t first. Dr. Malone knos er. Its  it?quot;

    quot;Yes, I suppose it is. But I  t t be t;

    quot;So ...quot;

    S o her lips. he nodded.

    quot;Look,quot; ;trees.quot;

    It ree. t up to it carefully, keeping an eye on t breeze stirring t seemed impossible t a migopple, but  was.

    t trunk, supported in ts torn-up roots and out on t trees ill ree, tig still looked sturdy, leaves t ill green, too the mild air.

    Suddenly Lyra gripped ills arm.

    quot;S; s;Dont look. Im sure t ;

    t mass of leaves and brancending to gaze vacantly at t tention o t! , t  tree. And beside it, another.

    quot;alk a; ill said under ;ell go somew;

    quot;Suppose t... But yes, all rig; Lyra whispered back.

    tended to look all around; t ting on tending to climb; tended to cheir heads and walking away.

    quot;I wis; Lyra said whey were a few hundred yards away.

    quot;Just go on  get lost. to us o.quot;

    tepped off to tems, cs ing, fluttering, skimming, he million-voiced chorus chirrup and scrape.

    quot; are you going to do, ill?quot; Lyra said quietly after theyd walked some way in silence.

    quot;ell, Ive got to go ; he said.

    S hough. She hoped he sounded unsure.

    quot;But t still be after you,quot; s;t;

    quot;eve seen er all.quot;

    quot;Yes, I suppose... But I ed to sed us to...quot;

    quot;Yea; ;and I ed... It o go to Cittagazze again, even. It iful place, and if ters are all gone... Bu