精灵血脉四部曲-第10部分

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uch；　the　other　holding　a　shield　out　before　him。

Several　soldiers　came　in　behind；　one　of　them　muttering；　〃Damn　good　spell；　priest。〃

Cobble　moved　to　inspect　the　shattered　body；　then　nodded　his　agreement。　Drizzt　slipped　out　from　behind　the　mound。

The　surprised　cleric's　hand　came　whipping　out；　launching　a　score　of　small　objects—pebbles？—at　the　draw。　Guenhwyvar　growled；　Drizzt　dove；　and　the　pebbles　hit　the　rock　where　he　had　been　standing；　initiating　another　burst　of　small　explosions。

〃Drizzt！〃　Cobble　cried；　realizing　his　mistake。　〃Drizzt！〃　He　rushed　to　the　drow；　who　was　looking　back　to　the　many　scorch　marks　on　the　floor。

〃Are　you　all　right；　dear　Drizzt？〃　Cobble　cried。

〃Damn　good　spell；　priest；〃　Drizzt　replied　in　his　best　imitation…dwarf　voice；　his　。smile　wide　and　admiring。

Cobble　clapped　him　hard　on　the　back；　nearly　knocking　him　over。　〃I　like　that　one；　too；〃　he　said；　showing　Drizzt　that　he　had　a　pouch　full　of　the　bomblike　pebbles。　〃Ye　want　to　carry　some？〃

〃I　do；〃　replied　Regis；　ing　around　a　stalagmite；　closer　to　the　tunnel　entrance　than　Drizzt　had　been。

Drizzt　blinked　his　lavender　orbs　in　amazement　at　the　halfling's　prowess。



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Another　force　of　goblins；　more　than　a　hundred　strong；　had　been　positioned　in　corridors　to　the　right　of　the　main　chamber；　to　e　in　at　the　flank　after　the　fighting　had　begun。　With　the　trap's　failure　and　Bruenor's　ensuing　charge　（led　by　the　horrible；　silver…streaking　arrows）；　the　ettin　force's　miserable　failure　and　Dagna's　dwarven　troops'　subsequent　arrival；　even　the　stupid　goblins　had　been　wise　enough　to　turn　the　other　way　and　run。

〃Dwarfses；〃　one　of　the　front…running　goblins　cried　out；　and　the　others　soon　echoed　him　in　calls　that　shifted　from　terror　to　hunger　when　the　creatures　came　to　believe　they　had　stumbled　on　a　small　band　of　the　bearded　folk；　perhaps　a　scouting　party。

Whatever　the　case；　these　dwarves　apparently　had　no　intentions　of　stopping　to　fight；　and　the　chase　was　on。

A　few　twists　and　turns　put　the　fleeing　dwarves　and　the　goblins　near　a　wide；　smoothly　worked；　torchlit　tunnel；　one　that　had　been　cut　by　the　dwarves　of　Mithril　Hall　several　hundred　years　before。

For　the　first　time　since　that　long…ago　day；　the　dwarves　were　there　again；　waiting。

Powerful　dwarven　hands　eased　great　disks　onto　a　wooden　beam；　one　after　another　until　the　whole　resembled　a　solid；　cylindrical　wheel　as　tall　as　a　dwarf　and　nearly　as　wide　as　the　worked　corridor；　weighing　well　over　a　ton。　pleting　the　structure's　main　frame　were　a　few　well…placed　pegs；　a　wrapping　of　sheet　metal　（with　sharp；　nasty　ridges　hammered　into　it）；　and　two　notched　handles　that　ran　from　the　wheel's　side　to　behind　the　contraption；　where　dwarves　could　man　them　and　push　the　thing　along。

A　cloth　with　the　full…sized　likenesses　of　charging　dwarves　painted　on　it　was　hung　out　in　front　as　a　finishing　touch　that　would　keep　the　goblins　in　line　until　it　was　too　late　to　retreat。

〃Here　they　e；〃　one　of　the　forward　scouts　reported；　returning　to　the　main　battle　group。　〃They'll　turn　the　corner　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Are　the　baiters　ready？〃　asked　the　dwarf　in　charge　of　the　toy　brigade。

The　other　dwarf　nodded；　and　the　haulers　took　up　the　poles；　setting　their　hands　firmly　behind　the　appropriate　notches。　Four　soldiers　got　out　in　front　of　the　contraption；　ready　for　their　wild　run；　while　the　rest　of　the　hundred…dwarf　contingent　fell　into　lines　behind　the　haulers。

〃The　cubbies　are　a　hunnerd　feet　down；〃　the　boss　dwarf　reminded　the　lead　soldiers。　〃Don't　ye　miss　the　mark！　Once　we　get　this　thing　a…rolling；　we're　not　likely　to　be　stopping　it！〃

Feigned　cries　of　fear　came　from　the　fleeing　dwarves　at　the　other　end　of　the　long　corridor；　followed　by　the　whooping　of　the　pursuing　goblins。

The　boss　dwarf　shook　his　bearded　face；　it　was　so　easy　to　bait　goblins。　Just　let　them　believe　they　had　the　upper　hand；　and　on　they'd　e。

The　lead　soldiers　began　a　slow　trot；　the　haulers　behind　them　took　up　the　easy　pace；　and　the　army　plodded　along　behind　the　thunder　of　the　slow…rolling　wheel。

Another　series　of　shouts　sounded；　and　mixed　in　was　the　unmistakable　cry　of　〃Now！〃

The　lead　soldiers　roared　and　broke　into　a　run。　The　massive　toy　came　right　behind；　pumping　dwarven　legs　setting　the　devilish　wheel　into　a　great　roll。　Above　the　thunder；　the　dwarves　began　their　growling　song：



Tunnel's　too　tight；

Tunnel's　too　low；

Better　run　goblin；

'Cause　here　we　go！

Their　charge　sounded　like　an　avalanche；　rumbling　undertones　to　the　goblins'　cries。　The　baiters　waved　to　their　approaching　kin；　then　stopped　beside　the　cubbies　and　turned　to　hurl　insults　at　their　goblin　pursuers。

The　boss　dwarf　smiled　grimly　at　the　knowledge　that　he；　that　the　toy；　would　pass　the　small　alcoves；　the　only　safe　places　in　front　of　the　contraption；　a　split　second　before　the　goblin　hosts　arrived　there。

Just　as　the　dwarves　had　planned。

With　no　way　to　turn　back；　thinking　that　they　had　encountered　a　simple　dwarven　expedition；　the　long　lines　of　goblins　hooted　their　battle　cries　and　continued　their　charge。

The　leading　dwarven　soldiers　joined　the　baiters；　together　they　dove　aside　into　the　alcoves；　and　the　toy　rumbled　by；　its　disguising　canopy　making　the　front　goblins　slow　their　pace　and　wonder。

Howls　of　terror　replaced　battle　cries　and　echoed　down　the　goblin　line。　The　closest　goblin　bravely　hacked　at　the　bouncing　dwarven　image；　taking　the　painted　canopy　down　and　revealing　the　disaster　an　instant　before　the　creature　was　squashed。

The　fearsome　dwarves　called　their　war　toy；　〃the　juicer；〃　and　the　puddle　of　goblin　fluid　that　came　out　the　back　side　of　the　crushing　wheel　showed　it　was　a　fitting　title。

〃Sing；　my　dwarves！〃　manded　the　boss；　and　they　took　their　chant　to　great　crescendos；　their　rumbling　voices　echoing　above　the　goblin　howls。



Every　bump's　a　goblins　head；

Pools　of　blood　from　the　goblin　dead。

Run；　good　dwarves；　push　that　toy；

Squish　the　little　goblin　boys！



The　brutal　contraption　bounced　and　bumped；　the　haulers　stumbled　on　goblin　piles。　But　if　any　dwarf　fell　away；　a　dozen　more　were　ready　to　take　up　his　part　of　the　pole；　powerful　legs　pumping　feverishly。

The　army　behind　the　contraption　began　to　stretch　out；　dwarves　stopping　to　finish　off　those　broken　goblins　that　still　squirmed。　The　main　host　stayed　close　to　the　bouncing　contraption；　though；　for　as　it　came　farther　along　the　tunnel；　it　began　to　pass　side　tunnels。　Predetermined　brigades　of　dwarven　soldiers　turned　down　these；　right　behind　the　passing　toy；　slaughtering　any　goblins　still　in　the　area。

〃Tight　turn！〃　the　boss　dwarf　yelled；　and　sparks　flew　from　the　side　of　the　steel…covered　outer　stone　wheels　as　they　screeched　along。　The　dwarves　had　counted　on　this　region　to　stop　the　rolling　monstrosity。

It　didn't；　and　around　the　bend　loomed　the　end　of　the　corridor；　a　dozen　goblins　scratching　at　the　unyielding　stone；　trying　to　find　escape。

〃Let　it　go！〃　cried　the　boss；　and　the　wild…rushing　dwarves　did；　falling　all　over　each　other　as　they　continued　to　bounce　along。

With　a　tremendous　explosion　that　shook　the　bedrock；　the　juicer　collided　with　the　wall。　It　wasn't　hard　for　the　cheering　dwarves　to　figure　out　what　had　happened　to　the　unfortunate　creatures　caught　in　between。

〃Oh；　good　work！〃　the　boss　dwarf　said　to　his　charges　as　he　looked　back　around　the　bend　to　the　long　line　of　crushed　goblins。　The　dwarven　soldiers　were　still　battling；　but　now　they　badly　outnumbered　their　enemies；　for　more　than　half　the　goblin　force　had　been　squashed。

〃Good　work！〃　the　boss　reiterated　heartily；　and　by　a　goblin…hating　dwarf's　estimation；　it　certainly　was。



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Back　in　the　main　chamber；　Bruenor　and　Dagna　exchanged　victorious　and　wet　hugs；　〃sharing　the　blood　of　their　enemies；〃　as　the　brutal　dwarves　called　it。　A　few　dwarves　had　been　killed　and　many　others　lay　wounded；　but　neither　of　the　leaders　had　dared　to　hope　that　the　rout　would　be　so　plete。

〃What　do　ye　think　o'　that；　me　girl？〃　Bruenor　asked　Catti…brie　when　she　came　over　to　join　him；　her　long　bow　fortably　over　one　shoulder。

〃We　did　as　we　had　to　do；〃　the　woman　replied。　〃And　the　goblins　were；　as　expected；　a　treacherous　bunch。　But　I'll　not　back　down　on　me　words。　We　did　right　in　trying　to　talk　first。〃

Dagna　spat　on　the　floor；　but　Bruenor；　the　wiser　of　the　two；　nodded　his　agreement　with　his　daughter。

〃Tempus！〃　they　heard　Wulfgar　cry　in　victory；　and　the　barbarian；　spotting　the　group；　began　bounding　over　to　them；　his　mighty　warhammer　held　high　above　his　head。

〃I'm　still　for　thinking　that　ye're　all　taking　a　bit　too　much　pleasure　in　it　all；〃　Catti…brie　remarked　to　Bruenor。　Apparently　not　wanting　to　talk　with　Wulfgar；　she　moved　away；　back　to　help　the　wounded。

〃Bah！〃　Bruenor　snorted　behind　her。　〃Suren　ye　set　yer　own　bow　to　some　sweet　singing！〃

Catti…brie　brushed　her　auburn　locks　out　of　her　face　and　did　not　look　back。　She　didn't　want　Bruenor　to　see　her　smile。

The　juicer　brigade　entered　the　main　chamber　a　half　hour　later；　reporting　the　right　flank　clear　of　goblins。　Only　a　few　minutes　after　them；　Drizzt；　Regis；　and　Guenhwyvar　came　in；　the　drow　telling　Bruenor　that　Cobble's　forces　were　finishing　up　in　the　corridors　to　the　left　and　the　rear。

〃Did　ye　get　a　few　for　yerself？〃　the　dwarf　asked。　〃After　the　ettins；　I　mean？〃

Drizzt　nodded。　〃I　did；〃　he　replied；　〃as　did　Guenhwyvar　。。。　and　Regis。〃　Both　Drizzt　and　the　dwarf　turned　curious　eyes　on　the　halfling；　who　stood　easily；　his　bloodied　mace　in　hand。　Noticing　the　looks；　Regis　slipped　the　weapon　behind　his　back　as　though　he　were　embarrassed。

〃I　did　not　even　expect　ye　to　e；　Rumblebelly；〃　Bruenor　said　to　him。　〃I　thought　ye'd　be　staying　up；　helping　yerself　to　more　food；　while　the　rest　of　us　did　all　the　fighting。〃

Regis　shrugged。　〃I　figured　that　the　safest　place　in　all　the　world　would　be　beside　Drizzt；〃　he　explained。

Bruenor　wasn't　about　to　argue　with　that　logic。　〃We　can　set　to　digging　in　a　few　weeks；〃　he　explained　to　his　ranger　friend。　〃After　some　expeditionary　miners　e　through　and　name　the　place　safe。〃

By　this　point；　Drizzt　was　hardly　listening　to　him。　He　was　more　interested　in　the　fact　that　Catti…brie　and　Wulfgar；　moving　about　the　ranks　of　wounded；　obviously　were　avoiding　each　other。

〃It's　the　boy；〃　Bruenor　told　him；　noticing　his　interest。

〃He　did　not　think