精灵血脉四部曲-第174部分

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　　　〃Not　yet；〃　the　creature　replied　to　his　unspoken　fears。　〃I　need　your　thoughts；　good　Captain　Deudermont。　I　need　to　know　enough　about　you　and　your　ship　to　sail　it　out　of　Waterdeep　Harbor；　far　to　the　west　and　far　to　the　south；　to　an　island　that　few　know；　but　many　speak　of。〃

　　　The　thing's　smile　was　tantalizing　and　Deudermont　had　just　focused　fully　on　it　when　the　creature's　head　shot　forward；　its　forehead　slamming　him　in　the　face；　knocking　him　senseless。　Some　time　later梙e　did　not　know　how　many　seconds　might　have　passed桪eudermont　felt　the　cold　ground　against　his　cheek　once　more。　His　hands　were　tightly　bound　behind　his　back；　his　ankles　likewise　strapped；　and　a　tight　gag　was　about　his　mouth。　He　managed　to　turn　his　head　enough　to　see　the　creature；　wearing　his　form　still；　bending　over　a　heavy　iron　grate。

　　　Deudermont　could　hardly　believe　the　strength　of　the　thing　as　it　lifted　that　sewer　covering；　a　mass　of　metal　that　had　to　weigh　near　to　five　hundred　pounds。　The　creature　casually　leaned　it　against　the　wall　of　a　building；　then　turned　and　grabbed　Deudermont；　dragging　him　to　the　opening　and　unceremoniously　dropping　him　in。

　　　The　stench　was　awful；　worse　than　the　captain　would　have　expected　even　from　a　sewer；　and　when　he　managed　to　shift　about　and　get　his　face　out　of　the　muck；　he　understood　the　source。

　　　Scaramundi；　it　had　to　be　Scaramundi；　lay　beside　him；　caked　in　blood；　more　than　half　of　his　torso　torn　away；　eaten　by　the　creature。　Deudermont　jumped　as　the　sewer　grate　clanked　back　into　place；　and　then　he　lay　still；　horrified　and　helpless；　knowing　that　he　would　soon　share　the　same　grisly　fate。



Chapter　3

THE　MESSAGE；　SUBTLY　TOLD



　　　Some　time　later；　Drizzt　was　beginning　to　worry。　Robillard　had　already　left　the　Mermaid's　Arms；　disgusted　that　his　captain；　as　he　had　put　it；　〃couldn't　be　counted　on。〃　Waillan　Micanty　was　still　at　the　bar　beside　Drizzt；　though　the　young　man　had　taken　up　a　conversation　with　another　sailor　on　the　other　side　of　him。

　　　Drizzt；　his　back　to　the　bar；　continued　to　survey　the　crowd；　perfectly　at　ease　among　the　sailors。　It　hadn't　always　been　so。　Drizzt　had　e　through　Waterdeep　only　twice　before　he　and　Catti…brie　had　left　Mithril　Hall；　first　on　his　way　to　Calimport　chasing　Entreri；　and　on　the　return　trip；　when　he　and　his　friends　were　making　their　way　back　to　reclaim　Mithril　Hall。　Drizzt　had　made　that　first　passage　through　the　city　in　disguise；　using　a　magical　mask　to　appear　as　a　surface　elf。　The　second　journey　through；　made　without　the　mask；　had　been　a　trickier　proposition。　The　Sea　Sprite　had　put　into　Waterdeep　Harbor　in　early　morning　but；　at　Deudermont's　request；　Drizzt　and　his　friends　had　waited　until　after　dark　to　leave　the　city　for　the　road　to　the　east。

　　　Upon　his　return　to　Waterdeep　with　Catti…brie　six　years　ago；　Drizzt　had　dared　to　walk　openly　as　a　drow。　It　had　been　an　unfortable　experience；　eyes　were　upon　him　every　step；　and　more　than　one　ruffian　had　challenged　him。　Drizzt　had　avoided　those　challenges；　but　knew　that　sooner　or　later；　he　would　have　to　fight；　or　even　worse；　he　would　be　slain　from　afar；　likely　by　a　hidden　bowman；　for　no　better　reason　than　the　color　of　the　skin。

　　　Then　the　Sea　Sprite　had　put　in　and　Drizzt　had　found　Deudermont；　his　old　friend　and　a　man　of　considerable　reputation　among　the　docks　of　the　great　city。　Soon　after；　Drizzt　had　bee　widely　accepted　in　Waterdeep；　particularly　all　along　Dock　Street；　because　of　his　personal　reputation；　spread　in　no　small　way　by　Captain　Deudermont。　Wherever　the　Sea　Sprite　docked；　it　was　made　clear　that　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　this　most　unusual　of　dark　elves；　was　a　member　of　her　heroic　crew。　Drizzt's　road　had　been　easier；　had　even　bee　fortable。

　　　And　through　it　all；　Catti…brie　and　Guenhwyvar　had　been　beside　him。　He　looked　to　them　now；　the　young　woman　sitting　at　a　table　with　two　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew；　the　great　panther　curled　up　on　the　floor　about　her　legs。　Guenhwyvar　had　bee　a　mascot　to　the　patrons　of　the　Mermaid's　Arms；　and　Drizzt　was　glad　that　he　could　sometimes　call　in　the　cat；　not　for　battle；　but　simply　for　panionship。　Drizzt　wondered　which　reason　would　hold　this　day。　Catti…brie　had　requested　the　panther；　saying　her　feet　were　cold；　and　Drizzt　had　agreed；　but　in　the　back　of　the　drow's　mind　was　the　realization　that　Deudermont　might　be　in　trouble。　Guenhwyvar　might　be　needed　for　more　than　panionship。

　　　The　drow　surely　relaxed　a　moment　later；　blew　out　a　deep　sigh　of　relief　as　Captain　Deudermont　walked　into　the　Mermaid's　Arms；　glanced　around；　then　focused　on　Drizzt　and　sidled　up　to　the　bar。

　　　〃Calimshan　wine；〃　the　doppleganger　said　to　the　bartender；　for　it　had　scoured　Deudermont's　mind　and　knew　that　to　be　the　man's　customary　drink。　In　the　short　time　they　had　spent　together；　the　doppleganger　had　learned　much　of　Captain　Deudermont　and　of　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　Drizzt　turned　about　and　leaned　over　the　bar。　〃You　are　late；〃　he　remarked；　trying　to　feel　the　captain　out；　trying　to　discern　if　there　had　been　any　trouble。

　　　〃A　minor　problem；〃　the　impostor　assured　him。

　　　〃What　is　it；　Guen？〃　Catti…brie　asked　softly　as　the　panther's　head　came　up；　the　cat　looking　in　the　direction　of　Drizzt　and　Deudermont；　her　ears　flattened　against　her　head　and　a　low　growl　resonating　from　her　strong　body。　〃What　do　ye　see？〃

　　　Guenhwyvar　continued　to　watch　the　pair　closely；　but　Catti…brie　dismissed　the　cat's　temperament；　figuring　there　must　be　a　rat　or　the　like　in　the　far　corner　beyond　Drizzt　and　the　captain。

　　　〃Caerwich；〃　the　impostor　announced　to　Drizzt。

　　　The　ranger　regarded　the　man　curiously。　〃Caerwich？〃　he　echoed。　Drizzt　knew　the　name；　every　sailor　along　the　Sword　Coast　knew　the　name　of　the　tiny　island；　which　was　too　small　and　remote　to　appear　on　the　vast　majority　of　nautical　charts。

　　　〃We　must　put　out　at　once　for　Caerwich；〃　the　impostor　explained；　looking　Drizzt　directly　in　the　eye。　So　perfect　was　the　disguise　of　the　doppleganger　that　Drizzt　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　that　anything　was　amiss。

　　　Still；　the　request　sounded　strange　to　Drizzt。　Caerwich　was　a　shipboard　story；　a　tale　of　a　haunted　island　that　played　home　to　a　blind　witch。　Many　doubted　its　existence；　though　some　sailors　claimed　to　have　visited　the　place。　Certainly　Drizzt　and　Deudermont　had　never　spoken　of　it。　For　the　captain　to　announce　that　they　must　go　there　caught　the　drow　pletely　by　surprise。

　　　Again　Drizzt　studied　Deudermont；　this　time　noting　the　man's　stiff　mannerisms；　noting　how　unfortable　Deudermont　seemed　in　this　place；　which　had　always　been　his　favorite　among　the　taverns　of　Dock　Street。　Drizzt　believed　something　had　unnerved　Deudermont。　Whatever　had　delayed　his　arrival　at　the　Mermaid's　Arms桪rizzt　figured　it　to　be　a　visit　by　one　of　Waterdeep's　secretive　lords；　perhaps　even　mysterious　Khelben梙ad　upset　Deudermont　greatly。　Perhaps　Deudermont's　announcement　wasn't　so　out　of　place。　Many　times　in　the　last　six　years；　the　Sea　Sprite；　the　tool　of　Waterdeep's　Lords；　had　been　assigned　private；　unusual　missions；　and　so　the　drow　accepted　the　information　without　question。

　　　What　both　Drizzt　and　the　doppleganger　hadn't　counted　on　was　Guenhwyvar；　who　crouched　so　low　that　her　belly　brushed　against　the　floor　as　she　inched　for　Deudermont's　back；　her　ears　flat。

　　　〃Guenhwyvar！〃　Drizzt　scolded。

　　　The　doppleganger　spun　about；　putting　its　back　to　the　wooden　bar　just　as　Guenhwyvar　charged　in；　ing　up　high　and　pinning　the　creature　to　the　bar。　Had　the　doppleganger　kept　its　wits　and　played　the　innocent　victim；　it　might　have　talked　its　way　out　of　the　predicament。　But　the　creature　recognized　Guenhwyvar；　or　at　least　the　fact　that　this　panther　was　not　of　the　Prime　Material　Plane。　And　if　the　doppleganger　instinctively　recognized　that　about　the　panther；　it　figured　the　panther　would　recognize　the　same。

　　　Purely　on　instinct；　the　creature　batted　Guenhwyvar　with　its　forearm；　the　weight　of　the　blow　launching　the　six…hundred　pound　cat　halfway　across　the　wide　room。

　　　No　human　could　do　that；　and　when　the　impostor　looked　again　at　Drizzt；　it　found　that　the　drow　had　his　scimitars　in　hand。

　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Drizzt　demanded。

　　　The　creature　hissed　and　grabbed　at　the　blades；　catching　one。　Drizzt　struck；　tentatively　and　with　the　flat　of　his　free　blade；　for　he　feared　that　this　might　be　Deudermont　under　some　type　of　enchantment。　He　smacked　the　impostor　on　the　side　of　the　neck。

　　　The　creature　caught　the　blade　in　its　open　hand；　and　it　rushed　forward　and　bowled　Drizzt　aside。

　　　The　rest　of　those　in　the　tavern　were　up　then；　most　thinking　it　one　of　the　typical　fights。　But　the　crew　of　the　Sea　Sprite；　particularly　Catti…brie；　realized　the　absolute　strangeness　of　the　scene。

　　　The　doppleganger　made　for　the　door；　slapping　aside　the　one　confused　sailor；　one　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crewmen；　who　stood　in　its　way。

　　　Catti…brie　had　her　bow　ready；　and　she　put　an　arrow；　trailing　silvery　sparks；　into　the　wall　right　beside　the　creature's　head。　The　doppleganger　spun　to　face　her；　hissed　loudly；　and　was　subsequently　buried　by　six　hundred　pounds　of　flying　panther。　This　time　Guenhwyvar　recognized　the　strength　of　her　foe　and　by　the　time　the　two　had　sorted　out　their　tumble；　the　great　cat　was　sitting　on　the　doppleganger's　back；　her　powerful　jaws　clamped　tight　on　the　nape　of　the　thing's　neck。　Drizzt　was　there　in　an　instant；　followed　closely　by　Catti…brie；　Waillan　Micanty　and　the　rest　of　the　crew；　and　more　than　a　few　curious　onlookers；　including　the　proprietor　of　the　Mermaid's　Arms；　who　wanted　to　get　a　look　at　the　damage　from　that　enchanted　arrow。

　　　〃What　are　you？〃　Drizzt　demanded；　grabbing　the　impostor　by　the　hair　and　turning　its　head　so　that　he　could　look　into　its　face。　Drizzt　rubbed　his　free　hand　across　the　thing's　cheek；　looking　for　makeup；　but　found　none。　He　barely　got　his　fingers　away　before　the　doppleganger　bit　at　them。

　　　Guenhwyvar　growled　and　tightened　her　jaws；　forcing　the　creature's　face　to　slam　hard　back　into　the　floor。

　　　〃Go　and　check　out　Dock　Street！〃　Drizzt　called　to　Waillan。　〃Near　to　where　you　last　saw　the　captain！〃

　　　〃But　。　。　。〃　Waillan　protested；　pointing　to　the　prone　form。

　　　〃This　is　not　Captain　Deudermont；〃　Drizzt　assured　him。　〃This　is　not　even　human！〃

　　　Waillan　motioned　to　several　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew　and　headed　out；　followed　by　many　other　sailors　who　called