sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第2部分

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the　charter　mage　cleared　his　throat；　and　moved　around　the　fire。

鈥渋f　you　seek　a　man　who　knows　a　little　of　the　charter；鈥潯�he　said　hesitantly；　鈥渋　should　wish　to　serve；　for　i　have　seen　its　work　in　you；　lord；　though　i　am　loath　to　leave　my　fellow　wanderers。鈥�

鈥減erhaps　you　will　not　have　to；鈥潯�replied　abhorsen；　smiling　at　a　sudden　thought。　鈥渋　wonder　if　your　leader　will　object　to　two　new　members　joining　her　band。　for　my　work　means　i　must　travel；　and　there　is　no　part　of　the　kingdom　that　has　not　felt　the　imprint　of　my　feet。鈥�

鈥測our　work？鈥潯�asked　the　man；　shivering　a　little；　though　it　was　no　longer　cold。

鈥測es；鈥潯�said　abhorsen。　鈥渋　am　a　necromancer；　but　not　of　the　mon　kind。　where　others　of　the　art　raise　the　dead；　i　lay　them　back　to　rest。　and　those　that　will　not　rest；　i　bind鈥攐r　try　to。　i　am　abhorsen　。　。　。鈥�

he　looked　at　the　baby　again；　and　added；　almost　with　a　note　of　surprise；　鈥渇ather　of　sabriel。鈥�

w　w　w。　xiao　shuotxt。　co　m



chapter　1

灏忥伎璇磘xt澶�/鍫�
the　rabbit　had　been　run　over　minutes　before。　its　pink　eyes　were　glazed　and　blood　stained　its　clean　white　fur。　unnaturally　clean　fur；　for　it　had　just　escaped　from　a　bath。　it　still　smelt　faintly　of　lavender　water。

a　tall；　curiously　pale　young　woman　stood　over　the　rabbit。　her　night…black　hair；　fashionably　bobbed；　was　hanging　slightly　over　her　face。

she　wore　no　makeup　or　jewelry；　save　for　an　enamelled　school　badge　pinned　to　her　regulation　navy　blazer。　that；　coupled　with　her　long　skirt；　stockings　and　sensible　shoes；　identified　her　as　a　schoolgirl。　a　nameplate　under　the　badge　read　鈥渟abriel鈥潯�and　the　roman　鈥渧i鈥潯�and　gilt　crown　proclaimed　her　to　be　both　a　member　of　the　sixth　form　and　a　prefect。

the　rabbit　was；　unquestionably；　dead。　sabriel　looked　up　from　it　and　back　along　the　bricked　drive　that　left　the　road　and　curved　up　to　an　imposing　pair　of　wrought…iron　gates。　a　sign　above　the　gate；　in　gilt　letters　of　mock　gothic；　announced　that　they　were　the　gates　to　wyverley　college。　smaller　letters　added　that　the　school　was　鈥渆stablished　in　　for　young　ladies　of　quality。鈥�

a　small　figure　was　busy　climbing　over　the　gate；　nimbly　avoiding　the　spikes　that　were　supposed　to　stop　such　activities。　she　dropped　the　last　few　feet　and　started　running；　her　pigtails　flying；　shoes　clacking　on　the　bricks。　her　head　was　down　to　gain　momentum；　but　as　cruising　speed　was　established；　she　looked　up；　saw　sabriel　and　the　dead　rabbit；　and　screamed。

鈥渂unny！鈥�

sabriel　flinched　as　the　girl　screamed；　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　bent　down　by　the　rabbit鈥檚　side　and　reached　out　with　one　pale　hand　to　touch　it　between　its　long　ears。　her　eyes　closed　and　her　face　set　as　if　she　had　suddenly　turned　to　stone。　a　faint　whistling　sound　came　from　her　slightly　parted　lips；　like　the　wind　heard　from　far　away。　frost　formed　on　her　fingertips　and　rimed　the　asphalt　beneath　her　feet　and　knees。

the　other　girl；　running；　saw　her　suddenly　tip　forward　over　the　rabbit；　and　topple　towards　the　road；　but　at　the　last　minute　her　hand　came　out　and　she　caught　herself。　a　second　later；　she　had　regained　her　balance　and　was　using　both　hands　to　restrain　the　rabbit鈥攁　rabbit　now　inexplicably　lively　again；　its　eyes　bright　and　shiny；　as　eager　to　be　off　as　when　it　escaped　from　its　bath。

鈥渂unny！鈥潯�shrieked　the　younger　girl　again；　as　sabriel　stood　up；　holding　the　rabbit　by　the　scruff　of　its　neck。　鈥渙h；　thank　you；　sabriel！　when　i　heard　the　car　skidding　i　thought　。　。　。鈥�

she　faltered　as　sabriel　handed　the　rabbit　over　and　blood　stained　her　expectant　hands。

鈥渉e鈥檒l　be　fine；　jacinth；鈥潯�sabriel　replied　wearily。

鈥渁　scratch。　it鈥檚　already　closed　up。鈥�

jacinth　examined　bunny　carefully；　then　looked　up　at　sabriel；　the　beginnings　of　a　wriggling　fear　showing　at　the　back　of　her　eyes。

鈥渢here　isn鈥檛　anything　under　the　blood；鈥潯�stammered　jacinth。　鈥渨hat　did　you　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋　didn鈥檛；鈥潯�snapped　sabriel。　鈥渂ut　perhaps　you　can　tell　me　what　you　are　doing　out　of　bounds？鈥�

鈥渃hasing　bunny；鈥潯�replied　jacinth；　her　eyes　　clearing　as　life　reverted　to　a　more　normal　situation。

鈥測ou　see　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渘o　excuses；鈥潯�recited　sabriel。　鈥渞emember　what　mrs。　umbrade　said　at　assembly　on　monday。鈥�

鈥渋t鈥檚　not　an　excuse；鈥潯�insisted　jacinth。　鈥渋t鈥檚　a　reason。鈥�

鈥測ou　can　explain　it　to　mrs。　umbrade　then。鈥�

鈥渙h；　sabriel！　you　wouldn鈥檛！　you　know　i　was　only　chasing　bunny。　i鈥檇　never　have　e　out鈥斺��

sabriel　held　up　her　hands　in　mock　defeat；　and　gestured　back　to　the　gates。

鈥渋f　you鈥檙e　back　inside　within　three　minutes；　i　won鈥檛　have　seen　you。　and　open　the　gate　this　time。　they　won鈥檛　be　locked　till　i　go　back　inside。鈥�

jacinth　smiled；　her　whole　face　beaming；　whirled　around　and　sped　back　up　the　drive；　bunny　clutched　against　her　neck。　sabriel　watched　till　she　had　gone　through　the　gate；　then　let　the　tremors　take　her　till　she　was　bent　over；　shaking　with　cold。　a　moment　of　weakness　and　she　had　broken　the　promise　she　had　made　both　to　herself　and　her　father。　it　was　only　a　rabbit　and　jacinth　did　love　it　so　much鈥攂ut　what　would　that　lead　to？　it　was　no　great　step　from　bringing　back　a　rabbit　to　bringing　back　a　person。

worse；　it　had　been　so　easy。　she　had　caught　the　spirit　right　at　the　wellspring　of　the　river；　and　had　returned　it　with　barely　a　gesture　of　power；　patching　the　body　with　simple　charter　symbols　as　they　stepped　from　death　to　life。　she　hadn鈥檛　even　needed　bells；　or　the　other　apparatus　of　a　necromancer。

only　a　whistle　and　her　will。

death　and　what　came　after　death　was　no　great　mystery　to　sabriel。　she　just　wished　it　was。

it　was　sabriel鈥檚　last　term　at　wyverley鈥攖he　last　three　weeks；　in　fact。　she　had　graduated　already；　ing　first　in　english；　equal　first　in　music；　third　in　mathematics；　seventh　in　science；　second　in　fighting　arts　and　fourth　in　etiquette。　she　had　also　been　a　runaway　first　in　magic；　but　that　wasn鈥檛　printed　on　the　certificate。　magic　only　worked　in　those　regions　of　ancelstierre　close　to　the　wall　which　marked　the　border　with　the　old　kingdom。　farther　away；　it　was　considered　to　be　quite　beyond　the　pale；　if　it　existed　at　all；　and　persons　of　repute　did　not　mention　it。

wyverley　college　was　only　forty　miles　from　the　wall；　had　a　good　all…round　reputation；　and　taught　magic　to　those　students　who　could　obtain　special　permission　from　their　parents。

sabriel鈥檚　father　had　chosen　it　for　that　reason　when　he　had　emerged　from　the　old　kingdom　with　a　five…year…old　girl　in　tow　to　seek　a　boarding　school。　he　had　paid　in　advance　for　that　first　year；　in　old　kingdom　silver　deniers　that　stood　up　to　surreptitious　touches　with　cold　iron。

thereafter；　he　had　e　to　visit　his　daughter　twice　a　year；　at　midsummer　and　midwinter；　staying　for　several　days　on　each　occasion　and　always　bringing　more　silver。

understandably；　the　headmistress　was　very　fond　of　sabriel。　particularly　since　she　never　seemed　troubled　by　her　father鈥檚　rare　visitations；　as　most　other　girls　would　be。　once　mrs。

umbrade　had　asked　sabriel　if　she　minded；　and　had　been　troubled　by　the　answer　that　sabriel　saw　her　father　far　more　often　than　when　he　was　actually　there。　mrs。　umbrade　didn鈥檛　teach　magic；　and　didn鈥檛　want　to　know　any　more　about　it　other　than　the　pleasant　fact　that　some　parents　would　pay　considerable　sums　to　have　their　daughters　schooled　in　the　basics　of　sorcery　and　enchantment。

mrs。　umbrade　certainly　didn鈥檛　want　to　know　how　sabriel　saw　her　father。　sabriel；　on　the　other　　hand；　always　looked　forward　to　his　unofficial　visits　and　watched　the　moon；　tracing　its　movements　from　the　leather…bound　almanac　which　listed　the　phases　of　the　moon　in　both　kingdoms　and　gave　valuable　insights　into　the　seasons；　tides　and　other　ephemerae　that　were　never　the　same　at　any　one　time　on　both　sides　of　the　wall。

abhorsen鈥檚　sending　of　himself　always　appeared　at　the　dark　of　the　moon。

on　these　nights；　sabriel　would　lock　herself　into　her　study　（a　privilege　of　the　sixth　form鈥敗�previously　she鈥檇　had　to　sneak　into　the　library）；　put　the　kettle　on　the　fire；　drink　tea　and　read　a　book　until　the　characteristic　wind　rose　up；　extinguished　the　fire；　put　out　the　electric　light　and　rattled　the　shutters鈥攁ll　necessary　preparations；　it　seemed；　for　her　father鈥檚　phosphorescent　sending　to　appear　in　the　spare　armchair。

sabriel　was　particularly　looking　forward　to　her　father鈥檚　visit　that　november。　it　would　be　his　last；　because　college　was　about　to　end　and　she　wanted　to　discuss　her　future。　mrs。　umbrade　wanted　her　to　go　to　university；　but　that　meant　moving　further　away　from　the　old　kingdom。　her　magic　would　wane　and　parental　visitations　would　be　limited　to　actual　physical　appearances；　and　those　might　　well　bee　even　less　frequent。　on　the　other　hand；　going　to　university　would　mean　staying　with　some　of　the　friends　she鈥檇　had　virtually　all　her　life；　girls　she鈥檇　started　school　with　at　the　age　of　five。　there　would　also　be　a　much　greater　world　of　social　interaction；　particularly　with　young　men；　of　which　modity　there　was　a　distinct　shortage　around　wyverley　college。

and　the　disadvantage　of　losing　her　magic　could　possibly　be　offset　by　a　lessening　of　her　affinity　for　death　and　the　dead　。　。　。

sabriel　was　thinking　of　this　as　she　waited；　book　in　hand；　half…drunk　cup　of　tea　balanced　precariously　on　the　arm　of　her　chair。　it　was　almost　midnight　and　abhorsen　hadn鈥檛　appeared。　sabriel　had　checked　the　almanac　twice　and　had　even　opened　the　shutters　to　peer　out　through　the　glass　at　the　sky。　it　was　definitely　the　dark　of　the　moon；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　it　was　the　first　time　in　her　life　that　he　hadn鈥檛　appeared　and　she　felt　suddenly　uneasy。

sabriel　rarely　thought　about　what　life　was　really　like　in　the　old　kingdom；　but　now　old　stories　came　to　mind　and　dim　memories　of　when　she鈥檇　lived　there　with　the　travelers。　abhorsen　was　a　powerful　sorcerer；　but　even　then　。　。　。

鈥渟abriel！　sabriel！鈥�

a　high…pitched　voice　interrupted　her　thought；　quickly　followed　by　a　hasty　knock　and　a　rattle　of　the　doorknob。　sabriel　sighed；　pushed　herself　out　of　her　chair；　caught　the　teacup　and　unlocked　the　door。

a　young　girl　stood　on　the　other　side；　twisting　her　nightcap　from　side　to　side　in　trembling　hands；　her　face　white　with　fear。

鈥渙lwyn！鈥潯�exclaimed　sabriel。　鈥渨hat　is　it？　is　sussen　sick　again？鈥�

鈥渘o；鈥潯�sobbed　the　girl。　鈥渋　heard　noises　behind　the　tower　door；　and　i　thought　it　was　rebece　and　ila　having　a　midnight　feast　without　me；　so　i　looked　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渨hat！鈥潯�exclaimed　sabriel；　alarmed。　no　one　opened　outside　doors　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　not　this　close　to　the　old　kingdom。

鈥渋鈥檓　sorry；鈥潯�cried　olwyn。　鈥渋　didn鈥檛　mean　to。　i　don鈥檛　know　why　i　did。　it　wasn鈥檛　rebece　and　ila鈥敗�it　was　a　black　shape　and　it　tried　to　get　in。　i　slammed　the　door　。　。　。鈥�

sabriel　threw　the　teacup　aside　and　pushed　past　olwyn。　she　was　already　halfway　down　the　corridor　before　she　heard　the　porcelain　smash　behind　her；　and　olwyn鈥檚　horrified　gasp　at　such　　cavalier　treatment　of　good　china。　she　ignored　it　and　broke　into　a　run；　slapping　on　the　light　switches　as　she　ran　towards　the　open　door　of　the　west　dormitory。　as　she　reached　it；　screams　broke　out　inside；　rapidly　crescendoing　to　an　hysterical　chorus。　there　were　forty　girls　in　the　dormitory鈥攎ost　of　the　first　form；　all　under　the　age　of　eleven。　sabriel　took　a　deep　breath；　and　stepped　into　the