sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第46部分

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she　stepped　back；　and　formed　the　charter　marks　that　would　imbue　the　paperwing　with　choice；　and　the　winds　to　lift　it　there。　the　marks　went　into　her　whistle；　and　the　paperwing　moved　with　the　rising　pitch；　accelerating　along　till　it　leapt　into　the　sky　at　the　peak　of　the　highest　note。

鈥渋　say！鈥潯�exclaimed　a　voice。　鈥渉ow　did　you　do　that？鈥�

sabriel　turned　to　see　a　young；　out…of…breath　ancelstierran　officer；　the　single　gold　pip　of　a　second　lieutenant　looking　lonely　on　his　shoulderstraps。

he　was　easily　fifty　yards　in　front　of　the　rest　of　the　line；　but　he　didn鈥檛　seem　frightened。　he　was　clutching　a　sword　and　a　revolver；　though；　and　he　raised　both　of　them　as　sabriel　stepped　forward。

鈥渉alt！　you　are　my　prisoners！鈥�

鈥渁ctually；　we鈥檙e　travelers；鈥潯�replied　sabriel；　though　she　did　stand　still。　鈥渋s　that　colonel　horyse　i　can　see　behind　you？鈥�

jorbert　turned　half　around　to　have　a　look；　realized　his　mistake；　and　turned　back　just　in　time　to　see　sabriel　and　touchstone　smiling；　then　chuckling；　then　out…and…out　laughing；　clutching　at　each　other鈥檚　arms。

鈥渨hat鈥檚　so　funny？鈥潯�demanded　lieutenant　jorbert；　as　the　two　of　them　laughed　and　laughed；　till　the　tears　ran　down　their　cheeks。

鈥渘othing；鈥潯�said　horyse；　gesturing　to　his　men　to　encircle　sabriel　and　touchstone；　while　he　went　up　and　carefully　placed　two　fingers　on　their　foreheads鈥攖esting　the　charter　they　bore　within。　satisfied；　he　lightly　shook　them；　till　they　stopped　their　shuddering；　gasping　laughter。

then；　to　the　surprise　of　some　of　his　men；　he　put　an　arm　around　each　of　them　and　led　them　back　to　the　crossing　point；　towards　ancelstierre　and　sunshine。

jorbert；　left　to　cover　the　withdrawal；　indignantly　asked　the　air；　鈥渨hat　was　so　funny？鈥�

鈥測ou　heard　the　colonel；鈥潯�replied　regimental　sergeant…major　tawklish。　鈥渘othing。　that　was　an　hysterical　reaction；　that　was。　they鈥檝e　been　through　a　lot；　those　two；　mark　my　words。鈥�

then；　in　the　way　that　only　rsms　have　with　junior　officers；　he　paused；　crushing　jorbert　pletely　with　a　judicious；　and　long　delayed　鈥渟ir。鈥�

the　warmth　wrapped　sabriel　like　a　soft　blanket　as　they　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　wall；　into　the　relative　heat　of　an　ancelstierran　autumn。　she　felt　touchstone　falter　at　her　side；　and　stumble；　his　face　staring　blindly　upwards　to　the　sun。

鈥測ou　both　look　done　in；鈥潯�said　horyse；　speaking　in　the　kindly；　slow　tone　he　used　on　shellshocked　soldiers。　鈥渉ow　about　something　to　eat；　or　would　you　rather　get　some　sleep　first？鈥�

鈥渟omething　to　eat；　certainly；鈥潯�sabriel　replied；　trying　to　give　him　a　grateful　smile。　鈥渂ut　not　sleep。　there鈥檚　no　time　for　that。　tell　me鈥攚hen　was　the　full　moon？　two　days　ago？鈥�

horyse　looked　at　her；　thinking　that　she　no　longer　reminded　him　of　his　own　daughter。

she　had　bee　abhorsen；　a　person　beyond　　his　ken；　in　such　a　short　time　。　。　。

鈥渋t鈥檚　tonight；鈥潯�he　said。

鈥渂ut　i鈥檝e　been　in　the　old　kingdom　at　least　sixteen　days　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渢ime　is　strange　between　the　kingdoms；鈥�

horyse　said。　鈥渨e鈥檝e　had　patrols　swear　they　were　out　for　two　weeks；　ing　back　in　after　eight　days。　a　headache　for　the　paymaster　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渢hat　voice；　ing　from　the　box　on　the　pole；鈥�

touchstone　interrupted；　as　they　left　the　zigzag　path　through　the　wire　defenses　and　climbed　down　into　a　narrow　munication　trench。　鈥渢here　is　no　charter　magic　in　the　box；　or　the　voice　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渁h；鈥潯�replied　horyse；　looking　ahead　to　where　a　loudspeaker　was　announcing　stand…down。　鈥渋鈥檓　surprised　it鈥檚　working。　electricity　runs　that；　mr。

touchstone。　science；　not　magic。鈥�

鈥渋t　won鈥檛　be　working　tonight；鈥潯�sabriel　said　quietly。　鈥渘o　technology　will　be。鈥�

鈥測es；　it　is　rather　loud；鈥潯�horyse　said；　in　a　strong　voice。　more　softly；　he　added；　鈥減lease　don鈥檛　say　anything　more　till　we　get　to　my　dugout。　the　men　have　already　picked　something　up　about　tonight　and　the　full　moon　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渙f　course；鈥潯�replied　sabriel；　wearily。　鈥渋鈥檓　sorry。鈥�

they　walked　the　rest　of　the　way　in　silence；　slogging　along　the　zigzagging　munication　trench；　passing　soldiers　in　the　fighting　trenches；　ready　at　their　stand…to　positions。　the　soldier鈥檚　conversations　stopped　as　they　passed；　but　resumed　as　soon　as　they　turned　the　next　zig　or　zag　and　were　out　of　sight。

at　last；　they　descended　a　series　of　steps　into　colonel　horyse鈥檚　dugout。　two　sergeants　stood　guard　outside鈥攖his　time；　charter　mages　from　the　crossing　point　scouts；　not　the　regular　garrison　infantry。　another　soldier　doubled　off　to　the　cookhouse；　to　fetch　some　food。　horyse　busied　himself　with　a　small　spirit…burner；　and　made　tea。

sabriel　drank　it　without　feeling　much　relief。

ancelstierre；　and　the　universal　forter　of　its　society鈥攖ea鈥攏o　longer　seemed　as　solid　and　dependable　as　she　had　once　thought。

鈥渘ow；鈥潯�said　horyse。　鈥渢ell　me　why　you　don鈥檛　have　time　to　sleep。鈥�

鈥渕y　father　died　yesterday；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　stony…faced。　鈥渢he　wind　flutes　will　fail　tonight。

at　moonrise。　the　dead　here　will　rise　with　the　moon。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檓　sorry　to　hear　about　your　father。　very　sorry；鈥潯�horyse　said。　he　hesitated；　then　added；　　鈥渂ut　as　you　are　here　now；　can鈥檛　you　bind　the　dead　anew？鈥�

鈥渋f　that　were　all；　yes；　i　could；鈥潯�sabriel　continued。

鈥渂ut　there　is　worse　to　e。　have　you　ever　heard　the　name　kerrigor；　colonel？鈥�

horyse　put　his　tea　down。

鈥測our　father　spoke　of　him　once。　one　of　the　greater　dead；　i　think；　imprisoned　beyond　the　seventh　gate？鈥�

鈥渕ore　than　greater；　possibly　the　great；鈥�

sabriel　said　bleakly。　鈥渁s　far　as　i　know；　he　is　the　only　dead　spirit　to　also　be　a　free　magic　adept。鈥�

鈥渁nd　a　renegade　member　of　the　royal　family；鈥�

added　touchstone；　his　voice　still　harsh　and　dry　from　the　cold　winds　of　their　flight；　unquenched　by　tea。　鈥渁nd　he　is　no　longer　imprisoned。　he　walks　in　life。鈥�

鈥渁ll　these　things　give　him　power；鈥潯�sabriel　continued。

鈥渂ut　there　is　a　weakness　there；　too。

kerrigor鈥檚　mastery　of　free　magic；　and　much　of　his　power　in　both　life　and　death；　is　dependent　on　the　continual　existence　of　his　original　body。　he　hid　it；　long　ago；　when　he　first　chose　to　bee　a　dead　spirit鈥攁nd　he　hid　it　in　ancelstierre。　near　the　village　of　wyverley；　to　be　exact。鈥�

鈥渁nd　now　he鈥檚　ing　to　fetch　it　。　。　。鈥潯�said　　horyse；　with　terrible　prescience。　outwardly；　he　looked　calm；　all　those　long　years　of　army　service　forming　a　hard　carapace；　containing　his　feelings。

inwardly；　he　felt　a　trembling　that　he　hoped　wasn鈥檛　being　transmitted　to　the　mug　in　his　hand。

鈥渨hen　will　he　e？鈥�

鈥渨ith　the　night；鈥潯�replied　sabriel。　鈥渨ith　an　army　of　the　dead。　if　he　can　emerge　out　of　death　close　to　the　wall；　he　may　e　earlier。鈥�

鈥樷�榯he　sun鈥斺�潯�horyse　began。

鈥渒errigor　can　work　the　weather；　bring　fog　or　dense　cloud。鈥�

鈥渟o　what　can　we　do？鈥潯�asked　horyse；　turning　his　palms　outwards；　towards　sabriel；　his　eyes　questioning。　鈥渁bhorsen。鈥�

sabriel　felt　a　weight　placed　upon　her；　a　burden　adding　to　the　weariness　that　already　pressed　upon　her；　but　she　forced　herself　to　answer。

鈥渒errigor鈥檚　body　is　in　a　spelled　sarcophagus　under　a　cairn；　a　cairn　atop　a　little　hill　called　docky　point；　less　than　forty　miles　away。　we　need　to　get　there　quickly鈥攁nd　destroy　the　body。鈥�

鈥渁nd　that　will　destroy　kerrigor？鈥�

鈥樷�榥o；鈥潯�said　sabriel；　shaking　her　head　wistfully。

鈥渂ut　it　will　weaken　him　。　。　。　so　there　may　be　a　chance　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渞ight；鈥潯�said　horyse。　鈥渨e鈥檝e　still　got　three　or　four　hours　of　daylight；　but　we鈥檒l　need　to　move　quickly。　i　take　it　that　kerrigor　and　his　。　。　。

forces　。　。　。　will　have　to　cross　the　wall　here？　they　can鈥檛　just　pop　out　at　docky　point？鈥�

鈥渘o；鈥潯�agreed　sabriel。　鈥渢hey鈥檒l　have　to　emerge　in　life　in　the　old　kingdom；　and　physically　cross　the　wall。　it　would　probably　be　best　not　to　try　and　stop　him。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檓　afraid　we　can鈥檛　do　that。鈥潯�replied　horyse。

鈥渢hat鈥檚　what　the　perimeter　garrison　is　here　for。鈥�

鈥渁　lot　of　your　soldiers　will　die　to　no　purpose　then；鈥潯�said　touchstone。　鈥渟imply　because　they鈥檒l　be　in　the　way。　anything；　and　anybody；　that　gets　in　kerrigor鈥檚　way　will　be　destroyed。鈥�

鈥渟o　you　want　us　to　just　let　this　。　。　。　this　thing　and　a　horde　of　dead　descend　on　ancelstierre？鈥�

鈥渘ot　exactly；鈥潯�replied　sabriel。　鈥渋　would　like　to　fight　him　at　a　time　and　a　place　more　of　our　choosing。　if　you　lend　me　all　the　soldiers　here　who　have　the　charter　mark；　and　a　little　charter　magic；　we　may　have　enough　time　to　destroy　kerrigor鈥檚　body。　also；　we　will　be　almost　thirtyfive　miles　from　the　wall。　kerrigor鈥檚　power　may　only　be　slightly　lessened；　but　many　of　his　minions　will　be　weaker。　perhaps　so　weak；　that　　destroying　or　damaging　their　physical　forms　will　be　sufficient　to　send　them　back　into　death。鈥�

鈥渁nd　the　rest　of　the　garrison？　we鈥檒l　just　stand　aside　and　let　kerrigor　and　his　army　through　the　perimeter？鈥�

鈥測ou　probably　won鈥檛　have　a　choice。鈥�

鈥渋　see；鈥潯�muttered　horyse。　he　got　up；　and　paced　backwards　and　forwards；　six　steps；　all　the　dugout　would　allow。　鈥渇ortunately；　or　unfortunately　perhaps鈥攊　am　currently　acting　as　the　general　officer　manding　the　whole　perimeter。

general　ashenber　has　returned　south；　due　to　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　ill　health。　a　temporary　situation　only鈥攁rmy　hq　is　loath　to　give　any　sort　of　higher　mand　to　those　of　us　who　wear　the　charter　mark。　so　the　decision　is　mine　。　。　。鈥�

he　stopped　pacing；　and　stared　back　at　sabriel　and　touchstone鈥攂ut　his　eyes　seemed　to　see　something　well　beyond　them　and　the　rusty　corrugated　iron　that　walled　the　dugout。　finally；　he　spoke。

鈥渧ery　well。　i　will　give　you　twelve　charter　mages鈥攈alf　of　the　full　plement　of　the　scouts鈥攂ut　i　will　also　add　some　more　mundane　force。　a　detachment　to　escort　you　to　。　。　。　what　was　it？　docky　point。　but　i　can鈥檛　promise　we　　won鈥檛　fight　on　the　perimeter。鈥�

鈥渨e　need　you；　too；　colonel；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　in　the　silence　that　followed　his　decision。　鈥測ou鈥檙e　the　strongest　charter　mage　the　garrison　has。鈥�

鈥渋mpossible！鈥潯�horyse　exclaimed　emphatically。

鈥渋鈥檓　in　mand　of　the　perimeter。　my　responsibilities　lie　here。鈥�

鈥測ou鈥檒l　never　be　able　to　explain　tonight；　anyway；鈥�

sabriel　said。　鈥渘ot　to　any　general　down　south；　or　to　anyone　who　hasn鈥檛　crossed　the　wall。鈥�

鈥渋鈥檒l