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“yes。 into the old kingdom；” said sabriel； with sudden realization。 “something has happened to father 。 。 。 but i’ll find him 。 。 。 so i swear by the charter i bear。”
she touched the charter mark on her forehead； which glowed briefly； and then faded so that it might never have been。 the magistrix nodded and touched a hand to her own forehead； where a glowing mark suddenly obscured all the patterns of time。 as it faded； rustling noises and faint whimpers began to sound along both sides of the dormitory。
“i’ll shut the door and explain to the girls；” the magistriaid firmly。 “you’d better go and 。 。 。
prepare for tomorrow。”
sabriel nodded and left； trying to fix her mind on the practicalities of the journey； rather than on what could have happened to her father。
she would take a cab as early as possible into bain； the nearest town； and then a bus to the ancelstierre perimeter that faced the wall。 with luck； she would be there by early afternoon 。 。 。
behind these plans； her thoughts kept jumping back to abhorsen。 what could have happened to trap him in death？ and what could she really hope to do about it； even if she did get to the old kingdom？
。。
chapter ii
…。网
the perimeter in ancelstierre ran from coast to coast； parallel to the wall and perhaps half a mile from it。 concertina wire lay like worms impaled on rusting steel pickets； forward defenses for an interlocking network of trenches and concrete pillboxes。 many of these strong points were designed to control the ground behind them as well as in front； and almost as much barbed wire stretched behind the trenches； guarding the rear。
in fact； the perimeter was much more successful at keeping people from ancelstierre out of the old kingdom； than it was at preventing things from the old kingdom going the other way。
anything powerful enough to cross the wall usually retained enough magic to assume the shape of a soldier； or to bee invisible and simply go where it willed； regardless of barbed wire； bullets； hand grenades and mortar bombs—which often didn’t work at all； particularly when the wind was blowing from the north； out of the old kingdom。
due to the unreliability of technology； the ancelstierran soldiers of the perimeter garrison wore mail over their khaki battledress； had nasal and neck bars on their helmets and carried extremely old…fashioned sword…bayonets in wellworn scabbards。 shields； or more correctly； “bucklers； small； perimeter garrison only；” were carried on their backs； the factory khaki long since submerged under brightly painted regimental or personal signs。 camouflage was not considered an issue at this particular posting。
sabriel watched a platoon of young soldiers march past the bus； while she waited for the tourists ahead of her to stampede out the front door； and wondered what they thought of their strange duties。 most would have to be conscripts from far to the south； where no magic crept over the wall and widened the cracks in what they thought of as reality。 here； she could feel magic potential brewing； lurking in the atmosphere like charged air before a thunderstorm。
the wall itself looked normal enough； past the wasteland of wire and trenches。 just like any other medieval remnant。 it was stone and old； about forty feet high and crenellated。 nothing remarkable； until the realization set in that it was in a perfect state of preservation。 and for those with the sight； the very stones crawled with charter marks—marks in constant motion； twisting and turning； sliding and rearranging themselves under a skin of stone。
the final confirmation of strangeness lay beyond the wall。 it was clear and cool on the ancelstierre side； and the sun was shining—but sabriel could see snow falling steadily behind the wall； and snow…heavy clouds clustered right up to the wall； where they suddenly stopped； as if some mighty weather…knife had simply sheared through the sky。
sabriel watched the snow fall； and gave thanks for her almanac。 printed by letterpress； the type had left ridges in the thick； linen…rich paper； making the many handwritten annotations waver precariously between the lines。 one spidery remark； written in a hand she knew wasn’t her father’s； gave the weather to be expected under the respective calendars for each country。
ancelstierre had “autumn。 likely to be cool。”
the old kingdom had “winter。 bound to be snowing。 skis or snowshoes。”
the last tourist left； eager to reach the observation platform。 although the army and the government discouraged tourists； and there was no acmodation for them within twenty miles of the wall； one busload a day was allowed to e and view the wall from a tower located well behind the lines of the perimeter。
even this concession was often cancelled； for when the wind blew from the north； the bus would inexplicably break down a few miles short of the tower； and the tourists would have to help push it back towards bain—only to see it start again just as mysteriously as it stopped。
the authorities also made some slight allowance for the few people authorized to travel from ancelstierre to the old kingdom； as sabriel saw after she had successfully negotiated the bus’s steps with her backpack； crosscountry skis； stocks and sword； all threatening to go in different directions。 a large sign next to the bus stop proclaimed： perimeter mand northern army group unauthorized egress from the perimeter zone is strictly forbidden。
anyone attempting to cross the perimeter zone will be shot without warning。
authorized travelers must report to the perimeter mand h。q。
remember— no warning will be made sabriel read the note with interest； and felt a quickening sense of excitement start within her。
her memories of the old kingdom were dim； from the perspective of a child； but she felt a sense of mystery and wonder kindle with the force of the charter magic she felt around her— a sense of something so much more alive than the bitumened parade ground； and the scarlet warning sign。 and much more freedom than wyverley college。
but that feeling of wonder and excitement came laced with a dread that she couldn’t shake； a dread made up of fe