sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第16部分

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all　was　lost　in　a　crack　that　sounded　as　if　the　island　had　been　leveled　by　the　first　shock　of　the　wave。

but；　after　a　few　seconds；　the　floor　stopped　　shaking；　and　the　crash　of　the　flood　subsided　to　a　controlled　roar；　like　a　shouting　drunk　made　aware　of　pany。　sabriel　hauled　herself　up　the　tripod　and　opened　her　eyes。

the　walls　had　held；　and　though　now　the　wave　was　past；　the　river　still　raged　a　mere　handspan　below　the　island鈥檚　defenses　and　was　almost　up　to　the　tunnel　doors　on　either　bank。

there　was　no　sign　of　the　stepping…stones；　the　coffin　bridge；　the　dead；　or　any　people鈥攋ust　a　wide；　brown　rushing　torrent；　carrying　debris　of　all　descriptions。　trees；　bushes；　parts　of　buildings；　livestock；　chunks　of　ice鈥攖he　flood　had　claimed　its　tribute　from　every　riverbank　for　hundreds　of　miles。

sabriel　looked　at　this　evidence　of　destruction　and　inwardly　counted　the　number　of　villagers　who　had　died　on　the　grave　boxes。　who　knew　how　many　other　lives　had　been　lost；　or　livelihoods　threatened；　upstream？　part　of　her　tried　to　rationalize　her　use　of　the　flood；　telling　her　that　she　had　to　do　it　in　order　to　fight　on　against　the　dead。　another　part　said　she　had　simply　summoned　the　flood　to　save　herself。

mogget　had　no　time　for　such　introspection；　mourning　or　pangs　of　responsibility。　he　left　　her　watching；　blank…eyed；　for　no　more　than　a　minute；　before　padding　forward　and　delicately　inserting　his　claws　in　sabriel鈥檚　slippered　foot。

鈥渙w！　what　did　you鈥斺��

鈥渢here鈥檚　no　time　to　waste　sightseeing；鈥�

mogget　said。　鈥渢he　sendings　are　readying　the　paperwing　on　the　eastern　wall。　and　your　clothing　and　gear　have　been　ready　for　at　least　half　an　hour。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檝e　got　all　。　。　。鈥潯�sabriel　began；　then　she　remembered　that　her　pack　and　skis　lay　at　the　bottom　end　of　the　entrance　tunnel；　probably　as　a　pile　of　mordicant…burned　ash。

鈥渢he　sendings　have　got　everything　you鈥檒l　need；　and　a　few　things　you　won鈥檛；　knowing　them。

you　can　get　dressed；　pack　up；　and　head　off　for　belisaere。　i　take　it　you　intend　to　go　to　belisaere？鈥�

鈥測es；鈥潯�replied　sabriel　shortly。　she　could　detect　a　tone　of　smugness　in　mogget鈥檚　voice。

鈥渄o　you　know　how　to　get　there？鈥�

sabriel　was　silent。　mogget　already　knew　the　answer　was　鈥渘o。鈥潯�hence　the　smugness。

鈥渄o　you　have　a　。　。　。　er　。　。　。　map？鈥�

sabriel　shook　her　head；　clenching　her　fists　as　she　did　so；　resisting　the　urge　to　lean　forward　and　spank　mogget；　or　perhaps　give　his　tail　a　　judicious　tug。　she　had　searched　the　study　and　asked　several　of　the　sendings；　but　the　only　map　in　the　house　seemed　to　be　the　starmap　in　the　tower。　the　map　colonel　horyse　had　told　her　about　must　still　be　with　abhorsen。　with　father；　sabriel　thought；　suddenly　confused　about　their　identities。　if　she　was　now　abhorsen；　who　was　her　father？　had　he　too　once　had　a　name　that　was　lost　in　the　responsibility　of　being　abhorsen？　everything　that　had　seemed　so　certain　and　solid　in　her　life　a　few　days　ago　was　crumbling。　she　didn鈥檛　even　know　who　she　was　really；　and　trouble　seemed　to　beset　her　from　all　sides鈥攅ven　a　supposed　servant　of　abhorsen　like　mogget　seemed　to　provide　more　trouble　than　service。

鈥渄o　you　have　anything　positive　to　say鈥攁nything　that　might　actually　help？鈥潯�she　snapped。

mogget　yawned；　showing　a　pink　tongue　that　seemed　to　contain　the　very　essence　of　scorn。

鈥渨ell；　yes。　of　course。　i　know　the　way；　so　i鈥檇　better　e　with　you。鈥�

鈥渆　with　me？鈥潯�sabriel　asked；　genuinely　surprised。　she　unclenched　her　fists；　bent　down；　and　scratched　between　the　cat鈥檚　ears；　till　he　ducked　away。

鈥渟omeone　has　to　look　after　you；鈥潯�mogget　　added。　鈥渁t　least　till　you鈥檝e　grown　into　a　real　abhorsen。鈥�

鈥渢hank　you；鈥潯�said　sabriel。　鈥渋　think。　but　i　would　still　like　a　map。　since　you　know　the　country　so　well；　would　it　be　possible　for　you　to鈥攊　don鈥檛　know鈥攄escribe　it；　so　i　can　make　a　sketch　map　or　something？鈥�

mogget　coughed；　as　if　a　hairball　had　suddenly　lodged　in　his　throat；　and　thrust　his　head　back　a　little。　鈥測ou！　draw　a　sketch　map？　if　you　must　have　one；　i　think　it　would　be　better　if　i　undertook　the　cartography　myself。　e　down　to　the　study　and　put　out　an　inkwell　and　paper。鈥�

鈥渁s　long　as　i　get　a　useable　map　i　don鈥檛　care　who　draws　it；鈥潯�sabriel　remarked；　as　she　went　backwards　down　the　ladder。　she　tilted　her　head　to　watch　how　mogget　came　down；　but　there　was　only　the　open　trapdoor。　a　sarcastic　meow　under　her　feet　announced　that　mogget　had　once　again　managed　to　get　between　rooms　without　visible　means　of　support。

鈥渋nk　and　paper；鈥潯�the　cat　reminded　her；　jumping　up　onto　the　dragon　desk。　鈥渢he　thick　paper。

smooth　side　up。　don鈥檛　bother　with　a　quill。鈥�

sabriel　followed　mogget鈥檚　instructions；　then　watched　with　a　resigned　condescension　that　　rapidly　changed　to　surprise　as　the　cat　crouched　by　the　square　of　paper；　his　strange　shadow　falling　on　it　like　a　dark　cloak　thrown　across　sand；　pink　tongue　out　in　concentration。　mogget　seemed　to　think　for　a　moment；　then　one　bright　ivory　claw　shot　out　from　a　white　pad鈥攈e　delicately　inked　the　claw　in　the　inkwell；　and　began　to　draw。　first；　a　rough　outline；　in　swift；　bold　strokes；　the　penning　in　of　the　major　geographical　features；　then　the　delicate　process　of　adding　important　sites；　each　named　in　fine；　spidery　writing。　last　of　all；　mogget　marked　abhorsen鈥檚　house　with　a　small　illustration；　before　leaning　back　to　admire　his　handiwork；　and　lick　the　ink　from　his　paw。　sabriel　waited　a　few　seconds　to　be　sure　he　was　done；　then　cast　drying　sand　over　the　paper；　her　eyes　trying　to　absorb　every　detail；　intent　on　learning　the　physical　face　of　the　old　kingdom。

鈥測ou　can　look　at　it　later；鈥潯�mogget　said　after　a　few　minutes；　when　his　paw　was　clean；　but　sabriel　was　still　bent　over　the　table；　nose　inches　from　the　map。　鈥渨e鈥檙e　still　in　a　hurry。　you鈥檇　better　go　and　get　dressed；　for　a　start。　do　try　to　be　quick。鈥�

鈥渋　will。鈥潯�sabriel　smiled；　still　looking　at　the　map。　鈥渢hank　you；　mogget。鈥�

the　sendings　had　laid　out　a　great　pile　of　clothes　and　equipment　in　sabriel鈥檚　room；　and　four　of　them　were　in　attendance　to　help　her　get　everything　on　and　organized。　she　had　hardly　stepped　inside　before　they鈥檇　stripped　her　indoor　dress　and　slippers　off；　and　she鈥檇　only　just　managed　to　remove　her　own　underclothes　before　ghostly　charter…traced　hands　tickled　her　sides。

a　few　seconds　later；　she　was　suffering　them　anyway；　as　they　pulled　a　thin；　cotton…like　undergarment　over　her　head；　and　a　pair　of　baggy　drawers　up　her　legs。　next　came　a　linen　shirt；　then　a　tunic　of　doeskin　and　breeches　of　supple　leather；　reinforced　with　some　sort　of　hard；　segmented　plates　at　thighs；　knees　and　shins；　not　to　mention　a　heavily　padded　bottom；　no　doubt　designed　for　riding。

a　brief　respite　followed；　lulling　sabriel　into　thinking　that　might　be　it；　but　the　sendings　had　merely　been　arranging　the　next　layer　for　immediate　fitting。　two　of　them　pushed　her　arms　into　a　long；　armored　coat　that　buckled　up　at　the　sides；　while　the　other　two　unlaced　a　pair　of　hobnailed　boots　and　waited。

the　coat　wasn鈥檛　like　anything　sabriel　had　ever　worn　before；　including　the　mail　hauberk　she鈥檇　worn　in　fighting　arts　lessons　at　school。　it　was　as　long　as　an　hauberk；　with　split　skirts　ing　down　to　her　knees　and　sleeves　swallowtailed　at　her　wrists；　but　it　seemed　to　be　entirely　made　of　tiny　overlapping　plates；　much　like　a　fish鈥檚　scales。　they　weren鈥檛　metal；　either；　but　some　sort　of　ceramic；　or　even　stone。　much　lighter　than　steel；　but　clearly　very　strong；　as　one　sending　demonstrated；　by　cutting　down　it　with　a　dagger；　striking　sparks　without　leaving　a　scratch。

sabriel　thought　the　boots　pleted　the　ensemble；　but　as　the　laces　were　done　up　by　one　pair　of　sendings；　the　other　pair　were　back　in　action。　one　raised　what　appeared　to　be　a　blue　and　silver　striped　turban；　but　sabriel；　pulling　it　down　to　just　above　her　eyebrows；　found　it　to　be　a　cloth…wrapped　helmet；　made　from　the　same　material　as　the　armor。

the　other　sending　waved　out　a　gleaming；　deep　blue　surcoat；　dusted　with　embroidered　silver　keys　that　reflected　the　light　in　all　directions。　it　waved　the　coat　to　and　fro　for　a　moment；　then　whipped　it　over　sabriel鈥檚　head　and　adjusted　the　drape　with　a　practiced　motion。　sabriel　ran　her　hand　over　its　silken　expanse　and　discreetly　tried　to　rip　　it　in　one　corner；　but；　for　all　its　apparent　fragility；　it　wouldn鈥檛　tear。

last　of　all　came　sword…belt　and　bell…bandolier。

the　sendings　brought　them　to　her；　but　made　no　attempt　to　put　them　on。　sabriel　adjusted　them　herself；　carefully　arranging　bells　and　scabbard；　feeling　the　familiar　weight鈥攂ells　across　her　breast　and　sword　balanced　on　her　hip。　she　turned　to　the　mirror　and　looked　at　her　reflection；　both　pleased　and　troubled　by　what　she　saw。　she　looked　petent；　professional；　a　traveler　who　could　look　after　herself。　at　the　same　time；　she　looked　less　like　someone　called　sabriel；　and　more　like　the　abhorsen；　capital　letter　and　all。

she　would　have　looked　longer；　but　the　sendings　tugged　at　her　sleeves　and　directed　her　attention　to　the　bed。　a　leather　backpack　lay　open　on　it　and；　as　sabriel　watched；　the　sendings　packed　it　with　her　remaining　old　clothes；　including　her　father鈥檚　oilskin；　spare　undergarments；　tunic　and　trousers；　dried　beef　and　biscuits；　a　water　bottle；　and　several　small　leather　pouches　full　of　useful　things；　each　of　which　were　painstakingly　opened　and　shown　to　her：　telescope；　sulphur　matches；　clockwork　firestarter；　medicinal　herbs；　fishing　hooks　and　line；　a　sewing　kit　and　a　host　of　other　　small　essentials。　the　three　books　from　the　library　and　the　map　went　into　oilskin　pouches；　and　then　into　an　outside　pocket。

backpack　on；　sabriel　tried　a　few　basic　exercises；　and　was　relieved　to　find　that　the　armor　didn鈥檛　restrict　her　too　much鈥攈ardly　at　all　in　fact；　though　the　pack　was　not　something　she鈥檇　like　to　have　on　in　a　fight。　she　could　even　touch　her　toes；　so　she　did；　several　times；　before　straightening　up　to　thank　the　sendings。

they　were　gone。　instead；　there　was　mogget；　stalking　mysteriously　towards　her　from　the　middle　of　the　room。

鈥渨ell；　i鈥檓　ready；鈥潯�sabriel　said。

mogget　didn鈥檛　answer；　but　sat　at　her　feet；　and　made　a　movement　that　looked　very　much　like　he　was　going　to　be　sick。　sabriel　recoiled；　disgusted；　then　halted；　as　a　small　metallic　object　fell　from　mogget鈥檚　mouth　and　bounced　on　the　floor。

鈥渁lmost　forgot；鈥潯�said　mogget。　鈥測ou鈥檒l　need　this　if　i鈥檓　to　e　with　you。鈥�

鈥渨hat　is　it？鈥潯�asked　sabriel；　bending　down　to　pick　up　a　ring；　a　small　silver　ring；　with　a　ruby　gripped　between　two　silver　claws　that　grew　out　of　the　band。

鈥渙ld；鈥潯�replied　mogget；　enigmatically。　鈥測ou鈥檒l　　know　if　you　need　to　use　it。　put　it　on。鈥�

sabriel　looked　at　it　closely；　holding　it　between　two　fingers　as　she　slanted　it　towards　the　light。　it　felt；　and　looked；　quite　ordinary。　there　were　no　charter　marks　on　the　stone　or　band；　it　seemed　to　have　no　emanations　or　aura。　she　put　it　on。

it　felt　cold　as　it　slipped　down　her　finger；　then　hot；　and　suddenly　she　was　falling；　falling　into　infinity；　into　a　void　that　had　no　end　and　no　beginning。　everything　was　gone；　all　light；　all　substance。　then　charter　marks　suddenly　exploded　all　around　her　and　she　felt　gripped　by　them；　halting　her　headlong　fall　into　nothing；　accelerating　her　back　up；　back　into　her　body；　back　to　the　world　of　life　and　dea