The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust, #2)

by Philip Pullman

‘What are you doing?’ he said. His tone was hostile. ‘I’m going to try the new method again.’ ‘Why? Last time it made you sick.’ ‘I’m exploring. Trying things out.’ ‘I don’t like the new method, Lyra.’ ‘But why?’ ‘Because when you do it you look as if you’re lost. I can’t tell where you are. And I don’t think you know where you are. You need more imagination.’ ‘What?’ ‘If you had more imagination it would be better. But—’ ‘What are you saying? You’re saying I haven’t got any imagination?’ ‘You’re trying to live without it, that’s what I’m saying. It’s those books again. One of them saying it doesn’t exist, the other saying it doesn’t matter anyway.’ ‘No, no …’ ‘Well, if you don’t want my opinion, don’t ask me about it.’ ‘But I didn’t …’ She didn’t know what to say. She felt powerfully upset. He was just looking at her expressionlessly. ‘What should I do?’ she said. She meant about us. But in response he said, ‘Well, you have to be able to imagine. But in your case, that’s not easy, is it?’ ‘I don’t … I really have no … Pan, I just don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s as if we’re speaking different languages. It doesn’t connect with …’