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the book of the dead。”
slowly； it came back； pages floating down into conscious memory； like leaves from a shaken tree。 the bells could be rung in pairs； or even greater binations； if enough necromancers were gathered to wield the bells。 but the risks were much greater 。 。 。
“yes；” said sabriel； slowly。 “i remember。
mosrael and kibeth。 will they free you？”
the answer was slow in ing。
“yes。 for a time。 enough； i hope； to do what must be done。 quickly； now。”
sabriel nodded； trying not to think about what he had just said。 subconsciously； she had always been aware that abhorsen’s spirit had been too long from his body； and too deep in the realm of death。 he could never truly live again。
consciously； she chose to barricade this knowledge from her mind。
she sheathed her sword； replaced ranna； and drew mosrael and kibeth。 dangerous bells； both； and more so in bination than alone。
she stilled her mind； emptying herself of all thought and emotion； concentrating solely on the bells。 then； she rang them。
mosrael she swung in a three…quarter circle above her head； kibeth she swung in a reverse figure eight。 harsh alarm joined with dancing jig； merging into a discordant； grating； but energetic tone。 sabriel found herself walking towards the waterfall； despite all her efforts to keep still。 a force like the grip of a demented giant moved her legs； bent her knees； made her step forward。
at the same time； her father was emerging from the waterfall of the fourth gate。 his head was freed first； and he flexed his neck； then rolled his shoulders； raised his arms over his head and stretched。 but still sabriel stepped on； till she was only two paces from the rim； and could look down into the swirling waters； the sound of the bells filling her ears； forcing her onwards。
then abhorsen was free； and he leapt forward； thrusting his hands into the bell…mouths； gripping the clappers with his pallid hands； making them suddenly quiet。 there was silence； and father and daughter embraced on the very brink of the fourth gate。
“well done；” said abhorsen； his voice deep and familiar； lending fort and warmth like a favorite childhood toy。 “once trapped； it was all i could do to send the bells and sword。 now i am afraid we must hurry； back to life； before kerrigor can plete his plan。 give me saraneth； for now 。 。 。 no； you keep the sword； and ranna； i think。 e on！”
he led the way back； walking swiftly。 sabriel followed at his heels； questions bursting up in her。 she kept looking at him； looking at the familiar features； the way his hair was ragged at the back； the silver stubble just showing on his chin and sideburns。 he wore the same sort of clothes as she did； plete with the surcoat of silver keys。 he wasn’t quite as tall as she remembered。
“father！” she exclaimed； trying to talk； keep up with him and keep watch； all at the same time。 “what is happening？ what is kerrigor’s plan？ i don’t understand。 why wasn’t i brought up here； so i would know things？”
“here？” asked abhorsen； without slowing。
“in death？”
“you know what i mean；” protested sabriel。
“the old kingdom！ why did 。 。 。 i mean； i must be the only abhorsen ever who doesn’t have a clue about how everything works！ why！ why？”
“there’s no simple answer；” replied abhorsen； over his shoulder。 “but i sent you to ancelstierre for two main reasons。 one was to keep you safe。 i had already lost your mother； and the only way to keep you safe in the old kingdom was to keep you either with me or always at our house—practically a prisoner。 i couldn’t keep you with me； because things were getting worse and worse since the death of the regent； two years before you were born。 the second reason was because the clayr advised me to do so。
they said we needed someone—or will need someone—they’re not good with time—who knows ancelstierre。 i didn’t know why then； but i suspect i do now。”
“why？” asked sabriel。
“kerrigor’s body；” replied abhorsen。 “or rogir’s； to give him his original name。 he could never be made truly dead because his body is preserved by free magic； somewhere in life。 it’s like an anchor that always brings him back。 every abhorsen since the breaking of the great stones has been looking for that body—but none of us ever found it； including me； because we never suspected it is in ancelstierre。 obviously； somewhere close to the wall。 the clayr will have located it by now； because kerrigor must have gone to it when he emerged into life。 right； do you want to do the spell； or shall i？”
they had reached the third gate。 he didn’t wait for her answer； but immediately spoke the words。 sabriel felt strange hearing them； rather than speaking them—curiously distant； like a far…off observer。
steps rose before them； cutting through the waterfall and the mist。 abhorsen took them two at a time； showing surprising energy。 sabriel followed as best she could。 she felt tiredness in her bones now； a weariness beyond exhausted muscles。
“ready to run？” asked abhorsen。 he took her elbow as they left the steps and went into the parted mists； a curiously formal gesture that reminded her of when she was a little girl； demanding to be properly escorted when they took a picnic basket out on one of her father’s corporeal school visitations。
they ran before the wave； with hands inside the bells； faster and faster； till sabriel thought her legs would seize up and she’d tumble head over heels； around and around and around； finally clattering to a halt in a tangle of sword and bells。
but she made it somehow； abhorsen chanting the spell that would open the base of the second gate； so they could ascend through the whirlpool。
“as i was saying；” abhorsen continued； taking these steps two at a time as well； speaking as swiftly as he climbed。 “kerrigor could never be properly dealt with till an abhorsen found the body。 all of us pushed him back at various times； as far back as the seventh gate； but that was merely postponing the problem。 he grew stronger all the time； as lesser charter stones were broken； and the kingdom deteriorated— and we grew weaker。”
“who’s we？” asked sabriel。 all this