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the witch herself was still just alive； and her mouth moved shudderingly； saying； 〃something ing； something else… ing…〃
it made no sense。 the president was already stepping over her body to reach the larger cage。 his daemon was running up and down the sides of the other； her little claws making the silver mesh ring； her voice crying for pity。
the golden monkey leapt for father macphail； but not to attack： he scrambled up and over the mans shoulders to reach the plex heart of the wires and the pipe work； the resonating chamber。 the president tried to grab him； but mrs。 coulter seized the mans arm and tried to pull him back。 she couldnt see： the rain was driving into her eyes； and there was still gas in the air。
and all around there was gunfire。 what was happening？
the floodlights swung in the wind； so that nothing seemed steady； not even the black rocks of the mountainside。 the president and mrs。 coulter fought hand to hand； scratching； punching； tearing； pulling； biting； and she was tired and he was strong； but she was desperate； too； and she might have pulled him away； but part of her was watching her daemon as he manipulated the handles； his fierce black paws snapping the mechanism this way； that way； pulling； twisting； reaching in。。。
then came a blow to her temple。 she fell stunned； and the president broke free and hauled himself bleeding into the cage； dragging the door shut after him。
and the monkey had the chamber open； a glass door on heavy hinges； and he was reaching inside； and there was the lock of hair： held between rubber pads in a metal clasp！ still more to undo； and mrs。 coulter was hauling herself up with shaking hands。 she shook the silvery mesh with all her might； looking up at the blade； the sparking terminals； the man inside。 the monkey was unscrewing the clasp； and the president； his face a mask of grim exultation； was twisting wires together。
there was a flash of intense white； a lashing crack； and the monkeys form was flung high in the air。 with him came a little cloud of gold： was it lyras hair？ was it his own fur？ whatever it was； it blew away at once in the dark。 mrs。 coulters right hand had convulsed so tightly that it clung to the mesh； leaving her half…lying； half…hanging； while her head rang and her heart pounded。
but something had happened to her sight。 a terrible clarity had e over her eyes； the power to see the most tiny details； and they were focused on the one detail in the universe that mattered： stuck to one of
the pads of the clasp in the resonating chamber； there was a single dark gold hair。
she cried a great wail of anguish； and shook and shook the cage； trying to loosen the hair with the little strength she had left。 the president passed his hands over his face； wiping it clear of the rain。 his mouth moved as though he were speaking； but she couldnt hear a word。 she tore at the mesh； helpless； and then hurled her whole weight against the machine as he brought two wires together with a spark。 in utter silence the brilliant silver blade shot down。
something exploded； somewhere； but mrs。 coulter was beyond feeling it。
there were hands lifting her up： lord asriels hands。 there was nothing to be surprised at anymore； the intention craft stood behind him； poised on the slope and perfectly level。 he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the craft； ignoring the gunfire； the billowing smoke； the cries of alarm and confusion。
〃is he dead？ did it go off？〃 she managed to say。
lord asriel climbed in beside her； and the snow leopard leapt in； too； the half…stunned monkey in her mouth。 lord asriel took the controls and the craft sprang at once into the air。 through pain…dazed eyes mrs。 coulter looked down at the mountain slope。 men were running here and there like ants； some lay dead； while others crawled brokenly over the rocks； the great cable from the generating station snaked down through the chaos； the only purposeful thing in sight； making its way to the glittering bomb； where the presidents body lay crumpled inside the cage。
〃lord roke？〃 said lord asriel。
〃dead；〃 she whispered。
he pressed a button； and a lance of flame jetted toward the tossing； swaying zeppelin。 an instant later the whole airship bloomed into a rose of white fire； engulfing the intention craft； which hung motionless and unharmed in the middle of it。 lord asriel moved the craft unhurriedly away； and they watched as the blazing zeppelin fell slowly； slowly down on top of the whole scene； bomb； cable； soldiers； and all； and everything began to tumble in a welter of smoke and flames down the mountainside； gathering speed and incinerating the resinous trees as it went； until it plunged into the white waters of the cataract； which whirled it all away into the dark。
lord asriel touched the controls again and the intention craft began to speed away northward。 but mrs。 coulter couldnt take her eyes off the scene； she watched behind them for a long time； gazing with tear…filled eyes at the fire； until it was no more than a vertical line of orange scratched on the dark and wreathed in smoke and steam； and then it was nothing。
？？
TWENTY…SIX … THE ABYSS
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it was dark； with an enfolding blackness that pressed on lyras eyes so heavily that she almost felt the weight of the thousands of tons of rock above them。 the only light they had came from the luminous tail of the lady salmakias dragonfly； and even that was fading； for the poor insects had found no food in the world of the dead； and the chevaliers had died not long before。
so while tialys sat on wills shoulder； lyra held the ladys dragonfly in her hands as the lady soothed it and whispered to the trembling creature； feeding it first on crumbs of biscuit and then on her own blood。 if lyra had seen her do that； she would have offered hers； since there was more of it； but it was all she could do to concentrate on placing her feet safely and avoiding the lowest parts of the rock above。
no…name the harpy had led them into a system of caves that would bring them； she said； to the nearest point in the world of the dead from which they could open a window to another world。 behind them came the endless column of