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d meaning is steadfastness。 The third meaning is snag； or prevention。 The fourth meaning is the sea。 And so on； down to ten； twelve； maybe a never…ending series of meanings。〃
〃And do you know them all？〃
〃I know some； but to read it fully I'd need the book。 I seen the book and I know where it is； but I en't got it。〃
〃We'll e back to that；〃 said John Faa。 〃Go on with how you read it。〃
〃You got three hands you can control；〃 Farder Coram explained； 〃and you use them to ask a question。 By pointing to three symbols you can ask any question you can imagine； because you've got so many levels of each one。 Once you got your question framed； the other needle swings round and points to more symbols that give you the answer。〃
〃But how does it know what level you're a thinking of when you set the question？〃 said John Faa。
〃Ah； by itself it don't。 It only works if the questioner holds the levels in their mind。 You got to know all the meanings； first； and there must be a thousand or more。 Then you got to be able to hold 'em in your mind without fretting at it or pushing for an answer； and just watch while the needle wanders。 When it's gone round its full range； you'll know what the answer is。 I know how it works because I seen it done once by a wise man in Uppsala； and that's the only time I ever saw one before。 Do you know how rare these are？〃
〃The Master told me there was only six made；〃 Lyra said。
〃Whatever the number； it en't large。〃
〃And you kept this secret from Mrs。 Coulter； like the Master told you？〃 said John Faa。
〃Yes。 But her daemon； right； he used to go in my room。 And I'm sure he found it。〃
〃I see。 Well； Lyra； I don't know if we'll ever understand the full truth； but this is my guess； as good as I can make it。 The Master was given a charge by Lord Asriel to look after you and keep you safe from your mother。 And that was what he did； for ten years or more。 Then Mrs。 Coulter's friends in the Church helped her set up this Oblation Board； for what purpose we don't know； and there she was； as powerful in her way as Lord Asriel was in his。 Your parents； both strong in the world； both ambitious； and the Master of Jordan holding you in the balance between them。
〃Now the Master's got a hundred things to look after。 His first concern is his College and the scholarship there。 So if he sees a threat to that； he has to move agin it。 And the Church in recent times； Lyra； it's been a getting more manding。 There's councils for this and councils for that； there's talk of reviving the Office of Inquisition； God forbid。 And the Master has to tread warily between all these powers。 He has to keep Jordan College on the right side of the Church； or it won't survive。
〃And another concern of the Master is you； child。 Bernie Johansen was always clear about that。 The Master of Jordan and the other Scholars； they loved you like their own child。 They'd do anything to keep you safe； not just because they'd promised to Lord Asriel that they would； but for your own sake。 So if the Master gave you up to Mrs。 Coulter when he'd promised Lord Asriel he wouldn't； he must have thought you'd be safer with her than in Jordan College； in spite of all appearances。 And when he set out to poison Lord Asriel； he must have thought that what Lord Asriel was a doing would place all of them in danger； and maybe all of us； too； maybe all the world。 I see the Master as a man having terrible choices to make； whatever he chooses will do harm； but maybe if he does the right thing； a little less harm will e about than if he chooses wrong。 God preserve me from having to make that sort of choice。
〃And when it e to the point where he had to let you go； he gave you the symbol reader and bade you keep it safe。 I wonder what he had in mind for you to do with it； as you couldn't read it； I'm foxed as to what he was a thinking。〃
〃He said Uncle Asriel presented the alethiometer to Jordan College years before；〃 Lyra said； struggling to remember。 〃He was going to say something else； and then someone knocked at the door and he had to stop。 What I thought was； he might have wanted me to keep it away from Lord Asriel too。〃
〃Or even the opposite；〃 said John Faa。
〃What d'you mean； John？〃 said Farder Coram。
〃He might have had it in mind to ask Lyra to return it to Lord Asriel； as a kind of repense for trying to poison him。 He might have thought the danger from Lord Asriel had passed。 Or that Lord Asriel could read some wisdom from this instrument and hold back from his purpose。 If Lord Asriel's held captive now； it might help set him free。 Well； Lyra； you better take this symbol reader and keep it safe。 If you kept it safe so far； I en't worried about leaving it with you。 But there might e a time when we need to consult it； and I reckon we'll ask for it then。〃
He folded the velvet over it and slid it back across the table。 Lyra wanted to ask all kinds of questions； but suddenly she felt shy of this massive man； with his little eyes so sharp and kindly among their folds and wrinkles。
One thing she had to ask； though。
〃Who was the gyptian woman who nursed me ？〃
〃Why； it was Billy Costa's mother； of course。 She won't have told you； because I en't let her； but she knows what we're a talking of here； so it's all out in the open。
〃Now you best be getting back to her。 You got plenty to be a thinking of； child。 When three days is gone past； we'll have another roping and discuss all there is to do。 You be a good girl。 Goodnight； Lyra。〃
〃Goodnight； Lord Faa。 Goodnight； Farder Coram；〃 she said politely； clutching the alethiometer to her breast with one hand and scooping up Pantalaimon with the other。
Both old men smiled kindly at her。 Outside the door of the parley room Ma Costa was waiting； and as if nothing had happened since Lyra was born； the boat mother gathered her into her great arms and kissed her before bearing her off to bed。
EIGHT
FRUSTRATION
Lyra had to adjust to her new sense of her own story； and that couldn't be done in a day。 To see Lord Asriel as her father was one thing； but to accept Mrs。 Coulter as her mother was nowhere near so easy。 A couple of months ago she would have rejoiced； of course； and she knew that too； and felt confused。
But； being Lyra； she didn't fret about it for long； for there was the fen town to explore and many gyptian children to amaze。 Before the three days were up she was an expert with a punt （in her eyes； at least） and she'd gathered a gang of urchins about her with tales of her mighty father； so unjustly made captive。
〃And then one evening the Turkish Ambassador was a guest at Jordan for dinner。 And he was under orders from the Sultan hisself to kill my father； right； and he had a ring on his finger with a hollow stone full of poison。 And when the wine e round he made as if to reach across my father's glass； and he sprinkled the poison in。 It was done so quick that no one else saw him； but…〃
〃What sort of poison？〃 demanded a thin…faced girl。
〃Poison out of a special Turkish serpent；〃 Lyra invented； 〃what they catch by playing a pipe to lure out and then they throw it a sponge soaked in honey and