new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第28部分

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Something　very；　very　obvious；　something　I　should　have　grasped　at　once—but　I'd　
been　so　distracted　by　
the　idea　of　Jacob　and　his　friends　fighting　with　Laurent；　that　I'd　pletely　
missed　it　at　the　time—occurred　
to　me　only　then；　when　Jacob　used　the　present　tense　again。　
We're　going　to　take　care　of　this。　
It　wasn't　over。　
〃Laurent　is　dead；〃　I　gasped；　and　my　entire　body　went　ice　cold。　
〃Bella？〃　Jacob　asked　anxiously；　touching　my　ashen　cheek。　
〃If　Laurent　died　a　week　ago　then　someone　else　is　killing　people　now。〃　
Jacob　nodded；　his　teeth　clenched　together；　and　he　spoke　through　them。　〃There　
were　two　of　them。　We　
thought　his　mate　would　want　to　fight　us—in　our　stories；　they　usually　get　
pretty　pissed　off　if　you　kill　their　
mate—but　she　just　keeps　running　away；　and　then　ing　back　again。　If　we　could　
figure　out　what　she　
was　after；　it　would　be　easier　to　take　her　down。　But　she　makes　no　sense。　She　
keeps　dancing　around　the　
edges；　like　she's　testing　our　defenses；　looking　for　a　way　in—but　in　where？　
Where　does　she　want　to　go？　
Sam　thinks　she's　trying　to　separate　us；　so　she'll　have　a　better　chance〃　
His　voice　faded　until　it　sounded　like　it　was　ing　through　a　long　tunnel；　I　
couldn't　make　out　the　
individual　words　anymore。　My　forehead　dewed　with　sweat　and　my　stomach　rolled　
like　I　had　the　stomach　
flu　again。　Exactly　like　I　had　the　flu。　
I　turned　away　from　him　quickly；　and　leaned　over　the　tree　trunk。　My　body　
convulsed　with　useless　heaves；　
my　empty　stomach　contracting　with　horrified　nausea；　though　there　was　nothing　
in　it　to　expel。　
Victoria　was　here。　Looking　for　me。　Killing　strangers　in　the　woods。　The　woods　
where　Charlie　was　
searching　
My　head　spun　sickeningly。　
Jacob's　hands　caught　my　shoulders—kept　me　from　sliding　forward　onto　the　
rocks。　I　could　feel　his　hot　
breath　on　my　cheek。　〃Bella！　What's　wrong？〃　
〃Victoria；〃　I　gasped　as　soon　as　I　could　catch　my　breath　around　the　nauseous　
spasms。　
In　my　head；　Edward　snarled　in　fury　at　the　name。　
I　felt　Jacob　pull　me　up　from　my　slump。　He　draped　me　awkwardly　across　his　lap；　
laying　my　limp　head　
against　his　shoulder。　He　struggled　to　balance　me；　to　keep　me　from　sagging　
over；　one　way　or　the　other　He　
brushed　the　sweaty　hair　back　from　my　face。　
〃Who？〃　Jacob　asked。　〃Can　you　hear　me；　Bella？　Bella？〃　
〃She　wasn't　Laurent's　mate；〃　I　moaned　into　his　shoulder。　〃They　were　just　old　
friends〃　
〃Do　you　need　some　water？　A　doctor？　Tell　me　what　to　do；〃　he　demanded；　frantic。　
〃I'm　not　sick—I'm　scared；〃　I　explained　in　a　whisper。　The　word　scared　didn't　
really　seem　to　cover　it。　
Jacob　patted　my　back。　〃Scaled　of　this　Victoria？〃　I　nodded；　shuddering。　
〃Victoria　is　the　red…haired　
female？〃　I　trembled　again；　and　whimpered；　〃Yes。〃　
〃How　do　you　know　she　wasn't　his　mate？〃　
〃Laurent　told　me　James　was　her　mate；〃　I　explained；　automatically　flexing　the　
hand　with　the　scar。　
He　pulled　my　face　around；　holding　it　steady　in　his　big　hand。　He　stared　
intently　into　my　eyes。　〃Did　he　tell　
you　anything　else；　Bella？　This　is　important。　Do　you　know　what　she　wants？〃　
〃Of　course；〃　I　whispered。　〃She　wants　me。〃　His　eyes　flipped　wide；　then　narrowed　
into　slits。　〃Why？〃　he　
demanded。　
〃Edward　killed　James；〃　I　whispered。　Jacob　held　me　so　tightly　that　there　was　no　
need　for　me　to　clutch　at　
the　hole—he　kept　me　in　one　piece。　〃She　did　get　pissed　off。　But　Laurent　said　
she　thought　it　was　fairer　
to　kill　me　than　Edward。　Mate　for　mate。　She　didn't　know—still　doesn't　know；　I　
guess—that　that〃　I　
swallowed　hard。　〃That　things　aren't　like　that　with　us　anymore。　Not　for　Edward；　
anyway。〃　
Jacob　was　distracted　by　that；　his　face　torn　between　several　different　
expressions。　〃Is　that　what　
happened？　Why　the　Cullens　left？〃　
〃I'm　nothing　but　a　human；　after　all。　Nothing　special；〃　I　explained；　shrugging　
weakly。　
Something　like　a　growl—not　a　real　growl；　just　a　human　approximation—rumbled　
in　Jacob's　chest　under　
my　ear。　〃If　that　idiot　bloodsucker　is　honestly　stupid　enough—〃　
〃Please；〃　I　moaned。　〃Please。　Don't。〃　
Jacob　hesitated；　then　nodded　once。　
〃This　is　important；〃　he　said　again；　his　face　all　business　now。　〃This　is　
exactly　what　we　needed　to　know。　
We've　got　to　tell　the　others　right　away。〃　
He　stood；　pulling　me　to　my　feet。　He　kept　two　hands　on　my　waist　until　he　was　
sure　I　wasn't　going　to　fall。　
〃I'm　okay；〃　I　lied。　
He　traded　his　hold　on　my　waist　for　one　of　my　hands。　〃Let's　go。〃　
He　pulled　me　back　toward　the　truck。　
〃Where　are　we　going？〃　I　asked。　
〃I'm　not　sure　yet；〃　he　admitted。　〃I'll　call　a　meeting。　Hey；　wait　here　for　just　
a　minute；　okay？〃　He　leaned　me　
against　the　side　of　the　truck　and　released　my　hand。　
〃Where　are　you　going？〃　
〃I'll　be　right　back；〃　he　promised。　Then　he　turned　and　sprinted　through　the　
parking　lot；　across　the　road；　
and　into　the　bordering　forest。　He　flitted　into　the　trees；　swift　and　sleek　as　a　
deer。　
〃Jacob！〃　I　yelled　after　him　hoarsely；　but　he　was　already　gone。　
It　was　not　a　good　time　to　be　left　alone。　Seconds　after　Jacob　was　out　of　sight；　
I　was　hyperventilating。　I　
dragged　myself　into　the　cab　of　the　truck；　and　mashed　the　locks　down　at　once。　
It　didn't　make　me　feel　any　
better。　
Victoria　was　already　hunting　me。　It　was　just　luck　that　she　hadn't　found　me　yet
—just　luck　and　five　teenage　
werewolves。　I　exhaled　sharply。　No　matter　what　Jacob　said；　the　thought　of　him　
ing　anywhere　close　to　
Victoria　was　horrifying。　I　didn't　care　what　he　could　turn　into　when　he　got　
mad。　I　could　see　her　in　my　
head；　her　face　wild；　her　hair　like　flames；　deadly；　indestructible　
But；　according　to　Jacob；　Laurent　was　gone。　Was　that　really　possible？　Edward—I　
clutched　automatically　
at　my　chest—had　told　me　how　difficult　it　was　to　kill　a　vampire。　Only　another　
vampire　could　do　the　job。　
Yet　Jake　said　this　was　what　werewolves　were　made　for　
He　said　they　were　keeping　a　special　eye　on　Charlie—that　I　should　trust　the　
werewolves　to　keep　my　
father　safe。　How　could　I　trust　that？　None　of　us　were　safe！　Jacob　the　very　
least　of　all；　if　he　was　trying　to　
put　himself　between　Victoria　and　Charlie　between　Victoria　and　me。　
I　felt　like　I　might　be　about　to　throw　up　again。　
A　sharp　rap　on　the　truck's　window　made　me　yelp　in　terror—but　it　was　just　
Jacob；　back　already。　I　
unlocked　the　door　with　trembling；　grateful　fingers。　
〃You're　really　scared；　aren't　you？〃　he　asked　as　he　climbed　in。　
I　nodded。　
〃Don't　be。　We'll　take　care　of　you—and　Charlie；　too。　I　promise。〃　
〃The　idea　of　you　finding　Victoria　is　scarier　than　the　idea　of　her　finding　me；〃　
I　whispered。　
He　laughed。　〃You've　got　to　have　a　little　more　confidence　in　us　than　that。　It's　
insulting。〃　
I　just　shook　my　head。　I'd　seen　too　many　vampires　in　action。　
〃Where　did　you　go　just　now？〃　I　asked。　
He　pursed　his　lips；　and　said　nothing。　
〃What？　Is　it　a　secret？〃　
He　frowned。　〃Not　really。　It's　kind　of　weird；　though。　I　don't　want　to　freak　you　
out。〃　
〃I'm　sort　of　used　to　weird　by　this　point；　you　know。〃　I　tried　to　smile　without　
much　success。　
Jacob　grinned　back　easily。　〃Guess　you'd　have　to　be。　Okay。　See；　when　we're　
wolves；　we　can　hear　
each　other。〃　
My　eyebrows　pulled　down　in　confusion。　
〃Not　hear　sounds；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　we　can　hear　thoughts—each　other's　
anyway—no　matter　how　far　
away　from　each　other　we　are。　It　really　helps　when　we　hunt；　but　it's　a　big　pain　
otherwise。　It's　
embarrassing—having　no　secrets　like　that。　Freaky；　eh？〃　
〃Is　that　what　you　meant　last　night；　when　you　said　you　would　tell　them　you'd　
seen　me；　even　though　you　
didn't　want　to？〃　
〃You're　quick。〃　
〃Thanks。〃　
〃You're　also　very　good　with　weird。　I　thought　that　would　bother　you。〃　
〃It's　not　well；　you're　not　the　first　person　I've　known　who　could　do　that。　So　
it　doesn't　seem　so　weird　to　
me。〃　
〃Really？　Wait—are　you　talking　about　your　bloodsuckers？〃　
〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　call　them　that。〃　
He　laughed。　〃Whatever。　The　Cullens；　then？〃　
〃Just　just　Edward。〃　I　pulled　one　arm　surreptitiously　around　my　torso。　
Jacob　looked　surprised—unpleasantly　so。　〃I　thought　those　were　just　stories。　
I've　heard　legends　about　
vampires　who　could　do　extra　stuff；　but　I　thought　that　was　just　a　myth。〃　
〃Is　anything　just　a　myth　anymore？〃　I　asked　him　wryly。　
He　scowled。　〃Guess　not。　Okay；　we're　going　to　meet　Sam　and　the　others　at　the　
place　we　go　to　ride　our　
bikes。〃　
I　started　the　truck　and　headed　back　up　the　road。　
〃So　did　you　just　turn　into　a　wolf　now；　to　talk　to　Sam？〃　I　asked；　curious。　
Jacob　nodded；　seeming　embarrassed。　〃I　kept　it　real　short—I　tried　not　to　think　
about　you　so　they　
wouldn't　know　what　was　going　on。　I　was　afraid　Sam　would　tell　me　I　couldn't　
bring　you。〃　
〃That　wouldn't　have　stopped　me。〃　I　couldn't　get　rid　of　my　perception　of　Sam　as　
the　bad　guy。　My　teeth　
clenched　together　whenever　I　heard　his　name。　
〃Well；　it　would　have　stopped　me；〃　Jacob　said；　morose　now。　〃Remember　how　I　
couldn't　finish　my　
sentences　last　night？　How　I　couldn't　just　tell　you　the　whole　story？〃　
〃Yeah。　You　looked　like　you　were　choking　on　something。〃　
He　chuckled　darkly。　〃Close　enough。　Sam　told　me　I　couldn't　tell　you。　He's　the　
head　of　the　pack；　you　
know。　He's　the　Alpha。　When　he　tells　us　to　do　something；　or　not　to　do　something
—when　he　really　means　
it；　well；　we　can't　just　ignore　him。〃　
〃Weird；〃　I　muttered。　
〃Very；〃　he　agreed。　〃It's　kind　of　a　wolf　thing。〃　
〃Huh〃　was　the　best　response　I　could　think　of。　
〃Yeah；　there's　a　load　of　stuff　like　that—wolf　things。　I'm　still　learning。　I　
can't　imagine　what　it　was　like　for　
Sam；　trying　to　deal　with　this　alone。　It　sucks　bad　enough　to　go　through　it　with　
a　whole　pack　for　support。〃　
〃Sam　was　alone？〃　
〃Yeah。〃　Jacob's　voice　lowered。　〃When　I　changed；　it　was　the　most　horrible；　
the　most　terrifying　
thing　I've　ever　been　through—worse　than　anything　I　could　have　imagined。　But　I　
wasn't　alone—there　
were　the　voices　there；　in　my　head；　telling　me　what　had　happened　and　what　I　had　
to　do。　That　kept　me　
from　losing　my　mind；　I　think。　But　Sam〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Sam　had　no　help。〃　
This　was　going　to　take　some　adjusting。　When　Jacob　explained　it　like　that；　it　
was　hard　not　to　feel　
passion　for　Sam。　I　had　to　keep　reminding　myself　that　there　was　no　reason　to　
hate　him　anymore。　
〃Will　they　be　angry　that　I'm　with　you？〃　I　asked。　
He　made　a　face。　〃Probably。〃　
〃Maybe　I　shouldn't—〃　
〃No；　it's　okay；〃　he　assured　me。　〃You　know　a　ton　of　things　that　can　help　us。　
It's　not　like　you're　just　some　
ignorant　human。　You're　like　a　I　don't　know；　spy　or　something。　You've　been　
behind　enemy　lines。〃　
I　frowned　to　myself。　Was　that　what　Jacob　would　want　from　me？　Insider　
information　to　help　them　destroy　
their　enemies？　I　wasn't　a　spy；　though。　I　hadn't　been　collecting　that　kind　of　
information。　Already；　his　words　
made　me　feel　like　a　traitor。　
But　I　wanted　him　to　stop　Victoria；　didn't　I？　
No。　
I　did　want　Victoria　to　be　stopped；　preferably　before　she　tortured　me　to　death　
or　ran　into　Charlie　or　killed　
another　stranger。　I　just　didn't　want　Jacob　to　be　the　one　to　stop　her；　or　
rather　to　try。　I　didn't　want　Jacob　
within　a　hundred　miles　of　her。　
〃Like　the　stuff　about　the　mind…reading　bloodsucker；〃　he　continued；　oblivious　
to　my　reverie。　〃That's　the　
kind　of　thing　we　need　to　know　about。　That　really　sucks　that　those　stories　are　
true。　It　makes　everything　
more　plicated。　Hey；　do　you　think　this　Victoria　can　do　anything　special？〃　
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　I　hesitated；　and　then　sighed。　〃He　would　have　mentioned　
it。〃　
〃He？　Oh；　you　mean　Edward—oops；　sorry。　I　forgot。　You　don't　like　to　say　his　
name。　Or　hear　it。〃　
I　squeezed　my　midsection；　trying　to　ignore　the　throbbing　around　the　edges　of　
my　chest。　〃Not　really；　no。〃　
〃Sorry。〃　
〃How　do　you　know　me　so　well；　Jacob？　Sometimes　it's　like　you　can　read　my　mind。〃　
〃Naw。　I　just　pay　attention。〃　
We　were　on　the　little　dirt　road　where　Jacob　had　first　taught　me　to　ride　the　
motorcycle。　
〃This　good？〃　I　asked。　
〃Sure；　sure。〃　
I　pulled　over　and　cut　the　engine。　
〃You're　still　pretty　unhappy；　aren't　you？〃　he　murmured。　
I　nodded；　staring　unseeingly　into　the　gloomy　forest。　
〃Did　you　ever　think　that　maybe　you're　better　off？〃　
I　inhaled　slowly；　and　then　let　my　breath　out。　〃No。〃　
〃'Cause　he　wasn't　the　best—〃　
〃Please；　Jacob；〃　I　interrupted；　begging　in　a　whisper。　〃Could　we　please　not　
talk　about　this？　I　can't　stand　
it。〃　
〃Okay。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　sorry　I　said　anything。〃　
〃Don't　feel　bad。　If　things　were　different；　it　would　be　nice　to　finally　be　able　
to　talk　to　someone　about　it。〃　
He　nodded。　〃Yeah；　I　had　a　hard　time　keeping　a　secret　from　you　for　two　weeks。　
It　must　be　hell　to　not　be　
able　to　talk　to　anyone。〃　
〃Hell；〃　I　agreed。　
Jacob　sucked　in　a　sharp　breath。　〃They're　here。　Let's　go。〃　
〃Are　you　sure？〃　I　asked　while　he　popped　his　door　open。　〃Maybe　I　shouldn't　be　
here。〃　
〃They'll　deal　with　it；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　grinned。　〃Who's　afraid　of　the　
big；　bad　wolf？〃　
〃Ha　ha；〃　I　said。　But　I　got　out　of　the　truck；　hurrying　around　the　front　end　to　
stand　close　beside　Jacob。　I　
remembered　only　too　clearly　the　giant　monsters　in　the　meadow。　My　hands　were　
trembling　like　Jacob's　
had　been　before；　but　with　fear　rather　than　rage。　
Jake　took　my　hand　and　squeezed　it。　〃Here　we　go。〃　
　14。　FAMILY
I　COWERED　INTO　JACOB'S　SIDE；　MY　EYES　SCANNING　the　forest　for　the　other　
werewolves。　
When　they　appeared；　striding　out　from　between　the　trees；　they　weren't　what　I　
was　expecting。　I'd　gotten　
the　image　of　the　wolves　stuck　in　my　head。　These　were　just　four　really　big　
half…naked　boys。　
Again；　they　reminded　me　of　brothers；　quadruplets。　Something　about　the　way　they　
moved　almost　in　
synchronization　to　stand　across　the　road　from　us；　the　way　they　all　had　the　
same　long；　round　muscles　
under　the　same　red…brown　skin；　the　same　cropped　black　hair；　and　the　way　their　
expressions　altered　at　
exactly　the　same　moment。　
They　started　out　curious　and　cautious。　When　they　saw　me　there；　half…hidden　
beside　Jacob；　they　all　
became　furious　in　the　same　second。　
Sam　was　still　the　biggest；　though　Jacob　was　getting　close　to　catching　up　with　
him。　Sam　didn't　really　count　
as　a　boy。　His　face　was　older—not　in　the　sense　of　lines　or　signs　of　aging；　but　
in　the　matunry；　the　patience　
of　his　expression。　
〃What　have　you　done；　Jacob？〃　he　demanded。　
One　of　the　others；　one　I　didn't　recognize—Jared　or　Paul—thrust　past　Sam　and　
spoke　before　Jacob　
could　defend　himself。　
〃Why　can't　you　just　follow　the　rules；　Jacob？〃　he　yelled；　throwing　his　arms　in　
the　air。　〃What　the　hell　are　
you　thinking？　Is　she　more　important　than　everything—than　the　whole　tribe？　
Than　the　people　getting　
killed？〃　
〃She　can　help；〃　Jacob　said　quietly。　
〃Help！〃　the　angry　boy　shouted。　His　arms　begin　to　quiver。　〃Oh；　that's　likely！　
I'm　sure　the　leech…lover　is　
just　dying　to　help　us　out！〃　
〃Don't　talk　about　her　like　that！〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　stung　by　the　boy's　
criticism。　
A　shudder　rippled　through　the　other　boy；　along　his　shoulders　and　down　his　
spine。　
〃Paul！　Relax！〃　Sam　manded。　
Paul　shook　his　head　back　and　forth；　not　in　defiance；　but　as　though　he　were　
trying　to　concentrate。　
〃Jeez；　Paul；〃　one　of　the　other　boys—probably　Jared—muttered。　〃Get　a　grip。〃　
Paul　twisted　his　head　toward　Jared；　his　lips　curling　back　in　irritation。　Then　
he　shifted　his　glare　in　my　
direction。　Jacob　took　a　step　to　put　himself　in　front　of　me。　
That　did　it。　
〃Right；　protect　her！〃　Paul　roared　in　outrage。　Another　shudder；　a　convulsion；　
hea