sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第38部分

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n　the　water；　looking　back　and　up　like　a　dog　to　its　master。　fog　is　rolling　down　the　stairs　behind　it鈥攁　free　magic　trick；　that　one。　i　wonder　why　he　has　such　an　urge　to　impress？鈥�

鈥渞ogir　always　was　flamboyant；鈥潯�touchstone　stated；　as　if　he　might　be　menting　on　someone　at　a　dinner　party。　鈥渉e　liked　everyone　to　be　looking　at　him。　he鈥檚　no　different　as　kerrigor；　no　different　dead。鈥�

鈥渙h；　but　he　is；鈥潯�said　mogget。　鈥渧ery　different。

he　knows　you鈥檙e　here；　and　the　fog鈥檚　for　vanity。

he　must　have　been　terribly　rushed　making　the　body　he　wears　now。　a　vain　man鈥攅ven　a　dead　one鈥攚ould　not　like　this　body　looked　at。鈥�

touchstone　swallowed；　trying　not　to　think　about　that。　he　wondered　if　he　could　charge　out　of　the　diamond；　fl猫che　with　his　swords　into　that　fog；　a　mad　attack鈥攂ut　even　if　he　got　there；　would　his　swords；　charter…spelled　though　they　were；　have　any　effect　on　the　magical　flesh　kerrigor　now　wore？　something　moved　in　the　water；　at　the　limits　of　his　vision；　and　the　hands　increased　the　tempo　of　their　drumming；　the　frenzied　gurgle…chanting　rising　in　volume。

touchstone　squinted；　confirming　what　he　thought　he鈥檇　seen鈥攖endrils　of　fog；　lazily　drifting　across　the　water　between　the　lines　of　the　dead；　keeping　to　the　corridor　they鈥檇　made。

鈥渉e鈥檚　playing　with　us；鈥潯�gasped　touchstone；　surprised　by　his　own　lack　of　breath　for　speech。　he　felt　like　he鈥檇　already　sprinted　a　mile；　his　heart　going　thump…thump…thump…thump　。　。　。

a　terrible　howl　suddenly　rose　above　the　dead　drumming；　and　touchstone　leapt　back；　nearly　　dislodging　mogget。　the　howl　rose　and　rose；　being　unbearable；　and　then　a　huge　shape　broke　out　of　the　fog　and　darkness；　stampeding　towards　them　with　fearful　power；　great　swaths　of　spray　exploding　around　it　as　it　ran。

touchstone　shouted；　or　screamed鈥攈e　wasn鈥檛　sure鈥攖hrew　away　his　candle；　drew　his　left　sword　and　thrust　both　blades　out；　crouching　to　receive　the　charge；　knees　so　bent　he　was　chestdeep　in　the　water。

鈥渢he　mordicant！鈥潯�yelled　mogget；　then　he　was　gone；　leaping　from　touchstone　to　the　still…frosted　sabriel。

touchstone　barely　had　time　to　absorb　this　information；　and　a　split…second　image　of　something　like　an　enormous；　flame…shrouded　bear；　howling　like　the　final　scream　of　a　sacrifice鈥攖hen　the　mordicant　collided　with　the　diamond　of　protection；　and　touchstone鈥檚　out…thrust　swords。

silver　sparks　exploded　with　a　bang　that　drowned　the　howling；　throwing　both　touchstone　and　the　mordicant　back　several　yards。　touchstone　lost　his　footing；　and　went　under；　water　bubbling　into　his　nose　and　still…screaming　mouth。

he　panicked；　thinking　the　mordicant　would　be　on　him　in　a　second；　and　flipped　himself　back　up　　with　unnecessary　force；　savagely　ripping　his　stomach　muscles。

he　almost　flew　out　of　the　water；　swords　at　guard　again；　but　the　diamond　was　intact；　and　the　mordicant　retreating；　backing　away　along　the　corridor　of　hands。　they鈥檇　stopped　their　noise；　but　there　was　something　else鈥攕omething　touchstone　didn鈥檛　recognize；　till　the　water　drained　out　of　his　ears。

it　was　laughter；　laughter　echoing　out　of　the　fog；　which　now　billowed　across　the　water；　ing　closer　and　closer；　till　the　retreating　mordicant　was　enveloped　in　it；　and　lost　to　sight。

鈥渄id　my　hound　scare　you；　little　brother？鈥潯�said　a　voice　from　within　the　fog。

鈥渙w！鈥潯�exclaimed　sabriel；　feeling　mogget鈥檚　claws　on　her　physical　body。　abhorsen　looked　at　her；　raising　one　silvery　eyebrow　questioningly。

鈥渟omething　touched　my　body　in　life；鈥潯�she　explained。　鈥渕ogget；　i　think。　i　wonder　what鈥檚　happening？鈥�

they　stood　at　the　very　edge　of　death；　on　the　border　with　life。　no　dead　had　tried　to　stop　them；　　and　they鈥檇　passed　easily　through　the　first　gate。

perhaps　any　dead　would　quail　from　the　sight　of　two　abhorsens　。　。　。

now　they　waited。　sabriel　didn鈥檛　know　why。

somehow；　abhorsen　seemed　to　be　able　to　see　into　life；　or　to　work　out　what　was　happening。　he　stood　like　an　eavesdropper；　body　slightly　bent；　ear　cocked　to　a　non…existent　door。

sabriel；　on　the　other　hand；　stood　like　a　soldier；　keeping　watch　for　the　dead。　the　broken　stones　made　this　part　of　death　an　attractive　high　road　into　life；　and　she　had　expected　to　find　many　dead　here；　trying　to　take　advantage　of　the　鈥渉ole。鈥潯�but　it　was　not　so。　they　seemed　to　be　alone　in　the　grey；　featureless　river；　their　only　neighbors　the　swells　and　eddies　of　the　water。

abhorsen　closed　his　eyes；　concentrating　even　harder；　then　opened　them　to　a　wide…eyed　stare　and　touched　sabriel　lightly　on　the　arm。

鈥渋t　is　almost　time；鈥潯�he　said　gently。　鈥渨hen　we　emerge；　i　want　you　to　take　。　。　。　touchstone　。　。　。

and　run　for　the　southern　stairs。　do　not　stop　for　anything；　anything　at　all。　once　outside；　climb　up　to　the　top　of　the　palace　hill；　to　the　west　yard。

it鈥檚　just　an　empty　field　now鈥攖ouchstone　will　　　know　how　to　get　there。　if　the　clayr　are　watching　properly；　and　haven鈥檛　got　their　whens　mixed　up；　there鈥檒l　be　a　paperwing　there鈥斺��

鈥渁　paperwing！鈥潯�interrupted　sabriel。　鈥渂ut　i　crashed　it。鈥�

鈥渢here　are　several　around；鈥潯�replied　abhorsen。

鈥渢he　abhorsen　who　made　it鈥攖he　forty…sixth；　i　think鈥攖aught　several　others　how　to　construct　them。　anyway；　it　should　be　there。　the　clayr　will　also　be　there；　or　a　messenger；　to　tell　you　where　to　find　kerrigor鈥檚　body　in　ancelstierre。　fly　as　close　to　the　wall　as　possible；　cross；　find　the　body鈥攁nd　destroy　it！鈥�

鈥渨hat　will　you　be　doing？鈥潯�whispered　sabriel。

鈥渉ere　is　saraneth；鈥潯�replied　abhorsen；　not　meeting　her　gaze。　鈥済ive　me　your　sword；　and　。　。　。

astarael。鈥�

the　seventh　bell。　astarael　the　sorrowful。

weeper。

sabriel　didn鈥檛　move；　made　no　motion　to　hand　over　bell　or　blade。　abhorsen　pushed　saraneth　into　its　pouch；　and　did　up　the　strap。　he　started　to　undo　the　strap　that　held　astarael；　but　sabriel鈥檚　hand　closed　on　his；　gripping　it　tightly。

鈥渢here　must　be　another　way；鈥潯�she　cried。　鈥渨e　can　all　escape　together鈥斺��

鈥渘o；鈥潯�said　abhorsen　firmly。　he　gently　pushed　her　hand　away。　sabriel　let　go；　and　he　took　astarael　carefully　from　the　bandolier；　making　sure　it　couldn鈥檛　sound。　鈥渄oes　the　walker　choose　the　path；　or　the　path　the　walker？鈥�

numbly；　sabriel　handed　him　her　sword　。　。　。　his　sword。　her　empty　hands　hung　open　by　her　sides。

鈥渋　have　walked　in　death　to　the　very　precipice　of　the　ninth　gate；鈥潯�abhorsen　said　quietly。　鈥渋　know　the　secrets　and　horrors　of　the　nine　precincts。　i　do　not　know　what　lies　beyond；　but　everything　that　lives　must　go　there；　in　the　proper　time。　that　is　the　rule　that　governs　our　work　as　the　abhorsen；　but　it　also　governs　us。　you　are　the　fifty…third　abhorsen；　sabriel。　i　have　not　taught　you　as　well　as　i　should鈥攍et　this　be　my　final　lesson。　everyone　and　everything　has　a　time　to　die。鈥�

he　bent　forward；　and　kissed　her　forehead；　just　under　the　rim　of　her　helmet。　for　a　moment；　she　stood　like　a　stringed　puppet　at　rest；　then　she　flung　herself　against　his　chest；　feeling　the　soft　fabric　of　his　surcoat。　she　seemed　to　diminish　in　size；　till　once　again　she　was　a　little　girl；　running　to　his　embrace　at　the　school　gates。　as　she　could　then；　she　heard　the　slow　beating　of　his　heart。　only　now；　she　heard　the　beats　as　grains　in　a　time…　　piece；　counting　his　hard…won　hundred　hundreds；　counting　till　it　was　time　for　him　to　die。

she　hugged　him　tightly；　her　arms　meeting　around　his　back；　his　arms　outstretched　like　a　cross；　sword　in　one　hand；　bell　in　the　other。　then；　she　let　go。

they　turned　together；　and　plunged　out　into　life。

kerrigor　laughed　again；　an　obscene　cackle　that　rose　to　a　manic　crescendo；　before　suddenly　cutting　to　an　ominous　silence。　the　dead　resumed　their　drumming；　softer　now；　and　the　fog　drifted　forward　with　horrible　certainty。　touchstone；　drenched　and　partly　drowned；　watched　it　with　the　taut　nerves　of　a　mouse　captivated　by　a　gliding　snake。　somewhere　in　the　back　of　his　mind；　he　noted　that　it　was　easier　to　see　the　whiteness　of　the　fog。　up　above；　the　clouds　had　gone；　and　the　edges　of　the　reservoir　were　once　again　lit　by　filtered　sunlight。　but　they　were　forty　paces　or　more　from　the　edge　。　。　。

a　cracking　noise　behind　him　made　him　start；　and　turn；　a　jolt　of　fear　suddenly　overlaid　with　relief。　sabriel；　and　her　father；　were　returning　　to　life！　ice　flakes　fell　from　them　in　miniature　flurries；　and　the　layer　of　ice　around　abhorsen鈥檚　middle　broke　into　several　small　floes　and　drifted　away。

touchstone　blinked　as　the　frost　fell　away　from　their　hands　and　faces。　now　sabriel　was　emptyhanded；　and　abhorsen　wielded　the　sword　and　bell。

鈥渢hank　the　charter！鈥潯�exclaimed　touchstone；　as　they　opened　their　eyes　and　moved。

but　no　one　heard　him；　for　in　that　instant　a　terrible　scream　of　rage　and　fury　burst　out　of　the　fog；　so　loud　the　columns　shivered；　and　ripples　burst　out　across　the　water。

touchstone　turned　again；　and　the　fog　was　flying　away　in　shreds；　revealing　the　mordicant　crouched　low；　only　its　eyes　and　long　mouth；　bubbling　with　oily　flames；　visible　above　the　water。

behind　it；　with　one　elongated　hand　upon　its　bogclay　head；　stood　something　that　might　be　thought　of　as　a　man。

staring；　touchstone　saw　that　kerrigor　had　tried　to　make　the　body　he　currently　inhabited　look　like　the　rogir　of　old；　but　either　his　skills；　memory　or　taste　were　sadly　lacking。　kerrigor　stood　at　least　seven　feet　tall；　his　body　impossibly　　deep…chested　and　narrow…waisted。　his　head　was　too　thin；　and　too　long；　and　his　mouth　spread　from　ear　to　ear。　his　eyes　did　not　bear　looking　at；　for　they　were　thin　slits　burning　with　free　magic　fires鈥攏ot　eyes　at　all。

but　somehow；　even　so　warped；　he　did　have　a　little　of　the　look　of　rogir。　take　a　man；　make　him　malleable；　stretch　and　twist　。　。　。

the　hideous　mouth　opened；　yawning　wider　and　wider；　then　kerrigor　laughed；　a　short　laugh；　punctuated　by　the　snap　of　his　closing　jaws。

then　he　spoke；　and　his　voice　was　as　warped　and　twisted　as　his　body。

鈥渋　am　fortunate。　three　bearers　of　blood鈥敗�blood　for　the　breaking！　three！鈥�

touchstone　kept　staring；　hearing　kerrigor鈥檚　voice；　still　somewhat　like　rogir鈥檚；　rich　but　rotten；　wet　like　worm…ridden　fruit。　he　saw　both　the　new；　twisted　kerrigor　and　the　other；　betterfashioned　body　he鈥檇　known　as　rogir。　he　saw　the　dagger　again；　slashing　across　the　queen鈥檚　throat；　the　blood　cascading　out；　the　golden　cup　。　。　。

a　hand　grabbed　him；　turned　him　around；　took　his　left　sword　from　his　grasp。　he　suddenly　refocused；　gasping　for　air　again；　and　saw　sabriel。

she　had　his　left　sword　in　her　right　hand；　and　　now　took　his　open　palm　in　her　left；　dragging　him　towards　the　south。　he　let　her　pull；　following　in　a　splashing；　loose…limbed　run。　everything　seemed　to　close　in　then；　his　vision　narrowing；　like　a　halfremembered　dream。

he　saw　sabriel鈥檚　father鈥攖he　abhorsen鈥攆or　the　first　time　devoid　of　frost。　he　looked　hard；　determined；　but　he　smiled；　and　bowed　his　head　a　fraction　as　they　passed。　touchstone　wondered　why　he　was　going　the　wrong　way　。　。　。　towards　kerrigor；　towards　the　dagger　and　the　catching　cup。　mogget　was　on　his　shoulder　too；　and　that　was　unlike　mogget；　going　into　danger　。　。　。　there　was　something　else　peculiar　about　mogget　too　。　。　。　yes；　his　collar　was　gone　。　。　。　maybe　he　should　turn　and　go　back；　put　mogget鈥檚　collar　back　on；　try　and　fight　kerrigor　。　。　。

鈥渞un！　damn　you！　run！鈥潯�screamed　sabriel；　as　he　half…turned。　her　v