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sabriel stared； sickened and fascinated by the similarities between the half…brothers—then the vision suddenly blurred； spinning into greyness； greyness acpanied by rushing water。 death。
something huge and monstrous was wading against the current； a jagged cutting of darkness； formless and featureless； save for two eyes that burned with unnatural flame。 it seemed to see her beyond the ice…window； and lurched forward； two arms like blown storm clouds reaching forward。
“abhorsen’s get！” screamed kerrigor。 “your blood will gush upon the stones 。 。 。”
his arms seemed about to e through the window； but suddenly； the ice cracked； the pieces collapsing into a pile of swift…melting slush。
“you saw；” the clayr said together。 it wasn’t a question。 sabriel nodded； shaking； her thoughts still on the likeness between kerrigor’s original human body and touchstone。 where was the fork in their paths？ what had put rogir’s feet on the long road that led to the abomination known as kerrigor？ “we have four minutes；” announced sanar。
“till the slavers e。 we’ll help you get the king to your paperwing； shall we？”
“yes； please；” replied sabriel。 despite the fear… some sight of kerrigor’s raw spirit form； the vision had imbued her with a new and definite sense of purpose。 kerrigor’s body was in ancelstierre。 she would find it and destroy it； and then deal with his spirit。 but they had to get to the body first 。 。 。
the two women lifted touchstone up； grunting with the effort。 he was no lightweight at any time； and now was even heavier； still sodden with water from his ducking in the reservoir。 but the clayr； despite their rather ethereal appearance； seemed to manage well enough。
“we wish you luck； cousin；” they said； as they walked slowly to the red and gold paperwing； balanced so close to the edge of the broken wall； the saere glistening white and blue below。
“cousin？” sabriel murmured。 “i suppose we are cousins—of a sort； aren’t we？”
“blood relatives； all the children of the great charters；” the clayr agreed。 “though the clan dwindles 。 。 。”
“do you always—know what is going to happen？”
sabriel asked； as they gently lowered touchstone into the back of the cockpit； and strapped him in with the belts normally used for securing luggage。
both the clayr laughed。 “no； thank the charter！ our family is the most numerous of the bloodlines； and the gift is spread among many。 our visions e in snatches and splinters； glimpses and shadows。 when we must； the whole family can spend its strength to narrow our sight—as it has done through us today。
tomorrow； we will be back to dreams and confusion； not knowing where； when or what we see。 now； we have only two minutes 。 。 。”
suddenly； they hugged sabriel； surprising her with the obvious warmth of the gesture。 she hugged them back； gladly； grateful for their care。
with her father gone； she had no family left— but perhaps she would find sisters in the clayr； and perhaps touchstone would be 。 。 。
“two minutes；” repeated both the women； one in each ear。 sabriel let them go； and hurriedly took the book of the dead and the two charter magic books from her pack； wedging them down next to touchstone’s slightly snoring form。
after a second’s thought； she also stuffed in the fleece…lined oilskin and the boat cloak。
touchstone’s swords went into the special holders next； but the pack and the rest of its contents had to be abandoned。
“next stop； the wall；” sabriel muttered as she climbed into the craft； trying not to think about what would happen if they had to land somewhere uncivilized in between。
the clayr were already in their green and silver craft； and； as sabriel did up her straps； she heard them begin to whistle； charter magic streaming out into the air。 sabriel licked her lips； summoned her breath and strength； and joined in。 wind rose behind both the craft； tossing black hair and blond； lifting the paperwings’ tails and jostling their wings。
sabriel took a breath after the wind…whistling； and stroked the smooth； laminated paper of the hull。 a brief image of the first paperwing came to mind； broken and burning in the depths of holehallow。
“i hope we fare better together；” she whispered； before joining with the clayr to whistle the last note； the pure clear sound that would wake the charter magic in their craft。
a second later； two bright…eyed paperwings leapt out from the ruined palace of belisaere； glided down almost to the swell in the sea of saere； then rose to circle higher and higher above the hill。 one craft； of green and silver； turned to the north…west。 the other； of red and gold； turned south。
touchstone； waking to the rush of cold air on his face； and the unfamiliar sensation of flying； groggily muttered； “what happened？”
“we’re going to ancelstierre；” sabriel shouted。
“across the wall； to find kerrigor’s body—and destroy it！”
“oh；” said touchstone； who only heard “across the wall。” “good。”
．．
chapter xxv
［。小＾说）网）
“beg pardon； sir；” said the soldier； saluting at the doorway to the officer’s bathroom。 “duty officer’s pliments and can you e straight away？”
colonel horyse sighed； put down his razor； and used the flannel to wipe off the remains of the shaving soap。 he had been interrupted shaving that morning； and had tried several times during the day to finish the job。 perhaps it was a sign he should grow a moustache。
“what’s happening？” he asked； resignedly。
whatever was happening； it was unlikely to be good。
“an aircraft； sir；” replied the private； stolidly。
“from army hq？ dropping a message cylinder？”
“i don’t know； sir。 it’s on the other side of the wall。”
“what！” exclaimed horyse； dropping all his shaving gear； picking up his helmet and sword； and attempting to rush out； all at the same time。
“impossible！”
but； when he eventually sorted himself out and got down to the forward observation post—an octagonal strongpoint that thrust out through the perimeter to within fifty yards of the wall— it quite clearly was possible。 the light was fading as the afternoon waned—it was probably close