THE AMBER SPYGLASS 精彩片段:
THIRTY-SIX - THE BROKEN ARROW
The two daemons moved through the silent village, in and out of the shadows, padding cat-formed across the moonlit gathering-floor, pausing outside the open door of Marys house.
Cautiously they looked inside and saw only the sleeping woman; so they withdrew and moved through the moonlight again, toward the shelter tree.
Its long branches trailed their fragrant corkscrew leaves almost down to the ground. Very slowly, very careful not to rustle a leaf or snap a fallen twig, the two shapes slipped in through the leaf curtain and saw what they were seeking: the boy and the girl, fast asleep in each others arms.
They moved closer over the grass and touched the sleepers softly with nose, paw, whiskers, bathing in the life-giving warmth they gave off, but being infinitely careful not to wake them.
As they checked their people (gently cleaning Wills fast-healing wound, lifting the lock of hair off Lyras face), there was a soft sound behind them.
Instantly, in total silence, both daemons sprang around, becoming wolves: mad light eyes, bare white teeth, menace in every line.
A woman stood there, outlined by the moon. It was not Mary, and when she spoke, they heard her clearly, though her voice made no sound.
"Come with me," she said.
Pantalaimons daemon heart leapt within him, but he said nothing until he could greet her away from the sleepers under the tree.
"Serafina Pekkala!" he said joyfully. "Where have you been? Do you know whats happened?"
"Hush. Lets fly to a place where we can talk," she said, mindful of the sleeping villagers.
Her branch of cloud-pine lay by the door of Marys house, and as she took it up, the two daemons changed into birds, a nightingale, an owl, and flew with her over the thatched roofs, over the grasslands, over the ridge, and toward the nearest wheel tree grove, as huge as a castle, its crown looking like curds of silver in the moonlight.
There Serafina Pekkala settled on the highest comfortable branch, among the open flowers drinking in the Dust, and the two birds perched nearby.
"You wont be birds for long," she said. "Very soon now your shapes will settle. Look around and take this sight into your memory."