sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第24部分

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鈥渋　don鈥檛　suppose　you　can　remember　how　to　get　　out　of　this　sinkhole；　either；鈥潯�she　asked　in　exasperation；　after　a　particularly　long　stretch　of　silence。

even　to　her；　this　sounded　like　a　prefect　addressing　a　miscreant　twelve…year…old。

鈥渘o；　i鈥檓　sorry　。　。　。鈥潯�touchstone　began　automatically；　then　he　paused；　and　the　corner　of　his　mouth　quirked　up　with　a　momentary　spasm　of　pleasure。　鈥渨ait！　yes鈥攊　do　remember！　there鈥檚　a　hidden　stair；　to　the　north　of　king　janeurl鈥檚　ship　。　。　。　oh；　i　can鈥檛　remember　which　one　that　is　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渢here鈥檚　only　four　ships　near　the　northern　rim；鈥�

sabriel　mused。　鈥渋t　won鈥檛　be　too　hard　to　find。

how鈥檚　your　memory　for　other　geography？　the　kingdom；　for　instance？鈥�

鈥渋鈥檓　not　sure；鈥潯�replied　touchstone；　guardedly；　bowing　his　head　again。　sabriel　looked　at　him　and　took　a　deep　breath　to　calm　the　eel…like　writhings　of　anger　that　were　slowly　getting　bigger　and　bigger　inside　her。　she　could　excuse　his　faulty　memory鈥攁fter　all；　that　was　due　to　magical　incarceration。

but　the　servile　manner　that　went　with　it　seemed　to　be　an　affectation。　he　was　like　a　bad　actor　playing　the　butler鈥攐r　rather；　a　nonactor　trying　to　impersonate　a　butler　as　best　he　could。　but　why？　　鈥渕ogget　drew　me　a　map；鈥潯�she　said；　talking　as　much　to　calm　herself　as　for　any　real　munication。

鈥渂ut；　as　he　apparently　has　only　left　abhorsen鈥檚　house　for　a　few　weekends　over　the　last　thousand　years；　even　two…hundred…year…old　memories　。　。　。鈥�

sabriel　paused；　and　bit　her　lip；　suddenly　aware　that　her　annoyance　with　him　had　made　her　spiteful。

he　looked　up　as　she　stopped　speaking；　but　no　reaction　showed　on　his　face。　he　might　as　well　still　be　carved　from　wood。

鈥渨hat　i　mean　is；鈥潯�sabriel　continued　carefully；　鈥渋t　would　be　very　helpful　if　you　could　advise　me　on　the　best　route　to　belisaere；　and　the　important　landmarks　and　locations　on　the　way。鈥�

she　got　the　map　out　of　the　special　pocket　in　the　pack　and　removed　the　protective　oilskin。

touchstone　took　one　end　as　she　unrolled　it；　and　weighted　his　two　corners　with　stones；　while　sabriel　secured　hers　with　the　telescope　case。

鈥渋　think　we鈥檙e　about　here；鈥潯�she　said；　tracing　her　finger　from　abhorsen鈥檚　house；　following　the　paperwing鈥檚　flight　from　there　to　a　point　a　little　north　of　the　ratterlin　river　delta。

鈥渘o；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　sounding　decisive　for　the　first　time；　his　finger　stabbing　the　map　an　　inch　to　the　north　of　sabriel鈥檚　own。　鈥渢his　is　holehallow；　here。　it鈥檚　only　ten　leagues　from　the　coast　and　at　the　same　latitude　as　mount　anarson。鈥�

鈥済ood！鈥潯�exclaimed　sabriel；　smiling；　her　anger　slipping　from　her。　鈥測ou　do　remember。　now；　what鈥檚　the　best　route　to　belisaere；　and　how　long　will　it　take？鈥�

鈥渋　don鈥檛　know　the　current　conditions；　mi　。　。　。

sabriel；鈥潯�touchstone　replied。　his　voice　grew　softer；　more　subdued。　鈥渇rom　what　mogget　says；　the　kingdom　is　in　a　state　of　anarchy。　towns　and　villages　may　no　longer　exist。　there　will　be　bandits；　the　dead；　free　magic　unbound；　fell　creatures　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋gnoring　all　that；鈥潯�sabriel　asked；　鈥渨hich　way　did　you　normally　go？鈥�

鈥渇rom　nestowe；　the　fishing　village　here；鈥�

touchstone　said；　pointing　at　the　coast　to　the　east　of　holehallow。　鈥渨e鈥檇　ride　north　along　the　shoreway；　changing　horses　at　post　houses。　four　days　to　callibe；　a　rest　day　there。　then　the　interior　road　up　through　oncet　pass；　six　days　all　told　to　aunden。　a　rest　day　in　aunden；　then　four　days　to　orchyre。　from　there；　it　would　be　a　day鈥檚　ferry　passage；　or　two　days鈥櫋�riding；　to　the　　westgate　of　belisaere。鈥�

鈥渆ven　without　the　rest　days；　that鈥檇　be　eighteen　days鈥櫋�riding；　at　least　six　weeks鈥櫋�walking。　that鈥檚　too　long。　is　there　any　other　way？鈥�

鈥渁　ship；　or　boat；　from　nestowe；鈥潯�interrupted　mogget；　stalking　up　behind　sabriel；　to　place　his　paw　firmly　on　the　map。　鈥渋f　we　can　find　one　and　if　either　of　you　can　sail　it。鈥�





chapter　xv

灏忥紲璇达紲t锛渪t锛炲ぉ锛熷爞
the　stair　was　to　the　north　of　the　middle　ship　of　the　four。　concealed　by　both　magic　and　artifice；　it　seemed　to　be　little　more　than　a　particularly　wet　patch　of　the　damp　limestone　that　formed　the　sinkhole　wall；　but　you　could　walk　right　through　it；　for　it　was　really　an　open　door　with　steps　winding　up　behind。

they　decided　to　take　these　steps　the　next　morning；　after　another　day　of　rest。　sabriel　was　eager　to　move　on；　for　she　felt　that　her　father鈥檚　peril　could　only　be　increasing；　but　she　was　realistic　enough　to　assess　her　own　need　for　recovery　time。　touchstone；　too；　probably　needed　a　rest；　she　thought。　she鈥檇　tried　to　coax　more　information　out　of　him　while　they鈥檇　searched　for　the　steps；　but　he　was　clearly　reluctant　to　even　open　his　mouth；　and　when　he　did；　sabriel　found　his　humble　apologies　ever　more　irritating。　after　the　door　was　found　she　gave　up　altogether；　and　sat　in　the　grass　near　the　spring；　reading　her　father鈥檚　books　on　charter　magic。　the　book　of　the　dead　stayed　wrapped　in　oilskin。　even　then；　she　felt　its　presence；　brooding　in　her　pack　。　。　。

touchstone　stayed　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　ship；　near　the　bow；　performing　a　series　of　fencing　exercises　with　his　twin　swords；　and　some　stretches　and　minor　acrobatics。　mogget　watched　him　from　the　undergrowth；　green　eyes　glittering；　as　if　intent　on　a　mouse。

lunch　was　a　culinary　and　conversational　failure。

dried　beef　strips；　garnished　with　watercress　from　the　fringes　of　the　spring；　and　monosyllabic　responses　from　touchstone。　he　even　went　back　to　鈥渕ilady；鈥潯�despite　sabriel鈥檚　repeated　requests　to　use　her　name。　mogget　didn鈥檛　help　by　calling　her　abhorsen。　after　lunch；　everyone　went　back　to　their　respective　activities。　sabriel　to　her　book；　touchstone　to　his　exercises　and　mogget　to　his　watching。

dinner　was　not　something　anyone　had　looked　forward　to。　sabriel　tried　talking　to　mogget；　but　he　seemed　to　be　infected　with　touchstone鈥檚　　reticence；　though　not　with　his　servility。　as　soon　as　they鈥檇　eaten；　everyone　left　the　raked…together　coals　of　the　campfire鈥攖ouchstone　to　the　west；　mogget　north　and　sabriel　east鈥攁nd　went　to　sleep　on　as　fortable　a　stretch　of　ground　as　could　be　discovered。

sabriel　woke　once　in　the　night。　without　getting　up；　she　saw　that　the　fire　had　been　rekindled　and　touchstone　sat　beside　it；　staring　into　the　flames；　his　eyes　reflecting　the　capering；　gold…red　light。　his　face　looked　drawn；　almost　ill。

鈥渁re　you　all　right？鈥潯�sabriel　asked　quietly；　propping　herself　up　on　one　elbow。

touchstone　started；　rocked　back　on　his　heels；　and　almost　fell　over。　for　once；　he　didn鈥檛　sound　like　a　sulky　servant。

鈥渘ot　really。　i　remember　what　i　would　not；　and　forget　what　i　should　not。　forgive　me。鈥�

sabriel　didn鈥檛　answer。　he　had　spoken　the　last　two　words　to　the　fire；　not　to　her。

鈥減lease；　go　back　to　sleep；　milady；鈥潯�touchstone　continued；　slipping　back　to　his　servile　role。　鈥渋　will　wake　you　in　the　morning。鈥�

sabriel　opened　her　mouth　to　say　something　scathing　about　the　arrogance　of　pretended　humility；　then　shut　it；　and　subsided　back　under　　her　blanket。　just　concentrate　on　rescuing　father；　she　told　herself。　that　is　the　one　important　thing。

rescue　abhorsen。　don鈥檛　worry　about　touchstone鈥檚　problems；　or　mogget鈥檚　curious　nature。

rescue　abhorsen。　rescue　abhorsen。　rescue　abhors　。　。　。　rescue　。　。　。

鈥渨ake　up！鈥潯�mogget　said；　right　in　her　ear。　she　rolled　over；　ignoring　him；　but　he　leapt　across　her　head　and　repeated　it　in　her　other　ear。　鈥渨ake　up！鈥�

鈥渋鈥檓　awake；鈥潯�grumbled　sabriel。　she　sat　up　with　the　blanket　wrapped　around　her；　feeling　the　pre…dawn　chill　on　her　face　and　hands。　it　was　still　extremely　dark；　save　for　the　uneven　light　of　the　fire　and　the　faintest　brushings　of　dawn　light　above　the　sinkhole。　touchstone　was　already　making　the　porridge。　he鈥檇　also　washed；　and　shaved鈥攗sing　a　dagger　from　the　look　of　the　nicks　and　cuts　on　his　chin　and　neck。

鈥済ood　morning；鈥潯�he　said。　鈥渢his　will　be　ready　in　five　minutes；　milady。鈥�

sabriel　groaned　at　that　word　again。　feeling　like　a　shambling；　blanket…shrouded　excuse　for　a　human　being；　she　picked　up　her　shirt　and　trousers　and　staggered　off　to　find　a　suitable　bush　en　route　to　the　spring。

the　icy　water　of　the　spring　pleted　the　waking　up　process　without　kindness；　sabriel　exposing　herself　to　it　and　the　marginally　warmer　air　for　no　more　than　the　ten　seconds　it　took　to　shed　undershirt；　wash　and　get　dressed　again。

clean；　awake　and　clothed；　she　returned　to　the　campfire　and　ate　her　share　of　the　porridge。　then　touchstone　ate；　while　sabriel　buckled　on　armor；　sword　and　bells。　mogget　lay　near　the　fire；　warming　his　white…furred　belly。　not　for　the　first　time；　sabriel　wondered　if　he　needed　to　eat　at　all。　he　obviously　liked　food；　but　he　seemed　to　eat　for　amusement；　rather　than　sustenance。

touchstone　continued　being　a　servant　after　breakfast；　cleaning　pot　and　spoon；　quenching　the　fire　and　putting　everything　away。　but　when　he　was　about　to　swing　the　pack　on　his　back；　sabriel　stopped　him。

鈥渘o；　touchstone。　it鈥檚　my　pack。　i鈥檒l　carry　it；　thank　you。鈥�

he　hesitated；　then　passed　it　to　her　and　would　have　helped　her　put　it　on；　but　she　had　her　arms　through　the　straps　and　the　pack　swung　on　before　he　could　take　the　weight。

half　an　hour　later；　perhaps　a　third　of　the　way　up　the　narrow；　stone…carved　stair；　sabriel　　regretted　her　decision　to　take　the　pack。　she　still　wasn鈥檛　totally　recovered　from　the　paperwing　crash　and　the　stair　was　very　steep；　and　so　narrow　that　she　had　difficulty　negotiating　the　spiraling　turns。　the　pack　always　seemed　to　jam　against　the　outside　or　inside　wall；　no　matter　which　way　she　turned。

鈥減erhaps　we　should　take　it　in　turns　to　carry　the　pack；鈥潯�she　said　reluctantly；　when　they　stopped　at　a　sort　of　alcove　to　catch　their　breath。

touchstone；　who　had　been　leading；　nodded　and　came　back　down　a　few　steps　to　take　the　pack。

鈥渋鈥檒l　lead；　then；鈥潯�sabriel　added；　flexing　her　back　and　shoulders；　shuddering　slightly　at　the　packinduced　layer　of　sweat　on　her　back；　greasy　under　armor；　tunic；　shirt　and　undershirt。　she　picked　up　her　candle　from　the　bench　and　stepped　up。

鈥渘o；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　stepping　in　her　way。

鈥渢here　are　guards鈥攁nd　guardians鈥攐n　this　stair。　i　know　the　words　and　signs　to　pass　them。

you　are　the　abhorsen；　so　they　might　let　you　past；　but　i　am　not　sure。鈥�

鈥測our　memory　must　be　ing　back；鈥潯�sabriel　mented；　slightly　peeved　at　being　thwarted。

鈥渢ell　me；　is　this　stair　the　one　you　mentioned　when　you　said　the　queen　was　ambushed？鈥�

鈥渘o；鈥潯�touchstone　replied　flatly。　he　hesitated；　then　added；　鈥渢hat　stair　was　in　belisaere。鈥�

with　that；　he　turned；　and　continued　up　the　stairs。　sabriel　followed；　mogget　at　her　heels。　now　that　she　wasn鈥檛　lumbered　by　her　pack；　she　felt　more　alert。　watching　touchstone；　she　saw　him　pause　occasionally　and　mutter　some　words　under　his　breath。　each　time；　there　was　the　faint；　featherlight　touch　of　charter　magic。　subtle　magic；　much　cleverer　than　in　the　tunnel　below。　harder　to　detect　and　probably　much　more　deadly；　sabriel　thought。

now　she　knew　it　was　there；　she　also　picked　up　the　faint　sensation　of　death。　this　stair　had　seen　killings；　a　long；　long；　time　ago。

finally；　they　came　to　a　large　chamber；　with　a　set　of　double　doors　to　one　side。　light　leaked　in　from　a　large　number　of　small；　circular　holes　in　the　roof；　or　as　sabri