sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第44部分

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e　the　other　two　platoons；　and　the　signalers；　unreeling　field　telephone　wire　from　a　large　and　cumbersome　drum。

it　was　quiet　among　the　cork　trees；　the　soldiers　moving　as　silently　as　they　could；　municating　by　hand　signals　rather　than　shouts；　only　their　heavy　tread　and　the　occasional　rattle　of　armor　or　equipment　disturbing　the　quiet。

sunshine　poured　down　between　the　trees；　rich　and　golden；　but　already　losing　its　warmth；　like　a　butter…colored　wine　that　was　all　taste　and　no　potency。

towards　the　top　of　the　hill；　only　the　crossing　point　scouts　went　on　up。　the　lead　platoon　of　infantry　followed　a　lower　contour　around　to　the　northern　side；　the　other　two　platoons　moved　to　the　south…west　and　south…east；　forming　a　defensive　triangle　around　the　hill。　horyse；　sabriel；　touchstone　and　the　driver　continued　on。

the　trees　fell　away　about　twenty　yards　from　the　top　of　the　hill；　thick　weeds　and　thistles　taking　their　place。　then；　at　the　highest　point；　there　was　the　cairn：　a　solid；　hut…sized　square　of　grey…green　stones。　the　twelve　scouts　were　grouped　loosely　around　it；　four　of　them　already　levering　one　of　the　corner　stones　out　with　a　long　crowbar；　obviously　carried　up　for　this　purpose。

as　sabriel　and　touchstone　came　up；　the　stone　fell　with　a　thud；　revealing　more　blocks　underneath。

at　the　same　time；　every　charter　mage　present　felt　a　slight　buzzing　in　their　ears；　and　a　wave　of　dizziness。

鈥渄id　you　feel　that？鈥潯�asked　horyse；　unnecessarily；　as　it　was　clear　from　everyone鈥檚　expressions　and　the　hands　that　had　gone　to　ears　that　they　all　had。

鈥測es；鈥潯�replied　sabriel。　to　a　lesser　extent；　it　was　the　same　sort　of　feeling　the　broken　stones　caused　in　the　reservoir。　鈥渋t　will　get　worse；　i鈥檓　afraid；　as　we　get　closer　to　the　sarcophagus。鈥�

鈥渉ow　far　in　is　it？鈥�

鈥渇our　blocks　deep；　i　think；鈥潯�said　sabriel。　鈥渙r　five。　i　。　。　。　saw　it　。　。　。　from　an　odd　perspective。鈥�

horyse　nodded；　and　indicated　to　the　men　to　　keep　prying　away　the　stones。　they　went　to　it　with　a　will；　but　sabriel　noticed　they　kept　looking　at　the　position　of　the　sun。　all　the　scouts　were　charter　mages；　of　various　power鈥攁ll　knew　what　sundown　would　bring。

in　fifteen　minutes；　they鈥檇　made　a　hole　two　blocks　wide　and　two　deep　in　one　end；　and　the　sickness　was　growing　worse。　two　of　the　younger　scouts；　men　in　their　early　twenties；　had　bee　violently　sick　and　were　recuperating　further　down　the　hill。　the　others　were　working　more　slowly；　their　energies　directed　to　keeping　lunches　down　and　quelling　shaking　limbs。

surprisingly；　given　their　lack　of　sleep　and　generally　run…down　state；　sabriel　and　touchstone　found　it　relatively　easy　to　resist　the　waves　of　nausea　emanating　from　the　cairn。　it　didn鈥檛　pare　with　the　cold；　dark　fear　of　the　reservoir；　there　on　the　hill；　with　the　sunshine　and　the　fresh　breeze；　warming　and　cooling　at　the　same　time。

when　the　third　blocks　came　out；　horyse　called　a　brief　rest　break；　and　they　all　retreated　down　the　hill　to　the　tree　line；　where　the　cairn鈥檚　sickening　aura　dissipated。　the　signalers　had　a　　telephone　there；　the　handset　sitting　on　the　upturned　drum。　horyse　took　it；　but　turned　to　sabriel　before　the　signaler　wound　the　charging　handle。

鈥渁re　there　any　preparations　to　be　made　before　we　remove　the　last　blocks？　magical　ones；　i　mean。鈥�

sabriel　thought　for　a　moment；　willing　her　tiredness　away；　then　shook　her　head。　鈥渋　don鈥檛　think　so。　once　we　have　access　to　the　sarcophagus；　we　may　have　to　spell　it　open鈥攊鈥檒l　need　everyone鈥檚　help　for　that。　then；　the　final　rites　on　the　body鈥攖he　usual　cremation　spell。　there　will　be　resistance　then；　too。　have　your　men　often　cast　charter　magic　in　concert？鈥�

鈥渦nfortunately；　no；鈥潯�replied　horyse；　frowning。

鈥渂ecause　the　army　doesn鈥檛　officially　admit　the　existence　of　charter　magic；　everyone　here　is　basically　self…taught。鈥�

鈥渘ever　mind；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　trying　to　sound　confident；　aware　that　everyone　around　her　was　listening。　鈥渨e鈥檒l　manage。鈥�

鈥済ood；鈥潯�replied　horyse；　smiling。　that　made　him　look　very　confident；　thought　sabriel。　she　tried　to　smile　too；　but　was　uncertain　about　the　result。　it　felt　too　much　like　a　grimace　of　pain。

鈥渨ell；　let鈥檚　see　where　our　uninvited　guest　has　got　to；鈥潯�horyse　continued；　still　smiling。　鈥渨here　does　this　phone　connect　to；　sergeant？鈥�

鈥渂ain　police；鈥潯�replied　the　signals　sergeant；　winding　the　charging　handle　vigorously。　鈥渁nd　army　hq　north；　sir。　you鈥檒l　have　to　ask　corporal　synge　to　switch　you。　he鈥檚　on　the　board　at　the　village。鈥�

鈥済ood；鈥潯�replied　horyse。　鈥渉ello。　oh；　synge？　put　me　through　to　bain。　no；　tell　north　you　can鈥檛　get　through　to　me。　yes；　that鈥檚　right；　corporal。

thank　you　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　bainshire　constabulary？　it鈥檚　colonel　horyse。　i　want　to　speak　to　chief　superintendent　dingley　。　。　。　yes。　hello；　superintendent。　have　you　had　any　reports　of　a　strange；　dense　fog　。　。　。　what！　already！　no；　on　no　account　investigate。　get　everyone　in。　shutter　the　windows　。　。　。　yes；　the　usual　drill。　yes；　whatever　is　in　。　。　。　yes；　extraordinarily　dangerous　。　。　。

hello！　hello！鈥�

he　put　the　handset　down　slowly；　and　pointed　back　up　the　hill。

鈥渢he　fog　is　already　moving　through　the　northern　part　of　bain。　it　must　be　going　much　faster。　is　it　possible　that　this　kerrigor　could　know　what　we鈥檙e　up　to？鈥�

鈥測es；鈥潯�replied　sabriel　and　touchstone；　together。

鈥渨e鈥檇　better　get　a　move　on　then；鈥潯�horyse　announced；　looking　at　his　watch。　鈥渋鈥檇　say　we　now　have　less　than　forty　minutes。鈥�

w　w　w。　xiao　shuotxt。　co　m



chapter　xxvii

锛堝皬锛忥紡璇达紡锛弔锛忥紡xt锝�//澶�//鍫傦級
the　last　blocks　came　away　slowly；　pulled　out　by　sweating；　white…faced　men；　their　hands　and　legs　shivering；　breath　ragged。　as　soon　as　the　way　was　clear；　they　staggered　back；　away　from　the　cairn；　seeking　patches　of　sunlight　to　bat　the　dreadful　chill　that　seemed　to　eat　at　their　bones。　one　soldier；　a　dapper　man　with　a　white…blond　moustache；　fell　down　the　hill；　and　lay　retching；　till　stretcher…bearers　ran　up　to　take　him　away。

sabriel　looked　at　the　dark　hole　in　the　cairn；　and　saw　the　faint；　unsettling　sheen　from　the　bronze　sarcophagus　within。　she　felt　sick　too；　with　the　hair　on　the　back　of　her　neck　frizzing　up；　skin　crawling。　the　air　seemed　thick　with　the　reek　of　free　magic；　a　hard；　metallic　taste　in　her　mouth。

鈥渨e　will　have　to　spell　it　open；鈥潯�she　announced；　with　a　sinking　heart。　鈥渢he　sarcophagus　is　very　strongly　protected。　i　think　。　。　。　the　best　thing　would　be　if　i　go　in　with　touchstone　taking　my　hand；　horyse　his；　and　so　on；　to　form　a　line　reinforcement　of　the　charter　magic。　does　everyone　know　the　charter　marks　for　the　opening　spell？鈥�

the　soldiers　nodded；　or　said；　鈥測es；　ma鈥檃m。鈥�

one　said；　鈥測es；　abhorsen。鈥�

sabriel　looked　at　him。　a　middle…aged　corporal；　with　the　chevrons　of　long　service　on　his　sleeve。　he　seemed　one　of　the　least　affected　by　the　free　magic。

鈥測ou　can　call　me　sabriel；　if　you　want；鈥潯�she　said；　strangely　unsettled　by　what　he　had　called　her。

the　corporal　shook　his　head。　鈥渘o；　miss。　i　knew　your　dad。　you鈥檙e　just　like　him。　the　abhorsen；　now。　you鈥檒l　make　this　dead　bugger鈥敗�begging　your　pardon鈥攚ish　he鈥檇　stayed　properly　bloody　dead。鈥�

鈥渢hank　you；鈥潯�sabriel　replied；　uncertainly。

she　knew　the　corporal　didn鈥檛　have　the　sight鈥敗�you　could　always　tell鈥攂ut　his　belief　in　her　was　so　concrete　。　。　。

鈥渉e鈥檚　right；鈥潯�said　touchstone。　he　gestured　for　her　to　go　in　front　of　him；　making　a　courtly　bow。

鈥渓et鈥檚　finish　what　we　came　to　do；　abhorsen。鈥�

sabriel　bowed　back；　in　a　motion　that　had　almost　the　feel　of　ritual　about　it。　the　abhorsen　bowing　to　the　king。　then　she　took　a　deep　breath；　her　face　settling　into　a　determined　mold。

beginning　to　form　the　charter　marks　of　opening　in　her　mind；　she　took　touchstone鈥檚　hand　and　advanced　towards　the　open　cairn；　its　dark；　shadowy　interior　in　stark　contrast　with　the　sunlit　thistles　and　the　tumbled　stones。　behind　her；　touchstone　half…turned　to　take　horyse鈥檚　calloused　hand　as　well；　the　colonel鈥檚　other　hand　already　gripping　lieutenant　aire鈥檚；　aire　gripping　a　sergeant鈥檚；　the　sergeant　the　long…service　corporal鈥檚；　and　so　on　down　the　hillside。　fourteen　charter　mages　in　all；　if　only　two　of　the　first　rank。

sabriel　felt　the　charter　magic　welling　up　the　line；　the　marks　glowing　brighter　and　brighter　in　her　mind；　till　she　almost　lost　her　normal　vision　in　their　brilliance。　she　shuffled　forwards　into　the　cairn；　each　step　bringing　that　all…too…familiar　nausea；　the　pins　and　needles；　uncontrollable　shaking。　but　the　marks　were　strong　in　her　mind；　stronger　than　the　sickness。

she　reached　the　bronze　sarcophagus；　slapped　her　hand　down　and　let　the　charter　magic　go。

instantly；　there　was　an　explosion　of　light；　and　a　terrible　scream　echoed　all　through　the　cairn。　the　bronze　grew　hot；　and　sabriel　snatched　back　her　hand；　the　palm　red　and　blistered。　a　second　later；　steam　billowed　out　all　around　the　sarcophagus；　great　gouts　of　scalding　steam；　forcing　sabriel　out；　the　whole　line　going　down　like　dominoes；　tumbling　out　of　the　cairn　and　down　the　hill。

sabriel　and　touchstone　were　thrown　together；　about　five　yards　down　from　the　entrance　to　the　cairn。　somehow；　sabriel鈥檚　head　had　landed　on　touchstone鈥檚　stomach。　his　head　was　on　a　thistle；　but　both　of　them　lay　still　for　a　moment；　drained　by　the　magic　and　the　strength　of　the　free　magic　defenses。　they　looked　up　at　the　blue　sky；　already　tinged　with　the　red　of　the　impending　sunset。

around　them　there　was　much　swearing　and　cursing；　as　the　soldiers　picked　themselves　up。

鈥渋t　didn鈥檛　open；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　in　a　quiet；　matter…of…fact　voice。　鈥渨e　don鈥檛　have　the　power；　or　the　skill鈥斺��

she　paused；　and　then　added；　鈥渋　wish　mogget　wasn鈥檛　。　。　。　i　wish　he　was　here。　he鈥檇　think　of　something　。　。　。鈥�

touchstone　was　silent；　then　he　said；　鈥渨e　need　more　charter　mages鈥攊t　would　work　if　the　marks　were　reinforced　enough。鈥�

鈥渕ore　charter　mages；鈥潯�sabriel　said　tiredly。

鈥渨e鈥檙e　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　wall　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渨hat　about　your　school？鈥潯�asked　touchstone；　and　then　鈥渙w！鈥潯�as　sabriel　suddenly　shot　up；　disrupting　his　balance；　then　鈥渙w！鈥潯�again　as　she　bent　down　and　kissed　him；　pushing　his　head　further　into　the　thistle。

鈥渢ouchstone！　i　should　have　thought　。　。　。　the　senior　magic　classes。　there　must　be　thirty…five　girls　with　the　charter　mark　and　the　basic　skills。鈥�

鈥済ood；鈥潯�muttered　touchstone；　from　the　depths　of　the　thistle。　sabriel　put　out　her　hands；　and　helped　him　up；　smelling　the　sweat　on　him；　and　the　fresh；　pungent　odor　of　crushed　thistles。

he　was　halfway　up　when　she　suddenly　seemed　to　lose　her　enthusiasm；　and　he　almost　fell　back　down　again。

鈥渢he　girls　are　there；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　slowly；　as　if　thinking　aloud。　鈥渂ut　have　i　any　right　to　involve　them　in　something　that　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渢hey鈥檙e　involved　anyway；鈥潯�interrupted　touchstone。　鈥渢he　only　reason　that　ancelstierre　　isn鈥檛　like　the　old　kingdom　is　the　wall；　and　it　won鈥檛　last　once　kerrigor　breaks　the　remaining　stones。鈥�

鈥渢hey鈥檙e　only　schoolchildren；鈥潯�sabriel　said　sadly。　鈥渇or　all　we　always　thought　we　were　grown　women。鈥�

鈥渨e　need　them；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　again。

鈥測es；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　turning　back　towards　the　knot　of　men　gathered　as　close　as　they　dared　to　the　cairn。　horyse；　and　some　of　the　stronger　c