THIRTY - THE CLOUDED MOUNTAIN

  TheiioncraftwasbeingpilotedbyMrs.Coulter.Sheandherdaemonwerealohecockpit.

  Thebarometricaltimeterwaslittleuseiorm,butshecouldjudgeheraltituderoughlybywatgthefiresonthegroundthatblazedwhereangelsfell;despitethehurtlingrain,theywerestillflaringhigh.Asforthecourse,thatwasntdifficult,either:thelightningthatflickeredaroundtheMountainservedasabrilliantbea.Butshehadtoavoidthevariousflyingbeingswhowerestillfightingintheair,andkeepclearoftherisinglandbelow.

  Shedidhelights,becauseshewaogetcloseandfindsomewheretolandbeforetheysawherandshotherdown.Assheflewcloser,theupdraftsbecamemoreviolent,thegustsmoresuddenandbrutal.Agyropterwouldhavehadnoce:thesavageairwouldhaveslammedittothegroundlikeafly.Ientioncraftsheovelightlywiththewind,adjustingherbalancelikeawaveriderinthePeaceableO.

  Cautiouslyshebegantoclimb,peeringfntheinstrumentsandflyingbysightandbyinstinct.Herdaemofromonesideofthelittleglasstotheother,lookingahead,above,totheleftandright,andcallingtoherstantly.Thelightning,greatsheetsandlancesofbrilliance,flaredandcrackedaboveandaroundthemae.Throughitallsheflewileaircraft,gainilittlebylittle,andalwaysmovingontowardthecloud-hungpalace.

  AndasMrs.Coulterapproached,shefouentiondazzledandbewilderedbythenatureoftheMountainitself.

  Itremindedherofacertainabominableheresy,whoseauthorwasnowdeservedlylanguishinginthedungeonsofthesistorialCourt.Hehadsuggestedthatthereweremorespatialdimensionsthahreefamiliarohatonaverysmallscale,therewereuptoseveotherdimensions,butthattheywereimpossibletoexaminedirectly.Hehadevenstructedamodeltoshowhowtheymightwork,andMrs.Coulterhadseentheobjectbeforeitwasexorcisedandburned.Foldswithinfolds,ersandedgesbothtainingandbeingtaisinsidewaseverywhereanditsoutsidewaseverywhereelse.TheCloudedMountaiedherinasimilarway:itwaslesslikearockthanlikeaforcefield,manipulatingspaceitselftoenfoldandstretdlayeritintogalleriesandterraces,chambersandnadesandwatchtowersofairandlightandvapor.

  Shefeltastraationwellingslowlyinherbreast,andshesawatthesametimehowttheaircraftsafelyuptothecloudedterrathesouthernflank.Thelittlecraftlurchedandstraiheturbidair,butsheheldthecoursefirm,andherdaemonguidedherdowntolandoerrace.

  Thelightshedseenbytillnowhadefromthelightning,theoccasionalgashesinthecloudwherethesunstruckthrough,thefiresfromtheburningahebeamsofan-baricsearchlights;butthelightherewasdifferent.ItcamefromthesubstaheMountainitself,whichglowedandfadedinaslowbreathlikerhythm,withamother-of-pearlradiance.

  Womananddaemongotdownfromthecraftandlookedaroundtoseewhichwaytheyshouldgo.

  Shehadthefeelingthatotherbeingsweremovingrapidlyaboveandbelow,speedingthroughthesubstaheMountainitselfwithmessages,orders,information.Shecouldhem;allshecouldseewasfusing,infoldedperspectivesofaircase,terradfacade.

  Beforesheakeuphermindwhichwaytogo,sheheardvoidwithdrewbehindan.Thevoicesweresingingapsalmandingcloser,andthenshesarocessionofangelscarryingalitter.

  Astheyheplacewhereshewashiding,theysawtheiioncraftandstopped.Thesingingfaltered,andsomeofthebearerslookedaroundindoubtandfear.

  Mrs.Coulterwascloseenoughtoseethebeingier:anangel,shethought,andindescribablyaged.Hewasosee,becausethelitterwasenclosedallaroundwithcrystalthatglitteredandthrewbacktheenvelopinglightoftheMountain,butshehadtheimpressionofterrifyingdecrepitude,ofafakeninwrinkles,oftremblinghands,andofamumblingmouthandrheumyeyes.

  Theagedbeiuredshakilyattheiioncraft,andcackledandmutteredtohimself,plugincessantlyathisbeard,ahrewbackhisheadandutteredahowlofsuguishthatMrs.Coulterhadtocoverherears.

  Butevidentlythebearershadatasktodo,fortheygatheredthemselvesandmovedfartheraloerrace,ignthecriesandmumblesfromihelitter.Whentheyreachedanopenspace,theyspreadtheirwingswide,andatawordfromtheirleadertheybegantofly,carryierbetweenthem,untiltheywerelosttoMrs.Coulterssightintheswirlingvapors.

  Buttherewasnttimetothinkaboutthat.Sheandthegoldenmonkeymovedonquickly,climbiaircases,crossingbridges,alwaysmovingupward.Thehighertheywent,themoretheyfeltthatsenseofinvisibleactivityallaroundthem,untilfinallytheyturnedaerintoawidespacelikeamist-hungpiazza,andfoundthemselvesfrontedbyahaspear.

  "Whoareyou?Whatisyourbusiness?"hesaid.

  Mrs.Coulterlookedathimcuriously.Thesewerethebeingswhohadfallenihhumanwomen,withthedaughtersofmen,solongago.

  "No,no,"shesaidgently,"pleasedontwastetime.Takemetentatonce.Heswaitingforme."

  Discertthem,shethought,keepthemoffbalandthisangeldidnotknowwhatheshoulddo,sohedidasshetoldhim.Shefollowedhimforsomemihroughthosefusingperspectivesoflight,untiltheycametoanantechamber.Howtheyhadentered,shedidntknow,buttheretheywere,andafterabriefpause,somethinginfrontofheropenedlikeadoor.

  Herdaemonssharpnailswerepressingintothefleshofherupperarms,andshegrippedhisfurforreassurance.Fagthemwasabeingmadeoflight.Hewasman-shaped,man-sized,shethought,butshewastoodazzledtosee.Thegoldenmonkeyhidhisfahershoulder,ahrewupanarmtohidehereyes.

  Metatronsaid,"Whereisshe?Whereisyhter?"

  "Iveetotellyou,myLent,"shesaid.

  "Ifshewasinyourpower,youwouldhavebroughther."

  "Sheisnot,butherdaemonis."

  "Howthatbe?"

  "Iswear,Metatron,herdaemonisinmypower.Please,greatRegent,hideyourselfalittle,myeyesaredazzled..."

  Hedrewaveilofcloudinfrontofhimself.Nowitwaslikelookingatthesunthroughsmokedglass,andhereyescouldseehimmoreclearly,thoughshestillpreteobedazzledbyhisface.Hewasexactlylikeamaninearlymiddleage,tall,powerful,andanding.Washeclothed?Didhehavewings?Shecouldnttellbecauseoftheforceofhiseyes.Shecouldlookatnothingelse.

  "Please,Metatron,hearme.IhavejustefromLordAsriel.Hehasthechildsdaemon,andheknowsthatthechildwillsooosear."

  "Whatdoeshewantwiththechild?"

  "Tokeepherfromyouuntilsheesofage.HedoesntknowwhereIvegone,andImustgobasoon.Imtellingyouthetruth.Lookatme,greatRegent,asIteasilylookatyou.Lookatmeclearly,andtellmewhatyousee."

  Thepriheangelslookedather.ItwasthemostseargexaminationMarisaCoulterhadeverundergone.Everyscrapofshelterawasstrippedaway,aoodnaked,bodyandghostaogether,uheferoetatronsgaze.

  Andshekhathernaturewouldhavetoanswerforher,aerrifiedthatwhathesawinherwouldbeinsuffit.LyrahadliedtoIofurRaknisonwithherwords;hermotherwaslyingwithherwholelife.

  "Yes,Isee,"saidMetatron.

  "Whatdoyousee?"

  "Corruptionandenvyandlustforpower.Crueltyandess.Avicious,probingcuriosity.Pure,poisonous,toxicmalice.Youhaveneverfromyourearliestyearsshownashredofpassionorsympathyorkindnesswithoutcalculatinghowitwouldreturntoyouradvantage.Youhavetorturedandkilledwithretorhesitation;youhavebetrayedandintriguedandgloriedinyourtreachery.Youareacesspitofmoralfilth."

  Thatvoice,deliveringthatjudgment,shookMrs.Coulterprofoundly.Shekwasing,andshedreadedit;ashehopedforit,too,andnowthatithadbeensaid,shefeltalittlegushoftriumph.

  Shemovedclosertohim.

  "Soyousee,"shesaid,"Ibetrayhimeasily.Ileadyoutowherehestakingmydaughtersdaemon,andyoudestroyAsriel,andthechildwillwalkunsuspegintoyourhands."

  Shefeltthemovementofvaporabouther,andhersensesbecamefused.Hiswordspiercedherfleshlikedartsofstedice.

  "WhenIwasaman,"hesaid,"Ihadwivesiy,butnonewasaslovelyasyou."

  "Whenyouwereaman?"

  "WhenIwasaman,IwasknownasEnoch,thesonofJared,thesonofMahalalel,thesonofKenan,thesonofEnosh,thesohesonofAdam.Ilivedohforsixty-fiveyears,aheAuthoritytookmetohisKingdom."

  "Andyouhadmanywives."

  "Ilovedtheirflesh.AndIuooditwhenthesonsofHeavenfellihthedaughtersofearth,andIpleadedtheircausewiththeAuthority.Buthisheartwasfixedagainstthem,andhemademeprophesytheirdoom."

  "Andyouhavenotknownawifeforthousandsofyears..."

  "IhavebeeoftheKingdom."

  "Andisitnottimeyouhadasort?"

  Thatwasthemomemostexposedandinmostdanger.Butshetrustedtoherflesh,andtothestrahshedlearnedaboutangels,perhapsespeciallythoseangelswhohadoncebeenhuman:lagflesh,theycoveteditandlongedfortactwithit.Aronwasclosenow,closeenoughtosmelltheperfumeofherhairandtogazeatthetextureofherskin,closeenoughtotouchherwithscaldinghands.

  Therewasastrangesound,likethemurmurandcrackleyouhearbeforeyourealizethatwhatyourehearingisyourhouseonfire.

  "TellmewhatLordAsrielisdoing,andwhereheis,"hesaid.

  "Itakeyoutohimnow,"shesaid.

  TheangelscarryierlefttheCloudedMountainandflewsouth.MetatronsordershadbeentotaketheAuthoritytoaplaceofsafetyawayfromthebattlefield,becausehewantedhimkeptaliveforawhileyet;butratherthangivehimabodyguardofmanyregiments,whichwouldonlyattracttheenemysattentiorustedtotheobscurityofthestorm,calculatingthatinthesecircumstances,asmallpartywouldbesaferthanalargeone.

  Andsoitmighthavebeen,ifacertaincliff-ghast,busyfeastingonahalf-deadwarrior,hadnotlookedupjustasarandomsearchlightcaughtthesideofthecrystallitter.

  Somethingstirredinthecliff-ghastsmemory.Hepaused,onehandonthewarmliver,andashisbrotherknockedhimaside,therecolleofababblingArctietohismind.

  Atoncehespreadhisleatherywingsandboundedupward,andamomentlatertherestofthetroopfollowed.

  Xaphaniaandherangelshadsearcheddiligentlyallthenightandsomeofthem,andfinallytheyhadfoundaminutecrathemountaihesouthofthefortress,whichhadherethedaybefore.Theyhadexploreditandenlargedit,andnowLordAsrielwasclimbingdownintoaseriesofcavernsandtunendingalongwaybelowthefortress.

  Itwasnttotallydark,ashedthought.Therewasafaintsourceofillumination,likeastreamofbillionsoftinyparticles,faintlyglowing.Theyflowedsteadilydowunnellikeariveroflight.

  "Dust,"hesaidtohisdaemon.

  Hehadneverseenitwiththenakedeye,butthenhehadneverseensomuchDusttogether.Hemovedon,untilquitesuddenlythetunnelope,andhefoundhimselfatthetopofavastcavern:avault

  immenseenoughtotainadozencathedrals.Therewasnofloor;thesidesslopedvertiginouslydowntowardtheedgeofagreatpithundredsoffeetbelow,anddarkerthandarkself,andintothepitstreamedtheendlessDustfall,pceaselesslydown.Itsbillionsofparticleswerelikethestarsofeverygalaxyinthesky,andeveryohemwasalittlefragmentofsciousthought.Itwasamelancholylighttoseeby.

  Heclimbedwithhisdaemondowntowardtheabyss,andastheywent,theygraduallybegantoseewhateningalongthefarsideofthegulf,hundredsofyardsawayinthegloom.Hehadthoughttherewasamovementthere,aherdownheclimbed,themoreclearlyitresolveditself:aprocessionofdim,palefigurespigtheirwayalongtheperilousslope,men,women,children,beingsofeverykindhehadseenandmanyhehadnot.Ionkeepingtheirbalaheyignoredhimaltogether,andLordAsrielfeltthehairstiratthebackofhisneckwhenherealizedthattheywereghosts.

  "Lyracamehere,"hesaidquietlytothesnowleopard.

  "Treadcarefully,"wasallshesaidinreply.

  WillandLyraweresoakedthrough,shivering,rackedwithpain,andstumblingblindlythroughmudandoverrodintolittlegullieswherestorm-fedstreamsrahblood.LyrawasafraidthattheLadySalmakiawasdying:shehadntutteredawordforseveralminutes,andshelayfaintandlimpinLyrashand.

  Astheyshelteredinoneriverbedwherethewaterwaswhite,atleast,andscoopeduphandfulstotheirthirstymouths,WillfeltTialysrousehimselfandsay:

  "Will,Ihearhorsesing,LordAsrielhasnocavalry.Itmustbetheenemy.Getacrossthestreamandhide,Isawsomebushesthatway..."

  "eon,"saidWilltoLyra,andtheysplashedthroughtheicy,bone-agwaterandscrambledupthefarsideofthegullyjustiheriderswhocameovertheslopeandclattereddowntodrinkdidntlooklikecavalry:theyseemedtobeofthesamekindofclose-hairedfleshastheirhorses,andtheyhadherclothesnorharheycarriedons,though:tridents,s,andscimitars.

  WillandLyradidntstoptolook;theystumbledovertheroughgroundatacroutentonlyoingawayunseen.

  Buttheyhadtokeeptheirheadslowtoseewheretheyweretreadingandavoidtwistinganankle,orworse,andthunderexplodedoverheadastheyran,sotheycouldhescreegandsnarlingofthecliff-ghastsuntiltheywereuponthem.

  Thecreaturesweresurroundingsomethingthatlayglitteringinthemud:somethingslightlytallerthantheywere,whichlayonitsside,alargecage,perhaps,withwallsofcrystal.Theywerehammeringatitwithfistsandrocks,shriekingandyelling.

  AndbeforeWillandLyracouldstopandruherway,theyhadstumbledrightintothemiddleofthetroop.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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