war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第74部分

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stive　acids　killed　her…she　would　be　disfigured；　but　she　would　live。　And　that　was　all　that　mattered。
　　　Howling　with　each　sword　stroke；　Ryld　slashed　deep　rents　in　the　worm's　body。　The　creature　had　enough　intelligence…instinct　at　least…to　jerk　its　head　and　neck　back；　keeping　them　out　of　range　of　the　sword；　but　with　each　fresh　wound　to　its　side　it　slowed。　Encouraged；　Ryld　pressed　his　attack　home；　aware　that　each　passing　moment　was　lessening　Halisstra's　chances。　Stupidly；　the　worm　lowered　its　head；　giving　Ryld　a　clear　swing　at　its　throat。　Moving　forward；　he　obliged　it…then　realized　a　heartbeat　later　that　it　had　been　a　clever　feint。
　　　Even　as　Ryld　leaped　in　to　attack；　the　worm　whipped　its　tail　forward；　revealing　a　stinger　in　its　tail　that　Ryld　hadn't　seen　before。　The　stinger　glanced　off　the　bottom　of　Ryld's　breastplate　and　plunged　into　his　stomach　with　the　force　of　a　knife　blow；　burying　itself　in　his　gut。　Nearly　blinded　by　the　sudden　rush　of　pain；　he　flailed　backward；　pulling　himself　free　of　the　deadly　barb。　For　two　or　three　staggering　steps　he　managed　to　hang　onto　Splitter；　but　with　the　pain　of　the　wound　came　a　rush　of　agony　that　felt　like　fire；　sweeping　in　an　instant　from　his　wounded　gut　to　the　tips　of　his　fingers　and　toes。　In　that　terrible　moment；　Ryld　knew　that　he　had　been　poisoned。　Suddenly　too　weak　to　hold　his　greatsword；　he　let　it　fall。
　　　He　heard　the　clank　of　metal　striking　stone　dimly；　through　ears　filled　with　the　sound　of　a　labored；　pounding　heart。　The　pain　was　as　intense　as　if　someone　had　filled　his　gut　with　boiling　water。　He　crashed　to　the　ground；　barely　managing　to　break　his　fall　with　one　outstretched　arm。　Clenching　his　stomach　with　his　other　hand　he　slowly　forced　his　head　up；　intending　to　look　the　worm　in　the　eye　before　it　swallowed　him　whole。
　　　At　least；　he　thought　as　the　poison　pounded　in　his　temples；　he　would　pay　with　his　own　life　for　having　caused　Halisstra　to　lose　hers。　He　would　die　beside　her…a　slow；　painful　death　was　exactly　what　he　deserved。
　　　To　his　surprise；　he　saw　that　the　worm　was　not　pressing　its　attack　but　had　drawn　back　against　the　far　wall。　He　must　have　wounded　it　more　grievously　than　he'd　thought。　Then；　to　his　horror；　he　saw　a　bulge　form　in　the　worm's　side…and　disappear。　A　bulge　that　could　only　have　been　made　by　a　creature　moving　inside　it。
　　　Halisstra！　She　was　still　alive！
　　　He　saw　that　the　tip　of　the　songsword　was　still　protruding　from　the　worm's　cheek　and　he　realized　she　had　nothing　to　save　herself　with。
　　　Ryld　tried　to　rise；　tried　feebly　to　reach　for　Splitter；　but　found　that　his　body　no　longer　obeyed　his　will。　Each　breath　only　increased　the　roiling　agony　in　his　gut；　and　the　air　around　him　seemed　to　have　bee　tinged　with　gray。　The　arm　he　was　using　to　support　himself　collapsed；　and　the　floor　rushed　up　to　strike　his　face。　The　stone；　he　noticed　dully；　felt　cool　against　his　burning　cheek。
　　　
Chapter　Thirty…one
　　　Pharaun　peered　in　the　direction　Valas　was　pointing　and　at　last　saw　what　had　prompted　the　mercenary's　warning。　Far　across　the　Lake　of　Shadows；　a　storm　was　churning　the　surface。　The　water　twisted　in　an　enormous　circle；　as　if　flowing　down　a　drain。　Above　the　whirlpool　was　a　waterspout　that　must　have　been　a　hundred　paces　high。　The　top　of　it　bobbed　up　and　down　against　the　ceiling；　scattering　clouds　of　bats　with　each　touch。
　　　The　storm　was　still　some　distance　away　but　was　approaching　rapidly。　Pharaun　measured　its　progress　as　it　passed　through　one　of　the　beams　of　sunlight；　and　estimated　its　advance　at　the　speed　of　a　riding　lizard　running　full　out。　Already　he　could　hear　the　low　rush　of　spinning　water。　That　the　storm　was　magical　he　had　no　doubt。　Had　it　always　been　there…or　had　something　triggered　it？　Their　use　of　the　portal；　perhaps？
　　　The　others　had　spotted　it　as　well。　Quenthel　stared　at　the　storm　with　a　clenched　jaw；　the　serpents　at　her　hip　softly　swaying。　Jeggred　turned　his　head　from　side　to　side；　sniffing　the　humid　air。　Danifae　took　one　look　at　the　storm；　then　glanced　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　at　Quenthel；　Valas；　and　Jeggred　in　turn。　Pharaun　noted　where　those　glances　lingered：　on　the　amulets　each　wore　that　would　allow　them　to　either　levitate　up　through　one　of　the　holes　in　the　cavern　ceiling　or…in　Valas's　case…step　through　the　dimensions　to　escape　the　storm。
　　　Catching　her　eye；　Pharaun　held　his　hand　up　in　a　reassuring　gesture　and　signed；　Wait。
　　　Then　he　turned　to　Valas　and　asked；　〃Did　the　rogue　who　told　you　about　the　portal　mention　anything　about　this？〃
　　　Valas　shook　his　head。　〃He　didn't　linger　here。　As　soon　as　he　reached　the　cavern　he　levitated　straight　up　and　out。〃　As　he　spoke　he　glanced　up　at　the　nearest　of　the　sunlight…limned　holes　in　the　ceiling　as　if　measuring　the　distance　to　it。　Then　he　gave　a　resigned　sigh　and　stared　grimly　at　the　approaching　storm。
　　　Quenthel；　meanwhile；　had　turned　her　attention　to　the　wand　Danifae　had　recovered　from　the　treasure　vault　and　was　experimenting　with　different　mand　words。　Jeggred；　crouching　beside　her；　pawed　at　her　sleeve　and　muttered　something…and　received　a　backhanded　slap　for　disturbing　his　mistress。　The　draegloth　prostrated　himself　at　her　feet；　whimpering　his　apologies。　Quenthel　ignored　him　and　continued　to　try　to　find　the　wand's　mand　word。
　　　Pharaun　rolled　his　eyes。　At　the　moment；　the　storm　was　a　more　pressing　problem　than　trying　to　find　the　ship　of　chaos；　but　Quenthel's　muttering　was　getting　on　his　nerves。
　　　〃It's　probably　a　word　in　the　duergar　tongue；〃　he　told　her。　〃Try　'treasure；'　or　'seek'　or　something　like　that。　And　turn　the　wand　around…you　have　to　hold　the　forked　end　for　it　to　work。〃
　　　Quenthel's　serpents　hissed　with　irritation；　but　she　did　as　he　suggested；　turning　the　wand　and　switching　to　the　guttural　tongue　of　the　duergar。　Meanwhile；　the　storm　whirled　ever　closer。　The　sound　of　it　had　grown　loud　enough　that　they　had　to　raise　their　voices　slightly；　and　its　breeze　stirred　Pharaun's　hair。
　　　Danifae　shifted　nervously。
　　　〃If　we're　still　here　when　the　storm　hits；　we'll　be　smashed　against　the　rocks；〃　she　said。
　　　〃Or　drowned；〃　Valas　muttered；　glancing　below　at　the　waves　that　were　already　starting　to　lap　against　the　bottom　of　the　cliff。
　　　〃You're　forgetting　my　teleport　spell；〃　he　told　them。　〃One　quick　incantation；　and　we'll　be　back　in　the　World　Above。　The　only　question　is；　where　to　go？〃
　　　Valas　squinted　against　the　swirl　of　mist　that　was　starting　to　strike　the　ledge。
　　　〃In　a　few　moments；〃　the　scout　said；　〃anywhere　is　going　to　be　better　than　here。〃
　　　Beside　him；　Quenthel　gave　a　gasp　of　satisfaction　as　the　wand　came　to　life　in　her　hands。　The　end　of　it　trembled　and　jerked　back　and　forth　like　the　head　of　a　lizard　that　smelled　blood；　and　a　loud　whine　filled　the　air。　As　Quenthel　moved　the　wand　in　a　wide；　horizontal　arc　the　whining　noise　rose；　then　fell…then　rose　again　as　she　swung　the　wand　so　that　it　pointed　at　the　waterspout。
　　　As　the　storm　grew　nearer；　filling　the　air　with　a　spray　of　water　and　an　even　louder　roar；　she　shouted　exultantly；　〃There！　The　ship　of　chaos　is　inside　the　whirlpool！〃
　　　Pharaun　squinted　at　the　storm。
　　　〃Yes；〃　he　told　Quenthel。　〃I　can　see　it　now。〃
　　　And　there　really　was　something　there…a　dim；　dark　s