3 eclipse月食-第82部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


“What　about　it？”　
“Well；　if　it’s　about　the　lineage　。　。　。　shouldn’t　you　be　the　chief；　then？”　
Jacob　didn’t　answer　me。　He　stared　into　the　darkening　forest；　as　if　he　suddenly　needed　to　concentrate　on　
where　he　was　going。　
“Jake？”　
“No。　That’s　Sam’s　job。”　He　kept　his　eyes　on　our　pathless　course。　
“Why？　His　greatgranddad　was　Levi　Uley；　right？　Was　Levi　an　Alpha；　too？”　
“There’s　only　one　Alpha；”　he　answered　automatically。　
“So　what　was　Levi？”　
“Sort　of　a　Beta；　I　guess。”　He　snorted　at　my　term。　“Like　me。”　
“That　doesn’t　make　sense。”　
“It　doesn’t　matter。”　
“I　just　want　to　understand。”　
Jacob　finally　met　my　confused　gaze；　and　then　sighed。　“Yeah。　I　was　supposed　to　be　the　Alpha。”　
My　eyebrows　pulled　together。　“Sam　didn’t　want　to　step　down？”　
“Hardly。　I　didn’t　want　to　step　up。”　
“Why　not？”　
He　frowned；　unfortable　with　my　questions。　Well；　it　was　his　turn　to　feel　unfortable。　
“I　didn’t　want　any　of　it；　Bella。　I　didn’t　want　anything　to　change。　I　didn’t　want　to　be　some　legendary　chief。　I　
didn’t　want　to　be　part　of　a　pack　of　werewolves；　let　alone　their　leader。　I　wouldn’t　take　it　when　Sam　offered。”　
I　thought　about　this　for　a　long　moment。　Jacob　didn’t　interrupt。　He　stared　into　the　forest　again。　
“But　I　thought　you　were　happier。　That　you　were　okay　with　this；”　I　finally　whispered。　
Jacob　smiled　down　at　me　reassuringly。　“Yeah。　It’s　really　not　so　bad。　Exciting　sometimes；　like　with　this　
thing　tomorrow。　But　at　first　it　sort　of　felt　like　being　drafted　into　a　war　you　didn’t　know　existed。　There　was　no　
choice；　you　know？　And　it　was　so　final。”　He　shrugged。　“Anyway；　I　guess　I’m　glad　now。　It　has　to　be　done；　and　
could　I　trust　someone　else　to　get　it　right？　It’s　better　to　make　sure　myself。”　
I　stared　at　him；　feeling　an　unexpected　kind　of　awe　for　my　friend。　He　was　more　of　a　grownup　than　I’d　
ever　given　him　credit　for。　Like　with　Billy　the　other　night　at　the　bonfire；　there　was　a　majesty　here　that　I’d　never　
suspected。　
“Chief　Jacob；”　I　whispered；　smiling　at　the　way　the　words　sounded　together。　
He　rolled　his　eyes。　
Just　then；　the　wind　shook　more　fiercely　through　the　trees　around　us；　and　it　felt　like　it　was　blowing　straight　

off　a　glacier。　The　sharp　sound　of　wood　cracking　echoed　off　the　mountain。　Though　the　light　was　vanishing　as　
the　grisly　cloud　covered　the　sky；　I　could　still　see　the　little　white　specks　that　fluttered　past　us。　
　Jacob　stepped　up　the　pace；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　ground　now　as　he　flat　out　sprinted。　I　curled　more　
willingly　against　his　chest；　recoiling　from　the　unwele　snow。　
　It　was　only　minutes　later　that　he　dashed　around　to　the　lee　side　of　the　stony　peak　and　we　could　see　the　little　
tent　nestled　up　against　the　sheltering　face。　More　flurries　were　falling　around　us；　but　the　wind　was　too　fierce　to　
let　them　settle　anywhere。　
　“Bella！”　Edward　called　out　in　acute　relief。　We’d　caught　him　in　the　middle　of　pacing　back　and　forth　across　
the　little　open　space。　
　He　flashed　to　my　side；　sort　of　blurring　as　he　moved　so　swiftly。　Jacob　cringed；　and　then　set　me　on　my　feet。　
Edward　ignored　his　reaction　and　caught　me　in　a　tight　hug。　
　“Thank　you；”　Edward　said　over　my　head。　His　tone　was　unmistakably　sincere。　“That　was　quicker　than　I　
expected；　and　I　truly　appreciate　it。”　
　I　twisted　to　see　Jacob’s　response。　
　Jacob　merely　shrugged；　all　the　friendliness　wiped　clean　from　his　face。　“Get　her　inside。　This　is　going　to　be　
bad　—　my　hair’s　standing　up　on　my　scalp。　Is　that　tent　secure？”　
　“I　all　but　welded　it　to　the　rock。”　
　“Good。”　
　Jacob　looked　up　at　the　sky　—　now　black　with　the　storm；　sprinkled　with　the　swirling　bits　of　snow。　His　
nostrils　flared。　
　“I’m　going　to　change；”　he　said。　“I　want　to　know　what’s　going　on　back　home。”　
　He　hung　his　jacket　on　a　low；　stubby　branch；　and　walked　into　the　murky　forest　without　a　backward　glance。　

22。　FIRE　AND　ICE　


THE　WIND　SHOOK　THE　TENT　AGAIN；　AND　I　SHOOK　WITH　IT。　
The　temperature　was　dropping。　I　could　feel　it　through　the　down　bag；　through　my　jacket。　I　was　fully　
dressed；　my　hiking　boots　still　laced　into　place。　It　didn’t　make　any　difference。　How　could　it　be　so　cold？　How　
could　it　keep　getting　colder？　It　had　to　bottom　out　sometime；　didn’t　it？　
“hat　tttttime　is　it？”　I　forced　the　words　through　my　rattling　teeth。　
“Two；”　Edward　answered。　
Edward　sat　as　far　from　me　as　possible　in　the　cramped　space；　afraid　to　even　breathe　on　me　when　I　was　
already　so　cold。　It　was　too　dark　to　see　his　face；　but　his　voice　was　wild　with　worry；　indecision；　and　frustration。　
“Maybe　。　。　。”　
“No；　I’m　ffffffine；　rrrreally。　I　don’t　want　to　ggo　outside。”　
He’d　tried　to　talk　me　into　making　a　run　for　it　a　dozen　times　already；　but　I　was　terrified　of　leaving　my　
shelter。　If　it　was　this　cold　in　here；　protected　from　the　raging　wind；　I　could　imagine　how　bad　it　would　be　if　we　
were　running　through　it。　
And　it　would　waste　all　our　efforts　this　afternoon。　Would　we　have　enough　time　to　reset　ourselves　when　the　
storm　was　over？　What　if　it　didn’t　end？　It　made　no　sense　to　move　now。　I　could　shiver　my　way　through　one　
night。　
I　was　worried　that　the　trail　I　had　laid　would　be　lost；　but　he　promised　that　it　would　still　be　plain　to　the　
ing　monsters。　
“What　can　I　do？”　he　almost　begged。　
I　just　shook　my　head。　
Out　in　the　snow；　Jacob　whined　unhappily。　
“Gggget　out　of　hhhere；”　I　ordered；　again。　
“He’s　just　worried　about　you；”　Edward　translated。　“He’s　fine。　His　body　is　equipped　to　deal　with　this。”　
“Hhhhhh。”　I　wanted　to　say　that　he　should　still　leave；　but　I　couldn’t　get　it　past　my　teeth。　I　nearly　bit　my　
tongue　off　trying。　At　least　Jacob　did　seem　to　be　well　equipped　for　the　snow；　better　even　than　the　others　in　his　
pack　with　his　thicker；　longer；　shaggy　russet　fur。　I　wondered　why　that　was。　
Jacob　whimpered；　a　highpitched；　grating　sound　of　plaint。　
“What　do　you　want　me　to　do？”　Edward　growled；　too　anxious　to　bother　with　politeness　anymore。　“Carry　
her　through　that？　I　don’t　see　you　making　yourself　useful。　Why　don’t　you　go　fetch　a　space　heater　or　
something？”　
“I’m　okkkkkkkay；”　I　protested。　Judging　from　Edward’s　groan　and　the　muted　growl　outside　the　tent；　
I　hadn’t　convinced　anyone。　The　wind　rocked　the　tent　roughly；　and　I　shuddered　in　harmony　with　it。　
A　sudden　howl　ripped　through　the　roar　of　the　wind；　and　I　covered　my　ears　against　the　noise。　Edward　
scowled。　
“That　was　hardly　necessary；”　he　muttered。　“And　that’s　the　worst　idea　I’ve　ever　heard；”　he　called　more　
loudly。　
“Better　than　anything　you’ve　e　up　with；”　Jacob　answered；　his　human　voice　startling　me。　“Go　fetch　a　
space　heater；”　he　grumbled。　“I’m　not　a　St。　Bernard。”　
I　heard　the　sound　of　the　zipper　around　the　tent　door　pulling　swiftly　down。　
Jacob　slid　through　the　smallest　opening　he　could　manage；　while　the　arctic　air　flowed　in　around　him；　a　few　
flecks　of　snow　falling　to　the　floor　of　the　tent。　I　shivered　so　hard　it　was　a　convulsion。　
“I　don’t　like　this；”　Edward　hissed　as　Jake　zipped　the　tent　door　shut。　“Just　give　her　the　coat　and　get　out。”　
My　eyes　were　adjusted　enough　to　see　shapes　—　Jacob　was　carrying　the　parka　that　had　been　hanging　on　a　
tree　next　to　the　tent。　
I　tried　to　ask　what　they　were　talking　about；　but　all　that　came　out　of　my　mouth　was；　“；”　as　
the　shivering　made　me　stutter　uncontrollably。　
“The　parka’s　for　tomorrow　—　she’s　too　cold　to　warm　it　up　by　herself。　It’s　frozen。”　He　dropped　it　by　the　

door。　“You　said　she　needed　a　space　heater；　and　here　I　am。”　Jacob　held　his　arms　as　wide　as　the　tent　allowed。　
As　usual；　when　he’d　been　running　around　as　a　wolf；　he’d　only　thrown　on　the　bare　essentials　—　just　a　pair　of　
sweats；　no　shirt；　no　shoes。　
“JJJJJake；　you’ll　ffffreezzzze；”　I　tried　to　plain。　
“Not　me；”　he　said　cheerfully。　“I　run　at　a　toasty　oneoheight　point　nine　these　days。　I’ll　have　you　sweating　
in　no　time。”　
Edward　snarled；　but　Jacob　didn’t　even　look　at　him。　Instead；　he　crawled　to　my　side　and　started　unzipping　
my　sleeping　bag。　
Edward’s　hand　was　suddenly　hard　on　his　shoulder；　restraining；　snow　white　against　the　dark　skin。　Jacob’s　
jaw　clenched；　his　nostrils　flaring；　his　body　recoiling　from　the　cold　touch。　The　long　muscles　in　his　arms　flexed　
automatically。