2 new+moon新月-第23章

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to　drive　back　to　Billy's。　But　I　couldn't　believe　what　I'd　just　seen。　Maybe；　subconsciously；　I　hoped　I　
would　see　something　different　without　the　glass　of　the　windshield　in　the　way。　

Jacob　laughed；　and　I　spun　to　stare　at　him　wildly。　How　could　he　be　so　calloused；　so　coldblooded？　

〃They're　just　cliff　diving；　Bella。　Recreation。　La　Push　doesn't　have　a　mall；　you　know。〃　He　was　teasing；　but　
there　was　a　strange　note　of　irritation　in　his　voice。　

〃Cliff　diving？〃　I　repeated；　dazed。　I　stared　in　disbelief　as　a　second　figure　stepped　to　the　edge；　paused；　and　
then　very　gracefully　leaped　into　space。　He　fell　for　what　seemed　like　an　eternity　to　me；　finally　cutting　
smoothly　into　the　dark　gray　waves　below。　

〃Wow。　It's　so　high。〃　I　slid　back　into　my　seat；　still　staring　wideeyed　at　the　two　remaining　divers。　〃It　must　
be　a　hundred　feet。〃　

〃Well；　yeah；　most　of　us　jump　from　lower　down；　that　rock　that　juts　out　from　the　cliff　about　halfway。〃　He　
pointed　out　his　window。　The　place　he　indicated　did　seem　much　more　reasonable。　〃Those　guys　are　insane。　

Probably　showing　off　how　tough　they　are。　I　mean；　really；　it's　freezing　today。　That　water　can't　feel　good。〃　
He　made　a　disgruntled　face；　as　if　the　stunt　personally　offended　him。　It　surprised　me　a　little。　I　would　have　
thought　Jacob　was　nearly　impossible　to　upset。　

〃You　jump　off　the　cliff？〃　I　hadn't　missed　the　〃us。〃　

〃Sure；　sure。〃　He　shrugged　and　grinned。　〃It's　fun。　A　little　scary；　kind　of　a　rush。〃　

I　looked　back　at　the　cliffs；　where　the　third　figure　was　pacing　the　edge。　I'd　never　witnessed　anything　so　
reckless　in　all　my　life。　My　eyes　widened；　and　I　smiled。　〃Jake；　you　have　to　take　me　cliff　diving。〃　

He　frowned　back　at　me；　his　face　disapproving。　〃Bella；　you　just　wanted　to　call　an　ambulance　for　Sam；〃　he　
reminded　me。　I　was　surprised　that　he　could　tell　who　it　was　from　this　distance。　

〃I　want　to　try；〃　I　insisted；　start　ing　to　get　out　of　the　car　again。　

Jacob　grabbed　my　wrist。　〃Not　today；　all　right？　Can　we　at　least　wait　for　a　warmer　day？〃　

〃Okay；　fine；〃　I　agreed。　With　the　door　open；　the　glacial　breeze　was　raising　goose　bumps　on　my　arm。　〃But　
I　want　to　go　soon。〃　

〃Soon。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Sometimes　you're　a　little　strange；　Bella。　Do　you　know　that？〃　

I　sighed。　〃Yes。〃　

〃And　we're　not　jumping　off　the　top。〃　

I　watched；　fascinated；　as　the　third　boy　made　a　running　start　and　flung　himself　farther　into　the　empty　air　
than　the　other　two。　He　twisted　and　cartwheeled　through　space　as　he　fell；　like　he　was　skydiving。　He　
looked　absolutely　free—unthinking　and　utterly　irresponsible。　

〃Fine；〃　I　agreed。　〃Not　the　first　time；　anyway。〃　

Now　Jacob　sighed。　

〃Are　we　going　to　try　out　the　bikes　or　not？〃　he　demanded。　

〃Okay；　okay；〃　I　said；　tearing　my　eyes　away　from　the　last　person　waiting　on　the　cliff。　I　put　my　seat　belt　
back　on　and　closed　the　door。　The　engine　was　still　running；　roaring　as　it　idled。　We　started　down　the　road　
again。　

〃So　who　were　those　guys—the　crazy　ones？〃　I　wondered。　

He　made　a　disgusted　sound　in　the　back　of　his　throat。　〃The　La　Push　gang。〃　

〃You　have　a　gang？〃　I　asked。　I　realized　that　I　sounded　impressed。　

He　laughed　once　at　my　reaction。　〃Not　like　that。　I　swear；　they're　like　hall　monitors　gone　bad。　They　don't　
start　fights；　they　keep　the　peace。〃　He　snorted。　〃There　was　this　guy　from　up　somewhere　by　the　Makah　
rez；　big　guy　too；　scarylooking。　Well；　word　got　around　that　he　was　selling　meth　to　kids；　and　Sam　Uley　
and　his　disciples　ran　him　off　our　land。　They're　all　about　our　land；　and　tribe　pride…　it's　getting　
ridiculous。　The　worst　part　is　that　the　council　takes　them　seriously。　Embry　said　that　the　council　actually　
meets　with　Sam。〃　He　shook　his　head；　face　full　of　resentment。　〃Embry　also　heard　from　Leah　Clearwater　
that　they　call　themselves　'protectors'　or　something　like　that。〃　

Jacob's　hands　were　clenched　into　fists；　as　if　he'd　like　to　hit　something。　I'd　never　seen　this　side　of　him。　

I　was　surprised　to　hear　Sam　Uley's　name。　I　didn't　want　it　to　bring　back　the　images　from　my　nightmare；　so　
I　made　a　quick　observation　to　distract　myself。　〃You　don't　like　them　very　much。〃　

〃Does　it　show？〃　he　asked　sarcastically。　

〃Well…　It　doesn't　sound　like　they're　doing　anything　bad。〃　I　tried　to　soothe　him；　to　make　him　cheerful　
again。　〃Just　sort　of　annoyingly　goodytwoshoes　for　a　gang。〃　

〃Yeah。　Annoying　is　a　good　word。　They're　always　showing　off—like　the　cliff　thing。　They　act　like…　like；　I　
don't　know。　Like　tough　guys。　I　was　hanging　out　at　the　store　with　Embry　and　Quil　once；　last　semester；　and　
Sam　came　by　with　his　followers；　Jared　and　Paul。　Quil　said　something；　you　know　how　he's　got　a　big　
mouth；　and　it　pissed　Paul　off。　His　eyes　got　all　dark；　and　he　sort　of　smiled—no；　he　showed　his　teeth　but　
he　didn't　smile—and　it　was　like　he　was　so　mad　he　was　shaking　or　something。　But　Sam　put　his　hand　
against　Paul's　chest　and　shook　his　head。　Paul　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　and　calmed　down。　Honestly；　it　
was　like　Sam　was　holding　him　back—like　Paul　was　going　to　tear　us　up　if　Sam　didn't　stop　him。〃　He　
groaned。　〃Like　a　bad　western。　You　know；　Sam's　a　pretty　big　guy；　he's　twenty。　But　Paul's　just　sixteen；　
too；　shorter　than　me　and　not　as　beefy　as　Quil。　I　think　any　one　of　us　could　take　him。〃　

〃Tough　guys；〃　I　agreed。　I　could　see　it　in　my　head　as　he　described　it；　and　it　reminded　me　of　something…　a　
trio　of　tall；　dark　men　standing　very　still　and　close　together　in　my　father's　living　room。　The　picture　was　
sideways；　because　my　head　was　lying　against　the　couch　while　Dr。　Gerandy　and　Charlie　leaned　over　
me…　Had　that　been　Sam's　gang？　

I　spoke　quickly　again　to　divert　myself　from　the　bleak　memories。　〃Isn't　Sam　a　little　too　old　for　this　kind　of　
thing？〃　

〃Yeah。　He　was　supposed　to　go　to　college；　but　he　stayed。　And　no　one　gave　him　any　crap　about　it；　either。　
The　whole　council　pitched　a　fit　when　my　sister　turned　down　a　partial　scholarship　and　got　married。　But；　oh　
no；　Sam　Uley　can　do　no　wrong。〃　

His　face　was　set　in　unfamiliar　lines　of　outrage—outrage　and　something　else　I　didn't　recognize　at　first。　

〃It　all　sounds　really　annoying　and…　strange。　But　I　don't　get　why　you're　taking　it　so　personally。〃　I　peeked　
over　at　his　face；　hoping　I　hadn't　offended　him。　He　was　suddenly　calm；　staring　out　the　side　window。　

〃You　just　missed　the　turn；〃　he　said　in　an　even　voice。　

I　executed　a　very　wide　Uturn；　nearly　hitting　a　tree　as　my　circle　ran　the　truck　halfway　off　the　road。　

〃Thanks　for　the　headsup；〃　I　muttered　as　I　started　up　the　side　road。　

〃Sorry；　I　wasn't　paying　attention。〃　

It　was　quiet　for　a　brief　minute。　

〃You　can　stop　anywhere　along　here；〃　he　said　softly。　

I　pulled　over　and　cut　the　engine。　My　ears　rang　in　the　silence　that　followed。　We　both　got　out；　and　Jacob　
headed　around　to　the　back　to　get　the　bikes。　I　tried　to　read　his　expression。　Something　more　was　bothering　
him。　I'd　hit　a　nerve。　

He　smiled　halfheartedly　as　he　pushed　the　red　bike　to　my　side。　〃Happy　late　birthday。　Are　you　ready　for　

this？〃　

〃I　think　so。〃　The　bike　suddenly　looked　intimidating；　frightening；　as　I　realized　I　would　soon　be　astride　it。　

〃We'll　take　it　slow；〃　he　promised。　I　gingerly　leaned　the　motorcycle　against　the　truck's　fender　while　he　
went　to　get　his。　

〃Jake…〃I　hesitated　as　he　came　back　around　the　truck。　

〃Yeah？〃　

〃What's　really　bothering　you？　About　the　Sam　thing；　I　mean？　Is　there　something　else？〃　I　watched　his　face。　
He　grimaced；　but　he　didn't　seem　angry。　He　looked　at　the　dirt　and　kicked　his　shoe　against　the　front　tire　of　
his　bike　again　and　again；　like　he　was　keeping　time。　

He　sighed。　〃It's　just…　the　way　they　treat　me。　It　creeps　me　out。〃　The　words　started　to　rush　out　now。　〃You　
know；　the　council　is　supposed　to　be　made　up　of　equals；　but　if　there　was　a　leader；　it　would　be　my　dad。　
I've　never　been　able　to　figure　out　why　people　treat　him　the　way　they　do。　Why　his　opinion　counts　the　
most。　It's　got　something　to　do　with　his　father　and　his　father's　father。　My　greatgrandpa；　Ephraim　Black；　
was　sort　of　the　last　chief　we　had；　and　they　still　listen　to　Billy；　maybe　because　of　that。　

〃But　I'm　just　like　everyone　else。　Nobody　treats　me　special…　until　now。〃　

That　caught　me　off　guard。　〃Sam　treats　you　special？〃　

〃Yeah；〃　he　agreed；　looking　up　at　me　with　troubled　eyes。　〃He　looks　at　me　like　he's　waiting　for　
something…　like　I'm　going　to　join　his　stupid　gang　someday。　He　pays　more　attention　to　me　than　any　of　the　
other　guys。　I　hate　it。〃　

〃You　don't　have　to　join　anything。〃　My　voice　was　angry。　This　was　really　upsetting　Jacob；　and　that　
infuriated　me。　Who　did　these　〃protectors〃　think　they　were？　

〃Yeah。〃　His　foot　kept　up　its　rhythm　against　the　tire。　

〃What？〃　I　could　tell　there　was　more。　

He　frowned；　his　eyebrows　pulling　up　in　a　way　that　looked　sad　and　worried　rather　than　angry。　〃It's　
Embry。　He's　been　avoiding　me　lately。〃　

The　thoughts　didn't　seem　connected；　but　I　wondered　if　I　was　to　blame　for　the　problems　with　his　friend。　
〃You've　been　hanging　out　with　me　a　lot；〃　I　reminded　him；　feeling　selfish。　I'd　been　monopolizing　him。　

〃No；　that's　not　it。　It's　not　just　me—it's　Quil；　too；　and　everyone。　Embry　missed　a　week　of　school；　but　he　
was　never　home　when　we　tried　to　see　him。　And　when　he　came　back；　he　looked…　he　looked　freaked　
out。　Terrified。　Quil　and　I　both　tried　to　get　him　to　tell　us　what　was　wrong；　but　he　wouldn't　talk　to　either　
one　of　us。〃　

I　stared　at　Jacob；　biting　my　lip　anxiously—he　was　really　frightened。　But　he　didn't　look　at　me。　He　watched　
his　own　foot　kicking　the　rubber　as　if　it　belonged　to　someone　else。　The　tempo　increased。　

〃Then　this　week；　out　of　nowhere；　Embry's　hanging　out　with　Sam　and　the　rest　of　them。　He　was　out　on　the　
cliffs　today。〃　His　voice　was　low　and　tense。　

He　finally　looked　at　me。　〃Bella；　they　bugged　him　even　more　than　they　bother　me。　He　didn't　want　anything　
to　do　with　them。　And　now　Embry's　following　Sam　around　like　he's　joined　a　cult。　

〃And　that's　the　way　it　was　with　Paul。　Just　exactly　the　same。　He　wasn't　friends　with　Sam　at　all。　Then　he　
stopped　ing　to　school　for　a　few　weeks；　and；　when　he　came　back；　suddenly　Sam　owned　him。　I　don't　
know　what　it　means。　I　can't　figure　it　out；　and　I　feel　like　I　have　to；　because　Embry's　my　friend　and…　
Sam's　looking　at　me　funny　。　。　and…〃　He　t