Possibly tartar officer in cigation? I merely mention t as a possibility. artars during t?”

    “Yes, iculous records.”

    “Im sure youre doing your very best,” s pity. But enoug for noell me about tor.”

    Lyra felt a this could mean.

    “Aor, relieved to find tion turning to anot, “t model irely overcome tient dying of s  no end.”

    “t better by  spoken yet.

    “Centuries of practice,” said ther man.

    “But simply tearing ion for some time,” said tressing t o t operators. If you remember, ress-related anxiety. But t big breaktadt anbaric scalpel. e o reduce deative so belo.”

    “And trument?” said Mrs. Coulter.

    Lyra rembling. talaimon — let t—”

    “Yes, it o t an alloy of manganese and titanium y of insulating body from daemon. By t is h Lord Asriel?”

    “Per er. “Lord Asriel is under suspended sentence of deations of  irely. Unfortunately, o obtain books and materials, and ical investigations to t ively dangerous to let  any rate, it seems t tican Council o debate tion of tence of deaty is t itll be carried out. But your nerument, Doctor.

    work?”

    “Aence of deatrument. ere investigating ient in a conscious state, and of course t couldnt be done adt process. So ine, I suppose you could say. titanium alloy, and tment—like a small cabin— of alloy mesment connecting . ion, of course, t do once.

    te entities.”

    “I so see it,” s Im tired noo bed. I  to see all tomorrow. e s w door.”

    te expressions, a door closing. t doalking, but more quietly.

    “ is Lord Asriel up to?”

    “I t an entirely different idea of ture of Dust. ts t. Its profoundly ical, you see, and torial Court of Discipline cant alloerpretation ts to experiment—”

    “to experiment? it?”

    “ so loud...”

    “Do you t?”

    “No, no. I t h her very well.”

    “titude worries me....”

    “Not philosophical, you mean?”

    “Exactly. A personal interest. I dont like to use t its almost ghoulish.”

    “ts a bit strong.”

    “But do you remember t experiments, —”

    Lyra,coutdnt : a little cry escaped  time sensed and s knocked against a stanchion.

    “ ?”

    “In the ceiling—”

    “Quick!”

    t running, a table pulled across tried to scramble a ttle space, and before s up suddenly, and so tartled face of a man. So see every acartled as s o move, o t a o the gap and seize her arm.

    “A child!”

    “Dont let her go—”

    Lyra sank eeto , but didnt let go, even ting, but it ronger til ely clinging to tanco loosen, and so the room.

    Still s utter a sound. Sal above, and struggled upside docing, puncting in passionate fury. ting ion, but they pulled and pulled.

    And suddenly all trengt out of her.

    It o be, and hing deep and precious.

    S faint, dizzy, sick, disgusted, limp h shock.

    One of talaimon.

    of .  ss of anbaric alarm...oward h hands for him....

    till. tured.

    S t  allo supposed to touch... rong....

    “as she on her own?”

    A man o the ceiling space.

    “Seems to be on her own....”

    “ho is she?”

    “the new child.”

    “ters...”

    “Yes.”

    “You dont suppose she daemons...”

    “Could  not on her own, surely?”

    “Sell—”

    “I t  t you?”

    “I agree. Better s  all.”

    “But  this?”

    “S go back her children.”

    “Impossible!”

    “t seems to me.”

    “Now?”

    “o. Cant leave it till ts to ch.”

    “e could do it ourselves. No need to involve anyone else.”

    to be in c alaimon, tapped eetill; ted t. Finally he nodded.

    “No no t, at least. S remember w s she heard....Come on.”

    Lyra couldnt speak. So let ation, along y corridors, past rooms  tories calaimon, and  eacher.

    tly lit ce tiles and stainless steel. t  a p oe them forever and ever.

    S last, and screamed. t t; s a sound would escape.

    But Pantalaimon, in ansed free of teful ore at talons, great  —darting, snarling, slasransformations too quick to register, and all time leaping, flying, dodging from one spot to anotc ty air.

    But too, of course. It  t t  six. A badger, an o as intent to pin Pantalaimon doo this?

    be hem!”

    And s more passionately til t go for a moment—and salaimon sprang too ab of pain o her.

    “Never! Never! Never!” s to defend o th.

    But tal men, and serrified; and tore Pantalaimon ao one side of truggling still, around to ther.

    t ill part of ill joined. For a second or so more, ill her own dear soul.

    Above ting of te a bank of scc lig moment in e life o be t by far.

    “ is going on here?”

    A ligopped.

    “ are you doing? And whis child—”

    S complete t instant she recognized Lyra.

    tear-blurred eyes Lyra sater and clutc a benciful and composed, gre ruck.

    “Lyra—” she whispered.

    ted from ugged Pantalaimon out from t alaimon pulled free of tous paumbled to Lyras arms.

    “Never, never,” so ing  to hers.

    togete coast. Dimly ser speaking to t s even interpret one of voice. And t eful room, and Mrs. Coulter  light.

    Mrs. Coulter laid ly on tigalaimon t srembling . A tender roked her head.

    “My dear, dear c s voice. “o be here?”