2 new+moon新月-第50章

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But；　even　as　I　recognized　that　necessity；　I　knew　he　would　take　me　in　spite　of　it　all。　He　wouldn't　even　
pause　to　think　it　through。　

I　would　have　to　mit　to　this—mit　as　much　of　me　as　there　was　left；　every　one　of　the　broken　
pieces。　It　was　the　only　way　to　be　fair　to　him。　Would　I？　Could　I？　

Would　it　be　so　wrong　to　try　to　make　Jacob　happy？　Even　if　the　love　I　felt　for　him　was　no　more　than　a　
weak　echo　of　what　I　was　capable　of；　even　if　my　heart　was　far　away；　wandering　and　grieving　after　my　
fickle　Romeo；　would　it　be　so　very　wrong？　

Jacob　stopped　the　truck　in　front　of　my　dark　house；　cutting　the　engine　so　it　was　suddenly　silent。　Like　so　
many　other　times；　he　seemed　to　be　in　tune　with　my　thoughts　now。　

He　threw　his　other　arm　around　me；　crushing　me　against　his　cheat；　binding　me　to　him。　Again；　this　felt　nice。　
Almost　like　being　a　whole　person　again。　

I　thought　he　would　be　thinking　of　Harry；　but　then　he　spoke；　and　his　tone　was　apologetic。　〃Sorry。　I　
know　you　don't　feel　exactly　the　way　I　do；　Bella。　I　swear　I　don't　mind。　I'm　just　so　glad　you're　okay　that　I　
could　sing—and　that's　something　no　one　wants　to　hear。〃　He　laughed　his　throaty　laugh　in　my　ear。　

My　breathing　kicked　up　a　notch；　sanding　the　walls　of　my　throat。　

Wouldn't　Edward；　indifferent　as　he　might　be；　want　me　to　be　as　happy　as　possible　under　the　
circumstances？　Wouldn't　enough　friendly　emotion　linger　for　him　to　want　that　much　for　me？　I　thought　he　
would。　He　wouldn't　begrudge　me　this：　giving　just　a　small　bit　of　love　he　didn't　want　to　my　friend　Jacob。　
After　all；　it　wasn't　the　same　love　at　all。　

Jake　pressed　his　warm　cheek　against　the　top　of　my　hair。　

If　I　turned　my　face　to　the　side—if　I　pressed　my　lips　against　his　bare　shoulder。。。　I　knew　without　any　doubt　
what　would　follow。　It　would　be　very　easy。　There　would　be　no　need　for　explanations　tonight。　

But　could　I　do　it？　Could　I　betray　my　absent　heart　to　save　my　pathetic　life？　

Butterflies　assaulted　my　stomach　as　I　thought　of　turning　my　head。　

And　then；　as　clearly　as　if　I　were　in　immediate　danger；　Edward's　velvet　voice　whispered　in　my　ear。　

〃Be　happy；〃　he　told　me。　

I　froze。　

Jacob　felt　me　stiffen　and　released　me　automatically；　reaching　for　the　door。　

Wait；　I　wanted　to　say。　Just　a　minute。　But　I　was　still　locked　in　place；　listening　to　the　echo　of　Edward's　

voice　in　my　head。　

Stormcooled　air　blew　through　the　cab　of　the　truck。　

〃OH！〃　The　breath　whooshed　out　of　Jacob　like　someone　had　punched　him　in　the　gut。　〃Holy　crap！〃　

He　slammed　the　door　and　twisted　the　keys　in　the　ignition　at　the　same　moment。　His　hands　were　shaking　
so　hard　I　didn't　know　how　he　managed　it。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　

He　revved　the　engine　too　fast；　it　sputtered　and　faltered。　

〃Vampire；〃　he　spit　out。　

The　blood　rushed　from　my　head　and　left　me　dizzy。　〃How　do　you　know？〃　

〃Because　I　can　smell　it。　Dammit！〃　

Jacob's　eyes　were　wild；　raking　the　dark　street。　He　barely　seemed　aware　of　the　tremors　that　were　rolling　
through　his　body。　〃Phase　or　get　her　out　of　here？〃　he　hissed　at　himself。　

He　looked　down　at　me　for　a　split　second；　taking　in　my　horrorstruck　eyes　and　white　face；　and　then　he　
was　scanning　the　street　again。　〃Right。　Get　you　out。〃　

The　engine　caught　with　a　roar。　The　tires　squealed　as　he　spun　the　truck　around；　turning　toward　our　only　
escape。　The　headlights　washed　across　the　pavement；　lit　the　front　line　of　the　black　forest；　and　finally　
glinted　off　a　car　parked　across　the　street　from　my　house。　

〃Stop！〃　I　gasped。　

It　was　a　black　car—a　car　I　knew。　I　might　be　the　furthest　thing　from　an　autophile；　but　I　could　tell　you　
everything　about　that　particular　car。　It　was　a　Mercedes　S55　AMG。　I　knew　the　horsepower　and　the　color　
of　the　interior。　I　knew　the　feel　of　the　powerful　engine　purring　through　the　frame。　I　knew　the　rich　smell　of　
the　leather　seats　and　the　way　the　extradark　tint　made　noon　look　like　dusk　through　those　windows。　

It　was　Carlisle's　car。　

〃Stop！〃　I　cried　again；　louder　this　time；　because　Jacob　was　gunning　the　truck　down　the　street。　

〃What？！〃　

〃It's　not　Victoria。　Stop；　stop！　I　want　to　go　back。〃　

He　stomped　on　the　brake　so　hard　I　had　to　catch　myself　against　the　dashboard。　

〃What？〃　he　asked　again；　aghast。　He　stared　at　me　with　horror　in　his　eyes。　

〃It's　Carlisle's　car！　It's　the　Cullens。　I　know　it。〃　

He　watched　dawn　break　across　my　face；　and　a　violent　tremor　rocked　his　frame。　

〃Hey；　calm　down；　Jake。　It's　okay。　No　danger；　see？　Relax。〃　

〃Yeah；　calm；〃　he　panted；　putting　his　head　down　and　closing　his　eyes。　While　he　concentrated　on　not　
exploding　into　a　wolf；　I　stared　out　the　back　window　at　the　black　car。　

It　was　just　Carlisle；　I　told　myself。　Don't　expect　anything　more。　Maybe　Esme…　Stop　right　there；　I　told　
myself。　Just　Carlisle。　That　was　plenty。　More　than　I'd　ever　hoped　to　have　again。　

〃There's　a　vampire　in　your　house；〃　Jacob　hissed。　〃And　you　want　to　go　back？〃　

I　glanced　at　him；　ripping　my　unwilling　eyes　off　the　Mercedes—terrified　that　it　would　disappear　the　second　
I　looked　away。　

〃Of　course；〃　I　said；　my　voice　blank　with　surprise　at　his　question。　Of　course　I　wanted　to　go　back。　

Jacob's　face　hardened　while　I　stared　at　him；　congealing　into　the　bitter　mask　that　I'd　thought　was　gone　for　
good。　Just　before　he　had　the　mask　in　place；　I　caught　the　spasm　of　betrayal　that　flashed　in　his　eyes。　His　
hands　were　still　shaking。　He　looked　ten　years　older　than　me。　

He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃You're　sure　it's　not　a　trick？〃　he　asked　in　a　slow；　heavy　voice。　

〃It's　not　a　trick。　It's　Carlisle。　Take　me　back！〃　

A　shudder　rippled　through　his　wide　shoulders；　but　his　eyes　were　flat　and　emotionless。　〃No。〃　

〃Jake；　it's　okay—〃　

〃No。　Take　yourself　back；　Bella。〃　His　voice　was　a　slap—I　flinched　as　the　sound　of　it　struck　me。　His　jaw　
clenched　and　unclenched。　

〃Look；　Bella；〃　he　said　in　the　same　hard　voice。　〃I　can't　go　back。　Treaty　or　no　treaty；　that's　my　enemy　in　
there。〃　

〃It's　not　like　that—〃　

〃I　have　to　tell　Sam　right　away。　This　changes　things。　We　can't　be　caught　on　their　territory。〃　

〃Jake；　it's　not　a　war！〃　

He　didn't　listen。　He　put　the　truck　in　neutral　and　jumped　out　the　door；　leaving　it　running。　

〃Bye；　Bella；〃　he　called　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃I　really　hope　you　don't　die。〃　He　sprinted　into　the　
darkness；　shaking　so　hard　that　his　shape　seemed　blurred；　he　disappeared　before　I　could　open　my　mouth　
to　call　him　back。　

Remorse　pinned　me　against　the　seat　for　one　long　second。　What　had　I　just　done　to　Jacob'？　

But　remorse　couldn't　hold　me　very　long。　

I　slid　across　the　seat　and　put　the　truck　back　in　drive。　My　hands　were　shaking　almost　as　hard　as　Jake's　
had　been；　and　this　took　a　minute　of　concentration。　Then　I　carefully　turned　the　truck　around　and　drove　it　
back　to　my　house。　

It　was　very　dark　when　I　turned　off　the　headlights。　Charlie　had　left　in　such　a　hurry　that　he'd　forgotten　to　
leave　the　porch　lamp　on。　I　felt　a　pang　of　doubt；　staring　at　the　house；　deep　in　shadow。　What　if　it　was　a　
trick？　

I　looked　back　at　the　black　car；　almost　invisible　in　the　night。　No。　I　knew　that　car。　

Still；　my　hands　were　shaking　even　worse　than　before　as　I　reached　for　the　key　above　the　door。　When　I　

grabbed　the　doorknob　to　unlock　it；　it　twisted　easily　under　my　hand。　I　let　the　door　fall　open。　The　hallway　
was　black。　

I　wanted　to　call　out　a　greeting；　but　my　throat　was　too　dry。　I　couldn't　quite　seem　to　catch　my　breath。　

I　took　a　step　inside　and　fumbled　for　the　light　switch。　It　was　so　black—like　the　black　water…　Where　was　
that　switch？　

Just　like　the　black　water；　with　the　orange　flame　flickering　impossibly　on　top　of　it。　Flame　that　couldn't　be　a　
fire；　but　what　then…　？　My　fingers　traced　the　wall；　still　searching；　still　shaking—　

Suddenly；　something　Jacob　had　told　me　this　afternoon　echoed　in　my　head；　finally　sinking　in…　She　took　
off　into　the　water；　he'd　said。　The　bloodsuckers　have　the　advantage　there。　That's　why　I　raced　home　
—I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　double　back　swimming。　

My　hand　froze　in　its　searching；　my　whole　body　froze　into　place；　as　I　realized　why　I　recognized　the　
strange　orange　color　on　the　water。　

Victoria's　hair；　blowing　wild　in　the　wind；　the　color　of　fire…　

She'd　been　right　there。　Right　there　in　the　harbor　with　me　and　Jacob。　If　Sam　hadn't　been　there；　if　it　had　
been　just　the　two　of　us…　？　I　couldn't　breathe　or　move。　

The　light　flicked　on；　though　my　frozen　hand　had　still　not　found　the　switch。　

I　blinked　into　the　sudden　light；　and　saw　that　someone　was　there；　waiting　for　me。　

17。　VISITOR　




UNNATURALLY　STILL　AND　WHITE；　WITH　LARGE　BLACK　EYES　intent　on　my　face；　my　visitor　
waited　perfectly　motionless　in　the　center　of　the　halt；　beautiful　beyond　imagining。　

My　knees　trembled　for　a　second；　and　I　nearly　fell。　Then　I　hurled　myself　at　her。　

〃Alice；　oh；　Alice！〃　I　cried；　as　I　slammed　into　her。　

I'd　forgotten　how　hard　she　was；　it　was　like　running　headlong　into　a　wall　of　cement。　

〃Bella？〃　There　was　a　strange　mingling　of　relief　and　confusion　in　her　voice。　

I　locked　my　arms　around　her；　gasping　to　inhale　as　much　of　the　scent　of　her　skin　as　possible。　It　wasn't　like　
anything　else—not　floral　or　spice；　citrus　or　musk。　No　perfume　in　the　world　could　pare。　My　memory　
hadn't　done　it　justice。　

I　didn't　notice　when　the　gasping　turned　into　something　else—I　only　realized　I　was　sobbing　when　Alice　
dragged　me　to　the　living　room　couch　and　pulled　me　into　her　lap。　It　was　like　curling　up　into　a　cool　stone；　
but　a　stone　that　was　contoured　fortingly　to　the　shape　of　my　body。　She　rubbed　my　back　in　a　gentle　
rhythm；　waiting　for　me　to　get　control　of　myself。　

〃I'm…　sorry；〃　I　blubbered。　〃I'm　just…　so　happy…　to　see　you！〃　

〃It's　okay；　Bella。　Everything's　okay。〃　

〃Yes；〃　I　bawled。　And；　for　once；　it　seemed　that　way。　

Alice　sighed。　〃I'd　forgotten　how　exuberant　you　are；〃　she　said；　and　her　tone　was　disapproving。　

I　looked　up　at　her　through　my　streaming　eyes。　Alice's　neck　was　tight；　straining　away　from　me；　her　lips　
pressed　together　firmly。　Her　eyes　were　black　as　pitch。　

〃Oh；〃　I　puffed；　as　I　realized　the　problem。　She　was　thirsty。　And　I　smelled　appetizing。　It　had　been　a　while　
since　I'd　had　to　think　about　that　kind　of　thing。　〃Sorry。〃　

〃It's　my　own　fault。　It's　been　too　long　since　I　hu