精灵血脉四部曲-第186部分

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　　　〃What're　ye　thinking　then？〃　Catti…brie　asked。

　　　〃I　grow　weary　of　delays；　and　weary　of　the　journey；〃　Deudermont　replied。

　　　〃That's　because　yer　fearin'　what's　at　its　end；〃　Catti…brie　reasoned　bluntly。　〃Who's　for　knowin'　what　we'll　find　in　Caerwich；　if　even　there　is　a　Caerwich？〃

　　　〃She's　out　there；〃　the　captain　insisted。

　　　〃We　can　always　stop　at　this　other　island　on　our　return；〃　Drizzt　offered。　〃Certainly　we've　enough　provisions　to　get　to　Caerwich。〃

　　　Deudermont　nodded。　They　would　make　straight　for　Caerwich　then；　the　last　leg　of　their　journey　out。　The　captain　knew　the　stars梩hat　was　all　he　would　have　available　to　take　him　from　the　Gull　Rocks　to　Caerwich。　He　hoped　that　the　map　Tarnheel　had　provided　was　accurate。

　　　He　hoped　that　Caerwich　truly　existed。

　　　And　still；　a　part　of　him　hoped　that　it　did　not。



Chapter　9

CAERWICH



　　　〃How　small　is　this　island　of　Caerwich？〃　Catti…brie　asked　Deudermont。　Another　week　of　sailing　had　slipped　past；　this　one　uneventfully。　Another　week　of　emptiness；　of　solitude；　though　the　schooner　was　fully　crewed　and　there　were　few　places　where　someone　could　be　out　of　sight　of　everyone　else。　That　was　the　thing　about　the　open　ocean；　you　were　never　physically　alone；　yet　all　the　world　seemed　removed。　Catti…brie　and　Drizzt　had　spent　hours　together；　just　standing　and　watching；　each　lost；　drifting　on　the　rolls　of　the　azure　blanket；　together　and　yet　so　alone。

　　　〃A　few　square　miles；〃　the　captain　answered　absently；　as　though　the　response　was　an　automatic　reflex。

　　　〃And　ye're　thinkin'　to　find　it？〃　An　unmistakable　edge　showed　in　the　woman's　voice；　drawing　a　lazy　stare　from　Drizzt；　as　well　as　from　Deudermont。

　　　〃We　found　the　Gull　Rocks；〃　Drizzt　reminded　Catti…brie；　trying　to　brighten　her　mood　though　he；　too；　was　getting　that　unmistakable　edge　of　irritation　to　his　voice。　〃They　are　not　much　larger。〃

　　　〃Bah；　they're　known　to　all；〃　Catti…brie　retorted。　〃A　straight　run　west。〃

　　　〃We　know　where　we　are；　and　where　we　must　go；〃　Deudermont　insisted。　〃There　is　the　matter　of　the　map；　we're　not　sailing　blindly。〃

　　　Catti…brie　glanced　over　her　shoulder　and　cast　a　scowl　at　Dunkin；　the　provider　of　the　map；　who　was　hard　at　work　scrubbing　the　poop　deck。　The　woman's　sour　expression　alone　answered　Deudermont's　claim；　told　the　captain　how　reliable　she　believed　that　map　might　be。

　　　〃And　the　wizards　have　new　eyes　that　see　far；〃　Deudermont　said。　True　enough；　Catti…brie　realized；　though　she　wondered　how　reliable　the　〃eyes〃　in　question　might　be。　Harkle　and　Robillard　had　taken　some　birds　from　the　Gull　Rocks；　and　claimed　that　they　could　municate　with　them　through　use　of　their　magic。　The　gulls　would　help；　the　two　wizards　declared；　and　each　day；　they　set　them　flying　freely；　ordering　them　to　report　back　with　their　findings。　Catti…brie　hadn't　thought　much　about　the　wizards　and　in　truth；　all　but　two　of　the　ten　birds　they　had　taken　had　not　returned　to　the　Sea　Sprite。　Catti…brie　figured　the　birds　had　more　likely　flown　all　the　way　back　to　the　Gull　Rocks；　probably　laughing　at　the　bumbling　wizards　all　the　way。

　　　〃The　map　is　all　we　have　had　since　we　left　Mintarn；〃　Drizzt　said　softly；　trying　to　erase　the　young　woman's　fears　and　the　anger　that　was　plain　upon　her　fair；　sunburned　features。　He　sympathized　with　Catti…brie；　because　he　was　sharing　those　negative　thoughts。　They　had　all　known　the　odds；　and　thus　far；　the　journey　had　not　been　so　bad梒ertainly　not　as　bad　as　it　might　have　been。　They　had　been　out　for　several　weeks；　most　of　that　time　on　the　open　ocean；　yet　they　had　not　lost　a　single　crewman　and　their　stores；　though　low；　remained　sufficient。　Thank　Guenhwyvar　and　Harkle　for　that；　Drizzt　thought　with　a　smile；　for　the　panther　and　the　wizard　had　cleared　the　ship　of　the　bulk　of　her　pesky　rats　soon　after　they　had　departed　from　Wyngate。

　　　But　still；　despite　the　logical　understanding　that　the　journey　was　on　course　and　going　well；　Drizzt　could　not　help　the　swells　of　anger　that　rose　up　in　him。　It　was　something　about　the　ocean；　he　realized；　the　boredom　and　the　solitude。　Truly　the　drow　loved　sailing；　loved　running　the　waves；　but　too　long　in　the　open　ocean；　too　long　in　looking　at　emptiness　as　profound　as　could　be　found　in　all　the　world；　grated　on　his　nerves。

　　　Catti…brie　walked　away；　muttering。　Drizzt　looked　to　Deudermont；　and　the　experienced　captain's　smile　relieved　the　drow　of　a　good　measure　of　his　worry。

　　　〃I　have　seen　it　before；〃　Deudermont　said　quietly　to　him。　〃She　will　relax　as　soon　as　we　sight　Mintarn；　or　as　soon　as　we　make　the　decision　to　turn　back　to　the　east。〃

　　　〃You　would　do　that？〃　Drizzt　asked。　〃You　would　forsake　the　words　of　the　doppleganger？〃

　　　Deudermont　thought　long　and　hard　on　that　one。　〃I　have　e　here　because　I　believe　it　to　be　my　fate；〃　he　answered。　〃Whatever　the　danger　that　is　now　pursuing　me；　I　wish　to　meet　it　head…on　and　with　my　eyes　wide　open。　But　I'll　not　risk　my　crew　more　than　is　necessary。　If　our　food　stores　bee　too　diminished　to　safely　continue；　we　will　turn　back。〃

　　　〃And　what　of　the　doppleganger？〃　Drizzt　asked。

　　　〃My　enemies　found　me　once；〃　Deudermont　replied　casually；　and　truly　the　man　was　a　rock　for　Drizzt　and　for　all　the　crew；　something　solid　to　hold　onto　in　a　sea　of　emptiness。　〃They　will　find　me　again。〃

　　　〃And　we　will　be　waiting；〃　Drizzt　assured　him。



*****



　　　As　it　turned　out；　the　wait；　for　Caerwich　at　least；　was　not　a　long　one。　Less　than　an　hour　after　the　conversation；　Harkle　Harpell　bounded　out　of　Deudermont's　private　quarters；　clapping　his　hands　excitedly。

　　　Deudermont　was　the　first　to　him；　followed　closely　by　a　dozen　anxious　crewmen。　Drizzt；　at　his　customary　spot　on　the　forward　beam；　came　to　the　rail　of　the　flying　bridge　to　survey　the　gathering。　He　realized　what　was　going　on　immediately；　and　he　glanced　upward；　to　Catti…brie；　who　was　peering　down　intently　from　the　crow's　nest。

　　　〃Oh；　what　a　fine　bird；　my　Reggie　is！〃　Harkle　beamed。

　　　〃Reggie？〃　Deudermont；　and　several　others　nearby；　asked。

　　　〃Namesake　of　Regweld；　so　fine　a　wizard！　He　bred　a　frog　with　a　horse梟o　easy　feat　that！　Puddlejumper；　he　called　her。　Or　was　it　Riverjumper？　Or　maybe　。　。　。〃

　　　〃Harkle；〃　Deudermont　said　dryly；　his　tone　bringing　the　wizard　from　the　rambling　confusion。

　　　〃Oh；　of　course；〃　babbled　Harkle。　〃Yes；　yes；　where　was　I？　Oh；　yes；　I　was　telling　you　about　Regweld。　What　a　fine　man。　Fine　man。　He　fought　valiantly　in　Keeper's　Dale；　so　say　the　tales。　There　was　one　time　。　。　。〃

　　　〃Harkle！〃　Now　there　was　no　subtle　coercion　in　Deudermont's　tone；　just　open　hostility。

　　　〃What？〃　the　wizard　asked　innocently。

　　　〃The　damned　seagull；〃　Deudermont　growled。　〃What　have　you　found？〃

　　　〃Oh；　yes！〃　Harkle　replied；　clapping　his　hands。　〃The　bird；　the　bird。　Reggie。　Yes；　yes；　fine　bird。　Fastest　flyer　of　the　lot。〃

　　　〃Harkle！〃　a　score　of　voices　roared　in　unison。

　　　〃We　have　found　an　island；〃　came　a　reply　from　behind　the　flustered　Harpell。　Robillard　stepped　onto　the　deck　and　appeared　somewhat　bored。　〃The　bird　returned　this　day　chattering　about　an　island。　Ahead　and　to　port；　and　not　so　far　away。〃

　　　〃How　large？〃　Deudermont　asked。

　　　Robillard　shrugged　and　chuckled。　〃All　islands　are　large　when　seen　through　the　eyes　of　a　seagull；〃　he　answered。　〃It　could　be　a　rock；　or　it　could　be　a　continent。〃

　　　〃Or　even　a　whale；〃　Harkle　piped　in。

　　　It　didn't　matter。　If　the　bird　had　indeed　spotted　an　island　out　here；　out　where　the　map　indicated　that　Caerwich　should　be；　then　Caerwich；　it　must　be！

　　　〃You　and　Dunkin；〃　Deudermont　said　to　Robillard；　and　he　motioned　to　the　wheel。　〃Get　us　there。〃

　　　〃And　Reggie；〃　Harkle　added　happily；　pointing　to　the　seagull；　which　had　perched　on　the　very　tip　of　the　mainmast；　right　above　Catti…brie's　head。

　　　Drizzt　saw　a　potential　problem　brewing；　given　the　bird's　position；　the　woman's　sour　mood　and　the　fact　that　she　had　her　bow　with　her。　Fortunately；　though；　the　bird　flew　off　at　Harkle's　bidding　without　leaving　any　presents　behind。

　　　Had　it　not　been　for　that　bird；　the　Sea　Sprite　would　have　sailed　right　past　Caerwich；　within　a　half　mile　of　the　place　without　ever　sighting　it。　The　island　was　circular；　resembling　a　low　cone；　and　was　just　a　few　hundred　yards　in　diameter。　It　was　perpetually　shrouded　in　a　bluish　mist　that　looked　like　just　another　swell　in　the　sea　from　only　a　short　distance　away。

　　　As　the　schooner　approached　that　mist；　drifting　quietly　at　half　sail；　the　wind　turned　colder　and　the　sun　seemed　somehow　less　substantial。　Deudermont　did　a　plete　circle　of　the　island；　but　found　no　particularly　remarkable　place；　nor　any　area　that　promised　an　easy　docking。

　　　Back　in　their　original　spot；　Deudermont　took　the　wheel　from　Dunkin　and　turned　the　Sea　Sprite　straight　toward　Caerwich；　slowly　slipping　her　into　the　mist。

　　　〃Ghost　wind；〃　Dunkin　remarked　nervously；　shuddering　in　the　sudden　chill。　〃She's　a　haunted　place；　I　tell　you。〃　The　small　man　tugged　at　his　ear　ferociously；　suddenly　wishing　that　he　had　gotten　off　the　schooner　at　Wyngate。　Dunkin's　other　ear　got　tugged　as　well；　but　not　by　his　own　hand。　He　turned　about　to　look　eye　to　eye　with　Drizzt　Do'Urden。　They　were　about　the　same　height；　with　similar　builds；　though　Drizzt's　muscles　were　much　more　finely　honed。　But　at　that　moment；　Drizzt　seemed　much　taller　to　poor　Dunkin；　and　much　more　imposing。

　　　〃Ghost　wi？　Dunkin　started　to　say；　but　Drizzt　put　a　finger　to　his　lips　to　silence　him。

　　　Dunkin　leaned　heavily　on　the　rail　and　went　silent。

　　　Deudermont　ordered　the　sails　lower　still　and　brought　the　schooner　to　a　creeping　drift。　The　mist　grew　thick　about　them　and　something　about　the　way　the　ship　was　handling；　something　about　the　flow　of　the　water　beneath　them；　told　the　captain　to　be　wary。　He　called　up　to　Catti…brie；　but　she　had　no　answers　for　him；　more　engulfed　by　blinding　mist　than　he。

　　　Deudermont　nodded　to　Drizzt；　who　rushed　off　to　the　forward　beam　and　crouched　low；　marking　their　way。　The　drow　spotted　something　a　moment　later；　and　his　eyes　widened。

　　　A　pole　was　sticking　out　of　the　water；　barely　fifty　yards　ahead　of　them。

　　　Drizzt　eyed　it　curiously　for　just　an　instant；　then　recognized　it　for　what　it　was：　the　top　of　a　ship's　mast。

　　　〃Stop　us！〃　he　yelled。

　　　Robillard　was　into　his　spellcasting　before　Deudermont　agreed　to　heed　the　warning。　The　wiza