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st gate。 if that happened； sabriel thought； she would have precipitated a murder rather than a rescue。
four steps to life鈥攖hen three。 the thing was closing now鈥攕abriel 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鈥檛 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鈥檚 chest and balancing the weight on her hip； freeing her right arm； but she still couldn鈥檛 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鈥檇 been so hasty to perform deeds of derring…do and rescue。 still； she had managed it。 the man鈥檚 spirit was back where it belonged； back in life。
or so she thought； till she saw the figurehead。
it hadn鈥檛 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。
鈥渁 kiss；鈥潯aid mogget sleepily。 鈥渁ctually； just a breath would do。 but you have to start kissing someone sometime； i suppose。鈥�
sabriel looked at the cat； wondering if this was the latest symptom of catbalm…induced lunacy。
but he seemed sober enough； and serious。
鈥渁 breath？鈥潯he asked。 she didn鈥檛 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。
鈥渓ike this？鈥潯he took a deep breath； leaned forward； exhaled a few inches from his nose and mouth； then stepped back to see what would happen鈥攊f anything。
nothing did。
鈥渃atbalm！鈥潯xclaimed sabriel； looking at mogget。 鈥測ou shouldn鈥檛鈥斺��
a small sound interrupted her。 a small； wheezing sound； that didn鈥檛 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鈥檚。 fine grey eyes； but muzzy and unfocused。 he didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 hull。 he took one step forward； and fell into sabriel鈥檚 arms。
she lowered him hastily to the ground； all too aware that she was embracing a naked young man鈥攊n circumstances considerably different than the various scenarios she鈥檇 imagined with her friends at school； or heard about from the earthier and more privileged day…girls。
鈥渢hank you；鈥潯e said； almost drunkenly； the words terribly slurred。 he seemed to focus on her鈥攐r her surcoat鈥攆or the first time； and added； 鈥渁bhorsen。鈥�
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鈥檚 rabbit。
鈥渋 suppose i鈥檇 better get him a blanket；鈥潯he 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鈥攊f there was any to be found。
鈥渋 can get a blanket if you want to keep staring at him；鈥潯ogget said slyly； twining himself around her ankles in a sensuous pavane。
sabriel realized she really was staring； and looked away。
鈥渘o。 i鈥檒l get it。 and my spare shirt； i suppose。
the breeches might fit him with a bit of work； i guess鈥攚e鈥檇 be much the same height。 keep watch； mogget。 i鈥檒l be back in a minute。鈥�
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鈥檚 forehead。 the mark flared； but mogget didn鈥檛 flinch； till it grew dull again。
鈥渟o；鈥潯uttered 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。
chapter xiv
锝炲皬锛滆t xt锛嬶紜澶╋紴鍫�
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 escape； so tight his muscles couldn鈥檛 even flex under skin； his eyelids couldn鈥檛 blink。 and nothing to see but patches of darker grey； crisscrossing his vision like windblown scum upon a fetid pool。
then； suddenly； fierce red light； pain exploding everywhere； rocketing from toes to brain and back again。 the grey mist clearing； mobility returning。 no more grey patches； but blurry colors； slowly twisting into focus。 a woman； looking down at him； a young woman； armed and armored； her face 。 。 。 battered。 no； not a woman。 the abhorsen； for she wore the blazon and the bells。 but she was too young； not the abhorsen he knew； or any of the family 。 。 。
鈥渢hank you；鈥潯e said； the words ing out like a mouse creeping from a dusty larder。
鈥渁bhorsen。鈥�
then he fainted； his body rushing gladly to wele real sleep； true unconsciousness and sanity…restoring rest。
he awoke under a blanket； and felt a moment鈥檚 panic when the thick grey wool pressed upon his mouth and eyes。 he struggled with it； threw it back with a gasp； and relaxed as he felt fresh air on his face and dim sunlight filtering down from above。 he looked up and saw from the reddish hue that it must be soon after dawn。 the sinkhole puzzled him for a few seconds鈥敗isoriented； he felt dizzy and stupid； till he looked at the tall masts all around； the black sails； and the unfinished ship nearby。
鈥渉olehallow；鈥潯e muttered to himself； frowning。
he remembered it now。 but what was he doing here？ pletely naked u