2 new+moon新月-第11章

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finger　traced　along　the　picture　of　my　severed　bone。　That's　good。　It　will　heal　more　easily；　more　quickly　
。　

I　tried　to　breathe　normally。　I　needed　to　concentrate；　to　find　a　way　out　of　this　nightmare。　

〃Goodbye；　Bella；〃　he　said　in　the　same　quiet；　peaceful　voice。　

〃Wait！〃　I　choked　out　the　word；　reaching　for　him；　willing　my　deadened　legs　to　carry　me　forward。　

I　thought　he　was　reaching　for　me；　too。　But　his　cold　hands　locked　around　my　wrists　and　pinned　them　to　
my　sides。　He　leaned　down；　and　pressed　his　lips　very　lightly　to　my　forehead　for　the　briefest　instant。　My　
eyes　closed。　

〃Take　care　of　yourself；〃　he　breathed；　cool　against　my　skin。　

There　was　a　light；　unnatural　breeze。　My　eyes　flashed　open。　The　leaves　on　a　small　vine　maple　shuddered　
with　the　gentle　wind　of　his　passage。　

He　was　gone。　

With　shaky　legs；　ignoring　the　fact　that　my　action　was　useless；　I　followed　him　into　the　forest。　The　evidence　
of　his　path　had　disappeared　instantly。　There　were　no　footprints；　the　leaves　were　still　again；　but　I　walked　
forward　without　thinking。　I　could　not　do　anything　else。　I　had　to　keep　moving。　If　I　stopped　looking　for　
him；　it　was　over。　

Love；　life；　meaning…　over。　

I　walked　and　walked。　Time　made　no　sense　as　I　pushed　slowly　through　the　thick　undergrowth。　It　was　
hours　passing；　but　also　only　seconds。　Maybe　it　felt　like　time　had　frozen　because　the　forest　looked　the　
same　no　matter　how　far　I　went。　I　started　to　worry　that　I　was　traveling　in　a　circle；　a　very　small　circle　at　
that；　but　I　kept　going。　I　stumbled　often；　and；　as　it　grew　darker　and　darker；　I　fell　often；　too。　

Finally；　I　tripped　over　something—it　was　black　now；　I　had　no　idea　what　caught　my　foot—and　I　stayed　
down。　I　rolled　onto　my　side；　so　that　I　could　breathe；　and　curled　up　on　the　wet　bracken。　

As　I　lay　there；　I　had　a　feeling　that　more　time　was　passing　than　I　realized。　I　couldn't　remember　how　long　it　
had　been　since　nightfall。　Was　it　always　so　dark　here　at　night？　Surely；　as　a　rule；　some　little　bit　of　moonlight　
would　filter　down　through　the　clouds；　through　the　chinks　in　the　canopy　of　trees；　and　find　the　ground。　

Not　tonight。　Tonight　the　sky　was　utterly　black。　Perhaps　there　was　no　moon　tonight—a　lunar　eclipse；　a　
new　moon。　

A　new　moon。　I　shivered；　though　I　wasn't　cold。　

It　was　black　for　a　long　time　before　I　heard　them　calling。　

Someone　was　shouting　my　name。　It　was　muted；　muffled　by　the　wet　growth　that　surrounded　me；　but　it　
was　definitely　my　name。　I　didn't　recognize　the　voice。　I　thought　about　answering；　but　I　was　dazed；　and　it　
took　a　long　time　to　e　to　the　conclusion　that　I　should　answer。　By　then；　the　calling　had　stopped。　

Sometime　later；　the　rain　woke　me　up。　I　don't　think　I'd　really　fallen　asleep；　I　was　just　lost　in　an　unthinking　
stupor；　holding　with　all　my　strength　to　the　numbness　that　kept　me　from　realizing　what　I　didn't　want　to　
know。　

The　rain　bothered　me　a　little。　It　was　cold。　I　unwrapped　my　arms　from　around　my　legs　to　cover　my　face。　

It　was　then　that　I　heard　the　calling　again。　It　was　farther　away　this　time；　and　sometimes　it　sounded　like　
several　voices　were　calling　at　once。　I　tried　to　breathe　deeply。　I　remembered　that　I　should　answer；　but　I　
didn't　think　they　would　be　able　to　hear　me。　Would　I　be　able　to　shout　loud　enough？　

Suddenly；　there　was　another　sound；　startlingly　close。　A　kind　of　snuffling；　an　animal　sound。　It　sounded　big。　
I　wondered　if　I　should　feel　afraid。　I　didn't—just　numb。　It　didn't　matter。　The　snuffling　went　away。　

The　rain　continued；　and　I　could　feel　the　water　pooling　up　against　my　cheek。　I　was　trying　to　gather　the　
strength　to　turn　my　head　when　I　saw　the　light。　

At　first　it　was　just　a　dim　glow　reflecting　off　the　bushes　in　the　distance。　It　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　
illuminating　a　large　space　unlike　the　focused　beam　of　a　flashlight。　The　light　broke　through　the　closest　
brush；　and　I　could　see　that　it　was　a　propane　lantern；　but　that　was　all　I　could　see—the　brightness　blinded　
me　for　a　moment。　

〃Bella。〃　

The　voice　was　deep　and　unfamiliar；　but　full　of　recognition。　He　wasn't　calling　my　name　to　search；　he　was　
acknowledging　that　I　was　found。　

I　stared　up—impossibly　high　it　seemed—at　the　dark　face　that　I　could　now　see　above　me。　I　was　vaguely　
aware　that　the　stranger　probably　only　looked　so　tall　because　my　head　was　still　on　the　ground。　

〃Have　you　been　hurt？〃　

I　knew　the　words　meant　something；　but　I　could　only　stare；　bewildered。　How　could　the　meaning　matter　at　
this　point？　

〃Bella；　my　name　is　Sam　Uley。〃　

There　was　nothing　familiar　about　his　name。　

〃Charlie　sent　me　to　look　for　you。〃　

Charlie？　That　struck　a　chord；　and　I　tried　to　pay　more　attention　to　what　he　was　saying。　Charlie　mattered；　
if　nothing　else　did。　

The　tall　man　held　out　a　hand。　I　gazed　at　it；　not　sure　what　I　was　supposed　to　do。　

His　black　eyes　appraised　me　for　a　second；　and　then　he　shrugged。　In　a　quick　and　supple　notion；　he　pulled　
me　up　from　the　ground　and　into　his　arms。　

I　hung　there；　limp；　as　he　loped　swiftly　through　the　wet　forest。　Some　part　of　me　knew　this　should　upset　
me—being　carried　away　by　a　stranger。　But　there　was　nothing　left　in　me　to　upset。　

It　didn't　seem　like　too　much　time　passed　before　there　were　lights　and　the　deep　babble　of　many　male　
voices。　Sam　Uley　slowed　as　he　approached　the　motion。　

〃I've　got　her！〃　he　called　in　a　booming　voice。　

The　babble　ceased；　and　then　picked　up　again　with　more　intensity。　A　confusing　swirl　of　faces　moved　over　
me。　Sam's　voice　was　the　only　one　that　made　sense　in　the　chaos；　perhaps　because　my　ear　was　against　his　
chest。　

〃No；　I　don't　think　she's　hurt；〃　he　told　someone。　〃She　just　keeps　saying　'He's　gone。'　〃　

Was　I　saying　that　out　loud？　I　bit　down　on　my　lip。　

〃Bella；　honey；　are　you　all　right？〃　

That　was　one　voice　I　would　know　anywhere—even　distorted；　as　it　was　now；　with　worry。　

〃Charlie？〃　My　voice　sounded　strange　and　small。　

〃I'm　right　here；　baby。〃　

There　was　a　shifting　under　me；　followed　by　the　leathery　smell　of　my　dad's　sheriff　jacket。　Charlie　
staggered　under　my　weight。　

〃Maybe　I　should　hold　on　to　her；〃　Sam　Uley　suggested。　

〃I've　got　her；〃　Charlie　said；　a　little　breathless。　

He　walked　slowly；　struggling。　I　wished　I　could　tell　him　to　put　me　down　and　let　me　walk；　but　I　couldn't　
find　my　voice。　

There　were　lights　everywhere；　held　by　the　crowd　walking　with　him。　It　felt　like　a　parade。　Or　a　funeral　
procession。　I　closed　my　eyes。　

〃We're　almost　home　now；　honey；〃　Charlie　mumbled　now　and　then。　

I　opened　my　eyes　again　when　I　heard　the　door　unlock。　We　were　on　the　porch　of　our　house；　and　the　tall　
dark　man　named　Sam　was　holding　the　door　for　Charlie；　one　arm　extended　toward　us；　as　if　he　was　
preparing　to　catch　me　when　Charlie's　arms　failed。　

But　Charlie　managed　to　get　me　through　the　door　and　to　the　couch　in　the　living　room。　

〃Dad；　I'm　all　wet；〃　I　objected　feebly。　

〃That　doesn't　matter。〃　His　voice　was　gruff。　And　then　he　was　talking　to　someone　else。　〃Blankets　are　in　the　
cupboard　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。〃　

〃Bella？〃　a　new　voice　asked。　I　looked　at　the　grayhaired　man　leaning　over　me；　and　recognition　came　after　
a　few　slow　seconds。　

〃Dr。　Gerandy？〃　I　mumbled。　

〃That's　right；　dear；〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　hurt；　Bella？〃　

It　took　me　a　minute　to　think　that　through。　I　was　confused　by　the　memory　of　Sam　Uley's　similar　question　
in　the　woods。　Only　Sam　had　asked　something　else：　Have　you　been　hurt？　he'd　said。　The　difference　
seemed　significant　somehow。　

Dr。　Gerandy　was　waiting。　One　grizzled　eyebrow　rose；　and　the　wrinkles　on　his　forehead　deepened。　

〃I'm　not　hurt；〃　I　lied。　The　words；　were　true　enough　for　what　he'd　asked。　

His　warm　hand　touched　my　forehead；　and　his　fingers　pressed　against　the　inside　of　my　wrist。　I　watched　his　
lips　as　he　counted　to　himself；　his　eyes　on　his　watch。　

〃What　happened　to　you？〃　he　asked　casually。　

I　froze　under　his　hand；　tasting　panic　in　the　back　of　my　throat。　

〃Did　you　get　lost　in　the　woods？〃　he　prodded。　I　was　aware　of　several　other　people　listening。　Three　tall　
men　with　dark　faces—from　La　Push；　the　Quileute　Indian　reservation　down　on　the　coastline；　I　
guessed—Sam　Uley　among　them；　were　standing　very　close　together　and　staring　at　me。　Mr。　Newton　was　
there　with　Mike　and　Mr。　Weber；　Angela's　father；　they　all　were　watching　me　more　surreptitiously　than　the　
strangers。　Other　deep　voices　rumbled　from　the　kitchen　and　outside　the　front　door。　Half　the　town　must　
have　been　looking　for　me。　

Charlie　was　the　closest。　He　leaned　in　to　hear　my　answer。　

〃Yes；〃　I　whispered。　〃I　got　lost。〃　

The　doctor　nodded；　thoughtful；　his　fingers　probing　gently　against　the　glands　under　my　jaw。　Charlie's　face　
hardened。　

〃Do　you　feel　tired？〃　Dr。　Gerandy　asked。　

I　nodded　and　closed　my　eyes　obediently。　

〃I　don't　think　there's　anything　wrong　with　her；〃　I　heard　the　doctor　mutter　to　Charlie　after　a　moment。　〃Just　
exhaustion。　Let　her　sleep　it　off；　and　I'll　e　check　on　her　tomorrow；〃　he　paused。　He　must　have　looked　
at　his　watch；　because　he　added；　〃Well；　later　today　actually。〃　

There　was　a　creaking　sound　as　they　both　pushed　off　from　the　couch　to　get　to　their　feet。　

〃Is　it　true？〃　Charlie　whispered。　Their　voices　were　farther　away　now。　I　strained　to　hear。　〃Did　they　leave？〃　

〃Dr。　Cullen　asked　us　not　to　say　anything；〃　Dr。　Gerandy　answered。　〃The　offer　was　very　sudden；　they　had　
to　choose　immediately。　Carlisle　didn't　want　to　make　a　big　production　out　of　leaving。〃　

〃A　little　warning　might　have　been　nice；〃　Charlie　grumbled。　

Dr。　Gerandy　sounded　unfortable　when　he　replied。　〃Yes；　well；　in　this　situation；　some　warning　might　
have　been　called　for。〃　

I　didn't　want　to　listen　anymore。　I　felt　around　for　the　edge　of　the　quilt　someone　had　laid　on　top　of　me；　and　
pulled　it　over　my　ear。　

I　drifted　in　and　out　of　alertness。　I　heard　Charlie　whisper　thanks　to　the　volunteers　as；　one　by　one；　they　left。　
I　felt　his　fingers　on　my　forehead；　and　then　the　weight　of　another　blanket。　The　phone　rang　a　few　times；　and　
he　hurried　to　catch　it　before　it　could　wake　me。　He　muttered　reassurances　in　a　low　voice　to　the　callers。　

〃Yeah；　we　found　her。　She's　okay。　She　got　lost。　She's　fine　now；〃　he　said　again　and　again。　

I　heard　the　springs　in　the　armchair　groan　when　he　settled　himself　in　for