She had expected a rush when she came into Will's world. After all, she was going to see Will again, the only boy she had ever loved! Not only that, but she was going between worlds again, something that barely any teenagers, or even adults, get to do. She had expected a great warmth to fill her, lift up her spirits, and carry her to Will.
That wasn't how it worked. A bitter chill bit at her, cold encompassing her. Snow swirled around her, thrusting at her face. She wrapped her arms around her body, wishing the cold would stop. Surprisingly, a tear fell from her face. But it wasn't because of the cold.
It was because it was wrong. She was supposed to step through the window, onto the cool, green grass, where Will would be awaiting her. But it wasn't like that. Instead, she was stuck in the Arctic, while Will was captured by some hideous creature, no doubt.
"Pan," she whispered. "It's so cold."
"I know," he whispered, curling around her neck in an attempt to warm her. "But imagine when we finally find Will and free him! Won't that be wonderful?"
Lyra nodded, and turned to the angels near her. "Can you take us to warmth?" she asked. They nodded in response, and came toward her. Lyra gasped as they grabbed her, once again lifting her into the air.
~*~
"You are quite a storyteller, young girl," the captain said. "Well, I guess we won't be getting an answer from you for some time, yet." He grinned a toothy grin, and Lyra pulled the furs tighter against her body.
The captain of the ship pulled out a mug, which had been heating over the fire. "Here you are," he said. "Drink up."
"Thank you," Lyra muttered, looking at the brown mess in the cup. It was hot cocoa, obviously poorly made. She closed her eyes and took a deep drink, surprised to find it was not as bad as it looked. She waited for it to cool a moment before hurriedly finishing it off.
"It's odd," said the captain as he walked about the room, tidying up. "We found three people, all along the Arctic, and none of them are related. Ha, we've never found one and then we find three on the same voyage? Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
"With all due respect, sir," Lyra said. "I found you."
The man chuckled and sat down, staring at the fire. Lyra had stumbled out from behind the boxes, purposely making a show. The sailors had rushed to her, and she told them that one of the crewman had brought her along. They brought her to the captain, where she 'confessed' to have stowed away on a ship that had committed illegal activities. She became scared and stole a lifeboat, sailing out into the ocean. She had found the oil tanker and climbed aboard, hiding behind the boxes. She became hungry and cold, and when she came out, the crew 'kidnapped' her.
Lyra had made herself out to be simply a victim of pirates. The captain, of course, hadn't believed her, but found traces of the outside on her. So he knew she had been on the ice. That dismissed the stowaway option, but didn't tell the captain much else.
"So," he said. "Do you have any parents?" he asked.
Lyra nodded before yawning, and saying, "I'm tired. Can you come back later?"
The captain nodded, leaving the room. Lyra pretended to prepare herself for bed, but as soon as the captain had left she pulled out her little velvet sac. She pulled out the golden compass, twisting the knobs. Where is Will being held?
The needle swung back and forth, and Lyra grinned as her knowledge came back to her yet again. Will is in a museum at Oxford. He is hidden away, however, and no one can find him.
Where is he hidden?
In the basements, which span miles. It is a maze down there, the tunnels lead all over the city. They branch off into sewers, and even outlets into the Thames River.
Lyra sighed, slipping the alethiometer into its pouch. She realized just how tough this was going to be. Of course, she had tricked great polar bear kings, escaped Bolvangar, been in a war waged against Heaven.
As she put her head against the pillows and curled under the furs, her last wake thought was, "When will I see Will?"
~*~
"We live in Oxford," Lyra confessed. "My family and I live at the University. They're scholars, you know."
The captain nodded. "We can arrange for you to go to Oxford." Lyra grinned, realizing that she was going to be sent right to Will. She would go to her 'house,' and then run off to the museum. There, she would find and rescue Will from the clutches of evil! At least, that's how she put it.
She had been awake for a while now, and the captain had invited her down to the cafeteria for a meal. He now sat opposite from her, trying to figure out more about her. The cooks and some people Lyra didn't recognize sat in a far corner, happily eating their meals.
There was an awful silence, and then Lyra said between chews, "Who were those other people you mentioned earlier? That you found in the Arctic?"
The captain laughed and said, "Oh, you are a curious girl. Very smart. I'll tell you, we found them in the same area, but at different times. We've been on this boat for some time, you see, transporting oil from Great Britain to America. On our way, we found a strong man in a carriage, dogs carrying him. I'm sure you know what I mean."
Lyra nodded, thinking of her journeys in the Arctic. "We sent him back," continued the captain, "On a small boat. He should have reached Oxford, for he said that he also wished to go there, about a week ago. And then on the voyage home, we found a lady collapsed on the ice in the same spot. She is in the medical offices on the ship."
"May I see her?" Lyra asked quizzically.
"I'm afraid not," the captain laughed. "The lady really doesn't need any young children pestering her about what happened."
"I won't pester!" Lyra hissed indignantly.
The captain shrugged, taking away her plate. "Either way, you shan't be seeing her."
"Where are the medical rooms?" Lyra asked.
The captain shrugged, and said, "I don't know." He grinned at Lyra, and she son realized he would never tell her. Lyra sighed, and walked out of the cafeteria. She soon came along the ship, and proceeded to walk to her room. Pan, seeing her coming, ran towards her.
She nearly tumbled over him, and hoisted him into her arms. "I don't like this world," she said. "I want you to be able to come everywhere with me."
"I could tell," he grinned. "You nearly tripped over me when you saw me!"
Lyra smiled, and suddenly was hit by inspiration.
~*~
"Where does it hurt, dear?" the nurse asked.
"My ankle," Lyra moaned. "When I tripped, I think I twisted it."
"Let's have a look at that, shall we?" she asked sweetly, gripping Lyra's leg. She looked over the ankle, and said, "It doesn't appear to be hurt badly. "I'll get some ice for you, though. I'll be back momentarily."
Lyra nodded, and as the nurse disappeared, she crept over to the lady under the furs. She could tell that the lady was rather small, and had blonde hair. She reached for the furs, preparing to unveil the lady's face. "You aren't really hurt, are you?"
Lyra sighed, realizing that the nurse had caught her. "No, ma'am," she said. "Not as bad as I made it out to be. It does hurt, though."
The nurse nodded, handed Lyra the ice, and said, "Take this and put it on your heel. And do it in the comfort of your own room."
Lyra grabbed the ice, walking out the door slowly. She took a final glance at the lady and walked out the door. Pantalaimon came to her. "Did she say anything?" he asked.
"No," she sighed. "I didn't even see her face."
~*~
Soon, the ship in England, and Lyra was taken to Oxford. The captain came with her, and when they reached the main town, said, "Where do you live, Lyra?"
Lyra thought a moment, then said, "Take me to the museum instead. My father works there."
"I thought you said he was a scholar," the captain muttered.
Lyra kicked herself, then said, "Did I say that? My mother is, and my father was. He decided he was better suited researching for the museum, though."
"Good," said the captain. "That's nice to know. Which museum is it, then?"
Lyra sighed. She had forgotten the name! She tried to recall what street it was on, and finally said the only street she could think of. "St. Cross Road," she said.
The captain thought a moment, then said. "I grew up here, and if I recall correctly, there is no museum on St. Cross Road." Lyra kicked herself again. She had remembered it was in both her world and Will's, and so it had been the first to come to mind. The captain continued, "Nearby, though. There is the University Museum, on Parks Road. Is that where your father works?"
Lyra, recognizing the names, hurriedly replied, "Yes! Yes, that's it!"
The captain, happy that he could deduce so much, said, "Then we are off to the University Museum." Lyra relaxed in her seat, and soon the car pulled up to the museum.
"Here we are," the captain said, coming to a stop. Lyra pushed open the door, thanking the captain again and again, acting as if she had truly been stuck out in the Arctic, away from her parents. She ran up the steps, but before she could enter the museum, she heard the captain shouting.
"Wait, Lyra!" he shouted, running up the steps after her. "I want to see your father!"
That wasn't how it worked. A bitter chill bit at her, cold encompassing her. Snow swirled around her, thrusting at her face. She wrapped her arms around her body, wishing the cold would stop. Surprisingly, a tear fell from her face. But it wasn't because of the cold.
It was because it was wrong. She was supposed to step through the window, onto the cool, green grass, where Will would be awaiting her. But it wasn't like that. Instead, she was stuck in the Arctic, while Will was captured by some hideous creature, no doubt.
"Pan," she whispered. "It's so cold."
"I know," he whispered, curling around her neck in an attempt to warm her. "But imagine when we finally find Will and free him! Won't that be wonderful?"
Lyra nodded, and turned to the angels near her. "Can you take us to warmth?" she asked. They nodded in response, and came toward her. Lyra gasped as they grabbed her, once again lifting her into the air.
~*~
"You are quite a storyteller, young girl," the captain said. "Well, I guess we won't be getting an answer from you for some time, yet." He grinned a toothy grin, and Lyra pulled the furs tighter against her body.
The captain of the ship pulled out a mug, which had been heating over the fire. "Here you are," he said. "Drink up."
"Thank you," Lyra muttered, looking at the brown mess in the cup. It was hot cocoa, obviously poorly made. She closed her eyes and took a deep drink, surprised to find it was not as bad as it looked. She waited for it to cool a moment before hurriedly finishing it off.
"It's odd," said the captain as he walked about the room, tidying up. "We found three people, all along the Arctic, and none of them are related. Ha, we've never found one and then we find three on the same voyage? Doesn't that seem odd to you?"
"With all due respect, sir," Lyra said. "I found you."
The man chuckled and sat down, staring at the fire. Lyra had stumbled out from behind the boxes, purposely making a show. The sailors had rushed to her, and she told them that one of the crewman had brought her along. They brought her to the captain, where she 'confessed' to have stowed away on a ship that had committed illegal activities. She became scared and stole a lifeboat, sailing out into the ocean. She had found the oil tanker and climbed aboard, hiding behind the boxes. She became hungry and cold, and when she came out, the crew 'kidnapped' her.
Lyra had made herself out to be simply a victim of pirates. The captain, of course, hadn't believed her, but found traces of the outside on her. So he knew she had been on the ice. That dismissed the stowaway option, but didn't tell the captain much else.
"So," he said. "Do you have any parents?" he asked.
Lyra nodded before yawning, and saying, "I'm tired. Can you come back later?"
The captain nodded, leaving the room. Lyra pretended to prepare herself for bed, but as soon as the captain had left she pulled out her little velvet sac. She pulled out the golden compass, twisting the knobs. Where is Will being held?
The needle swung back and forth, and Lyra grinned as her knowledge came back to her yet again. Will is in a museum at Oxford. He is hidden away, however, and no one can find him.
Where is he hidden?
In the basements, which span miles. It is a maze down there, the tunnels lead all over the city. They branch off into sewers, and even outlets into the Thames River.
Lyra sighed, slipping the alethiometer into its pouch. She realized just how tough this was going to be. Of course, she had tricked great polar bear kings, escaped Bolvangar, been in a war waged against Heaven.
As she put her head against the pillows and curled under the furs, her last wake thought was, "When will I see Will?"
~*~
"We live in Oxford," Lyra confessed. "My family and I live at the University. They're scholars, you know."
The captain nodded. "We can arrange for you to go to Oxford." Lyra grinned, realizing that she was going to be sent right to Will. She would go to her 'house,' and then run off to the museum. There, she would find and rescue Will from the clutches of evil! At least, that's how she put it.
She had been awake for a while now, and the captain had invited her down to the cafeteria for a meal. He now sat opposite from her, trying to figure out more about her. The cooks and some people Lyra didn't recognize sat in a far corner, happily eating their meals.
There was an awful silence, and then Lyra said between chews, "Who were those other people you mentioned earlier? That you found in the Arctic?"
The captain laughed and said, "Oh, you are a curious girl. Very smart. I'll tell you, we found them in the same area, but at different times. We've been on this boat for some time, you see, transporting oil from Great Britain to America. On our way, we found a strong man in a carriage, dogs carrying him. I'm sure you know what I mean."
Lyra nodded, thinking of her journeys in the Arctic. "We sent him back," continued the captain, "On a small boat. He should have reached Oxford, for he said that he also wished to go there, about a week ago. And then on the voyage home, we found a lady collapsed on the ice in the same spot. She is in the medical offices on the ship."
"May I see her?" Lyra asked quizzically.
"I'm afraid not," the captain laughed. "The lady really doesn't need any young children pestering her about what happened."
"I won't pester!" Lyra hissed indignantly.
The captain shrugged, taking away her plate. "Either way, you shan't be seeing her."
"Where are the medical rooms?" Lyra asked.
The captain shrugged, and said, "I don't know." He grinned at Lyra, and she son realized he would never tell her. Lyra sighed, and walked out of the cafeteria. She soon came along the ship, and proceeded to walk to her room. Pan, seeing her coming, ran towards her.
She nearly tumbled over him, and hoisted him into her arms. "I don't like this world," she said. "I want you to be able to come everywhere with me."
"I could tell," he grinned. "You nearly tripped over me when you saw me!"
Lyra smiled, and suddenly was hit by inspiration.
~*~
"Where does it hurt, dear?" the nurse asked.
"My ankle," Lyra moaned. "When I tripped, I think I twisted it."
"Let's have a look at that, shall we?" she asked sweetly, gripping Lyra's leg. She looked over the ankle, and said, "It doesn't appear to be hurt badly. "I'll get some ice for you, though. I'll be back momentarily."
Lyra nodded, and as the nurse disappeared, she crept over to the lady under the furs. She could tell that the lady was rather small, and had blonde hair. She reached for the furs, preparing to unveil the lady's face. "You aren't really hurt, are you?"
Lyra sighed, realizing that the nurse had caught her. "No, ma'am," she said. "Not as bad as I made it out to be. It does hurt, though."
The nurse nodded, handed Lyra the ice, and said, "Take this and put it on your heel. And do it in the comfort of your own room."
Lyra grabbed the ice, walking out the door slowly. She took a final glance at the lady and walked out the door. Pantalaimon came to her. "Did she say anything?" he asked.
"No," she sighed. "I didn't even see her face."
~*~
Soon, the ship in England, and Lyra was taken to Oxford. The captain came with her, and when they reached the main town, said, "Where do you live, Lyra?"
Lyra thought a moment, then said, "Take me to the museum instead. My father works there."
"I thought you said he was a scholar," the captain muttered.
Lyra kicked herself, then said, "Did I say that? My mother is, and my father was. He decided he was better suited researching for the museum, though."
"Good," said the captain. "That's nice to know. Which museum is it, then?"
Lyra sighed. She had forgotten the name! She tried to recall what street it was on, and finally said the only street she could think of. "St. Cross Road," she said.
The captain thought a moment, then said. "I grew up here, and if I recall correctly, there is no museum on St. Cross Road." Lyra kicked herself again. She had remembered it was in both her world and Will's, and so it had been the first to come to mind. The captain continued, "Nearby, though. There is the University Museum, on Parks Road. Is that where your father works?"
Lyra, recognizing the names, hurriedly replied, "Yes! Yes, that's it!"
The captain, happy that he could deduce so much, said, "Then we are off to the University Museum." Lyra relaxed in her seat, and soon the car pulled up to the museum.
"Here we are," the captain said, coming to a stop. Lyra pushed open the door, thanking the captain again and again, acting as if she had truly been stuck out in the Arctic, away from her parents. She ran up the steps, but before she could enter the museum, she heard the captain shouting.
"Wait, Lyra!" he shouted, running up the steps after her. "I want to see your father!"