2 new+moon新月- 第74部分

〃Jacob　Black　wants　to　see　me。　That's　why　he's　still　here。〃　

That　stopped　me　cold—took　the　fight　right　out　of　me。　My　hands　went　limp。　They　fight；　Paris　falls。　

I　was　furious；　but　not　that　furious。　

〃Talk？〃　I　asked。　

〃More　or　less。〃　

〃How　much　more？〃　My　voice　shook。　

Edward　smoothed　my　hair　back　from　my　face。　〃Don't　worry；　he's　not　here　to　fight　me。　He's　acting　as…　
spokesperson　for　the　pack。〃　

〃Oh。〃　

Edward　looked　at　the　house　again；　then　tightened　his　arm　around　my　waist　and　pulled　me　toward　the　
woods。　〃We　should　hurry。　Charlie's　getting　impatient。〃　

We　didn't　have　to　go　far；　Jacob　waited　just　a　short　ways　up　the　path。　He　lounged　against　a　mossy　tree　
trunk　as　he　waited；　his　face　hard　and　bitter；　exactly　the　way　I　knew　it　would　be。　He　looked　at　me；　and　
then　at　Edward。　Jacob's　mouth　stretched　into　a　humorless　sneer；　and　he　shrugged　away　from　the　tree。　He　
stood　on　the　balls　of　his　bare　feet；　leaning　slightly　forward；　with　his　trembling　hands　clenched　into　fists。　He　
looked　bigger　than　the　last　time　I'd　seen　him。　Somehow；　impossibly；　he　was　still　growing。　He　would　
tower　over　Edward；　if　they　stood　next　to　each　other。　

But　Edward　stopped　as　soon　as　we　saw　him；　leaving　a　wide　space　between　us　and　Jacob。　Edward　
turned　his　body；　shifting　me　so　that　I　was　behind　him。　I　leaned　around　him　to　stare　at　Jacob—to　accuse　

him　with　my　eyes。　

I　would　have　thought　that　seeing　his　resentful；　cynical　expression　would　only　make　me　angrier。　Instead；　it　
reminded　me　of　the　last　time　I'd　seen　him；　with　tears　in　his　eyes。　My　fury　weakened；　faltered；　as　I　stared　
at　Jacob。　It　had　been　so　long　since　I'd　seen　him—I　hated　that　our　reunion　had　to　be　like　this。　

〃Bella；〃　Jacob　said　as　a　greeting；　nodding　once　toward　me　without　looking　away　from　Edward。　

〃Why？〃　I　whispered；　trying　to　hide　the　sound　of　the　lump　in　my　throat。　〃How　could　you　do　this　to　me；　
Jacob？〃　

The　sneer　vanished；　but　his　face　stayed　hard　and　rigid。　〃It's　for　the　best。〃　

〃What　is　that　supposed　to　mean？　Do　you　want　Charlie　to　strangle　me？　Or　did　you　want　him　to　have　a　
heart　attack；　like　Harry？　No　matter　how　mad　you　are　at　me；　how　could　you　do　this　to　him？〃　

Jacob　winced；　and　his　eyebrows　pulled　together；　but　he　didn't　answer。　

〃He　didn't　want　to　hurt　anyone—he　just　wanted　to　get　you　grounded；　so　that　you　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　
spend　time　with　me；〃　Edward　murmured；　explaining　the　thoughts　Jacob　wouldn't　say。　

Jacob's　eyes　sparked　with　hate　as　he　glowered　at　Edward　again。　

〃Aw；　Jake！〃　I　groaned。　〃I'm　already　grounded！　Why　do　you　think　I　haven't　been　down　to　La　Push　to　
kick　your　butt　for　avoiding　my　phone　calls？〃　

Jacob's　eyes　flashed　back　to　me；　confused　for　the　first　time。　〃That's　why？〃　he　asked；　and　then　locked　his　
jaw；　like　he　was　sorry　he'd　said　anything。　

〃He　thought　I　wouldn't　let　you；　not　Charlie；〃　Edward　explained　again。　

〃Stop　that；〃　Jacob　snapped。　

Edward　didn't　answer。　

Jacob　shuddered　once；　and　then　gritted　his　teeth　as　hard　as　his　fists。　〃Bella　wasn't　exaggerating　about　
your…　abilities；〃　he　said　through　his　teeth。　〃So　you　must　already　know　why　I'm　here。〃　

〃Yes；〃　Edward　agreed　in　a　soft　voice。　〃But；　before　you　begin；　I　need　to　say　something。〃　

Jacob　waited；　clenching　and　unclenching　his　hands　as　he　tried　to　control　the　shivers　rolling　down　his　arms。　

〃Thank　you；〃　Edward　said；　and　his　voice　throbbed　with　the　depth　of　his　sincerity。　〃I　will　never　be　able　to　
tell　you　how　grateful　I　am。　I　will　owe　you　for　the　rest　of　my…　existence。〃　

Jacob　stared　at　him　blankly；　his　shudders　stilled　by　surprise。　He　exchanged　a　quick　glance　with　me；　but　
my　face　was　just　as　mystified。　

〃For　keeping　Bella　alive；〃　Edward　clarified；　his　voice　rough　and　fervent。　〃When　I…　didn't。〃　

〃Edward—；〃　I　started　to　say；　but　he　held　one　hand　up；　his　eyes　on　Jacob。　

Understanding　washed　over　Jacob's　face　before　the　hard　mask　returned。　〃I　didn't　do　it　for　your　benefit。〃　

〃I　know。　But　that　doesn't　erase　the　gratitude　I　feel。　I　thought　you　should　know。　If　there's　ever　anything　in　
my　power　to　do　for　you…〃　

Jacob　raised　one　black　brow。　

Edward　shook　his　head。　〃That's　not　in　my　power。〃　

〃Whose；　then？〃　Jacob　growled。　

Edward　looked　down　at　me。　〃Hers。　I'm　a　quick　learner；　Jacob　Black；　and　I　don't　make　the　same　mistake　
twice。　I'm　here　until　she　orders　me　away。〃　

I　was　immersed　momentarily　in　his　golden　gaze。　It　wasn't　hard　to　understand　what　I'd　missed　in　the　
conversation。　The　only　thing　that　Jacob　would　want　from　Edward　would　be　his　absence。　

〃Never；〃　I　whispered；　still　locked　in　Edward's　eyes。　

Jacob　made　a　gagging　sound。　

I　unwillingly　broke　free　from　Edward's　gaze　to　frown　at　Jacob。　〃Was　there　something　else　you　needed；　
Jacob？　You　wanted　me　in　trouble—mission　Acplished。　Charlie　might　just　send　me　to　military　school。　
But　that　won't　keep　me　away　from　Edward。　There's　nothing　that　can　do　that。　What　more　do　you　want？〃　

Jacob　kept　his　eyes　on　Edward　〃I　just　needed　to　remind　your　bloodsucking　friends　of　a　few　key　points　in　
the　treaty　they　agreed　to。　The　treaty　chat　is　the　only　thing　stopping　me　from　ripping　his　throat　out　right　this　
minute。〃　

〃We　haven't　forgotten；〃　Edward　said　at　the　same　time　that　I　demanded；　〃What　key　points？〃　

Jacob　still　glowered　at　Edward；　but　he　answered　me。　〃The　treaty　is　quite　specific。　If　any　of　them　bite　a　
human；　the　truce　is　over。　Bite；　not　kill；〃　he　emphasized。　Finally；　he　looked　at　me。　His　eyes　were　cold。　

It　only　took　me　a　second　to　grasp　the　distinction；　and　then　my　face　was　as　cold　as　his。　

〃That's　none　of　your　business。〃　

〃The　hell　it—〃　was　all　he　managed　to　choke　out。　

I　didn't　expect　my　hasty　words　to　bring　on　such　a　strong　response。　Despite　the　warning　he'd　e　to　
give；　he　must　not　have　known。　He　must　have　thought　the　warning　was　just　a　precaution。　He　hadn't　
realized—or　didn't　want　to　believe—that　I　had　already　made　my　choice。　That　I　was　really　intending　to　
bee　a　member　of　the　Cullen　family。　

My　answer　sent　Jacob　into　near　convulsions。　He　pressed　his　fists　hard　against　his　temples；　closing　his　
eyes　tight　and　curling　in　on　himself　as　he　tried　to　control　the　spasms。　His　face　turned　sallow　green　under　
the　russet　skin。　

〃Jake？　You　okay？〃　I　asked　anxiously。　

I　took　a　halfstep　toward　him；　then　Edward　caught　me　and　yanked　me　back　behind　his　own　body。　
〃Careful！　He's　not　under　control；〃　he　warned　me。　

But　Jacob　was　already　somewhat　himself　again；　only　his　arms　were　shaking　now。　He　scowled　at　Edward　
with　pure　hate。　〃Ugh。　I　would　never　hurt　her。〃　

Neither　Edward　or　I　missed　the　inflection；　or　the　accusation　it　contained。　A　low　hiss　escaped　Edward's　
lips。　Jacob　clenched　his　fists　reflexively。　

〃BELLA！〃　Charlie's　roar　echoed　from　the　direction　of　the　house。　〃YOU　GET　IN　THIS　HOUSE　THIS　
INSTANT！〃　

All　of　us　froze；　listening　to　the　silence　that　followed。　

I　was　the　first　to　speak；　my　voice　trembled。　〃Crap。〃　

Jacob's　furious　expression　faltered。　〃I　am　sorry　about　that；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　had　to　do　what　I　could—I　
had　to　try…〃　

〃Thanks。〃　The　tremor　in　my　voice　ruined　the　sarcasm。　I　stared　up　the　path；　halfexpecting　Charlie　to　
e　barreling　through　the　wet　ferns　like　an　enraged　bull。　I　would　be　the　red　flag　in　that　scenario。　

〃Just　one　more　thing；〃　Edward　said　to　me；　and　then　he　looked　at　Jacob。　〃We've　found　no　trace　of　
Victoria　on　our　side　of　the　line—have　you？〃　

He　knew　the　answer　as　soon　as　Jacob　thought　it；　but　Jacob　spoke　the　answer　anyway。　〃Trie　last　time　
was　while　Bella　was…　away。　We　let　her　think　she　was　slipping　through—we　were　tightening　the　circle；　
getting　ready　to　ambush　her—〃　

Ice　shot　down　my　spine。　

〃But　then　she　took　off　like　a　bat　out　of　hell。　Near　as　we　can　tell；　she　caught　your　little　female's　scent　and　
bailed。　She　hasn't　e　near　our　lands　since。〃　

Edward　nodded。　〃When　she　es　back；　she's　not　your　problem　anymore。　We'll—〃　

〃She　killed　on　our　turf；〃　Jacob　hissed。　〃She's　ours！〃　

〃No—；〃　I　began　to　protest　both　declarations。　

〃BELLA！　I　SEE　HIS　CAR　AND　I　KNOW　YOU'RE　OUT　THERE！　IF　YOU　AREN'T　INSIDE　THIS　
HOUSE　IN　ONE　MINUTE…　！〃　Charlie　didn't　bother　to　finish　his　threat。　

〃Let's　go；〃　Edward　said。　

I　looked　back　at　Jacob；　torn。　Would　I　see　him　again？　

〃Sorry；〃　he　whispered　so　low　that　I　had　to　read　his　lips　to　understand。　'〃Bye；　Bells。〃　

〃You　promised；〃　I　reminded　him　desperately。　〃Still　friends；　right？〃　

Jacob　shook　his　head　slowly；　and　the　lump　in　my　throat　nearly　strangled　me。　

〃You　know　how　hard　I've　tried　to　keep　that　promise；　but…　I　can't　see　how　to　keep　trying。　Not　now…〃　
He　struggled　to　keep　his　hard　mask　in　place；　but　it　wavered；　and　then　disappeared。　〃Miss　you；〃　he　
mouthed。　One　of　his　hands　reached　toward　me；　his　fingers　outstretched；　like　he　wished　they　were　long　
enough　to　cross　the　distance　between　us。　

〃Me；　too；〃　I　choked　out。　My　hand　reached　toward　his　across　the　wide　space。　

Like　we　were　connected；　the　echo　of　his　pain　twisted　inside　me。　His　pain；　my　pain。　

〃Jake…〃　I　took　a　step　toward　him。　I　wanted　to　wrap　my　arms　around　his　waist　and　erase　the　expression　
of　misery　on　his　face。　

Edward　pulled　me　back　again；　his　arms　restraining　instead　of　defending。　

〃It's　okay；〃　I　promised　him；　looking　up　to　read　his　face　with　trust　in　my　eyes。　He　would　understand。　

His　eyes　were　unreadable；　his　face　expressionless。　Cold。　〃No；　it's　not。〃　

〃Let　her　go；〃　Jacob　snarled；　furious　again。　〃She　wants　to！〃　He　took　two　long　strides　forward。　A　glint　of　
anticipation　flashed　in　his　eyes。　His　chest　seemed　to　swell　as　it　shuddered。　

Edward　pushed　me　behind　himself；　wheeling　to　face　Jacob。　

〃No！　Edward—！〃　

〃ISABELLA　SWAN！〃　

〃e　on！　Charlie's　mad！〃　My　voice　was　panicked；　but　not　because　of　Charlie　now。　〃Hurry！〃　

I　tugged　on　him　and　he　relaxed　a　little。　He　pulled　me　back　slowly；　always　keeping　his　eyes　on　Jacob　as　
we　retreated。　

Jacob　watched　us　with　a　dark　scowl　on　his　bitter　face。　The　anticipation　drained　from　his　eyes；　and　then；　
just　before　the　forest　came　between　us；　his　face　suddenly　crumpled　in　pain。　

I　knew　that　last　glimpse　of　his　face　would　haunt　me　until　I　saw　him　smile　again。　

And　right　there　I　vowed　that　I　would　see　him　smile；　and　soon。　I　would　find　a　way　t