暮色-第68部分

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

〃Bells；　you　can't　leave　now。　It's　nighttime；〃　he　whispered　behind　me。　

I　didn't　turn　around。　〃I'll　sleep　in　the　truck　if　I　get　tired。〃　

〃Just　wait　another　week；〃　he　pled；　still　shellshocked。　〃Renée　will　be　
back　by　then。〃　

This　pletely　derailed　me。　〃What？〃　

Charlie　continued　eagerly；　almost　babbling　with　relief　as　I　hesitated。　
〃She　called　while　you　were　out。　Things　aren't　going　so　well　in　Florida；　
and　if　Phil　doesn't　get　signed　by　the　end　of　the　week；　they're　going　back　
to　Arizona。　The　assistant　coach　of　the　Sidewinders　said　they　might　have　a　
spot　for　another　shortstop。〃　

I　shook　my　head；　trying　to　reassemble　my　nowconfused　thoughts。　Every　
passing　second　put　Charlie　in　more　danger。　

〃I　have　a　key；〃　I　muttered；　turning　the　knob。　He　was　too　close；　one　hand　
extended　toward　me；　his　face　dazed。　I　couldn't　lose　any　more　time　arguing　
with　him。　I　was　going　to　have　to　hurt　him　further。　

〃Just　let　me　go；　Charlie。〃　I　repeated　my　mother's　last　words　as　she'd　
walked　out　this　same　door　so　many　years　ago。　I　said　them　as　angrily　as　I　
could　manage；　and　I　threw　the　door　open。　〃It　didn't　work　out；　okay？　I　
really；　really　hate　Forks！〃　

My　cruel　words　did　their　job　—　Charlie　stayed　frozen　on　the　doorstep；　
stunned；　while　I　ran　into　the　night。　I　was　hideously　frightened　of　the　
empty　yard。　I　ran　wildly　for　the　truck；　visualizing　a　dark　shadow　behind　
me。　I　threw　my　bag　in　the　bed　and　wrenched　the　door　open。　The　key　was　
waiting　in　the　ignition。　

〃I'll　call　you　tomorrow！〃　I　yelled；　wishing　more　than　anything　that　I　

could　explain　everything　to　him　right　then；　knowing　I　would　never　be　able　
to。　I　gunned　the　engine　and　peeled　out。　

Edward　reached　for　my　hand。　

〃Pull　over；〃　he　said　as　the　house；　and　Charlie；　disappeared　behind　us。　

〃I　can　drive；〃　I　said　through　the　tears　pouring　down　my　cheeks。　

His　long　hands　unexpectedly　gripped　my　waist；　and　his　foot　pushed　mine　
off　the　gas　pedal。　He　pulled　me　across　his　lap；　wrenching　my　hands　free　
of　the　wheel；　and　suddenly　he　was　in　the　driver's　seat。　The　truck　didn't　
swerve　an　inch。　

〃You　wouldn't　be　able　to　find　the　house；〃　he　explained。　

Lights　flared　suddenly　behind　us。　I　stared　out　the　back　window；　eyes　wide　
with　horror。　

〃It's　just　Alice；〃　he　reassured　me。　He　took　my　hand　again。　

My　mind　was　filled　with　the　image　of　Charlie　in　the　doorway。　〃The　
tracker？〃　

〃He　heard　the　end　of　your　performance；〃　Edward　said　grimly。　

〃Charlie？〃　I　asked　in　dread。　

〃The　tracker　followed　us。　He's　running　behind　us　now。〃　

My　body　went　cold。　

〃Can　we　outrun　him？〃　

〃No。〃　But　he　sped　up　as　he　spoke。　The　truck's　engine　whined　in　protest。　

My　plan　suddenly　didn't　feel　so　brilliant　anymore。　

I　was　staring　back　at　Alice's　headlights　when　the　truck　shuddered　and　a　
dark　shadow　sprung　up　outside　the　window。　

My　bloodcurdling　scream　lasted　a　fraction　of　a　second　before　Edward's　
hand　clamped　down　on　my　mouth。　

〃It's　Emmett！〃　

He　released　my　mouth；　and　wound　his　arm　around　my　waist。　

〃It's　okay；　Bella；〃　he　promised。　〃You're　going　to　be　safe。〃　

We　raced　through　the　quiet　town　toward　the　north　highway。　

〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　still　so　bored　with　smalltown　life；〃　he　said　
conversationally；　and　I　knew　he　was　trying　to　distract　me。　〃It　seemed　
like　you　were　adjusting　fairly　well　—　especially　recently。　Maybe　I　was　
just　flattering　myself　that　I　was　making　life　more　interesting　for　you。〃　

〃I　wasn't　being　nice；〃　I　confessed；　ignoring　his　attempt　at　diversion；　
looking　down　at　my　knees。　〃That　was　the　same　thing　my　mom　said　when　she　
left　him。　You　could　say　I　was　hitting　below　the　belt。〃　

〃Don't　worry。　He'll　forgive　you。〃　He　smiled　a　little；　though　it　didn't　
touch　his　eyes。　

I　stared　at　him　desperately；　and　he　saw　the　naked　panic　in　my　eyes。　

〃Bella；　it's　going　to　be　all　right。〃　

〃But　it　won't　be　all　right　when　I'm　not　with　you；〃　I　whispered。　

〃We'll　be　together　again　in　a　few　days；〃　he　said；　tightening　his　arm　
around　me。　〃Don't　forget　that　this　was　your　idea。〃　

〃It　was　the　best　idea　—　of　course　it　was　mine。〃　

His　answering　smile　was　bleak　and　disappeared　immediately。　

〃Why　did　this　happen？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　catching。　〃Why　me？〃　

He　stared　blackly　at　the　road　ahead。　〃It's　my　fault　—　I　was　a　fool　to　
expose　you　like　that。〃　The　rage　in　his　voice　was　directed　internally。　

〃That's　not　what　I　meant；〃　I　insisted。　〃I　was　there；　big　deal。　It　didn't　
bother　the　other　two。　Why　did　this　James　decide　to　kill　met　There're　
people　all　over　the　place；　why　me？〃　

He　hesitated；　thinking　before　he　answered。　

〃I　got　a　good　look　at　his　mind　tonight；〃　he　began　in　a　low　voice。　〃I'm　
not　sure　if　there's　anything　I　could　have　done　to　avoid　this；　once　he　saw　
you。　It　is　partially　your　fault。〃　His　voice　was　wry。　〃If　you　didn't　smell　
so　appallingly　luscious；　he　might　not　have　bothered。　But　when　I　defended　
you…　well；　that　made　it　a　lot　worse。　He's　not　used　to　being　thwarted；　no　
matter　how　insignificant　the　object。　He　thinks　of　himself　as　a　hunter　and　
nothing　else。　His　existence　is　consumed　with　tracking；　and　a　challenge　is　
all　he　asks　of　life。　Suddenly　we've　presented　him　with　a　beautiful　
challenge　—　a　large　clan　of　strong　fighters　all　bent　on　protecting　the　
one　vulnerable　element。　You　wouldn't　believe　how　euphoric　he　is　now。　It's　
his　favorite　game；　and　we've　just　made　it　his　most　exciting　game　ever。〃　
His　tone　was　full　of　disgust。　

He　paused　a　moment。　

〃But　if　I　had　stood　by；　he　would　have　killed　you　right　then；〃　he　said　
with　hopeless　frustration。　

〃I　thought…　I　didn't　smell　the　same　to　the　others…　as　I　do　to　you；〃　I　
said　hesitantly。　

〃You　don't。　But　that　doesn't　mean　that　you　aren't　still　a　temptation　to　
every　one　of　them。　If　you　had　appealed　to　the　tracker　—　or　any　of　them　—　
the　same　way　you　appeal　to　me；　it　would　have　meant　a　fight　right　there。〃　

I　shuddered。　

〃I　don't　think　I　have　any　choice　but　to　kill　him　now；〃　he　muttered。　
〃Carlisle　won't　like　it。〃　

I　could　hear　the　tires　cross　the　bridge；　though　I　couldn't　see　the　river　
in　the　dark。　I　knew　we　were　getting　close。　I　had　to　ask　him　now。　

〃How　can　you　kill　a　vampire？〃　

He　glanced　at　me　with　unreadable　eyes　and　his　voice　was　suddenly　harsh。　
〃The　only　way　to　be　sure　is　to　tear　him　to　shreds；　and　then　burn　the　
pieces。〃　

〃And　the　other　two　will　fight　with　him？〃　

〃The　woman　will。　I'm　not　sure　about　Laurent。　They　don't　have　a　very　
strong　bond　—　he's　only　with　them　for　convenience。　He　was　embarrassed　by　
James　in　the　meadow…〃　

〃But　James　and　the　woman　—　they'll　try　to　kill　you？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　
raw。　

〃Bella；　don't　you　dare　waste　time　worrying　about　me。　Your　only　concern　is　
keeping　yourself　safe　and　—　please；　please　—　trying　not　to　be　reckless。〃　

〃Is　he　still　following？〃　

〃Yes。　He　won't　attack　the　house；　though。　Not　tonight。〃　

He　turned　off　onto　the　invisible　drive；　with　Alice　following　behind。　

We　drove　right　up　to　the　house。　The　lights　inside　were　bright；　but　they　
did　little　to　alleviate　the　blackness　of　the　encroaching　forest。　Emmett　
had　my　door　open　before　the　truck　was　stopped；　he　pulled　me　out　of　the　
seat；　tucked　me　like　a　football　into　his　vast　chest；　and　ran　me　through　
the　door。　

We　burst　into　the　large　white　room；　Edward　and　Alice　at　our　sides。　All　of　
them　were　there；　they　were　already　on　their　feet　at　the　sound　of　our　
approach。　Laurent　stood　in　their　midst。　I　could　hear　low　growls　rumble　
deep　in　Emmett's　throat　as　he　set　me　down　next　to　Edward。　

〃He's　tracking　us；〃　Edward　announced；　glaring　balefully　at　Laurent。　

Laurent's　face　was　unhappy。　〃I　was　afraid　of　that。〃　

Alice　danced　to　Jasper's　side　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　her　lips　quivered　
with　the　speed　of　her　silent　speech。　They　flew　up　the　stairs　together。　
Rosalie　watched　them；　and　then　moved　quickly　to　Emmett's　side。　Her　
beautiful　eyes　were　intense　and　—　when　they　flickered　unwillingly　to　my　
face　—　furious。　

〃What　will　he　do？〃　Carlisle　asked　Laurent　in　chilling　tones。　

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　answered。　〃I　was　afraid；