3 eclipse月食-第21部分

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flared　and　I’d　calmed　down　enough　to　realize　that　I　was　making　a　fool　of　myself。　
　　“When　we　get　enough　control　to　quit　。　。　。　；”　Jacob　said。　“When　we　stop　phasing　for　a　solid　length　of　time；　
we　age　again。　It’s　not　easy。”　He　shook　his　head；　abruptly　doubtful。　“It’s　gonna　take　a　really　long　time　to　learn　
that　kind　of　restraint；　I　think。　Even　Sam’s　not　there　yet。　’Course　it　doesn’t　help　that　there’s　a　huge　coven　of　
vampires　right　down　the　road。　We　can’t　even　think　about　quitting　when　the　tribe　needs　protectors。　But　you　
shouldn’t　get　all　bent　out　of　shape　about　it；　anyway；　because　I’m　already　older　than　you；　physically　at　least。”　
　　“What　are　you　talking　about？”　
　　“Look　at　me；　Bells。　Do　I　look　sixteen？”　
　　I　glanced　up　and　down　his　mammoth　frame；　trying　to　be　unbiased。　“Not　exactly；　I　guess。”　
　　“Not　at　all。　Because　we　reach　full　growth　inside　of　a　few　months　when　the　werewolf　gene　gets　triggered。　
It’s　one　hell　of　a　growth　spurt。”　He　made　a　face。　“Physically；　I’m　probably　twentyfive　or　something。　So　
there’s　no　need　for　you　to　freak　out　about　being　too　old　for　me　for　at　least　another　seven　years。”　
　　Twentyfive　or　something。　The　idea　messed　with　my　head。　But　I　remembered　that　growth　spurt　—　I　
remembered　watching　him　shoot　up　and　fill　out　right　before　my　eyes。　I　remembered　how　he　would　look　
different　from　one　day　to　the　next。　。　。　。　I　shook　my　head；　feeling　dizzy。　
　　“So；　did　you　want　to　hear　about　Sam；　or　did　you　want　to　scream　at　me　some　more　for　things　that　are　out　
of　my　control？”　
　　I　took　a　deep　breath。　“Sorry。　Age　is　a　touchy　subject　for　me。　That　hit　a　nerve。”　
　　Jacob’s　eyes　tightened；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　were　trying　to　decide　how　to　word　something。　
　　Since　I　didn’t　want　to　talk　about　the　truly　touchy　stuff　—　my　plans　for　the　future；　or　treaties　that　might　be　
broken　by　said　plans；　I　prompted　him。　“So　once　Sam　understood　what　was　going　on；　once　he　had　Billy　and　
Harry　and　Mr。　Ateara；　you　said　it　wasn’t　so　hard　anymore。　And；　like　you　also　said；　there　are　the　cool　parts。　。　
。　。”　I　hesitated　briefly。　“Why　does　Sam　hate　them　so　much？　Why　does　he　wish　I　would　hate　them？”　
　　Jacob　sighed。　“This　is　the　really　weird　part。”　

“I’m　a　pro　at　weird。”　
“Yeah；　I　know。”　He　grinned　before　he　continued。　“So；　you’re　right。　Sam　knew　what　was　going　on；　and　
everything　was　almost　okay。　In　most　ways；　his　life　was　back　to；　well；　not　normal。　But　better。”　Then　Jacob’s　
expression　tightened；　like　something　painful　was　ing。　“Sam　couldn’t　tell　Leah。　We　aren’t　supposed　to　tell　
anyone　who　doesn’t　have　to　know。　And　it　wasn’t　really　safe　for　him　to　be　around　her　—　but　he　cheated；　just　
like　I　did　with　you。　Leah　was　furious　that　he　wouldn’t　tell　her　what　was　going　on　—　where　he’d　been；　where　
he　went　at　night；　why　he　was　always　so　exhausted　—　but　they　were　working　it　out。　They　were　trying。　They　
really　loved　each　other。”　
“Did　she　find　out？　Is　that　what　happened？”　
He　shook　his　head。　“No；　that　wasn’t　the　problem。　Her　cousin；　Emily　Young；　came　down　from　the　Makah　
reservation　to　visit　her　one　weekend。”　
I　gasped。　“Emily　is　Leah’s　cousin？”　
“Second　cousins。　They’re　close；　though。　They　were　like　sisters　when　they　were　kids。”　
“That’s　。　。　。　horrible。　How　could　Sam　。　。　。　？”　I　trailed　off；　shaking　my　head。　
“Don’t　judge　him　just　yet。　Did　anyone　ever　tell　you　。　。　。　Have　you　ever　heard　of　imprinting？”　
“Imprinting？”　I　repeated　the　unfamiliar　word。　“No。　What’s　that　mean？”　
“It’s　one　of　those　bizarre　things　we　have　to　deal　with。　It　doesn’t　happen　to　everyone。　In　fact；　it’s　the　rare　
exception；　not　the　rule。　Sam　had　heard　all　the　stories　by　then；　the　stories　we　all　used　to　think　were　legends。　
He’d　heard　of　imprinting；　but　he　never　dreamed　。　。　。”　
“What　is　it？”　I　prodded。　
Jacob’s　eyes　strayed　to　the　ocean。　“Sam　did　love　Leah。　But　when　he　saw　Emily；　that　didn’t　matter　
anymore。　Sometimes　。　。　。　we　don’t　exactly　know　why　。　。　。　we　find　our　mates　that　way。”　His　eyes　flashed　back　
to　me；　his　face　reddening。　“I　mean　。　。　。　our　soul　mates。”　
“What　way？　Love　at　first　sight？”　I　snickered。　
Jacob　wasn’t　smiling。　His　dark　eyes　were　critical　of　my　reaction。　“It’s　a　little　bit　more　powerful　than　that。　
More　absolute。”　
“Sorry；”　I　muttered。　“You’re　serious；　aren’t　you？”　
“Yeah；　I　am。”　
“Love　at　first　sight？　But　more　powerful？”　My　voice　still　sounded　dubious；　and　he　could　hear　that。　
“It’s　not　easy　to　explain。　It　doesn’t　matter；　anyway。”　He　shrugged　indifferently。　“You　wanted　to　know　
what　happened　to　Sam　to　make　him　hate　the　vampires　for　changing　him；　to　make　him　hate　himself。　And　that’s　
what　happened。　He　broke　Leah’s　heart。　He　went　back　on　every　promise　he’d　ever　made　her。　Every　day　he　
has　to　see　the　accusation　in　her　eyes；　and　know　that　she’s　right。”　
He　stopped　talking　abruptly；　as　if　he’d　said　something　he　hadn’t　meant　to。　
“How　did　Emily　deal　with　this？　If　she　was　so　close　to　Leah　。　。　。　？”　Sam　and　Emily　were　utterly　right　
together；　two　puzzle　pieces；　shaped　for　each　other　exactly。　Still　。　。　。　how　had　Emily　gotten　past　the　fact　that　
he’d　belonged　to　someone　else？　Her　sister；　almost。　
“She　was　real　angry；　in　the　beginning。　But　it’s　hard　to　resist　that　level　of　mitment　and　adoration。”　
Jacob　sighed。　“And　then；　Sam　could　tell　her　everything。　There　are　no　rules　that　can　bind　you　when　you　find　
your　other　half。　You　know　how　she　got　hurt？”　
“Yeah。”　The　story　in　Forks　was　that　she　was　mauled　by　a　bear；　but　I　was　in　on　the　secret。　
Werewolves　are　unstable；　Edward　had　said。　The　people　near　them　get　hurt。　
“Well；　weirdly　enough；　that　was　sort　of　how　they　resolved　things。　Sam　was　so　horrified；　so　sickened　by　
himself；　so　full　of　hate　for　what　he’d　done。　。　。　。　He　would　have　thrown　himself　under　a　bus　if　it　would　have　
made　her　feel　better。　He　might　have　anyway；　just　to　escape　what　he’d　done。　He　was　shattered。　。　。　。　Then；　
somehow；　she　was　the　one　forting　him；　and　after　that。　。　。　。”　
Jacob　didn’t　finish　his　thought；　and　I　sensed　the　story　had　gotten　too　personal　to　share。　
“Poor　Emily；”　I　whispered。　“Poor　Sam。　Poor　Leah。　。　。　。”　
“Yeah；　Leah　got　the　worst　end　of　the　stick；”　he　agreed。　“She　puts　on　a　brave　face。　She’s　going　to　be　a　
bridesmaid。”　
I　gazed　away；　toward　the　jagged　rocks　that　rose　from　the　ocean　like　stubby　brokenoff　fingers　on　the　
south　rim　of　the　harbor；　while　I　tried　to　make　sense　of　it　all。　I　could　feel　his　eyes　on　my　face；　waiting　for　me　to　

say　something。　
“Did　it　happen　to　you？”　I　finally　asked；　still　looking　away。　“This　loveatfirstsight　thing？”　
“No；”　he　answered　briskly。　“Sam　and　Jared　are　the　only　ones。”　
“Hmm；”　I　said；　trying　to　sound　only　politely　interested。　I　was　relieved；　and　I　tried　to　explain　my　reaction　to　
myself。　I　decided　I　was　just　glad　he　didn’t　claim　there　was　some　mystical；　wolfy　connection　between　the　two　
of　us。　Our　relationship　was　confusing　enough　as　it　was。　I　didn’t　need　any　more　of　the　supernatural　than　I　
already　had　to　deal　with。　
He　was　quiet；　too；　and　the　silence　felt　a　little　awkward。　My　intuition　told　me　that　I　didn’t　want　to　hear　
what　he　was　thinking。　
“How　did　that　work　out　for　Jared？”　I　asked　to　break　the　silence。　
“No　drama　there。　It　was　just　a　girl　he’d　sat　next　to　in　school　every　day　for　a　year　and　never　looked　at　
twice。　And　then；　after　he　changed；　he　saw　her　again　and　never　looked　away。　Kim　was　thrilled。　She’d　had　a　
huge　crush　on　him。　She’d　had　his　last　name　tacked　on　to　the　end　of　hers　all　over　in　her　diary。”　He　laughed　
mockingly。　
I　frowned。　“Did　Jared　tell　you　that？　He　shouldn’t　have。”　
Jacob　bit　his　lip。　“I　guess　I　shouldn’t　laugh。　It　was　funny；　though。”　
“Some　soul　mate。”　
He　sighed。　“Jared　didn’t　tell　us　anything　on　purpose。　I　already　told　you　this　part；　remember？”　
“Oh；　yeah。　You　can　hear　each　other’s　thoughts；　but　only　when　you’re　wolves；　right？”　
“Right。　Just　like　your　bloodsucker。”　He　glowered。　
“Edward；”　I　corrected。　
“Sure；　sure。　That’s　how　e　I　know　so　much　about　how　Sam　felt。　It’s　not　like　he　would　have　told　us　all　
that　if　he’d　had　a　choice。　Actually；　that’s　something　we　all　hate。”　The　bitterness　was　abruptly　harsh