Sabriel (The Abhorsen Trilogy)-第1章

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Prologue

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it　was　little　more　than　three　miles　from　the　wall　into　the　old　kingdom；　but　that　was　enough。　noonday　sunshine　could　be　seen　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall　in　ancelstierre；　and　not　a　cloud　in　sight。　here；　there　was　a　clouded　sunset；　and　a　steady　rain　had　just　begun　to　fall；　ing　faster　than　the　tents　could　be　raised。

the　midwife　shrugged　her　cloak　higher　up　against　her　neck　and　bent　over　the　woman　again；　raindrops　spilling　from　her　nose　onto　the　upturned　face　below。　the　midwife’s　breath　blew　out　in　a　cloud　of　white；　but　there　was　no　answering　billow　of　air　from　her　patient。

the　midwife　sighed　and　slowly　straightened　up；　that　single　movement　telling　the　watchers　　everything　they　needed　to　know。　the　woman　who　had　staggered　into　their　forest　camp　was　dead；　only　holding　on　to　life　long　enough　to　pass　it　on　to　the　baby　at　her　side。　but　even　as　the　midwife　picked　up　the　pathetically　small　form　beside　the　dead　woman；　it　shuddered　within　its　wrappings；　and　was　still。

“the　child；　too？”　asked　one　of　the　watchers；　a　man　who　wore　the　mark　of　the　charter　freshdrawn　in　wood　ash　upon　his　brow。　“then　there　shall　be　no　need　for　baptism。”

his　hand　went　up　to　brush　the　mark　from　his　forehead；　then　suddenly　stopped；　as　a　pale　white　hand　gripped　his　and　forced　it　down　in　a　single；　swift　motion。

“peace！”　said　a　calm　voice。　“i　wish　you　no　harm。”

the　white　hand　released　its　grip　and　the　speaker　stepped　into　the　ring　of　firelight。　the　others　watched　him　without　wele；　and　the　hands　that　had　half　sketched　charter　marks；　or　gone　to　bowstrings　and　hilts；　did　not　relax。

the　man　strode　towards　the　bodies　and　looked　upon　them。　then　he　turned　to　face　the　watchers；　pushing　his　hood　back　to　reveal　the　face　of　someone　who　had　taken　paths　far　from　sunlight；　for　　his　skin　was　a　deathly　white。

“i　am　called　abhorsen；”　he　said；　and　his　words　sent　ripples　through　the　people　about　him；　as　if　he　had　cast　a　large　and　weighty　stone　into　a　pool　of　stagnant　water。　“and　there　will　be　a　baptism　tonight。”

the　charter　mage　looked　down　on　the　bundle　in　the　midwife’s　hands；　and　said：　“the　child　is　dead；　abhorsen。　we　are　travelers；　our　life　lived　under　the　sky；　and　it　is　often　harsh。　we　know　death；　lord。”

“not　as　i　do；”　replied　abhorsen；　smiling　so　his　paper…white　face　crinkled　at　the　corners　and　drew　back　from　his　equally　white　teeth。　“and　i　say　the　child　is　not　yet　dead。”

the　man　tried　to　meet　abhorsen’s　gaze；　but　faltered　and　looked　away　at　his　fellows。　none　moved；　or　made　any　sign；　till　a　woman　said；　“so。

it　is　easily　done。　sign　the　child；　arrenil。　we　will　make　a　new　camp　at　leovi’s　ford。　join　us　when　you　are　finished　here。”

the　charter　mage　inclined　his　head　in　assent；　and　the　others　drifted　away　to　pack　up　their　halfmade　camp；　slow　with　the　reluctance　of　having　to　move；　but　filled　with　a　greater　reluctance　to　remain　near　abhorsen；　for　his　name　was　one　of　　secrets；　and　unspoken　fears。

when　the　midwife　went　to　lay　the　child　down　and　leave；　abhorsen　spoke：　“wait。　you　will　be　needed。”

the　midwife　looked　down　on　the　baby；　and　saw　that　it　was　a　girl　child　and；　save　for　its　stillness；　could　be　merely　sleeping。　she　had　heard　of　abhorsen；　and　if　the　girl　could　live　。　。　。　warily　she　picked　up　the　child　again　and　held　her　out　to　the　charter　mage。

“if　the　charter　does　not—”　began　the　man；　but　abhorsen　held　up　a　pallid　hand　and　interrupted。

“let　us　see　what　the　charter　wills。”

the　man　looked　at　the　child　again　and　sighed。

then　he　took　a　small　bottle　from　his　pouch　and　held　it　aloft；　crying　out　a　chant　that　was　the　beginning　of　a　charter；　one　that　listed　all　things　that　lived　or　grew；　or　once　lived；　or　would　live　again；　and　the　bonds　that　held　them　all　together。

as　he　spoke；　a　light　came　to　the　bottle；　pulsing　with　the　rhythm　of　the　chant。　then　the　chanter　was　silent。　he　touched　the　bottle　to　the　earth；　then　to　the　sign　of　wood　ash　on　his　forehead；　and　then　upended　it　over　the　child。

a　great　flash　lit　the　surrounding　woods　as　the　　glowing　liquid　splashed　over　the　child’s　head；　and　the　priest　cried：　“by　the　charter　that　binds　all　things；　we　name　thee—”

normally；　the　parents　of　the　child　would　then　speak　the　name。　here；　only　abhorsen　spoke；　and　he　said：　“sabriel。”

as　he　uttered　the　word；　the　wood　ash　disappeared　from　the　priest’s　forehead；　and　slowly　formed　on　the　child’s。　the　charter　had　accepted　the　baptism。

“but　。　。　。　but　she　is　dead！”　exclaimed　the　charter　mage；　gingerly　touching　his　forehead　to　make　sure　the　ash　was　truly　gone。

he　got　no　answer；　for　the　midwife　was　staring　across　the　fire　at　abhorsen；　and　abhorsen　was　staring　at—nothing。　his　eyes　reflected　the　dancing　flames；　but　did　not　see　them。

slowly；　a　chill　mist　began　to　rise　from　his　body；　spreading　towards　the　man　and　midwife；　who　scuttled　to　the　other　side　of　the　fire—wanting　to　get　away；　but　now　too　afraid　to　run。

he　could　hear　the　child　crying；　which　was　good。

if　she　had　gone　beyond　the　first　gateway　he　could　not　bring　her　back　without　more　stringent　　preparations；　and　a　subsequent　dilution　of　her　spirit。

the　current　was　strong；　but　he　knew　this　branch　of　the　river　and　waded　past　pools　and　eddies　that　hoped　to　drag　him　under。　already；　he　could　feel　the　waters　leaching　his　spirit；　but　his　will　was　strong；　so　they　took　only　the　color；　not　the　substance。

he　paused　to　listen；　and　hearing　the　crying　diminish；　hastened　forward。　perhaps　she　was　already　at　the　gateway；　and　about　to　pass。

the　first　gate　was　a　veil　of　mist；　with　a　single　dark　opening；　where　the　river　poured　into　the　silence　beyond。　abhorsen　hurried　towards　it；　and　then　stopped。　the　baby　had　not　yet　passed　through；　but　only　because　something　had　caught　her　and　picked　her　up。　standing　there；　looming　up　out　of　the　black　waters；　was　a　shadow　darker　than　the　gate。

it　was　several　feet　higher　than　abhorsen；　and　there　were　pale　marsh…lights　burning　where　you　would　expect　to　see　eyes；　and　the　fetid　stench　of　carrion　rolled　off　it—a　warm　stench　that　relieved　the　chill　of　the　river。

abhorsen　advanced　on　the　thing　slowly；watching　the　child　it　held　loosely　in　the　crook　of　a　　shadowed　arm。　the　baby　was　asleep；　but　restless；　and　it　squirmed　towards　the　creature；　seeking　a　mother’s　breast；　but　it　only　held　her　away　from　itself；　as　if　the　child　were　hot；　or　caustic。

slowly；　abhorsen　drew　a　small；　silver　handbell　from　the　bandolier　of　bells　across　his　chest；　and　cocked　his　wrist　to　ring　it。　but　the　shadow…thing　held　the　baby　up　and　spoke　in　a　dry；　slithery　voice；　like　a　snake　on　gravel。

“spirit　of　your　spirit；　abhorsen。　you　can’t　spell　me　while　i　hold　her。　and　perhaps　i　shall　take　her　beyond　the　gate；　as　her　mother　has　already　gone。”

abhorsen　frowned；　in　recognition；　and　replaced　the　bell。　“you　have　a　new　shape；　kerrigor。　and　you　are　now　this　side　of　the　first　gate。　who　was　foolish　enough　to　assist　you　so　far？”

kerrigor　smiled　widely；　and　abhorsen　caught　a　glimpse　of　fires　burning　deep　inside　his　mouth。

“one　of　the　usual　calling；”　he　croaked。　“but　unskilled。　he　didn’t　realize　it　would　be　in　the　nature　of　an　exchange。　alas；　his　life　was　not　sufficient　for　me　to　pass　the　last　portal。　but　now；　you　have　e　to　help　me。”

“i；　who　chained　you　beyond　the　seventh　gate？”

“yes；”　whispered　kerrigor。　“the　irony　does　not；　i　think；　escape　you。　but　if　you　want　the　child　。　。　。”

he　made　as　if　to　throw　the　baby　into　the　stream　and；　with　that　jerk；　woke　her。　immediately；　she　began　to　cry　and　her　little　fists　reached　out　to　gather　up　the　shadow…stuff　of　kerrigor　like　the　folds　of　a　robe。　he　cried　out；　tried　to　detach　her；　but　the　tiny　hands　held　tightly　and　he　was　forced　to　overuse　his　strength；　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’s　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。

“some　fool　will　soon　bring　me　back；　and　then　。　。　。”　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　ic