2 new+moon新月- 第17部分

After　a　minute　of　staring；　I　recognized　where　I　was。　I'd　parked　in　the　middle　of　the　north　lane　of　Russell　
Avenue。　I　was　standing　in　front　of　the　Cheneys'　house—my　truck　was　blocking　their　driveway—and　
across　the　road　lived　the　Markses。　I　knew　I　needed　to　move　my　truck；　and　that　I　ought　to　go　home。　It　
was　wrong　to　wander　the　way　I　had；　distracted　and　impaired；　a　menace　on　the　roads　of　Forks。　Besides；　
someone　would　notice　me　soon　enough；　and　report　me　to　Charlie。　

As　I　took　a　deep　breath　in　preparation　to　move；　a　sign　in　the　Markses'　yard　caught　my　eye—it　was　just　a　
big　piece　of　cardboard　leaning　against　their　mailbox　post；　with　black　letters　scrawled　in　caps　across　it。　

Sometimes；　kismet　happens。　

Coincidence？　Or　was　it　meant　to　be？　I　didn't　know；　but　it　seemed　kind　of　silly　to　think　that　it　was　
somehow　fated；　that　the　dilapidated　motorcycles　rusting　in　the　Markses'　front　yard　beside　the　
handprinted　FOR　SALE；　AS　IS　sign　were　serving　some　higher　purpose　by　existing　there；　right　where　I　
needed　them　to　be。　

So　maybe　it　wasn't　kismet。　Maybe　there　were　just　all　kinds　of　ways　to　be　reckless；　and　I　only　now　had　
my　eyes　open　to　them。　

Reckless　and　stupid。　Those　were　Charlie's　two　very　favorite　words　to　apply　to　motorcycles。　

Charlie's　job　didn't　get　a　lot　of　action　pared　to　cops　in　bigger　towns；　but　he　did　get　called　in　on　traffic　
accidents。　With　the　long；　wet　stretches　of　freeway　twisting　and　turning　through　the　forest；　blind　corner　
after　blind　corner；　there　was　no　shortage　of　that　kind　of　action。　But　even　with　all　the　huge　loghaulers　
barreling　around　the　turns；　mostly　people　walked　away。　The　exceptions　to　that　rule　were　often　on　
motorcycles；　and　Charlie　had　seen　one　too　many　victims；　almost　always　kids；　smeared　on　the　highway。　
He'd　made　me　promise　before　I　was　ten　that　I　would　never　accept　a　ride　on　a　motorcycle。　Even　at　that　
age；　I　didn't　have　to　think　twice　before　promising。　Who　would　want　to　ride　a　motorcycle　here？　It　would　
be　like　taking　a　sixtymileperhour　bath。　

So　many　promises　I　kept…　

It　clicked　together　for　me　then。　I　wanted　to　be　stupid　and　reckless；　and　I　wanted　to　break　promises。　
Why　stop　at　one？　

That's　as　far　as　I　thought　it　through。　I　sloshed　through　the　rain　to　the　Markses'　front　door　and　rang　the　
bell。　

One　of　the　Marks　boys　opened　the　door；　the　younger　one；　the　freshman。　I　couldn't　remember　his　name。　
His　sandy　hair　only　came　up　to　my　shoulder。　

He　had　no　trouble　remembering　my　name。　〃Bella　Swan？〃　he　asked　in　surprise。　

〃How　much　do　you　want　for　the　bike？〃　I　panted；　jerking　my　thumb　over　my　shoulder　toward　the　sales　
display。　

〃Are　you　serious？〃　he　demanded。　

〃Of　course　I　am。〃　

〃They　don't　work。〃　

I　sighed　impatiently—this　was　something　I'd　already　inferred　from　the　sign。　〃How　much？〃　

〃If　you　really　want　one；　just　take　it。　My　mom　made　my　dad　move　them　down　to　the　road　so　they'd　get　
picked　up　with　the　garbage。〃　

I　glanced　at　the　bikes　again　and　saw　that　they　were　resting　on　a　pile　of　yard　clippings　and　dead　branches。　
〃Are　you　positive　about　that？〃　

〃Sure；　you　want　to　ask　her？〃　

It　was　probably　better　not　to　involve　adults　who　might　mention　this　to　Charlie。　

〃No；　I　believe　you。〃　

〃You　want　me　to　help　you？〃　he　offered。　〃They're　not　light。〃　

〃Okay；　thanks。　I　only　need　one；　though。〃　

〃Might　as　well　take　both；〃　the　boy　said。　〃Maybe　you　could　scavenge　some　parts。〃　

He　followed　me　out　into　the　downpour　and　helped　me　load　both　of　the　heavy　bikes　into　the　back　of　my　
truck。　He　seemed　eager　to　be　rid　of　them；　so　I　didn't　argue。　

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　them；　anyway？〃　he　asked。　〃They　haven't　worked　in　years。〃　

〃I　kind　of　guessed　that；〃　I　said；　shrugging。　My　spurofthemoment　whim　hadn't　e　with　a　plan　intact。　
〃Maybe　I'll　take　them　to　Dowling's。〃　

He　snorted。　〃Dowling　would　charge　more　to　fix　them　than　they'd　be　worth　running。〃　

I　couldn't　argue　with　that。　John　Dowling　had　earned　a　reputation　for　his　pricing；　no　one　went　to　him　
except　in　an　emergency。　Most　people　preferred　to　make　the　drive　up　to　Port　Angeles；　if　their　car　was　
able。　I'd　been　very　lucky　on　that　front—I'd　been　worried；　when　Charlie　first　gifted　me　my　ancient　truck；　
that　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　afford　to　keep　it　running。　But　I'd　never　had　a　single　problem　with　it；　other　than　
the　screamingloud　engine　and　the　fiftyfivemileperhour　maximum　speed　limit。　Jacob　Black　had　kept　it　
in　great　shape　when　it　had　belonged　to　his　father；　Billy…　

Inspiration　hit　like　a　bolt　of　lightning—not　unreasonable；　considering　the　storm。　〃You　know　what？　That's　
okay。　I　know　someone　who　builds　cars。〃　

〃Oh。　That's　good。〃　He　smiled　in　relief。　

He　waved　as　I　pulled　away；　still　smiling。　Friendly　kid。　

I　drove　quickly　and　purposefully　now；　in　a　hurry　to　get　home　before　there　was　the　slightest　chance　of　
Charlie　appearing；　even　in　the　highly　unlikely　event　that　he　might　knock　off　early。　I　dashed　through　the　
house　to　the　phone；　keys　still　in　hand。　

〃Chief　Swan；　please；〃　I　said　when　the　deputy　answered。　〃It's　Bella。〃　

〃Oh；　hey；　Bella；〃　Deputy　Steve　said　affably。　〃I'll　go　get　him。〃　

I　waited。　

〃What's　wrong；　Bella？〃　Charlie　demanded　as　soon　as　he　picked　up　the　phone。　

〃Can't　I　call　you　at　work　without　there　being　an　emergency？〃　

He　was　quiet　for　a　minute。　〃You　never　have　before。　Is　there　an　emergency？〃　

〃No。　I　just　wanted　directions　to　the　Blacks'　place—I'm　not　sure　I　can　remember　the　way。　I　want　to　visit　
Jacob。　I　haven't　seen　him　in　months。〃　

When　Charlie　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　much　happier。　〃That's　a　great　idea；　Bells。　Do　you　have　a　pen？〃　

The　directions　he　gave　me　were　very　simple。　I　assured　him　that　I　would　be　back　for　dinner；　though　he　
tried　to　tell　me　not　to　hurry。　He　wanted　to　join　me　in　La　Push；　and　I　wasn't　having　that。　

So　it　was　with　a　deadline　that　I　drove　too　quickly　through　the　stormdarkened　streets　out　of　town。　I　
hoped　I　could　get　Jacob　alone。　Billy　would　probably　tell　on　me　if　he　knew　what　I　was　up　to。　

While　I　drove；　I　worried　a　little　bit　about　Billy's　reaction　to　seeing　me。　He　would　be　too　pleased。　In　
Billy's　mind；　no　doubt；　this　had　all　worked　out　better　than　he　had　dared　to　hope。　His　pleasure　and　relief　
would　only　remind　me　of　the　one　I　couldn't　bear　to　be　reminded　of。　Not　again　today；　I　pleaded　silently。　
I　was　spent。　

The　Blacks'　house　was　vaguely　familiar；　a　small　wooden　place　with　narrow　windows；　the　dull　red　paint　
making　it　resemble　a　tiny　barn。　Jacob's　head　peered　out　of　the　window　before　I　could　even　get　out　of　the　
truck。　No　doubt　the　familiar　roar　of　the　engine　had　tipped　him　off　to　my　approach。　Jacob　had　been　very　
grateful　when　Charlie　bought　Billy's　truck　for　me；　saving　Jacob　from　having　to　drive　it　when　he　came　of　
age。　I　liked　my　truck　very　much；　but　Jacob　seemed　to　consider　the　speed　restrictions　a　shorting。　

He　met　me　halfway　to　the　house。　

〃Bella！〃　His　excited　grin　stretched　wide　across　his　face；　the　bright　teeth　standing　in　vivid　contrast　to　the　
deep　russet　color　of　his　skin。　I'd　never　seen　his　hair　out　of　its　usual　ponytail　before。　It　fell　like　black　satin　
curtains　on　either　side　of　his　broad　face。　

Jacob　had　grown　into　some　of　his　potential　in　the　last　eight　months。　He'd　passed　that　point　where　the　soft　
muscles　of　childhood　hardened　into　the　solid；　lanky　build　of　a　teenager；　the　tendons　and　veins　had　
bee　prominent　under　the　redbrown　skin　of　his　arms；　his　hands。　His　face　was　still　sweet　like　I　
remembered　it；　though　it　had　hardened；　too—the　planes　of　his　cheekbones　sharper；　his　jaw　squared　off；　
all　childish　roundness　gone。　

〃Hey；　Jacob！〃　I　felt　an　unfamiliar　surge　of　enthusiasm　at　his　smile。　I　realized　that　I　was　pleased　to　see　him。　
This　knowledge　surprised　me。　

I　smiled　back；　and　something　clicked　silently　into　place；　like　two　corresponding　puzzle　pieces。　I'd　
forgotten　how　much　I　really　liked　Jacob　Black。　

He　stopped　a　few　feet　away　from　me；　and　I　stared　up　at　him　in　surprise；　leaning　my　head　back　though　
the　rain　pelted　my　face。　

〃You　grew　again！〃　I　accused　in　amazement。　

He　laughed；　his　smile　widening　impossibly。　〃Six　five；〃　he　announced　with　selfsatisfaction。　His　voice　was　
deeper；　but　it　had　the　husky　tone　I　remembered。　

〃Is　it　ever　going　to　stop？〃　I　shook　my　head　in　disbelief。　〃You're　huge。〃　

〃Still　a　beanpole；　though。〃　He　grimaced。　〃e　inside！　You're　getting　all　wet。〃　

He　led　the　way；　twisting　his　hair　in　his　big　hands　as　he　walked。　He　pulled　a　rubber　band　from　his　hip　
pocket　and　wound　it　around　the　bundle。　

〃Hey；　Dad；〃　he　called　as　he　ducked　to　get　through　the　front　door。　〃Look　who　stopped　by。〃　

Billy　was　in　the　tiny　square　living　room；　a　book　in　his　hands。　He　set　the　book　in　his　lap　and　wheeled　
himself　forward　when　he　saw　me。　

〃Well；　what　do　you　know！　It's　good　to　see　you；　Bella。〃　

We　shook　hands。　Mine　was　lost　in　his　wide　grasp。　

〃What　brings　you　out　here？　Everything　okay　with　Charlie？〃　

〃Yes；　absolutely。　I　just　wanted　to　see　Jacob—I　haven't　seen　him　in　forever。〃　

Jacob's　eyes　brightened　at　my　words。　He　was　smiling　so　big　it　looked　like　it　would　hurt　his　cheeks。　

〃Can　you　stay　for　dinner？〃　Billy　was　eager；　too。　

〃No；　I've　got　to　feed　Charlie；　you　know。〃　

〃I'll　call　him　now；〃　Billy　suggested。　〃He's　always　invited。〃　

I　laughed　to　hide　my　disfort。　〃It's　not　like　you'll　never　see　me　again。　I　promise　I'll　be　back　again　
soon—so　much　you'll　get　sick　of　me。〃　After　all；　if　Jacob　could　fix　the　bike；　someone　had　to　teach　me　
how　to　ride　it。　

Billy　chuckled　in　response。　〃Okay；　maybe　next　time。〃　

〃So；　Bella；　what　do　you　want　to　do？〃　Jacob　asked。　

〃Whatever。　What　were　you　doing　before　I　interrupted？〃　I　was　strangely　fortable　here。　It　was　familiar；　
but　only　distantly。　There　were　no　painful　reminders　of　the　recent　past。　

Jacob　hesitated。　〃I　was　just　heading　out　to　work　on　my　car；　but　we　can　do　something　else…〃　

〃No；　that's　perfect！〃　I　interrupted。　〃I'd　love　to　see　your　car。〃　

〃Okay；〃　he　said；　not　convinced。　〃It's　out　back；　in　the　garage。〃　

Even　better；　I　thought　to　myself。　I　waved　at　Billy。　〃See　you　later。〃　

A　thick　stand　of　trees　and　shrubbery　concealed　his　garage　from　the　house。　The　garage　was　no　more　than　
a　couple　of　big　preformed　sheds