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at the same time； sabriel became aware of a new sound ahead； a sound she had initially thought was the throb of blood in her ears； the pounding of a racing heart。 but it was outside； beyond the upper door。 a deep； roaring noise； so low it was almost a vibration； a shudder that she felt through the floor； rather than heard。
heavy trucks passing on a road above； sabriel thought； before remembering where she was。 in that same instant； she recognized the sound。
somewhere ahead； out of these encircling cliffs； a great waterfall was crashing down。 and a waterfall that made so great a sound must be fed by an equally great river。
running water！ the prospect of it fueled sabriel with sudden hope； and with that hope came the strength she thought beyond her。 in a wild spurt of speed； she almost hit the door； hands slapping against the wood； slowing for the instant she needed to find the handle or ring。
but another hand was already on the ring when she touched it； though none had been there a second before。 again； charter marks defined this hand； and sabriel could see the grain of the wood and the blueing of the steel through the palm of another sending。
this one was smaller； of indeterminate sex； for it was wearing a habit like a monk鈥檚； with the hood drawn across its head。 the habit was black and bore the emblem of the silver key front and back。
it bowed； and turned the ring。 the door swung open； to reveal bright starlight shining down between clouds fleeing the newly risen wind。 the noise of the waterfall roared through the open doorway； acpanied by flecks of flying spray。
without thinking； sabriel stepped out。
the cowled doorkeeper came with her and shut the door behind it； before dragging a delicate； silver portcullis down across the door and locking it with an iron padlock。 both defenses apparently came out of thin air。 sabriel looked at them and felt power in them； for both were also charter sendings。 but door； portcullis and lock would only slow the mordicant； not stop it。 the only possible escape lay across the swiftest of running water； or the untimely glare of a noonday sun。
the first lay at her feet and the second was still many hours away。 sabriel stood on a narrow ledge that projected out from the bank of a river at least four hundred yards wide。 a little to her right； a scant few paces away； this mighty river hurled itself over the cliff； to make a truly glorious waterfall。 sabriel leaned forward a little； to look at the waters crashing below； creating huge white wings of spray that could easily swallow her entire school； new wing and all； like a rubber duck swamped in an unruly bath。
it was a very long fall； and the height； coupled with the sheer power of the water； made her quickly look back to the river。 straight ahead； halfway across； sabriel could just make out an island； an island perched on the very lip of the waterfall； dividing the river into two streams。 it wasn鈥檛 a very big island； about the size of a football field； but it rose like a ship of jagged rock from the turbulent waters。
encircling the island were limestone…white walls the height of six men。 behind those walls was a house。 it was too dark to see clearly； but there was a tower； a thrusting； pencil silhouette； with red tiles that were just beginning to catch the dawning sun。 below the tower； a dark bulk hinted at the existence of a hall； a kitchen； bedrooms； armory； buttery and cellar。 the study； sabriel suddenly remembered； occupied the second to top floor of the tower。 the top floor was an observatory； both of stars and the surrounding territory。
it was abhorsen鈥檚 house。 home； although sabriel had only visited it twice； or maybe three times； all when she was too young to remember much。 that period of her life was hazy； and mostly filled with recollections of the travelers； the interiors of their wagons； and many different campsites that all blurred together。 she didn鈥檛 even remember the waterfall； though the sound of it did stir some recognition鈥攕omething had lodged in the mind of a four…year…old girl。
unfortunately； she didn鈥檛 remember how to get to the house。 only the words her mother…sending had given her鈥攁bhorsen鈥檚 bridge。
she hadn鈥檛 realized she鈥檇 spoken these words aloud； till the little gate warden tugged at her sleeve and pointed down。 sabriel looked and saw steps carved into the bank； steps leading right down to the river。
this time； sabriel didn鈥檛 hesitate。 she nodded to the charter sending and whispered； 鈥渢hank you；鈥潯efore taking the steps。 the mordicant鈥檚 presence was pressing at her again； like a stranger鈥檚 rank breath behind her ear。 she knew it had reached the upper gate； though the sound of its battering and destruction was drowned in the greater roar of the waters。
the steps led to the river； but did not end there。 though invisible from the ledge； there were stepping…stones leading out to the island。
sabriel eyed them nervously； and looked at the water。 it was clearly very deep and rushing past at an alarming speed。 the stepping…stones were barely above its boisterous wavelets and； even though they were wide and cross…hatched for grip； they were also wet with spray and the slushy remnants of snow and ice。
sabriel watched a small piece of ice from upstream hurtle by； and pictured its slingshot ride over the falls； to be smashed apart so far below。
she imagined herself in its place； and then thought of the mordicant behind her； of the dead spirit that was at its heart； of the death it would bring； and the imprisonment she would suffer beyond death。
she jumped。 her boots skidded a little and her arms flailed for balance； but she ended up steady； bent over in a half…crouch。 hardly waiting to rebalance； she jumped to the next stone and then the one after that； and again； in a mad leapfrog through the spray and thunder of the river。
when she was halfway out； with a hundred yards of pure； ferocious water behind her； she stopped and looked back。
the mordicant was on the ledge； the silvery portcullis broken and mangled in its grip。 there was no sign of the gate warden； but that was not surprising。 defeated； it would merely fade until the charter…spell renewed itself鈥攈ours； days or even years later。
the dead thing was curiously still； but it was clearly watching sabriel。 even so powerful a creature couldn鈥檛 cross this river and it made no attempt to do so。 in fact； the longer sabriel stared at it； the more it seemed to her that the mordicant was content to wait。 it was a sentry； guarding what might be the only exit from the island。 or perhaps it was waiting for something to happen； or for someone to arrive 。 。 。
sabriel suppressed a shudder and jumped on。
there was more light now； heralding the advent of the sun； and she could see a sort of wooden landing stage leading up to a gate in the white wall。 treetops were also visible behind the walls； winter trees； their branches bare of green raiment。
birds flew between trees and tower； little birds launching themselves for their morning forage。 it was a vision of normalcy； of a haven。 but sabriel could not forget the tall； flame…etched silhouette of the mordicant； brooding on the ledge。
wearily； she made the jump to the last stone and collapsed on the steps of the landing stage。 even her eyelids could barely move； and her field of vision had narrowed to a little slit directly to her front。 the grain of the planks of the landing stage loomed close； as she crawled up to the gate and halfheartedly fell against it。
the gate swung open； pitching her onto a paved courtyard； the beginning of a red…brick path； the bricks ancient； their redness the color of dusty apples。 the path wound up to the front door of the house； a cheerful sky…blue door； bright against whitewashed stone。 a bronze doorknocker in the shape of a lion鈥檚 head holding a ring in its mouth gleamed in counterpoint to the white cat that lay coiled on the rush mat before the door。
sabriel lay on the bricks and smiled up at the cat； blinking back tears。 the cat twitched and turned its head ever so slightly to look at her； revealing bright； green eyes。
鈥渉ello； puss；鈥潯roaked sabriel； coughing as she staggered once mor