精灵血脉四部曲-第182部分

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　ship　drifting　out　of　the　harbor。

　　　〃Robillard！〃　Deudermont　yelled。

　　　The　wizard　nodded　and　peered　intently　to　spot　the　craft。　He　began　casting　a　spell　immediately；　but　even　as　the　first　words　left　his　mouth；　a　catapult　on　the　third　pirate　ship　let　fly；　dropping　a　bail　of　pitch　into　the　water　right　beside　the　rowboat；　nearly　capsizing　her。

　　　〃Up　sails！〃　Deudermont　cried。　〃Weigh　anchor！〃

　　　Catti…brie's　bow　hummed；　streaking　arrow　after　arrow　back　toward　the　drifting　caravel；　though　the　ship　was　still　more　than　three　hundred　yards　away。

　　　All　the　harbor　seemed　to　e　to　life　immediately。　The　two　ships　farther　out　put　up　full　sails　and　began　their　turn　to　catch　the　wind；　the　third　ship　launched　another　volley　at　the　rowboat；　and　the　sails　of　the　fourth　ship；　indeed　a　part　of　the　conspiracy；　unfurled。

　　　Before　Robillard's　spell　began　its　effect；　a　third　ball　of　pitch　hit　just　behind　the　rowboat；　taking　part　of　her　stern　with　her。　Still；　the　enchantment　caught　the　tiny　craft；　a　directed　wave　of　water　grabbing　at　her　and　speeding　her　suddenly　in　the　direction　of　the　Sea　Sprite。　Drizzt　put　up　the　now…useless　oars　while　Dunkin　bailed　frantically；　but　even　though　they　made　great　progress　toward　the　schooner；　the　damaged　rowboat　could　not　stay　afloat　long　enough　to　get　to　the　Sea　Sprite's　side。

　　　Robillard　recognized　that　fact　and　as　the　craft　floundered；　the　wizard　dispelled　his　magic；　else　Drizzt　and　Dunkin　would　have　been　drowned　beneath　the　enchanted　wave。

　　　Deudermont's　mind　worked　furiously；　trying　to　measure　the　distance　and　the　time　before　the　pirates　would　catch　them。　He　figured　that　as　soon　as　the　sails　were　up；　he　would　have　to　turn　the　Sea　Sprite　in　toward　the　harbor；　for　he　would　not　leave　Drizzt　behind；　no　matter　the　risk。

　　　His　calculations　quickly　shifted　when　he　saw　that　Drizzt；　Dunkin　in　tow；　was　swimming　furiously　toward　the　ship。

　　　Dunkin　was　even　more　surprised　by　this　turn　of　events　than　was　Deudermont。　When　the　rowboat　went　under；　the　man's　first　instinct　told　him　to　get　away　from　the　drow。　Drizzt's　carried　twin　scimitars　and　wore　a　suit　of　chain　mail。　Dunkin　wore　no　encumbering　equipment　and　figured　that　the　drow　would　cling　to　him　and　likely　drown　them　both。　To　Dunkin's　surprise；　though；　Drizzt　could　not　only　stay　above　the　water；　but　could　swim　impossibly　fast。

　　　The　chain　mail　was　supple；　cunningly　forged　of　the　finest　materials　and　to　drowlike　design　by　Buster　Bracer　of　Clan　Battlehammer；　one　of　the　finest　smithies　in　all　the　Realms。　And　Drizzt　wore　enchanted　anklets；　allowing　him　to　kick　his　feet　incredibly　fast。　He　caught　up　to　Dunkin　and　dragged　the　man　out　in　the　direction　of　the　Sea　Sprite　almost　immediately；　closing　nearly　a　quarter　of　the　distance　before　the　startled　man　even　gained　his　wits　enough　about　him　to　begin　swimming　on　his　own。

　　　〃They　are　ing　fast！〃　Waillan　cried　happily；　thinking　his　friend　would　make　it。

　　　〃But　they　lost　the　chest！〃　Robillard　observed；　pointing　to　the　floundering　rowboat。　Right　behind　the　wreckage　and　ing　faster　still　was　the　third　pirate　ship；　her　sails　now　full　of　wind。

　　　〃I　will　get　it！〃　cried　Harkle　Harpell；　wanting　desperately　to　be　of　some　use。　The　wizard　snapped　his　fingers　and　began　an　enchantment；　as　did　Robillard；　realizing　that　they　had　to　some…　how　slow　the　pursuing　caravel　if　Drizzt　was　to　have　any　chance　of　making　it　to　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　Robillard　stopped　his　casting　almost　immediately；　though；　and　looked　to　Harkle　curiously。

　　　Robillard's　eyes　widened　considerably　as　he　considered　a　fish　that　appeared　suddenly　on　the　deck　at　Harkle's　feet。　〃No！〃　he　cried；　reaching　for　the　Harpell；　figuring　out　what　type　of　spell　Harkle　had　enacted。　〃You　cannot　cast　an　extra　dimension　on　an　item　enchanted　with　an　extra　dimension！〃

　　　Robillard　had　guessed　correctly；　Harkle　was　trying　to　pull　in　the　sinking　magical　chest　by　creating　an　extra…dimensional　gate　in　the　region　where　the　rowboat　and　the　chest　went　down。　It　was　a　good　idea；　or　would　have　been；　except　that　the　chest　Tarnheel　had　promised　to　the　Sea　Sprite　was　a　chest　of　holding梐　contained　extra…dimensional　space　that　could　hold　much　more　volume　than　would　be　indicated　by　the　item's　size　and　weight。　The　problem　was　that　extra…dimensional　spells　and　items　did　not　usually　mesh　correctly。　Throwing　a　bag　of　holding　into　a　chest　of　holding；　for　example；　could　tear　a　rift　in　the　multiverse；　spewing　everything　nearby　into　the　Astral　Plane；　or　even　worse；　into　the　unknown　space　between　the　planes　of　existence。

　　　〃Oops；〃　Harkle　apologized；　realizing　his　error　and　trying　to　let　go　of　his　enchantment。

　　　Too　late。　A　huge　wave　erupted　right　in　the　area　where　the　row…boat　had　gone　down；　rocking　the　approaching　caravel　and　rolling　into　Drizzt　and　Dunkin；　hurling　them　toward　the　Sea　Sprite。　The　water　churned　and　danced；　then　began　to　roll；　forming　a　giant　whirlpool。

　　　〃Sail　on！〃　Deudermont　cried　as　ropes　were　thrown　out　to　Drizzt　and　Dunkin。　〃Sail　on；　for　all　our　lives！〃

　　　The　sails　fell　open；　and　crewmen　immediately　pulled　to　put　them　against　the　wind。　At　once　the　Sea　Sprite　lurched　and　rolled　away；　gliding　swiftly　out　of　the　harbor。

　　　Things　were　not　as　easy　for　the　pursuing　caravel。　The　pirate　ship　tried　to　tack　and　turn；　but　was　too　close　to　the　mounting　whirlpool。　She　crested　the　lip　and　was　pulled　sideways　violently；　many　of　her　crew　being　tossed　overboard　into　the　turmoil。　Around　she　went；　once　and　then　twice。　Those　aboard　the　Sea　Sprite　watched　her　sails　diminish　as　she　sank　lower　and　lower　into　the　spin。

　　　But　other　than　horrified　Harkle；　the　eyes　of　those　on　the　Sea　Sprite　had　to　go　outward；　to　the　two　vessels　lying　in　wait。　Robillard　called　up　a　mist；　understanding　that　Deudermont's　intent　was　not　to　engage；　but　to　slip　by；　out　into　the　open　waters。　Waillan's　crew　fired　at　will；　as　did　the　archers；　while　several　crewmen；　Deudermont　among　them；　hauled　Drizzt　and　a　very　shaken　Dunkin　Tallmast　aboard。

　　　〃Sealed；〃　Drizzt　said　to　Deudermont　with　a　wry　smile；　producing　a　capped　scroll　tube　that　obviously　contained　the　map　to　Caerwich。

　　　Deudermont　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder　and　turned　to　go　to　the　wheel。　Both　surveyed　the　situation；　and　both　figured　that　the　Sea　Sprite　would　have　little　trouble　slipping　through　this　trap。

　　　The　situation　looked　bright；　to　those　looking　forward。　But　hanging　over　the　stern　rail；　Harkle　Harpell　could　only　watch　in　dismay。　Rationally；　he　knew　that　his　unintentional　catastrophe　had　probably　saved　Drizzt　and　the　other　man　in　the　rowboat；　and　probably　would　make　the　Sea　Sprite's　run　all　the　easier；　but　the　gentle　Harkle　could　not　suffer　the　sights　of　the　turmoil　within　the　whirlpool　and　the　screams　of　the　drowning　men。　He　muttered；　〃oh；　no；〃　over　and　over；　searched　his　mind　for　some　spell　that　might　help　the　poor　men　of　the　caravel。

　　　But　then；　almost　as　suddenly　as　it　had　appeared；　the　whirlpool　dissipated；　the　water　flattening　to　perfect；　glassy　calm。　The　caravel　remained；　hanging　so　low　to　the　side　that　her　sails　nearly　touched　the　water。

　　　Harkle　breathed　a　deep　sigh　of　relief　and　thanked　whatever　gods　might　be　listening。　The　water　was　full　of　sailors；　but　they　all　seemed　close　enough　to　get　to　the　swamped　hull。

　　　Harkle　clapped　his　hands　happily　and　ran　down　from　the　poop　deck；　joining　Deudermont　and　Drizzt　by　the　wheel。　The　engagement　was　on　in　full　by　then；　with　the　two　square…riggers　trading　shots　with　the　Sea　Sprite；　though　none　of　the　three　were　close　enough　to　inflict　any　real　damage。

　　　Deudermont　eyed　Harkle　curiously。

　　　〃What？〃　asked　the　flustered　mage。

　　　〃Have　you　any　more　fireballs　in　you？〃　Deudermont　asked。

　　　Harkle　paled。　So　soon　after　the　horror　of　the　whirlpool；　he　really　didn't　have　the　heart　to　burn　up　another　vessel。　But　that　wasn't　what　sly　Deudermont　had　in　mind。

　　　〃Put　one　in　the　water　between　our　enemies；〃　the　captain　explained；　then　looked　to　Drizzt。　〃I'll　run　for　the　mist　and　swing　to　port；　then　we'll　have　time　to　contend　with　only　one　of　the　pirate　ships　up　close。〃

　　　Drizzt　nodded。　Harkle　brightened；　and　was　more　than　happy　to　ply。　He　waited　for　Deudermont's　signal；　then　skipped　a　fireball　just　under　the　waves。　There　came　a　flash　and　then　a　thick　cloud　of　steam。

　　　Deudermont　headed　straight　for　it；　and　the　square…riggers　predictably　turned　to　cut　off　such　an　escape。　Soon　before　plunging　into　the　mist；　Deudermont　cut　hard　to　port；　skimming　the　cloud　and　angling　outside　the　pirate　ship　farthest　to　the　left。

　　　They　would　pass　close；　but　that　didn't　bother　Deudermont　much；　not　with　the　Sea　Sprite's　speed　and　Robillard's　magical　defenses。

　　　An　explosion　soon　changed　Deudermont's　mind；　a　heavy　ball　of　iron　shearing　through　Robillard's　defensive　shields　and　snipping　through　a　fair　amount　of　rigging　as　well。

　　　〃They've　got　a　smokepowder　gun！〃　Harkle　roared。

　　　〃A　what？〃　Drizzt　and　Deudermont　asked　at　the　same　time。

　　　〃Arquebus；〃　Harkle　whimpered；　and　his　hands　began　spinning　large　circles　in　the　air。　〃Big　arquebus。〃

　　　〃A　what？〃　the　two　asked　again。

　　　Harkle　couldn't　begin　to　explain；　but　his　horrified　expression　spoke　volumes。　Smokepowder　was　a　rare　and　dangerous　thing；　a　fiendish　concoction　of　Gondish　priests　that　used　sheer　explosive　energy　to　launch　missiles　from　metal　barrels；　and　oftentimes；　to　inadvertently　blow　apart　the　barrels。　〃One　in　ten；〃　was　the　saying　among　those　who　knew　smokepowder　best；　meaning　that　one　in　ten　attempts　to　fire　would　likely　blow　up　in　your　face。　Harkle　figured　these　pirates　must　truly　despise　the　Sea　Sprite　to　risk　such　a　dangerous　attack。

　　　But　still；　even　if　the　one　in　ten　rule　held　true；　nine　in　ten　could　take　the　Sea　Sprite　out　of　the　water！

　　　Harkle　knew　that　he　had　to　act　as　the　seconds　passed；　as　the　others；　even　Robillard；　looked　on　helplessly；　not　understanding　what　they　were　suddenly　up　against。　Smokepowder　was　more　mon　in　the　far　eastern　reaches　of　the　Realms；　and　had　even　been　used　in　Cormyr；　so　it　was　said。　Of　course；　there　were　rumors　that　it　had　surfaced　just　a　bit　on　the　Sword　Coast；　mostly　aboard　ships。　Harkle　considered　his　options；　considered　the　volume　of　smokepowder　and　its　volatility；　considered　the　weapons　he　had　at　his　disposal。

　　　〃A　metal　cylinder！〃　Catti…brie　ca