精灵血脉四部曲-第183部分

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s　volatility；　considered　the　weapons　he　had　at　his　disposal。

　　　〃A　metal　cylinder！〃　Catti…brie　called　down　from　the　crow's　nest；　spotting　the　targeting　gun　through　the　steam。

　　　〃With　bags　near　to　it？〃　Harkle　cried　back。

　　　〃I　cannot　see！〃　Catti…brie　called；　for　the　cloud　continued　to　drift　and　to　obscure　her　vision　of　the　pirate　ship's　deck。

　　　Harkle　knew　that　time　was　running　out。　The　smokepowder　cannon　wasn't　very　accurate；　but　it　didn't　have　to　be；　for　one　of　its　shots　could　take　down　a　mast；　and　even　a　glancing　hit　on　the　hull　would　likely　blow　a　hole　large　enough　to　sink　the　schooner。

　　　〃Aim　for　it！〃　Harkle　cried　out。　〃For　the　cylinder　and　the　decking　near　to　it！〃

　　　Catti…brie　was　never　one　to　trust　in　Harkle　Harpell；　but　his　reasoning　then　seemed　unusually　sound。　She　put　up　Taulmaril　and　sent　off　an　arrow；　then　another；　thinking　to　disable　the　crew　near　to　the　cylinder；　if　not　take　out　the　weapon　itself。　Through　the　fog；　she　saw　the　sparks　as　one　enchanted　arrow　skipped　off　the　cylinder；　then　heard　a　cry　of　pain　as　she　nailed　one　of　the　gunners。

　　　The　Sea　Sprite　ran　on；　nearing　the　pirate　ship。　Harkle　bit　at　his　fingernails。　Dunkin；　who　also　knew　of　smokepowder　guns；　tugged　at　his　large　ears。

　　　〃Oh；　turn　away　the　ship；〃　Harkle　bade　Deudermont。　〃Too　close；　too　close。　They'll　fire　it　off　again　right　into　our　faces；　and　knock　us　under　the　waves。〃

　　　Deudermont　didn't　know　how　to　respond。　He　had　already　learned　that　Robillard's　magic　couldn't　stop　the　smokepowder　weapon。　Indeed；　when　the　captain　glanced　back　to　Robillard；　he　found　the　wizard　frantically　creating　gusts　of　wind　to　speed　their　passage；　apparently　with　no　intent　of　even　trying　to　stop　a　second　shot。　Still；　if　the　captain　tried　to　turn　to　port；　he　would　likely　be　in　range　of　that　weapon　for　some　time；　and　if　he　tried　to　veer　to　starboard；　he　might　not　be　able　to　even　get　past　the　pirate　ship　and　into　the　cloud；　might　ram　the　ship　head…on。　Even　if　they　could　then　defeat　the　crew　of　this　ship；　her　two　remaining　friends　would　have　little　trouble　in　overing　the　Sea　Sprite。

　　　〃Get　the　wizard　and　get　to　them；〃　Deudermont　said　to　Drizzt。　〃And　get　the　cat。　We　need　you　now；　my　friend！〃

　　　Drizzt　started　to　move；　but　Harkle；　spotting　the　light　of　a　torch　near　to　where　Catti…brie　had　pointed　out　the　cylinder；　shouted　out　〃no　time！〃　and　dove　flat　to　the　deck。

　　　From　on　high；　Catti…brie　saw　the　torch；　and　with　its　light；　she　also　saw　the　large　sacks　that　Harkle　had　inquired　about。　She　instinctively　aimed　for　the　torchbearer；　thinking　to　slow　the　smokepowder　crew；　but　then　took　a　chance　and　agreed　with　Harkle；　shifting　her　aim　slightly　and　letting　fly；　straight　for　the　pile　of　sacks　on　the　pirate's　decking。

　　　Her　arrow　streaked　in　the　instant　before　the　man　put　the　torch　to　the　cannon；　as　the　Sea　Sprite　was　running　practically　parallel　to　the　pirate　ship。　It　was　just　an　instant；　but　in　that　time；　the　torchbearer　was　foiled；　was　blown　into　the　air　as　the　streaking　arrow　sliced　into　the　sacks　of　volatile　smokepowder。

　　　The　pirate　ship　nearly　stood　straight　up　on　end。　The　fireball　was　beyond　anything　Harkle；　or　even　Robillard；　had　ever　seen；　and　the　sheer　concussion　and　flying　debris　nearly　cleaned　the　Sea　Sprite's　deck　of　standing　crewmen；　and　tore　many　holes　in　the　schooner's　lateen　sails。

　　　The　Sea　Sprite　lurched　wildly；　left　and　right；　before　Deudermont　could　regain　his　senses　and　steady　the　wheel。　But　she　plowed　on；　leaving　the　trap　behind。

　　　〃By　the　gods；〃　Catti…brie　muttered；　truly　horrified；　for　where　the　pirate　square…rigger　had　been；　there　was　now　only　flotsam　and　jetsam；　splinters；　charred　wood；　and　floating　bodies。

　　　Drizzt；　too；　was　stunned。　Looking　on　the　carnage；　he　thought　he　was　previewing　the　end　of　the　world。　He　had　never　seen　such　devastation；　such　plete　carnage；　not　even　from　a　powerful　wizard。　Enough　smokepowder　could　flatten　a　mountain；　or　a　city。　Enough　smokepowder　could　flatten　all　the　world。

　　　〃Smokepowder？〃　he　said　to　Harkle。

　　　〃From　Gondish　priests；〃　the　wizard　replied。

　　　〃Damn　them　all；〃　muttered　Drizzt；　and　he　walked　away。

　　　Later　that　day；　as　the　crew　worked　to　repair　the　tears　in　the　sails；　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　took　a　break　and　leaned　on　the　rail　of　the　schooner's　bow；　looking　down　at　the　empty　water　and　considering　the　great　distance　they　had　yet　to　travel。

　　　Finally　Catti…brie　couldn't　stand　the　suspense　any　longer。　〃Did　ye　beat　him？〃　she　asked。

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　her　curiously；　as　though　he　didn't　understand。

　　　〃His　tyrancy；〃　Catti…brie　explained。

　　　〃I　brought　the　map；〃　Drizzt　replied；　〃and　the　chest；　though　it　was　lost。〃

　　　〃Ah；　but　Dunkin　promised　it　whether　ye　won　or　lost；〃　the　young　woman　said　slyly。

　　　Drizzt　looked　at　her。　〃The　contest　was　never　important；〃　he　said。　〃Not　to　me。〃

　　　〃Did　ye　win　or　lose？〃　Catti…brie　pressed；　not　willing　to　let　the　drow　slip　out　of　this　one。

　　　〃Sometimes　it　is　better　to　allow　so　important　a　leader　and　valuable　an　ally　to　retain　his　pride　and　his　reputation；〃　Drizzt　replied；　looking　back　to　the　sea；　then　to　the　mizzenmast；　where　a　crewman　was　calling　for　some　assistance。

　　　〃Ye　let　him　beat　ye？〃　Catti…brie　asked；　not　seeming　pleased　by　that　prospect。

　　　〃I　never　said　that；〃　Drizzt　replied。

　　　〃So　he　beat　ye　on　his　own；〃　the　young　woman　reasoned。

　　　Drizzt　shrugged　as　he　walked　away　toward　the　mizzenmast　to　help　out　the　crewman。　He　passed　by　Harkle　and　Robillard；　who　were　ing　forward；　apparently　meaning　to　join　Drizzt　and　Catti…brie　at　the　rail。

　　　Catti…brie　continued　to　stare　at　the　drow　as　the　wizards　walked　up。　The　woman　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　Drizzt's　cryptic　answers。　Drizzt　had　let　Tarnheel　win；　she　figured；　or　at　least　had　allowed　the　man　to　fight　him　to　a　draw。　For　some　reason　the　young　woman　did　not　understand；　she　didn't　want　to　think　that　Tarnheel　had　actually　beaten　Drizzt；　she　didn't　want　to　think　that　anyone　could　beat　Drizzt。

　　　Both　Robillard　and　Harkle　were　smiling　widely　as　they　considered　the　young　woman's　expression。

　　　〃Drizzt　beat　him；〃　Robillard　said　at　last。

　　　Startled；　Catti…brie　turned　to　the　wizard。

　　　〃That　is　what　you　were　wondering　about；〃　Robillard　reasoned。

　　　〃We　watched　it　all；〃　Harkle　said。　〃Oh；　of　course　we　did。　A　good　match。〃　Harkle　went　into　a　fighting　crouch；　his　best　imitation　of　Drizzt　in　bat；　which　of　course　seemed　a　mockery　to　Catti…brie。　〃He　started　left；〃　Harkle　began；　making　the　move；　〃then　ran　to　the　right　so　quickly　and　smoothly　that　Tarnheel　never　realized　it。〃

　　　〃Until　he　got　hit；〃　Robillard　interjected。　〃His　tyrancy　was　still　swinging　forward；　attacking　a　ghost；　I　suppose。〃

　　　That　made　sense　to　Catti…brie；　the　move　they　had　just　described　was　called　〃the　ghost　step。〃

　　　〃He　learned　better；　he　did！〃　howled　Harkle。

　　　〃Suffice　it　to　say　that　his　tyrancy　will　not　be　sitting　down　anytime　soon；〃　Robillard　finished；　and　the　two　wizards　exploded　into　laughter；　as　animated　as　Catti…brie　had　ever　seen　Robillard。

　　　The　young　woman　went　back　to　the　rail　as　the　two　walked　away；　howling　still。　Catti…brie　was　smiling　too。　She　now　knew　the　truth　of　Drizzt's　claims　that　the　fight　wasn't　important　to　him。　She'd　make　certain　that　she　teased　the　drow　about　it　in　the　days　to　e。　She　also　was　smiling　because　Drizzt　had　won。

　　　For　some　reason；　that　was　very　important　to　Catti…brie。



Chapter　8

SEA　TALK



　　　Repairs　continued　on　the　Sea　Sprite　for　two　days；　preventing　her　from　putting　up　her　sails　in　full。　Even　so；　with　the　strong　breeze　rushing　down　from　the　north；　the　swift　schooner　made　fine　speed　southward；　her　sails　full　of　wind。　In　just　over　three　days；　she　ran　the　four　hundred　miles　from　Mintarn　to　the　southeasternmost　point　of　the　great　Moonshae　Isles；　and　Deudermont　turned　her　to　the　west；　due　west；　for　the　open　sea；　running　just　off　the　southern　coast　of　the　Moonshaes。

　　　〃We'll　run　for　two　days　with　the　Moonshaes　in　sight；〃　Deudermont　informed　the　crew。

　　　〃Are　you　not　making　for　Corwell？〃　Dunkin　Tallmast；　who　always　seemed　to　be　asking　questions；　was　quick　to　interrupt。　〃I　think　I　should　like　to　be　let　off　at　Corwell。　A　beautiful　city；　by　all　accounts。〃　The　little　man's　cavalier　attitude　was　diminished　considerably　when　he　began　tugging　at　his　ear；　that　nervous　tick　that　revealed　his　trepidation。

　　　Deudermont　ignored　the　pesty　man。　〃If　the　wind　holds；　tomorrow；　mid…morning；　we'll　pass　a　point　called　Dragon　Head；〃　he　explained。　〃Then　we'll　cross　a　wide　harbor　and　put　in　at　a　village；　Wyngate；　for　our　last　provisions。　Then　it's　the　open　sea；　twenty　days　out；　I　figure；　twice　that　without　the　wind。〃

　　　The　seasoned　crew　understood　it　would　be　a　difficult　journey；　but　they　bobbed　their　heads　in　accord；　not　a　word　of　protest　from　the　lot　of　them梬ith　one　exception。

　　　〃Wyngate？〃　Dunkin　protested。　〃Why；　I'll　be　a　month　in　just　getting　out　of　the　place！〃

　　　〃Whoever　said　that　you　were　leaving？〃　Deudermont　asked　him。　〃We　shall　put　you　off　where　we　choose　。　。　。　after　we　return。〃

　　　That　shut　the　man　up；　or　at　least　changed　his　train　of　thought；　for　before　Deudermont　could　get　three　steps　away；　Dunkin　shouted　at　him。　〃If　you　return；　you　mean！〃　he　called。　〃You　have　lived　along　the　Sword　Coast　all　your　stinking　life。　You　know　the　rumors；　Deudermont。〃

　　　The　captain　turned　slowly；　ominously；　to　face　the　man。　Both　were　quite　conscious　of　the　murmurs　Dunkin's　words　had　caused；　a　ripple　of　whispers　all　across　the　schooner's　deck。

　　　Dunkin　did　not　look　at　Deudermont　directly；　but　scanned　the　deck；　his　wry　smile　widening　as　he　considered　the　suddenly　nervous　crew。　〃Ah；〃　he　moaned　suspiciously。　〃You　haven't　told　them。〃

　　　Deudermont　didn't　blink。

　　　〃You　wouldn't　be　leading　them　to　an　island　of　legend　without　telling　them　all　of　the　legend？〃　Dunkin　asked　in　sly　tones。

　　　〃The　man　enjoys　intrigue；〃　Catti…brie　whispered　to　Drizzt。

　　　〃He　enjoys　trouble；〃　Drizzt　whispered　back。

　　　Deudermont　spent　a　long　moment　studying　Dunkin；　the　captain's　stern　gaze　gradually　stealing　the　little　man's　stupid　grin。　Then　Deudermont　looked　to　Drizzt梙e　always　looked　to　Drizzt　when　he　needed　support梐nd　to　Catti…brie；　and　neither　seemed　to　care　much　for　Dunkin's　ominous　words。　Bolstered　by　their　confidence；