sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第47部分

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linked　by　touch　now；　sabriel　didn鈥檛　need　to　speak。　she　could　feel　everyone　in　the　ring。

touchstone；　to　her　right；　a　familiar　and　powerful　warmth。　miss　greenwood；　to　her　left；　less　powerful；　but　not　without　skill鈥攁nd　so　on；　right　around　the　ring。

slowly；　sabriel　brought　the　charter　marks　of　opening　to　the　forefront　of　her　mind。　the　marks　grew；　power　flowing　round　and　round　the　ring；　growing　in　force　till　it　started　to　project　inwards；　like　the　narrowing　vortex　of　a　whirlpool。　golden　light　began　to　stream　about　the　sarcophagus；　　visible　streaks　rotating　clockwise　around　it；　with　greater　and　greater　speed。

still　sabriel　kept　the　power　of　the　charter　magic　flowing　into　the　center；　drawing　on　everything　the　charter　mages　could　produce。　soldiers　and　schoolgirls　wavered；　and　some　fell　to　their　knees；　but　the　hands　stayed　linked；　the　circle　plete。

slowly；　the　sarcophagus　itself　began　turning　on　the　platform；　with　a　hideous　shrieking　noise；　like　an　enormous　unoiled　hinge。　steam　jetted　forth　from　under　its　lid；　but　the　golden　light　whisked　it　away。　still　shrieking；　the　sarcophagus　began　to　spin　faster　and　faster；　till　it　was　a　blur　of　bronze；　white　steam　and　yolk…yellow　light。

then；　with　a　scream　more　piercing　than　any　before；　it　suddenly　stopped；　the　lid　flying　off　to　hurtle　over　the　charter　mages鈥櫋�heads；　smashing　into　the　floor　a　good　thirty　paces　away。

the　charter　magic　went　too；　as　if　earthed　by　its　success；　and　the　ring　collapsed　with　fewer　than　half　the　participants　still　on　their　feet。

wavering；　her　hands　still　tightly　gripped　by　touchstone　and　the　magistrix；　sabriel　tottered　over　to　the　sarcophagus　and　looked　in。

鈥渨hy；鈥潯�said　miss　greenwood；　with　a　startled　　glance　back　up　at　touchstone；　鈥渉e　looks　just　like　you！鈥�

before　touchstone　could　answer；　steel　clashed　outside　in　the　corridor；　and　the　shouting　grew　louder。　those　scouts　still　standing　drew　their　swords　and　rushed　to　the　doors鈥攂ut　before　they　could　reach　them；　other　soldiers　were　pouring　in；　bloodied；　terrified　soldiers；　who　ran　to　the　corners；　or　threw　themselves　down；　and　sobbed；　or　laughed；　or　shook　in　silence。

behind　this　rush　came　some　of　the　heavily　armored　soldiery　of　the　corridor。　these　men　still　had　some　semblance　of　control。　instead　of　running　on；　they　hurled　themselves　back　against　the　doors；　and　dropped　the　bar　in　place。

鈥渉e鈥檚　inside　the　main　doors！鈥潯�one　of　them　shouted　back　towards　sabriel；　his　face　white　with　terror。　there　was　no　doubt　about　who　鈥渉e鈥�

was。

鈥渜uick；　the　final　rites！鈥潯�sabriel　snapped。　she　drew　her　hands　from　the　others鈥櫋�grasp；　and　held　them　out　over　the　body；　forming　the　marks　for　fire；　cleansing　and　peace　in　her　mind。　she　didn鈥檛　look　too　closely　at　the　body。　rogir　did　look　very　much　like　a　sleeping；　defenseless　touchstone。

she　was　tired；　and　there　were　still　free　magic　　protections　around　the　body；　but　the　first　mark　soon　lingered　in　the　air。　touchstone　had　transferred　his　hand　to　her　shoulder；　pouring　power　into　her。　others　of　the　circle　had　crept　up　and　linked　hands　again鈥攁nd　suddenly　sabriel　felt　a　stirring　of　relief。　they　were　going　to　make　it鈥敗�kerrigor鈥檚　human　body　would　be　destroyed；　and　the　greater　part　of　his　power　with　it　。　。　。

then　the　whole　of　the　northern　wall　exploded；　bricks　cascading　out；　red　dust　blowing　in　like　a　solid　wave；　knocking　everyone　down　in　blinding；　choking　ruin。

sabriel　lay　on　the　floor；　coughing；　hands　pushing　feebly　on　the　floor；　knees　scrabbling　as　she　tried　to　get　up。　there　was　dust　and　grit　in　her　eyes；　and　the　lanterns　had　all　gone　out。　blind；　she　felt　around　her；　but　there　was　only　the　stillscalding　bronze　of　the　sarcophagus。

鈥渢he　blood　price　must　be　paid；鈥潯�said　a　crackling；　inhuman　voice。　a　familiar　voice；　though　not　the　liquid；　ruined　tones　of　kerrigor　。　。　。　but　the　terrible　speech　of　the　night　in　holehallow；　when　the　paperwing　burned。

blinking　furiously；　sabriel　crawled　away　from　the　sound；　around　the　sarcophagus。　it　didn鈥檛　speak　again　immediately；　but　she　could　hear　it　　closing　in；　the　air　crackling　and　buzzing　at　its　passage。

鈥渋　must　deliver　my　last　burden；鈥潯�the　creature　said。　鈥渢hen　the　bargain　is　done；　and　i　may　turn　to　retribution。鈥�

sabriel　blinked　again；　tears　streaming　down　her　face。　vision　slowly　came　back；　a　picture　woven　with　tears　and　the　first　rays　of　moonlight　streaming　through　the　shattered　wall；　a　picture　blurred　with　the　red　dust　of　pulverized　bricks。

all　sabriel鈥檚　senses　were　screaming　inside　her。

free　magic；　the　dead；　danger　all　around　。　。　。

the　creature　that　had　once　been　mogget　blazed　a　little　more　than　five　yards　away。　it　was　squatter　than　it　had　appeared　previously；　but　equally　misshapen；　a　lumpy　body　slowly　drifting　towards　her　atop　a　column　of　twisting；　whirling　energies。

a　soldier　suddenly　leapt　up　behind　it；　driving　a　sword　deep　into　its　back。　it　hardly　noticed；　but　the　man　screamed　and　burst　into　white　flames。

within　a　second；　he　was　consumed；　his　sword　a　molten　lump　of　metal；　scorching　the　thick　oak　planks　of　the　floor。

鈥渋　bring　you　abhorsen鈥檚　sword；鈥潯�the　creature　said；　dropping　a　long；　dimly　seen　object　to　one　　side。　鈥渁nd　the　bell　called　astarael。鈥�

that；　it　laid　carefully　down；　the　silver　glinting　momentarily　before　it　was　lowered　into　the　sea　of　dust。

鈥渆　forward；　abhorsen。　it　is　long　since　time　that　we　begun。鈥�

the　thing　laughed　then；　a　sound　like　a　match　igniting；　and　it　started　to　move　around　the　sarcophagus。

sabriel　loosened　the　ring　on　her　finger；　and　edged　away；　keeping　the　sarcophagus　between　them；　her　thoughts　racing。　kerrigor　was　very　near；　but　there　still　might　be　time　to　turn　this　creature　back　into　mogget；　and　plete　the　final　rites　。　。　。

鈥渟top！鈥�

the　word　was　like　a　foul　lick　across　the　face　by　a　reptilian　tongue；　but　there　was　power　behind　it。　sabriel　stood　still；　against　her　own　desire；　as　did　the　blazing　thing。　sabriel　tried　looking　past　it；　lidding　her　eyes　against　the　light；　trying　to　puzzle　out　what　was　happening　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall。　not　that　she　really　needed　to　see。

it　was　kerrigor。　the　soldiers　who鈥檇　barred　the　door　lay　dead　around　him；　pale　flesh　islands　about　a　sea　of　darkness。　he　had　no　shape　now；　　but　there　were　semi…human　features　in　the　great　ink…splash　of　his　presence。　eyes　of　white　fire；　and　a　yawning　mouth　that　was　lined　with　flickering　coals　of　a　red　as　dark　as　drying　blood。

鈥渁bhorsen　is　mine；鈥潯�croaked　kerrigor；　his　voice　deep　and　somehow　liquid；　as　if　his　words　came　bubbling　out　like　lava　mixed　with　spittle。

鈥測ou　will　leave　her　to　me。鈥�

the　mogget…thing　crackled；　and　moved　again；　white　sparks　falling　like　tiny　stars　in　its　wake。

鈥渋　have　waited　too　long　to　allow　my　revenge　to　be　taken　by　another！鈥潯�it　hissed；　ending　on　a　high…pitched　yowl　that　still　had　something　of　the　cat。　then　it　flew　at　kerrigor；　a　shining　electric　et　hurtling　into　the　darkness　of　his　body；　smashing　into　his　shadowy　substance　like　a　hammer　tenderizing　meat。

for　a　moment；　no　one　moved；　shocked　by　the　suddenness　of　the　attack。　then；　kerrigor鈥檚　dark　shape　slowly　recongealed；　long　tendrils　of　bitter　night　wrapping　around　his　brilliant　attacker；　choking　and　absorbing　it　with　the　implacable　voracity　of　an　octopus　strangling　a　brightshelled　turtle。

desperately；　sabriel　looked　around　for　touchstone　and　magistrix　greenwood。　brick　　dust　was　still　falling　slowly　through　the　moonlit　air；　like　some　deadly　rust…colored　gas；　the　bodies　lying　around　seemingly　victims　of　its　choking　poison。　but　they　had　been　struck　by　bricks；　or　wooden　splinters　from　the　smashing　of　the　pews。

sabriel　saw　the　magistrix　first；　lying　a　little　away；　curled　up　on　her　side。　anyone　else　might　have　thought　her　merely　unconscious；　but　sabriel　knew　she　was　dead；　struck　by　a　long；　stiletto…like　splinter　from　a　shattered　pew。　the　iron…hard　wood　had　driven　right　through　her。

she　knew　touchstone　was　alive鈥攁nd　there　he　was；　propped　up　against　a　pile　of　broken　masonry。　his　eyes　reflected　the　moonlight。

sabriel　walked　over　to　him；　stepping　between　the　bodies　and　the　rubble；　the　patches　of　freshly　spilled　blood　and　the　silent；　hopeless　wounded。

鈥渕y　leg　is　broken；鈥潯�touchstone　said；　his　mouth　showing　the　pain　of　it。　he　tilted　his　head　towards　the　gaping　hole　in　the　wall。　鈥渞un；　sabriel。　while　he鈥檚　busy。　run　south。　live　a　normal　life　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋　can鈥檛；鈥潯�replied　sabriel　softly。　鈥渋　am　the　abhorsen。　besides；　how　could　you　run　with　me；　you　with　your　broken　leg？鈥�

鈥渟abriel　。　。　。鈥�

but　sabriel　had　already　turned　away。　she　picked　up　astarael；　practiced　hands　keeping　it　still。　but　there　was　no　need；　for　the　bell　was　choked　with　brick　dust；　its　voice　silent。　it　would　not　ring　true　until　cleaned；　with　patience；　magic　and　steady　nerves。　sabriel　stared　at　it　for　a　second；　then　gently　placed　it　back　down　on　the　floor。

her　father鈥檚　sword　was　only　a　few　paces　further　away。　she　picked　it　up；　and　watched　the　charter　marks　flow　along　the　blade。　this　time；　they　didn鈥檛　run　through　the　normal　inscription；　but　said：　鈥渢he　clayr　saw　me；　the　wallmaker　made　me；　the　king　quenched　me；　the　abhorsen　wields　me　so　that　no　dead　shall　walk　in　life。　for　this　is　not　their　path。鈥�

鈥渢his　is　not　their　path；鈥潯�whispered　sabriel。　she　took　up　the　guard　position；　and　looked　down　the　hall　to　the　writhing　hulk　of　darkness　that　was　kerrigor。

w　w　w/xiao　shu　otx　t



chapter　xxix

灏忚�础璽xt澶╁爞
kerrigor　seemed　to　have　finished　with　the　free　magic　thing　that　had　once　been　mogget。　his　great　cloud　of　darkness　was　plete　again；　with　no　sign　of　white　fire；　no　dazzling　brilliance　fighting　away　within。

he　was　remarkably　still；　and　sabriel　had　a　moment鈥檚　brief　hope　that　he　was　somehow　wounded。　then　the　awful　realization　came。

kerrigor　was　digesting；　like　a　glutton　after　an　overly　ambitious　meal。

sabriel　shuddered　at　the　thought；　bile　tainting　her　mouth。　not　that　her　end　was　likely　to　be　better。　both　she　and　touchstone　would　be　taken　alive；　and　kept　that　way；　till　they　pumped　out　their　life鈥檚　blood；　throats　yawning；　down　in　the　dark　of　the　reservoir　。　。　。

she　shook　her　head；　dispelling　that　image。

there　had　to　be　something　。　。　。　kerrigor　had　to　be　weaker；　so　far　from　the　old　kingdom　。　。　。

perhaps　weakened　more　than　her　charter　magic。　she　doubted　that　a　single　bell　could　sway　him；　but　two；　in　concert？　it　was　dark　in　the　hall；　save　for　the　moonlight　falling　through　the　shattered　wall　behind　her。　and　quiet。　even　the　wounded　were　slipping　away　in　silence；　their　cries　muted；　last　wishes　whispered。　they　kept　their　agony　close；　as　if　a　scream　might　attract　the　wrong　attention。　there　were　things　worse　than　death　in　the　hall　。　。　。

even　in　darkness；　the　form　of　kerrigor　was　darker　still。　sabriel　watched　him　carefully；　undoing　the　straps　that　held　saraneth　and　kibeth　with　her　left　hand。　she　sensed　other　dead　all　around；　but　none　entered　the　hall。

there　were　still　men　to　fight；　or　feast　upon。

what　went　on　in　the　hall　was　their　master鈥檚　business。

the　straps　came　undone。　kerrigor　didn鈥檛　move；　his　burning　eyes　closed；　his　fiery　mouth　shut。

in　one　quick　motion；　sabriel　sheathed　her　　sword；　and　drew　the　bells。

kerrigor　did　move　then。　swiftly；　his　dark　bulk　bounding　forward；　halving　the　gap　between　them。　he