war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第13部分

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　　　〃Your　family　is　cursed？〃　Ryld　asked；　not　bothering　to　inquire　as　to　what　a　〃full　moon〃　might　be。
　　　〃Not　cursed；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Diseased。　And　it's　a　disease　that　can　be　spread　。　。　。　through　bites。〃
　　　〃They　call　us　'monsters；'　〃　Yarno　added　in　a　pained　whisper。　〃They　hunt　us。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded；　understanding　the　boy's　pain。　Life　as　a　werewolf　in　that　forest　would　be　much　like　living　in　the　slums　of　Menzoberranzan。
　　　He　recalled　his　own　childhood；　always　dreading　the　next　group　of　drunken　nobles　who　round　sport　in　raging　through　the　narrow　streets；　blasting　the　screaming　wretches　of　the　Braeryn　with　bolts　of　magic；　slashing　as　they　rode　past　on　their　lizards；　leaving　their　victims　to　bleed　to　death　on　the　dirty　stone　of　an　alley。
　　　The　boy；　Yarno；　was　staring　intensely　up　at　Ryld；　his　eyes　filled　with　a　lingering；　unsalved　hurt。　Human　the　boy　might　be；　but　looking　into　his　eyes　was　like　staring　into　a　mirror。　Ryld's　lips　parted；　and　he　nearly　spoke　the　words　aloud：　I　was　hunted；　too。　I　understand…
　　　Then　the　boy's　grandfather　interrupted。
　　　〃I　have　belladonna；〃　he　said。　〃Yarno's　parents　planted　it　in　the　woods；　hoping　it　would　。。　。　spare　their　son。　This　was　once　their　home。〃　He　paused　to　catch　his　breath；　then　went　on。　〃The　herb　will　make　you　sick；　but　if　you　eat　it。。。　you　might　avoid　the　disease。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　sheathed　his　sword。
　　　〃Tell　me　where　the　temple　is；　and　I'll　see　what　I　can　do　to　clean　your　wound；　and　set　those　bones。　Then　I'll　think　about　trying　that　belladonna。〃
　　　
Chapter　Twelve
　　　Valas　awoke　to　the　feel　of　something　soft　and　slimy　stroking　the　left　side　of　his　face。　Jerking　his　head　back；　he　saw　it　was　a　tentacle…one　of　four　that　grew　from　the　body　of　an　enormous；　fishlike　creature　with　three　slitted　eyes。
　　　Thrashing　away　from　it　through　the　water；　Valas　found　his　back　up　against　the　bars　of　a　cage。　He　stared　out　through　the　front　of　the　enclosure　at　the　aboleth　that　was　lazily　withdrawing　its　tentacle。　The　creature　had　a　body　half　a　dozen　paces　long；　with　a　wide　fluked　tail。　Its　rubbery　looking　skin　was　blue…green　with　gray　splotches　and　covered　in　a　thick　coating　of　slime。　Its　belly　was　greenish…pink；　with　an　enormous　mouth　that　opened　and　closed　like　that　of　a　fish。　Three　eyes…red　and　slitted…were　lined　up　in　a　vertical　row　on　its　forehead。　The　tentacles；　each　half　as　long　as　the　body；　sprouted　from　a　point　just　behind　the　head。　They　drifted　lazily；　leaving　a　smudge　of　slime　in　the　water。
　　　Valas　could　feel　the　slime　on　his　face　where　the　tentacle　had　touched　him；　and　he　could　smell　the　clot　of　it　that　clogged　his　left　nostril。　He　exhaled　through　his　nose；　blowing　it　violently　away。
　　　He　checked　his　weapons　and　saw　that　his　kukris　were　still　in　their　sheaths。　A　quick　glance　told　him　his　talismans　were　still　pinned　to　his　shirt。　Reassured　and　ready；　he　looked　around　at　his　prison。
　　　The　cage　was　made　from　stout　iron　and　had　no　door　that　he　could　see。　Its　floor　rested　on　the　bottom　of　the　lake；　on　top　of　waist…high　kelp　that　had　been　mashed　flat　by　its　weight。　Beyond　the　cage；　tiny　glowing　fish　darted　in　and　out　of　the　gently　waving　strands。　In　the　distance；　stalagmites　rose　to　meet　the　surface　of　the　water；　high　overhead。　The　sides　of　those　rock　formations　were　punctuated　by　round　openings　through　which　aboleth　swam。　Valas　realized　the　stalagmites　must　be　the　buildings　of　Zanhoriloch。
　　　The　aboleth　was　making　no　move　to　attack；　it　simply　stared；　like　a　visitor　at　a　zoo。　Valas　spoke　to　it　in　sign；　hoping　it　would　understand。
　　　Why　am　I　a　prisoner？
　　　The　answer　came　in　a　voice　that　sounded　like　bubbles　erupting　into　water：　〃You　trespass。〃
　　　The　words　were　spoken　in　Undermon；　a　language　prised　of　a　blend　of　simple　words　and　phrases　from　several　different　Underdark　tongues。
　　　For　good　reason；　Valas　signed　back。　With　his　lungs　filled　with　water；　the　scout　couldn't　speak。　I　am　searching　for　something；　A　ship　of　bone　and　flesh；　made　by　demons。
　　　〃You　hunger　for　this　knowledge。〃
　　　Yes。　Have　you　seen　such　a　ship？
　　　〃I　have　not　consumed　it。〃
　　　Valas　frowned；　puzzled。　The　slime　the　aboleth　had　smeared　across　his　face　was　back　in　his　left　nostril　again。　He　pinched　the　other　one　shut　and　blew。
　　　You　have　seen　this　ship…but　not　eaten　it？　he　signed　again。
　　　The　aboleth　fluttered　its　tentacles　in　what　might　have　been　a　sign　of　irritation…or　the　equivalent　of　a　drow　shrug。
　　　〃I　have　not　seen　it。　Nor　have　I　consumed　any　knowledge　of　it。〃
　　　Consumed？　Valas　didn't　like　the　sound　of　that。
　　　How　do　you　consume　knowledge？　he　asked。
　　　〃From　our　parents；　after　we　hatch。　From　other　creatures；　such　as　yourself。　We　consume　them。〃
　　　You　。　。　。　eat　them？　Valas　asked。　Are　you　going　to　eat　me？
　　　〃That　is　not　my　privilege；〃　the　aboleth　said。　Then；　〃Do　you　have　knowledge　of　this　ship？〃
　　　Valas　quickly　shook　his　head　and　backed　it　up　with　an　emphatic　sign。
　　　No。　I　was　told　that　the　aboleth　knew　of　such　a　ship；　so　I　came　here　to　learn　if　it　was　real　or　rumor。
　　　〃Where　are　you　from？〃　the　aboleth　asked。　〃How　did　you　e　here？〃
　　　Valas　considered　how　to　answer　that。　Was　the　aboleth　trying　to　find　out　whether　he　had　e　to　Lake　Thoroot　alone…or　was　it　weighing　the　potential　information　stored　in　Valas's　mind；　prior　to　devouring　him？　He　tried　to　think　of　an　answer　that　wouldn't　make　him　sound　like　an　appealing　snack；　at　the　same　time　sizing　up　his　chances　of　escape。　The　fact　that　he　was　in　a　cage…that　the　aboleth　hadn't　consumed　him　immediately…was　promising。　Valas　thought　that　perhaps　he　was　being　saved　for　some　other　aboleth；　one　with　more　〃privilege。〃
　　　At　least；　that's　what　he　hoped　was　true；　if　the　aboleth　left　to　report　the　results　of　its　initial　questioning　to　its　superior；　Valas　could　use　the　star…shaped　amulet　that　was　still　pinned　to　his　shirt　to　escape。
　　　I　am　from　Menzoberranzan；　Valas　signed。　I　am　a　soldier　in　service　to　one　of　the　Houses　of　that　city。　The　matron　mother　used　her　magic　to　send　me　here；　to　inquire　about　the　demon　ship。　Shortly　she　will　use　that　same　magic　to　summon　me　home　again。
　　　Thus　explaining　my　impending　disappearance　from　the　cage；　Valas　thought。　And；　hopefully；　causing　the　aboleth　to　think　that　any　search　for　me　will　be　futile。
　　　Once　again；　he　noticed　that　his　nostril　had　filled　with　mucus；　and　he　blew　it　out。　He　scrubbed　his　face　furiously　with　a　sleeve；　but　it　only　served　to　spread　the　tentacle　slime　across　his　face。　Growing　worried；　Valas　stopped　scrubbing。　The　image　of　the　drow…thing　that　had　been　herding　the　jellyfish　loomed　large　in　his　mind。　Was　his　left　ear　tingling？　He　resisted　the　urge　to　reach　up　and　touch　it；　fearful　that　it　might　already　be　melting　away。
　　　〃You　will　not　return　to　your　city；〃　the　aboleth　said。
　　　Valas　shuddered；　fighting　down　the　sick　feeling　that　filled　his　stomach。
　　　Am　I　to　be　made　a　slave？　Does　your　city　have　no　matron　mother…　no　ruler　whom　I　can　appeal　to？
　　　A　ripple　passed　through　the　aboleth's　body。　Valas　wondered　whether　it　was　a　sign　of　annoyance　or　pleasure。
　　　〃It　has　been　many　flows　since　Oothoon　met　with　one　of　the　dry　folk。　You　are　merely　a　servant　among　your　people　and　do　not　warrant　her　attention。　As　for　your　question；　you　are　a　slave　to　Oothoon　already。　When　your　transformation　is　plete；　you　will　begin　to　serve　her。〃
　　　This　time；　Valas　did　touch　his　ear。　Its　tip　was　still　pointed；　but　it　was　definitely　tingling；　as　was　the　left　side　of　his　face；　and　his　left　hand　and　wrist。　The　fingers　of　that　hand　felt　sticky。　Trying　to　spread　them；　he　found　that　his　forefinger　was　starting　to　fuse　with　the　one　beside　it；　and　the　little　finger　with　the　finger　beside　it。　A　web　of　grayish　skin　was　growing　between　the　two　malformed　digits　and　was　already　up　to　the　first　knuckle。
　　　How　long　will　the　transformation　take？　he　asked；　his　left　hand　already　clumsy。
　　　〃No　longer　than　three　boorms；〃　the　aboleth　said。　〃When　it　is　finished；　I　will　return　to　release　you。〃
　　　With　a　powerful　flick　of　its　tail；　it　swam　away。
　　　Valas　had　no　idea　how　long　a　〃boorm〃　was。　It　might　be　as　long　as　one　cycle　of　Narbondel…in　which　case；　he　still　might　have　time　to　make　it　back　to　the　others　if　Pharaun's　spell　didn't　run　out　first。　Or；　for　all　he　knew；　a　boorm　might　be　as　short　as　a　heartbeat。　Glancing　at　his　left　hand；　he　shuddered。　The　sooner　he　started　back；　the　better。　The　aboleth　was　swimming　strongly　back　toward　the　city；　no　longer　looking　at　him。
　　　Valas　touched　the　nine…pointed　star　on　his　chest　and　felt　the　familiar　wrench　of　its　magic。　He　found　himself　standing　in　the　spot　he'd　chosen…a　good　hundred　paces　away…but　the　cage　had　been　transported　there　with　him。　It　landed　on　a　fresh　patch　of　kelp；　raising　a　knee…high　cloud　of　dirt　and　scattering　a　school　of　tiny；　frightened　fish。
　　　Had　part　or　his　body　touched　the　cage…was　that　why　it　had　slid　sideways　between　the　dimensions　with　him？　The　cage　was　far　too　heavy　to　have　been　included　in　the　talisman's　magic；　but　it　was　the　only　explanation　Valas　could　think　of。
　　　Sculling；　he　positioned　himself　exactly　at　the　center　of　the　cage；　and　tried　again…a　shorter　hop。　Once　again；　the　cage　came　with　him。
　　　Valas　frowned。　The　cage　was　obviously　somehow　enchanted　to　contain　him　no　matter　where　he　went。　If　his　brooch　had　been　more　powerful；　he　might　have　used　its　magic　to　transport　himself　across　the　lake　in　a　series　of　short　hops…following　the　predominant　current　of　the　lake　back　to　the　waterfall　that　must　be　its　source。　But　the　brooch's　magic　was　limited。　After　two　more　hops　like　the　first　one；　it　would　fall　dormant　for　a　full　cycle。
　　　Meanwhile；　the　slime　left　by　the　tentacle　was　creeping　across　his　face　and　up　his　left　arm。　He　breathed　in　a　deep　lungful　of　water；　then　blew　it　out　through　his　nose；　clearing　his　nostrils。　How　much　longer　did　he　have？　As　least　his　mind　was　still　his　own；　and　he　suspected　that　it　was　one　thing　he　would　probably　retain。　The　drow…thing　had　exhibited　free　will。　It　had　been　able　to　warn　Valas　away　from　Zanhoriloch…for　all　the　good　that　had　done。
　　　Time　to　try　something　else；　the　scout　thought。
　　　Valas　plucked　another　of　his　magical…items　from　his　shirt：　a　short　mithral　tube　no　longer　than　his　finger。　Sculling　with　his　left　hand…the　webs　had　already　grown　up　to　the　second　knuckle…he　tapped　the　tube　against　one　of　the　bars　of　the　cage。　A　bright；　clear　note　carried　through　the　water；　but　nothing　happened。　Whatever　door　there　might　be　in　the　cage　was　not　responding　to　the　chime's　magic。
　　　Slipping　the　chime　back　to　a　pocket；　Valas　reached　for　his　last　hope；　a　brooch　set　with　a　dull　gray　stone　that　was　surrounded　by　a　dozen　tiny；　uncut　gems。　Made　by　the　deep　gnomes；　the　brooch　had　the　power　to　wrap　its　wearer　in　illusion；　giving　him　whatever　appearance　he　could　imagine。　It　didn't　actually　transform　the　wearer；　nor　did　it　have　the　power　to　manifest　more　plicated　illusions…like　making　a　drow　appear　to　be　an　aboleth；　for　example…but　it　would　allow　Valas　to　create　subtle　changes　in　his　appearance。
　　　He　twisted　the　gem　in　its　facing；　and　felt　a　warm　shiver　run　through　his　body。　Looking　down；　he　〃saw〃　webbed　hands　and　feet　and　a　fluked　tail。　The　brooch's　magic　had　worked；　giving　him　the　appearance　of　the　drow…thing。
　　　Everything　depended　on　his　guess：　that　the　magic　of　the　cage　would　be　negated；　once　his　transformation　was　plete。　Kicking　his　legs；　he　propelled　himself　up　toward　the　roof　of　the　cage；　praying　that　it　would　disappear。
　　　His　head　struck　bars　with　a　crack　that　made　sparks　dance　in　front　of　his　eyes。　Grimacing；　he　drifted　back　toward　the　center　of　the　cage。
　　　That　was　it　then。　The　brooch　had　been　his　final　hope。　Even　the　illusion　magic　of　the　deep　gnomes　was　powerless　against　the　cage　that　held　him。　He　was　trapped。　All　he　could　do　was　wait　until　his　body　caught　up　with　the　illusion　he'd　just　created。　Until　he　turned　into　a　drow…thing　himself。
　　　I　won't　let　it　happen；　he　thought。　I　deserve　a　good　clean　death。　A　soldier's　death。　Not　this。
　　　He　yanked　out　one　of　his　kukris…the　one　that　sent　a　jolt　of　magical　energy　through　whatever　it　struck。　The　magic　wouldn't　affect　him　if　he　was　holding　the　dagger…a　precaution　against　accidental　wounds…but　if　he　shoved　the　hilt　into　the　ground；　he　would　be　able　to　impale　himself　on　the　upturned　blade。　Reaching　down　for　one　of　the　bars　that　made　up　the　floor　of　the　cage；　he　used　the　dagger　to　prod　at　the　floor　of　the　lake；　but　the　ground　was　too　hard。　The　cage　had　landed　on　a　patch　of　stone。　He'd　have　to　move　it　somewhere　else。
　　　Sculling　up　to　the　top　of　the　cage；　he　peered　back　toward　the　spot　where　the　cage　had　rested　a　moment　before；　but　saw　only　a　gently　waving　expanse　of　kelp；　not　the　flattened　parch　he'd　expected。　Had　he　somehow　gotten　turned　around？　No；　he　could　see　Zanhoriloch　in　the　distance。　His　sense　of　direction　hadn't　failed　him。　Yet　he　couldn't　see　either　the　spot　where　the　cage　had　just　rested　or　the　place　where　it　had　been　when　he　first　found　himself　inside　it。　That　was　strange；　the　weight　of　the　cage　should　have　crushed　the　kelp　flat。
　　　Ah　。　。　。　there。
　　　He　spotted　a　square　patch　of　kelp　about　thirty　paces　away…which　made　no　sense。　He'd　just　been　looking　at　that　spot　a　moment　ago。　Had　the　slime　spread　over　his　eyes；　blurring　them？
　　　No。　He　could　still　see　as　clearly　as　he　ever　could。
　　　Suddenly；　he　realized　the　answer：　the　cage　was　an　illusion。　An　incredibly　powerful　illusion…one　that　manifested　in　all　of　the　senses。　Not　only　were　the　bars　of　the　cage　visible；　but　they　felt　real。　They'd　even　caused　his　chime　to　ring　when　he　struck　it　against　them…or　so　he'd　thought。　But　by　closing　his　eyes…by　concentrating　so　hard　it　almost　hurt…he　could　feel　the　rocky　ground　beneath　his　feet。　Sculling　to　hold　himself　down　against　it；　he　slid　a　foot　along　the　ground…and　encountered　no　resistance。　Instead　of　his　foot　striking　a　bar；　it　slid　along　rough；　bare　stone。
　　　Still　concentrating；　he　continued　sliding　his　feet　along　the　ground　until　they　encountered　resistance：　a　strand　of　kelp。　Its　touch　nearly　broke　his　focus；　so　close　was　the　feel　to　that　of　the　tentacle　that　had　left　the　slime　of　its　foul　touch　on　his　face。　Shuddering；　he　pressed　on　until　he　could　feel　kelp　all　around　him；　then　he　opened　his　eyes。
　　　He'd　done　it。　The　illusionary　cage　had　disappeared。　He　was　free。
　　　But　for　how　long？　He　could　no　longer　move　his　left　hand　properly。　It　had　only　two　fingers；　with　a　thick　web　of　skin　growing　between　them。　His　left　ear　felt　strange；　as　did　his　left　eye。　It　was　starting　to　squint　shut　and　the　colors　he　saw　through　it　were　somehow　wrong。　Further　confirmation　of　his　fate　came　when　he　saw　a　clump　or　something　lacy　and　white　drifting　away　from　him。　It　was　the　hair　from　the　left　side　of　his　scalp。
　　　He　glanced　back　at　Zanhoriloch　and　saw　that　the　creatures　of　that　city　were　still　going　about　their　business；　swimming　back　and　forth　between　their　stalagmite　towers；　oblivious　to　his　escape。　No　alarm　seemed　to　have　been　raised；　and　none　of　the　aboleth　came　swimming　out　to　intercept　him。　A　surge　of　joy　filled　him；　but　it　was　short…lived。　With　a　sinking　heart；　he　realized　that　his　escape　was　only　temporary。　Soon　he　would　be　a　drow…thing；　transformed　forever　into　a　water…breathing　cre