sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第2章

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h；　and　threw　her　from　him。　she　landed；　squalling；　and　was　instantly　caught　up　in　the　flow　of　the　river；　but　abhorsen　lunged　forward；　snatching　her　from　both　the　river　and　kerrigor鈥檚　grasping　hands。

stepping　back；　he　drew　the　silver　bell　onehanded；　and　swung　it　so　it　sounded　twice。　the　sound　was　curiously　muffled；　but　true；　and　the　clear　chime　hung　in　the　air；　fresh　and　cutting；　alive。　kerrigor　flinched　at　the　sound；　and　fell　backwards　to　the　darkness　that　was　the　gate。

鈥渟ome　fool　will　soon　bring　me　back；　and　then　。　。　。鈥潯�he　cried　out；　as　the　river　took　him　under。　the　waters　swirled　and　gurgled　and　then　resumed　their　steady　flow。

abhorsen　stared　at　the　gate　for　a　time；　then　sighed　and；　placing　the　bell　back　in　his　belt；　　looked　at　the　baby　held　in　his　arm。　she　stared　back　at　him；　dark　eyes　matching　his　own。

already；　the　color　had　been　drained　from　her　skin。　nervously；　abhorsen　laid　a　hand　across　the　brand　on　her　forehead　and　felt　the　glow　of　her　spirit　within。　the　charter　mark　had　kept　her　life　contained　when　the　river　should　have　drained　it。　it　was　her　life…spirit　that　had　so　burned　kerrigor。

she　smiled　up　at　him　and　gurgled　a　little；　and　abhorsen　felt　a　smile　tilting　the　corner　of　his　own　mouth。　still　smiling；　he　turned；　and　began　the　long　wade　back　up　the　river；　to　the　gate　that　would　return　them　both　to　their　living　flesh。

the　baby　wailed　a　scant　second　before　abhorsen　opened　his　eyes；　so　that　the　midwife　was　already　halfway　around　the　dying　fire；　ready　to　pick　her　up。　frost　crackled　on　the　ground　and　icicles　hung　from　abhorsen鈥檚　nose。　he　wiped　them　off　with　a　sleeve　and　leaned　over　the　child；　much　as　any　anxious　father　does　after　a　birth。

鈥渉ow　is　the　babe？鈥潯�he　asked；　and　the　midwife　stared　at　him　wonderingly；　for　the　dead　child　was　now　loudly　alive　and　as　deathly　white　as　he。

鈥渁s　you　hear；　lord；鈥潯�she　answered。　鈥渟he　is　very　　well。　it　is　perhaps　a　little　cold　for　her鈥斺��

he　gestured　at　the　fire　and　spoke　a　word；　and　it　roared　into　life；　the　frost　melting　at　once；　the　raindrops　sizzling　into　steam。

鈥渢hat　will　do　till　morning；鈥潯�said　abhorsen。

鈥渢hen　i　shall　take　her　to　my　house。　i　shall　have　need　of　a　nurse。will　you　e？鈥�

the　midwife　hesitated；　and　looked　to　the　charter　mage；　who　still　lingered　on　the　far　side　of　the　fire。　he　refused　to　meet　her　glance　and　she　looked　down　once　more　at　the　little　girl　bawling　in　her　arms。

鈥測ou　are　。　。　。　you　are　。　。　。鈥潯�whispered　the　midwife。

鈥渁　necromancer？鈥潯�said　abhorsen。　鈥渙nly　of　a　sort。　i　loved　the　woman　who　lies　here。　she　would　have　lived　if　she　had　loved　another；　but　she　did　not。　sabriel　is　our　child。　can　you　not　see　the　kinship？鈥�

the　midwife　looked　at　him　as　he　leant　forward　and　took　sabriel　from　her；　rocking　her　on　his　chest。　the　baby　quietened　and；　in　a　few　seconds；　was　asleep。

鈥測es；鈥潯�said　the　midwife。　鈥渋　shall　e　with　you；　and　look　after　sabriel。　but　you　must　find　a　wet…nurse　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渁nd　i　daresay　much　else　besides；鈥潯�mused　abhorsen。　鈥渂ut　my　house　is　not　a　place　for鈥斺��

the　charter　mage　cleared　his　throat；　and　moved　around　the　fire。

鈥渋f　you　seek　a　man　who　knows　a　little　of　the　charter；鈥潯�he　said　hesitantly；　鈥渋　should　wish　to　serve；　for　i　have　seen　its　work　in　you；　lord；　though　i　am　loath　to　leave　my　fellow　wanderers。鈥�

鈥減erhaps　you　will　not　have　to；鈥潯�replied　abhorsen；　smiling　at　a　sudden　thought。　鈥渋　wonder　if　your　leader　will　object　to　two　new　members　joining　her　band。　for　my　work　means　i　must　travel；　and　there　is　no　part　of　the　kingdom　that　has　not　felt　the　imprint　of　my　feet。鈥�

鈥測our　work？鈥潯�asked　the　man；　shivering　a　little；　though　it　was　no　longer　cold。

鈥測es；鈥潯�said　abhorsen。　鈥渋　am　a　necromancer；　but　not　of　the　mon　kind。　where　others　of　the　art　raise　the　dead；　i　lay　them　back　to　rest。　and　those　that　will　not　rest；　i　bind鈥攐r　try　to。　i　am　abhorsen　。　。　。鈥�

he　looked　at　the　baby　again；　and　added；　almost　with　a　note　of　surprise；　鈥渇ather　of　sabriel。鈥�

w　w　w。　xiao　shuotxt。　co　m



chapter　1

灏忥伎璇磘xt澶�/鍫�
the　rabbit　had　been　run　over　minutes　before。　its　pink　eyes　were　glazed　and　blood　stained　its　clean　white　fur。　unnaturally　clean　fur；　for　it　had　just　escaped　from　a　bath。　it　still　smelt　faintly　of　lavender　water。

a　tall；　curiously　pale　young　woman　stood　over　the　rabbit。　her　night…black　hair；　fashionably　bobbed；　was　hanging　slightly　over　her　face。

she　wore　no　makeup　or　jewelry；　save　for　an　enamelled　school　badge　pinned　to　her　regulation　navy　blazer。　that；　coupled　with　her　long　skirt；　stockings　and　sensible　shoes；　identified　her　as　a　schoolgirl。　a　nameplate　under　the　badge　read　鈥渟abriel鈥潯�and　the　roman　鈥渧i鈥潯�and　gilt　crown　proclaimed　her　to　be　both　a　member　of　the　sixth　form　and　a　prefect。

the　rabbit　was；　unquestionably；　dead。　sabriel　looked　up　from　it　and　back　along　the　bricked　drive　that　left　the　road　and　curved　up　to　an　imposing　pair　of　wrought…iron　gates。　a　sign　above　the　gate；　in　gilt　letters　of　mock　gothic；　announced　that　they　were　the　gates　to　wyverley　college。　smaller　letters　added　that　the　school　was　鈥渆stablished　in　　for　young　ladies　of　quality。鈥�

a　small　figure　was　busy　climbing　over　the　gate；　nimbly　avoiding　the　spikes　that　were　supposed　to　stop　such　activities。　she　dropped　the　last　few　feet　and　started　running；　her　pigtails　flying；　shoes　clacking　on　the　bricks。　her　head　was　down　to　gain　momentum；　but　as　cruising　speed　was　established；　she　looked　up；　saw　sabriel　and　the　dead　rabbit；　and　screamed。

鈥渂unny！鈥�

sabriel　flinched　as　the　girl　screamed；　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　bent　down　by　the　rabbit鈥檚　side　and　reached　out　with　one　pale　hand　to　touch　it　between　its　long　ears。　her　eyes　closed　and　her　face　set　as　if　she　had　suddenly　turned　to　stone。　a　faint　whistling　sound　came　from　her　slightly　parted　lips；　like　the　wind　heard　from　far　away。　frost　formed　on　her　fingertips　and　rimed　the　asphalt　beneath　her　feet　and　knees。

the　other　girl；　running；　saw　her　suddenly　tip　forward　over　the　rabbit；　and　topple　towards　the　road；　but　at　the　last　minute　her　hand　came　out　and　she　caught　herself。　a　second　later；　she　had　regained　her　balance　and　was　using　both　hands　to　restrain　the　rabbit鈥攁　rabbit　now　inexplicably　lively　again；　its　eyes　bright　and　shiny；　as　eager　to　be　off　as　when　it　escaped　from　its　bath。

鈥渂unny！鈥潯�shrieked　the　younger　girl　again；　as　sabriel　stood　up；　holding　the　rabbit　by　the　scruff　of　its　neck。　鈥渙h；　thank　you；　sabriel！　when　i　heard　the　car　skidding　i　thought　。　。　。鈥�

she　faltered　as　sabriel　handed　the　rabbit　over　and　blood　stained　her　expectant　hands。

鈥渉e鈥檒l　be　fine；　jacinth；鈥潯�sabriel　replied　wearily。

鈥渁　scratch。　it鈥檚　already　closed　up。鈥�

jacinth　examined　bunny　carefully；　then　looked　up　at　sabriel；　the　beginnings　of　a　wriggling　fear　showing　at　the　back　of　her　eyes。

鈥渢here　isn鈥檛　anything　under　the　blood；鈥潯�stammered　jacinth。　鈥渨hat　did　you　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋　didn鈥檛；鈥潯�snapped　sabriel。　鈥渂ut　perhaps　you　can　tell　me　what　you　are　doing　out　of　bounds？鈥�

鈥渃hasing　bunny；鈥潯�replied　jacinth；　her　eyes　　clearing　as　life　reverted　to　a　more　normal　situation。

鈥測ou　see　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渘o　excuses；鈥潯�recited　sabriel。　鈥渞emember　what　mrs。　umbrade　said　at　assembly　on　monday。鈥�

鈥渋t鈥檚　not　an　excuse；鈥潯�insisted　jacinth。　鈥渋t鈥檚　a　reason。鈥�

鈥測ou　can　explain　it　to　mrs。　umbrade　then。鈥�

鈥渙h；　sabriel！　you　wouldn鈥檛！　you　know　i　was　only　chasing　bunny。　i鈥檇　never　have　e　out鈥斺��

sabriel　held　up　her　hands　in　mock　defeat；　and　gestured　back　to　the　gates。

鈥渋f　you鈥檙e　back　inside　within　three　minutes；　i　won鈥檛　have　seen　you。　and　open　the　gate　this　time。　they　won鈥檛　be　locked　till　i　go　back　inside。鈥�

jacinth　smiled；　her　whole　face　beaming；　whirled　around　and　sped　back　up　the　drive；　bunny　clutched　against　her　neck。　sabriel　watched　till　she　had　gone　through　the　gate；　then　let　the　tremors　take　her　till　she　was　bent　over；　shaking　with　cold。　a　moment　of　weakness　and　she　had　broken　the　promise　she　had　made　both　to　herself　and　her　father。　it　was　only　a　rabbit　and　jacinth　did　love　it　so　much鈥攂ut　what　would　that　lead　to？　it　was　no　great　step　from　bringing　back　a　rabbit　to　bringing　back　a　person。

worse；　it　had　been　so　easy。　she　had　caught