精灵血脉四部曲-第175部分

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　　　Waillan　motioned　to　several　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew　and　headed　out；　followed　by　many　other　sailors　who　called　themselves　friends　of　the　apparently　missing　captain。

　　　〃And　call　for　the　Watch！〃　Drizzt　yelled　after　them；　referring　to　the　famed　Waterdeep　patrols。　〃Be　ready　with　your　bow；〃　Drizzt　said　to　Catti…brie　and　she　nodded　and　fitted　another　arrow　to　the　bowstring。

　　　Working　with　Guenhwyvar；　the　drow　managed　to　get　the　doppleganger　fully　subdued　and　standing　against　a　wall。　The　bartender　offered　some　heavy　rope；　and　they　tightly　bound　the　doppleganger's　hands　behind　its　back。

　　　〃I　ask　you　one　more　time；〃　Drizzt　began　threateningly。　The　creature　merely　spat　in　his　face　and　began　laughing；　a　diabolical　sound　indeed。

　　　The　drow　did　not　respond　with　force；　just　stared　hard　at　this　impostor。　Truly　Drizzt's　heart　was　low　then；　for　the　way　the　impostor　looked　at　him；　laughed　at　him；　only　at　him；　sent　a　shiver　along　his　spine。　He　wasn't　afraid　for　his　own　safety；　never　that；　but　he　feared　that　his　past　had　caught　up　with　him　once　again；　that　the　evil　powers　of　Menzoberranzan　had　found　him　here　in　Waterdeep；　and　that　the　good　Captain　Deudermont　had　fallen　because　of　him。

　　　If　true；　it　was　more　than　Drizzt　Do'Urden　could　bear。

　　　〃I　offer　your　life　in　exchange　for　Captain　Deudermont；〃　the　drow　said。

　　　〃It's　not　your　place　to　be　bargaining　with　the　。　。　。　whatever　it　might　be；〃　remarked　one　sailor　whom　Drizzt　did　not　know。　The　drow；　scowling　fiercely；　turned　to　face　the　man；　who　went　silent　and　backed　away；　having　no　desire　to　invoke　the　wrath　of　a　dark　elf；　especially　one　of　Drizzt's　fighting　reputation。

　　　〃Your　life　for　Deudermont；〃　Drizzt　said　again　to　the　doppleganger。　Again　came　that　diabolical　laughter　and　the　creature　spat　in　Drizzt's　face。

　　　Left；　right；　left　came　Drizzt's　open　palms　in　rapid　succession；　battering　the　creature's　face。　The　last　punch　bent　the　thing's　nose；　but　it　reformed；　right　before　Drizzt's　eyes；　to　perfectly　resemble　the　unmarred　nose　of　Captain　Deudermont。

　　　That　image；　bined　with　the　continuing　laughter；　sent　ripples　of　rage　through　the　drow　and　he　slugged　the　impostor　with　all　his　strength。

　　　Catti…brie　wrapped　her　arms　about　Drizzt　and　pulled　him　away；　though　the　mere　sight　of　her　reminded　Drizzt　of　who　he　was　and　shamed　him　for　his　rash；　out…of…control　actions。

　　　〃Where　is　he？〃　Drizzt　demanded；　and　when　the　creature　continued　to　taunt　him；　Guenhwyvar　came　up　on　her　hind　legs；　resting　one　forepaw　on　each　shoulder；　and　putting　her　snarling　visage　barely　an　inch　from　the　doppleganger's　face。　That　quieted　the　creature；　for　it　knew　that　Guenhwyvar　recognized　the　truth　of　its　existence；　and　knew　that　the　angry　panther　could　utterly　destroy　it。

　　　〃Get　a　wizard；〃　one　sailor　offered　suddenly。

　　　〃Robillard！〃　exclaimed　another；　the　last　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　crew；　besides　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie；　in　the　tavern。　〃He'll　know　how　to　get　the　information　out　of　this　thing。〃

　　　〃Go；〃　Catti…brie　agreed；　and　the　man　rushed　out。

　　　〃A　priest；〃　offered　another　man。　〃A　priest　will　better　deal　with　。　。　。〃　The　man　paused；　not　knowing　what　to　make　of　this　impostor。

　　　Through　it　all；　the　doppleganger　remained　passive；　matching　Guenhwyvar's　stare　but　making　no　threatening　moves。

　　　The　crewman　had　barely　exited　the　tavern　when　he　was　passed　by　another　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　hands；　heading　back　in　with　the　news　that　Deudermont　had　been　found。

　　　Out　they　went；　Drizzt　shoving　the　doppleganger　along；　Guenhwyvar　on　the　other　side　of　the　creature　and　Catti…brie　behind　it；　her　bow　up　and　ready；　an　arrow　tip　nearly　touching　the　back　of　the　thing's　head。　They　came　into　the　alley　even　as　the　sewer　grate　was　being　pried　open；　one　sailor　promptly　dropping　into　the　smelly　hole　to　help　his　captain　out。

　　　Deudermont　eyed　the　doppleganger；　eyed　the　perfect　image　of　himself；　with　open　contempt。　〃You　may　as　well　assume　your　natural　form；〃　he　said　to　the　thing。　Drawing　himself　up　straight；　he　brushed　off　some　of　the　muck；　regaining　his　dignity　in　an　instant。　〃They　know　who　I　am；　and　know　what　you　are。〃

　　　The　doppleganger　did　nothing。　Drizzt　kept　Twinkle　tight　against　the　side　of　its　neck；　Guenhwyvar　remained　alert　on　the　other　side；　and　Catti…brie　went　over　to　Deudermont；　supporting　the　injured　man。

　　　〃Might　I　lean　on　your　bow？〃　the　captain　asked；　and　Catti…brie；　with　hardly　a　thought；　quickly　handed　it　over。

　　　〃Must　be　a　wizard；〃　Deudermont　said　to　Drizzt；　though　the　captain　suspected　differently。　The　injured　Deudermont　took　the　offered　bow　and　leaned　on　it　heavily。　〃If　he　utters　a　single；　uncalled　for　syllable；　slash　his　throat；〃　he　instructed。

　　　Drizzt　nodded　and　pressed　Twinkle　a　bit　closer。　Catti…brie　moved　to　take　Deudermont's　arm；　but　he　waved　her　ahead；　then　followed　closely。



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　　　Far　away；　on　a　smoky　layer　of　the　Abyss；　Errtu　watched　the　unfolding　scene　with　pure　delight。　The　trap　had　been　set；　not　as　the　great　tanar'ri　had　expected　when　he　had　sent　the　doppleganger　to　Waterdeep；　but　set　anyway；　and　perhaps　more　deliciously；　more　unexpectedly；　more　chaotically。

　　　Errtu　understood　Drizzt　Do'Urden　well　enough　to　know　that　the　mention　of　Caerwich　was　all　the　bait　that　was　needed。　Something　awful　had　happened　to　them　that　night　and　they　would　not　let　it　pass；　would　go　willingly　to　the　mentioned　island　and　discover　the　source。

　　　The　mighty　fiend　was　having　more　fun　than　he　had　known　in　years。　Errtu　could　have　delivered　the　message　to　Drizzt　more　easily；　but　this　intrigue梩he　doppleganger；　the　blind　witch　who　waited　at　Caerwich梬as　the　fun　of　it　all。

　　　The　only　thing　that　would　be　more　fun　for　Errtu　was　tearing　Drizzt　Do'Urden　apart；　little　piece　by　little　piece；　devouring　his　flesh　before　his　very　eyes。

　　　The　balor　howled　at　that　thought；　figuring　that　it　would　soon　enough　e　to　pass。



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　　　Deudermont　straightened　as　much　as　possible　and　continued　to　wave　away　any　offered　help。　The　captain　put　on　a　good　face；　and　stayed　close　behind　Catti…brie　as　she　moved　slowly　toward　the　alley　exit；　toward　Drizzt　and　Guenhwyvar　and　the　captured　doppleganger。

　　　Deudermont　watched　that　strange　creature　most　carefully　of　all。　He　understood　the　evil　of　the　thing；　had　felt　it　up　close。　Deudermont　hated　the　thing　for　the　beating　it　had　given　him；　but　in　assuming　the　captain's　form；　the　thing　had　violated　him　in　a　way　that　he　could　not　tolerate。　Looking　at　the　creature　now；　as　it　wore　the　features　of　the　Sea　Sprite's　Captain；　Deudermont　could　barely　keep　his　anger　in　check。　He　kept　very　close　to　Catti…brie；　watching；　anticipating。

　　　Near　to　Dock　Street；　Drizzt　stood　quietly　beside　the　bound　impostor。　The　drow　and　the　many　crewmen　nearby　were　focused　on　the　injured　captain；　and　none　of　them　noticed　as　the　creature　began　to　shift　its　malleable　form　once　more；　reshaping　its　arms　so　that　they　slipped　and　twisted　free　of　the　bonds。

　　　Drizzt　just　got　his　second　scimitar　out　after　the　creature　suddenly　shoved　him　aside。　The　doppleganger　bolted　for　the　alley's　exit　with　Guenhwyvar　close　behind。　Wings　sprouted　from　the　doppleganger's　back　and　it　leaped　high；　meaning　to　fly　off　into　the　night。

　　　Guenhwyvar　charged　and　sprang　mightily　in　pursuit　while　Captain　Deudermont　slipped　an　arrow　from　the　quiver　on　Catti…brie's　hip。　The　woman；　sensing　the　theft；　spun　about　as　the　bow　came　up。　She　cried　out；　fell　to　the　side　and　Deudermont　let　fly。

　　　The　doppleganger　was　more　than　twenty　feet　off　the　ground　by　the　time　Guenhwyvar　began　her　leap；　but　still　the　great　panther　caught　up　to　the　flying　monster；　her　jaws　catching　a　firm　hold　on　the　creature's　ankle。　That　limb　shifted　and　reformed　immediately；　making　the　panther's　grasp　tentative。　Then　came　the　silver…streaking　arrow；　slamming　the　doppleganger　square　in　the　back；　right　between　the　wings。

　　　Down　came　Guenhwyvar；　landing　lightly　on　padded　paws；　and　down　came　the　doppleganger；　dead　before　it　ever　hit　the　ground。

　　　Drizzt　was　there　in　an　instant；　the　others　rushing　to　catch　up　with　him。

　　　The　creature　began　to　shift　its　form　again。　Its　newest　features　melted　away；　to　be　replaced　by　a　humanoid　appearance　the　likes　of　which　none　of　the　gathering　had　ever　seen。　Its　skin　was　perfectly　smooth；　the　fingers　of　its　slender　hand　showing　no　distinguishable　grooves。　It　was　pletely　hairless；　and　everything　about　it　seemed　perfectly　unremarkable。　It　was　a　lump　of　humanoid…shaped　clay　and　nothing　more。

　　　〃Doppleganger；〃　Deudermont　remarked。　〃It　would　seem　that　Pinochet　is　not　pleased　by　our　latest　exploits。〃

　　　Drizzt　nodded；　allowing　himself　to　agree　with　the　captain's　reasoning。　This　incident　wasn't　about　him；　wasn't　about　who　he　was　and　where　he　came　from。

　　　He　had　to　believe　that。



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　　　Errtu　thoroughly　enjoyed　the　spectacle；　and　was　glad　that　he　would　not　have　to　pay　off　his　hired　master　of　disguise。　It　bothered　the　fiend　for　a　moment　that　his　guide　for　the　Sea　Sprite's　voyage　to　the　virtually　unchartered　island　had　just　gone　away；　but　the　balor　held　his　faith。　The　seeds　had　been　sown；　the　doppleganger　had　teased　Deudermont　about　the　destination；　and　Drizzt　had　heard　the　exact　name　of　the　island　and　would　pass　it　on　to　the　captain。　The　balor　knew　neither　were　cowards；　both　were　resourceful　and　curious。

　　　Errtu　knew　Drizzt　and　Deudermont　would　find　their　way　to　Caerwich　and　the　blind　seer　who　held　the　fiend's　message。　Soon　enough。



Chapter　4

UNASKED　FOR　〃ASSISTANCE〃



　　　The　Sea　Sprite　put　back　out　two　weeks　later；　her　course　south。　Captain　Deudermont　explained　that　they　had　business　pending　in　Baldur's　Gate；　one　of　the　largest　ports　on　the　Sword　Coast；　about　halfway　between　Waterdeep　and　Calimshan。　No　one　questioned　Deudermont　openly；　but　many　felt　that　he　seemed　on　edge；　almost　indecisive；　a　mannerism　they　had　never　experienced　with　the　confident　captain　before。

　　　That　demeanor　changed　four　days　out　of　Waterdeep　Harbor；　when　the　Sea　Sprite's　lookout　caught　sight　of　a　square…rigger　sporting　a　deck　covered　with　sailors。　Caravels　were　ordinarily　crewed　by　forty　to　fifty　men。　A　pirate　ship；　wanting　to　attack　swiftly　with　overwhelming　odds；　and　then　bring　the　booty　quickly　to　shore；　might　carry　three　times　that　number。　Pirate　ships　didn't　carr