暮色-第41部分

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bitter；　slightly　resinous；　but　still　pleasant　—　the　high；　keening　sound　
of　the　cicadas　in　July；　the　feathery　barrenness　of　the　trees；　the　very　
size　of　the　sky；　extending　whiteblue　from　horizon　to　horizon；　barely　
interrupted　by　the　low　mountains　covered　with　purple　volcanic　rock。　The　
hardest　thing　to　explain　was　why　it　was　so　beautiful　to　me　—　to　justify　a　
beauty　that　didn't　depend　on　the　sparse；　spiny　vegetation　that　often　
looked　half　dead；　a　beauty　that　had　more　to　do　with　the　exposed　shape　of　
the　land；　with　the　shallow　bowls　of　valleys　between　the　craggy　hills；　and　
the　way　they　held　on　to　the　sun。　I　found　myself　using　my　hands　as　I　tried　
to　describe　it　to　him。　

His　quiet；　probing　questions　kept　me　talking　freely；　forgetting；　in　the　
dim　light　of　the　storm；　to　be　embarrassed　for　monopolizing　the　
conversation。　Finally；　when　I　had　finished　detailing　my　cluttered　room　at　
home；　he　paused　instead　of　responding　with　another　question。　

〃Are　you　finished？〃　I　asked　in　relief。　

〃Not　even　close　—　but　your　father　will　be　home　soon。〃　

〃Charlie！〃　I　suddenly　recalled　his　existence；　and　sighed。　I　looked　out　at　
the　raindarkened　sky；　but　it　gave　nothing　away。　〃How　late　is　it？〃　I　
wondered　out　loud　as　I　glanced　at　the　clock。　I　was　surprised　by　the　time　
—　Charlie　would　be　driving　home　now。　

〃It's　twilight；〃　Edward　murmured；　looking　at　the　western　horizon；　
obscured　as　it　was　with　clouds。　His　voice　was　thoughtful；　as　if　his　mind　
were　somewhere　far　away。　I　stared　at　him　as　he　gazed　unseeingly　out　the　
windshield。　

I　was　still　staring　when　his　eyes　suddenly　shifted　back　to　mine。　

〃It's　the　safest　time　of　day　for　us；〃　he　said；　answering　the　unspoken　
question　in　my　eyes。　〃The　easiest　time。　But　also　the　saddest；　in　a　way…　
the　end　of　another　day；　the　return　of　the　night。　Darkness　is　so　
predictable；　don't　you　think？〃　He　smiled　wistfully。　

〃I　like　the　night。　Without　the　dark；　we'd　never　see　the　stars。〃　I　
frowned。　〃Not　that　you　see　them　here　much。〃　

He　laughed；　and　the　mood　abruptly　lightened。　

〃Charlie　will　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。　So；　unless　you　want　to　tell　him　
that　you'll　be　with　me　Saturday…〃　He　raised　one　eyebrow。　

〃Thanks；　but　no　thanks。〃　I　gathered　my　books；　realizing　I　was　stiff　from　
sitting　still　so　long。　〃So　is　it　my　turn　tomorrow；　then？〃　

〃Certainly　not！〃　His　face　was　teasingly　outraged。　〃I　told　you　I　wasn't　
done；　didn't　I？〃　

〃What　more　is　there？〃　

〃You'll　find　out　tomorrow。〃　He　reached　across　to　open　my　door　for　me；　and　
his　sudden　proximity　sent　my　heart　into　frenzied　palpitations。　

But　his　hand　froze　on　the　handle。　

〃Not　good；〃　he　muttered。　

〃What　is　it？〃　I　was　surprised　to　see　that　his　jaw　was　clenched；　his　eyes　
disturbed。　

He　glanced　at　me　for　a　brief　second。　〃Another　plication；〃　he　said　
glumly。　

He　flung　the　door　open　in　one　swift　movement；　and　then　moved；　almost　
cringed；　swiftly　away　from　me。　

The　flash　of　headlights　through　the　rain　caught　my　attention　as　a　dark　
car　pulled　up　to　the　curb　just　a　few　feet　away；　facing　us。　

〃Charlie's　around　the　corner；〃　he　warned；　staring　through　the　downpour　at　
the　other　vehicle。　

I　hopped　out　at　once；　despite　my　confusion　and　curiosity。　The　rain　was　
louder　as　it　glanced　off　my　jacket。　

I　tried　to　make　out　the　shapes　in　the　front　seat　of　the　other　car；　but　it　
was　too　dark。　I　could　see　Edward　illuminated　in　the　glare　of　the　new　
car's　headlights；　he　was　still　staring　ahead；　his　gaze　locked　on　
something　or　someone　I　couldn't　see。　His　expression　was　a　strange　mix　of　
frustration　and　defiance。　

Then　he　revved　the　engine；　and　the　tires　squealed　against　the　wet　
pavement。　The　Volvo　was　out　of　sight　in　seconds。　

〃Hey；　Bella；〃　called　a　familiar；　husky　voice　from　the　driver's　side　of　
the　little　black　car。　

〃Jacob？〃　I　asked；　squinting　through　the　rain。　Just　then；　Charlie's　
cruiser　swung　around　the　corner；　his　lights　shining　on　the　occupants　of　
the　car　in　front　of　me。　

Jacob　was　already　climbing　out；　his　wide　grin　visible　even　through　the　
darkness。　In　the　passenger　seat　was　a　much　older　man；　a　heavyset　man　with　
a　memorable　face　—　a　face　that　overflowed；　the　cheeks　resting　against　his　
shoulders；　with　creases　running　through　the　russet　skin　like　an　old　
leather　jacket。　And　the　surprisingly　familiar　eyes；　black　eyes　that　
seemed　at　the　same　time　both　too　young　and　too　ancient　for　the　broad　face　
they　were　set　in。　Jacob's　father；　Billy　Black。　I　knew　him　immediately；　
though　in　the　more　than　five　years　since　I'd　seen　him　last　I'd　managed　to　
forget　his　name　when　Charlie　had　spoken　of　him　my　first　day　here。　He　was　
staring　at　me；　scrutinizing　my　face；　so　I　smiled　tentatively　at　him。　His　
eyes　were　wide；　as　if　in　shock　or　fear；　his　nostrils　flared。　My　smile　
faded。　

Another　plication；　Edward　had　said。　

Billy　still　stared　at　me　with　intense；　anxious　eyes。　I　groaned　
internally。　Had　Billy　recognized　Edward　so　easily？　Could　he　really　
believe　the　impossible　legends　his　son　had　scoffed　at？　

The　answer　was　clear　in　Billy's　eyes。　Yes。　Yes；　he　could。　

===========================================================================　

12。　BALANCING　




〃Billy！〃　Charlie　called　as　soon　as　he　got　out　of　the　car。　

I　turned　toward　the　house；　beckoning　to　Jacob　as　I　ducked　under　the　
porch。　I　heard　Charlie　greeting　them　loudly　behind　me。　

〃I'm　going　to　pretend　I　didn't　see　you　behind　the　wheel；　Jake；〃　he　said　
disapprovingly。　

〃We　get　permits　early　on　the　rez；〃　Jacob　said　while　I　unlocked　the　door　
and　flicked　on　the　porch　light。　

〃Sure　you　do；〃　Charlie　laughed。　

〃I　have　to　get　around　somehow。〃　I　recognized　Billy's　resonant　voice　
easily；　despite　the　years。　The　sound　of　it　made　me　feel　suddenly　younger；　
a　child。　

I　went　inside；　leaving　the　door　open　behind　me　and　turning　on　lights　
before　I　hung　up　my　jacket。　Then　I　stood　in　the　door；　watching　anxiously　
as　Charlie　and　Jacob　helped　Billy　out　of　the　car　and　into　his　wheelchair。　

I　backed　out　of　the　way　as　the　three　of　them　hurried　in；　shaking　off　the　
rain。　

〃This　is　a　surprise；〃　Charlie　was　saying。　

〃It's　been　too　long；〃　Billy　answered。　〃I　hope　it's　not　a　bad　time。〃　His　
dark　eyes　flashed　up　to　me　again；　their　expression　unreadable。　

〃No；　it's　great。　I　hope　you　can　stay　for　the　game。〃　

Jacob　grinned。　〃I　think　that's　the　plan　—　our　TV　broke　last　week。〃　

Billy　made　a　face　at　his　son。　〃And；　of　course；　Jacob　was　anxious　to　see　
Bella　again；〃　he　added。　Jacob　scowled　and　ducked　his　head　while　I　fought　
back　a　surge　of　remorse。　Maybe　I'd　been　too　convincing　on　the　beach。　

〃Are　you　hungry？〃　I　asked；　turning　toward　the　kitchen。　I　was　eager　to　
escape　Billy's　searching　gaze。　

〃Naw；　we　ate　just　before　we　came；〃　Jacob　answered。　

〃How　about　you；　Charlie？〃　I　called　over　my　shoulder　as　I　fled　around　the　
corner。　

〃Sure；〃　he　replied；　his　voice　moving　in　the　direction　of　the　front　room　
and　the　TV。　I　could　hear　Billy's　chair　follow。　

The　grilled　cheese　sandwiches　were　in　the　frying　pan　and　I　was　slicing　up　
a　tomato　when　I　sensed　someone　behind　me。　

〃So；　how　are　things？〃　Jacob　asked。　

〃Pretty　good。〃　I　smiled。　His　enthusiasm　was　hard　to　resist。　〃How　about　
you？　Did　you　finish　your　car？〃　

〃No。〃　He　frowned。　〃I　still　need　parts。　We　borrowed　that　one。〃　He　pointed　
with　his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　front　yard。　

〃Sorry。　I　haven't　seen　any…　what　was　it　you　were　looking　for？〃　

〃Master　cylinder。〃　He　grinned。　〃Is　something　wrong　with　the　truck？〃　he　
added　suddenly。　

〃No。〃　

〃Oh。　I　just　wondered　because　you　weren't　driving　it。〃　

I　stared　down　at　the　pan；　pulling　up　the　edge　of　a　sandwich　to　check　the　
bottom　side。　〃I　got　a　ride　with　a　friend。〃　

〃Nice　ride。〃　Jacob's　voice　was　admiring。　〃I　didn't　recognize　the　driver；　
though。　I　thought　I　knew　most　of　the　kids　around　here。〃　

I　nodded　nonmittally；　keeping　my　eyes　down　as　I　flipped　sandwiches。　

〃My　dad　seemed　to　know　him　from　somewhere。〃　

〃Jacob；　could　you　hand　me　some　plates？　They're　in　the　cupboard　over　the　
sink。〃　

〃Sure。〃　

He　got　the　plates　in　silence。　I　hoped　he　would　let　it　drop　now。　

〃So　who　was　it？〃　he　asked；　setting　two　plates　on　the　counter　next　to　me。