暮色-第67部分

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tomorrow；　he's　going　to　get　suspicious。〃　

〃That's　irrelevant。　We'll　make　sure　he's　safe；　and　that's　all　that　
matters。〃　

〃Then　what　about　this　tracker？　He　saw　the　way　you　acted　tonight。　He's　
going　to　think　you're　with　me；　wherever　you　are。〃　

Emmett　looked　at　me；　insultingly　surprised　again。　〃Edward；　listen　to　
her；〃　he　urged。　〃I　think　she's　right。〃　

〃Yes；　she　is；〃　Alice　agreed。　

〃I　can't　do　that。〃　Edward's　voice　was　icy。　

〃Emmett　should　stay；　too；〃　I　continued。　〃He　definitely　got　an　eyeful　of　
Emmett。〃　

〃What？〃　Emmett　turned　on　me。　

〃You'll　get　a　better　crack　at　him　if　you　stay；〃　Alice　agreed。　

Edward　stared　at　her　incredulously。　〃You　think　I　should　let　her　go　alone？〃　

〃Of　course　not；〃　Alice　said。　〃Jasper　and　I　will　take　her。〃　

〃I　can't　do　that；〃　Edward　repeated；　but　this　time　there　was　a　trace　of　
defeat　in　his　voice。　The　logic　was　working　on　him。　

I　tried　to　be　persuasive。　〃Hang　out　here　for　a　week　—〃　I　saw　his　
expression　in　the　mirror　and　amended　〃—　a　few　days。　Let　Charlie　see　you　
haven't　kidnapped　me；　and　lead　this　James　on　a　wildgoose　chase。　Make　
sure　he's　pletely　off　my　trail。　Then　e　and　meet　me。　Take　a　
roundabout　route；　of　course；　and　then　Jasper　and　Alice　can　go　home。〃　

I　could　see　him　beginning　to　consider　it。　

〃Meet　you　where？〃　

〃Phoenix。〃　Of　course。　

〃No。　He'll　hear　that's　where　you're　going；〃　he　said　impatiently。　

〃And　you'll　make　it　look　like　that's　a　ruse；　obviously。　He'll　know　that　
we'll　know　that　he's　listening。　He'll　never　believe　I'm　actually　going　
where　I　say　I　am　going。〃　

〃She's　diabolical；〃　Emmett　chuckled。　

〃And　if　that　doesn't　work？〃　

〃There　are　several　million　people　in　Phoenix；〃　I　informed　him。　

〃It's　not　that　hard　to　find　a　phone　book。〃　

〃I　won't　go　home。〃　

〃Oh？〃　he　inquired；　a　dangerous　note　in　his　voice。　

〃I'm　quite　old　enough　to　get　my　own　place。〃　

〃Edward；　we'll　be　with　her；〃　Alice　reminded　him。　

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　in　Phoenix？〃　he　asked　her　scathingly。　

〃Stay　indoors。〃　

〃I　kind　of　like　it。〃　Emmett　was　thinking　about　cornering　James；　no　doubt。　

〃Shut　up；　Emmett。〃　

〃Look；　if　we　try　to　take　him　down　while　she's　still　around；　there's　a　
much　better　chance　that　someone　will　get　hurt　—　she'll　get　hurt；　or　you　
will；　trying　to　protect　her。　Now；　if　we　get　him　alone…〃　He　trailed　off　
with　a　slow　smile。　I　was　right。　

The　Jeep　was　crawling　slowly　along　now　as　we　drove　into　town。　Despite　my　
brave　talk；　I　could　feel　the　hairs　on　my　arms　standing　up。　I　thought　
about　Charlie；　alone　in　the　house；　and　tried　to　be　courageous。　

〃Bella。〃　Edward's　voice　was　very　soft。　Alice　and　Emmett　looked　out　their　
windows。　〃If　you　let　anything　happen　to　yourself—　anything　at　all　—　I'm　
holding　you　personally　responsible。　Do　you　understand　that？〃　

〃Yes；〃　I　gulped。　

He　turned　to　Alice。　

〃Can　Jasper　handle　this？〃　

〃Give　him　some　credit；　Edward。　He's　been　doing　very；　very　well；　all　
things　considered。〃　

〃Can　you　handle　this？〃　he　asked。　

And　graceful　little　Alice　pulled　back　her　lips　in　a　horrific　grimace　and　
let　loose　with　a　guttural　snarl　that　had　me　cowering　against　the　seat　in　
terror。　

Edward　smiled　at　her。　〃But　keep　your　opinions　to　yourself；〃　he　muttered　
suddenly。　

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


19。　GOODBYES　




Charlie　was　waiting　up　for　me。　All　the　house　lights　were　on。　My　mind　was　
blank　as　I　tried　to　think　of　a　way　to　make　him　let　me　go。　This　wasn't　
going　to　be　pleasant。　

Edward　pulled　up　slowly；　staying　well　back　from　my　truck。　All　three　of　
them　were　acutely　alert；　ramrod　straight　in　their　seats；　listening　to　
every　sound　of　the　wood；　looking　through　every　shadow；　catching　every　
scent；　searching　for　something　out　of　place。　The　engine　cut　off；　and　I　
sat；　motionless；　as　they　continued　to　listen。　

〃He's　not　here；〃　Edward　said　tensely。　〃Let's　go。〃　Emmett　reached　over　to　
help　me　get　out　of　the　harness。　

〃Don't　worry；　Bella；〃　he　said　in　a　low　but　cheerful　voice；　〃we'll　take　
care　of　things　here　quickly。〃　

I　felt　moisture　filling　up　my　eyes　as　I　looked　at　Emmett。　I　barely　knew　
him；　and　yet；　somehow；　not　knowing　when　I　would　see　him　again　after　
tonight　was　anguishing。　I　knew　this　was　just　a　faint　taste　of　the　
goodbyes　I　would　have　to　survive　in　the　next　hour；　and　the　thought　made　
the　tears　begin　to　spill。　

〃Alice；　Emmett。〃　Edward's　voice　was　a　mand。　They　slithered　soundlessly　
into　the　darkness；　instantly　disappearing。　Edward　opened　my　door　and　took　
my　hand；　then　drew　me　into　the　protecting　enclosure　of　his　arm。　He　walked　
me　swiftly　toward　the　house；　eyes　always　roving　through　the　night。　

〃Fifteen　minutes；〃　he　warned　under　his　breath。　

〃I　can　do　this。〃　I　sniffled。　My　tears　had　given　me　an　inspiration。　

I　stopped　on　the　porch　and　took　hold　of　his　face　in　my　hands。　I　looked　
fiercely　into　his　eyes。　

〃I　love　you；〃　I　said　in　a　low；　intense　voice。　〃I　will　always　love　you；　no　
matter　what　happens　now。〃　

〃Nothing　is　going　to　happen　to　you；　Bella；〃　he　said　just　as　fiercely。　

〃Just　follow　the　plan；　okay？　Keep　Charlie　safe　for　me。　He's　not　going　to　
like　me　very　much　after　this；　and　I　want　to　have　the　chance　to　apologize　
later。〃　

〃Get　inside；　Bella。　We　have　to　hurry。〃　His　voice　was　urgent。　

〃One　more　thing；〃　I　whispered　passionately。　〃Don't　listen　to　another　word　
I　say　tonight！〃　He　was　leaning　in；　and　so　all　I　had　to　do　was　stretch　up　
on　my　toes　to　kiss　his　surprised；　frozen　lips　with　as　much　force　as　I　was　
capable　of。　Then　I　turned　and　kicked　the　door　open。　

〃Go　away；　Edward！〃　I　yelled　at　him；　running　inside　and　slamming　the　door　
shut　in　his　stillshocked　face。　

〃Bella？〃　Charlie　had　been　hovering　in　the　living　room；　and　he　was　already　
on　his　feet。　

〃Leave　me　alone！〃　I　screamed　at　him　through　my　tears；　which　were　flowing　
relentlessly　now。　I　ran　up　the　stairs　to　my　room；　throwing　the　door　shut　
and　locking　it。　I　ran　to　my　bed；　flinging　myself　on　the　floor　to　retrieve　
my　duffel　bag。　I　reached　swiftly　between　the　mattress　and　box　spring　to　
grab　the　knotted　old　sock　that　contained　my　secret　cash　hoard。　

Charlie　was　pounding　on　my　door。　

〃Bella；　are　you　okay？　What's　going　on？〃　His　voice　was　frightened。　

〃I'm　going　borne；〃　I　shouted；　my　voice　breaking　in　the　perfect　spot。　

〃Did　he　hurt　you？〃　His　tone　edged　toward　anger。　

〃No！〃　I　shrieked　a　few　octaves　higher。　I　turned　to　my　dresser；　and　Edward　
was　already　there；　silently　yanking　out　armfuls　of　random　clothes；　which　
he　proceeded　to　throw　to　me。　

〃Did　he　break　up　with　you？〃　Charlie　was　perplexed。　

〃No！〃　I　yelled；　slightly　more　breathless　as　I　shoved　everything　into　the　
bag。　Edward　threw　another　drawer's　contents　at　me。　The　bag　was　pretty　
much　full　now。　

〃What　happened；　Bella？〃　Charlie　shouted　through　the　door；　pounding　again。　

〃I　broke　up　with　him！〃　I　shouted　back；　jerking　on　the　zipper　of　my　bag。　
Edward's　capable　hands　pushed　mine　away　and　zipped　it　smoothly。　He　put　
the　strap　carefully　over　my　arm。　

〃I'll　be　in　the　truck　—　go！〃　he　whispered；　and　pushed　me　toward　the　door。　
He　vanished　out　the　window。　

I　unlocked　the　door　and　pushed　past　Charlie　roughly；　struggling　with　my　
heavy　bag　as　I　ran　down　the　stairs。　

〃What　happened？〃　he　yelled。　He　was　right　behind　me。　〃I　thought　you　liked　
him。〃　

He　caught　my　elbow　in　the　kitchen。　Though　he　was　still　bewildered；　his　
grip　was　firm。　

He　spun　me　around　to　look　at　him；　and　I　could　see　in　his　face　that　he　had　
no　intention　of　letting　me　leave。　I　could　think　of　only　one　way　to　
escape；　and　it　involved　hurting　him　so　much　that　I　hated　myself　for　even　
considering　it。　But　I　had　no　time；　and　I　had　to　keep　him　safe。　

I　glared　up　at　my　father；　fresh　tears　in　my　eyes　for　what　I　was　about　to　
do。　

〃I　do　like　him　—　that's　the　problem。　I　can't　do　this　anymore！　I　can't　put　
down　any　more　roots　here！　I　don't　want　to　end　up　trapped　in　this　stupid；　
boring　town　like　Mom！　I'm　not　going　to　make　the　same　dumb　mistake　she　
did。　I　hate　it　—　I　can't　stay　here　another　minute！〃　

His　hand　dropped　from　my　arm　like　I'd　electrocuted　him。　I　turned　away　
from　his　shocked；　wounded　face　and　headed　for　the