6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第8章

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n　by　the　time　I　got　to　what　was　left　of　the　house。　Had　to　sit　in　a　cave　filled　with　water　all　day。”　　“Go　tattle　to　Riley。　Whatever。”　　“I　see　the　little　girl　made　it；　too；”　said　a　new　voice；　and　I　shuddered　because　it　was　Raoul。　I　felt　a　little　bit　of　relief　that　he　didn’t　know　my　name；　but　mostly　I　just　felt　horrified　that　he’d　noticed　me　at　all。　　“Yeah；　she　followed　me。”　I　couldn’t　see　Diego；　but　I　knew　he　was　shrugging。　　“Aren’t　you　the　savior　of　the　hour？”　Raoul　said　snidely。　　“We　don’t　get　extra　points　for　being　morons。”　　I　wished　Diego　wouldn’t　taunt　Raoul。　I　hoped　Riley　would　e　back　soon。　Only　Riley　could　curb　Raoul　even　the　littlest　bit。　
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　But　Riley　was　probably　out　hunting　dregs　kids　to　bring　to　her。　Or　doing　whatever　else　he　did　while　he　was　away。　　“Interesting　attitude　you　got；　Diego。　You　think　that　Riley　likes　you　so　much　he’s　gonna　care　if　I　kill　you。　I　think　you’re　wrong。　But　either　way；　for　tonight；　he　already　thinks　you’re　dead。”　　I　could　hear　the　others　moving。　Some　probably　to　back　Raoul　up；　others　just　getting　out　of　the　way。　I　hesitated　in　my　hiding　spot；　knowing　I　wasn’t　going　to　let　Diego　fight　them　alone；　but　worried　about　blowing　our　cover　if　it　didn’t　e　to　that。　I　hoped　Diego　had　survived　this　long　because　he　had　some　crazy　bat　skills。　I　wasn’t　going　to　have　much　to　offer　in　that　department。　There　were　three　members　of　Raoul’s　gang　here；　and　some　others　that　might　help　out　just　to　get　on　his　good　side。　Would　Riley　get　home　before　they　had　time　to　burn　us？　　Diego’s　voice　was　calm　when　he　answered。　“You’re　really　that　afraid　to　take　me　on　alone？　Typical。”　　Raoul　snorted。　“Does　that　ever　work？　I　mean；　besides　in　movies。　Why　should　I　take　you　on　alone？　I　don’t　care　about　beating　you。　I　just　want　to　end　you。”　　I　rolled　into　a　crouch；　tensed　to　spring。　　Raoul　kept　talking。　He　liked　the　sound　of　his　own　voice　a　lot。　　“But　it’s　not　gonna　take　all　of　us　to　deal　with　you。　These　two　will　take　care　of　the　other　evidence　of　your　unfortunate　survival。　Little　what’shername。”　　My　body　felt　icy；　frozen　solid。　I　tried　to　shake　it　off　so　I　could　fight　my　best。　Not　that　it　would　have　made　a　difference。　　And　then　I　felt　something　else；　something　totally　unexpected　
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　　　a　wave　of　revulsion　so　overpowering　that　I　couldn’t　hold　my　crouch。　I　crumpled　to　the　floor；　gasping　with　horror。　　I　was　not　the　only　one　to　react。　I　heard　disgusted　snarls　and　retching　sounds　from　every　corner　of　the　basement。　A　few　people　retreated　to　the　edges　of　the　room；　where　I　could　see　them。　They　strained　against　the　wall；　stretching　their　necks　away　as　if　they　could　escape　the　horrible　feeling。　At　least　one　of　these　was　a　member　of　Raoul’s　gang。　　I　heard　Raoul’s　distinctive　growl；　and　then　heard　it　fade　as　he　took　off　up　the　stairs。　He　wasn’t　the　only　one　to　make　a　break　for　it。　About　half　of　the　vampires　in　the　basement　cleared　out。　　I　didn’t　have　that　choice。　I　could　barely　move。　And　then　I　realized　this　had　to　be　because　I　was　so　close　to　Freaky　Fred。　He　was　responsible　for　what　was　happening。　And　as　horrible　as　I　felt；　I　was　still　able　to　realize　that　he’d　probably　just　saved　my　life。　　Why？　　The　sensation　of　disgust　faded　slowly。　As　soon　as　I　could；　I　crept　to　the　edge　of　the　couch　and　took　in　the　aftermath。　All　of　Raoul’s　gang　was　gone；　but　Diego　was　still　there；　on　the　far　end　of　the　big　room　by　the　TVs。　The　vampires　who　remained　were　slowly　relaxing；　though　everybody　looked　a　little　shaken。　Most　of　them　were　shooting　cautious　glances　in　Fred’s　direction。　I　peeked　at　the　back　of　his　head；　too；　though　I　couldn’t　see　anything。　I　looked　away　quickly。　Looking　at　Fred　brought　back　some　of　the　nausea。　　“Keep　it　down。”　
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　The　deep　voice　came　from　Fred。　I’d　never　heard　him　speak　before。　Everyone　stared　and　then　looked　away　immediately　as　the　revulsion　returned。　　So　Fred　just　wanted　his　peace　and　quiet。　Well；　whatever。　I　was　alive　because　of　it。　Most　likely　Raoul　would　get　distracted　by　some　other　irritant　before　dawn　and　take　out　his　anger　on　somebody　close　by。　And　Riley　always　came　back　at　the　end　of　the　night。　He　would　hear　that　Diego　had　been　in　his　cave　rather　than　outside　and　destroyed　by　the　sun；　and　Raoul　wouldn’t　have　an　excuse　to　attack　him　or　me。　　At　least；　that　was　the　bestcase　scenario。　In　the　meantime；　maybe　Diego　and　I　could　e　up　with　some　plan　to　steer　clear　of　Raoul。　　Again；　I　had　a　fleeting　sense　that　I　was　missing　an　obvious　solution。　Before　I　could　figure　it　out；　my　thoughts　were　interrupted。　　“Sorry。”　　The　deep；　almost　silent　mutter　could　only　have　e　from　Fred。　It　looked　like　I　was　the　only　one　close　enough　to　really　hear。　Was　he　talking　to　me？　　I　looked　at　him　again　and　felt　nothing。　I　couldn’t　see　his　facehe　had　his　back　to　me　still。　He　had　thick；　wavy　blond　hair。　I’d　never　noticed　that　before；　not　with　all　the　days　I’d　sat　hiding　in　his　shadow。　Riley　wasn’t　kidding　when　he’d　said　that　Fred　was　special。　Gross；　but　really　special。　Did　Riley　have　any　idea　that　Fred　was　so…　so　powerful？　He　was　able　to　overwhelm　a　whole　room　of　us　in　a　second。　　Though　I　couldn’t　see　his　expression；　I　had　the　sense　that　
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Fred　was　waiting　for　an　answer。　　“Um；　don’t　apologize；”　I　breathed　almost　silently。　“Thank　you。　”　　Fred　shrugged。　　And　then　I　found　I　couldn’t　look　at　him　anymore。　　The　hours　passed　slower　than　usual　as　I　waited　for　Raoul　to　e　back。　From　time　to　time　I　tried　to　look　at　Fred　again　　　to　see　past　the　protection　he’d　created　for　himself　but　I　always　found　myself　repelled。　If　I　tried　too　hard；　I　ended　up　gagging。　　Thinking　about　Fred　was　a　good　distraction　from　thinking　about　Diego。　I　tried　to　pretend　I　didn’t　care　where　he　was　in　the　room。　I　didn’t　look　at　him　but　focused　on　the　sound　of　his　breathing　　his　distinct　rhythm　to　keep　tabs。　He　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the　room　from　me；　listening　to　his　CDs　on　a　laptop。　Or　maybe　pretending　to　listen；　the　way　I　was　pretending　to　read　the　books　from　the　damp　backpack　on　my　shoulders。　I　flipped　pages　at　my　usual　rate；　but　I　didn’t　take　anything　in。　I　was　waiting　for　Raoul。　　Luckily；　Riley　came　first。　Raoul　and　his　cohorts　were　right　behind　him；　but　not　as　loud　and　obnoxious　as　usual。　Maybe　Fred　had　taught　them　a　little　respect。　　Probably　not；　though。　More　likely　Fred　had　just　angered　them。　I　really　hoped　Fred　never　let　his　guard　slip。　　Riley　went　to　Diego　right　away；　I　listened　with　my　back　to　them；　eyes　on　my　book。　In　my　peripheral　vision；　I　saw　some　of　Raoul’s　idiots　wandering；　looking　for　their　favorite　games　or　whatever　they’d　been　doing　before　Fred　had　driven　them　out。　Kevin　was　one　of　them；　but　he　seemed　to　be　looking　for　
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something　more　specific　than　entertainment。　Several　times　his　eyes　tried　to　focus　on　where　I　was　sitting；　but　Fred’s　aura　kept　him　at　bay。　He　gave　up　after　a　few　minutes；　looking　a　little　sick。　　“I　heard　you　made　it　back；”　Riley　said；　sounding　genuinely　pleased。　“I　can　always　count　on　you；　Diego。”　　“No　problem；”　Diego　said　in　a　relaxed　voice。　“Unless　you　count　holding　my　breath　all　day　as　a　negative。”　　Riley　laughed。　“Don’t　cut　it　so　close　next　time。　Set　a　better　example　for　the　babies。”　　Diego　just　laughed　with　him。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　it　seemed　like　Kevin　relaxed　some。　Was　he　really　that　worried　about　Diego　getting　him　in　trouble？　Maybe　Riley　listened　to　Diego　more　than　I　realized。　I　wondered　whether　that　was　why　Raoul　had　gotten　crazy　before。　　Was　it　a　good　thing　if　Diego　was　that　in　with　Riley　after　all？　Maybe　Riley　was　okay。　That　relationship　didn’t　promise　what　we　had；　did　it？　　Time　didn’t　pass　any　faster　after　the　sun　was　up。　It　was　crowded　and　unstable　in　the　basement；　like　every　day。　If　vampires　could　get　hoarse；　Riley　would　have　lost　his　voice　entirely　from　the　yelling。　A　couple　of　kids　temporarily　lost　limbs；　but　nobody　got　torched。　The　music　warred　with　the　game　tracks；　and　I　was　glad　I　didn’t　get　headaches。　I　tried　reading　my　books；　but　I　ended　up　just　flipping　through　one　after　the　other；　not　caring　enough　to　make　my　eyes　focus　on　the　words。　I　left　them　in　a　neat　stack　by　the　end　of　the　couch　for　Fred。　I　always　left　my　books　for　him；　though　I　never　could　tell　whether　he　read　them。　Couldn’t　look　at　him　closely　enough　to　see　what；　exactly；　
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he　did　with　his　time。　　At　least　Raoul　never　looked　my　way。　Neither　did　Kevin　or　any　of　the　others。　My　hiding　place　was　as　effective　as　ever。　I　couldn’t　see　if　Diego　was　smart　enough　to　ignore　me；　because　I　was　ignoring　him　so　thoroughly。　No　one　could　suspect　that　we　were　a　team；　except　maybe　Fred。　Had　Fred　been　paying　attention　as　I　prepared　to　fight　alongside　Diego？　Even　if　he　had；　I　didn’t　worry　too　much　about　it。　If　Fred　felt　any　particular　ill　will　toward　me；　he　could　have　let　me　die　last　night。　Would　have　been　easy。　　It　got　louder　as　the　sun　started　to　go　down。　We　couldn’t　see　the　light　fading　here　underground；　with　all　of　the　windows　upstairs　covered　just　in　case。　But　waiting　through　so　many　long　days　gave　you　a　good　sense　for　when　one　was　almost　over。　Kids　started　getting　antsy；　bugging　Riley　about　whether　they　could　go　out。　　“Kristie；　you　were　out　last　night；”　Riley　said；　and　you　could　hear　the　patience　wearing　thin　in　his　voice。　“Heather；　Jim；　Logan　　go　ahead。　Warren；　your　eyes　are　dark；　go　along　with　them。　Hey；　Sara；　I’m　not　blind　get　back　here。”　　The　kids　he　shut　down　sulked　in　the　corners；　some　of　them　waiting　for　Riley　to　leave　so　they　could　sneak　out　in　spite　of　his　rules。　　“Um；　Fred；　must　be　about　your　turn；”　Riley　said；　not　looking　in　our　direction。　I　heard　Fred　sigh　as　he　got　to　his　feet。　Everyone　cringed　as　he　moved　through　the　center　of　the　room；　even　Riley。　But　unlike　the　others；　Riley　smiled　a　little　to　himself。　He　liked　his　vampire　with　skills。　
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　I　felt　naked　with　Fred　gone。　Anyone　could　focus　on　me　now。　I　held　perfectly　still；　head　down；　doing　everything　in　my　power　not　to　call　attention　to　myself。　　Lucky　for　me；　Riley　was　in　a　hurry　tonight。　He　barely　paused　to　glare　at　the　people　who　were　clearly　edging　for　the　door；　let　alone　threaten　them；　as　he　headed　out　himself。　Normally　he’d　give　us　some　variant　on　the　usual　speech　about　keeping　a　low　profile；　but　not　tonight。　He　seemed　preoccupied；　anxious。　I’d　have　bet　he　was　going　to