暮色-第23部分

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〃Where　have　you　been？〃　he　asked；　though　the　answer　was　right　in　front　of　
him。　

〃Jacob　was　just　telling　me　some　local　stories；〃　I　volunteered。　〃It　was　
really　interesting。〃　

I　smiled　at　Jacob　warmly；　and　he　grinned　back。　

〃Well；〃　Mike　paused；　carefully　reassessing　the　situation　as　he　watched　
our　camaraderie。　〃We're　packing　up　—　it　looks　like　it's　going　to　rain　
soon。〃　

We　all　looked　up　at　the　glowering　sky。　It　certainly　did　look　like　rain。　

〃Okay。〃　I　jumped　up。　〃I'm　ing。〃　

〃It　was　nice　to　see　you　again；〃　Jacob　said；　and　I　could　tell　he　was　
taunting　Mike　just　a　bit。　

〃It　really　was。　Next　time　Charlie　es　down　to　see　Billy；　I'll　e；　
too；〃　I　promised。　

His　grin　stretched　across　his　face。　〃That　would　be　cool。〃　

〃And　thanks；〃　I　added　earnestly。　

I　pulled　up　my　hood　as　we　tramped　across　the　rocks　toward　the　parking　
lot。　A　few　drops　were　beginning　to　fall；　making　black　spots　on　the　stones　
where　they　landed。　When　we　got　to　the　Suburban　the　others　were　already　
loading　everything　back　in。　I　crawled　into　the　backseat　by　Angela　and　
Tyler；　announcing　that　I'd　already　had　my　turn　in　the　shotgun　position。　
Angela　just　stared　out　the　window　at　the　escalating　storm；　and　Lauren　
twisted　around　in　the　middle　seat　to　occupy　Tyler's　attention；　so　I　could　
simply　lay　my　head　back　on　the　seat　and　close　my　eyes　and　try　very　hard　
not　to　think。　

===========================================================================　


7。　NIGHTMARE　




I　told　Charlie　I　had　a　lot　of　homework　to　do；　and　that　I　didn't　want　
anything　to　eat。　There　was　a　basketball　game　on　that　he　was　excited　
about；　though　of　course　I　had　no　idea　what　was　special　about　it；　so　he　
wasn't　aware　of　anything　unusual　in　my　face　or　tone。　

Once　in　my　room；　I　locked　the　door。　I　dug　through　my　desk　until　I　found　
my　old　headphones；　and　I　plugged　them　into　my　little　CD　player。　I　picked　
up　a　CD　that　Phil　had　given　to　me　for　Christmas。　It　was　one　of　his　
favorite　bands；　but　they　used　a　little　too　much　bass　and　shrieking　for　my　
tastes。　I　popped　it　into　place　and　lay　down　on　my　bed。　I　put　on　the　
headphones；　hit　Play；　and　turned　up　the　volume　until　it　hurt　my　ears。　I　
closed　my　eyes；　but　the　light　still　intruded；　so　I　added　a　pillow　over　
the　top　half　of　my　face。　

I　concentrated　very　carefully　on　the　music；　trying　to　understand　the　
lyrics；　to　unravel　the　plicated　drum　patterns。　By　the　third　time　I'd　
listened　through　the　CD；　I　knew　all　the　words　to　the　choruses；　at　least。　
I　was　surprised　to　find　that　I　really　did　like　the　band　after　all；　once　I　
got　past　the　blaring　noise。　I'd　have　to　thank　Phil　again。　

And　it　worked。　The　shattering　beats　made　it　impossible　for　me　to　think　—　
which　was　the　whole　purpose　of　the　exercise。　I　listened　to　the　CD　again　
and　again；　until　I　was　singing　along　with　all　the　songs；　until；　finally；　
I　fell　asleep。　

I　opened　my　eyes　to　a　familiar　place。　Aware　in　some　corner　of　my　
consciousness　that　I　was　dreaming；　I　recognized　the　green　light　of　the　
forest。　I　could　hear　the　waves　crashing　against　the　rocks　somewhere　
nearby。　And　I　knew　that　if　I　found　the　ocean；　I'd　be　able　to　see　the　sun。　
I　was　trying　to　follow　the　sound；　but　then　Jacob　Black　was　there；　tugging　
on　my　hand；　pulling　me　back　toward　the　blackest　part　of　the　forest。　

〃Jacob？　What's　wrong？〃　I　asked。　His　face　was　frightened　as　he　yanked　with　
all　his　strength　against　my　resistance；　I　didn't　want　to　go　into　the　dark。　

〃Run；　Bella；　you　have　to　run！〃　he　whispered；　terrified。　

〃This　way；　Bella！〃　I　recognized　Mike's　voice　calling　out　of　the　gloomy　
heart　of　the　trees；　but　I　couldn't　see　him。　

〃Why？〃　I　asked；　still　pulling　against　Jacob's　grasp；　desperate　now　to　
find　the　sun。　

But　Jacob　let　go　of　my　hand　and　yelped；　suddenly　shaking；　falling　to　the　
dim　forest　floor。　He　twitched　on　the　ground　as　I　watched　in　horror。　

〃Jacob！〃　I　screamed。　But　he　was　gone。　In　his　place　was　a　large　redbrown　
wolf　with　black　eyes。　The　wolf　faced　away　from　me；　pointing　toward　the　
shore；　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　shoulders　bristling；　low　growls　
issuing　from　between　his　exposed　fangs。　

〃Bella；　run！〃　Mike　cried　out　again　from　behind　me。　But　I　didn't　turn。　I　
was　watching　a　light　ing　toward　me　from　the　beach。　

And　then　Edward　stepped　out　from　the　trees；　his　skin　faintly　glowing；　his　
eyes　black　and　dangerous。　He　held　up　one　hand　and　beckoned　me　to　e　to　
him。　The　wolf　growled　at　my　feet。　

I　took　a　step　forward；　toward　Edward。　He　smiled　then；　and　his　teeth　were　
sharp；　pointed。　

〃Trust　me；〃　he　purred。　

I　took　another　step。　

The　wolf　launched　himself　across　the　space　between　me　and　the　vampire；　
fangs　aiming　for　the　jugular。　

〃No！〃　I　screamed；　wrenching　upright　out　of　my　bed。　

My　sudden　movement　caused　the　headphones　to　pull　the　CD　player　off　the　
bedside　table；　and　it　clattered　to　the　wooden　floor。　

My　light　was　still　on；　and　I　was　sitting　fully　dressed　on　the　bed；　with　
my　shoes　on。　I　glanced；　disoriented；　at　the　clock　on　my　dresser。　It　was　
fivethirty　in　the　morning。　

I　groaned；　fell　back；　and　rolled　over　onto　my　face；　kicking　off　my　boots。　
I　was　too　unfortable　to　get　anywhere　near　sleep；　though。　I　rolled　back　
over　and　unbuttoned　my　jeans；　yanking　them　off　awkwardly　as　I　tried　to　
stay　horizontal。　I　could　feel　the　braid　in　my　hair；　an　unfortable　
ridge　along　the　back　of　my　skull。　I　turned　onto　my　side　and　ripped　the　
rubber　band　out；　quickly　bing　through　the　plaits　with　my　fingers。　I　
pulled　the　pillow　back　over　my　eyes。　

It　was　all　no　use；　of　course。　My　subconscious　had　dredged　up　exactly　the　
images　I'd　been　trying　so　desperately　to　avoid。　I　was　going　to　have　to　
face　them　now。　

I　sat　up；　and　my　head　spun　for　a　minute　as　the　blood　flowed　downward。　
First　things　first；　I　thought　to　myself；　happy　to　put　it　off　as　long　as　
possible。　I　grabbed　my　bathroom　bag。　

The　shower　didn't　last　nearly　as　long　as　I　hoped　it　would；　though。　Even　
taking　the　time　to　blowdry　my　hair；　I　was　soon　out　of　things　to　do　in　
the　bathroom。　Wrapped　in　a　towel；　I　crossed　back　to　my　room。　I　couldn't　
tell　if　Charlie　was　still　asleep；　or　if　he　had　already　left。　I　went　to　
look　out　my　window；　and　the　cruiser　was　gone。　Fishing　again。　

I　dressed　slowly　in　my　most　fy　sweats　and　then　made　my　bed　—　something　
I　never　did。　I　couldn't　put　it　off　any　longer。　I　went　to　my　desk　and　
switched　on　my　old　puter。　

I　hated　using　the　Inter　here。　My　modem　was　sadly　outdated；　my　free　
service　substandard；　just　dialing　up　took　so　long　that　I　decided　to　go　
get　myself　a　bowl　of　cereal　while　I　waited。　

I　ate　slowly；　chewing　each　bite　with　care。　When　I　was　done；　I　washed　the　
bowl　and　spoon；　dried　them；　and　put　them　away。　My　feet　dragged　as　I　
climbed　the　stairs。　I　went　to　my　CD　player　first；　picking　it　up　off　the　
floor　and　placing　it　precisely　in　the　center　of　the　table。　I　pulled　out　
the　headphones；　and　put　them　away　in　the　desk　drawer。　Then　I　turned　the　
same　CD　on；　turning　it　down　to　the　point　where　it　was　background　noise。　

With　another　sigh；　I　turned　to　my　puter。　Naturally；　the　screen　was　
covered　in　popup　ads。　I　sat　in　my　hard　folding　chair　and　began　closing　
all　the　little　windows。　Eventually　I　made　it　to　my　favorite　search　
engine。　I　shot　down　a　few　more　popups　and　then　typed　in　one　word。　

Vampire。　

It　took　an　infuriatingly　long　time；　of　course。　When　the　results　came　up；　
there　was　a　lot　to　sift　through　—　everything　from　movies　and　TV　shows　to　
roleplaying　games；　underground　metal；　and　gothic　cosmetic　panies。　

Then　I　found　a　promising　site　—　Vampires　A—Z。　I　waited　impatiently　for　it　
to　load；　quickly　clicking　closed　each　ad　that　flashed　across　the　screen。　
Finally　the　screen　was　finished　—　simple　white　background　with　black　
text；　academiclooking。　Two　quotes　greeted　me　on　the　home　page：　



Throughout　the　vast　shadowy　world　of　ghosts　and　demons　there　is　no　figure　
so　terrible；　no　figure　so　dreaded　and　abhorred；　yet　dight　with　such　
fearful　fascination；　as　the　vampire；　who　is　himself　neither　ghost　nor　
demon；　but　yet　who　partakes　the　dark　natures　and　possesses　the　mysterious　
and　terrible　qualities　of　both。　—　Rev。　Montague　Summers　



If　there　is