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r vertigo and walked along the edge of the stone gutter。
she looked back to remind him of it now。 she was rogers lyra； full of grace and daring； she didnt need to creep along like an insect。
but the little boys whispering voice said； 〃lyra； be careful； remember； you ent dead like us。。。”
and it seemed to happen so slowly； but there was nothing she could do： her weight shifted； the stones moved under her feet； and helplessly she began to slide。 in the first moment it was annoying； and then it was ic： how silly！ she thought。 but as she utterly failed to hold on to anything； as the stones rolled and tumbled beneath her； as she slid down toward the edge； gathering speed； the horror of it slammed into her。 she was going to fall。 there was nothing to stop her。 it was already too late。
her body convulsed with terror。 she wasnt aware of the ghosts who flung themselves down to try and catch her； only to find her hurtling through them like a stone through mist； she didnt know that will was yelling her name so loudly that the abyss resounded with it。 instead； her whole being was a vortex of roaring fear。 faster and faster she tumbled； down and down； and some ghosts couldnt bear to watch； they hid their eyes and cried aloud。
will felt electric with fear。 he watched in anguish as lyra slid farther and farther； knowing he could do nothing； and knowing he had to watch。 he couldnt hear the desperate wail he was uttering any more than she could。 another two seconds； another second； she was at the edge； she couldnt stop； she was there； she was falling。。。
and out of the dark swooped that creature whose claws had raked her scalp not long before； no…name the harpy； woman…faced； bird…winged； and those same claws closed tight around the girls wrist。 together they plunged on down； the extra weight almost too much for the harpys strong wings； but they beat and beat and beat； and her claws held firm； and slowly； heavily； slowly； heavily； the harpy carried the child up and up out of the gulf and brought her limp and fainting to wills reaching arms。
he held her tight； pressing her to his chest； feeling the wild beat of her heart against his ribs。 she wasnt lyra just then； and he wasnt will； she wasnt a girl； and he wasnt a boy。 they were the only two human beings in that vast gulf of death。 they clung together； and the ghosts clustered around； whispering fort； blessing the harpy。 closest at hand were wills father and lee scoresby； and how they longed to hold her； too； and tialys and salmakia spoke to no…name； praising her； calling her the savior of them all； generous one； blessing her kindness。
as soon as lyra could move； she reached out trembling for the harpy and put her arms around her neck； kissing and kissing her ravaged face。 she couldnt speak。 all the words； all the confidence； all the vanity had been shaken out of her。
they lay still for some minutes。 once the terror had begun to subside； they set off again； will holding lyras hand tightly in his good one。 they crept forward； testing each spot before they put any weight on it； a process so slow and wearisome that they thought they might die of fatigue； but they couldnt rest； they couldnt stop。 how could anyone rest； with that fearful gulf below them？
and after another hour of toil； he said to her：
〃look ahead。 i think theres a way out。。。〃
it was true： the slope was getting easier； and it was even possible to climb slightly； up and away from the edge。 and ahead： wasnt that a fold in the wall of the cliff？ could that really be a way out？
lyra looked into wills brilliant； strong eyes and smiled。
they clambered on； up and farther up； with every step moving farther from the abyss。 and as they climbed； they found the ground firmer； the handholds more secure； the footholds less liable to roll and twist their ankles。
〃we must have climbed a fair way now；〃 will said。 〃i could try the knife and see what i find。〃
〃not yet；〃 said the harpy。 〃farther to go yet。 this is a bad place to open。 better place higher up。〃
they carried on quietly； hand； foot； weight； move； test； hand； foot。。。their fingers were raw； their knees and hips were trembling with the effort； their heads ached and rang with exhaustion。 they climbed the last few feet up to the foot of the cliff； where a narrow defile led a little way into the shadow。
lyra watched with aching eyes as will took the knife and began to search the air； touching； withdrawing； searching； touching again。
〃ah；〃 he said。
〃you found an open space？〃
〃i think so。。。〃
〃will；〃 said his fathers ghost； 〃stop a moment。 listen to me。〃
will put down the knife and turned。 in all the effort he hadnt been able to think of his father； but it was good to know he was there。 suddenly he realized that they were going to part for the last time。
〃what will happen when you go outside？〃 will said。 〃will you just vanish？〃
〃not yet。 mr。 scoresby and i have an idea。 some of us will remain here for a little while； and we shall need you to let us into lord asriels world； because he might need our help。 whats more；〃 he went on somberly； looking at lyra； 〃youll need to travel there yourselves； if you want to find your daemons again。 because thats where theyve gone。〃
〃but mr。 parry；〃 said lyra； 〃how do you know our daemons have gone into my fathers world？〃
〃i was a shaman when i was alive。 i learned how to see things。 ask your alethiometer； itll confirm what i say。 but remember this about daemons；〃 he said； and his voice was intense and emphatic。 〃the man you knew as sir charles latrom had to return to his own world periodically； he could not live permanently in mine。 the philosophers of the guild of the torre degli angeli； who traveled between worlds for three hundred years or more； found the same thing to he true； and gradually their world weakened and decayed as a result。
〃and then there is what happened to me。 i was a soldier； i was an officer in the marines； and then i earned my living as an explorer； i was as fit and healthy as its possible for a human to be。 then i walked out of my own world by accident； and couldnt find the way back。 i did many things and learned a great deal in the world i found myself in； but