11. Time for Action
Serafina escorted Lyra back to Jordan and advised her to take the day off and make out that she was feeling unwell. Pan clung to her shoulder all the way home. He had evidently not enjoyed his time away from Lyra and still looked distressed. Kaisa took him to one side as they entered the Jordan gates.
'I understand how you felt today Pantalaimon,' he said, 'the first time I was left alone without Serafina I was totally lost. You must learn to trust your feelings as opposed to your intentions and instinct.'
Pantalaimon said nothing, but looked away and murmured,
'I understand what they mean by appreciating something more when it's taken from you.'
'You are still used to following Lyra around as part of her. Over time you will learn what it is to be independent.'
'But I don't what to be independent.'
'That is something beyond all our control. Remember you are always together, no matter how far apart you are.'
The pine marten nodded and looked at Lyra talking to Serafina.
'They're never going to leave us alone. Are they?'
'Their minds are closed where as yours is open. I do not think they actually knew what to do once they had caught Lyra. And in their heart of hearts, I think they know that too.'
They sat together for a moment, watching Lyra say goodbye to Serafina. Presently, Kaisa said they were departing back to Lake Enara. Pantalaimon said,
'Thank you Kaisa.'
The snow goose nodded and joined his witch in the sky.
Again, Pan sat still for a moment, pondering on what he'd learnt, then he trotted back to his waiting Lyra.
Katie entered her house and slung her bag into a corner. Then she sat on the stairs and drew up her sleeve.
A new line was there to join the others until they eventually disappeared. It would be several months before that area would be ready again.
'Hello little miss' said her father unexpectedly from upstairs, Katie jumped and pulled down her sleeve again.
'Why you home so early?'
'Nice to see you too!' he said cheerfully, then he added, 'It was too busy on the waterways today. Thought I'd stay home.'
Katie went upstairs to her room and shut the door. She looked around, then hurriedly got undressed, her dæmon walking round and round the room. Then they went out to see if Lyra was ok.
Lyra and Pan meanwhile, were scrutinizing their Alethiometer for damage. The man's hands had put finger marks all over it. She seized some of the quilt and polished it before sitting cross-legged on the bed and holding it in her lap. Pantalaimon flowed up onto her shoulder and looked carefully at the face of the instrument.
Katie and Coreopsis walked hurriedly through Jordan toward the twelfth staircase. They had a horrible image that she'd been shot or poisoned or beaten up.
She stumbled up the stairs and saw that Lyra's door was slightly open. She gasped and ran up the last flight and tripped on the last stair. She flung her arm out toward the door handle, but missed by an inch. Her long sleeve hooked neatly on the handle and ripped.
The door itself fell open and they saw Lyra and Pan sitting on their bed with their alethiometer.
'Katie?' said Lyra, trying not to laugh
'ach- You're ok!' she said from the floor
'Yes… What's up?'
Katie and her dæmon scrambled up and surveyed the damage to her long-sleeve t-shirt, Lyra noticed and got up to have a look.
'Opps, that's a nasty rip- you ok?' she said,
'Uh? Yeah I'm ok, nothing major.'
The sleeve fell back again, exposing the under side of Katie's left arm. Lyra goggled. She couldn't help it, even pan was staring at the horrific mutilations. Katie suddenly looked terrified and hurriedly tried to cover up her arm. 'It's nothing, honest.'
'Nothing?! Your arms in shreds! Who did this? Was it-'
'It was me all right- I did it.'
Lyra looked carefully at Katie. She looked almost confident, as if she'd been expecting this day and she had it all planed out, every part of the conversation. She sat down on the bed, waiting for Lyra to take her go.
Lyra rolled her eyes, sensing this said:
'But why?'
'It takes the pain and worry and fear away.'
Like Lyra was expecting, Katie spoke with no hesitation.
'Does anyone else know you do this?'
'No.'
Pantalaimon nudged Coreopsis, who was looking blankly at the wall, then rubbed against him. Katie and Lyra watched silently. Coreopsis looked up at Pan and rumbled a purring thanks.
'There must be another way to let your feelings out than to- to cut yourself.' said Lyra hesitantly,
'There isn't. It's our private bliss. Nothing else we've done compares to it. Not even happy pills.'
'Happy pills?'
'Anti-depressants. The doctor used to give us them. But we hated taking them.'
They sat without saying anything for a while. Presently, Katie sighed and turned to Lyra. 'What are you going to do? You can't run and hide forever.'
'I dunno… I wish I knew what they were thinking; I think Serafina was right when she said they didn't really know what to do with me.'
'Sorry, who's Serafina?'
'Oh, she's the queen of a witch clan from Lap Land, she helped us loads when we were travelling around…
'Anyway, I think I'm going to sneak into the oratory and spy on them. I want to know what they're doing.'
Katie and her dæmon stared as if they'd been frozen.
'Uh?'
'I think it's a good idea. You said it yourself we can't run forever. I'm going to take action.'
Far away in Lapland, the witches of Lake Enara were at council.
'Serafina Pekkala- we have heard your account on this mysterious passage between Lyra's world and Will's. Do you think this, window… is still open?'
The Testis Witch, Juventus, who's job it was to hear evidence and ask questions at a witch council now sat down to allow Serafina to speak.
Juventus was almost a child compared to most witches, she was 40, but this allowed her to ask questions that were not biased and to ensure all that were present understood the obvious.
'After the child had left I inspected the bench and found that there was no window or opening of any kind.'
'Then can you be sure there was an opening of any kind?'
'Yes.' replied Serafina firmly, 'I saw a glance of another person next to Lyra as this anomaly took place, and on inspection, my dæmon and I found that the air was perfectly clear there, but thin- almost as if something had pushed it out the way.'
There was a low murmur around the crowd of witches at this statement, one witch put her hand up, she said;
'Does this mean the children have discovered another way to travel between worlds? One that doesn't need any kind of tool such as the subtle blade?'
'No. She did not physically move to the other world, and their contact only lasted for some ten seconds. But something out of the ordinary did happen. It could be they are learning something beyond our knowledge sisters, they do not realise what they have started, but I believe they will try again.'
The crowd conversed quietly for a short time, then the Testis spoke up again;
'You said they are likely to try again, Serafina. Might they try this any time soon? Maybe we should investigate this further.'
Another hand went up and Serafina turned to the speaker.
'I do not think that is wise. We have always known that to interfere with human activities has caused us grief.'
'But the two children who ended the course of fate?' said another witch, 'If they are about to create a new way of travelling to the other worlds, is this really something we should standby and watch silently?'
'To standby and watch quietly,' said Serafina, 'is exactly what I think we should do, but to overlook is something we shouldn't. We must remind ourselves that there are other powers that are scrutinizing these children like the Child Cutters did. They will not hold back for long if they learn what the children are about to discover.'
'So you do think they will travel again?' said Juventus,
'Yes. They clearly have some power beyond average mortals, even beyond our own magic, but they do not know of it, and they are only learning to control it, let alone understand it.
'It is my belief that on mid summers day they will achieve something that is unheard of and unthought of by the highest of beings.'
'Why then?'
'Because that day is sacred to them, it is the one time when their feelings for each other will peak to the point where they can pass between the walls of our world.'
'Then may I suggest that we observe from distance their activities and take action if or when necessary?' concluded Juventus,
'You may. I shall return to England and ensure the child remains unharmed and unhindered by anything beyond her own will.
'In the mean time, I would like two scouts to travel ahead and find some accommodation we can use. It is likely we shall need it at some point. Then one shall return and report to me, where we will both go there.'
'Does anyone object or have any questions?'
The council was silent.
'Then we shall adjourn.'
The Testis approached Serafina and said,
'I feel something great afoot, almost like when Lord Asriel first opened the great door in the sky.'
'I know what you mean. It is my belief the two will meet again at some point, despite what the angels say.'
Serafina escorted Lyra back to Jordan and advised her to take the day off and make out that she was feeling unwell. Pan clung to her shoulder all the way home. He had evidently not enjoyed his time away from Lyra and still looked distressed. Kaisa took him to one side as they entered the Jordan gates.
'I understand how you felt today Pantalaimon,' he said, 'the first time I was left alone without Serafina I was totally lost. You must learn to trust your feelings as opposed to your intentions and instinct.'
Pantalaimon said nothing, but looked away and murmured,
'I understand what they mean by appreciating something more when it's taken from you.'
'You are still used to following Lyra around as part of her. Over time you will learn what it is to be independent.'
'But I don't what to be independent.'
'That is something beyond all our control. Remember you are always together, no matter how far apart you are.'
The pine marten nodded and looked at Lyra talking to Serafina.
'They're never going to leave us alone. Are they?'
'Their minds are closed where as yours is open. I do not think they actually knew what to do once they had caught Lyra. And in their heart of hearts, I think they know that too.'
They sat together for a moment, watching Lyra say goodbye to Serafina. Presently, Kaisa said they were departing back to Lake Enara. Pantalaimon said,
'Thank you Kaisa.'
The snow goose nodded and joined his witch in the sky.
Again, Pan sat still for a moment, pondering on what he'd learnt, then he trotted back to his waiting Lyra.
Katie entered her house and slung her bag into a corner. Then she sat on the stairs and drew up her sleeve.
A new line was there to join the others until they eventually disappeared. It would be several months before that area would be ready again.
'Hello little miss' said her father unexpectedly from upstairs, Katie jumped and pulled down her sleeve again.
'Why you home so early?'
'Nice to see you too!' he said cheerfully, then he added, 'It was too busy on the waterways today. Thought I'd stay home.'
Katie went upstairs to her room and shut the door. She looked around, then hurriedly got undressed, her dæmon walking round and round the room. Then they went out to see if Lyra was ok.
Lyra and Pan meanwhile, were scrutinizing their Alethiometer for damage. The man's hands had put finger marks all over it. She seized some of the quilt and polished it before sitting cross-legged on the bed and holding it in her lap. Pantalaimon flowed up onto her shoulder and looked carefully at the face of the instrument.
Katie and Coreopsis walked hurriedly through Jordan toward the twelfth staircase. They had a horrible image that she'd been shot or poisoned or beaten up.
She stumbled up the stairs and saw that Lyra's door was slightly open. She gasped and ran up the last flight and tripped on the last stair. She flung her arm out toward the door handle, but missed by an inch. Her long sleeve hooked neatly on the handle and ripped.
The door itself fell open and they saw Lyra and Pan sitting on their bed with their alethiometer.
'Katie?' said Lyra, trying not to laugh
'ach- You're ok!' she said from the floor
'Yes… What's up?'
Katie and her dæmon scrambled up and surveyed the damage to her long-sleeve t-shirt, Lyra noticed and got up to have a look.
'Opps, that's a nasty rip- you ok?' she said,
'Uh? Yeah I'm ok, nothing major.'
The sleeve fell back again, exposing the under side of Katie's left arm. Lyra goggled. She couldn't help it, even pan was staring at the horrific mutilations. Katie suddenly looked terrified and hurriedly tried to cover up her arm. 'It's nothing, honest.'
'Nothing?! Your arms in shreds! Who did this? Was it-'
'It was me all right- I did it.'
Lyra looked carefully at Katie. She looked almost confident, as if she'd been expecting this day and she had it all planed out, every part of the conversation. She sat down on the bed, waiting for Lyra to take her go.
Lyra rolled her eyes, sensing this said:
'But why?'
'It takes the pain and worry and fear away.'
Like Lyra was expecting, Katie spoke with no hesitation.
'Does anyone else know you do this?'
'No.'
Pantalaimon nudged Coreopsis, who was looking blankly at the wall, then rubbed against him. Katie and Lyra watched silently. Coreopsis looked up at Pan and rumbled a purring thanks.
'There must be another way to let your feelings out than to- to cut yourself.' said Lyra hesitantly,
'There isn't. It's our private bliss. Nothing else we've done compares to it. Not even happy pills.'
'Happy pills?'
'Anti-depressants. The doctor used to give us them. But we hated taking them.'
They sat without saying anything for a while. Presently, Katie sighed and turned to Lyra. 'What are you going to do? You can't run and hide forever.'
'I dunno… I wish I knew what they were thinking; I think Serafina was right when she said they didn't really know what to do with me.'
'Sorry, who's Serafina?'
'Oh, she's the queen of a witch clan from Lap Land, she helped us loads when we were travelling around…
'Anyway, I think I'm going to sneak into the oratory and spy on them. I want to know what they're doing.'
Katie and her dæmon stared as if they'd been frozen.
'Uh?'
'I think it's a good idea. You said it yourself we can't run forever. I'm going to take action.'
Far away in Lapland, the witches of Lake Enara were at council.
'Serafina Pekkala- we have heard your account on this mysterious passage between Lyra's world and Will's. Do you think this, window… is still open?'
The Testis Witch, Juventus, who's job it was to hear evidence and ask questions at a witch council now sat down to allow Serafina to speak.
Juventus was almost a child compared to most witches, she was 40, but this allowed her to ask questions that were not biased and to ensure all that were present understood the obvious.
'After the child had left I inspected the bench and found that there was no window or opening of any kind.'
'Then can you be sure there was an opening of any kind?'
'Yes.' replied Serafina firmly, 'I saw a glance of another person next to Lyra as this anomaly took place, and on inspection, my dæmon and I found that the air was perfectly clear there, but thin- almost as if something had pushed it out the way.'
There was a low murmur around the crowd of witches at this statement, one witch put her hand up, she said;
'Does this mean the children have discovered another way to travel between worlds? One that doesn't need any kind of tool such as the subtle blade?'
'No. She did not physically move to the other world, and their contact only lasted for some ten seconds. But something out of the ordinary did happen. It could be they are learning something beyond our knowledge sisters, they do not realise what they have started, but I believe they will try again.'
The crowd conversed quietly for a short time, then the Testis spoke up again;
'You said they are likely to try again, Serafina. Might they try this any time soon? Maybe we should investigate this further.'
Another hand went up and Serafina turned to the speaker.
'I do not think that is wise. We have always known that to interfere with human activities has caused us grief.'
'But the two children who ended the course of fate?' said another witch, 'If they are about to create a new way of travelling to the other worlds, is this really something we should standby and watch silently?'
'To standby and watch quietly,' said Serafina, 'is exactly what I think we should do, but to overlook is something we shouldn't. We must remind ourselves that there are other powers that are scrutinizing these children like the Child Cutters did. They will not hold back for long if they learn what the children are about to discover.'
'So you do think they will travel again?' said Juventus,
'Yes. They clearly have some power beyond average mortals, even beyond our own magic, but they do not know of it, and they are only learning to control it, let alone understand it.
'It is my belief that on mid summers day they will achieve something that is unheard of and unthought of by the highest of beings.'
'Why then?'
'Because that day is sacred to them, it is the one time when their feelings for each other will peak to the point where they can pass between the walls of our world.'
'Then may I suggest that we observe from distance their activities and take action if or when necessary?' concluded Juventus,
'You may. I shall return to England and ensure the child remains unharmed and unhindered by anything beyond her own will.
'In the mean time, I would like two scouts to travel ahead and find some accommodation we can use. It is likely we shall need it at some point. Then one shall return and report to me, where we will both go there.'
'Does anyone object or have any questions?'
The council was silent.
'Then we shall adjourn.'
The Testis approached Serafina and said,
'I feel something great afoot, almost like when Lord Asriel first opened the great door in the sky.'
'I know what you mean. It is my belief the two will meet again at some point, despite what the angels say.'
