蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第36部分

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　was　as　strong　as　adamantine　nonetheless。　Otherwise；　it　would　have　disintegrated　under　its　own　weight。　Far　ahead；　my　perch　fused　at　right　angles　with　another　such　object；　which　connected　with　still　others；　the　pattern　spreading　out　to　form；　I　suddenly　realized；　a　spiderweb　of　insane　plexity；　huge　enough　to　make　a　world。　If　it　was　attached　to　anything；　the　anchor　points　were　too　distant　for　me　to　see。　Perhaps　it　just　went　on　and　on　forever。〃
〃The　Demonweb；〃　Syrzan　said。
Pharaun　surreptitiously　examined　his　captor's　talismans；　using　the　magic　in　the　silver　ring；　trying　to　figure　out　which　one　would　allow　an　illithid　to　send　a　psionic　〃Call〃　to　every　ore　and　goblin　in　Menzoberranzan。
〃Very　good；〃　the　mage　said。　〃I　see　you　were　paying　attention　when　your　teachers　discoursed　on　the　sundry　planes　of　existence。　I　was　indeed　exiled　to　that　layer　of　the　Abyss　where　Lolth　holds　sway。　I　remembered　hearing　that　the　strands　of　the　web　were　hollow　and　that　much　of　the　life　of　the　place　existed　inside。　Well；　I　certainly　couldn't　see　any　source　of　food　or　water　on　the　outside；　let　alone　a　portal　to　take　me　home；　so；　still　dazed　and　sick　from　the　clerics'　attentions；　I　started　crawling　and　searching　for　a　means　of　entry。
〃Eventually；　I　might　have　found　one；　but　I　ran　out　of　time。　The　strand　I　was　traversing　began　to　tremble。　I　peered　about　and　saw　her　scuttling　toward　me。〃
〃Lolth？〃　Syrzan　asked。
〃Who　else？　Her　priestesses　say　she　travels　her　domain　in　a　mobile　iron　fortress；　but　she　must　have　left　it　behind　that　day。　I　beheld　the　goddess　herself　in　the　guise　of　a　spider　as　huge　as　the　Great　Mound　of　the　Baenre。　She's　appeared　to　others　in　the　same　shape　only　smaller；　but　she　was　colossal　when　she　came　for　me。
〃I　was　terrified；　but　what　was　one　to　do　about　it？　Run？　Fight？　Either　effort　would　have　been　equally　absurd。　I　exercised　the　only　sensible　option。　I　huddled　atop　the　thread　and　covered　my　eyes。
〃Alas；　she　denied　me　the　forts　of　blindness。　Her　will　took　hold　of　me　and　forced　me　to　look　up。　She　was　looming　over　me；　staring　down　with　a　circle　of　luminous　ruby　orbs。
〃I　felt　as　if　her　gaze　was　not　merely　piercing　but　dissolving　me。　The　sensation　was　intolerable；　I　wanted　to　die；　and　in　a　way；　she　granted　my　wish。
〃Her　legs　were　immense；　but　they　tapered　to　points　at　the　ends；　and；　moving　with　a　dainty　precision；　she　used　the　two　frontmost　members　to　dissect　me。　Did　the　process　kill　me？　I　don't　know。　By　all　rights；　it　should　have；　but　if　I　lost　my　life；　my　spirit　lingered　in　my　divided　flesh；　still　suffering　the　horror　and　pain。
〃My　soul　was　conscious；　too；　of　its　own　destruction。　Somehow；　as　the　Spider　Queen　picked　apart　my　flesh　and　bones；　she　was　filleting　my　mind　and　spirit　as　well。　It　irks　me　that　I　can't　describe　how　it　felt。　I　hail　from　a　race　of　torturers　and　spellcasters；　but　I　still　lack　the　vocabulary。　Suffice　it　to　say；　it　wasn't　pleasant。
〃In　the　end；　every　aspect　of　my　self　lay　in　pieces　before　her—for　inspection；　I　realize　now；　though　I　was　in　too　much　agony　and　dread　to　work　it　out　at　the　time。　When　she'd　looked　her　fill；　she　put　me　back　together。〃
Still　careful　not　to　betray　himself；　keeping　his　mind　focused　on　the　story；　Pharaun　decided　it　was　the　triangle　that　would　power　the　alhoon's　Call。　The　question　then　was　what　to　do　about　it。　The　real　brooch　hung　on　the　chest　of　Syrzan's　physical　body；　back　in　the　material　world。　The　one　inside　his　mind　was　a　sort　of　echo。　An　analogue。　Would　depriving　Syrzan　of　it　acplish　anything？
Pharaun　continued；　〃Do　you　think　she　reconnected　every　subtle　juncture　of　my　intellect　and　spirit　exactly　as　they'd　been　before？　Over　the　course　of　the　next　few　years；　I　invested　a　fair　amount　of　time　brooding　over　that　particular　question；　but　it's　unanswerable；　so　let　it　not　detain　us。
〃After　the　Mother　of　Lusts　cobbled　me　together；　she　tossed　me　back　to　my　native　reality；　back　onto　the　altar；　in　fact；　thus　indicating　she　found　me　acceptable。　I　imagine　the　clerics　were　disappointed。　I've　never　known　an　inquisitor　to　rejoice　in　a　suspect's　acquittal。
〃Perhaps　they　took　a　bit　of　solace　in　the　discovery　that　I'd　gone　altogether　mad。　They　carted　me　back　to　my　family；　who　strapped　me　to　a　bed　and　debated　whether　it　wouldn't　be　more　convenient　all　around　to　smother　me　with　a　pillow。　Sabal　was　my　advocate　and　guard。　She　couldn't　afford　to　lose　her　staunchest　ally。
〃Let's　skip　over　all　the　raving　and　hallucinations；　shall　we？　Eventually　my　wits　returned；　and　as　I　reflected　on　my　experiences　in　the　Abyss；　I　realized　that　while　Lolth　was　infinitely　dreadful　and　malign；　she　was　transcendently　beautiful　as　well。　I'd　simply　been　too　distraught　to　recognize　it　at　the　time。〃
The　magic　of　both　the　ring　and　the　brooch　had　acpanied　the　dreamers　into　the　dream。　Otherwise；　Pharaun　wouldn't　be　able　to　see　the　triangle　glowing。　So　perhaps　if　he　disposed　of　the　talisman　in　this　place；　its　counterpart　in　mundane　reality　would　lose　its　enchantments。
Possibly　not；　also；　but　the　Master　of　Sorcere　felt　he　had　to　take　a　chance。　He　doubted　he'd　get　another。
〃Certainly　she　exemplified　that　supreme　power　to　which　all　dark　elves；　particularly　we　wizards；　aspire；〃　the　drow　rambled　on。　〃I　felt　inspired　that　she　was　our　patron。　She's　worthy　of　us；　as　we　are　worthy　of　her。〃
〃She　impressed　you；〃　Syrzan　said；　its　mouth　tentacles　wriggling；　〃as　even　the　pettiest　deity　can　overawe　a　mortal。　Still；　you're　a　scholar　of　the　mysteries。　You　should　know　there　are　powers　greater　than　Lolth；　entities　who；　if　they　saw　fit—〃
Pharaun　snatched　the　triangular　ivory　brooch　off　the　undead　mind　flayer's　soiled　and　shabby　robe　and　slammed　it　down　on　the　convoluted　parapet　at　the　edge　of　the　bridge。　The　ornament　didn't　break。　In　desperation；　he　pulled　back　his　arm　to　throw　it。　Perhaps　the　illithidlich　would　have　difficulty　retrieving　it　from　the　murky　pool　below。
A　cold；　rough　hand　grabbed　him　by　the　collar　and　wrenched　him　down。　He　was　powerless　to　resist。　In　the　reality　Syrzan　had　created　for　itself；　it　was　as　strong　as　a　titan。
The　lich　ripped　the　brooch　from　Pharaun's　grasp　and　thrust　it　into　a　pocket。　It　clutched　the　dark　elf　with　both　hands；　leaned　its　head　close；　and　wrapped　its　dry；　flaking　mouth　tentacles　over　the　mage's　skull。　Pharaun　knew　this　was　how　mind　flayers　fed。　They　wormed　their　members　into　whatever　orifices　were　most　convenient　and　yanked　out　their　victim's　brain。
He　wondered　what　would　happen　when　Syrzan　subjected　his　dream　self　to　such　treatment。　Would　his　physical　body　perish；　or　would　it　survive　as　a　living　but　mindless　shell？
〃Didn't　you　like　my　story？〃　Pharaun　gasped。　The　lich's　grip　was　squeezing　the　breath　out　of　him。　〃You　seemed　quite　engrossed。　That　was　why　I　dared　to　hope　I　could　catch　you　by　surprise。〃
〃You　put　your　hands　on　me〃
The　mellifluous　voice　of　the　Prophet　was　roughening　into　an　ugly　bination　of　hisses　and　buzzes。　The　tentacles　squeezed　tighter
〃Technically；　these　aren't　my　hands；〃　Pharaun　said。　Goddess；　it　felt　as　if　his　skull　was　going　to　shatter　〃Since　this　is　all　imaginary。〃
〃You　will　tell　me　how　you　knew　which　charm　to　grab。〃
〃My　ring。　It　allows　me　to　see　and　interpret　patterns　of　magical　force。　No　wizard　should　be　without　one。〃
〃You　were　a　fool　to　try　to　thwart　me　here　in　my　private　world。　Don't　you　understand　that　inside　this　construct；　I'm　a。　god。〃
〃I'm　dead　regardless；〃　replied　Pharaun；　〃and　when　a　drow　knows　his　life　is　forfeit；　he　bends　his　thoughts　to　revenge。〃
〃But　you're　mistaken。〃　Syrzan　loosened　the　grip　of　the　tentacles　and　said；　〃I'm　not　going　to　kill　you。　That　would　be　wasteful。　As　you　observed；　my　objective　is　to　enslave　all　Menzoberranzan。　Certainly　you；　with　all　your　talents；　will　make　a　useful　thrall。　Had　you　not　manhandled　me；　your　bondage　might　have　been　relatively　light；　for　I　enjoy　the　society　of　other　mages。　Now　I'm　afraid　you　aren't　going　to　enjoy　it　in　the　slightest。〃
Pain　ripped　through　Pharaun's　head。　He　screamed。
　
C　h　a　p　t　e　r　　
T　　W　　E　　N　　T　　Y
〃Let　me　do　it；〃　Houndaer　growled。
His　scimitar　at　the　ready；　he　stalked　toward　Ryld。
The　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　tried　and　failed　to　rise。　As　a　student　at　the　Academy　and　in　all　the　years　since；　he'd　studied　techniques　for　transcending　pain；　but　he'd　never　felt　anything　parable　to　the　invisible　blow　the　undead　illithid　had　struck　him。　It　had　been　like　a　spear　driving　through　his　mind。
Syrzan　emerged　from　its　momentary　trance　and　said；　〃No。〃　Houndaer　turned。　〃No？〃　he　asked。　〃You　were　right　about　them。　Obviously。〃　〃And　I　trust；〃　said　the　lich；　its　mouth　tentacles　wriggling；　〃that　you'll　remember　whose　judgment　is　superior。　Now　that　they're　here；　however；　they　might　as　well　serve　our　cause　as　you　hoped　they　would。　It's　just　a　matter　of　reshaping　their　minds。〃
The　bard　lifted　an　eyebrow　and　asked；　〃Can　you　do　that？〃　〃Yes；〃　said　Syrzan；　〃but　not　instantaneously；　and　not　now。　I　need　my　strength　to　give　the　Call。〃
It　pulled　Pharaun's　silver　ring　off　the　unconscious　drow's　finger。
〃Lock　them　up　for　the　time　being；〃　the　alhoon　ordered。
〃All　right；〃　saidTsabrak。　〃I　hope　you're　going　to　fix　it　so　we　can　all　control　them。〃
He　too　advanced　on　Ryld。
The　weapons　master　struggled　once　again　to　rise。　Someone　lashed　him　over　the　head　with　the　flat　of　a　blade；　and　all　the　strength　spilled　out　of　him　like　wine　from　an　overturned　cup。
The　next　few　minutes　were　a　blur。　Houndaer；　Tsabrak；　the　bard；　and　another　renegade　carried　their　captives　to　a　cell。　It　had　the　same　grime　and　air　of　desolation　as　much　of　the　rest　of　the　castle；　but　someone；　exhibiting　a　proper　dark　elf's　sense　of　priorities；　had　gone　to　the　trouble　to　refurbish　the　locks　and　restraints。
The　rogues　divested　Ryld　of　his　cloak　and　armor；　then　chained　him　to　the　wall。　As　he'd　expected；　the　conspirators　took　more　elaborate　precautions　with　the　wizard；　even　though　Pharaun　had　suffered　a　violent　seizure　shortly　after　Syrzan　stunned　him；　had　apparently　passed　from　that　into　plete　unconsciousness；　and　showed　no　sign　of　rousing　any　time　soon。　In　addition　to　shackling　him；　the　rogues　locked　a　steel　bridle　around　his　head；　forcing　the　bit　into　his　mouth　to　keep　him　from　enunciating　words　of　power　or　anything　else。　They　inserted　his　forearms　into　the　two　ends　of　a　hinged　metal　tube；　a　sort　of　muff　or　double　glove　that　would　make　it　impossible　for　him　to　gesture　or　crook　his　fingers　into　a　cabalistic　sign。
By　the　time　they　finished；　Ryld's　strength　had　begun　to　return；　enough；　at　least；　to　permit　him　to　speak。
〃It'll　get　you；　too；〃　he　croaked。
Houndaer　turned；　scowling。　〃What？〃
〃The　lich。　It　doesn't　want　to　share　power。　It's　planning　to　turn　every　Menzoberranyr；　including　you；　into　its　mindslave。　That's　what　illithids　do。〃
〃Do　you　think　we　trust　the　beast？〃　the　Tuin'Tarl　sneered。　〃We're　not　idiots。　It'll　serve　its　purpose；　and　we'll　dispose　of　it。〃
〃So　you　intend；　but　what　if　Syrzan's　already　working　on　subjugating　you；　so　subtly　you　don't　even　know　it？　What　if；　when　the　time　es—〃
Houndaer　punched　his　former　teacher　in　the　mouth；　dashing　his　head　against　the　calcite　wall。
〃Shut　up；〃　the　noble　said。　〃You　fooled　me　once　and　made　me　look　like　an　imbecile。　It's　not　going　to　happen　again。〃
The　rogues　made　their　departure。　With　his　spidery　lower　body；　Tsabrak　had　to　squeeze　through　the　door。　The　last　one　out；　the　bard　gave　Ryld　a　wry　smile　and　a　shrug。　The　door　slammed　shut。
Ryld　licked　the　salty　taste　of　blood　from　his　gashed　lower　lip。
〃Pharaun；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃Are　you　truly　unconscious；　or　is　it　a　trick？〃
Slumped　with　the　steel　harness　clamped　around　his　head；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　didn't　respond。　If　not　for　the　rise　and　fall　of　his　chest；　Ryld　would　have　feared　him　dead。
The　swordsman　tried　to　go　to　Pharaun；　but　his　chains　were　too　short。　He　undertook　an　examination　of　the　shackles。　The　cuffs　fit　tightly；　and　the　locks　were　strong。　The　links　were　heavy；　well　fed；　and　anchored　securely　in　the　wall。　Ryld　had　broken　free　of　bonds　a　time　or　two　in　his　turbulent　early　years；　but　without　tools　or　a　miracle；　he　wouldn't　be　sundering　these。
Nor；　denied　the　use　of　his　voice　and　hands；　was　Pharaun　likely　to　fare　any　better。　Still；　Ryld　suspected　the　mage　was　his　only　hope。　Pharaun　was　clever。　Perhaps　he　could　think　of　a　workable　ploy；　if　only　he　was　conscious。
〃　Wake　upr　Ryld　roared。　〃Wake　up；　curse　it。　You've　got　to　get　us　out　of　here〃
To　add　to　the　din；　he　beat　a　length　of　chain　against　the　wall。
To　no　avail。　He　shouted　until　his　throat　was　raw；　but　Pharaun　didn't　stir。
〃Bleed　it〃　the　weapons　master　swore。
He　hunkered　down　on　the　floor　and　tried　to　work　up　some　saliva　to　wash　away　the　dryness　in　his　mouth。　As　the　renegades　hadn't　bothered　to　provide　a　water　jug；　spit　was　the　best　he　could　do。
〃You　have　to　wake　up；〃　he　said　in　a　softer　voice。　〃Otherwise；　they've　beaten　us；　and　we've　never　let　anyone　do　that。　Do　you　remember　when　we　hunted　that　cloaker　lord？　We　found　out　too　late　that　it　had　sixtyseven　other　chasm　rays　in　its　raiding　party；　many　more　than　our　little　band　of　thirdyear　students　was　prepared　to　confront。　But　you　said；　'It's　all　right；　it　just　takes　the　proper　spells　to　even　the　odds。'　First　you　conjured　a　wall　of　fire　。　。　。〃
Ryld　rambled　on　for　hours；　talking　his　throat　raw；　recounting　their　shared　experiences　as　they　occurred　to　him。　Perhaps　the　stories　would　strike　a　spark　in　Pharaun's　unconscious　mind；　and　in　any　case；　it　was　better　than　just　sitting　and　wondering　what　life　would　be　like　after　Syrzan　corrupted　his　mind。
Finally　the　wizard's　chin　jerked　up　off　his　chest。　His　eyes　were　wild；　and　he　tried　to　cry　out。　The　bit　turned　the　sound　into　a　strangled　gurgle　even　as　it　cut　into　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　Beads　of　blood　blossomed　from　the　wounds。
〃It's　all　right；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Whatever　the　lich　did　to　you；　it's　over。〃
Pharaun　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　Rationality　returned　to　his　eyes。　Ryld　got　the　feeling　that　if　not　for　the　harness；　the　wizard　would　have　smiled　his　usual　cheery　smile。　He　nodded　to　the　weapons　master；　thanking　him　for　the　reassurance；　then　he　inspected　the　sheath　constraining　his　hands。　He　bashed　it　on　the　floor　a　few　times　to　see　if　he　could　jolt　the　catches　open。　They　held　with　nary　a　rattle。　He　shook　his　head；　sat　still　for　several　seconds；　then　closed　his　eyes　and　settled　back　against　the　wall；　no　doubt　pondering　their　plight。
After　several　minutes；　the　wizard　straightened　up。　He　started　scraping　the　heel　of　one　boot　against　the　side　of　the　other。
Ryld　felt　a　stir　of　excitement。　He　could　only　assume　his　fellow　master　had　a　talisman　hidden　inside　the　footwear。　It　was　odd　the　wizard　hadn't　remembered　until　then；　but　perhaps　it　was　a　result　of　the　seizure。
Like　all　drow　boots；　Pharaun's　were　high　and　fit　snugly。　By　the　time　it　slid　off　the　mage's　foot；　Ryld　was　avid　with　curiosity　to　see　。　。　。　nothing。　Nothing　but　trews　and　a　stocking。
Pharaun　set　to　work　shoving　off　the　other　boot。　Ryld　wished　he　knew　what　his　friend　had　in　mind；　but　knew　it　would　be　pointless　to　ask。　With　his　hands　concealed；　the　spellcaster　couldn't　answer　even　in　the　silent　drow　sign　language。
Eventually　the　second　boot　slipped　free；　whereupon　Pharaun　pushed　off　his　socks。　His　bare　feet　were　of　a　piece　with　his　hands；　slender　and　long；　the　digits　included。
The　wizard　lifted　his　right　foot；　stared　at　it　intently；　and　started　curling　and　crossing　the　toes。　He　fumbled　through　a　sequence　of　moves；　then　repeated　it。　It　took　Ryld　another　few　moments　to　pre