didnt want to e closer； though he kept looking back to see if they were following。
the day was overhung with a gloomy mist。 it was more like dusk than daylight； and wraiths and streamers of the fog rose dismally from puddles in the road； or clung like forlorn lovers to the anbaric cables overhead。 they saw no people； and few deaths； but the dragonflies skimmed through the damp air； as if they were sewing it all together with invisible threads； and it was a delight to the eyes to watch their bright colors flashing back and forth。
before long they had reached the edge of the settlement and made their way beside a sluggish stream through bare…twigged scrubby bushes。 occasionally they would hear a harsh croak or a splash as some amphibian was disturbed； but the only creature they saw was a toad as big as wills foot； which could only flop in a pain…filled sideways heave as if it were horribly injured。 it lay across the path； trying to move out of the way and looking at them as if it knew they meant to hurt it。
〃it would be merciful to kill it；〃 said tialys。 〃how do you know？〃 said lyra。 〃it might still like being alive； in spite of everything。〃
〃if we killed it； wed be taking it with us；〃 said will。 〃it wants to stay here。 ive killed enough living things。 even a filthy stagnant pool might be better than being dead。〃
〃but if its in pain？〃 said tialys。
〃if it could tell us； wed know。 but since it cant； im not going to kill it。 that would be considering our feelings rather than the toads。〃
they moved on。 before long the changing sound their footsteps made told them that there was an openness nearby； although the mist was even thicker。 pantalaimon was a lemur； with the biggest eyes he could manage； clinging to lyras shoulder； pressing himself into her fog…pearled hair； peering all around and seeing no more than she did。 and still he was trembling and trembling。
suddenly they all heard a little wave breaking。 it was quiet； but it was very close by。 the dragonflies returned with their riders to the children； and pantalaimon crept into lyras breast as she and will moved closer together； treading carefully along the slimy path。
and then they were at the shore。 the oily； scummy water lay still in front of them； an occasional ripple breaking languidly on the pebbles。
the path turned to the left； and a little way along； more like a thickening of the mist than a solid object； a wooden jetty stood crazily out over the water。 the piles were decayed and the planks were green with slime； and there was nothing else； nothing beyond it； the path end