2 new+moon新月-第20部分

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〃No；　no；〃　Billy　said　quickly。　〃We're　fine。　Stay　at　your　place。〃　

The　way　he　said　it　was　almost　rude。　

〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。　

〃Bye；　Bella。〃　

The　line　disconnected。　

〃Bye；〃　I　muttered。　

Well；　at　least　he'd　made　it　home。　Oddly；　I　didn't　feel　less　worried。　I　trudged　up　the　stairs；　fretting。　Maybe　
I　would　go　down　before　work　tomorrow　to　check　on　him。　I　could　take　soup—we　had　to　have　a　can　of　
Campbell's　around　here　somewhere。　

I　realized　all　such　plans　were　canceled　when　I　woke　up　early—my　clock　said　four　thirty—and　sprinted　to　
the　bathroom。　Charlie　found　me　there　a　half　hour　later；　lying　on　the　floor；　my　cheek　pressed　against　the　
cold　edge　of　the　bathtub。　

He　looked　at　me　for　a　long　moment。　

〃Stomach　flu；〃　he　finally　said。　

〃Yes；〃　I　moaned。　

〃You　need　something？〃　he　asked。　

〃Call　the　Newtons　for　me；　please；〃　I　instructed　hoarsely。　〃Tell　them　I　have　what　Mike　has；　and　that　I　
can't　make　it　in　today。　Tell　them　I'm　sorry。〃　

〃Sure；　no　problem；〃　Charlie　assured　me。　

I　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　on　the　bathroom　floor；　sleeping　for　a　few　hours　with　my　head　on　a　crumpled　
up　towel。　Charlie　claimed　that　he　had　to　work；　but　I　suspected　that　he　just　wanted　access　to　a　bathroom。　
He　left　a　glass　of　water　on　the　floor　beside　me　to　keep　me　hydrated。　

It　woke　me　up　when　he　came　back　home。　I　could　see　that　it　was　dark　in　my　room—after　nightfall。　He　
clumped　up　the　stairs　to　check　on　me。　

〃Stillalive？〃　

〃Sort　of；〃　I　said。　

〃Do　you　want　anything？〃　

〃No；　thanks。〃　

He　hesitated；　clearly　out　of　his　element。　〃Okay；　then；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　went　back　down　to　the　
kitchen。　

I　heard　the　phone　ring　a　few　minutes　later。　Charlie　spoke　to　someone　in　a　low　voice　for　a　moment；　and　
then　hung　up。　

〃Mike　feels　better；〃　he　called　up　to　me。　

Well；　that　was　encouraging。　He'd　only　gotten　sick　eight　hours　or　so　before　me。　Eight　more　hours。　The　
thought　made　my　stomach　turn；　and　I　pulled　myself　up　to　lean　over　the　toilet。　

I　fell　asleep　on　the　towel　again；　but　when　I　woke　up　I　was　in　my　bed　and　it　was　light　outside　my　window。　
I　didn't　remember　moving；　Charlie　must　have　carried　me　to　my　room—he'd　also　put　the　glass　of　water　on　
my　bedside　table。　I　felt　parched。　I　chugged　it　down；　though　it　tasted　funny　from　sitting　stagnant　all　night。　

I　got　up　slowly；　trying　not　to　trigger　the　nausea　again。　I　was　weak；　and　my　mouth　tasted　horrible；　but　my　
stomach　felt　fine。　I　looked　at　my　clock。　

My　twentyfour　hours　were　up。　

I　didn't　push　it；　eating　nothing　but　saltine　crackers　for　breakfast。　Charlie　looked　relieved　to　see　me　
recovered。　

As　soon　as　I　was　sure　that　I　wasn't　going　to　have　to　spend　the　day　on　the　bathroom　floor　again；　I　called　
Jacob。　

Jacob　was　the　one　who　answered；　but　when　I　heard　his　greeting　I　knew　he　wasn't　over　it。　

〃Hello？〃　His　voice　was　broken；　cracking。　

〃Oh；　Jake；〃　I　groaned　sympathetically。　〃You　sound　horrible。〃　

〃I　feel　horrible；〃　he　whispered。　

〃I'm　so　sorry　I　made　you　go　out　with　me。　This　sucks。〃　

〃I'm　glad　I　went。〃　His　voice　was　still　a　whisper。　〃Don't　blame　yourself。　This　isn't　your　fault。〃　

〃You'll　get　better　soon；〃　I　promised。　〃I　woke　up　this　morning；　and　I　was　fine。〃　

〃You　were　sick？〃　he　asked　dully。　

〃Yes；　I　got　it；　too。　But　I'm　fine　now。〃　

〃That's　good。〃　His　voice　was　dead。　

〃So　you'll　probably　be　better　in　a　few　hours；〃　I　encouraged。　

I　could　barely　hear　his　answer。　〃I　don't　think　I　have　the　same　thing　you　did。〃　

〃Don't　you　have　the　stomach　flu？〃　I　asked；　confused。　

〃No。　This　is　something　else。〃　

〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃　

〃Everything；〃　he　whispered。　〃Every　part　of　me　hurts。〃　

The　pain　in　his　voice　was　nearly　tangible。　

〃What　can　I　do；　Jake？　What　can　I　bring　you？〃　

〃Nothing。　You　can't　e　here。〃　He　was　abrupt。　It　reminded　me　of　Billy　the　other　night。　

〃I've　already　been　exposed　to　whatever　you　have；〃　I　pointed　out。　

He　ignored　me。　〃I'll　call　you　when　I　can。　I'll　let　you　know　when　you　can　e　down　again。〃　

〃Jacob—〃　

〃I've　got　to　go；〃　he　said　with　sudden　urgency。　

〃Call　me　when　you　feel　better。〃　

〃Right；〃　he　agreed；　and　his　voice　had　a　strange；　bitter　edge。　

He　was　silent　for　a　moment。　I　was　waiting　for　him　to　say　goodbye；　but　he　waited　too。　

〃I'll　see　you　soon；〃　I　finally　said。　〃Wait　for　me　to　call；〃　he　said　again。　〃Okay…　Bye；　Jacob。〃　

〃Bella；〃　he　whispered　my　name；　and　then　hung　up　the　phone。　

10。　THE　MEADOW　




JACOB　DIDN'T　CALL。　

The　first　time　I　called；　Billy　answered　and　told　me　that　Jacob　was　still　in　bed。　I　got　nosy；　checking　to　
make　sure　that　Billy　had　taken　him　to　a　doctor。　Billy　said　he　had；　but；　for　some　reason　I　couldn't　nail　
down；　I　didn't　really　believe　him。　I　called　again；　several　times　a　day；　for　the　next　two　days；　but　no　one　
was　ever　there。　

Saturday；　I　decided　to　go　see　him；　invitation　be　damned。　But　the　little　red　house　was　empty。　This　
frightened　me—was　Jacob　so　sick　that　he'd　needed　to　go　to　the　hospital？　I　stopped　by　the　hospital　on　
the　way　back　home；　but　the　nurse　at　the　front　desk　told　me　neither　Jacob　or　Billy　had　been　in。　

I　made　Charlie　call　Harry　Clearwater　as　soon　as　he　got　home　from　work。　I　waited；　anxious；　while　
Charlie　chatted　with　his　old　friend；　the　conversation　seemed　to　go　on　forever　without　Jacob　even　being　
mentioned。　It　seemed　that　Harry　had　been　in　the　hospital　。　。　some　kind　of　tests　for　his　heart。　Charlie's　
forehead　got　all　pinched　together；　but　Harry　joked　with　him；　blowing　it　off；　until　Charlie　was　laughing　
again。　Only　then　did　Charlie　ask　about　Jacob；　and　now　his　side　of　the　conversation　didn't　give　me　much　

to　work　with；　just　a　lot　of　hmms　and　yeahs。　I　drummed　my　fingers　against　the　counter　beside　him　until　he　
put　a　hand　over　mine　to　stop　me。　

Finally；　Charlie　hung　up　the　phone　and　turned　to　me。　

〃Harry　says　there's　been　some　trouble　with　the　phone　lines；　and　that's　why　you　haven't　been　able　to　get　
through。　Billy　took　Jake　to　the　doc　down　there；　and　it　looks　like　he　has　mono。　He's　real　tired；　and　Billy　
said　no　visitors；〃　he　reported。　

〃No　visitors？〃　I　demanded　in　disbelief。　

Charlie　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Now　don't　you　go　making　a　pest　of　yourself；　Bells。　Billy　knows　what's　best　
for　Jake。　He'll　be　up　and　around　soon　enough。　Be　patient。〃　

I　didn't　push　it。　Charlie　was　too　worried　about　Harry。　That　was　clearly　the　more　important　issue—it　
wouldn't　be　right　to　bug　him　with　my　lesser　concerns。　Instead；　I　went　straight　upstairs　and　turned　on　my　
puter。　I　found　a　medical　site　online　and　typed　〃mononucleosis〃　into　the　search　box。　

All　I　knew　about　mono　was　that　you　were　supposed　to　get　it　from　kissing；　which　was　clearly　not　the　case　
with　Jake。　I　read　through　the　symptoms　quickly—the　fever　he　definitely　had；　but　what　about　the　rest　of　
it？　No　horrible　sore　throat；　no　exhaustion；　no　headaches；　at　least　not　before　he'd　gone　home　from　the　
movie；　he'd　said　he　felt　〃fit　as　a　fiddle。〃　Did　it　really　e　on　so　fast？　The　article　made　it　sound　like　the　
sore　stuff　showed　up　first。　

I　glared　at　the　puter　screen　and　wondered　why；　exactly；　I　was　doing　this。　Why　did　I　feel　so…　so　
suspicious；　like　I　didn't　believe　Billy's　story？　Why　would　Billy　lie　to　Harry？　

I　was　being　silly；　probably。　I　was　just　worried；　and；　to　be　honest；　I　was　afraid　of　not　being　allowed　to　see　
Jacob—that　made　me　nervous。　

I　skimmed　through　the　rest　of　the　article；　looking　for　more　information。　I　stopped　when　I　got　to　the　part　
about　how　mono　could　last　more　than　a　month。　

A　month？　My　mouth　fell　open。　

But　Billy　couldn't　enforce　the　novisitors　thing　that　long。　Of　course　not。　Jake　would　go　crazy　stuck　in　bed　
that　long　without　anyone　to　talk　to。　

What　was　Billy　afraid　of；　anyway？　The　article　said　that　a　person　with　mono　needed　to　avoid　physical　
activity；　but　there　was　nothing　about　visitors。　The　disease　wasn't　very　infectious。　

I'd　give　Billy　a　week；　I　decided；　before　I　got　pushy。　A　week　was　generous。　

A　week　was　long。　By　Wednesday；　I　was　sure　I　wasn't　going　to　live　till　Saturday。　

When　I'd　decided　to　leave　Billy　and　Jacob　alone　for　a　week；　I　hadn't　really　believed　that　Jacob　would　go　
along　with　Billy's　rule。　Every　day　when　I　got　home　from　school；　I　ran　to　the　phone　to　check　for　
messages。　There　never　were　any。　

I　cheated　three　times　by　trying　to　call　him；　but　the　phone　lines　still　weren't　working。　

I　was　in　the　house　much　too　much；　and　much　too　alone。　Without　Jacob；　and　my　adrenaline　and　my　
distractions；　everything　I'd　been　repressing　started　creeping　up　on　me。　The　dreams　got　hard　again。　I　
could　no　longer　see　the　end　ing。　Just　the　horrible　nothingness—half　the　time　in　the　forest；　half　the　time　

in　the　empty　fern　sea　where　the　white　house　no　longer　existed。　Sometimes　Sam　Uley　was　there　in　the　
forest；　watching　me　again。　I　paid　him　no　attention—there　was　no　fort　in　his　presence；　it　made　me　feel　
no　less　alone。　It　didn't　stop　me　from　screaming　myself　awake；　night　after　night。　

The　hole　in　my　chest　was　worse　than　ever。　I'd　thought　that　I'd　been　getting　it　under　control；　but　I　found　
myself　hunched　over；　day　after　day；　clutching　my　sides　together　and　gasping　for　air。　

I　wasn't　handling　alone　well。　

I　was　relieved　beyond　measure　the　morning　I　woke　up—screaming；　of　course—and　remembered　that　it　
was　Saturday。　Today　I　could　call　Jacob。　And　if　the　phone　lines　still　weren't　working；　then　I　was　going　to　
La　Push。　One　way　or　another；　today　would　be　better　than　the　last　lonely　week。　

I　dialed；　and　then　waited　without　high　expectations。　

It　caught　me　off　guard　when　Billy　answered　on　the　second　ring。　

〃Hello？〃　

〃Oh；　hey；　the　phone　is　working　again！　Hi；　Billy。　It's　Bella。　I　was　just　calling　to　see　how　Jacob　is　doing。　Is　
he　up　for　visitors　yet？　I　was　thinking　about　dropping　by—〃　

〃I'm　sorry；　Bella；〃　Billy　interrupted；　and　I　wondered　if　he　were　watching　TV；　he　sounded　distracted。　
〃He's　not　in。〃　

〃Oh。〃　It　took　me　a　second。　〃So　he's　feeling　better　then？〃　

〃Yeah；〃　Billy　hesitated　for　an　instant　too　long。　〃Turns　out　it　wasn't　mono　after　all。　Just　some　other　virus。〃　

〃Oh。　So…　where　is　he？〃　

〃He's　giving　some　friends　a　ride　up　to　Port　Angeles—I　think　they　were　going　to　catch　a　double　feature　or　
something。　He's　gone　for　the　whole　day。〃　

〃Well；　that's　a　relief。　I've　been　so　worried。　I'm　glad　he　felt　good　enough　to　get　out。〃　My　voice　sounded　
horribly　phony　as　I　babbled　on。　

Jacob　was　better；　but　not　well　enough　to　call　me。　He　was　out　with　friends。　I　was　sitting　home；　missing　
him　more　every　hour。　I　was　lonely；　worried；　bored…　perforated—and　now　also　desolate　as　I　realized　
that　the　week　apart　had　not　had　the　same　effect　on　him。　

〃Is　there　anything　in　particular　you　wanted？〃　Billy　asked　politely。　

〃No；　not　really。〃　

〃Well；　I'll　tell　him　that　you　called；〃　Billy　promised。　〃Bye；　Bella。〃　

〃Bye；〃　I　replied；　but　he'd　already　hung　up。　

I　stood　for　a　moment　with　the　phone　still　in　my　hand。　

Jacob　must　have　changed　his　mind；　just　like　I'd　feared。　He　was　going　to　take　my　advice　and　not　waste　
any　more　time　on　someone　who　couldn't　return　his　feelings。　I　felt　the　blood　run　out　of　my　face。　

〃Something　wrong？〃　Charlie　asked　as　he　came　down　the　stairs。　

〃No；〃　I　lied；　hanging　up　the　phone。　〃Billy　says　Jacob　is　feeling　better。　It　wasn't　mono。　So　that's　good。〃　

〃Is　he　ing　here；　or　are　you　going　there？〃　Charlie　asked　absentmindedly　as　he　started　poking　through　
the　fridge。　

〃Neither；〃　I　admitted。　〃He's　going　out　with　some　other　friends。〃　

The　tone　of　my　voice　finally　caught　Charlie's　attention。　He　looked　up　at　me　with　sudden　alarm；　his　hands　
frozen　around　a　package　of　cheese　slices。　

〃Isn't　it　a　little　early　for　lunch？〃　I　asked　as　lightly　as　I　could　manage；　trying　to　distract　him。　

〃No；　I'm　just　packing　something　to　take　out　to　the　river…〃　

〃Oh；　fishing　today？〃　

〃Well；　Harry　called…　and　it's　not　raining。〃　He　was　creating　a　stack　of　food　on　the　counter　as　he　spoke。　
Suddenly　he　looked　up　again　as　if　he'd　just　realized　something。　〃Say；　did　you　want　me　to　stay　with　you；　
since　Jake's　out？〃　

〃That's　okay；　Dad；〃　I　said；　working　to　sound　indifferent。　〃The　fish　bite　better　when　the　weather's　nice。〃　

He　stared　at　me；　indecision　clear　on　his　face。　I　knew　that　he　was　worrying；　afraid　to　leave　me　alone；　in　
case　I　got　〃mopey〃　again。　

〃Seriously；　Dad。　I　think　I'll　call　Jessica；〃　I　fibbed　quickly。　I'd　rather　be　alone　than　have　him　watching　me　
all　day。　〃We　have　a　Calculus　test　to　study　for。　I　could　use　her　help。〃　That　part　was　true。　But　I'd　have　to　
make　do　without　it。　

〃That's　a　good　idea。　You've　been　spending　so　much　time　with　Jacob；　your　other　friends　are　going　to　think　
you've　forgotten　them。〃　

I　smiled　and　nodded　as　if　I　cared　what　my　other　friends　thought。　

Charlie　started　to　turn；　but　then　spun　back　with　a　worried　expression。　〃Hey；　you'll　study　here　or　at　Jess's；　
right？〃　

〃Sure；　where　else？〃　

〃Well；　it's　just　that　I　want　you　to　be　careful　to　stay　out　of　the　woods；　like　I　told　you　before。〃　

It　took　me　a　minute　to　understand；　distracted　as　I　was。　〃More　bear　trouble？〃　

Charlie　nodded；　frowning。　〃We've　got　a　missing　hiker—the　rangers　found　his　camp　early　this　morning；　
but　no　sign　of　him。　There　were　some　really　big　animal　prints…　of　course　those　could　have　e　later；　
smelling　the　food…　Anyway；　they're　setting　traps　for　it　now。〃　

〃Oh；〃　I　said　vaguely。　I　wasn't　really　listening　to　his　warnings；　I　was　much　more　upset　by　the　situation　with　
Jacob　than　by　the　possibility　of　being　eaten　by　a　bear。　

I　was　glad　that　Charlie　was　in　a　hurry。　He　didn't　wait　for　me　to　call　Jessica；　so　I　didn't　have　to　put　on　that　
charade。　I　went　through　the　motions　of　gathering　my　schoolbooks　on　the　kitchen　table　to　pack　them　in　
my　bag；　that　was　probably　too　much；　and　if　he　hadn't　been　eager　to　hit　the　holes；　it　might　have　made　him　
suspicious。　

I　was　so　busy　looking　busy　that　the　ferociously　empty　day　ahead　didn't　really　crash　down　on　me　until　
after　I'd　watched　him　drive　away。　It　only　took　about　two　minutes　of　staring　at　the　silent　kitchen　phone　to　
decide　that　I　wasn't　staying　home　today。　I　considered　my　options。　

I　wasn't　going　to　call　Jessica。　As　far　as　I　could　tell；　Jessica　had　crossed　over　to　the　dark　side。　

I　could　drive　to　La　Push　and　get　my　motorcycle—an　appealing　thought　but　for　one　minor　problem：　who　
was　going　to　drive　me　to　the　emergency　room　if　I　needed　it　afterward？　

Or…　I　already　had　our　map　and　pass　in　the　truck。　I　was　pretty　sure　I　understood　the　process　well　
enough　by　now　that　I　wouldn't　get　lost。　Maybe　I　could　eliminate　two　lines　today；　putting　us　ahead　of　
schedule　for　whenever　Jacob　decided　to　honor　me　with　his　presence　again。　I　refused　to　think　about　how　
long　that　might　be。　Or　if　it　was　going　to　be　never。　

I　felt　a　brief　twinge　of　guilt　as　I　realized　how　Charlie　would　feel　about　this；　but　I　ignored　it。　I　just　couldn't　
stay　in　the　house　again　today。　

A　few　minutes　later　I　was　on　the　familiar　dirt　road　that　led　to　nowhere　in　particular。　I　had　the　windows　
rolled　down　and　I　drove　as　fast　as　was　healthy　for　my　truck；　trying　to　enjoy　the　wind　against　my　face。　It　
was　cloudy；　but　almost　dry—a　very　nice　day；　for　Forks。　

Getting　started　took　me　longer　than　it　would　have　taken　Jacob。　After　I　parked　in　the　usual　spot；　I　had　to　
spend　a　good　fi