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unding ranna would have slowed the message； but was she close enough to life 。 。 。
she increased her speed a little； but not too much； pretending she hadn’t noticed the hunter。
whatever it was； it seemed quite reluctant to close in on her。
sabriel quickened her pace a little more； adrenaline and suspense feeding her strength。 if it rushed her； she would have to drop the spirit— and he would be carried away； lost forever。
whatever magic had preserved his living spirit here on the boundary couldn’t possibly prevail if he went past the first gate。 if that happened； sabriel thought； she would have precipitated a murder rather than a rescue。
four steps to life—then three。 the thing was closing now—sabriel could see it； low in the water； still creeping； but faster now。 it was obviously a denizen of the third； or even some later gate； for she couldn’t identify what it once had been。 now it looked like a cross between a hog and a segmented worm； and it moved in a series of scuttles and sinuous wriggles。
two steps。 sabriel shifted her grip again； wrapping her left arm pletely around the spirit’s chest and balancing the weight on her hip； freeing her right arm； but she still couldn’t draw her sword； or clear the bells。
the hog…thing began to grunt and hiss； breaking into a diving； rushing gallop； its long； yellowcrusted tusks surfing through the water； its long body undulating along behind。
sabriel stepped back； turned； and threw herself and her precious cargo headfirst into life； using all her will to force them through the wards on the sinkhole。 for an instant； it seemed that they would be repulsed； then； like a pin pushing through a rubber band； they were through。
shrill squealing followed her； but nothing else。
sabriel found herself facedown on the ground； hands empty； ice crystals crunching as they fell from her frosted body。 turning her head； she met the gaze of mogget。 he stared at her； then closed his eyes and went back to sleep。
sabriel rolled over； and got to her feet； very； very slowly。 she felt all her pains e back and wondered why she’d been so hasty to perform deeds of derring…do and rescue。 still； she had managed it。 the man’s spirit was back where it belonged； back in life。
or so she thought； till she saw the figurehead。
it hadn’t changed at all to outward sight； though sabriel could now feel the living spirit in it。
puzzled； she touched his immobile face； fingers tracing the grain of the wood。
“a kiss；” said mogget sleepily。 “actually； just a breath would do。 but you have to start kissing someone sometime； i suppose。”
sabriel looked at the cat； wondering if this was the latest symptom of catbalm…induced lunacy。
but he seemed sober enough； and serious。
“a breath？” she asked。 she didn’t want to kiss just any wooden man。 he looked nice enough； but he might not be like his looks。 a kiss seemed very forward。 he might remember it； and make assumptions。
“like this？” she took a deep breath； leaned forward； exhaled a few inches from his nose and mouth； then stepped back to see what would happen—if anything。
nothing did。
“catbalm！” exclaimed sabriel； looking at mogget。 “you shouldn’t—”
a small sound interrupted her。 a small； wheezing sound； that didn’t e from her or mogget。
the figurehead was breathing； air whistling between carved wooden lips like the issue from an aged； underworked bellows。
the breathing grew stronger； and with it； color began to flow through the carving； dull wood giving way to the luster of flesh。 he coughed； and the carven chest became flexible； suddenly rising and falling as he began to pant like a recovering sprinter。
his eyes opened and met sabriel’s。 fine grey eyes； but muzzy and unfocused。 he didn’t seem to see her。 his fingers clenched and unclenched； and his feet shuffled； as if he were running in place。 finally； his back peeled away from the ship’s hull。 he took one step forward； and fell into sabriel’s arms。
she lowered him hastily to the ground； all too aware that she was embracing a naked young man—in circumstances considerably different than the various scenarios she’d imagined with her friends at school； or heard about from the earthier and more privileged day…girls。
“thank you；” he said； almost drunkenly； the words terribly slurred。 he seemed to focus on her—or her surcoat—for the first time； and added； “abhorsen。”
then he went to sleep； mouth curling up at the corners； frown dissolving。 he looked younger than he did as a fixed…expression figurehead。
sabriel looked down at him； trying to ignore curiously fond feelings that had appeared from somewhere。 feelings similar to those that had made her bring back jacinth’s rabbit。
“i suppose i’d better get him a blanket；” she said reluctantly； as she wondered what on earth had possessed her to add this plication to her already confusing and difficult circumstances。
she supposed she would have to get him to safety and civilization； at the very least—if there was any to be found。
“i can get a blanket if you want to keep staring at him；” mogget said slyly； twining himself around her ankles in a sensuous pavane。
sabriel realized she really was staring； and looked away。
“no。 i’ll get it。 and my spare shirt； i suppose。
the breeches might fit him with a bit of work； i guess—we’d be much the same height。 keep watch； mogget。 i’ll be back in a minute。”
mogget watched her hobble off； then turned back to the sleeping man。 silently； the cat padded over and touched his pink tongue to the charter mark on the man’s forehead。 the mark flared； but mogget didn’t flinch； till it grew dull again。
“so；” muttered mogget； tasting his own tongue by curling it back on itself。 he seemed somewhat surprised； and more than a little angry。 he tasted the mark again； and then shook his head in distaste； the miniature saraneth on his collar ringing a little peal that was not of celebration。
xs
chapter xiv
生小 说＋网
grey mist coiling upwards； twining around him like a clinging vine； gripping arms and legs； immobilizing； strangling； merciless。 so firmly grown about his body there was no possibility of