sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第33部分

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she　and　touchstone　probably　looked　like　rival　scavengers。　after　all；　who　else　would　want　to　leave　the　protection　of　swift　water？　she　felt　a　bit　like　a　hard…bitten　scavenger。　even　freshly　cleaned　and　scrubbed；　her　clothes　and　armor　were　not　the　sweetest　items　of　wear。　they　were　also　still　slightly　damp；　and　the　boat　cloak　that　covered　her　up　was　on　the　borderline　between　damp　and　wet；　because　it　hadn鈥檛　been　hung　up　properly　after　　washing。　on　the　positive　side；　everything　had　the　scent　of　lemon；　for　the　sign　of　three　lemons　washerfolk　used　lemon…scented　soap。

sabriel　thought　the　scavengers　had　been　waiting　for　the　guards；　but　clearly　they　had　been　waiting　for　something　else；　which　they鈥檇　suddenly　sighted　behind　her。　the　sitting　or　squatting　men　picked　themselves　up；　grumbling　and　cursing；　and　shuffled　together　into　something　resembling　a　line。

sabriel　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　see　what　they　saw鈥攁nd　froze。　for　ing　towards　the　arch　were　two　men；　and　about　twenty　children；　children　of　all　ages　between　six　and　sixteen。　the　men　had　the　same　look　as　the　other　scavengers；　and　carried　long；　four…tongued　whips。　the　children　were　manacled　at　the　ankles；　the　manacles　fastened　to　a　long　central　chain。　one　man　held　the　chain；　leading　the　children　down　the　middle　of　the　road。　the　other　followed　behind；　plying　the　air　above　the　small　bodies　idly　with　his　whip；　the　four　tongues　occasionally　licking　against　an　ear　or　the　top　of　a　small　head。

鈥渋　heard　of　this　too；鈥潯�muttered　touchstone；　moving　up　closer　to　sabriel；　his　hands　falling　on　his　sword　hilts。　鈥渂ut　i　thought　it　was　a　beer　　story。　the　scavengers　use　children鈥攕laves鈥攁s　decoys；　or　bait；　for　the　dead。　they　leave　them　in　one　area；　to　draw　the　dead　away　from　where　they　intend　to　search。鈥�

鈥渢his　is　。　。　。　disgusting！鈥潯�raged　sabriel。

鈥渋mmoral！　they鈥檙e　slavers；　not　scavengers！　we　have　to　stop　it！鈥�

she　started　forward；　mind　already　forming　a　charter…spell　to　blind　and　confuse　the　scavengers；　but　a　sharp　pain　in　her　neck　halted　her。

mogget；　riding　on　her　shoulders；　had　dug　his　claws　in　just　under　her　chin。　blood　trickled　down　in　hairline　traces；　as　he　hissed　close　to　her　ear。

鈥渨ait！　there　are　nine　scavengers　and　six　guards；　with　more　close　by。　what　will　it　profit　these　children；　and　all　the　others　who　may　e；　if　you　are　slain？　it　is　the　dead　who　are　at　the　root　of　this　evil；　and　abhorsen鈥檚　business　is　with　the　dead！鈥�

sabriel　stood　still；　shuddering；　tears　of　rage　and　anger　welling　up　in　the　corners　of　her　eyes。　but　she　didn鈥檛　attack。　just　stood；　watching　the　children。

they　seemed　resigned　to　their　fate；　silent；　without　hope。　they　didn鈥檛　even　fidget　in　their　chains；　standing　still；　heads　bowed；　till　the　scavengers　whipped　them　up　again　and　they　broke　into　a　　dispirited　shuffle　towards　the　archway。

soon；　they　were　beyond　the　arch；　heading　up　the　ruined　street；　the　scavenging　team　walking　slowly　behind　them。　the　sun　shone　bright　on　the　cobbled　street　and　reflected　from　armor　and　weapons鈥攁nd；　briefly；　from　a　little　boy鈥檚　blond　head。　then　they　were　gone；　turning　right；　taking　the　way　towards　coiner鈥檚　hill。

sabriel；　touchstone　and　mogget　followed　after　ten　minutes　spent　negotiating　with　the　guards。　at　first；　the　leader；　a　large　man　in　a　gravy…stained　leather　cuirass；　wanted　to　see　an　鈥渙fficial　scavenger鈥檚　license；鈥潯�but　this　was　soon　translated　as　a　request　for　bribes。　then　it　was　merely　a　matter　of　bargaining；　down　to　the　final　price　of　three　silver　pennies　each　for　sabriel　and　touchstone；　and　one　for　the　cat。　strange　accounting；　sabriel　thought；　but　she　was　glad　mogget　stayed　silent；　not　voicing　the　opinion　that　he　was　being　undervalued。

past　the　aqueduct；　and　the　soothing　barrier　of　running　water；　sabriel　felt　the　immediate　presence　of　the　dead。　they　were　all　around；　in　the　ruined　houses；　in　cellars　and　drains；　lurking　anywhere　the　light　didn鈥檛　reach。　dormant。　waiting　for　the　night；　while　the　sun　shone。

in　many　ways；　the　dead　of　belisaere　were　direct　　counterparts　of　the　scavengers。　hiding　by　day；　they　took　what　they　could　by　night。　there　were　many；　many　dead　in　belisaere；　but　they　were　weak；　cowardly　and　jealous。　their　bined　appetite　was　enormous；　but　the　supply　of　victims　sadly　limited。　every　morning　saw　scores　of　them　lose　their　hold　on　life；　to　fall　back　into　death。

but　more　always　came　。　。　。

鈥渢here　are　thousands　of　dead　here；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　eyes　darting　from　side　to　side。　鈥渢hey鈥檙e　weak；　for　the　most　part鈥攂ut　so　many！鈥�

鈥渄o　we　go　straight　on　to　the　reservoir？鈥�

touchstone　asked。　there　was　an　unspoken　question　there；　sabriel　knew。　should　they鈥攃ould　they鈥攕ave　the　children　first？　she　looked　at　the　sky；　and　the　sun；　before　answering。　they　had　about　four　hours　of　strong　sunlight；　if　no　clouds　intervened。　little　enough　time；　anyway。　assuming　that　they　could　defeat　the　scavengers；　could　they　leave　finding　her　father　till　tomorrow？　every　day　made　it　less　likely　his　spirit　and　body　could　be　brought　back　together。　without　him；　they　couldn鈥檛　defeat　kerrigor鈥攁nd　kerrigor　had　to　be　defeated　for　them　to　have　any　hope　of　repairing　the　stones　of　the　great　charter鈥敗　�banishing　the　dead　across　the　kingdom　。　。　。

鈥渨e鈥檒l　go　straight　to　the　reservoir；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　heavily；　trying　to　blank　out　a　sudden　fragment　of　visual　memory；　sunlight　on　that　little　boy鈥檚　head；　the　trudging　feet　。　。　。

鈥減erhaps　we　。　。　。　perhaps　we　will　be　able　to　rescue　the　children　on　the　way　back。鈥�

touchstone　led　the　way　with　confidence；　keeping　to　the　middle　of　the　streets；　where　the　sun　was　bright。　for　almost　an　hour；　they　strode　up　empty；　deserted　streets；　the　only　sound　the　clacking　of　their　boot…nails　on　the　cobbles。　there　were　no　birds；　or　animals。　not　even　insects。　just　ruin　and　decay。

finally；　they　reached　an　iron…fenced　park　that　ran　around　the　base　of　palace　hill。　atop　the　hill；　blackened；　burnt…out　shells　of　tumbled　stone　and　timber　were　all　that　remained　of　the　royal　palace。

鈥渢he　last　regent　burned　it；鈥潯�said　mogget；　as　all　three　stopped　to　look　up。　鈥渁bout　twenty　years　ago。　it　was　being　infested　with　the　dead；　despite　all　the　guards　and　wards　that　various　visiting　abhorsens　put　up。　they　say　the　regent　went　mad　and　tried　to　burn　them　out。鈥�

鈥渨hat　happened　to　him？鈥潯�asked　sabriel。

鈥渉er；　actually；鈥潯�replied　mogget。　鈥渟he　died　in　the　fire鈥攐r　the　dead　took　her。　and　that　marked　the　end　of　any　attempt　at　governing　the　kingdom。鈥�

鈥渋t　was　a　beautiful　building；鈥潯�touchstone　reminisced。　鈥測ou　could　see　out　over　the　saere。　it　had　high　ceilings；　and　a　clever　system　of　vents　and　shafts　to　catch　the　light　and　the　sea　breeze。

there　was　always　music　and　dancing　somewhere　in　the　palace；　and　midsummer　dinner　on　the　garden　roof；　with　a　thousand　scented　candles　burning　。　。　。鈥�

he　sighed；　and　pointed　at　a　hole　in　the　park　fence。

鈥渨e　might　as　well　go　through　here。　there鈥檚　an　entrance　to　the　reservoir　in　one　of　the　ornamental　caves　in　the　park。　only　fifty　steps　down　to　the　water；　rather　than　the　hundred　and　fifty　from　the　palace　proper。鈥�

鈥渙ne　hundred　and　fifty…six；鈥潯�said　mogget。　鈥渁s　i　recall。鈥�

touchstone　shrugged；　and　climbed　through　the　hole；　onto　the　springy　turf　of　the　park。　there　was　no　one鈥攁nd　no　thing鈥攊n　sight；　but　he　drew　his　swords　anyway。　there　were　large　trees　nearby；　and　accordingly；　shadows。

sabriel　followed；　mogget　jumping　down　from　her　shoulders　to　saunter　forward　and　sniff　the　air。

sabriel　drew　her　sword　too；　but　left　the　bells。

there　were　dead　about；　but　none　close。　the　park　was　too　open　in　daylight。

the　ornamental　caves　were　only　five　minutes鈥櫋�walk　away；　past　a　fetid　pond　that　had　once　boasted　seven　water…spouting　statues　of　bearded　tritons。　now　their　mouths　were　clogged　with　rotten　leaves；　and　the　pond　was　almost　solid　with　yellow…green　slime。

there　were　three　cave　entrances；　side　by　side。

touchstone　led　them　to　the　largest；　central　entrance。　marble　steps　led　down　the　first　three　or　four　feet；　and　marble　pillars　supported　the　entrance　ceiling。

鈥渋t　only　goes　back　about　forty　paces　into　the　hill；鈥潯�touchstone　explained；　as　they　lit　their　candles　by　the　entrance；　sulphur　matches　adding　their　own　noisome　stench　to　the　dank　air　of　the　cave。　鈥渢hey　were　built　for　picnics　in　high　summer。

there　is　a　door　at　the　back　of　this　one。　it　may　be　locked；　but　should　yield　to　a　charterspell。

the　steps　are　directly　behind；　and　pretty　straight；　but　there　are　no　light　shafts。　and　it鈥檚　narrow。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檒l　go　first　then；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　with　a　firmness　that　belied　the　weakness　in　her　legs　and　the　fluttering　in　her　stomach。　鈥渋　can鈥檛　sense　any　dead；　but　they　could　be　there　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渧ery　well；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　after　a　moment鈥檚　hesitation。

鈥測ou　don鈥檛　have　to　e；　you　know；鈥潯�sabriel　suddenly　burst　out；　as　they　stood　in　front　of　the　cave；　candles　flickering　foolishly　in　the　sunshine。

she　suddenly　felt　awfully　responsible　for　him。　he　looked　scared；　much　whiter　than　he　should；　almost　as　pale　as　a　death…leeched　necromancer。

he鈥檇　seen　terrible　things　in　the　reservoir；　things　that　had　once　driven　him　mad；　and　despite　his　self…accusation；　sabriel　didn鈥檛　believe　it　was　his　fault。　it　wasn鈥檛　his　father　down　there。　he　wasn鈥檛　an　abhorsen。

鈥渋　do　have　to；鈥潯�touchstone　replied。　he　bit　his　lower　lip　nervously。　鈥渋　have　to。　i鈥檒l　never　be　free　of　my　memories；　otherwise。　i　have　to　do　something；　make　new　memories；　better　ones。　i　need　to　。　。　。　seek　redemption。　besides；　i　am　still　a　member　of　the　royal　guard。　it　is　my　duty。鈥�

鈥渟o　be　it；鈥潯�said　sabriel。　鈥渁nyway；　i鈥檓　glad　you鈥檙e　here。鈥�

鈥渋　am　too鈥攊n　a　strange　sort　of　way；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　and　he　almost；　but　not　quite；　smiled。

鈥渋鈥檓　not；鈥潯�interrupted　mogget；　decidedly。

鈥渓et鈥檚　get　on　with　it。　we鈥檙e　wasting　sunlight。鈥�

the　door　was　locked；　but　opened　easily　to　sabriel鈥檚　spell；　the　simple　charter　symbols　of　unlocking　and　opening　flowing　from　her　mind　through　to　her　index　finger；　which　lay　against　the　keyhole。　but　though　the　spell　was　successful；　it　had　been　difficult　to　cast。　even　up　here；　the　broken　stones　of　the　great　charter　exerted　an　influence　that　disrupted　charter　magic。

the　faint　candlelight　showed　damp；　crumbly　steps；　leading　straight　down。　no　curves　or　turns；　just　a　straight　stair　leading　into　darkness。

sabriel　trod　gingerly；　feeling　the　soft　stone　crumble　under　her　heavy　boots；　so　she　had　to　keep　her　heels　well　back　on　each　step。　this　made　for　slow　progress；　with　touchstone　close　behind　her；　the　light　from　his　candle　casting　sabriel鈥檚　shadow　down　the　steps　in　front；　so　she　saw　herself　elongated　and　distorted；　sliding　into　the　dark　beyond　the　light。

she　smelled　the　reservoir　before　she　saw　it；　somewhere　around　the　thirty…ninth　step。　a　chill；　damp　smell　that　cut　into　her　nose　and　lungs；　and　　filled　her　with　the　impression　of　a　cold　expanse。

then　the　steps　ended　in　a　doorway　on　the　edge　of　a　vast；　rectangular　hall鈥攁　giant　chamber　where　stone　columns　rose　up　like　a　forest　to　support　a　roof　sixty　feet　above　her　head；　and　the　floor　before　her　wasn鈥檛　stone；　but　water　as　cold　and　still　as　stone。　around　the　walls；　pallid　shafts　of　sunlight　thrust　down　in　counterpoint　to　the　supporting　columns；　leaving　di