eak to Roger's daemon Salcilia。
She was a chaffinch； and she fluttered so wildly that Pantalaimon had to be a cat and leap at her； pinning her down to whisper。 Such brisk fights or scuffles between children's daemons were mon； luckily； and no one took much notice； but Roger went pale at once。 Lyra had never seen anyone so white。 He looked up at the blank haughty stare she gave him； and the color flooded back into his cheeks as he brimmed over with hope； excitement； and joy； and only Pantalaimon； shaking Salcilia firmly； was able to keep Roger from shouting out and leaping up to greet his best friend； his rade in arms； his Lyra。
But he saw how she looked away disdainfully； and he followed her example faithfully； as he'd done in a hundred Oxford battles and campaigns。 No one must know； of course； because they were both in deadly danger。 She rolled her eyes at her new friends； and they collected their trays of cornflakes and toast and sat together； an instant gang； excluding everyone else in order to gossip about them。
You can't keep a large group of children in one place for long without giving them plenty to do； and in some ways Bolvangar was run like a school； with timetabled activities such as gymnastics and 〃art。〃 Boys and girls were kept separate except for breaks and mealtimes； so it wasn't until midmorning； after an hour and a half of sewing directed by one of the nurses； that Lyra had the chance to talk to Roger。 But it had to look natural； that was the difficulty。 All the children there were more or less at the same age； and it was the age when most boys talk to boys and girls to girls； each making a conspicuous point of ignoring the opposite sex。
She found her chance in the canteen again； when the children came in for a drink and a biscuit。 Lyra sent Pantalaimon； as a fly； to talk to Salcilia on the wall next to their table while she and Roger kept quietly in their separate groups。 It was difficult to talk while your daemon's attention was somewhere else； so Lyra pretended to look glum and rebellious as she sipped her milk with the other girls。 Half her thoughts were with the tiny buzz of talk between the daemons； and she wasn't really listening； but at one point she heard another girl with bright blond hair say a name that made her sit up。
It was the name of Tony Makarios。 As Lyra's attention snapped toward that； Pantalaimon had to slow down his whispered conversation with Roger's daemon； and both children listened to what the girl was saying。
〃No； I know why they took him；〃 she said； as heads clustered close nearby。 〃It was because his daemon didn't change。 They thought he was older than he looked； or summing； and he weren't really a young kid。 But really his daemon never changed very often because Tony hisself never thought much about anything。 I seen her change。 She was called Ratter 。 。 。 〃
〃Why are they so interested in daemons？〃 said Lyra。
〃No one knows；〃 said the blond girl。
〃I know；〃 said one boy who'd been listening。 〃What they do is kill your daemon and then see if you die。〃
〃Well； how e they do it over and over with different kids？〃 said someone。 〃They'd only need to do it once； wouldn't they？〃
〃I know what they do；〃 said the first girl。
She had everyone's attention now。 But because they didn't want to let the staff know what they were talking about； they had to adopt a strange； half…careless； indifferent manner； while listening with passionate curiosity。
〃How？〃 said someone。
〃 'Cause I was with him when they came for him。 We was in the linen room；〃 she said。
She was blushing hotly。 If she was expecting jeers and teasing； they didn't e。 All the children were subdued； and no one even smiled。
The girl went on： 〃We was keeping quiet and then the nurse came in； the one with the soft voice。 And she says； e on； Tony； I know you're there； e on； we won't hurt you 。 。 。 。And he says； What's going to happen？ And she says； We just put you to sleep； and then we do a little operation； and then you wake up safe and sound。 But Tony didn't believe her。 He says…〃
〃The holes！〃 said someone。 〃They make a hole in your head like the Tartars！ I bet！〃
〃Shut up！ What else did the nurse say？〃 someone else put in。 By this time； a dozen or more children were clustered around her table； their daemons as desperate to know as they were； all wide…eyed and tense。
The blond girl went on： 〃Tony wanted to know what they was gonna do with Ratter； see。 And the nurse says； Well； she's going to sleep too； just like when you do。 And Tony says； You're gonna kill her； en't yer？ 1 know you are。 We all know that's what happens。 And the nurse says； No； of course not。 It's just a little operation。 Just a little cut。 It won't even hurt； but we put you to sleep to make sure。
All the room had gone quiet now。 The nurse who'd been supervising had left for a moment； and the hatch to the kitchen was shut so no one could hear from there。
〃What sort of cut？〃 said a boy； his voice quiet and frightened。 〃Did she say what sort of cut？〃
〃She just said； It's something to make you more grown up。 She said everyone had to have it； that's why grownups' daemons don't change like ours do。 So they have a cut to make them one shape forever； and that's how you get grown up。〃
〃But…〃
〃Does that mean…〃
〃What； all grownups've had this cut？〃
〃What about…〃
Suddenly all the voices stopped as if they themselves had been cut； and all eyes turned to the door。 Sister Clara stood there； bland and mild and matter…of…fact； and beside her was a man in a white coat whom Lyra hadn't seen before。
〃Bridget McGinn；〃 he said。
The blond girl stood up trembling。 Her squirrel daemon clutched her breast。
〃Yes； sir？〃 she said； her voice hardly audible。
〃Finish your drink and e with Sister Clara；〃 he said。 〃The rest of you run along and go to your classes。〃
Obediently the children stacked their mugs on the stainless…steel trolley before leaving in silence。 No one looked at Bridget McGinn except Lyra； and she saw the blond girl's face vivid with fear。
The rest of that morning was spent in exercise。 There was a small gymnasium at the station； because it was hard to exercise outside during the long polar night； and each group of children took turns to play in there； under the supervision of a nurse。 They had to form teams and throw balls around； and at first Lyra； who had never in her life played at anything like this； was at a loss what to do。 But she was quick and athletic； and a natural leader； and soon found herself enjoying it。 The shouts of the children； the shrieks and hoots of the daemons； filled the little gymnasium and soon banished fearful thoughts； which of course was exactly what the exercise was intended to do。
At lunchtime； when the children were lining up once again in the canteen； Lyra felt Pantalaimon give a chirrup of recognition； and turned to find Billy Costa standing just behind her。
〃Roger told me you was here；〃 he muttered。
〃Your brother's ing； and John Faa and a whole band of gyptians；〃 she said。 〃They're going to take you home。〃
He nearly cried aloud with joy； but subdued the cry into a cough。
〃And you got to call me Lizzie；〃 Lyra said； 〃never Lyra。 And you got to tell me everything you know； right。〃
They sat together； with Roger close by。 It was easier to do this at lunchtime； when children spent more time ing and going between the tables and the counter； where bland…looking adults served equally bland food。 Under the clatter of knives and forks and plates Billy and Roger both told her as much as they knew。 Billy had heard from a nurse that children who had had the operation were often taken to hostels further south； which might explain how Tony Makarios came to be wandering in the wild。 But Roger had something even more interesting to tell her。
〃I found a hiding place；〃 he said。
〃What？ Where？〃
〃See that picture 。 。 。 〃 He meant the big photogram of the tropical beach。 〃If you look in the top right corner； you see that ceiling panel？〃
The ceiling consisted of large rectangular panels set in a framework of metal strips； and the corner of the panel above the picture had