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鈥渋t only goes back about forty paces into the hill；鈥潯ouchstone explained； as they lit their candles by the entrance； sulphur matches adding their own noisome stench to the dank air of the cave。 鈥渢hey were built for picnics in high summer。
there is a door at the back of this one。 it may be locked； but should yield to a charterspell。
the steps are directly behind； and pretty straight； but there are no light shafts。 and it鈥檚 narrow。鈥�
鈥渋鈥檒l go first then；鈥潯aid sabriel； with a firmness that belied the weakness in her legs and the fluttering in her stomach。 鈥渋 can鈥檛 sense any dead； but they could be there 。 。 。鈥�
鈥渧ery well；鈥潯aid touchstone； after a moment鈥檚 hesitation。
鈥測ou don鈥檛 have to e； you know；鈥潯abriel suddenly burst out； as they stood in front of the cave； candles flickering foolishly in the sunshine。
she suddenly felt awfully responsible for him。 he looked scared； much whiter than he should； almost as pale as a death…leeched necromancer。
he鈥檇 seen terrible things in the reservoir； things that had once driven him mad； and despite his self…accusation； sabriel didn鈥檛 believe it was his fault。 it wasn鈥檛 his father down there。 he wasn鈥檛 an abhorsen。
鈥渋 do have to；鈥潯ouchstone replied。 he bit his lower lip nervously。 鈥渋 have to。 i鈥檒l never be free of my memories； otherwise。 i have to do something； make new memories； better ones。 i need to 。 。 。 seek redemption。 besides； i am still a member of the royal guard。 it is my duty。鈥�
鈥渟o be it；鈥潯aid sabriel。 鈥渁nyway； i鈥檓 glad you鈥檙e here。鈥�
鈥渋 am too鈥攊n a strange sort of way；鈥潯aid touchstone； and he almost； but not quite； smiled。
鈥渋鈥檓 not；鈥潯nterrupted mogget； decidedly。
鈥渓et鈥檚 get on with it。 we鈥檙e wasting sunlight。鈥�
the door was locked； but opened easily to sabriel鈥檚 spell； the simple charter symbols of unlocking and opening flowing from her mind through to her index finger； which lay against the keyhole。 but though the spell was successful； it had been difficult to cast。 even up here； the broken stones of the great charter exerted an influence that disrupted charter magic。
the faint candlelight showed damp； crumbly steps； leading straight down。 no curves or turns； just a straight stair leading into darkness。
sabriel trod gingerly； feeling the soft stone crumble under her heavy boots； so she had to keep her heels well back on each step。 this made for slow progress； with touchstone close behind her； the light from his candle casting sabriel鈥檚 shadow down the steps in front； so she saw herself elongated and distorted； sliding into the dark beyond the light。
she smelled the reservoir before she saw it； somewhere around the thirty…ninth step。 a chill； damp smell that cut into her nose and lungs； and filled her with the impression of a cold expanse。
then the steps ended in a doorway on the edge of a vast； rectangular hall鈥攁 giant chamber where stone columns rose up like a forest to support a roof sixty feet above her head； and the floor before her wasn鈥檛 stone； but water as cold and still as stone。 around the walls； pallid shafts of sunlight thrust down in counterpoint to the supporting columns； leaving discs of light on the water。 these made the rim of the reservoir a plex study of light and shade； but the center remained unknown； cloaked in heavy darkness。
sabriel felt touchstone touch her shoulder； then she heard his whisper。
鈥渋t鈥檚 about waist…deep。 try and slip in as quietly as possible。 here鈥攊鈥檒l take your candle。鈥�
sabriel nodded； passed the candle back； sheathed her sword； and sat down on the last step； before slowly easing herself into the water。
it was cold； but not unbearable。 despite sabriel鈥檚 care； ripples spread out from her； silver on the dark water； and there had been the tiniest splash。 her feet touched the bottom； and she only half stifled a gasp。 not from the cold； but from the sudden awareness of the two broken stones of the great charter。 it hit her like the savage onset of gastric flu； bringing stomach cramps； sudden sweat and dizziness。 bent over； she clutched at the step； till the first pains subsided to a dull ache。 it was much worse than the lesser stones； broken at cloven crest and nestowe。
鈥渨hat is it？鈥潯hispered touchstone。
鈥渁h 。 。 。 the broken stones；鈥潯abriel muttered。
she took a deep breath； willing the pain and disfort away。 鈥渋 can stand it。 be careful when you get in。鈥�
she drew her sword； and took her candle back from touchstone； who prepared to enter the water。 even forewarned； she saw him flinch as his feet touched the bottom； and sweat broke out in lines on his forehead； mirroring the ripples that spread from his entry。
sabriel expected mogget to jump up on her shoulder； given his apparent dislike for touchstone； but he surprised her； leaping to the man。 touchstone was clearly startled too； but recovered well。 mogget draped himself around the back of touchstone鈥檚 neck； and mewed softly。
鈥渒eep to the edges； if you can。 the corruption鈥敗he break鈥攚ill have even more unpleasant effects near the center。鈥�
sabriel raised her sword in assent and led off； following the left wall； trying to break the surface tension of the water as little as possible。 but the quiet slosh…slosh of their wading seemed very loud； echoing and spreading up and out through the cistern； adding to the only other noise鈥攖he regular dripping of water； plopping loudly from the roof； or more sedately sliding down the columns。
she couldn鈥檛 sense any dead； but she wasn鈥檛 sure how much that was due to the broken stones。 they made her head hurt； like a constant； too…loud noise； her stomach cramped； her mouth was full of the acrid taste of bile。
they had just reached the north…western corner； directly under one of the light shafts； when the light suddenly dimmed； and the reservoir grew dark in an instant； save for the tiny； soft glow of the candles。
鈥渁 cloud；鈥潯hispered touchstone。 鈥渋t will pass。鈥�
they held their breath； looking up； up to the tiny outline of light above； and were rewarded when sunlight came pouring back down。
relieved； they began to wade aga