sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第32章

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there　were　no　boats　moored　in　the　harbor；　tied　up　to　the　jetties；　or　at　the　harbor　wall。　not　even　a　dinghy；　hauled　up　for　repair。　sabriel　stood　on　the　steps；　looking　down；　mind　temporarily　devoid　of　further　plans。　she　just　watched　the　swirl　of　the　sea　around　the　barnacled　piles　of　the　jetties；　the　moving　shadows　in　the　blue；　marking　small　fish　schooling　about　their　business。

mogget　sat　near　her　feet；　sniffing　the　air；　silent。

touchstone　stood　higher；　behind　her；　guarding　the　rear。

鈥渨hat　now？鈥潯�asked　sabriel；　generally　indicating　the　empty　harbor　below；　her　arm　moving　with　the　same　rhythm　as　the　swell；　in　its　perpetual　tilt　against　wood　and　stone。

鈥渢here　are　people　on　the　island；鈥潯�mogget　said；　eyes　slitted　against　the　wind。　鈥渁nd　boats　　tied　up　between　the　two　outcrops　of　rock　on　the　southwest。鈥�

sabriel　looked；　but　saw　nothing；　till　she　extracted　the　telescope　from　the　pack　on　touchstone鈥檚　back。　he　stood　pletely　still　while　she　ferreted　around；　silent　as　the　empty　village。　playing　wooden　again；　sabriel　thought；　but　she　didn鈥檛　really　mind。　he　was　being　helpful；　without　metaphorically　tugging　his　forelock　every　few　minutes。

through　the　telescope；　she　saw　that　mogget　was　right。　there　were　several　boats　partly　hidden　between　two　spurs　of　rock；　and　some　slight　signs　of　habitation：　a　glimpse　of　a　washing　line；　blown　around　the　corner　of　a　tall　rock；　the　momentary　sight　of　movement　between　two　of　the　six　or　seven　ramshackle　wooden　buildings　that　nestled　on　the　island鈥檚　south…western　side。

shifting　her　gaze　to　the　breakwater；　sabriel　followed　its　length。　as　she鈥檇　half　expected；　there　was　a　gap　in　the　very　middle　of　it；　where　the　sea　rushed　through　with　considerable　force。　a　pile　of　timber　on　the　island　side　of　the　breakwater　indicated　that　there　had　once　been　a　bridge　there；　now　removed。

鈥渋t　looks　like　the　villagers　fled　to　the　island；鈥�

she　said；　shutting　the　telescope　down。　鈥渢here鈥檚　a　gap　in　the　breakwater；　to　keep　running　water　between　the　island　and　shore。　an　ideal　defense　against　the　dead。　i　don鈥檛　think　even　a　mordicant　would　risk　crossing　deep　tidal　water鈥斺��

鈥渓et鈥檚　go　then；鈥潯�muttered　touchstone。　he　sounded　nervous　again；　jumpy。　sabriel　looked　at　him；　then　above　his　head；　and　saw　why　he　was　nervous。　clouds　were　rolling　in　from　the　southeast；　behind　the　village鈥攄ark　clouds；　laden　with　rain。　the　air　was　calm；　but　now　she　saw　the　clouds；　sabriel　recognized　it　was　the　calm　before　heavy　rain。　the　sun　would　not　be　guarding　them　for　very　much　longer　and　night　would　be　an　early　guest。

without　further　urging；　she　set　off　down　the　steps；　down　to　the　harborside；　then　along　to　the　breakwater。　touchstone　followed　more　slowly；　turning　every　few　steps　to　watch　the　rear。　mogget　did　likewise；　his　small　cat…face　continually　looking　back；　peering　up　at　the　houses。

behind　them；　shutters　inched　open　and　fleshless　eyes　watched　from　the　safety　of　shadows；　watched　the　trio　marching　out　to　the　breakwater；　still　washed　in　harsh　sunlight；　flanked　by　swiftmoving　waves　of　terrible　water。　rotten；　corroded　　teeth　ground　and　gnashed　in　skeletal　mouths。

farther　back　from　the　windows；　shadows　darker　than　ones　ever　cast　by　light　whirled　in　frustration；　anger鈥攁nd　fear。　they　all　knew　who　had　passed。

one　such　shadow；　selected　by　lot　and　pelled　by　its　peers；　gave　up　its　existence　in　life　with　a　silent　scream；　vanishing　into　death。　their　master　was　many；　many　leagues　away；　and　the　quickest　way　to　reach　him　lay　in　death。　of　course；　message　delivered；　the　messenger　would　fall　through　the　gates　to　a　final　demise。　but　the　master　didn鈥檛　care　about　that。

the　gap　in　the　breakwater　proved　to　be　at　least　fifteen　feet　wide；　and　the　water　was　twice　sabriel鈥檚　height；　the　sea　surging　through　with　a　rough　aggression。　it　was　also　covered　by　archers　from　the　island；　as　they　discovered　when　an　arrow　struck　the　stones　in　front　of　them　and　skittered　off　into　the　sea。

instantly；　touchstone　rushed　in　front　of　sabriel；　and　she　felt　the　flow　of　charter　magic　from　him；　his　swords　sketching　a　great　circle　in　the　air　in　front　of　them　both。　glowing　lines　followed　the　swords鈥櫋�path；　till　a　shining　circle　hung　in　the　air。

four　arrows　curved　through　the　air　from　the　island。　one；　striking　the　circle；　simply　vanished。

the　other　three　missed　pletely；　striking　stones　or　sea。

鈥渁rrow　ward；鈥潯�gasped　touchstone。　鈥渆ffective；　but　hard　to　keep　going。　do　we　retreat？鈥�

鈥渘ot　yet；鈥潯�replied　sabriel。　she　could　feel　the　dead　stirring　in　the　village　behind　them　and　she　could　also　see　the　archers　now。　there　were　four　of　them；　two　pairs；　each　behind　one　of　the　large；　upthrust　stones　that　marked　where　the　breakwater　joined　the　island。　they　looked　young；　nervous　and　were　already　proven　to　be　of　little　threat。

鈥渉old！鈥潯�shouted　sabriel。　鈥渨e　are　friends！鈥�

there　was　no　reply；　but　the　archers　didn鈥檛　loose　their　nocked　arrows。

鈥渨hat鈥檚　the　village　leader鈥檚　title鈥攗sually；　i　mean？　what　are　they　called？鈥潯�sabriel　whispered　hurriedly　to　touchstone；　once　again　wishing　she　knew　more　about　the　old　kingdom　and　its　customs。

鈥渋n　my　day　。　。　。鈥潯�touchstone　replied　slowly；　his　swords　retracing　the　arrow　ward；　attention　mostly　on　that；　鈥渋n　my　day鈥攅lder鈥攆or　this　size　of　village。鈥�

鈥渨e　wish　to　speak　with　your　elder！鈥潯�shouted　sabriel。　she　pointed　at　the　cloud…front　advancing　behind　her；　and　added；　鈥渂efore　darkness　falls！鈥�

鈥渨ait！鈥潯�came　the　answer；　and　one　of　the　archers　scampered　back　from　the　rocks；　up　towards　the　buildings。　closer　to；　sabriel　realized　they　were　probably　boathouses　or　something　like　that。

the　archer　returned　in　a　few　minutes；　an　older　man　hobbling　over　the　rocks　behind　him。　the　other　three　archers；　seeing　him；　lowered　their　bows　and　returned　shafts　to　quivers。　touchstone；　seeing　this；　ceased　to　maintain　the　arrow　ward。　it　hung　in　the　air　for　a　moment；　then　dissipated；　leaving　a　momentary　rainbow。

the　elder　was　named　in　fact；　as　well　as　title；　they　saw；　as　he　limped　along　the　breakwater。　long　white　hair　blew　like　fragile　cobwebs　around　his　thin；　wrinkled　face；　and　he　moved　with　the　deliberate　intention　of　the　very　old。　he　seemed　unafraid；　perhaps　possessed　of　the　disinterested　courage　of　one　already　close　to　death。

鈥渨ho　are　you？鈥潯�he　asked；　when　he　reached　the　gap；　standing　above　the　swirling　waters　like　some　prophet　of　legend；　his　deep　orange　cloak　flapping　around　him　from　the　rising　breeze。

鈥渨hat　do　you　want？鈥�

sabriel　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　　touchstone　had　already　started　to　speak。　loudly。

鈥渋　am　touchstone；　sworn　swordsman　for　the　abhorsen；　who　stands　before　you。　are　arrows　your　wele　for　such　folk　as　we？鈥�

the　old　man　was　silent　for　a　moment；　his　deep…set　eyes　focused　on　sabriel；　as　if　he　could　strip　away　any　falsity　or　illusion　by　sight　alone。

sabriel　met　his　gaze；　but　out　of　the　corner　of　her　mouth　she　whispered　to　touchstone。

鈥渨hat　makes　you　think　you　can　speak　for　me？　wouldn鈥檛　a　friendly　approach　be　better？　and　since　when　are　you　my　sworn鈥斺��

she　stopped；　as　the　old　man　cleared　his　throat　to　speak　and　spat　into　the　water。　for　a　moment；　she　thought　that　this　was　his　response；　but　as　neither　the　archers　nor　touchstone　reacted；　it　was　obviously　of　no　account。

鈥渢hese　are　bad　times；鈥潯�the　elder　said。　鈥渨e　have　been　forced　to　leave　our　firesides　for　the　smoking　sheds；　warmth　and　fort　for　seawinds　and　the　stench　of　fish。　many　of　the　people　of　nestowe　are　dead鈥攐r　worse。　strangers　and　travelers　are　rare　in　such　times；　and　not　always　what　they　seem。鈥�

鈥渋　am　the　abhorsen；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　reluctantly。

鈥渆nemy　of　the　dead。鈥�

鈥渋　remember；鈥潯�replied　the　old　man；　slowly。

鈥渁bhorsen　came　here　when　i　was　a　young　man。　he　came　to　put　down　the　haunts　that　the　spice　merchant　brought；　charter　curse　him。

abhorsen。　i　remember　that　coat　you鈥檙e　wearing；　blue　as　a　ten…fathom　sea；　with　the　silver　keys。　there　was　a　sword；　also　。　。　。鈥�

he　paused；　expectantly。　sabriel　stood；　silently；　waiting　for　him　to　go　on。

鈥渉e　wants　to　see　the　sword；鈥潯�touchstone　said；　voice　flat；　after　the　silence　stretched　too　far。

鈥渙h；鈥潯�replied　sabriel；　flushing。

it　was　quite　obvious。　carefully；　so　as　not　to　alarm　the　archers；　she　drew　her　sword；　holding　it　up　to　the　sun；　so　the　charter　marks　could　clearly　be　seen；　silver　dancers　on　the　blade。

鈥測es；鈥潯�sighed　the　elder；　old　shoulders　sagging　with　relief。　鈥渢hat　is　the　sword。　charter…spelled。

she　is　the　abhorsen。鈥�

he　turned　and　tottered　back　towards　the　archers；　worn　voice　increasing　to　the　ghost　of　a　fisherman鈥檚　cross…water　hail。　鈥渆　on；　you　four。　quick　with　the　bridge。　we　have　visitors！　help　at　last！鈥�

sabriel　glanced　at　touchstone；　raising　her　eyebrows　at　the　implication　of　the　old　man鈥檚　　last　three　words。　surprisingly；　touchstone　met　her　gaze；　and　held　it。

鈥渋t　is　traditional　for　someone　of　high　rank；　such　as　yourself；　to　be　announced　by　their　sworn　swordsman；鈥潯�he　said　quietly。　鈥渁nd　the　only　acceptable　way　for　me　to　travel　with　you　is　as　your　sworn　swordsman。　otherwise；　people　will　assume　that　we　are；　at　best；　illicit　lovers。　having　your　name　coupled　to　mine　in　such　a　guise　would　lower　you　in　most　eyes。　you　see？鈥�

鈥渁h；鈥潯�r