sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第18部分

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the　wind；　or　its　own　tilt　of　a　wing。　its　yellow　eyes；　and　sabriel鈥檚　deep…brown　eyes；　were　fixed　on　the　ground　below。　only　mogget；　being　mogget；　looked　behind　them　and　above。

even　so；　he　didn鈥檛　see　their　pursuers　until　they　came　wheeling　out　of　the　sun；　so　his　yowling　cry　gave　only　a　few　seconds鈥櫋�warning；　just　long　enough　for　sabriel　to　turn　and　see　the　hundreds　of　fast…moving　shapes　diving　down　upon　them。　instinctively；　she　conjured　charter　marks　in　her　mind；　mouth　pursed；　whistling　the　wind　back　up；　turning　them　to　the　north。

鈥済ore　crows！鈥潯�hissed　mogget；　as　the　flapping　shapes　checked　their　dive　and　wheeled　to　pursue　　their　suddenly　enlivened　prey。

鈥測es；鈥潯�shouted　sabriel；　though　she　wasn鈥檛　sure　why　she　answered。　her　attention　was　all　on　the　gore　crows；　trying　to　gauge　whether　they鈥檇　intercept　or　not。　she　could　already　feel　the　wind　testing　the　edges　of　her　control；　as　mogget　had　prophesied；　and　to　whip　it　up　further　might　have　unpleasant　results。　but　she　could　also　feel　the　presence　of　the　gore　crows；　feel　the　admixture　of　death　and　free　magic　that　gave　life　to　their　rotten；　skeletal　forms。

gore　crows　didn鈥檛　last　very　long　in　sun　and　wind鈥攖hese　must　have　been　made　the　previous　night。　a　necromancer　had　trapped　quite　ordinary　crows；　killing　them　with　ritual　and　ceremony；　before　infusing　the　bodies　with　the　broken；　fragmented　spirit　of　a　single　dead　man　or　woman。　now　they　were　truly　carrion　birds；　birds　guided　by　a　single；　if　stupid；　intelligence。

they　flew　by　force　of　free　magic；　and　killed　by　force　of　numbers。

despite　her　quickness　in　calling　the　wind；　the　flock　was　still　closing　rapidly。　they鈥檇　dived　from　high　above　and　kept　their　speed；　the　wind　stripping　feathers　and　putrid　flesh　from　their　spellwoven　bones。

for　a　moment；　sabriel　considered　turning　the　paperwing　back　into　the　very　center　of　this　great　murder　of　crows；　like　an　avenging　angel；　armed　with　sword　and　bells。　but　there　were　simply　too　many　gore　crows　to　fight；　particularly　from　an　aircraft　speeding　along　several　hundred　feet　above　the　ground。　one　overeager　sword　thrust　would　mean　a　fatal　fall鈥攊f　the　gore　crows　didn鈥檛　kill　her　on　the　way　down。

鈥渋鈥檒l　have　to　summon　a　greater　wind！鈥潯�she　yelled　at　mogget；　who　was　now　sitting　right　up　on　her　pack；　fur　bristling；　yowling　challenges　at　the　crows。　they　were　very　close　now；　flying　in　an　eerily　exact　formation鈥攖wo　long　lines；　like　arms　outstretched　to　snatch　the　fleeing　paperwing　from　the　sky。　very　little　of　their　once…black　plumage　had　survived　their　rushing　dive；　white　bone　shining　through　in　the　last　light　of　the　sun。

but　their　beaks　were　still　glossily　black　and　gleaming　sharp；　and　sabriel　could　now　see　the　red　glints　of　the　fragmented　dead　spirit　in　the　empty　sockets　of　their　eyes。

mogget　didn鈥檛　reply。　possibly；　he　hadn鈥檛　even　heard　her　above　his　yowling；　and　the　gore　crows鈥櫋�cawing　as　they　closed　the　last　few　yards　to　attack；　a　strange；　hollow　sound；　as　dead　as　their　flesh。

for　a　second　of　panic；　sabriel　felt　her　dry　lips　unable　to　purse；　then　she　wet　them　and　the　whistle　came；　slow　and　erratic。　the　charter　marks　felt　clumsy　and　difficult　in　her　head；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　push　a　heavy　weight　on　badly　made　rollers鈥攖hen；　with　a　last　effort；　they　came　easily；　flowing　into　her　whistled　notes。

unlike　her　earlier；　gradual　summonings；　this　wind　came　with　the　speed　of　a　slamming　door；　howling　up　behind　them　with　frightening　violence；　picking　up　the　paperwing　and　shunting　it　forward　like　a　giant　wave　lifting　up　a　slender　boat。　suddenly；　they　were　going　so　fast　that　sabriel　could　barely　make　out　the　ground　below；　and　the　individual　islands　of　the　delta　merged　into　one　continuous　blur　of　motion。

eyes　closed　to　protective　slits；　she　craned　her　head　around；　the　wind　striking　her　face　like　a　vicious　slap。　the　pursuing　gore　crows　were　all　over　the　sky　now；　formation　lost；　like　small　black　stains　against　the　red　and　purple　sunset。

they　were　flapping　uselessly；　trying　to　e　back　together；　but　the　paperwing　was　already　a　league　or　more　away。　there　was　no　chance　they　could　catch　up。

sabriel　let　out　a　sigh　of　relief；　but　it　was　a　sigh　　　tempered　with　new　anxieties。　the　wind　was　carrying　them　at　a　fearful　pace；　and　it　was　starting　to　veer　northwards；　which　it　wasn鈥檛　supposed　to　do。　sabriel　could　see　the　first　stars　twinkling　now；　and　they　were　definitely　turning　towards　the　buckle。

it　was　an　effort　to　call　up　the　charter　marks　again；　and　whistle　the　spell　to　ease　the　wind；　and　turn　it　back　to　the　east；　but　sabriel　managed　to　cast　it。　but　the　spell　failed　to　work鈥攖he　wind　grew　stronger；　and　shifted　more；　till　they　were　careening　straight　towards　the　buckle；　directly　north。

sabriel；　hunkered　down　in　the　cockpit；　eyes　and　nose　streaming　and　face　frozen；　tried　again；　using　all　her　willpower　to　force　the　charter　marks　into　the　wind。　even　to　her；　her　whistle　sounded　feeble；　and　the　charter　marks　once　again　vanished　into　what　had　now　bee　a　gale。　sabriel　realized　she　had　totally　lost　control。

in　fact；　it　was　almost　as　if　the　spell　had　the　opposite　effect；　for　the　wind　grew　wilder；　snatching　the　paperwing　up　in　a　great　spiral；　like　a　ball　thrown　between　a　ring　of　giants；　each　one　taller　than　the　last。　sabriel　grew　dizzy；　and　even　colder；　and　her　breath　came　fast　and　shallow；　trying　to　salvage　enough　air　to　keep　her　alive。　she　tried　to　calm　the　winds　again；　but　couldn鈥檛　gain　the　breath　to　whistle；　and　the　charter　marks　slipped　from　her　mind；　till　all　she　could　do　was　desperately　hang　on　to　the　straps　in　the　hammock…seat　as　the　paperwing　tried　its　best　to　ride　the　storm。

then；　without　warning；　the　wind　ceased　its　upward　dance。　it　just　dropped；　and　with　it　went　the　paperwing。　sabriel　fell　upwards；　straps　suddenly　tight；　and　mogget　almost　clawed　through　the　pack　in　his　efforts　to　stay　connected　with　the　aircraft。　jolted　by　this　new　development；　sabriel　felt　her　exhaustion　burn　away。　she　tried　to　whistle　the　lifting　wind；　but　it　too　was　beyond　her　power。　the　paperwing　seemed　unable　to　halt　its　headlong　descent。　it　fell；　nose　tilting　further　and　further　forward　till　they　were　diving　almost　vertically；　like　a　hammer　rushing　to　the　anvil　of　the　ground　below。

it　was　a　long　way　down。　sabriel　screamed　once；　then　tried　to　put　some　of　her　fear…found　strength　into　the　paperwing。　but　the　marks　flowed　into　her　whistle　without　effect；　save　for　a　golden　sparkle　that　briefly　illuminated　her　white；　wind…frozen　face。　the　sun　had　pletely　set；　and　the　dark　mass　of　the　ground　below　looked　　all　too　much　like　the　grey　river　of　death鈥攖he　river　their　spirits　would　cross　into　in　a　few　short　minutes；　never　to　return　to　the　warm　light　of　life。

鈥渓oose　my　collar；鈥潯�mewed　a　voice　at　sabriel鈥檚　ear；　followed　by　the　curious　sensation　of　mogget　digging　his　claws　into　her　armor　as　he　clambered　into　her　lap。　鈥渓oose　my　collar！鈥�

sabriel　looked　at　him；　at　the　ground；　at　the　collar。　she　felt　stupid；　starved　of　oxygen；　unable　to　decide。　the　collar　was　part　of　an　ancient　binding；　a　terrible　guardian　of　tremendous　power。　it　would　only　be　used　to　contain　an　inexpressible　evil；　or　uncontrollable　force。

鈥渢rust　me！鈥潯�howled　mogget。　鈥渓oose　my　collar；　and　remember　the　ring！鈥�

sabriel　swallowed；　closed　her　eyes；　fumbled　with　the　collar　and　prayed　that　she　was　doing　the　right　thing。　鈥渇ather；　forgive　me；鈥潯�she　thought；　but　it　was　not　just　to　her　father　that　she　spoke；　but　to　all　the　abhorsens　who　had　e　before　her鈥攅specially　the　one　who　had　made　the　collar　so　long　ago。

surprisingly　for　such　an　ancient　spell；　she　felt　little　more　than　pins　and　needles　as　the　collar　came　free。　then　it　was　open；　and　suddenly　　heavy；　like　a　lead　rope；　or　a　ball　and　chain。

sabriel　almost　dropped　it；　but　it　became　light　again；　then　insubstantial。　when　sabriel　opened　her　eyes；　the　collar　had　simply　ceased　to　exist。

mogget　sat　still；　on　her　lap；　and　seemed　unchanged鈥攖hen　he　seemed　to　glow　with　an　internal　light　and　expand；　till　he　became　frayed　at　the　edges；　and　the　light　grew　and　grew。　within　a　few　seconds；　there　was　no　cat…shape　left；　just　a　shining　blur　too　bright　to　look　at。　it　seemed　to　hesitate　for　a　moment　and　sabriel　felt　its　attention　flicker　between　aggression　towards　her　and　some　inner　struggle。　it　almost　formed　back　into　the　cat…shape　again；　then　suddenly　split　into　four　shafts　of　brilliant　white。　one　shot　forward；　one　aft；　and　two　seemed　to　slide　into　the　wings。

then　the　whole　paperwing　shone　with　fierce　white　brilliance；　and　it　abruptly　stopped　its　headlong　dive　and　leveled　out。　sabriel　was　flung　violently　forward；　body　checked　by　straps；　but　her　nose　almost　hit　the　silver　mirror；　neck　muscles　cording　out　with　an　impossible　effort　to　keep　her　head　still。

despite　this　sudden　improvement；　they　were　still　falling。　sabriel；　hands　now　clasped　behind　her　savagely　aching　neck；　saw　the　ground　rushing　　up　to　fill　the　horizon。　treetops　suddenly　appeared　below；　the　paperwing　imbued　with　the　strange　light；　just　clipping　through　the　upper　branches　with　a　sound　like　hail　on　a　tin　roof。

then；　they　dropped　again；　skimming　scant　yards　above　what　looked　like　a　cleared　field；　but　still　too　fast　to　land　without　total　destruction。

mogget；　or　whatever　mogget　had　bee；　braked　the　paperwing　again；　in　a　series　of　shuddering　halts　that　added　bruises　on　top　of　bruises。

for　the　first　time；　sabriel　felt　the　incredible　relief　of　knowing　that　they　would　survive。　one　more　braking　effort　and　the　paperwing　would　be　safely　down；　to　skid　a　little　in　the　long；　soft　grass　of　the　field。

mogget　braked；　and　sabriel　cheered　as　the　paperwing　gently　lay　its　belly　on　the　grass　and　slid　to　what　should　have　been　a　perfect　landing。

but　the　cheer　suddenly　became　a　shriek　of　alarm；　as　the　grass　parted　to　reveal　the　lip　of　an　enormous　dark　hole　directly　in　their　path。

too　low　to　rise；　and　now　too　slow　to　glide　over　a　hole　at　least　fifty　yards　across；　the　paperwing　reached　the　edge；　flipped　over　and　spiraled　towards　the　bottom　of　the　hole；　hundreds　of　feet　below。

w　w　w。　xiao　shuotxt。　co　m



chapter　xii

灏忚�磘xt澶╁爞
sabriel　regained　consciousness　slowly；　her　brain　fumbling　for　connections　to　her　senses。　hearing　came　first；　but　that　only　caught　her　own　labored　breathing；　and　the　creak　of　her　armored　coat　as　she　struggled　to　sit　up。　for　the　moment；　sight　eluded　her；　and　she　was　panicked；　afraid　of　blindness；　till　memory　came。　it　was　night；　and　she　was　at　the　bottom　of　a　sinkhole鈥攁　great；　circular　shaft　bored　into　the　ground；　by　either　nature　or　artifice。　from　her　brief　glimpse　of　it　as　they鈥檇　fallen；　she　guessed　it　was　easily　fifty　yards　in　diameter　and　a　hundred　deep。　daylight　would　probably　illuminate　its　murky　depths；　but　starlight　was　insufficient。

pain　came　next；　hard　on　the　heels　of　memory。　a　thousand　aches　and　bruises；　but　no　serious　injury。

sabriel　wiggled　her　toes　and　fingers；　flexed　muscles　in　arms；　back　and　legs。　they　all　hurt；　but　everything　seemed　to　work。

she　vaguely　recalled　the　last　few　seconds　before　impact鈥攎ogget；　or　the　white　force；　slowing　them　just　before　they　hit鈥攂ut　the　actual　instant　of　the　crash　might　never　have　been；　for　she　couldn鈥檛　remember　it。　shock；　she　thought　to　herself；　in　an　abstract　way；　almost　like　she　was　diagnosing　someone　else。

her　next