edhead.

    “t,” said the plump girl, “he reckons—”

    “Dont tell !” said t yet.”

    “Is there boys here as well?” said Lyra.

    “Yeas of us. t ty, I reckon.”

    “Moren t,” said ty.”

    “Except taking us aart off  of us, and one by one they all disappear.”

    “till ....”

    Lyra  from t, ening at t kno apart for most of time. t treated badly.

    “Its all rig muco do, except tests and make us do exercises and take our temperature and stuff. Its just boring really.”

    “Except wer comes,” said Annie.

    Lyra o stop , and Pantalaimon fluttered  ticed.

    “ve gave us some sleeping pills, like you said, cause were all dozy. er?”

    “Srapped us, most of us, anyalk about o be kids disappearing.”

    “Scake us ao us. ter ches.”

    “they kill us?” said Lyra, shuddering.

    “Must do. Cause no one comes back.”

    “t daemons too,” said Bella. “eighem and all...”

    “touch your daemons?”

    “No! God! t scales to get on tes and take pictures. And t you in t and measure Dust, all time, top measuring Dust.”

    “ dust?” said Lyra.

    “e dunno,” said Annie. “Just somet real dust. If you ent got any Dust, ts good. But everyone gets Dust in the end.”

    “You knoartars make o let t in.”

    “Yeaer when she comes.”

    “You  dare!” said Martha admiringly.

    “I would.”

    “hens she coming?” said Lyra.

    “ter tomorrow,” said Annie.

    A cold drencerror  doalaimon crept very close. So find Ro