Lyra and ill eac ion. tialys and Salmakia tending to tside, flies cut from spiderer in a tin plate.  Pantalaimon, mouse-formed,   t to  outside.

    quot;You can still decide differently,quot; said Salmakia.

    quot;No, . e decided already,quot; said Lyra, stubborn and fearful at once.

    quot;And if  come back?quot;

    quot;You dont o come,quot; Lyra pointed out.

    quot;ere not going to abandon you.quot;

    quot;t if you dont come back?quot;

    quot;e sant.quot;

    Lyra . S really looked at t s of tanding on table just an arms lengt beautiful, not pretty, but t of face you o see if you ing out t. But s no if ever t y and   a o o lull and sooto, one day, in a voice like t.

    quot;ell,quot; Lyra said, and found  choked, so she swallowed and shrugged.

    quot;ell see,quot; said turned back.

    Once ten tter tea, s, took t off ty toely a little  to come closer, t looking back to see if they were following.

    t. It , and reamers of to t t all toget o c colors flash.

    Before long ttlement and made tream t ture toad as big as ills foot, rying to move out of t t kne to  it.

    quot;It o kill it,quot; said tialys. quot;; said Lyra. quot;It migill like being alive, in spite of everyt;

    quot;If , aking it ; said ill. quot;It s to stay agnant pool migter t;

    quot;But if its in pain?quot; said tialys.

    quot;If it could tell us,  since it cant, Im not going to kill it. t oads.quot;

    tsteps made told t