暮色-第51部分

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one　other　family　like　ours；　in　a　small　village　in　Alaska。　We　lived　
together　for　a　time；　but　there　were　so　many　of　us　that　we　became　too　
noticeable。　Those　of　us　who　live…　differently　tend　to　band　together。〃　

〃And　the　others？〃　

〃Nomads；　for　the　most　part。　We've　all　lived　that　way　at　times。　It　gets　
tedious；　like　anything　else。　But　we　run　across　the　others　now　and　then；　
because　most　of　us　prefer　the　North。〃　

〃Why　is　that？〃　

We　were　parked　in　front　of　my　house　now；　and　he'd　turned　off　the　truck。　
It　was　very　quiet　and　dark；　there　was　no　moon。　The　porch　light　was　off　so　
I　knew　my　father　wasn't　home　yet。　

〃Did　you　have　your　eyes　open　this　afternoon？〃　he　teased。　〃Do　you　think　I　
could　walk　down　the　street　in　the　sunlight　without　causing　traffic　
accidents？　There's　a　reason　why　we　chose　the　Olympic　Peninsula；　one　of　
the　most　sunless　places　in　the　world。　It's　nice　to　be　able　to　go　outside　
in　the　day。　You　wouldn't　believe　how　tired　you　can　get　of　nighttime　in　
eightyodd　years。〃　

〃So　that's　where　the　legends　came　from？〃　

〃Probably。〃　

〃And　Alice　came　from　another　family；　like　Jasper？〃　

〃No；　and　that　is　a　mystery。　Alice　doesn't　remember　her　human　life　at　all。　
And　she　doesn't　know　who　created　her。　She　awoke　alone。　Whoever　made　her　
walked　away；　and　none　of　us　understand　why；　or　how；　he　could。　If　she　
hadn't　had　that　other　sense；　if　she　hadn't　seen　Jasper　and　Carlisle　and　
known　that　she　would　someday　bee　one　of　us；　she　probably　would　have　
turned　into　a　total　savage。〃　

There　was　so　much　to　think　through；　so　much　I　still　wanted　to　ask。　But；　
to　my　great　embarrassment；　my　stomach　growled。　I'd　been　so　intrigued；　I　
hadn't　even　noticed　I　was　hungry。　I　realized　now　that　I　was　ravenous。　

〃I'm　sorry；　I'm　keeping　you　from　dinner。〃　

〃I'm　fine；　really。〃　

〃I've　never　spent　much　time　around　anyone　who　eats　food。　I　forget。〃　

〃I　want　to　stay　with　you。〃　It　was　easier　to　say　in　the　darkness；　knowing　
as　I　spoke　how　my　voice　would　betray　me；　my　hopeless　addiction　to　him。　

〃Can't　I　e　in？〃　he　asked。　

〃Would　you　like　to？〃　I　couldn't　picture　it；　this　godlike　creature　sitting　
in　my　father's　shabby　kitchen　chair。　

〃Yes；　if　it's　all　right。〃　I　heard　the　door　close　quietly；　and　almost　
simultaneously　he　was　outside　my　door；　opening　it　for　me。　

〃Very　human；〃　I　plimented　him。　

〃It's　definitely　resurfacing。〃　

He　walked　beside　me　in　the　night；　so　quietly　I　had　to　peek　at　him　
constantly　to　be　sure　he　was　still　there。　In　the　darkness　he　looked　much　
more　normal。　Still　pale；　still　dreamlike　in　his　beauty；　but　no　longer　the　
fantastic　sparkling　creature　of　our　sunlit　afternoon。　

He　reached　the　door　ahead　of　me　and　opened　it　for　me。　I　paused　halfway　
through　the　frame。　

〃The　door　was　unlocked？〃　

〃No；　I　used　the　key　from　under　the　eave。〃　

I　stepped　inside；　flicked　on　the　porch　light；　and　turned　to　look　at　him　
with　my　eyebrows　raised。　I　was　sure　I'd　never　used　that　key　in　front　of　
him。　

〃I　was　curious　about　you。〃　

〃You　spied　on　me？〃　But　somehow　I　couldn't　infuse　my　voice　with　the　proper　
outrage。　I　was　flattered。　

He　was　unrepentant。　〃What　else　is　there　to　do　at　night？〃　

I　let　it　go　for　the　moment　and　went　down　the　hall　to　the　kitchen。　He　was　
there　before　me；　needing　no　guide。　He　sat　in　the　very　chair　I'd　tried　to　
picture　him　in。　His　beauty　lit　up　the　kitchen。　It　was　a　moment　before　I　
could　look　away。　

I　concentrated　on　getting　my　dinner；　taking　last　night's　lasagna　from　the　
fridge；　placing　a　square　on　a　plate；　heating　it　in　the　microwave。　It　
revolved；　filling　the　kitchen　with　the　smell　of　tomatoes　and　oregano。　I　
didn't　take　my　eyes　from　the　plate　of　food　as　I　spoke。　

〃How　often？〃　I　asked　casually。　

〃Hmmm？〃　He　sounded　as　if　I　had　pulled　him　from　some　other　train　of　
thought。　

I　still　didn't　turn　around。　〃How　often　did　you　e　here？〃　

〃I　e　here　almost　every　night。〃　

I　whirled；　stunned。　〃Why？〃　

〃You're　interesting　when　you　sleep。〃　He　spoke　matteroffactly。　〃You　
talk。〃　

〃No！〃　I　gasped；　heat　flooding　my　face　all　the　way　to　my　hairline。　I　
gripped　the　kitchen　counter　for　support。　I　knew　I　talked　in　my　sleep；　of　
course；　my　mother　teased　me　about　it。　I　hadn't　thought　it　was　something　I　
needed　to　worry　about　here；　though。　

His　expression　shifted　instantly　to　chagrin。　〃Are　you　very　angry　with　me？〃　

〃That　depends！〃　I　felt　and　sounded　like　I'd　had　the　breath　knocked　out　of　
me。　

He　waited。　

〃On？〃　he　urged。　

〃What　you　heard！〃　I　wailed。　

Instantly；　silently；　he　was　at　my　side；　taking　my　hands　carefully　in　his。　

〃Don't　be　upset！〃　he　pleaded。　He　dropped　his　face　to　the　level　of　my　
eyes；　holding　my　gaze。　I　was　embarrassed。　I　tried　to　look　away。　

〃You　miss　your　mother；〃　he　whispered。　〃You　worry　about　her。　And　when　it　
rains；　the　sound　makes　you　restless。　You　used　to　talk　about　home　a　lot；　
but　it's　less　often　now。　Once　you　said；　'It's　too　green。'〃　He　laughed　
softly；　hoping；　I　could　see；　not　to　offend　me　further。　

〃Anything　else？〃　I　demanded。　

He　knew　what　I　was　getting　at。　〃You　did　say　my　name；〃　he　admitted。　

I　sighed　in　defeat。　〃A　lot？〃　

〃How　much　do　you　mean　by　'a　lot；'　exactly？〃　

〃Oh　no！〃　I　hung　my　head。　

He　pulled　me　against　his　chest；　softly；　naturally。　

〃Don't　be　selfconscious；〃　he　whispered　in　my　ear。　〃If　I　could　dream　at　
all；　it　would　be　about　you。　And　I'm　not　ashamed　of　it。〃　

Then　we　both　heard　the　sound　of　tires　on　the　brick　driveway；　saw　the　
headlights　flash　through　the　front　windows；　down　the　hall　to　us。　I　
stiffened　in　his　arms。　

〃Should　your　father　know　I'm　here？〃　he　asked。　

〃I'm　not　sure…〃　I　tried　to　think　it　through　quickly。　

〃Another　time　then…〃　

And　I　was　alone。　

〃Edward！〃　I　hissed。　

I　heard　a　ghostly　chuckle；　then　nothing　else。　

My　father's　key　turned　in　the　door。　

〃Bella？〃　he　called。　It　had　bothered　me　before；　who　else　would　it　be？　
Suddenly　he　didn't　seem　so　far　off　base。　

〃In　here。〃　I　hoped　he　couldn't　hear　the　hysterical　edge　to　my　voice。　I　
grabbed　my　dinner　from　the　microwave　and　sat　at　the　table　as　he　walked　
in。　His　footsteps　sounded　so　noisy　after　my　day　with　Edward。　

〃Can　you　get　me　some　of　that？　I'm　bushed。〃　He　stepped　on　the　heels　of　his　
boots　to　take　them　off；　holding　the　back　of　Edward's　chair　for　support。　

I　took　my　food　with　me；　scarfing　it　down　as　I　got　his　dinner。　It　burned　
my　tongue。　I　filled　two　glasses　with　milk　while　his　lasagna　was　heating；　
and　gulped　mine　to　put　out　the　fire。　As　I　set　the　glass　down；　I　noticed　
the　milk　trembling　and　realized　my　hand　was　shaking。　Charlie　sat　in　the　
chair；　and　the　contrast　between　him　and　its　former　occupant　was　ical。　

〃Thanks；〃　he　said　as　I　placed　his　food　on　the　table。　

〃How　was　your　day？〃　I　asked。　The　words　were　rushed；　I　was　dying　to　escape　
to　my　room。　

〃Good。　The　fish　were　biting…　how　about　you？　Did　you　get　everything　done　
that　you　wanted　to？〃　

〃Not　really　—　it　was　too　nice　out　to　stay　indoors。〃　I　took　another　big　
bite。　

〃It　was　a　nice　day；〃　he　agreed。　What　an　understatement；　I　thought　to　
myself。　

Finished　with　the　last　bite　of　lasagna；　I　lifted　my　glass　and　chugged　the　
remains　of　my　milk。　

Charlie　surprised　me　by　being　observant。　〃In　a　hurry？〃　

〃Yeah；　I'm　tired。　I'm　going　to　bed　early。〃　

〃You　look　kinda　keyed　up；〃　he　noted。　Why；　oh　why；　did　this　have　to　be　his　
night　to　pay　attention？　

〃Do　I？〃　was　all　I　could　manage　in　response。　I　quickly　scrubbed　my　dishes　
clean　in　the　sink；　and　placed　them　upside　down　on　a　dish　towel　to　dry。　

〃It's　Saturday；〃　he　mused。　

I　didn't　respond。　

〃No　plans　tonight？〃　he　asked　suddenly。　

〃No；　Dad；　I　just　want　to　get　some　sleep。〃　

〃None　of　the　boys　in　town　your　type；　eh？〃　He　was　suspicious；　but　trying　
to　play　it　cool。　

〃No；　none　of　the　boys　have　caught　my　eye　yet。〃　I　was　careful　not　to　
overemphasize　the　word　boys　in　my　quest　to　be　truthful　with　Charlie。　

〃I　thought　maybe　that　Mike　Newton…　you　said　he　was　friendly。〃　

〃He's　Just　a　friend；　Dad。〃　

〃Well；　you're　too　good　for　them　all；　anyway。　Wait　till　you　get　to　college　
to　start　looking。〃　Every　father's　dream；　that　his　daughter　will　be　out　of　
the　house　before　the　hormones　kick　in。　

〃Sounds　like