That is how it seems....But we can't read the darkness, Mr. Scoresby. It is more than possible that I might be wrong. - Philip Pullman

As soon as men who believe they are doing God's will get hold of power, whether household or village or in Jerusalem or Rome itself, the devil enters them. It isn't long before they start drawing up lists of punishments for all kinds of innocent activities, sentencing people to be flogged or stoned in the name of God for wearing this or eating that or believing the other. And the privileged ones will build great palaces and temples to strut around in, and levy taxes on the poor to pay for their luxuries...and put them poor harmless heretics they flush out to horrible public deaths, to terrify the rest into obedience.

It might have been a new way for her heart to beat.

I’m working on another Lyra book right now – it’s called The Book of Dust.

“It’s going very well and it will be finished when I write the words ‘The End’.