Sabriel (The Abhorsen Trilogy) 精彩片段：
chapter xxix
Kerrigor seemed to have finished with the Free Magic thing that had once been Mogget. His great cloud of darkness was complete again, with no sign of white fire, no dazzling brilliance fighting away within.
He was remarkably still, and Sabriel had a moment’s brief hope that he was somehow wounded. Then the awful realization came.
Kerrigor was digesting, like a glutton after an overly ambitious meal.
Sabriel shuddered at the thought, bile tainting her mouth. Not that her end was likely to be better. Both she and Touchstone would be taken alive, and kept that way, till they pumped out their life’s blood, throats yawning, down in the dark of the reservoir . . .
She shook her head, dispelling that image.
There had to be something . . . Kerrigor had to be weaker, so far from the Old Kingdom . . .
perhaps weakened more than her Charter Magic. She doubted that a single bell could sway him, but two, in concert? It was dark in the Hall, save for the moonlight falling through the shattered wall behind her. And quiet. Even the wounded were slipping away in silence, their cries muted, last wishes whispered. They kept their agony close, as if a scream might attract the wrong attention. There were things worse than death in the Hall . . .
Even in darkness, the form of Kerrigor was darker still. Sabriel watched him carefully, undoing the straps that held Saraneth and Kibeth with her left hand. She sensed other Dead all around, but none entered the Hall.
There were still men to fight, or feast upon.
What went on in the Hall was their Master’s business.
The straps came undone. Kerrigor didn’t move, his burning eyes closed, his fiery mouth shut.
In one quick motion, Sabriel sheathed her sword, and drew the bells.
Kerrigor did move then. Swiftly, his dark bulk bounding forward, halving the gap between them. He grew taller too, stretching upwards till he almost reached the vaulted ceiling. His eyes opened to full, raging, flaming fury, and he spoke.
“Toys, Abhorsen. And too late. Much too late.”