sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第29部分

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awareness　of　her　enemies；　like　a　darkness　always　clouding　the　edge　of　her　vision。　鈥渨e　will　go　now。　my　good　wishes　stay　with　you；　and　my　hopes　for　your　safety。鈥�

鈥渕ay　the　charter　preserve　us　all；鈥潯�added　touchstone；　bowing　to　the　old　man。　the　elder　bowed　back；　a　bent；　solemn　figure；　so　much　smaller　than　his　shadow；　looming　tall　on　the　wall　behind。

sabriel　turned　to　go；　but　a　long　line　of　villagers　was　forming　on　the　way　to　the　door。　all　of　them　wanted　to　bow　or　curtsey　before　her；　to　mutter　shy　thank…yous　and　farewells。　sabriel　accepted　　them　with　embarrassment　and　guilt；　remembering　patar。　true；　she　had　banished　the　dead；　but　another　life　had　been　lost　in　the　doing。　her　father　would　not　have　been　so　clumsy　。　。　。

the　second…to…last　person　in　the　line　was　a　little　girl；　her　black　hair　tied　in　two　plaits；　one　on　either　side　of　her　head。　seeing　her　made　sabriel　remember　something　touchstone　had　said。　she　stopped；　and　took　the　girl鈥檚　hands　in　her　own。

鈥渨hat　is　your　name；　little　one？鈥潯�she　asked；　smiling。　a　feeling　of　d茅j脿　vu　swept　over　her　as　the　small　fingers　met　hers鈥攖he　memory　of　a　frightened　first…grader　hesitantly　reaching　out　to　the　older　pupil　who　would　be　her　guide　for　the　first　day　at　wyverley　college。　sabriel　had　experienced　both　sides；　in　her　time。

鈥渁line；鈥潯�said　the　girl；　smiling　back。　her　eyes　were　bright　and　lively；　too　young　to　be　dimmed　by　the　frightened　despair　that　clouded　the　adults鈥櫋�gaze。　a　good　choice；　sabriel　thought。

鈥渘ow；　tell　me　what　you　have　learned　in　your　lessons　about　the　great　charter；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　adopting　the　familiar；　motherly　and　generally　irrelevant　questioning　tone　of　the　school　inspector　who鈥檇　descended　on　every　class　in　wyverley　twice　a　year。

鈥渋　know　the　rhyme　。　。　。鈥潯�replied　aline；　a　little　doubtfully；　her　small　forehead　crinkling。　鈥渟hall　i　sing　it；　like　we　do　in　class？鈥�

sabriel　nodded。

鈥渨e　dance　around　the　stone；　too；鈥潯�aline　added；　confidingly。　she　stood　up　straighter；　put　one　foot　forward；　and　took　her　hands　away　to　clasp　them　behind　her　back。

five　great　charters　knit　the　land　together　linked；　hand　in　hand　one　in　the　people　who　wear　the　crown　two　in　the　folk　who　keep　the　dead　down　three　and　five　became　stone　and　mortar　four　sees　all　in　frozen　water。

鈥渢hank　you；　aline；鈥潯�sabriel　said。　鈥渢hat　was　very　nice。鈥�

she　ruffled　the　child鈥檚　hair　and　hastened　through　the　final　farewells；　suddenly　keen　to　get　out　of　the　smoke　and　the　fish…smell；　out　into　the　clean；　rainy　air　where　she　could　think。

鈥渟o　now　you　know；鈥潯�whispered　mogget；　jumping　up　into　her　arms　to　escape　the　puddles。

鈥渋　still　can鈥檛　tell　you；　but　you　know　one鈥檚　in　your　blood。鈥�

鈥渢wo；鈥潯�replied　sabriel　distantly。　鈥溾�榯wo　in　the　folk　who　keep　the　dead　down。鈥櫋�so　what　is　the　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　i　can鈥檛　talk　about　it　either！鈥�

but　she　thought　about　the　questions　she鈥檇　like　to　ask；　as　touchstone　helped　her　aboard　the　small　fishing　vessel　that　lay　just　off　the　tiny；　shell…laden　beach　that　served　the　island　as　a　harbor。

one　of　the　great　charters　lay　in　the　royal　blood。　the　second　lay　in　abhorsen鈥檚。　what　were　three　and　five；　and　four　that　saw　all　in　frozen　water？　she　felt　certain　that　many　answers　could　be　found　in　belisaere。　her　father　could　probably　answer　more；　for　many　things　that　were　bound　in　life　were　unraveled　in　death。　and　there　was　her　mother…sending；　for　that　third　and　final　questioning　in　this　seven　years。

touchstone　pushed　off；　clambered　aboard　and　took　the　oars。　mogget　leapt　out　of　sabriel鈥檚　arms；　and　assumed　a　figurehead　position　near　the　prow；　serving　as　a　night…sighted　lookout；　while　mocking　touchstone　at　the　same　time。

back　on　shore；　the　mordicant　suddenly　howled；　a　long；　piercing　cry　that　echoed　far　across　the　water；　chilling　hearts　on　both　boat　and　island。

鈥渂ear　a　bit　more　to　starboard；鈥潯�said　mogget；　in　the　silence　after　the　howl　faded。　鈥渨e　need　more　sea…room。鈥�

touchstone　was　quick　to　ply。





chapter　xviii

灏忥伎璇磘xt澶╋伎鍫�
by　the　morning　of　the　sixth　day　out　of　nestowe；　sabriel　was　heartily　tired　of　nautical　life。　they鈥檇　sailed　virtually　non…stop　all　that　time；　only　putting　into　shore　at　noon　for　fresh　water；　and　only　then　when　it　was　sunny。

nights　were　spent　under　sail；　or；　when　exhaustion　claimed　touchstone；　hove…to　with　a　sea　anchor；　the　unsleeping　mogget　standing　watch。

fortunately；　the　weather　had　been　kind。

it　had　been　a　relatively　uneventful　five　days。

two　days　from　nestowe　to　beardy　point；　an　unprepossessing　peninsula　whose　only　interesting　features　were　a　sandy…bottomed　beach　and　a　clear　stream。　devoid　of　life；　it　was　also　devoid　of　the　dead。　here；　for　the　first　time；　sabriel　could　no　longer　sense　the　pursuing　mordicant。　a　good；　strong；　south…easterly　had　propelled　them；　reaching　northwards；　at　too　fast　a　pace　for　it　to　follow。

three　days　from　beardy　point　to　the　island　of　ilgard；　its　rocky　cliffs　climbing　sheer　from　the　sea；　a　grey　and　pockmarked　tenement；　home　to　tens　of　thousands　of　seabirds。　they　passed　it　late　in　the　afternoon；　their　single　sail　stretched　to　bursting；　clinker…built　hull　heeling　well　over；　bow　slicing　up　a　column　of　spray　that　salted　mouths；　eyes　and　bodies。

it　was　half　a　day　from　ilgard　to　the　belis　mouth；　that　narrow　strait　that　led　to　the　sea　of　saere。　but　that　was　tricky　sailing；　so　they　spent　the　night　hove…to　just　out　of　sight　of　ilgard；　to　wait　for　the　light　of　day。

鈥渢here　is　a　boom…chain　across　the　belis　mouth；鈥潯�touchstone　explained；　as　he　raised　the　sail　and　sabriel　hauled　the　sea　anchor　in　over　the　bow。　the　sun　was　rising　behind　him；　but　had　not　yet　pulled　itself　out　of　the　sea；　so　he　was　no　more　than　a　dim　shadow　in　the　stern。　鈥渋t　was　built　to　keep　pirates　and　suchlike　out　of　the　sea　of　saere。　you　won鈥檛　believe　the　size　of　it鈥攊　can鈥檛　imagine　how　it　was　forged；　or　strung　across。鈥�

鈥渨ill　it　still　be　there？鈥潯�sabriel　asked；　cautiously；　not　wanting　to　prevent　touchstone鈥檚　strangely　talkative　mood。

鈥渋鈥檓　sure　of　it；鈥潯�replied　touchstone。　鈥渨e鈥檒l　see　the　towers　on　the　opposite　shores　first。　winding　post；　to　the　south；　and　boom　hook　to　the　north。鈥�

鈥渘ot　very　imaginative　names；鈥潯�mented　sabriel；　unable　to　help　herself　from　interrupting。

it　was　just　such　a　pleasure　to　talk！　touchstone　had　lapsed　back　into　non…munication　for　most　of　the　voyage；　though　he　did　have　a　good　excuse鈥攈andling　the　fishing　boat　for　eighteen　hours　a　day；　even　in　good　weather；　didn鈥檛　leave　much　energy　for　conversation。

鈥渢hey鈥檙e　named　after　their　purpose；鈥潯�replied　touchstone。　鈥渨hich　makes　sense。鈥�

鈥渨ho　decides　whether　to　let　vessels　past　the　chain？鈥潯�asked　sabriel。　already；　she　was　thinking　ahead；　wondering　about　belisaere。　could　it　be　like　nestowe鈥攖he　city　abandoned；　riddled　with　the　dead？　鈥渁h；鈥潯�said　touchstone。　鈥渋　hadn鈥檛　thought　about　that。　in　my　time；　there　was　a　royal　boom　master；　with　a　force　of　guards　and　a　squadron　of　small；　picket　ships。　if；　as　mogget　says；　the　city　has　fallen　into　anarchy　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渢here　may　also　be　people　working　for；　or　in　alliance　with；　the　dead；鈥潯�sabriel　added　thoughtfully。

鈥渟o　even　if　we　cross　the　boom　in　daylight；　there　could　be　trouble。　i　think　i鈥檇　better　reverse　my　surcoat　and　hide　my　helmet　wrapping。鈥�

鈥渨hat　about　the　bells？鈥潯�asked　touchstone。

he　leaned　past　her；　to　draw　the　main　sheet　tighter；　right　hand　slightly　nudging　the　tiller　to　take　advantage　of　a　shift　in　the　wind。　鈥渢hey鈥檙e　fairly　obvious；　to　say　the　least。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檒l　just　look　like　a　necromancer；鈥潯�sabriel　replied。　鈥渁　salty；　unwashed　necromancer。鈥�

鈥渋　don鈥檛　know；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　who　couldn鈥檛　see　that　sabriel　was　joking。　鈥渘o　necromancer　would　be　let　into　the　city；　or　would　stay　alive；　in鈥斺��

鈥渋n　your　day；鈥潯�interrupted　mogget；　from　his　favorite　post　on　the　bow。　鈥渂ut　this　is　now；　and　i　am　sure　that　necromancers　and　worse　are　not　unmon　sights　in　belisaere。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檒l　wear　a　cloak鈥斺�潯�sabriel　started　to　say。

鈥渋f　you　say　so；鈥潯�touchstone　said；　at　the　same　time。　clearly；　he　didn鈥檛　believe　the　cat。　belisaere　was　the　royal　capital；　a　huge　city；　home　to　at　least　fifty　thousand　people。　touchstone　couldn鈥檛　imagine　it　fallen；　decayed　and　in　the　hands　of　the　　dead。　despite　his　own　inner　fears　and　secret　knowledge；　he　couldn鈥檛　help　but　be　confident　that　the　belisaere　they　were　sailing　towards　would　be　little　different　from　the　two…hundredyear…　old　images　locked　in　his　memory。

that　confidence　took　a　blow　as　the　belis　mouth　towers　became　visible　above　the　blue　line　of　the　horizon；　on　opposite　shores　of　the　strait。

at　first；　the　towers　were　no　more　than　dark　smudges；　that　grew　taller　as　wind　and　wave　carried　the　boat　towards　them。　through　her　telescope；　sabriel　saw　that　they　were　made　from　a　beautiful；　rosy…pink　stone　that　once　must　have　been　magnificent。　now　they　were　largely　blackened　by　fire；　their　majesty　vanished。　winding　post　had　lost　the　top　three　storys；　from　seven；　boom　hook　stood　as　tall　as　ever；　but　sunlight　shone　through　gaping　holes；　showing　the　interior　to　be　a　gutted　ruin。　there　was　no　sign　of　any　garrison；　toll　collector；　windlass　mules；　or　anything　alive。

the　great　boom…chain　still　stretched　across　the　strait。　huge　iron　links；　each　as　wide　and　long　as　the　fishing　boat；　rose　green　and　barnaclebefouled　out　of　the　water　and　up　into　each　of　the　towers。　glimpses　of　it　could　be　seen　in　the　　middle　of　the　mouth；　when　the　swell　dipped；　and　a　length　of　chain　shone　slick　and　green　in　the　wave　trough；　like　some　lurking　monster　of　the　deep。

鈥渨e鈥檒l　have　to　go　in　close　to　the　winding　post　tower；　unstep　the　mast　and　row　under　the　chain　where　it　rises；鈥潯�touchstone　declared；　after　studying　the　chain　for　several　minutes　through　the　telescope；　trying　to　gauge　whether　it　had　sunk　enough　to　allow　them　passage。　but　even　with　their　relatively　shallow…draft　boat；　it　would　be　too　risky；　and　they　daren鈥檛　wait　for　high　tide；　late　in　the　afternoon。　at　some　time　in　the　past；　perhaps　when　the　towers　were　abandoned；　the　chain　had　been　winched　up　to　its　maximum　tension。　the　engineers　who鈥檇　made　it　would　have　been　pleased；　for　there　seemed　to　be　no　noticeable　slippage。

鈥渕ogget；　go　to　the　bow　and　keep　a　lookout　for　anything　in　the　water。　sabriel；　could　you　please　watch　the　shore　and　the　tower；　to　guard　against　attack。鈥�

sabriel　nodded；　pleased　that　touchstone鈥檚　stint　as　captain　of　their　small　vessel　had　done　a　lot　to　remove　the　servant　nonsense　out　of　him　and　make　him　more　like　a　normal　person。　mogget；　　for　his　part；　jumped　up　to　the　bow　without　protest；　despite　the　spray　that　occasionally　burst　over　his　head　as　they　cut　diagonally　across　the　swell鈥攖owards　the　small　triangle　of　opportunity　between　shore；　sea　and　chain。

they　came　in　as　close　as　they　dared　before　unstepping　the　mast。　the　swell　had　diminished；　for　the　belis　mouth　was　well…sheltered　by　the　two　arms　of　land；　but　the　tide　had　turned；　and　a　tidal　race　was　beginning　to　run　from　the　ocean　to　the　saere　sea。　so；　even　without　mast　and　sail；　they　were　borne　rapidly　towards　the　chain；　touchstone　rowing　with　all　his　strength　just　to　keep　steerage　way。　after　a　moment；　this　clearly　became　impossible；　so　sabriel　took　one　of　the　oars；　and　they　rowed　together；　with　mogget