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鈥渋 hope so；鈥潯eplied sabriel； a momentary flash of remembrance passing through her mind。 the people of nestowe； two…thirds of their number lost to the dead； the survivors huddled in fishdrying sheds on a rocky island。 鈥渋 hope so。鈥�
鈥渉ow long till we reach docky point？鈥潯sked touchstone。 he was remembering too； but his memories were of rogir。 soon he would look on rogir鈥檚 face again； but it would only be a husk； a tool for what rogir had bee 。 。 。
鈥渁bout an hour at the most； i should think；鈥�
replied horyse。 鈥渁round six o鈥檆lock。 we can average almost thirty miles an hour in this contraption鈥攓uite remarkable。 to me； anyway。
i鈥檓 so used to the perimeter； and the old kingdom鈥攖he small part we saw on patrol； anyway。
i鈥檇 have liked to see more of it 。 。 。 gone further north 。 。 。鈥�
鈥測ou will；鈥潯aid sabriel； but her voice lacked conviction； even to her own ears。 touchstone didn鈥檛 say anything； and horyse didn鈥檛 reply； so they drove on in silence after that； soon catching the truck convoy； overtaking each vehicle till they were in front again。 but wherever they drove； the bells preceded them； every village belltower taking up the warning。
as horyse had predicted； they arrived at wyverley village just before six。 the trucks stopped in a line all through the village； from policeman鈥檚 cottage to the wyvern pub； the men debussing almost before the vehicles stopped； quickly forming up into ranks on the road。 the signals truck parked under a telephone pole and two men swarmed up to connect their wires。 the military policeman went to each end of the village； to redirect traffic。 sabriel and touchstone got out of the car and waited。
鈥渋t鈥檚 not much different from the royal guard；鈥潯ouchstone said； watching the men hurry into their parade positions； the sergeants shouting； the officers gathering around horyse； who was speaking on the newly connected phone。 鈥渉urry up and wait。鈥�
鈥渋鈥檇 have liked to see you in the royal guard；鈥�
sabriel said。 鈥渁nd the old kingdom； in 。 。 。 i mean before the stones were broken。鈥�
鈥渋n my day； you mean；鈥潯aid touchstone。 鈥渋 would have liked that too。 it was more like here； then。 here normally； i mean。 peaceful； and sort of slow。 sometimes i thought life was too slow； too predictable。 i鈥檇 prefer that now 。 。 。鈥�
鈥渋 used to think like that at school；鈥潯abriel answered。 鈥渄reaming about the old kingdom。
proper charter magic。 dead to bind。 princes to be鈥斺��
鈥渞escued？鈥�
鈥渕arried；鈥潯eplied sabriel； absently。 she seemed intent on watching horyse。 he looked like he was getting bad news over the telephone。
touchstone didn鈥檛 speak。 everything seemed to sharpen in focus for him； centering on sabriel； her black hair gleaming like a raven鈥檚 wing in the afternoon sun。 i love her； he thought。 but if i say the wrong thing now； i may never 。 。 。
horyse handed the telephone back to a signaler； and turned towards them。 touchstone watched him； suddenly conscious that he probably only had five seconds to be alone with sabriel； to say something； to say anything。
perhaps the last five seconds they would ever have alone together 。 。 。
i am not afraid； he said to himself。
鈥渋 love you；鈥潯e whispered。 鈥渋 hope you don鈥檛 mind。鈥�
sabriel looked back at him； and smiled； almost despite herself。 her sadness at her father鈥檚 death was still there； and her fears for the future鈥攂ut seeing touchstone staring apprehensively at her somehow gave her hope。
鈥渋 don鈥檛 mind；鈥潯he whispered back； leaning towards him。 she frowned； 鈥渋 think 。 。 。 i think i might love you too； charter help me； but now is鈥斺��
鈥渢he telephone line to the perimeter crossing point just went out；鈥潯oryse announced grimly； shouting above the village bell even before he was close enough to talk。 鈥渁 fog started rolling across the wall over an hour ago。 it reached the forward trenches at four forty…six。 after that； none of the advance panies could be reached by phone or runner。 i was just speaking to the duty officer then鈥攖hat young chap who was so interested in your aircraft。 he said the fog was just about to reach his position。 then the line went silent。鈥�
鈥渟o；鈥潯aid sabriel。 鈥渒errigor didn鈥檛 wait till sundown。 he鈥檚 working the weather。鈥�
鈥渇rom the timings given by the perimeter；鈥�
horyse said； 鈥渢his fog鈥攁nd whatever鈥檚 in it鈥敗s moving southwards at around twenty miles an hour。 as the crow flies； it鈥檒l reach us around half past seven。 dark； with the moonrise yet to e。鈥�
鈥渓et鈥檚 go then；鈥潯napped sabriel。 鈥渢he bridlepath to docky point starts from behind the pub。
shall i lead？鈥�
鈥渂est not；鈥潯eplied horyse。 he turned； and shouted some orders； acpanied by considerable waving and pointing。 within a few seconds； men were moving off around the pub； taking the path to docky point。 first； the crossing point scouts； archers and charter mages all。 then； the first platoon of infantry； bayonets fixed； rifles at the ready。 past the pub； they shook out into an arrowhead formation。 horyse； sabriel； touchstone and their driver followed。 behind them came the other two platoons； and the signalers； unreeling field telephone wire from a large and cumbersome drum。
it was quiet among the cork trees； the soldiers moving as silently as they could； municating by hand signals rather than shouts； only their heavy tread and the occasional rattle of armor or equipment disturbing the quiet。
sunshine poured down between the trees； rich and golden； but already losing its warmth； like a butter…colored wine that was all taste and no potency。
towards the top of the hill； only the crossing point scouts went on up。 the lead platoon of infantry followed a lower contour around to the northern side； the other two platoons moved to the south…west and south…east； forming a defensive triangle around the hill。 horyse； sabriel； touchstone and the driver continued on。
the trees fell away about twenty yards from the top of the hill； thick weeds and thistles taking their place。 then； at the highest point； there was the cairn： a solid； hut…sized square of grey…green stones。 the twelve scouts were grouped loosely around it； four of them already levering one of the corner stones out with a long crowbar； obviously carried up for this purpose。
as sabriel and touchstone came up； the stone fell with a thud； revealing more blocks underneath。
at the same time； every charter mage present felt a slight buzzing in their ears； and a wave of dizziness。
鈥渄id you feel that？鈥潯sked horyse； unnecessarily； as it was clear from everyone鈥檚 expressions and the hands that had gone to ears that they all had。
鈥測es；鈥潯eplied sabriel。 to a lesser extent； it was the same sort of feeling the broken stones caused in the reservoir。 鈥渋t will get worse； i鈥檓 afraid； as we get closer to the sarcophagus。鈥�
鈥渉ow far in is it？鈥�
鈥渇our blocks deep； i think；鈥潯aid sabriel。 鈥渙r five。 i 。 。 。 saw it 。 。 。 from an odd perspective。鈥�
horyse nodded； and indicated to the men to keep prying away the stones。 they went to it with a will； but sabriel noticed they kept looking at the position of the sun。 all the scouts were charter mages； of various power鈥攁ll knew what sundown would bring。
in fifteen minutes； they鈥檇 made a hole two blocks wide and two deep in one end； and the sickness was growing worse。 two of the younger scouts； men in their early twenties； had bee violently sick and were recuperating further down the hill。 the others were working more slowly； their energies directed to keeping lunches down and quelling shaking limbs。
surprisingly； given their lack of sleep and generally run…down state； sabriel and touchstone found it relatively easy to resist the waves of nausea emanating from the cairn。 it didn鈥檛 pare with the cold； dark fear of the reservoir； there on the hill； with the sunshine and the fresh breeze； warming and cooling at the same time。
when the third blocks came out； horyse called a brief rest break； and they all retreated down the hill to the tree line； where the cairn鈥檚 sickening aura dissipated。 the signalers had a telephone there； the handset sitting on the upturned drum。 horyse took it； but turned to sabriel before the signaler wound the charging handle。
鈥渁re there any preparations to be made before we remove the last blocks？ magical ones； i mean。鈥�
sabriel thought for a moment； willing her tiredness away； then shook her head。 鈥渋 don鈥檛 think so。 once we have access to the sarcophagus； we may have to spell it open鈥攊鈥檒l need everyone鈥檚 help for that。 then； the final rites on the body鈥攖he usual cremation spell。 there will be resistance then； too。 have your men often cast charter magic in concert？鈥�
鈥渦nfortunately； no；鈥潯eplied horyse； frowning。
鈥渂ecause the army doesn鈥檛 officially admit the existence of charter magic； everyone here is basically self…taught。鈥�
鈥渘ever mind；鈥潯abriel said； trying to sound confident； aware that everyone around her was listening。 鈥渨e鈥檒l manage。鈥�
鈥済ood；鈥潯eplied horyse； smiling。 that made him look very confident； thought sabriel。 she tried to smile too； but was uncertain about the result。 it felt too much like a grimace of pain。
鈥渨ell； let鈥檚 see where our uninvited guest has got to；鈥潯oryse continued； still smiling。 鈥渨here does this phone connect to； sergeant？鈥�
鈥渂ain police；鈥潯eplied the signals sergeant； winding the charging handle vigorously。 鈥渁nd army hq north； sir。 you鈥檒l have to ask corporal synge to switch you。 he鈥檚 on the board at the village。鈥�
鈥済ood；鈥潯eplied horyse。 鈥渉ello。 oh； synge？ put me through to bain。 no； tell north you can鈥檛 get through to me。 yes； that鈥檚 right； corporal。
thank you 。 。 。 ah 。 。 。 bainshire constabulary？ it鈥檚 colonel horyse。 i want to speak to chief superintendent dingley 。 。 。 yes。 hello； superintendent。 have you had any reports of a strange； dense fog 。 。 。 what！ already！ no； on no account investigate。 get everyone in。 shutter the windows 。 。 。 yes； the usual drill。 yes； whatever is in 。 。 。 yes； extraordinarily dangerous 。 。 。
hello！ hello！鈥�
he put the handset down slowly； and pointed back up the hill。
鈥渢he fog is already moving through the northern part of bain。 it must be going much faster。 is it possible that this kerrigor could know what we鈥檙e up to？鈥�
鈥測es；鈥潯eplied sabriel and touchstone； together。
鈥渨e鈥檇 better get a move on then；鈥潯oryse announced； looking at his watch。 鈥渋鈥檇 say we now have less than forty minutes。鈥�
w w w。 xiao shuotxt。 co m
chapter xxvii
锛堝皬锛忥紡璇达紡锛弔锛忥紡xt锝�//澶�//鍫傦級
the last blocks came away slowly； pulled out by sweating； white…faced men； their hands and legs shivering； breath ragged。 as soon as the way was clear； they staggered back； away from the cairn； seeking patches of sunlight to bat the dreadful chill that seemed to eat at their bones。 one soldier； a dapper man with a white…blond moustache； fell down the hill； and lay retching； till stretcher…bearers ran up to take him away。
sabriel looked at the dark hole in the cairn； and saw the faint； unsettling sheen from the bronze sarcophagus within。 she felt sick too； with the hair on the back of her neck frizzing up； skin crawling。 the air seemed thick with the reek of free magic； a hard； metallic taste in her mouth。
鈥渨e will have to spell it open；鈥潯he announced； with a sinking heart。 鈥渢he sarcophagus is very strongly protected。 i think 。 。 。 the best thing would be if i go in with touchstone taking my hand； horyse his； and so on； to form a line reinforcement of the charter magic。 does everyone know the charter marks for the opening spell？鈥�
the soldiers nodded； or said； 鈥測es； ma鈥檃m。鈥�
one said； 鈥測es； abhorsen。鈥�
sabriel looked at him。 a middle…aged corporal； with the chevrons of long service on his sleeve。 he seemed one of the least affected by the free magic。
鈥測ou can call me sabriel； if you want；鈥潯he said； strangely unsettled by what he had called her。
the corporal shook his head。 鈥渘o； miss。 i knew your dad。 you鈥檙e just like him。 the abhorsen； now。 you鈥檒l make this dead bugger鈥敗egging your pardon鈥攚ish he鈥檇 stayed properly bloody dead。鈥�
鈥渢hank you；鈥潯abriel replied； uncertainly。
she knew the corporal didn鈥檛 have the sight鈥敗ou could always tell鈥攂ut his belief in her was so concrete 。 。 。
鈥渉e鈥檚 right；鈥潯aid touchstone。 he gestured for her to go in front of him； making a courtly bow。
鈥渓et鈥檚 finish what we came to do； abhorsen。鈥�
sabriel bowed back； in a motion that had almost the feel of ritual about it。 the abhorsen bowing to the king。 then she took a deep breath； her face settling into a determined mold。
beginning to form the charter marks of opening in her mind； she took touchstone鈥檚 hand and advanced towards the open cairn； its dark； shadowy interior in stark contrast with the sunlit thistles and the tumbled stones。 behind her； touchstone half…turned to take horyse鈥檚 calloused hand as well； the colonel鈥檚 other hand already gripping lieutenant aire鈥檚； aire gripping a sergeant鈥檚； the sergeant the long…service corporal鈥檚； and so on down the hillside。 fourteen ch