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could never go ashore at all； because his daemon had settled as a dolphin； and he could never leave the water。 He was a wonderful sailor； best navigator you ever knew； could have made a fortune at the fishing； but he wasn't happy at it。 He was never quite happy till he died and he could be buried at sea。〃
〃Why do daemons have to settle？〃 Lyra said。 〃I want Pantalaimon to be able to change forever。 So does he。〃
〃Ah； they always have settled； and they always will。 That's part of growing up。 There'll e a time when you'll be tired of his changing about； and you'll want a settled kind of form for him。〃
〃I never will！〃
〃Oh； you will。 You'll want to grow up like all the other girls。 Anyway； there's pensations for a settled form。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃Knowing what kind of person you are。 Take old Belisaria。 She's a seagull； and that means I'm a kind of seagull too。 I'm not grand and splendid nor beautiful； but I'm a tough old thing and I can survive anywhere and always find a bit of food and pany。 That's worth knowing； that is。 And when your daemon settles； you'll know the sort of person you are。〃
〃But suppose your daemon settles in a shape you don't like？〃
〃Well； then； you're discontented； en't you？ There's plenty of folk as'd like to have a lion as a daemon and they end up with a poodle。 And till they learn to be satisfied with what they are； they're going to be fretful about it。 Waste of feeling； that is。〃
But it didn't seem to Lyra that she would ever grow up。
One morning there was a different smell in the air； and the ship was moving oddly； with a brisker rocking from side to side instead of the plunging and soaring。 Lyra was on deck a minute after she woke up； gazing greedily at the land： such a strange sight； after all that water； for though they had only been at sea a few days； Lyra felt as if they'd been on the ocean for months。 Directly ahead of the ship a mountain rose； green flanked and snow…capped； and a little town and harbor lay below it： wooden houses with steep roofs； an oratory spire； cranes in the harbor； and clouds of gulls wheeling and crying。 The smell was of fish； but mixed with it came land smells too： pine resin and earth and something animal and musky； and something else that was cold and blank and wild： it might have been snow。 It was the smell of the North。
Seals frisked around the ship； showing their clown faces above the water before sinking back without a splash。 The wind that lifted spray off the white…capped waves was monstrously cold； and searched out every gap in Lyra's wolfskin； and her hands were soon aching and her face numb。 Pantalaimon； in his ermine shape； warmed her neck for her； but it was too cold to stay outside for long without work to do； even to watch the seals； and Lyra went below to eat her breakfast porridge and look through the porthole in the saloon。
Inside the harbor the water was calm； and as they moved past the massive breakwater Lyra began to feel unsteady from the lack of motion。 She and Pantalaimon avidly watched as the ship inched ponderously toward the quayside。 During the next hour the sound of the engine died away to a quiet background rumble； voices shouted orders or queries； ropes were thrown； gangways lowered； hatches opened。
〃e on； Lyra；〃 said Farder Coram。 〃Is everything packed？〃
Lyra's possessions； such as they were； had been packed ever since she'd woken up and seen the land。 All she had to do was run to the cabin and pick up the shopping bag； and she was ready。
The first thing she and Farder Coram did ashore was to visit the house of the witch consul。 It didn't take long to find it； the little town was clustered around the harbor； with the oratory and the governor's house the only buildings of any size。 The witch consul lived in a green…painted wooden house within sight of the sea； and when they rang the bell it jangled loudly in the quiet street。
A servant showed them into a little parlor and brought them coffee。 Presently the consul himself came in to greet them。 He was a fat man with a florid face and a sober black suit； whose name was Martin Lanselius。 His dsmon was a little serpent； the same intense and brilliant green as his eyes； which were the only witchlike thing about him； though Lyra was not sure what she had been expecting a witch to look like。
〃How can I help you； Farder Coram？〃 he said。
〃In two ways； Dr。 Lanselius。 First； I'm anxious to get in touch with a witch lady I met some years ago； in the fen country of Eastern Anglia。 Her name is Serafina Pekkala。〃
Dr。 Lanselius made a note with a silver pencil。
〃How long ago was your meeting with her？〃 he said。
〃Must be forty years。 But I think she would remember。〃
〃And what is the second way in which you seek my help？〃
〃I'm representing a number of gyptian families who've lost children。 We've got reason to believe there's an organization capturing these children； ours and others； and bringing them to the North for some unknown purpose。 I'd like to know whether you or your people have heard of anything like this a going on。〃
Dr。 Lanselius sipped his coffee blandly。
〃It's not impossible that notice of some such activity might have e our way；〃 he said。 〃You realize； the relations between my people and the Northlanders are perfectly cordial。 It would be difficult for me to justify disturbing them。〃
Farder Coram nodded as if he understood very well。
〃To be sure；〃 he said。 〃And it wouldn't be necessary for me to ask you if I could get the information any other way。 That was why I asked about the witch lady first。〃
Now Dr。 Lanselius nodded as if he understood。 Lyra watched this game with puzzlement and respect。 There were all kinds of things going on beneath it； and she saw that the witch consul was ing to a decision。
〃Very well；〃 he said。 〃Of course； that's true； and you'll realize that your name is not unknown to us； Farder Coram。 Serafina Pekkala is queen of a witch clan in the region of Lake Enara。 As for your other question； it is of course understood that this information is not reaching you through me。〃
〃Quite so。〃
〃Well； in this very town there is a branch of an organization called the Northern Progress Exploration pany； which pretends to be searching for minerals； but which is really controlled by something called the General Oblation Board of London。 This organization； I happen to know； imports children。 This is not generally known in the town； the Norroway government is not officially aware of it。 The children don't remain here long。 They are taken some distance inland。〃
〃Do you know where； Dr。 Lanselius？〃
〃No。 I would tell you if I did。〃
〃And do you know what happens to them there？〃
For the first time； Dr。 Lanselius glanced at Lyra。 She looked stolidly back。 The little green serpent daemon raised her head from the consul's collar and whispered tongue…flickeringly in his ear。
The consul said； 〃I have heard the phrase the M。aystadt process in connection with this matter。 I think they use that in order to avoid calling what they do by its proper name。 I have also heard the word intercision； but what it refers to I could not s