2 new+moon新月-第23部分

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the　worries；　when　my　subconscious　delivered　a　verdict　it　must　have　been　working　on　for　some　time　
without　my　knowledge。　

As　soon　as　I　thought　of　it；　I　felt　really　stupid　for　not　seeing　it　sooner。　Sure。　I'd　had　a　lot　on　my　
mind—revenueobsessed　vampires；　giant　mutant　wolves；　a　ragged　hole　in　the　center　of　my　chest—but　

when　I　laid　the　evidence　out；　it　was　embarrassingly　obvious。　

Jacob　avoiding　me。　Charlie　saying　he　looked　strange；　upset。　。　。　。　Billy's　vague；　unhelpful　answers。　

Holy　crow；　I　knew　exactly　what　was　going　on　with　Jacob。　

It　was　Sam　Uley。　Even　my　nightmares　had　been　trying　to　tell　me　that。　Sam　had　gotten　to　Jacob。　
Whatever　was　happening　to　the　other　boys　on　the　reservation　had　reached　out　and　stolen　my　friend。　
He'd　been　sucked　into　Sam's　cult。　

He　hadn't　given　up　on　me　at　all；　I　realized　with　a　rush　of　feeling。　

I　let　my　truck　idle　in　front　of　my　house。　What　should　I　do？　I　weighed　the　dangers　against　each　other。　

If　I　went　looking　for　Jacob；　I　risked　the　chance　of　Victoria　or　Laurent　finding　me　with　him。　

If　I　didn't　go　after　him；　Sam　would　pull　him　deeper　into　his　frightening；　pulsory　gang。　Maybe　it　would　
be　too　late　if　I　didn't　act　soon。　

It　had　been　a　week；　and　no　vampires　had　e　for　me　yet。　A　week　was　more　than　enough　time　for　them　
to　have　returned；　so　I　must　not　be　a　priority。　Most　likely；　as　I'd　decided　before；　they　would　e　for　me　
at　night。　The　chances　of　them　following　me　to　La　Push　were　much　lower　than　the　chance　of　losing　Jacob　
to　Sam。　

It　was　worth　the　danger　of　the　secluded　forest　road。　This　was　no　idle　visit　to　see　what　was　going　on。　I　
knew　what　was　going　on。　This　was　a　rescue　mission。　I　was　going　to　talk　to　Jacob—kidnap　him　if　I　had　
to。　I'd　once　seen　a　PBS　show　on　deprogramming　the　brainwashed。　There　had　to　be　some　kind　of　cure。　

I　decided　I'd　better　call　Charlie　first。　Maybe　whatever　was　going　on　down　in　La　Push　was　something　the　
police　should　be　involved　in。　I　dashed　inside；　in　a　hurry　to　be　on　my　way。　

Charlie　answered　the　phone　it　the　station　himself。　

〃Chief　Swan。〃　

〃Dad；　it's　Bella。〃　

〃What's　wrong？'〃　

I　couldn't　argue　with　his　doomsday　assumption　this　time。　My　voice　was　shaking。　

〃I'm　worried　about　Jacob。〃　

〃Why？〃　he　asked；　surprised　by　the　unexpected　topic。　

〃I　think…　I　think　something　weird　is　going　on　down　at　the　reservation。　Jacob　told　me　about　some　strange　
stuff　happening　with　the　other　boys　his　age。　Now　he's　acting　the　same　way　and　I'm　scared。〃　

〃What　kind　of　stuff？〃　He　used　his　professional；　police　business　voice。　That　was　good；　he　was　taking　me　
seriously。　

〃First　he　was　scared；　and　then　he　was　avoiding　me；　and　now…　I'm　afraid　he's　part　of　that　bizarre　gang　
down　there；　Sam's　gang。　Sam　Uley's　gang。〃　

〃Sam　Uley？〃　Charlie　repeated；　surprised　again。　

〃Yes。〃　

Charlie's　voice　was　more　relaxed　when　he　answered。　〃I　think　you've　got　it　wrong；　Bells。　Sam　Uley　is　a　
great　kid。　Well；　he's　a　man　now。　A　good　son。　You　should　hear　Billy　talk　about　him。　He's　really　doing　
wonders　with　the　youth　on　the　reservation。　He's　the　one　who—〃　Charlie　broke　off　midsentence；　and　I　
guessed　that　he　had　been　about　to　make　a　reference　to　the　night　I'd　gotten　lost　in　the　woods。　I　moved　on　
quickly。　

〃Dad；　it's　not　like　that。　Jacob　was　scared　ofhim。〃　

〃Did　you　talk　to　Billy　about　this？〃　He　was　trying　to　soothe　me　now。　I'd　lost　him　as　soon　as　I'd　mentioned　
Sam。　

〃Billy's　not　concerned。〃　

〃Well；　Bella；　then　I'm　sure　it's　okay。　Jacob's　a　kid；　he　was　probably　just　messing　around。　I'm　sure　he's　
fine。　He　can't　spend　every　waking　minute　with　you；　after　all。〃　

〃This　isn't　about　me；〃　I　insisted；　but　the　battle　was　lost。　

〃I　don't　think　you　need　to　worry　about　this。　Let　Billy　take　care　of　Jacob。〃　

〃Charlie…〃　My　voice　was　starting　to　sound　whiney。　

〃Bells；　I　got　a　lot　on　my　plate　right　now。　Two　tourists　have　gone　missing　off　a　trail　outside　crescent　lake。〃　
There　was　an　anxious　edge　to　his　voice。　〃This　wolf　problem　is　getting　out　of　hand。〃　

I　was　momentarily　distracted—stunned；　really—by　his　news。　There　was　no　way　the　wolves　could　have　
survived　a　matchup　with　Laurent…　

〃Are　you　sure　that's　what　happened　to　them？〃　I　asked。　

〃Afraid　so；　honey。　There　was—〃　He　hesitated。　〃There　were　tracks　again；　and…　some　blood　this　time。〃　

〃Oh！〃　It　must　not　have　e　to　a　confrontation；　then。　Laurent　must　have　simply　outrun　the　wolves；　but　
why？　What　I'd　seen　in　the　meadow　just　got　stranger　and　stranger—more　impossible　to　understand。　

〃Look；　I　really　have　to　go。　Don't　worry　about　Jake；　Bella。　I'm　sure　it's　nothing。〃　

〃Fine；〃　I　said　curtly；　frustrated　as　his　words　reminded　me　of　the　more　urgent　crisis　at　hand。　〃Bye。〃　I　hang　
up。　

I　stared　at　the　phone　for　a　long　minute。　What　the　hell；　I　decided。　

Billy　answered　after　two　rings。　

〃Hello？〃　

〃Hey；　Billy；〃　I　almost　growled。　I　tried　to　sound　more　friendly　as　I　continued。　〃Can　I　talk　to　Jacob；　
please？〃　

〃Jake's　not　here。〃　

What　a　shock。　〃Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃　

〃He's　out　with　his　friends。〃　Billy's　voice　was　careful。　

〃Oh　yeah？　Anyone　I　know？　Quil？〃　I　could　tell　the　words　didn't　e　across　as　casually　as　I'd　meant　
them　to。　

〃No；〃　Billy　said　slowly。　〃I　don't　think　he's　with　Quil　today。〃　

I　knew　better　than　to　mention　Sam's　name。　

〃Embry？〃　I　asked。　

Billy　seemed　happier　to　answer　this　one。　〃Yeah；　he's　with　Embry。〃　

That　was　enough　for　me。　Embry　was　one　of　them。　

〃Well；　have　him　call　me　when　he　gets　in；　all　right？〃　

〃Sure；　sure。　No　problem。〃　Click。　

〃See　you　soon；　Billy；〃　I　muttered　into　the　dead　phone。　

I　drove　to　La　Push　determined　to　wait。　I'd　sit　out　front　of　his　house　all　night　if　I　had　to。　I'd　miss　school。　
The　boy　was　going　to　have　to　e　home　sometime；　and　when　he　did；　he　was　going　to　have　to　talk　to　
me。　

My　mind　was　so　preoccupied　that　the　trip　I'd　been　terrified　of　making　seemed　to　take　only　a　few　
seconds。　Before　I　was　expecting　it；　the　forest　began　to　thin；　and　I　knew　I　would　soon　be　able　to　see　the　
first　little　houses　of　the　reservation。　

Walking　away；　along　the　left　side　of　the　road；　was　a　tall　boy　with　a　baseball　cap。　

My　breath　caught　for　just　a　moment　in　my　throat；　hopeful　that　luck　was　with　me　for　once；　and　I'd　
srumbled　across　Jacob　without　hardly　trying。　But　this　boy　was　too　wide；　and　the　hair　was　short　under　the　
hat。　Even　from　behind；　I　was　sure　it　was　Quil；　though　he　looked　bigger　than　the　last　time　I'd　seen　him。　
What　was　with　these　Quileute　boys？　Were　they　feeding　them　experimental　growth　hormones？　

I　crossed　over　to　the　wrong　side　of　the　road　to　stop　next　to　him。　He　looked　up　when　the　roar　of　my　
truck　approached。　

Quil's　expression　frightened　me　more　than　it　surprised　me。　His　face　was　bleak；　brooding；　his　forehead　
creased　with　worry。　

〃Oh；　hey；　Bella；〃　he　greeted　me　dully。　

〃Hi；　Quil…　Are　you　okay？〃　

He　stared　at　me　morosely。　〃Fine。〃　

〃Can　I　give　you　a　ride　somewhere？〃　I　offered。　

〃Sure；　I　guess；〃　he　mumbled。　He　shuffled　around　the　front　of　the　truck　and　opened　the　passenger　door　to　
climbin。　

〃Where　to？〃　

〃My　house　is　on　the　north　side；　back　behind　the　store；〃　he　told　me。　

〃Have　you　seen　Jacob　today。〃　The　question　burst　from　me　almost　before　he'd　finished　speaking。　

I　looked　at　Quil　eagerly；　waiting　for　his　answer。　He　stared　out　the　windshield　for　a　second　before　he　
spoke。　〃From　a　distance；〃　he　finally　said。　

〃A　distance？〃　I　echoed。　

〃I　tried　to　follow　them—he　was　with　Embry。〃　His　voice　was　low；　hard　to　hear　over　the　engine。　I　leaned　
closer。　〃I　know　they　saw　me。　But　they　turned　and　just　disappeared　into　the　trees。　I　don't　think　they　were　
alone—I　think　Sam　and　his　crew　might　have　been　with　them。　

〃I've　been　stumbling　around　in　the　forest　for　an　hour；　yelling　for　them。　I　just　barely　found　the　road　again　
when　you　drove　up。〃　

〃So　Sam　did　get　to　him。〃　The　words　were　a　little　distorted—my　teeth　were　gritted　together。　

Quil　stared　at　me。　〃You　know　about　that。？〃　

I　nodded。　〃Jake　told　me…　before。〃　

〃Before；〃　Quil　repeated；　and　sighed。　

〃Jacob's　just　as　bad　as　the　others　now？〃　

〃Never　leaves　Sam's　side。〃　Quil　turned　his　head　and　spit　out　the　open　window。　

〃And　before　that—did　he　avoid　everyone？　Was　he　acting　upset？〃　

His　voice　was　low　and　rough。　〃Not　for　as　long　as　the　others。　Maybe　one　day。　Then　Sam　caught　up　with　
him。〃　

〃What　do　you　think　it　is？　Drugs　or　something？〃　

〃I　can't　see　Jacob　or　Embry　getting　into　anything　like　that…　but　what　do　I　know？　What　else　could　it　be？　
And　why　aren't　the　old　people　worried？〃　He　shook　his　head；　and　the　fear　showed　in　his　eyes　now。　
〃Jacob　didn't　want　to　be　a　part　of　this…　cult。　I　don't　understand　what　could　change　him。〃　He　stared　at　
me；　his　face　frightened。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　next。〃　

My　eyes　mirrored　his　fear。　That　was　the　second　time　I'd　heard　it　described　as　a　cult。　I　shivered。　〃Are　
your　parents　any　help？〃　

He　grimaced。　〃Right。　My　grandfather's　on　the　council　with　Jacob's　dad。　Sam　Uley　is　the　best　thing　that　
ever　happened　to　this　place；　as　far　as　he's　concerned。〃　

We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　prolonged　moment。　We　were　in　La　Push　now；　and　my　truck　was　barely　
crawling　along　the　empty　road。　I　could　see　the　village's　only　store　not　too　far　ahead。　

〃I'll　get　out　now；〃　Quil　said。　〃My　house　is　right　over　there。〃　He　gestured　toward　the　small　wooden　
rectangle　behind　the　store。　I　pulled　over　to　the　shoulder；　and　he　jumped　out。　

〃I'm　going　to　go　wait　for　Jacob；〃　I　told　him　in　a　hard　voice。　

〃Good　luck。〃　He　slammed　the　door　and　shuffled　forward　along　the　road；　his　head　bent　forward；　his　
shoulders　slumped。　

Quil's　face　haunted　me　as　I　made　a　wide　Uturn　and　headed　back　toward　the　Blacks'。　He　was　terrified　
of　being　next。　What　was　happening　here？　

I　stopped　in　front　of　Jacob's　house；　killing　the　motor　and　rolling　down　the　windows。　It　was　stuffy　today；　
no　breeze。　I　put　my　feet　up　on　the　dashboard　and　settled　in　to　wait。　

A　movement　flashed　in　my　peripheral　vision—I　turned　and　spotted　Billy　looking　at　me　through　the　front　
window　with　a　confused　expression。　I　waved　once　and　smiled　a　tight　smile；　but　stayed　where　I　was。　

His　eyes　narrowed；　he　let　the　curtain　fall　across　the　glass。　

I　was　prepared　to　stay　as　long　as　it　took；　but　I　wished　I　had　something　to　do。　I　dug　up　a　pen　out　of　the　
bottom　of　my　backpack；　and　an　old　test。　I　started　to　doodle　on　the　back　of　the　scrap。　

I'd　only　had　time　to　scrawl　one　row　of　diamonds　when　there　was　a　sharp　tap　against　my　door。　

I　jumped；　looking　up；　expecting　Billy。　

〃What　are　you　doing　here；　Bella。'〃　Jacob　growled。　

I　stared　at　him　in　blank　astonishment。　

Jacob　had　changed　radically　in　the　last　weeks　since　I'd　seen　him。　The　first　thing　I　noticed　was　his　
hair—his　beautiful　hair　was　all　gone；　cropped　quite　short；　covering　his　head　with　an　inky　gloss　like　black　
satin。　The　planes　of　his　face　seemed　to　have　hardened　subtly；　tightened…　aged。　His　neck　and　his　
shoulders　were　different；　too；　thicker　somehow。　His　hands；　where　they　gripped　the　window　frame；　
looked　enormous；　with　the　tendons　and　veins　more　prominent　under　the　russet　skin。　But　the　physical　
changes　were　insignificant。　

It　was　his　expression　that　made　him　almost　pletely　unrecognizable。　The　open；　friendly　smile　was　gone　
like　the　hair；　the　warmth　in　his　dark　eyes　altered　to　a　brooding　resentment　that　was　instantly　disturbing。　
There　was　a　darkness　in　Jacob　now。　Like　my　sun　had　imploded。　

〃Jacob？〃　I　whispered。　

He　just　stared　at　me；　his　eyes　tense　and　angry。　

I　realized　we　weren't　alone。　Behind　him　stood　four　others；　all　tall　and　russetskinned；　black　hair　chopped　
short　just　like　Jacob's。　They　could　have　been　brothers—I　couldn't　even　pick　Embry　out　of　the　group。　
The　resemblance　was　only　intensified　by　the　strikingly　similar　hostility　in　every　pair　of　eyes。　

Every　pair　but　one。　The　oldest　by　several　years；　Sam　stood　in　the　very　back；　his　face　serene　and　sure。　I　
had　to　swallow　back　the　bile　that　rose　in　my　throat。　I　wanted　to　take　a　swing　at　him。　No；　I　wanted　to　do　
more　than　that。　More　than　anything；　I　wanted　to　be　fierce　and　deadly；　someone　no　one　would　dare　mess　
with。　Someone　who　would　scare　Sam　Uley　silly。　

I　wanted　to　be　a　vampire。　

The　violent　desire　caught　me　off　guard　and　knocked　the　wind　out　of　me。　It　was　the　most　forbidden　of　all　
wishes—even　when　I　only　wished　it　for　a　malicious　reason　like　this；　to　gain　an　advantage　over　an　
enemy—because　it　was　the　most　painful。　That　future　was　lost　to　me　forever；　had　never　really　been　within　
my　grasp。　I　scrambled　to　gain　control　of　myself　while　the　hole　in　my　chest　ached　hollowly。　

〃What　do　you　want？〃　Jacob　demanded；　his　expression　growing　more　resentful　as　he　watched　the　play　of　
emotion　across　my　face。　

〃I　want　to　talk　to　you；〃　I　said　in　a　weak　voice。　I　tried　to　focus；　but　I　was　still　reeling　against　the　escape　of　

my　taboo　dream。　

〃Go　ahead；〃　he　hissed　through　his　teeth。　His　glare　was　vicious。　I'd　never　seen　him　look　at　anyone　like　
that；　least　of　all　me。　It　hurt　with　a　surprising　intensity—a　physical　pain；　a　stabbing　in　my　head。　

〃Alone！〃　I　hissed；　and　my　voice　was　stronger。　

He　looked　behind　him；　and　I　knew　where　his　eyes　would　go。　Every　one　of　them　was　turned　for　Sam's　
reaction。　

Sam　nodded　once；　his　face　unperturbed。　He　made　a　brief　ment　in　an　unfamiliar；　liquid　language—I　
could　only　be　positive　that　it　wasn't　French　or　Spanish；　but　I　guessed　that　it　was　Quileute。　He　turned　and　
walked　into　Jacob's　house。　The　others；　Paul；　Jared；　and　Embry；　I　assumed；　followed　him　in。　

〃Okay。〃　Jacob　seemed　a　bit　less　furious　when　the　others　were　gone。　His　face　was　a　little　calmer；　but　also　
more　hopeless。　His　mouth　seemed　permanently　pulled　down　at　the　corners。　

I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃You　know　what　I　want　to　know。〃　

He　didn't　answer。　He　just　stared　at　me　bitterly。　

I　stared　back　and　the　silence　stretched　on。　The　pain　in　his　face　unnerved　me。　I　felt　a　lump　beginning　to　
build　in　my　throat。　

〃Can　we　walk？〃　I　asked　while　I　could　still　speak。　

He　didn't　respond　in　any　way；　his　face　didn't　change。　

I　got　out　of　the　car；　feeling　unseen　eyes　behind　the　windows　on　me；　and　started　walking　toward　the　trees　
to　the　north。　My　feet　squished　in　the　damp　grass　and　mud　beside　the　road；　and；　as　that　was　the　only　
sound；　at　first　I　thought　he　wasn't　following　me。　But　when　I　glanced　around；　he　was　right　beside　me；　his　
feet　having　somehow　found　a　less　noisy　path　than　mine。　

I　felt　better　in　the　fringe　of　trees；　where　Sam　couldn't　possibly　be　watching。　As　we　walked；　I　struggled　for　
the　right　thing　to　say；　but　nothing　came。　I　just　got　more　and　more　angry　that　Jacob　had　gotten　sucked　
in…　that　Billy　had　allowed　this…　that　Sam　was　able　to　stand　there　so　assured　and　calm…　

Jacob　suddenly　picked　up　the　pace；　striding　ahead　of　me　easily　with　his　long　legs；　and　then　swinging　
around　to　face　me；　planting　himself　in　my　path　so　I　would　have　to　stop　too。　

I　was　distracted　by　the　overt　grace　of　his　movement。　Jacob　had　been　nearly　as　klutzy　as　me　with　his　
neverending　growth　spurt。　When　did　that　changed？　

But　Jacob　didn't　give　me　time　to　think　about　it。　

〃Let's　get　this　over　with；〃　he　said　in　a　hard；　husky　voice。　

I　waited。　He　knew　what　I　wanted。　

〃It's　not　what　you　think。〃　His　voice　was　ab