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Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy,

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and my friends and I will be reading you a

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sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to

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help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From

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time to time, we will also read you a relaxing,

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peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming.

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Once we have read the stories, we will then read

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them a second time, but this time they will be

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read even slower. This will help you to relax even more.

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Before we begin, I would like you to close your

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eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take

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a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath

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for a few seconds more and then release and breathe out.

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Do this a few times if you need to. While

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you listen to the music and you listen to my voice,

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give yourself time to let your body relax and your

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mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us

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to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now

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it's time for this week's story, The staircase that climbed

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the sky. Nobody knew where the staircase came from. On

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Monday evening, The square in the middle of Bellweather Town

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contained only the usual things, a sleepy fountain, a crooked

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clock tower, three pigeons with criminal intentions, and mister Pindle

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selling chestnuts. No one entirely trusted. But on Tuesday morning,

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stretching up from the cobblestones and vanishing into the clouds,

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stood a staircase. Not an ordinary staircase. This staircase twisted

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like a ribbon through the sky. Its steps shimmered silver

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blue in the dawn light, and tiny lanterns floated beside it,

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glowing softly despite the morning sun. At the bottom stood

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a sign. It read one person at a time, no running, absolutely,

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no bananas.

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Speaker 2: Naturally. The entire town gathered immediately. Magic whispered the baker.

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Nonsense muttered the mayor, though he took three nervous steps backwards.

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Tourist opportunity, said mister Pindle. Children pointed upward, dogs bark

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at the clouds. Old missus Wren claimed she'd seen a

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staircase exactly like it once before, though everyone ignored her

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because she also claimed her brother had married a ghost.

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Only one person said nothing. Twelve year old Eli O

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Bell stood at the edge of the crowd, with his

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hands in his coat pockets, staring upward. Eleio loved impossible things.

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He collected unusual keys, read books with missing pages, and

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once spent an entire summer trying to teach his goldfish

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to recognize poetry. The goldfish had not cooperated, Elio said

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his older sister, Clara, grabbing his sleeve. Don't even think

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about it. I wasn't you get that look when you're

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about to do something ridiculous? I always looked like this.

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That's the problem. A bell rang from somewhere high above

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the clouds. Not loud, not frightening, just curious, as though

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the staircase itself was wondering who might climb it first.

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The crowd shuffled nervously, nobody moved. The mare cleared his throat.

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As acting leader of Bellwether Town, I strongly advise against

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climbing mysterious sky staircases. Very sensible, said mister Pindall. Quite right, agreed,

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the baker, absolutely, said Clara. Elio took one step forward.

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Clara groaned, oh no, you heard the bell, Yes, it

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sounded lonely. That is not a reason to climb into

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the heavens. But Elio was already moving. The crowd parted

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as he approached the first step. The staircase glowed faintly

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beneath his shoes. Above him, the clouds shifted. The lanterns

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bobbed gently, as if pleased. Clara folded her arms. If

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you fall out of the sky, I'm telling mother, it

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was your fault. Eleo grinned. Then he climbed. The staircase

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was strangely warm beneath his feet. Higher and higher he

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went until bell Weather Town shrank below him like a

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toy village. Chimneys puffed smoke no bigger than threads. The

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people became dog The wind smelled different up there, like

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rain and fireworks. After perhaps two hundred steps, or maybe

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two thousand, because sky staircases are difficult to measure, Eleo

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noticed something odd. The staircase was humming, not loudly, just

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softly beneath the wind oo it sounded suspiciously cheerful. Hello,

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said Elio. The staircase hummed louder. You can hear me.

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The staircase gave a please little wobble, Well, said Elyo.

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Speaker 3: That's new.

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Speaker 2: A voice spoke behind him. It doesn't talk much. Mostly

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it sings leoh, spun around. Sitting on the railer was

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a girl about his age, wearing a coat stitched entirely

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from patches of different colors. She had dark curls, muddy boots,

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and an umbrella hanging across her back like a sword.

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You nearly gave me a heart attack, said Elio. You

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climbed a staircase into the clouds. She replied, I think

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your heart accepted danger some time ago. She hopped down

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and offered a hand. I'm Lyra. There was another, only one,

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terrible whistler. Before Elio could ask more, the staircase suddenly

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lurched sideways. Whoa, The cloud split apart. The staircase curved

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sharply upward, carrying them toward a floating island. Hanging in

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the sky. It was enormous, gardens spilled over its edges,

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windmills turned lazily in the breeze, tiny houses balanced atop

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giant tree roots, and circling above it. All were whales,

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Not ordinary whales, sky whales, massive silver creatures drifting through

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the air as gently as balloons. Elio stopped dead. There

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are flying whales, yes, said Lyra. Try not to stare.

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They find it rude. One whale floated close enough for

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Elio to see glowing patterns across its skin. It sneezed.

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The resulting gust nearly threw him off the staircase. Bless you,

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said Lyra. The wail honked proudly and drifted away. The

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staircase delivered them onto the floating island with a soft clink.

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At once, a tiny man in a purple waistcoat marched

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toward them, carrying a clipboard. Names. He barked, elioh Lyra,

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purpose of visit? Elio hesitated curiosity. The man scribbled furiously,

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very dangerous. Reason, most common type of traveler. Any forbidden items?

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I have a sandwich? What filling cheese? Acceptable? He leaned closer.

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No bananas? Why does everyone keep mentioning bananas? The man shuddered.

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Speaker 3: Violence.

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Speaker 2: We don't discuss the banana incident. He hurried away. Elio

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turned to Lyra. What is this place? The aisles above?

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She said, Bits of the world that forgot to stay

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on the ground. That can happen, Oh, yes, usually after

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too much magic or poor planning. They wandered through winding

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streets lined with crooked shops. One sold bottled thunder, another

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repaired broken shadows, a third specialized entirely in left handed teacups.

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Outside a bakery, a sign read today's special cloud pie

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warning may float away. Everything felt impossible and yet oddly normal.

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As though so impossible, things happened here every day. Who

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built the staircase, Eleo asked. Lyra's expression changed slightly. No

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one knows. That's not true. It's the truest answer there is.

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They stopped beside a fountain where water flowed upward into

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the sky instead of down. At its center stood a

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statue of an old woman holding a lantern. Written beneath

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were the words for those who climb when others fear

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to Eleo stared at it. Do you live here? Lyra

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shook her head. I climb. That's not an answer, it's

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the only one I've got. Before Eleo could reply, bells

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rang across the island. The cheerful noise suddenly shifted. People

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froze the sky, Whales changed direction. Far above them, dark

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clouds rolled across the blue sky. Lyra swore under her breath,

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that's early. What is the storm? The wind howled? A

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voice boomed from somewhere unseen. All climbers report to the

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clock harbor. Everyone began running. Eloh followed Lyra through twisting

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streets until they reached the edge of the island. There,

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hanging over open sky, was the strangest harbor Elleo had

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ever seen. Boats floated in the air, tied to silver docks.

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Some had sails stitched from starlight. Others had propellers that

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fun without touching anything. And at the center stood an

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enormous clock, taller than a house. Its hands moved wildly backwards.

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A tall woman in a long navy coat stood beneath it,

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shouting orders. Tighten the moorings, secure the lanterns. Someone find

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Captain Brindle before he accidentally declares war on the weather again.

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She spotted Elyo, new climber, Yes, said Elio. Can he

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tie knots?

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Speaker 3: No?

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Speaker 2: Said Lyra? Can he panic quietly? Probably good enough? She

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thrust a rope into his hands. Storms coming. Elio looked upward.

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The clouds were wrong. They moved too fast. Shapes flickered

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inside them, faces, buildings, entire streets, as though the storm

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carried fragments of lost places within it. The tempest whispered Lyra,

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what is it a storm that steals things? Lightning flashed

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for one terrible moment, Elio saw another staircase inside the

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clouds broken, falling. The great clock at the harbor began

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striking wildly. Dong dong, dong. The wind screamed. Then the

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storm arrived. Chaos exploded across the harbor. Skyboats slammed against

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their ropes, lanterns burst, rain fell upward and sideways. At

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the same time, Eleo clung to the dock. A sky

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whale cried out somewhere in the darkness. Then came a

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horrible cracking sound. The giant clock tower split down the middle,

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its top half tilted toward the edge of the island.

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People screamed. If the clock falls, shouted Lyra, the harbor

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loses time. That sentence makes no sense. Nothing up here does.

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The tower leaned farther. Without thinking, Eleo ran elee oh

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Lyra shouted. He grabbed one of the swinging support ropes

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and climbed the collapsing clock tower as rain lashed his

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face below him. The barber spun dizzyingly far beneath the clouds. This,

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yelled Eleo to nobody in particular, was a terrible plan.

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The tower groaned at the top, enormous gears spun wildly.

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One had broken loose. Eleo scrambled across the frame, boots

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slipping on wet metal. The gear shifted again. If it fell,

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the entire clock would collapse, And somehow Eleo knew new,

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in the strange, deep way impossible places tell you things,

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that the staircase itself depended on this clock. Without it,

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nobody would find their way home. The storm roared louder.

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Eleo braced himself against the gear with all his strength,

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which unfortunately was not very much strength. Oh brilliant, he muttered.

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Then another pair of hands grabbed the gear beside him. Lyra,

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you came back. You look like you were about to

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die in an extremely annoying way. Together they shoved the

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gear creaked back into place below them. The clock hands

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steadied slightly, but not enough. It still won't hold, shouted Lyra.

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The tower lurched again. Then something enormous emerged from the

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storm clouds. The silver sky whil, the same one from before.

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It floated beside the tower, close enough for Elio to touch.

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The wail lowered its head. Lyra stared, I think, she said, carefully,

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it wants help. Wrapped around one of its fins was

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a snapped chain attached to a massive bronze anchor. The

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anchor swung dangerously through the storm. Elio understood instantly the anchor.

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Together they pulled the chain free and looped it through

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the broken clock supports. The whil gave a mighty cry

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and pulled upward with impossible strength. The clock tower steadied.

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The harbor. Lights flared back to life, and across the

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floating island, every bell began ringing at once. The storm

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screamed one final angry howl. Then it broke apart. Clouds

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scat uttered, rain vanished. Silence fell across the harbor. Slowly

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people emerged from hiding. The tall woman in the navy

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coat looked up at Elio and Lyra standing atop the

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tower beside the whale.

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Speaker 3: Well.

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Speaker 2: She called, that was either very brave or very stupid?

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Can it be both? Shouted Elio. Usually. The crowd burst

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into cheers. The whale gave a proud honk. Then one

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by one, the lanterns around the harbor began glowing gold.

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The staircase far below shimmered in answer. Lyra smiled softly.

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It likes you, the staircase. It only appears for people

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who stop ill believe climbing is worth it. Eleo looked

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down through the clouds toward Bellweather Town, tiny and distant below.

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For what it's worth, he said, I almost turned around

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at the first hundred steps. That's normal. You weren't scared.

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Lyra laughed. I'm terrified constantly, Eleo blinked. But you seem fearless.

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That's because fearless people are idiots. The great clock rang midnight.

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The staircase hummed again softly, warmly, as if proud. The

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tall woman approached them, carrying two small silver pins shaped

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like staircases for climbers, she said. Lyra accepted her as

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caly Eleo held his carefully. What happens now, the woman smiled,

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Now you go home, Elyo hesitated. Part of him wanted

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to stay forever, to sail skyboats and feed cloud Pie

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to whales, and wander impossible islands above the world. But

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another part remembered warm kitchens, Clara shouting his name from downstairs,

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and belwether Town beneath the evening lamps. Lyra seemed to understand.

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They always think adventure means leaving home forever. She said, quietly,

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What does it really mean coming back different. The staircase

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glowed brighter far below. Dawn was beginning. Elio took a breath. Well,

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he said, I suppose I should climb down before my

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sister murders me. Wise, They walked together to the staircase entrance.

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Eleo paused, will I see you again? Lyra shrugged, depends

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on what whether the staircase thinks you still need climbing,

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And before Eleo could answer, she stepped backward into the

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morning mist and vanished. The staircase carried Eleo gently downward

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through the clouds, lower and lower until bellwether Town returned

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beneath him. People filled the square, waiting anxiously. When Eleo

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reached the final step, the crowd irrupted. Clara sprinted forward

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first and hugged him so hard his ribs squeaked you

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absolute disaster, she shouted, You vanished for an entire night.

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I brought back a staircase pin. She stared at him.

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I'm still angry, but that is rather impressive. The mayor

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hurried over, what's up there? Elio looked skyward. The staircase

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was already fading into the dawn light. He thought of

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sky whales, storm clocks, impossible, harbors, a girl with an umbrella, sword,

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and a staircase that hummed like it new secrets. Finally,

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he smiled everything he said, the staircase vanished. Only the

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sign remained behind. Someone picked it up and read aloud,

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thank you for climbing. The sky appreciates the company. And

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far above the waking town, hidden somewhere beyond the clouds,

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a staircase quietly continued climbing forever. The staircase not an

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ordinary staircase. This staircase twisted like a ribbon through the sky.

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Its steps shimmered silver blue in the dawn light, and

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tiny lanterns floated beside it, glowing softly despite the morning sun.

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At the bottom stood a sign. It read one person

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at a time, no running, absolutely no bananas. Naturally. The

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entire town gathered immediately. Magic whispered the baker. Nonsense muttered

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the mayor, though he took three nervous steps backwards. Tourist opportunity,

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said mister Pindall. Children pointed upward, dogs barked at the clouds.

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Old missus Wren claimed she'd seen a staircase exactly like

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it once before, though everyone ignored her because she also

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claimed her brother had married a ghost. Only one person

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said nothing. Twelve year old Elio Bell stood at the

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edge of the crowd, with his hands in his coat pockets,

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staring upward. Elio loved impossible things. He collected unusual keys,

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read books with missing pages, and once spent an entire

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summer trying to teach his goldfish to recognize poetry. The

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goldfish had not cooperated. Elioh said his older sister Clara,

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grabbing his sleeve. Don't even think about it. I wasn't

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you get that look when you're about to do something ridiculous.

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I always look like this. That's the problem. A bell

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rang from somewhere high above the clouds. Not loud, not frightening,

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just curious, as though the staircase itself was wondering who

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might climb it first. The crowd shuffled nervously. Nobody moved.

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The mare cleared his throat. As acting leader of bellwether Town,

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I strongly advise against climbing mysterious sky staircases. Very sensible,

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said mister Pindall. Quite right, agreed, the baker, absolutely, said Clara.

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Eleio took one step forward. Clara groaned, oh no, you

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heard the bell. Yes, it sounded lonely. That is not

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a reason to climb into the heavens. But Eleio was

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already moving. The crowd parted as he approached the first step.

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The staircase glowed faintly beneath his shoes. Above him, the

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clouds shifted. The lanterns bobbed gently, as if pleased. Clara

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folded her arms. If you fall out of the sky,

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I'm telling mother, it was your fault. Eleo grinned. Then

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he climbed. The staircase was strangely warm beneath his feet.

275
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Higher and higher he went until bell Weather Town shrank

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below him like a toy village. Chimneys puffed smoke no

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bigger than threads. The people became dots. The wind smelled

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different up there, like rain and fireworks. After perhaps two

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hundred steps, or maybe two thousand, because sky staircases are

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difficult to measure, Eleo noticed something odd. The staircase was humming,

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not loudly, just softly beneath the wind oo It sounded

282
00:30:01,279 --> 00:30:10,039
suspiciously cheerful. Hello, said Elyo. The staircase hummed louder, you

283
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:16,240
can hear me. The staircase gave a pleased. Little wobble, well,

284
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said Elio. That's new. A voice spoke behind him. It

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doesn't talk much. Mostly it sings. Elio spun around. Sitting

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00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:34,559
on the railing was a girl about his age, wearing

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a coat stitched entirely from patches of different colors.

288
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Speaker 3: She had dark.

289
00:30:40,799 --> 00:30:45,640
Speaker 2: Curls, muddy boots, and an umbrella hanging across her back

290
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like a sword. You nearly gave me a heart attack,

291
00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:55,559
said Elyo. You climbed a staircase into the clouds, She replied,

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00:30:56,559 --> 00:31:02,119
I think your heart accepted danger summed time ago. She

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00:31:02,279 --> 00:31:08,240
hopped down and offered a hand. I'm Lyra. There was another,

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only one terrible whistler. Before Elio could ask more, the

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00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:24,440
staircase suddenly lurched sideways. Whoa, The clouds split apart. The

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00:31:24,519 --> 00:31:30,279
staircase curved sharply upward, carrying them toward a floating island.

297
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Hanging in the sky. It was enormous, gardens spilled over

298
00:31:36,799 --> 00:31:42,799
its edges, windmills turned lazily in the breeze, tiny houses

299
00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:48,720
balanced atop giant tree roots, and circling above it. All

300
00:31:49,079 --> 00:31:57,960
were whales, not ordinary whales, sky whales, massive silver creatures

301
00:31:58,079 --> 00:32:04,079
drifting through the air as gently as balloons. Elio stopped dead.

302
00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:12,279
There are flying whales, yes, said Lyra. Try not to stare.

303
00:32:12,799 --> 00:32:17,319
They find it rude. One whale floated close enough for

304
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:22,880
Elio to see glowing patterns across its skin. It sneezed.

305
00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:29,319
The resulting gust nearly threw him off the staircase. Bless you,

306
00:32:29,759 --> 00:32:36,200
said Lyra. The whale honked proudly and drifted away. The

307
00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:41,000
staircase delivered them onto the floating island with a soft clink.

308
00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,720
At once, a tiny man in a purple waistcoat marched

309
00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:55,240
toward them, carrying a clipboard. Names. He barked, Eleo, Lyra,

310
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purpose a visit. Eleo has a curiosity, The man scribbled furiously,

311
00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:12,759
very dangerous. Reason most common type of traveler. Any forbidden items?

312
00:33:13,559 --> 00:33:22,799
I have a sandwich? What filling cheese? Acceptable? He leaned closer.

313
00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:30,039
No bananas. Why does everyone keep mentioning bananas? The man

314
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:36,920
shuddered violently. We don't discuss the banana incident. He hurried away.

315
00:33:38,119 --> 00:33:43,680
Elliot turned to Lyra. What is this place? The aisles above?

316
00:33:44,079 --> 00:33:48,160
She said, Bits of the world that forgot to stay

317
00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:55,200
on the ground, That can happen. Oh, yes, usually after

318
00:33:55,279 --> 00:33:59,920
too much magic or poor planning. They wandered through wine

319
00:34:00,319 --> 00:34:06,880
streets lined with crooked shops. One sold bottled thunder, another

320
00:34:07,079 --> 00:34:13,599
repaired broken shadows. A third specialized entirely in left handed teacups.

321
00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:21,639
Outside a bakery, a sign read today's special cloud pie,

322
00:34:22,079 --> 00:34:29,679
warning may float away. Everything felt impossible and yet oddly normal,

323
00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:35,719
as though impossible things happened here every day. Who built

324
00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:43,559
the staircase, Elio asked. Lyra's expression changed slightly. No one knows.

325
00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:50,360
That's not true. It's the truest answer there is. They

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00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:54,480
stopped beside a fountain where water flowed upward into the

327
00:34:54,519 --> 00:34:59,559
sky instead of down. At its center stood a statue

328
00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:04,280
of an an old woman holding a lantern. Written beneath

329
00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:08,440
were the words for those who climb when others fear

330
00:35:08,519 --> 00:35:14,559
to Eleo stared at it. Do you live here? Lyra

331
00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:21,199
shook her head. I climb. That's not an answer, it's

332
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the only one I've got. Before Elio could reply, bells

333
00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:33,199
rang across the island. The cheerful noise suddenly shifted. People

334
00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:40,400
froze the sky, Whales changed direction. Far above them, dark

335
00:35:40,519 --> 00:35:46,280
clouds rolled across the blue sky. Lyra swore under her breath,

336
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that's early. What is the storm? The wind?

337
00:35:53,639 --> 00:35:54,119
Speaker 3: Howled?

338
00:35:55,280 --> 00:36:00,440
Speaker 2: A voice boomed from somewhere unseen. All climbers port to

339
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:07,360
the clock harbor. Everyone began running. Elio followed Lyra through

340
00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:12,400
twisting streets until they reached the edge of the island. There,

341
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:17,960
hanging over open sky, was the strangest harbor Elio had

342
00:36:18,039 --> 00:36:24,840
ever seen. Boats floated in the air, tied to silver docks.

343
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:30,760
Some had sails stitched from starlight. Others had propellers that

344
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:37,119
spun without touching anything. And at the center stood an

345
00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:43,599
enormous clock, taller than a house. Its hands moved wildly backwards.

346
00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:49,000
A tall woman in a long navy coat stood beneath it,

347
00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:56,760
shouting orders. Tighten the moorings, secure the lanterns. Someone find

348
00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:01,079
Captain Brindle before he accidentally did Claire's War on the

349
00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:08,599
weather again. She spotted Elyo, new climber, Yes, said Elyo.

350
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:16,039
Can he tie knots? No? Said Lyra? Can he panic quietly?

351
00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:22,559
Probably good enough? She thrust a rope into his hands.

352
00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:31,199
Storms coming. Elo looked upward. The clouds were wrong. They

353
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moved too fast. Shapes flickered inside them, faces, buildings, entire streets,

354
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as though the storm carried fragments of lost places within it.

355
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The tempest whispered Lyra, what is it a storm that

356
00:37:53,599 --> 00:38:01,239
steals things? Lightning flashed For one terrible moment, Elio saw

357
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:09,239
another staircase inside the clouds broken falling. The great clock

358
00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:17,800
at the harbor began striking wildly. Dong dong dong. The

359
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:24,800
wind screamed. Then the storm arrived. Chaos exploded across the harbor.

360
00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:32,960
Skyboats slammed against their ropes, lanterns burst, rain fell upward

361
00:38:33,039 --> 00:38:37,519
and sidewise. At the same time, Elio clung.

362
00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:37,840
Speaker 3: To the dock.

363
00:38:39,039 --> 00:38:44,119
Speaker 2: A sky whil cried out somewhere in the darkness. Then

364
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came a horrible cracking sound. The giant clock tower split

365
00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:54,639
down the middle, its top half tilted toward the edge

366
00:38:54,639 --> 00:39:01,880
of the island. People screamed. If the clock falls, shouted Lyra,

367
00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:09,199
the harbor loses time. That sentence makes no sense. Nothing

368
00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:15,880
up here does. The tower leaned farther. Without thinking, Eleo

369
00:39:16,079 --> 00:39:21,639
ran elee oh, Lyra shouted. He grabbed one of the

370
00:39:21,679 --> 00:39:26,719
swinging support ropes and climbed the collapsing clock tower as

371
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rain lashed his face below him. The harbor spun dizzyingly

372
00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:38,599
far beneath the clouds. This, yelled Eleo to nobody in particular,

373
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was a terrible plan. The tower groaned at the top.

374
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Enormous gears spun wildly. One had broken loose. Eleo scrambled

375
00:39:53,559 --> 00:39:58,440
across the frame, boots slipping on wet metal. The gear

376
00:39:58,639 --> 00:40:04,199
shifted again. If it fell, the entire clock would collapse.

377
00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:10,719
And somehow Eleo knew new, in the strange, deep way

378
00:40:11,079 --> 00:40:16,760
impossible places tell you things, that the staircase itself depended

379
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:21,880
on this clock. Without it, nobody would find their way home.

380
00:40:23,119 --> 00:40:28,559
The storm roared louder. Eleo braced himself against the gear

381
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:35,159
with all his strength, which unfortunately was not very much strength.

382
00:40:36,199 --> 00:40:41,719
Oh brilliant, he muttered. Then another pair of hands grabbed

383
00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:48,159
the gear beside him. Lyra, you came back. You look

384
00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:52,280
like you were about to die in an extremely annoying way.

385
00:40:53,559 --> 00:41:00,559
Together they shoved the gear creaked back into place below them.

386
00:41:00,719 --> 00:41:07,400
The clock hands steadied slightly, but not enough. It still

387
00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:14,360
won't hold, shouted Lyra. The tower lurched again. Then something

388
00:41:14,519 --> 00:41:21,159
enormous emerged from the storm clouds. The silver sky whale,

389
00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:26,239
the same one from before it floated beside the tower,

390
00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:31,639
close enough for Elio to touch. The whale lowered its head.

391
00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:38,400
Lyra stared, I think, she said, carefully, it wants help.

392
00:41:39,599 --> 00:41:43,119
Wrapped around one of its fins was a snapped chain

393
00:41:43,559 --> 00:41:49,280
attached to a massive bronze anchor. The anchor swung dangerously

394
00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:57,320
through the storm. Elio understood instantly the anchor. Together they

395
00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:00,960
pulled the chain free and looped it through the broken

396
00:42:01,039 --> 00:42:06,719
clock supports. The whale gave a mighty cry and pulled

397
00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:13,320
upward with impossible strength. The clock tower steadied. The harbor.

398
00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:18,360
Lights flared back to life, and across the floating island,

399
00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:24,440
every bell began ringing at once. The storm screamed one

400
00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:33,559
final angry howl. Then it broke apart. Clouds scattered, rain vanished.

401
00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:41,679
Silence fell across the harbor. Slowly people emerged from hiding.

402
00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:46,119
The tall woman in the navy coat looked up at

403
00:42:46,159 --> 00:42:52,079
Elio and Lyra standing atop the tower beside the whale. Well,

404
00:42:52,679 --> 00:42:56,800
she called, that was either very brave or very stupid?

405
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,360
Can it be both? Shouted Elyo.

406
00:43:01,719 --> 00:43:02,159
Speaker 3: Usually.

407
00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:10,599
Speaker 2: The crowd burst into cheers. The whale gave a proud honk, Then,

408
00:43:11,039 --> 00:43:16,119
one by one, the lanterns around the harbor began glowing gold.

409
00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:23,239
The staircase far below shimmered in answer. Lyra smiled softly.

410
00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:30,440
It likes you, the staircase. It only appears for people

411
00:43:30,639 --> 00:43:36,119
who still believe climbing is worth it. Eleo looked down

412
00:43:36,239 --> 00:43:41,039
through the clouds toward bellwether Town, tiny and distant below.

413
00:43:42,199 --> 00:43:46,000
For what it's worth, he said, I almost turned around

414
00:43:46,119 --> 00:43:51,880
at the first hundred steps. That's normal. You weren't scared.

415
00:43:53,199 --> 00:44:03,199
Lyra laughed, I'm terrified constantly. Eleo blinked. But you seem fearless.

416
00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:09,719
That's because fearless people are idiots. The great clock rang midnight.

417
00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:19,239
The staircase hummed again, softly, warmly, as if proud. The

418
00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:24,559
tall woman approached them, carrying two small silver pins, shaped

419
00:44:24,679 --> 00:44:31,519
like staircases for climbers, She said. Lyra accepted hers casually.

420
00:44:32,639 --> 00:44:39,079
Eloh held his carefully. What happens now, the woman smiled,

421
00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:47,079
Now you go home. Elio hesitated. Part of him wanted

422
00:44:47,239 --> 00:44:52,760
to stay forever, to sail sky boats and feed cloud

423
00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:57,400
Pie to whales, and wander impossible islands above the world.

424
00:44:58,519 --> 00:45:03,360
But another part remembers warm kitchens, Clara shouting his name

425
00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:08,960
from downstairs, and belwether Town beneath the evening lamps. Lyra

426
00:45:09,119 --> 00:45:14,920
seemed to understand. They always think adventure means leaving home forever.

427
00:45:15,679 --> 00:45:22,760
She said, quietly, what does it really mean? Coming back? Different?

428
00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:30,559
The staircase glowed brighter far below, dawn was beginning. Elio

429
00:45:30,559 --> 00:45:36,199
took a deep breath. Well, he said, I suppose I

430
00:45:36,239 --> 00:45:43,400
should climb down before my sister murders me. Whyse They

431
00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:50,000
walked together to the staircase entrance. Eleo paused, will I

432
00:45:50,119 --> 00:45:58,119
see you again? Lyra shrugged, depends on what whether the

433
00:45:58,199 --> 00:46:03,519
staircase thinks you still needed climbing, And before Eleo could answer,

434
00:46:04,159 --> 00:46:08,519
she stepped backward into the morning mist and vanished. The

435
00:46:08,599 --> 00:46:15,599
staircase carried Eleo gently downward through the clouds, lower and lower,

436
00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:23,159
until bellweather Town returned beneath him. People filled the square,

437
00:46:23,519 --> 00:46:29,920
waiting anxiously. When Elio reached the final step, the crowd irrupted.

438
00:46:31,119 --> 00:46:35,519
Clara sprinted forward first and hugged him so hard his

439
00:46:35,679 --> 00:46:42,880
ribs squeaked you absolute disaster, she shouted, You've vanished for

440
00:46:42,960 --> 00:46:48,840
an entire night. I brought back a staircase pin. She

441
00:46:48,960 --> 00:46:54,840
stared at him. I'm still angry, but that is rather impressive.

442
00:46:55,960 --> 00:47:02,159
The mayor hurried over, what's up there? Elio looked skyward.

443
00:47:03,320 --> 00:47:08,360
The staircase was already fading into the dawn light. He

444
00:47:08,519 --> 00:47:16,480
thought of sky, whales, storm clocks, impossible harbors, a girl

445
00:47:16,559 --> 00:47:21,039
with an umbrella, sword, and a staircase that hummed like

446
00:47:21,079 --> 00:47:29,159
it new secrets. Finally, he smiled. Everything he said, the

447
00:47:29,199 --> 00:47:36,119
staircase vanished. Only the sign remained behind. Someone picked it

448
00:47:36,199 --> 00:47:41,159
up and read aloud, thank you for climbing. The sky

449
00:47:41,480 --> 00:47:47,000
appreciates the company. And far above the waking town, hidden

450
00:47:47,119 --> 00:47:52,719
somewhere beyond the clouds, a staircase quietly continued climbing forever.

451
00:48:04,159 --> 00:48:11,440
The staircase not an ordinary staircase. This staircase twisted like

452
00:48:11,519 --> 00:48:16,519
a ribbon through the sky. Its steps shimmered silver blue

453
00:48:16,719 --> 00:48:21,000
in the dawn light, and tiny lanterns floated beside it,

454
00:48:21,519 --> 00:48:26,960
glowing softly despite the morning sun. At the bottom stood

455
00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:34,760
a sign. It read one person at a time, no running, absolutely,

456
00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:43,360
no bananas. Naturally. The entire town gathered immediately. Magic whispered

457
00:48:43,360 --> 00:48:48,599
the baker. Nonsense muttered the mayor, though he took three

458
00:48:48,719 --> 00:48:57,079
nervous steps backwards. Tourist opportunity, said mister pindle. Children pointed upward.

459
00:48:57,880 --> 00:49:03,559
Dogs barked at the clouds. Old missus Wren claimed she'd

460
00:49:03,599 --> 00:49:08,320
seen a staircase exactly like it once before, though everyone

461
00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:11,960
ignored her because she also claimed her brother had married

462
00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:17,880
a ghost. Only one person said nothing. Twelve year old

463
00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:20,400
eli O Bell stood at the edge of the crowd

464
00:49:20,519 --> 00:49:25,199
with his hands in his coat pockets, staring upward. Eleo

465
00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:31,639
loved impossible things. He collected unusual keys, read books with

466
00:49:31,760 --> 00:49:36,360
missing pages, and once spent an entire summer trying to

467
00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:41,440
teach his goldfish to recognize poetry. The goldfish had not

468
00:49:41,599 --> 00:49:47,519
co operated, Eleioh, said his older sister Clara, grabbing his sleeve.

469
00:49:48,440 --> 00:49:50,000
Don't even think about it.

470
00:49:51,199 --> 00:49:52,320
Speaker 3: I wasn't.

471
00:49:53,639 --> 00:49:56,719
Speaker 2: You get that look when you're about to do something ridiculous.

472
00:49:57,920 --> 00:50:03,360
I always look like this. That's the problem. A bell

473
00:50:03,519 --> 00:50:10,679
rang from somewhere high above the clouds. Not loud, not frightening,

474
00:50:12,039 --> 00:50:17,079
just curious, as though the staircase itself was wondering who

475
00:50:17,199 --> 00:50:24,480
might climb it first. The crowd shuffled nervously, nobody moved.

476
00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:29,639
The mare cleared his throat. As acting leader of bell

477
00:50:29,719 --> 00:50:36,360
Weather Town, I strongly advise against climbing mysterious sky staircases.

478
00:50:37,639 --> 00:50:45,599
Very sensible, said mister Pindall. Quite right, agreed, the baker, absolutely,

479
00:50:46,159 --> 00:50:53,960
said Clara. Elio took one step forward. Clara groaned, oh, no,

480
00:50:55,599 --> 00:51:02,239
you heard the bell. Yes, it sounded lonely. That is

481
00:51:02,320 --> 00:51:06,519
not a reason to climb into the heavens. But elioh

482
00:51:06,840 --> 00:51:11,719
was already moving. The crowd parted as he approached the

483
00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:19,599
first step. The staircase glowed faintly beneath his shoes. Above him,

484
00:51:19,920 --> 00:51:25,960
the clouds shifted. The lanterns bobbed gently, as if pleased.

485
00:51:27,199 --> 00:51:31,559
Clara folded her arms. If you fall out of the sky,

486
00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:38,079
I'm telling mother, it was your fault. Eleo grinned. Then

487
00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:45,039
he climbed. The staircase was strangely warm beneath his feet.

488
00:51:45,800 --> 00:51:50,320
Higher and higher he went, until bell Weather Town shrank

489
00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:55,400
below him like a toy village. Chimneys puffed smoke no

490
00:51:55,559 --> 00:52:01,199
bigger than threads. The people became dots. The wind smelled

491
00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:07,519
different up there, like rain and fireworks. After perhaps two

492
00:52:07,599 --> 00:52:12,559
hundred steps, or maybe two thousand, because sky staircases are

493
00:52:12,559 --> 00:52:18,880
difficult to measure, Eleo noticed something odd. The staircase was humming,

494
00:52:20,119 --> 00:52:28,880
not loudly, just softly. Beneath the wind. Oo It sounded

495
00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:37,719
suspiciously cheerful. Hello, said Elio. The staircase hummed louder. You

496
00:52:37,880 --> 00:52:43,960
can hear me. The staircase gave a please little wobble, well,

497
00:52:44,480 --> 00:52:45,199
said Eleo.

498
00:52:45,719 --> 00:52:46,320
Speaker 3: That's new.

499
00:52:47,519 --> 00:52:53,119
Speaker 2: A voice spoke behind him. It doesn't talk much. Mostly

500
00:52:53,159 --> 00:52:59,599
it sings. Eleo spun around. Sitting on the railing was

501
00:52:59,639 --> 00:53:03,639
a girl hull about his age, wearing a coat stitched

502
00:53:03,920 --> 00:53:09,119
entirely from patches of different colors. She had dark curls,

503
00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:13,679
muddy boots, and an umbrella hanging across her back like

504
00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:18,119
a sword. You nearly gave me a heart attack, said Elio.

505
00:53:19,360 --> 00:53:24,400
You climbed a staircase into the clouds, she replied, I

506
00:53:24,599 --> 00:53:30,360
think your heart accepted danger some time ago. She hopped

507
00:53:30,440 --> 00:53:35,920
down and offered a hand. I'm lyra. There was another,

508
00:53:36,559 --> 00:53:43,159
only one, terrible whistler. Before Eleo could ask more, the

509
00:53:43,239 --> 00:53:52,119
staircase suddenly lurched sideways. Whoa, The clouds split apart. The

510
00:53:52,239 --> 00:53:57,920
staircase curved sharply upward, carrying them toward a floating island

511
00:53:58,199 --> 00:54:04,440
hanging in the sky. It was enormous. Gardens spilled over

512
00:54:04,519 --> 00:54:10,519
its edges, windmills turned lazily in the breeze, tiny houses

513
00:54:10,599 --> 00:54:16,440
balanced atop giant tree roots, and circling above it. All

514
00:54:16,760 --> 00:54:25,679
were whales, Not ordinary whales, sky whales, massive silver creatures,

515
00:54:25,800 --> 00:54:31,800
drifting through the air as gently as balloons. Elio stopped dead.

516
00:54:32,960 --> 00:54:40,000
There are flying whales, yes, said Lyra. Try not to stare.

517
00:54:40,519 --> 00:54:45,000
They find it rude. One whale floated close enough for

518
00:54:45,119 --> 00:54:50,559
Elio to see glowing patterns across its skin. It sneezed.

519
00:54:51,760 --> 00:54:57,039
The resulting gust nearly threw him off the staircase. Bless you,

520
00:54:57,480 --> 00:55:03,880
said Lyra. The whale honked proudly and drifted away. The

521
00:55:03,960 --> 00:55:08,719
staircase delivered them onto the floating island with a soft clink.

522
00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:14,400
At once, a tiny man in a purple waistcoat marched

523
00:55:14,440 --> 00:55:22,960
toward them, carrying a clipboard. Names. He barked, elioh Lyra.

524
00:55:24,239 --> 00:55:32,840
Purpose of visit Elio hesitated curiosity. The man scribbled furiously,

525
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:39,960
Very dangerous. Reason most common type of traveler. Any forbidden items?

526
00:55:41,239 --> 00:55:50,519
I have a sandwich? What filling cheese? Acceptable? He leaned closer.

527
00:55:51,639 --> 00:55:57,719
No bananas? Why does everyone keep mentioning bananas? The man

528
00:55:57,880 --> 00:56:04,639
shuddered violently. We don't discuss the banana incident. He hurried away.

529
00:56:05,840 --> 00:56:11,400
Eliot turned to Lyra, What is this place? The aisles above?

530
00:56:11,760 --> 00:56:15,880
She said, bits of the world that forgot to stay

531
00:56:15,920 --> 00:56:22,920
on the ground, that can happen. Oh, yes, usually after

532
00:56:23,000 --> 00:56:27,920
too much magic or poor planning. They wandered through winding

533
00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:34,559
streets lined with crooked shops. One sold bottled thunder, another

534
00:56:34,760 --> 00:56:41,920
repaired broken shadows. A third specialized entirely in left handed teacups.

535
00:56:42,480 --> 00:56:49,719
Outside a bakery, a sign read today's special cloud pie,

536
00:56:49,760 --> 00:56:57,400
warning may float away. Everything felt impossible and yet oddly normal,

537
00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:03,400
as though impossible things happened here every day. Who built

538
00:57:03,440 --> 00:57:11,280
the staircase? Eleo asked. Lyra's expression changed slightly. No one knows.

539
00:57:12,639 --> 00:57:18,079
That's not true. It's the truest answer there is. They

540
00:57:18,159 --> 00:57:22,159
stopped beside a fountain where water flowed upward into the

541
00:57:22,199 --> 00:57:27,320
sky instead of down. At its center stood a statue

542
00:57:27,480 --> 00:57:32,199
of an old woman holding a lantern. Written beneath were

543
00:57:32,199 --> 00:57:36,280
the words for those who climb when others fear to.

544
00:57:37,519 --> 00:57:42,719
Eleo stared at it. Do you live here? Lyra shook

545
00:57:42,760 --> 00:57:49,079
her head. I climb. That's not an answer, it's the

546
00:57:49,159 --> 00:57:54,400
only one I've got. Before Eleo could reply, bells rang

547
00:57:54,519 --> 00:58:02,480
across the island. The cheerful noise suddenly shifted. People froze

548
00:58:02,719 --> 00:58:08,800
the sky, Whales changed direction. Far above them, dark clouds

549
00:58:08,920 --> 00:58:13,960
rolled across the blue sky. Lyra swore under her breath,

550
00:58:14,920 --> 00:58:23,039
that's early. What is the storm? The wind howled? A

551
00:58:23,119 --> 00:58:28,280
voice boomed from somewhere unseen. All climbers, report to the

552
00:58:28,320 --> 00:58:35,599
clock harbor. Everyone began running. Elio followed Lyra through twisting

553
00:58:35,639 --> 00:58:40,119
streets until they reached the edge of the island. There,

554
00:58:40,719 --> 00:58:45,679
hanging over open sky, was the strangest harbor Elio had

555
00:58:45,719 --> 00:58:52,559
ever seen. Boats floated in the air, tied to silver docks.

556
00:58:52,599 --> 00:58:58,480
Some had sails stitched from starlight. Others had propellers that

557
00:58:58,679 --> 00:59:04,800
spun without touching anything. And at the center stood an

558
00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:12,000
enormous clock, taller than a house. Its hands moved wildly backwards.

559
00:59:12,480 --> 00:59:16,719
A tall woman in a long navy coat stood beneath it,

560
00:59:17,039 --> 00:59:24,440
shouting orders. Tighten the moorings, secure the lanterns. Someone find

561
00:59:24,559 --> 00:59:29,480
Captain Brindle before he accidentally declares war on the weather again.

562
00:59:30,679 --> 00:59:37,880
She spotted Elyo, new climber, Yes, said Elio, Can he

563
00:59:38,000 --> 00:59:38,679
tie knots?

564
00:59:40,039 --> 00:59:40,079
Speaker 3: No?

565
00:59:40,719 --> 00:59:48,400
Speaker 2: Said Lyra? Can he panic quietly? Probably good enough? She

566
00:59:48,559 --> 00:59:55,119
thrust a rope into his hands. Storms coming. Elio looked upward.

567
00:59:56,280 --> 01:00:02,079
The clouds were wrong, They moved too far. Last shapes

568
01:00:02,159 --> 01:00:11,039
flickered inside them, faces, buildings, entire streets, as though the

569
01:00:11,119 --> 01:00:16,360
storm carried fragments of lost places within it. The tempest

570
01:00:16,639 --> 01:00:22,280
whispered Lyra, what is it a storm that steals things?

571
01:00:23,519 --> 01:00:30,679
Lightning flashed. For one terrible moment, Elio saw another staircase inside.

572
01:00:30,719 --> 01:00:37,800
The clouds broken, falling. The great clock at the harbor

573
01:00:37,920 --> 01:00:47,880
began striking wildly. Dong dong, dong. The wind screamed. Then

574
01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:55,079
the storm arrived. Chaos exploded across the harbor. Skyboats slammed

575
01:00:55,119 --> 01:01:01,559
against their ropes, lanterns burst, rain fell well upward and sidewise.

576
01:01:01,639 --> 01:01:06,840
At the same time, Eleo clung to the dock. A

577
01:01:06,960 --> 01:01:12,360
sky whale cried out somewhere in the darkness. Then came

578
01:01:12,440 --> 01:01:17,719
a horrible cracking sound. The giant clock tower split down

579
01:01:17,800 --> 01:01:22,440
the middle, its top half tilted toward the edge of

580
01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:29,599
the island. People screamed. If the clock falls, shouted Lyra,

581
01:01:30,079 --> 01:01:36,920
the harbor loses time. That sentence makes no sense. Nothing

582
01:01:37,000 --> 01:01:43,559
up here does. The tower leaned farther without thinking, Eleo

583
01:01:43,760 --> 01:01:49,320
ran elle oh Lyra shouted he grabbed one of the

584
01:01:49,360 --> 01:01:54,400
swinging support ropes and climbed the collapsing clock tower As

585
01:01:54,559 --> 01:01:59,840
rain lashed his face. Below him, the harbor spun did

586
01:02:00,559 --> 01:02:06,320
far beneath the clouds. This, yelled Eleo to nobody in particular,

587
01:02:06,920 --> 01:02:12,920
was a terrible plan. The tower groaned at the top.

588
01:02:13,559 --> 01:02:21,239
Enormous gears spun wildly. One had broken loose. Eleo scrambled

589
01:02:21,239 --> 01:02:26,159
across the frame, boots slipping on wet metal. The gear

590
01:02:26,320 --> 01:02:31,880
shifted again. If it fell, the entire clock would collapse,

591
01:02:33,039 --> 01:02:38,400
And somehow Eleo knew new, in the strange deep way

592
01:02:38,800 --> 01:02:44,440
impossible places tell you things, that the staircase itself depended

593
01:02:44,519 --> 01:02:49,599
on this clock. Without it, nobody would find their way home.

594
01:02:50,800 --> 01:02:56,280
The storm roared louder. Eleo braced himself against the gear

595
01:02:56,679 --> 01:03:02,880
with all his strength, which unfortunately was not very much strength.

596
01:03:03,920 --> 01:03:09,440
Oh brilliant, he muttered. Then another pair of hands grabbed

597
01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:15,920
the gear beside him. Lyra, you came back. You looked

598
01:03:16,039 --> 01:03:20,000
like you were about to die in an extremely annoying way.

599
01:03:21,280 --> 01:03:28,239
Together they shoved the gear creaked back into place below them.

600
01:03:28,440 --> 01:03:35,079
The clock hands steadied slightly, but not enough. It still

601
01:03:35,159 --> 01:03:42,039
won't hold, shouted Lyra. The tower lurched again. Then something

602
01:03:42,239 --> 01:03:47,440
enormous emerged from the storm clouds. The silver sky whale,

603
01:03:49,079 --> 01:03:53,920
the same one from before. It floated beside the tower,

604
01:03:54,480 --> 01:03:59,320
close enough for Elio to touch. The whale lowered its head.

605
01:04:00,519 --> 01:04:06,079
Lyra stared, I think, she said, carefully, it wants help.

606
01:04:07,280 --> 01:04:10,840
Wrapped around one of its fins was a snapped chain

607
01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:17,000
attached to a massive bronze anchor. The anchor swung dangerously

608
01:04:17,119 --> 01:04:25,039
through the storm. Elio understood instantly the anchor. Together they

609
01:04:25,079 --> 01:04:28,679
pulled the chain free and looped it through the broken

610
01:04:28,760 --> 01:04:34,440
clock supports. The wail gave a mighty cry and pulled

611
01:04:34,559 --> 01:04:41,039
upward with impossible strength. The clock tower steadied. The harbor.

612
01:04:41,119 --> 01:04:46,039
Lights flared back to life, and across the floating island,

613
01:04:46,599 --> 01:04:52,159
every bell began ringing at once. The storm screamed one

614
01:04:52,199 --> 01:05:01,239
final angry howl. Then it broke apart. Clouds scattered, rain vanished,

615
01:05:02,519 --> 01:05:09,400
Silence fell across the harbor. Slowly people emerged from hiding.

616
01:05:10,559 --> 01:05:13,840
The tall woman in the navy coat looked up at

617
01:05:13,840 --> 01:05:19,800
Elio and Lyra standing atop the tower beside the whale. Well,

618
01:05:20,400 --> 01:05:24,519
she called, that was either very brave or very stupid.

619
01:05:25,679 --> 01:05:32,480
Can it be both? Shouted Elio. Usually, the crowd burst

620
01:05:32,599 --> 01:05:39,000
into cheers. The whale gave a proud honk. Then one

621
01:05:39,079 --> 01:05:43,800
by one, the lanterns around the harbor began glowing gold.

622
01:05:45,000 --> 01:05:50,920
The staircase far below shimmered in answer. Lyra smiled softly.

623
01:05:52,159 --> 01:05:58,159
It likes you, the staircase. It only appears for people

624
01:05:58,360 --> 01:06:04,159
who still believe is worth it. Eleo looked down through

625
01:06:04,199 --> 01:06:10,000
the clouds toward Bellweather Town, tiny and distant below. For

626
01:06:10,079 --> 01:06:13,920
what it's worth, he said, I almost turned around at

627
01:06:13,960 --> 01:06:21,800
the first hundred steps. That's normal. You weren't scared. Lyra laughed.

628
01:06:23,000 --> 01:06:31,840
I'm terrified constantly. Eleo blinked. But you seem fearless. That's

629
01:06:31,880 --> 01:06:37,440
because fearless people are idiots. The great clock rang midnight.

630
01:06:38,639 --> 01:06:46,920
The staircase hummed again, softly, warmly, as if proud. The

631
01:06:47,039 --> 01:06:52,280
tall woman approached them, carrying two small silver pins, shaped

632
01:06:52,400 --> 01:06:59,199
like staircases for climbers. She said. Lyra accepted hers casually,

633
01:07:00,320 --> 01:07:06,760
Elio held his carefully. What happens now, the woman smiled,

634
01:07:07,960 --> 01:07:14,800
Now you go home. Elyo hesitated. Part of him wanted

635
01:07:14,960 --> 01:07:20,440
to stay forever, to sail sky boats and feed cloud

636
01:07:20,559 --> 01:07:25,119
pie to whales, and wander impossible islands above the world,

637
01:07:26,199 --> 01:07:31,039
but another part remembered warm kitchens, Clara shouting his name

638
01:07:31,079 --> 01:07:36,679
from downstairs, and Belwether Town beneath the evening lamps. Lyra

639
01:07:36,840 --> 01:07:42,599
seemed to understand. They always think adventure means leaving home forever.

640
01:07:43,400 --> 01:07:49,360
She said, quietly, what does it really mean coming back different?

641
01:07:50,599 --> 01:07:58,119
The staircase glowed brighter far below, dawn was beginning. Elio

642
01:07:58,280 --> 01:08:03,880
took a deep breath. Well, he said, I suppose I

643
01:08:03,960 --> 01:08:11,119
should climb down before my sister murders me. Wise, They

644
01:08:11,199 --> 01:08:17,720
walked together to the staircase entrance. Eleo paused, will I

645
01:08:17,800 --> 01:08:25,840
see you again? Lyra shrugged, depends on what whether the

646
01:08:25,920 --> 01:08:31,239
staircase thinks you still need climbing, And before Eleo could answer,

647
01:08:31,880 --> 01:08:36,239
she stepped backward into the morning mist and vanished. The

648
01:08:36,319 --> 01:08:43,279
staircase carried Eleo gently downward through the clouds, lower and lower,

649
01:08:44,520 --> 01:08:50,880
until bellweather Town returned beneath him. People filled the square,

650
01:08:51,199 --> 01:08:57,640
waiting anxiously. When Eleo reached the final step, the crowd irrupted.

651
01:08:58,840 --> 01:09:03,199
Clara sprinted forward first and hugged him so hard his

652
01:09:03,399 --> 01:09:10,600
ribs squeaked you absolute disaster, she shouted. You vanished for

653
01:09:10,680 --> 01:09:16,560
an entire night. I brought back a staircase pin. She

654
01:09:16,680 --> 01:09:22,560
stared at him. I'm still angry, but that is rather impressive.

655
01:09:23,680 --> 01:09:29,880
The mayor hurried over, what's up there? Elio looked skyward.

656
01:09:31,039 --> 01:09:36,079
The staircase was already fading into the dawn light. He

657
01:09:36,239 --> 01:09:44,199
thought of sky whales, storm clocks, impossible harbors, a girl

658
01:09:44,239 --> 01:09:48,760
with an umbrella, sword, and a staircase that hummed like

659
01:09:48,800 --> 01:09:56,880
it new secrets. Finally, he smiled. Everything he said, the

660
01:09:56,920 --> 01:10:03,800
staircase vanished. Only the s remained behind. Someone picked it

661
01:10:03,920 --> 01:10:08,840
up and read aloud, thank you for climbing. The sky

662
01:10:09,159 --> 01:10:14,720
appreciates the company, And far above the waking town, hidden

663
01:10:14,840 --> 01:10:19,880
somewhere beyond the clouds, a staircase quietly continued climbing.

664
01:10:20,000 --> 01:18:20,319
Speaker 3: Forever Think a