Billy Costa Goes Missing

The next scene takes place six weeks later. Roger and Lyra are together and Lyra is complaining that she hasn’t heard from Lord Asriel since he left on his Arctic expedition. Mrs Lonsdale, who looks after Lyra at the college, has come to find her because the Master would like to see her. Mrs Lonsdale is not happy that Lyra and Roger are playing where adults can’t see them. She explains that children have been going missing and she thinks they should be more careful.

We learn that there are rumours that the children are being taken by ‘Gobblers’ but no-one really knows who the Gobblers are. Mrs Lonsdale shares some bad news that a local Gyptian child has gone missing. Lyra is sad to learn it is her friend Billy.