These chapters are decidedly NOT "BBC at 8pm" material, but we dive in and revel and retch at the viscera. We also wonder if the chapter framing device is working or not. Please listen, like, subscribe and whatnot!
In Lyra’s world, the climate is changing because of the rip in the sky that Lord Asriel made. Serafina Pekkala flies to the north to find Iorek Byrnison, who is struggling to hunt down a walrus on the melting ice. With great guilt and remorse, she tells Iorek that his friend, Lee Scoresby, is dead, and that she preserved his body with a spell so that Iorek could pay his last respects. Iorek tells her that he will go to Lee’s body, but then continue south to relocate his kingdom. Serafina reveals that she is going in search of the Gyptians to enlist their help. All the while, scavenging foxes, possessing a crude grasp of language, listen in on Serafina and Iorek’s conversation. Iorek swims the long journey south, passing from his world to the next. He comes upon the place where Lee Scoresby died, finding him perfectly preserved due to Serafina’s spell. After paying his respects, Iorek removes the enchanted flower that maintained the spell and proceeds to eat the remains of his friend before continuing his journey south. Back north, a group of Cliff-ghasts capture and devour a fox who is babbling about a “balloon man” and “king bear.” Back in the Himalayas, the young servant girl, Ama, perseverates on Mrs. Coulter and on Lyra’s condition. Wanting to help the beautiful holy woman, Ama sneaks away to procure a remedy for Lyra’s sleeping sickness. After acquiring the special powder, Ama makes her way to the cave to find Lyra, restless and unattended. Suddenly, Mrs. Coulter and her monkey daemon arrive back at the cave, forcing Ama into hiding. From her narrow hiding place, Ama sees Mrs. Coulter concoct a sleeping draught and force the now conscious and frantic Lyra to drink from it. As Lyra falls back into a deep sleep, Mrs. Coulter sings her a lullaby, snipping a lock of Lyra’s hair and placing it in a locket. Meanwhile, the golden monkey heartlessly tortures and kills a bat provided by Mrs. Coulter. Once Mrs. Coulter falls asleep, Ama sneaks away, making her way back down to her village. Horrified by what she has seen, Ama resolves to use the powder to revive and rescue Lyra.