sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第36部分

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his　liking鈥攕uddenly　he　wondered　if　the　reservoir　had　a　drainhole　and　a　plug。　then　he　dismissed　it　as　a　foolish　notion。　any　such　plug　or　drain　cover　would　have　long　since　rusted　shut。

鈥渨hat　are　they　doing？鈥潯�he　whispered　anxiously；　fingering　his　sword；　tilting　the　blade　this　way　and　that。　his　left　hand　seemed　to　hold　the　candle　steady；　but　the　little　flame　flickered；　clear　evidence　of　the　tiny　shakes　that　ran　down　his　arm。

鈥渏ust　lining　up　along　the　walls；　in　ranks；鈥�

mogget　whispered　back。　鈥渟trange鈥攁lmost　like　an　honor　guard　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渃harter　preserve　us；鈥潯�touchstone　croaked；　with　a　weight　in　his　throat　of　absolute　dread　and　terrible　foreboding。　鈥渞ogir　。　。　。　kerrigor。

he　must　be　here　。　。　。　and　he鈥檚　ing　。　。　。鈥�

w　w　w/xiao　shu　otx　t



chapter　xxii

銆婂皬璇磘銆媥t澶╁爞
sabriel　reached　the　third　gate　just　ahead　of　the　wave；　gabbling　a　free　magic　spell　as　she　ran；　feeling　it　fume　up　and　out　of　her　mouth；　filling　her　nostrils　with　acrid　fumes。

the　spell　parted　the　mists；　and　sabriel　stepped　within；　the　wave　breaking　harmlessly　around　her；　dumping　its　cargo　of　dead　down　into　the　waterfall　beyond。　sabriel　waited　a　moment　more；　for　the　path　to　appear；　then　passed　on鈥敗�on　to　the　fourth　precinct。

this　was　a　relatively　easy　area　to　traverse。　the　current　was　strong　again；　but　predictable。　there　were　few　dead；　because　most　were　stunned　and　rushed　through　by　the　third　precinct鈥檚　wave。

sabriel　walked　quickly；　using　the　strength　of　her　will　to　suppress　the　leeching　cold　and　the　plucking　hands　of　the　current。　she　could　feel　her　father鈥檚　spirit　now；　close　by；　as　if　he　were　in　one　room　of　a　large　house；　and　she　in　another鈥敗�tracking　him　down　by　the　slight　sounds　of　habitation。

he　was　either　here　in　the　fourth　precinct；　or　past　the　fourth　gate；　in　the　fifth　precinct。

she　increased　her　pace　a　little　again；　eager　to　find　him；　talk　with　him；　free　him。　she　knew　everything　would　be　all　right　once　father　was　freed　。　。　。

but　he　wasn鈥檛　in　the　fourth　precinct。　sabriel　reached　the　fourth　gate　without　feeling　any　intensification　of　his　presence。　this　gate　was　another　waterfall；　of　sorts；　but　it　wasn鈥檛　cloaked　in　mist。　it　looked　like　the　easy　drop　of　water　from　a　small　weir；　a　matter　of　only　two　or　three　feet　down。　but　sabriel　knew　that　if　you　approached　the　edge　there　was　more　than　enough　force　to　drag　the　strongest　spirit　down。

she　halted　well　back；　and　was　about　to　launch　into　the　spell　that　would　conjure　her　path；　when　a　niggling　sensation　at　the　back　of　her　head　made　her　stop　and　look　around。

the　waterfall　stretched　as　far　as　she　could　see　to　either　side；　and　sabriel　knew　that　if　she　was　foolish　enough　to　try　and　walk　its　length；　it　　would　be　an　unending　journey。　perhaps　it　eventually　looped　back　on　itself；　but　as　there　were　no　landmarks；　stars　or　anything　else　to　fix　one鈥檚　position；　you鈥檇　never　know。　no　one　ever　walked　the　breadth　of　an　inner　precinct　or　gate。

what　would　be　the　point？　everyone　went　into　death　or　out　of　it。　not　sideways；　save　at　the　border　with　life；　where　walking　along　altered　where　you　came　out鈥攂ut　that　was　only　useful　for　spirit…forms；　or　rare　beings　like　the　mordicant；　who　took　their　physical　shape　with　them。

nevertheless；　sabriel　felt　an　urge　to　walk　along　next　to　the　gate；　to　turn　on　her　heel　and　follow　the　line　of　the　waterfall。　it　was　an　unidentifiable　urge；　and　that　made　her　uneasy。　there　were　other　things　in　death　than　the　dead鈥攊nexplicable　beings　of　free　magic；　strange　constructs　and　inprehensible　forces。　this　urge鈥攖his　calling鈥敗�might　e　from　one　of　them。

she　hesitated；　thinking　about　it；　then　pushed　out　into　the　water；　heading　out　parallel　to　the　waterfall。　it　might　be　some　free　magic　summoning；　or　it　might　be　some　connection　with　her　father鈥檚　spirit。

鈥渢hey鈥檙e　ing　down　the　east　and　west　stairs；　too；鈥潯�said　mogget。　鈥渕ore　hands。鈥�

鈥渨hat　about　the　south鈥攚here　we　came　in？鈥�

asked　touchstone；　looking　nervously　from　side　to　side；　ears　straining　to　hear　every　sound；　listening　to　the　dead　wading　out　into　the　reservoir　to　form　up　in　their　strange；　regimented　lines。

鈥渘ot　yet；鈥潯�replied　mogget。　鈥渢hat　stair　ends　in　sunlight；　remember？　they鈥檇　have　to　go　through　the　park。鈥�

鈥渢here　can鈥檛　be　much　sunlight；鈥潯�muttered　touchstone；　looking　at　the　light…shafts。　some　sunshine　was　ing　through；　heavily　filtered　by　clouds；　but　it　wasn鈥檛　enough　to　cause　the　dead　in　the　reservoir　any　distress；　or　lift　touchstone鈥檚　spirits。

鈥渨hen　。　。　。　when　do　you　think　he　will　e？鈥�

asked　touchstone。　mogget　didn鈥檛　need　to　ask　who　鈥渉e鈥潯�was。

鈥渟oon；鈥潯�replied　the　cat；　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。

鈥渋　always　said　it　was　a　trap。鈥�

鈥渟o　how　do　we　get　out　of　it？鈥潯�asked　touchstone；　trying　to　keep　his　voice　steady。　he　was　inwardly　fighting　a　strong　desire　to　leave　the　diamond　of　protection　and　run　for　the　southern　stair；　splashing　through　the　reservoir　like　a　runaway　　horse；　careless　of　the　noise鈥攂ut　there　was　sabriel；　frosted　over；　immobile　。　。　。

鈥渋鈥檓　not　sure　we　can；鈥潯�said　mogget；　with　a　sideways　glance　at　the　two　ice…rimmed　statues　nearby。　鈥渋t　depends　on　sabriel　and　her　father。鈥�

鈥渨hat　can　we　do？鈥�

鈥渄efend　ourselves　if　we鈥檙e　attacked；　i　suppose；鈥�

drawled　mogget；　as　if　stating　the　obvious　to　a　tiresome　child。　鈥渉ope。　pray　to　the　charter　that　kerrigor　doesn鈥檛　e　before　sabriel　returns。鈥�

鈥渨hat　if　he　does？鈥潯�asked　touchstone；　staring　white…eyed　out　into　the　darkness。　鈥渨hat　if　he　does？鈥�

but　mogget　was　silent。　all　touchstone　heard　was　the　shuffling；　wading；　splashing　of　the　dead；　as　they　slowly　drew　closer；　like　starving　rats　creeping　up　to　a　sleeping　drunk鈥檚　dinner。

sabriel　had　no　idea　of　how　far　she鈥檇　gone　before　she　found　him。　that　same　niggling　sensation　prompted　her　to　stop；　to　look　out　into　the　waterfall　itself；　and　there　he　was。　abhorsen。　father。

somehow　imprisoned　within　the　gate　itself；　so　only　his　head　was　visible　above　the　rush　of　the　water。

鈥渇ather！鈥潯�cried　sabriel；　but　she　resisted　the　urge　to　rush　forward。　at　first；　she　thought　he　was　unaware　of　her；　then　a　slight　wink　of　one　eye　showed　conscious　perception。　he　winked　again；　and　moved　his　eyeballs　to　the　right；　several　times。

sabriel　followed　his　gaze；　and　saw　something　tall　and　shadowy　thrust　up　through　the　waterfall；　arms　reaching　up　to　pull　itself　out　of　the　gate。　she　stepped　forward；　sword　and　bell　at　the　ready；　then　hesitated。　it　was　a　dead　humanoid；　very　similar　in　shape　and　size　to　the　one　who　had　brought　the　bells　and　sword　to　wyverley　college。　she　looked　back　at　her　father；　and　he　winked　again；　the　corner　of　his　mouth　curving　up　ever　so　slightly鈥攁lmost　a　smile。

she　stepped　back；　still　cautious。　there　was　always　the　chance　that　the　spirit　chained　in　the　waterfall　was　merely　the　mimic　of　her　father；　or；　even　if　it　was　him；　that　he　was　under　the　sway　of　some　power。

the　dead　creature　finally　hauled　itself　out；　muscles　differently　arranged　to　a　human鈥檚　visibly　straining　along　the　forearms。　it　stood　on　the　rim　for　a　moment；　bulky　head　questing　from　side　to　side；　then　lumbered　towards　sabriel　with　that　　familiar　rolling　gait。　several　paces　away　from　her鈥攐ut　of　sword鈥檚　reach鈥攊t　stopped；　and　pointed　at　its　mouth。　its　jaw　worked　up　and　down；　but　no　sound　issued　from　its　red　and　fleshy　mouth。　a　black　thread　ran　from　its　back；　down　into　the　rushing　waters　of　the　gate。

sabriel　thought　for　a　moment；　then　replaced　saraneth；　one…handed；　and　drew　dyrim。　she　cocked　her　wrist　to　ring　the　bell；　hesitated鈥攆or　to　sound　dyrim　would　alert　the　dead　all　around鈥攖hen　let　it　fall。　dyrim　rang；　sweet　and　clear；　several　notes　sounding　from　that　one　peal；　mixing　together　like　many　conversations　overheard　in　a　crowd。

sabriel　rang　the　bell　again　before　the　echoes　died；　in　a　series　of　slight　wrist…twitches；　moving　the　sound　out　towards　the　dead　creature；　weaving　into　the　echoes　of　the　first　peal。　sound　seemed　to　envelope　the　monster；　circling　around　its　head　and　muted　mouth。

the　echoes　faded。　sabriel　replaced　dyrim　quickly；　before　it　could　try　and　sound　of　its　own　accord；　and　drew　ranna。　the　sleeper　could　quell　a　large　number　of　dead　at　once；　and　she　feared　many　would　e　to　the　sound　of　the　bells。

they　would　probably　expect　to　find　a　foolish；　　half…trained　necromancer；　but　even　so；　they　would　be　dangerous。　ranna　twitched　in　her　hand；　expectantly；　like　a　child　waking　at　her　touch。

the　creature鈥檚　mouth　moved　again；　and　now　it　had　a　tongue；　a　horrid　pulpy　mess　of　white　flesh　that　writhed　like　a　slug。　but　it　worked。　the　thing　made　several　gurgling；　swallowing　sounds；　then　it　spoke　with　the　voice　of　abhorsen。

鈥渟abriel！　i　both　hoped　and　feared　you　would　e。鈥�

鈥渇ather　。　。　。鈥潯�sabriel　began；　looking　at　his　trapped　spirit　rather　than　the　creature。

鈥渇ather　。　。　。鈥�

she　broke　down；　and　started　to　cry。　she　had　e　all　this　way；　through　so　many　troubles；　only　to　find　him　trapped；　trapped　beyond　her　ability　to　free　him。　she　hadn鈥檛　even　known　that　it　was　possible　to　imprison　someone　within　a　gate！　鈥渟abriel！　hush；　daughter！　we　have　no　time　for　tears。　where　is　your　physical　body？鈥�

鈥渋n　the　reservoir；鈥潯�sniffed　sabriel。　鈥渘ext　to　yours。　inside　a　diamond　of　protection。鈥�

鈥渁nd　the　dead？　kerrigor？鈥�

鈥渢here　was　no　sign　of　them　there；　but　　kerrigor　is　somewhere　in　life。　i　don鈥檛　know　where。鈥�

鈥測es；　i　knew　he　had　emerged；鈥潯�muttered　abhorsen；　via　the　thing鈥檚　mouth。　鈥渉e　will　be　near　the　reservoir；　i　fear。　we　must　move　quickly。

sabriel；　do　you　remember　how　to　ring　two　bells　simultaneously？　mosrael　and　kibeth？鈥�

鈥渢wo　bells？鈥潯�asked　sabriel；　puzzled。　waker　and　walker？　at　the　same　time？　she　had　never　even　heard　it　was　possible鈥攐r　had　she？　鈥渢hink；鈥潯�said　abhorsen鈥檚　mouthpiece。　鈥渞emember。

the　book　of　the　dead。鈥�

slowly；　it　came　back；　pages　floating　down　into　conscious　memory；　like　leaves　from　a　shaken　tree。　the　bells　could　be　rung　in　pairs；　or　even　greater　binations；　if　enough　necromancers　were　gathered　to　wield　the　bells。　but　the　risks　were　much　greater　。　。　。

鈥測es；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　slowly。　鈥渋　remember。

mosrael　and　kibeth。　will　they　free　you？鈥�

the　answer　was　slow　in　ing。

鈥測es。　for　a　time。　enough；　i　hope；　to　do　what　must　be　done。　quickly；　now。鈥�

sabriel　nodded；　trying　not　to　think　about　what　he　had　just　said。　subconsciously；　she　had　always　been　aware　that　abhorsen鈥檚　spirit　had　been　too　　long　from　his　body；　and　too　deep　in　the　realm　of　death。　he　could　never　truly　live　again。

consciously；　she　chose　to　barricade　this　knowledge　from　her　mind。

she　sheathed　her　sword；　replaced　ranna；　and　drew　mosrael　and　kibeth。　dangerous　bells；　both；　and　more　so　in　bination　than　alone。

she　stilled　her　mind；　emptying　herself　of　all　thought　and　emotion；　concentrating　solely　on　the　bells。　then；　she　rang　them。

mosrael　she　swung　in　a　three…quarter　circle　above　her　head；　kibeth　she　swung　in　a　reverse　figure　eight。　harsh　alarm　joined　with　dancing　jig；　merging　into　a　discordant；　grating；　but　energetic　tone。　sabriel　found　herself　walking　towards　the　waterfall；　despite　all　her　efforts　to　keep　still。　a　force　like　the　grip　of　a　demented　giant　moved　her　legs；　bent　her　knees；　made　her　step　forward。

at　the　same　time；　her　father　was　emer