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〃you；〃 she said； desperate； 〃you flew at me before； when i tried to tell you something。 whats stopping you now？ go on； tear at me with your claws and make a ghost out of me！〃
〃that is the least we shall do；〃 said the harpy in the center； who was no…name herself。 〃listen to me。 thousands of years ago； when the first ghosts came down here； the authority gave us the power to see the worst in every one； and we have fed on the worst ever since； till our blood is rank with it and our very hearts are sickened。
〃but still； it was all we had to feed on。 it was all we had。 and now we learn that you are planning to open a way to the upper world and lead all the ghosts out into the air。。。”
and her harsh voice was drowned by a million whispers； as every ghost who could hear cried out in joy and hope； but all the harpies screamed and beat their wings until the ghosts fell silent again。
〃yes；〃 cried no…name； 〃to lead them out！ what will we do now？ i shall tell you what we will do： from
now on； we shall hold nothing back。 we shall hurt and defile and tear and rend every ghost that es through； and we shall send them mad with fear and remorse and self…hatred。 this is a wasteland now； we shall make it a hell！〃
every single harpy shrieked and jeered； and many of them flew up off the tree and straight at the ghosts； making them scatter in terror。 lyra clung to wills arm and said； 〃theyve given it away now； and we cant do it。 theyll hate us； theyll think we betrayed them！ weve made it worse； not better！〃
〃quiet；〃 said tialys。 〃dont despair。 call the harpies back and make them listen to us。〃
so will cried out； 〃e back！ e back； every one of you！ e back and listen！〃
one by one the harpies； their faces eager and hungry and suffused with the lust for misery； turned and flew back to the tree； and the ghosts drifted back as well。 the chevalier left his dragonfly in the care of salmakia； and his little tense figure； green…clad and dark…haired； leapt to a rock where they could all see him。
〃harpies；〃 he said； 〃we can offer you something better than that。 answer my questions truly； and hear what i say； and then judge。 when lyra spoke to you outside the wall； you flew at her。 why did you do that？〃
〃lies！〃 the harpies all cried。 〃lies and fantasies！〃
〃yet when she spoke just now； you all listened； every one of you； and you kept silent and still。 again； why was that？〃
〃because it was true；〃 said no…name。 〃because she spoke the truth。 because it was nourishing。 because it was feeding us。 because we couldnt help it。 because it was true。 because we had no idea that there was anything but wickedness。 because it brought us news of the world and the sun and the wind and the rain。 because it was true。〃
〃then；〃 said tialys； 〃lets make a bargain with you。 instead of seeing only the wickedness and cruelty and greed of the ghosts that e down here； from now on you will have the right to ask all the ghosts to tell you the stories of their lives； and they will have to tell the truth about what theyve seen and touched and heard and loved and known in the world。 every one of these ghosts has a story； every single one that es down in the future will have true things to tell you about the world。 and youll have the right to hear them； and they will have to tell you。〃
lyra marveled at the nerve of the little spy。 how did he dare speak to these creatures as if he had the power to give them rights？ any one of them could have snapped him up in a moment； wrenched him apart in her claws or carried him high and then hurled him down to the ground to smash in pieces。 and yet there he stood； proud and fearless； making a bargain with them！ and they listened； and conferred； their faces turning to one another； their voices low。
all the ghosts watched； fearful and silent。
then no…name turned back。
〃thats not enough；〃 she said。 〃we want more than that。 we had a task under the old dispensation。 we had a place and a duty。 we fulfilled the authoritys mands diligently； and for that we were honored。 hated and feared； hut honored； too。 what will happen to our honor now？ why should the ghosts take any notice of us； if they can simply walk out into the world again？ we have our pride； and you should not let that be dispensed with。 we need an honorable place！ we need a duty and a task to do； one that will bring us the respect we deserve！〃
they shifted on the branches； muttering and raising their wings。 but a moment later salmakia leapt up to join the chevalier； and called out：
〃you are quite right。 everyone should have a task to do thats important； one that brings them honor； one they can perform with pride。 so here is your task； and its one that only you can do； because you are the guardians and the keepers of this place。 your task will be to guide the ghosts from the landing place by the lake all the way through the land of the dead to the new opening out into the world。 in exchange； they will
tell you their stories as a fair and just payment for this guidance。 does that seem right to you？〃
no…name looked at her sisters； and they nodded。 she said： 〃and we have the right to refuse to guide them if they lie； or if they hold anything back； or if they have nothing to tell us。 if they live in the world； they should see and touch and hear and learn things。 we shall make an exception for infants who have not had time to learn anything； but otherwise； if they e down here bringing nothing； we shall not guide them out。〃
〃that is fair；〃 said salmakia； and the other travelers agreed。
so they made a treaty。 and in exchange for the story of lyras that theyd already heard； the harpies offered to take the travelers and their knife to a part of the land of the dead where the upper world was close。 it was a long way off； through tunnels and caves； hut they would guide them faithfully； and all the ghosts could follow。
but before they could begin； a voice cried out； as loudly as a whisper could cry。 it was the ghost of a thin man with an angry； passionate face； and he cried：
〃what will happen？ when we leave the world of the dead； will we live again？ or will we vanish as our daemons did？ brothers； sisters； we shouldnt follow this child anywher