o and talk to him。〃
He was a tern； and before she could answer he'd flown off the fence and down to the icy ground beyond it。 There was an open gate a little way along； and Lyra could have followed him； but she hung back uneasily。 Pantalaimon looked at her； and then became a badger。
She knew what he was doing。 Daemons could move no more than a few yards from their humans； and if she stood by the fence and he remained a bird； he wouldn't get near the bear； so he was going to pull。
She felt angry and miserable。 His badger claws dug into the earth and he walked forward。 It was such a strange tormenting feeling when your daemon was pulling at the link between you； part physical pain deep in the chest； part intense sadness and love。 And she knew it was the same for him。 Everyone tested it when they were growing up： seeing how far they could pull apart； ing back with intense relief。
He tugged a little harder。
〃Don't； Pan！〃
But he didn't stop。 The bear watched； motionless。 The pain in Lyra's heart grew more and more unbearable； and a sob of longing rose in her throat。
〃Pan…〃
Then she was through the gate； scrambling over the icy mud toward him； and he turned into a wildcat and sprang up into her arms； and they were clinging together tightly with little shaky sounds of unhappiness ing from them both。
〃I thought you really would…〃
〃No…〃
〃I couldn't believe how much it hurt…〃
And then she brushed the tears away angrily and sniffed hard。 He nestled in her arms； and she knew she would rather die than let them be parted and face that sadness again； it would send her mad with grief and terror。 If she died； they'd still be together； like the Scholars in the crypt at Jordan。
Then girl and daemon looked up at the solitary bear。 He had no daemon。 He was alone； always alone。 She felt such a stir of pity and gentleness for him that she almost reached out to touch his matted pelt； and only a sense of courtesy toward those cold ferocious eyes prevented her。
〃Iorek Byrnison；〃 she said。
〃Well？〃
〃Lord Faa and Farder Coram have gone to try and get your armor for you。〃
He didn't move or speak。 It was clear what he thought of their chances。
〃I know where it is； though；〃 she said； 〃and if I told you； maybe you could get it by yourself； I don't know。〃
〃How do you know where it is？〃
〃I got a symbol reader。 I think I ought to tell you； Iorek Byrnison； seeing as they tricked you out of it in the first place。 I don't think that's right。 They shouldn't've done that。 Lord Faa's going to argue with the sysselman； but probably they won't let you have it whatever he says。 So if I tell you； will you e with us and help rescue the kids from Bolvangar？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I 。 。 。 〃 She didn't mean to be nosy； but she couldn't help being curious。 She said； 〃Why don't you just make some more armor out of this metal here； Iorek Byrnison？〃
〃Because it's worthless。 Look；〃 he said； and； lifting the engine cover with one paw； he extended a claw on the other hand and ripped right through it like a can opener。 〃My armor is made of sky iron； made for me。 A bear's armor is his soul； just as your daemon is your soul。 You might as well take him away〃 …indicating Pantalaimon…〃and replace him with a doll full of sawdust。 That is the difference。 Now； where is my armor？〃
〃Listen； you got to promise not to take vengeance。 They done wrong taking it； but you just got to put up with that。〃
〃All right。 No vengeance afterwards。 But no holding back as I take it； either。 If they fight； they die。〃
〃It's hidden in the cellar of the priest's house；〃 she told him。 〃He thinks there's a spirit in it； and he's been a trying to conjure it out。 But that's where it is。〃
He stood high up on his hind legs and looked west； so that the last of the sun colored his face a creamy brilliant yellow white amid the gloom。 She could feel the power of the great creature ing off him like waves of heat。
〃I must work till sunset；〃 he said。 〃I gave my word this morning to the master here。 I still owe a few minutes' work。〃
〃The sun's set where I am；〃 she pointed out； because from her point of view it had vanished behind the rocky headland to the southwest。
He dropped to all fours。
〃It's true；〃 he said； with his face now in shadow like hers。 〃What's your name； child？〃
〃Lyra Belacqua。〃
〃Then I owe you a debt； Lyra Belacqua；〃 he said。
He turned and lurched away； padding so swiftly across the freezing ground that Lyra couldn't keep up； even running。 She did run； though； and Pantalaimon flew up as a seagull to watch where the bear went and called down to tell her where to follow。
Iorek Byrnison bounded out of the depot and along the narrow street before turning into the main street of the town； past the courtyard of the sysselman's residence where a flag hung in the still air and a sentry marched stiffly up and down； down the hill past the end of the street where the witch consul lived。 The sentry by this time had realized what was happening； and was trying to gather his wits； but Iorek Byrnison was already turning a corner near the harbor。
People stopped to watch or scuttled out of his careering way。 The sentry fired two shots in the air； and set off down the hill after the bear； spoiling the effect by skidding on the icy slope and only regaining his balance after seizing the nearest railings。 Lyra was not far behind。 As she passed the syssel…man's house； she was aware of a number of figures ing out into the courtyard to see what was going on； and thought she saw Farder Coram among them； but then she was past； hurtling down the street toward the corner where the sentry was already turning to follow the bear。
The priest's house was older than most； and made of costly bricks。 Three steps led up to the front door； which was now hanging in matchwood splinters； and from inside the house came screams and the crashing and tearing of more wood。 The sentry hesitated outside； his rifle at the ready； but then as passers…by began to gather and people looked out of windows from across the street； he realized that he had to act； and fired a shot into the air before running in。
A moment later； the whole house seemed to shake。 Glass broke in three windows and a tile slid off the roof； and then a maidservant ran out； terrified； her clucking hen of a daemon flapping after her。
Another shot came from inside the house； and then a full…throated roar made the servant scream。 As if fired from a cannon； the priest himself came hurtling out； with his pelican daemon in a wild flutter of feathers and injured pride。 Lyra heard orders shouted； and turned to see a squad of armed policemen hurrying around the corner； some with pistols and some with rifles； and not far behind them came John Faa and the stout； fussy figure of the sysselman。
A rending； splintering sound made them all look back at the house。 A window at ground level； obviously opening on a cellar； was being wrenched apart with a crash of glass and a screech of tearing wood。 The sentry who'd followed Iorek Byrnison into the house came running out and stood to face the cellar window； rifle at his shoulder； and then the window tore open pletely； and out climbed Iorek Byrnison； the bear in armor。
Without it； he was formidable。 With it； he was terrifying。 It was rust…red； and crudely riveted together： great sheets and plates of dented discolored metal that scraped and screeched as they rode over one another。 The helmet was pointed like his muzzle； with slits for eyes； and it left the lower part of his jaw bare for tearing and biting。
The sentry fired several shots； and the policemen leveled their weapons too； but Iorek Byrnison merely shook the bullets off like raindrops； and lunged forward in a screech and clang of metal before the sentry could escape； and knocked him to the ground。 His daemon； a husky dog； darted at the bear's throat； but Iorek Byrnison took no more notice of him than he would of a fly； and dragging the sentry to him with one vast paw； he bent and enclosed his head in his jaws。 Lyra could see exactly what would happen next： he'd crush the man's skull like an egg； and there would follow a blo