sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第24部分

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obviously；　some　alarm　or　summons　had　gone　out　beyond　the　first　gate；　and　whatever　was　stalking　towards　her　had　e　in　answer　to　it。

inwardly　cursing　herself　for　stupidity；　sabriel　looked　down　at　her　spirit　burden。　sure　enough；　she　could　just　make　out　a　very　thin　black　line；　fine　as　cotton　thread；　running　from　his　arm　into　the　water鈥攁nd　thence　to　the　deeper；　darker　regions　of　death。　not　a　controlling　thread；　but　one　that　would　let　some　distant　adept　know　the　spirit　had　been　moved。　fortunately；　sounding　ranna　would　have　slowed　the　message；　but　was　she　close　enough　to　life　。　。　。

she　increased　her　speed　a　little；　but　not　too　much；　pretending　she　hadn鈥檛　noticed　the　hunter。

whatever　it　was；　it　seemed　quite　reluctant　to　close　in　on　her。

sabriel　quickened　her　pace　a　little　more；　adrenaline　and　suspense　feeding　her　strength。　if　it　rushed　her；　she　would　have　to　drop　the　spirit鈥敗�and　he　would　be　carried　away；　lost　forever。

whatever　magic　had　preserved　his　living　spirit　here　on　the　boundary　couldn鈥檛　possibly　prevail　if　he　went　past　the　first　gate。　if　that　happened；　sabriel　thought；　she　would　have　precipitated　a　murder　rather　than　a　rescue。

four　steps　to　life鈥攖hen　three。　the　thing　was　closing　now鈥攕abriel　could　see　it；　low　in　the　water；　still　creeping；　but　faster　now。　it　was　obviously　a　denizen　of　the　third；　or　even　some　later　gate；　for　she　couldn鈥檛　identify　what　it　once　had　been。　now　it　looked　like　a　cross　between　a　hog　and　a　segmented　worm；　and　it　moved　in　a　series　of　scuttles　and　sinuous　wriggles。

two　steps。　sabriel　shifted　her　grip　again；　wrapping　her　left　arm　pletely　around　the　spirit鈥檚　chest　and　balancing　the　weight　on　her　hip；　freeing　her　right　arm；　but　she　still　couldn鈥檛　draw　her　sword；　or　clear　the　bells。

the　hog…thing　began　to　grunt　and　hiss；　breaking　into　a　diving；　rushing　gallop；　its　long；　yellowcrusted　tusks　surfing　through　the　water；　its　long　body　undulating　along　behind。

sabriel　stepped　back；　turned；　and　threw　herself　and　her　precious　cargo　headfirst　into　life；　using　all　her　will　to　force　them　through　the　wards　on　the　sinkhole。　for　an　instant；　it　seemed　that　they　would　be　repulsed；　then；　like　a　pin　pushing　through　a　rubber　band；　they　were　through。

shrill　squealing　followed　her；　but　nothing　else。

sabriel　found　herself　facedown　on　the　ground；　hands　empty；　ice　crystals　crunching　as　they　fell　from　her　frosted　body。　turning　her　head；　she　met　the　gaze　of　mogget。　he　stared　at　her；　then　closed　his　eyes　and　went　back　to　sleep。

sabriel　rolled　over；　and　got　to　her　feet；　very；　very　slowly。　she　felt　all　her　pains　e　back　and　wondered　why　she鈥檇　been　so　hasty　to　perform　deeds　of　derring…do　and　rescue。　still；　she　had　managed　it。　the　man鈥檚　spirit　was　back　where　it　belonged；　back　in　life。

or　so　she　thought；　till　she　saw　the　figurehead。

it　hadn鈥檛　changed　at　all　to　outward　sight；　though　sabriel　could　now　feel　the　living　spirit　in　it。

puzzled；　she　touched　his　immobile　face；　fingers　tracing　the　grain　of　the　wood。

鈥渁　kiss；鈥潯�said　mogget　sleepily。　鈥渁ctually；　just　a　breath　would　do。　but　you　have　to　start　kissing　someone　sometime；　i　suppose。鈥�

sabriel　looked　at　the　cat；　wondering　if　this　was　the　latest　symptom　of　catbalm…induced　lunacy。

but　he　seemed　sober　enough；　and　serious。

鈥渁　breath？鈥潯�she　asked。　she　didn鈥檛　want　to　kiss　　just　any　wooden　man。　he　looked　nice　enough；　but　he　might　not　be　like　his　looks。　a　kiss　seemed　very　forward。　he　might　remember　it；　and　make　assumptions。

鈥渓ike　this？鈥潯�she　took　a　deep　breath；　leaned　forward；　exhaled　a　few　inches　from　his　nose　and　mouth；　then　stepped　back　to　see　what　would　happen鈥攊f　anything。

nothing　did。

鈥渃atbalm！鈥潯�exclaimed　sabriel；　looking　at　mogget。　鈥測ou　shouldn鈥檛鈥斺��

a　small　sound　interrupted　her。　a　small；　wheezing　sound；　that　didn鈥檛　e　from　her　or　mogget。

the　figurehead　was　breathing；　air　whistling　between　carved　wooden　lips　like　the　issue　from　an　aged；　underworked　bellows。

the　breathing　grew　stronger；　and　with　it；　color　began　to　flow　through　the　carving；　dull　wood　giving　way　to　the　luster　of　flesh。　he　coughed；　and　the　carven　chest　became　flexible；　suddenly　rising　and　falling　as　he　began　to　pant　like　a　recovering　sprinter。

his　eyes　opened　and　met　sabriel鈥檚。　fine　grey　eyes；　but　muzzy　and　unfocused。　he　didn鈥檛　seem　to　see　her。　his　fingers　clenched　and　unclenched；　and　his　feet　shuffled；　as　if　he　were　running　in　　place。　finally；　his　back　peeled　away　from　the　ship鈥檚　hull。　he　took　one　step　forward；　and　fell　into　sabriel鈥檚　arms。

she　lowered　him　hastily　to　the　ground；　all　too　aware　that　she　was　embracing　a　naked　young　man鈥攊n　circumstances　considerably　different　than　the　various　scenarios　she鈥檇　imagined　with　her　friends　at　school；　or　heard　about　from　the　earthier　and　more　privileged　day…girls。

鈥渢hank　you；鈥潯�he　said；　almost　drunkenly；　the　words　terribly　slurred。　he　seemed　to　focus　on　her鈥攐r　her　surcoat鈥攆or　the　first　time；　and　added；　鈥渁bhorsen。鈥�

then　he　went　to　sleep；　mouth　curling　up　at　the　corners；　frown　dissolving。　he　looked　younger　than　he　did　as　a　fixed…expression　figurehead。

sabriel　looked　down　at　him；　trying　to　ignore　curiously　fond　feelings　that　had　appeared　from　somewhere。　feelings　similar　to　those　that　had　made　her　bring　back　jacinth鈥檚　rabbit。

鈥渋　suppose　i鈥檇　better　get　him　a　blanket；鈥潯�she　said　reluctantly；　as　she　wondered　what　on　earth　had　possessed　her　to　add　this　plication　to　her　already　confusing　and　difficult　circumstances。

she　supposed　she　would　have　to　get　him　　to　safety　and　civilization；　at　the　very　least鈥攊f　there　was　any　to　be　found。

鈥渋　can　get　a　blanket　if　you　want　to　keep　staring　at　him；鈥潯�mogget　said　slyly；　twining　himself　around　her　ankles　in　a　sensuous　pavane。

sabriel　realized　she　really　was　staring；　and　looked　away。

鈥渘o。　i鈥檒l　get　it。　and　my　spare　shirt；　i　suppose。

the　breeches　might　fit　him　with　a　bit　of　work；　i　guess鈥攚e鈥檇　be　much　the　same　height。　keep　watch；　mogget。　i鈥檒l　be　back　in　a　minute。鈥�

mogget　watched　her　hobble　off；　then　turned　back　to　the　sleeping　man。　silently；　the　cat　padded　over　and　touched　his　pink　tongue　to　the　charter　mark　on　the　man鈥檚　forehead。　the　mark　flared；　but　mogget　didn鈥檛　flinch；　till　it　grew　dull　again。

鈥渟o；鈥潯�muttered　mogget；　tasting　his　own　tongue　by　curling　it　back　on　itself。　he　seemed　somewhat　surprised；　and　more　than　a　little　angry。　he　tasted　the　mark　again；　and　then　shook　his　head　in　distaste；　the　miniature　saraneth　on　his　collar　ringing　a　little　peal　that　was　not　of　celebration。





chapter　xiv

锝炲皬锛滆�磘　xt锛嬶紜澶╋紴鍫�
grey　mist　coiling　upwards；　twining　around　him　like　a　clinging　vine；　gripping　arms　and　legs；　immobilizing；　strangling；　merciless。　so　firmly　grown　about　his　body　there　was　no　possibility　of　escape；　so　tight　his　muscles　couldn鈥檛　even　flex　under　skin；　his　eyelids　couldn鈥檛　blink。　and　nothing　to　see　but　patches　of　darker　grey；　crisscrossing　his　vision　like　windblown　scum　upon　a　fetid　pool。

then；　suddenly；　fierce　red　light；　pain　exploding　everywhere；　rocketing　from　toes　to　brain　and　back　again。　the　grey　mist　clearing；　mobility　returning。　no　more　grey　patches；　but　blurry　colors；　slowly　twisting　into　focus。　a　woman；　looking　down　at　him；　a　young　woman；　armed　and　armored；　her　face　。　。　。　battered。　no；　not　a　woman。　the　abhorsen；　for　she　wore　the　blazon　and　the　bells。　but　she　was　too　young；　not　the　abhorsen　he　knew；　or　any　of　the　family　。　。　。

鈥渢hank　you；鈥潯�he　said；　the　words　ing　out　like　a　mouse　creeping　from　a　dusty　larder。

鈥渁bhorsen。鈥�

then　he　fainted；　his　body　rushing　gladly　to　wele　real　sleep；　true　unconsciousness　and　sanity…restoring　rest。

he　awoke　under　a　blanket；　and　felt　a　moment鈥檚　panic　when　the　thick　grey　wool　pressed　upon　his　mouth　and　eyes。　he　struggled　with　it；　threw　it　back　with　a　gasp；　and　relaxed　as　he　felt　fresh　air　on　his　face　and　dim　sunlight　filtering　down　from　above。　he　looked　up　and　saw　from　the　reddish　hue　that　it　must　be　soon　after　dawn。　the　sinkhole　puzzled　him　for　a　few　seconds鈥敗�disoriented；　he　felt　dizzy　and　stupid；　till　he　looked　at　the　tall　masts　all　around；　the　black　sails；　and　the　unfinished　ship　nearby。

鈥渉olehallow；鈥潯�he　muttered　to　himself；　frowning。

he　remembered　it　now。　but　what　was　he　doing　here？　pletely　naked　under　a　rough　camping　blanket？　he　sat　up；　and　shook　his　head。　it　was　sore　and　his　temples　were　throbbing；　seemingly　from　the　　battering…ram　effect　of　a　severe　hangover。　but　he　felt　certain　he　hadn鈥檛　been　drinking。　the　last　thing　he　remembered　was　going　down　the　steps。

rogir　had　asked　him　。　。　。　no　。　。　。　the　last　thing　was　the　fleeting　image　of　a　pale；　concerned　face；　bloodied　and　bruised；　black　hair　hanging　out　in　a　fringe　under　her　helmet。　a　deep　blue　surcoat；　with　the　blazon　of　silver　keys。　the　abhorsen。

鈥渟he鈥檚　washing　at　the　spring；鈥潯�said　a　soft　voice；　interrupting　his　faltering　recollection。　鈥渟he　got　up　before　the　sun。　cleanliness　is　a　wonderful　thing。鈥�

the　voice　did　not　seem　to　belong　to　anything　visible；　till　the　man　looked　up　at　the　nearby　ship。

there　was　a　large；　irregular　hole　in　the　bow；　where　the　figurehead　should　have　been　and　a　white　cat　was　curled　up　in　the　hole；　watching　him　with　an　unnaturally　sharp；　green…eyed　gaze。

鈥渨hat　are　you？鈥潯�said　the　man；　his　eyes　cautiously　flickering　from　side　to　side；　looking　for　a　weapon。　a　pile　of　clothes　was　the　only　thing　nearby；　containing　a　shirt；　trousers　and　some　underwear；　but　it　was　weighted　down　with　a　largish　rock。　his　hand　sidled　out　towards　the　rock。

鈥渄on鈥檛　be　alarmed；鈥潯�said　the　cat。　鈥渋鈥檓　but　a　faithful　retainer　of　the　abhorsen。　name　of　　mogget。　for　the　moment。鈥�

the　man鈥檚　hand　closed　on　the　rock；　but　he　didn鈥檛　lift　it。　memories　were　slowly　sidling　back　to　his　benumbed　mind；　drawn　like　grains　of　iron　to　a　magnet。　there　were　memories　of　various　abhorsens　among　them鈥攎emories　that　gave　him　an　inkling　of　what　this　cat…creature　was。

鈥測ou　were　bigger　when　we　last　met；鈥潯�he　hazarded；　testing　his　guess。

鈥渉ave　we　met？鈥潯�replied　mogget；　yawning。

鈥渄ear　me。　i　can鈥檛　recall　it。　what　was　the　name？鈥�

a　good　question；　thought　the　man。　he　couldn鈥檛　remember。　he　knew　who　he　was；　in　general　terms；　but　his　name　eluded　him。　other　names　came　easily　though；　and　som