sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第43部分

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鈥渁re　you　ing　with　us？鈥潯�sabriel　asked；　hesitantly；　as　she　settled　back　in　the　heavily　padded　leather　seats；　fighting　a　wave　of　tiredness　that　threatened　immediate　sleep。

鈥測es；鈥潯�replied　horyse；　slowly。　he　seemed　surprised　at　his　own　answer；　and　suddenly　far　away。

鈥測es；　i　am。鈥�

鈥測ou　have　the　sight；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　looking　up　from　where　he　was　adjusting　his　scabbard　before　sitting　down。　鈥渨hat　did　you　see？鈥�

鈥渢he　usual　thing；鈥潯�replied　horyse。　he　got　in　the　front　seat；　and　nodded　to　the　driver鈥攁　thin…faced　veteran　of　the　scouts；　whose　charter　　mark　was　almost　invisible　on　his　weather…beaten　forehead。

鈥渨hat　do　you　mean？鈥潯�asked　sabriel；　but　her　question　was　lost　as　the　driver　pressed　the　starter　switch；　and　the　car　coughed　and　spluttered　into　life；　a　tenor　acpaniment　to　the　bass　cacophony　of　the　trucks　and　tanks。

touchstone　jumped　at　the　sudden　noise　and　vibration；　then　smiled　sheepishly　at　sabriel；　who鈥檇　lightly　rested　her　fingers　on　his　arm；　as　if　calming　a　child。

鈥渨hat　did　he　mean　鈥榯he　usual　thing鈥櫍库�潯�asked　sabriel。

touchstone　looked　at　her；　sadness　and　exhaustion　vying　for　first　place　in　his　gaze。　he　took　her　hand　in　his　own　and　traced　a　line　across　her　palm鈥攁　definite；　ending　sort　of　line。

鈥渙h；鈥潯�muttered　sabriel。　she　sniffed　and　looked　at　the　back　of　horyse鈥檚　head；　eyes　blurring；　seeing　only　the　line　of　his　cropped　silver　hair　extending　just　past　his　helmet　rim。

鈥渉e　has　a　daughter　the　same　age　as　me；　back　at　。　。　。　somewhere　south；鈥潯�she　whispered；　shivering；　clutching　touchstone鈥檚　hand　till　his　fingers　were　as　white　as　her　own。　鈥渨hy；　oh　why；　does　everything　。　。　。　everyone　。　。　。鈥�

the　car　started　forward　with　a　lurch；　preceded　by　two　motorcycle　outriders　and　followed　by　each　of　the　nine　trucks　in　turn；　carefully　spaced　out　every　hundred　yards。　the　tanks；　with　tracks　screeching　and　clanking；　took　a　side　road　up　to　the　railway　siding　where　they　would　be　loaded　up　and　sent　on　to　wyverley　halt。　it　was　unlikely　they　would　arrive　before　nightfall。　the　road　convoy　would　be　at　docky　point　before　six　in　the　afternoon。

sabriel　was　silent　for　the　first　ten　miles；　her　head　bowed；　hand　still　clutching　tightly　on　touchstone鈥檚。　he　sat　silently　too；　but　watching；　looking　out　as　they　left　the　military　zone；　looking　at　the　prosperous　farms　of　ancelstierre；　the　sealed　roads；　the　brick　houses；　the　private　cars　and　horse…drawn　vehicles　that　pulled　off　the　road　in　front　of　them；　cleared　aside　by　the　two　red…capped　military　policemen　on　motorcycles。

鈥渋鈥檓　all　right　now；鈥潯�sabriel　said　quietly；　as　they　slowed　to　pass　through　the　town　of　bain。

touchstone　nodded；　still　watching；　staring　at　the　shop　windows　in　the　high　street。　the　townspeople　stared　back；　for　it　was　rare　to　see　soldiers　in　full　perimeter　battle　equipment；　with　sword…bayonets　and　shields鈥攁nd　sabriel　　and　touchstone　were　clearly　from　the　old　kingdom。

鈥渨e　have　to　stop　by　the　police　station；　and　warn　the　superintendent；鈥潯�horyse　announced　as　their　car　pulled　in　next　to　an　imposing　white…walled　edifice　with　two　large；　blue　electric　lanterns　hanging　out　the　front；　and　a　sturdy　sign　proclaiming　it　to　be　the　headquarters　of　the　bainshire　constabulary。

horyse　stood　up；　waved　the　rest　of　the　convoy　on；　then　vaulted　out　and　dashed　up　the　steps；　a　curiously　incongruous　figure　in　mail　and　khaki。　a　constable　descending　the　steps　looked　ready　to　stop　him；　but　stopped　himself　instead　and　saluted。

鈥渋鈥檓　all　right；鈥潯�sabriel　repeated。　鈥測ou　can　let　go　of　my　hand。鈥�

touchstone　smiled；　and　flexed　his　hand　a　little　in　her　grip。　she　looked　a　bit　puzzled；　then　smiled　too；　her　fingers　slowly　relaxing　till　their　hands　lay　flat　on　the　seat；　little　fingers　just　touching。

in　any　other　town；　a　crowd　would　certainly　have　formed　around　an　army　staff　car　with　two　such　unusual　passengers。　but　this　was　bain；　and　bain　was　close　to　the　wall。　people　　took　one　look；　saw　charter　marks；　swords　and　armor；　and　went　the　other　way。　those　with　natural　caution；　or　a　touch　of　the　sight；　went　home　and　locked　their　doors　and　shutters；　not　merely　with　steel　and　iron；　but　also　with　sprigs　of　broom　and　rowan。　others；　even　more　cautious；　took　to　the　river　and　its　sandy　islets；　without　even　pretending　to　be　fishing。

horyse　came　out　five　minutes　later；　acpanied　by　a　tall；　serious…looking　man　whose　large　build　and　hawk…like　visage　were　made　slightly　ridiculous　by　a　pair　of　too…small　pince…nez　clinging　to　the　end　of　his　nose。　he　shook　hands　with　the　colonel；　horyse　returned　to　the　car；　and　they　were　off　again；　the　driver　crashing　through　the　gears　with　considerable　skill。

a　few　minutes　later；　before　they鈥檇　left　the　last　buildings　of　the　town；　a　bell　began　to　ring　behind　them；　deep　and　slow。　only　moments　later；　another　followed　from　somewhere　to　the　left；　then　another；　from　up　ahead。　soon；　there　were　bells　ringing　all　around。

鈥渜uick　work；鈥潯�horyse　shouted　into　the　back　of　the　car。　鈥渢he　superintendent　must　have　made　them　practice　in　the　past。鈥�

鈥渢he　bells　are　a　warning？鈥潯�asked　touchstone。

this　was　something　he　was　familiar　with；　and　he　began　to　feel　more　at　home；　even　with　this　sound；　warning　of　dire　trouble。　he　felt　no　fear　from　it鈥攂ut　then；　after　facing　the　reservoir　for　a　second　time；　he　felt　that　he　could　cope　with　any　fear。

鈥測es；鈥潯�replied　horyse。　鈥渂e　inside　by　nightfall。

lock　all　doors　and　windows。　deny　entry　to　strangers。　shed　light　inside　and　out。　prepare　candles　and　lanterns　for　when　the　electricity　fails。

wear　silver。　if　caught　outdoors；　find　running　water。鈥�

鈥渨e　used　to　recite　that　in　the　junior　classes；鈥�

sabriel　said。　鈥渂ut　i　don鈥檛　think　too　many　people　remember　it；　even　the　people　around　here。鈥�

鈥測ou鈥檇　be　surprised；　ma鈥檃m；鈥潯�interrupted　the　driver；　speaking　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth；　eyes　never　leaving　the　road。　鈥渢he　bells　haven鈥檛　rung　like　this　in　twenty　years；　but　plenty　of　folk　remember。　they鈥檒l　tell　anyone　who　doesn鈥檛　know鈥攄on鈥檛　fret　about　that。鈥�

鈥渋　hope　so；鈥潯�replied　sabriel；　a　momentary　flash　of　remembrance　passing　through　her　mind。　the　people　of　nestowe；　two…thirds　of　their　number　lost　to　the　dead；　the　survivors　huddled　in　fishdrying　sheds　on　a　rocky　island。　鈥渋　hope　so。鈥�

鈥渉ow　long　till　we　reach　docky　point？鈥潯�asked　touchstone。　he　was　remembering　too；　but　his　memories　were　of　rogir。　soon　he　would　look　on　rogir鈥檚　face　again；　but　it　would　only　be　a　husk；　a　tool　for　what　rogir　had　bee　。　。　。

鈥渁bout　an　hour　at　the　most；　i　should　think；鈥�

replied　horyse。　鈥渁round　six　o鈥檆lock。　we　can　average　almost　thirty　miles　an　hour　in　this　contraption鈥攓uite　remarkable。　to　me；　anyway。

i鈥檓　so　used　to　the　perimeter；　and　the　old　kingdom鈥攖he　small　part　we　saw　on　patrol；　anyway。

i鈥檇　have　liked　to　see　more　of　it　。　。　。　gone　further　north　。　。　。鈥�

鈥測ou　will；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　but　her　voice　lacked　conviction；　even　to　her　own　ears。　touchstone　didn鈥檛　say　anything；　and　horyse　didn鈥檛　reply；　so　they　drove　on　in　silence　after　that；　soon　catching　the　truck　convoy；　overtaking　each　vehicle　till　they　were　in　front　again。　but　wherever　they　drove；　the　bells　preceded　them；　every　village　belltower　taking　up　the　warning。

as　horyse　had　predicted；　they　arrived　at　wyverley　village　just　before　six。　the　trucks　stopped　in　a　line　all　through　the　village；　from　policeman鈥檚　cottage　to　the　wyvern　pub；　the　men　debussing　almost　before　the　vehicles　stopped；　　quickly　forming　up　into　ranks　on　the　road。　the　signals　truck　parked　under　a　telephone　pole　and　two　men　swarmed　up　to　connect　their　wires。　the　military　policeman　went　to　each　end　of　the　village；　to　redirect　traffic。　sabriel　and　touchstone　got　out　of　the　car　and　waited。

鈥渋t鈥檚　not　much　different　from　the　royal　guard；鈥潯�touchstone　said；　watching　the　men　hurry　into　their　parade　positions；　the　sergeants　shouting；　the　officers　gathering　around　horyse；　who　was　speaking　on　the　newly　connected　phone。　鈥渉urry　up　and　wait。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檇　have　liked　to　see　you　in　the　royal　guard；鈥�

sabriel　said。　鈥渁nd　the　old　kingdom；　in　。　。　。　i　mean　before　the　stones　were　broken。鈥�

鈥渋n　my　day；　you　mean；鈥潯�said　touchstone。　鈥渋　would　have　liked　that　too。　it　was　more　like　here；　then。　here　normally；　i　mean。　peaceful；　and　sort　of　slow。　sometimes　i　thought　life　was　too　slow；　too　predictable。　i鈥檇　prefer　that　now　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋　used　to　think　like　that　at　school；鈥潯�sabriel　answered。　鈥渄reaming　about　the　old　kingdom。

proper　charter　magic。　dead　to　bind。　princes　to　be鈥斺��

鈥渞escued？鈥�

鈥渕arried；鈥潯�replied　sabriel；　absently。　she　　seemed　intent　on　watching　horyse。　he　looked　like　he　was　getting　bad　news　over　the　telephone。

touchstone　didn鈥檛　speak。　everything　seemed　to　sharpen　in　focus　for　him；　centering　on　sabriel；　her　black　hair　gleaming　like　a　raven鈥檚　wing　in　the　afternoon　sun。　i　love　her；　he　thought。　but　if　i　say　the　wrong　thing　now；　i　may　never　。　。　。

horyse　handed　the　telephone　back　to　a　signaler；　and　turned　towards　them。　touchstone　watched　him；　suddenly　conscious　that　he　probably　only　had　five　seconds　to　be　alone　with　sabriel；　to　say　something；　to　say　anything。

perhaps　the　last　five　seconds　they　would　ever　have　alone　together　。　。　。

i　am　not　afraid；　he　said　to　himself。

鈥渋　love　you；鈥潯�he　whispered。　鈥渋　hope　you　don鈥檛　mind。鈥�

sabriel　looked　back　at　him；　and　smiled；　almost　despite　herself。　her　sadness　at　her　father鈥檚　death　was　still　there；　and　her　fears　for　the　future鈥攂ut　seeing　touchstone　staring　apprehensively　at　her　somehow　gave　her　hope。

鈥渋　don鈥檛　mind；鈥潯�she　whispered　back；　leaning　towards　him。　she　frowned；　鈥渋　think　。　。　。　i　think　i　might　love　you　too；　charter　help　me；　but　now　is鈥斺��

鈥渢he　telephone　line　to　the　perimeter　crossing　point　just　went　out；鈥潯�horyse　announced　grimly；　shouting　above　the　village　bell　even　before　he　was　close　enough　to　talk。　鈥渁　fog　started　rolling　across　the　wall　over　an　hour　ago。　it　reached　the　forward　trenches　at　four　forty…six。　after　that；　none　of　the　advance　panies　could　be　reached　by　phone　or　runner。　i　was　just　speaking　to　the　duty　officer　then鈥攖hat　young　chap　who　was　so　interested　in　your　aircraft。　he　said　the　fog　was　just　about　to　reach　his　position。　then　the　line　went　silent。鈥�

鈥渟o；鈥潯�said　sabriel。　鈥渒errigor　didn鈥檛　wait　till　sundown。　he鈥檚　working　the　weather。鈥�

鈥渇rom　the　timings　given　by　the　perimeter；鈥�

horyse　said；　鈥渢his　fog鈥攁nd　whatever鈥檚　in　it鈥敗�is　moving　southwards　at　around　twenty　miles　an　hour。　as　the　crow　flies；　it鈥檒l　reach　us　around　half　past　seven。　dark；　with　the　moonrise　yet　to　e。鈥�

鈥渓et鈥檚　go　then；鈥潯�snapped　sabriel。　鈥渢he　bridlepath　to　docky　point　starts　from　behind　the　pub。

shall　i　lead？鈥�

鈥渂est　not；鈥潯�replied　horyse。　he　turned；　and　shouted　some　orders；　acpanied　by　considerable　waving　and　pointing。　within　a　few　seconds；　　men　were　moving　off　around　the　pub；　taking　the　path　to　docky　point。　first；　the　crossing　point　scouts；　archers　and　charter　mages　all。　then；　the　first　platoon　of　infantry；　bayonets　fixed；　rifles　at　the　ready。　past　the　pub；　they　shook　out　into　an　arrowhead　formation。　horyse；　sabriel；　touchstone　and　their　driver　followed。　behind　them　came　the　other　two　platoons；　and　the　signalers；　unreeling　field　telephone　wire　from　a　l