2 new moon新月-第23章

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The　motorcycle　no　longer　pinned　me　to　the　ground；　and　I　rolled　over　to　breathe。　All　the　growling　went　
silent。　

〃Wow；〃　I　murmured。　I　was　thrilled。　This　had　to　be　it；　the　recipe　for　a　hallucination—adrenaline　plus　
clanger　plus　stupidity。　Something　close　to　that；　anyway。　

〃Bella！〃　Jacob　was　crouching　over　me　anxiously。　〃Bella；　are　you　alive？〃　

〃I'm　great！〃　I　enthused。　I　flexed　my　arms　and　legs。　Everything　seemed　to　be　working　correctly。　〃Let's　do　
itagain。〃　

〃I　don't　think　so。〃　Jacob　still　sounded　worried。　〃I　think　I'd　better　drive　you　to　the　hospital　first。〃　

〃I'mfine。〃　

〃Um；　Bella？　You've　got　a　huge　cut　on　your　forehead；　and　it's　gushing　blood；〃　he　informed　me。　

I　clapped　my　hand　over　my　head。　Sure　enough；　it　was　wet　and　sticky。　I　could　smell　nothing　but　the　damp　
moss　on　my　face；　and　that　held　off　the　nausea。　

〃Oh；　I'm　so　sorry；　Jacob。〃　I　pushed　hard　against　the　gash；　as　if　I　could　force　the　blood　back　inside　my　
head。　

〃Why　are　you　apologizing　for　bleeding？〃　he　wondered　as　he　wrapped　a　long　arm　around　my　waist　and　
pulled　me　to　my　feet。　〃Let's　go。　I'll　drive。〃　He　held　out　his　hand　for　the　keys。　

〃What　about　the　bikes？〃　I　asked；　handing　them　over。　

He　thought　for　a　second。　〃Wait　here。　And　take　this。〃　He　pulled　off　his　T…shirt；　already　spotted　with　
blood；　and　threw　it　to　me。　I　wadded　it　up　and　held　it　tightly　to　my　forehead。　I　was　starting　to　smell　the　
blood；　I　breathed　deeply　through　my　mouth　and　tried　to　concentrate　on　something　else。　

Jacob　jumped　on　the　black　motorcycle；　kicked　it　to　a　start　in　one　try；　and　raced　back　down　the　road；　
spraying　sand　and　pebbles　behind　him。　He　looked　athletic　and　professional　as　he　leaned　over　the　
handlebars；　head　low；　face　forward；　his　shiny　hair　whipping　against　the　russet　skin　of　his　back。　My　eyes　
narrowed　enviously。　I　was　sure　I　hadn't　looked　like　that　on　my　motorcycle。　

I　was　surprised　at　how　far　I'd　gone。　I　could　barely　see　Jacob　in　the　distance　when　he　finally　got　to　the　
truck。　He　threw　the　bike　into　the　bed　and　sprinted　to　the　driver's　side。　

I　really　didn't　feel　bad　at　all　as　he　coaxed　my　truck　to　a　deafening　roar　in　his　hurry　to　get　back　to　me。　My　
head　stung　a　little；　and　my　stomach　was　uneasy；　but　the　cut　wasn't　serious。　Head　wounds　just　bled　more　
than　most。　His　urgency　wasn't　necessary。　

Jacob　left　the　truck　running　as　he　raced　back　to　me；　wrapping　his　arm　around　my　waist　again。　

〃Okay；　let's　get　you　in　the　truck。〃　

〃I'm　honestly　fine；〃　I　assured　him　as　he　helped　me　in。　〃Don't　get　worked　up。　It's　just　a　little　blood。〃　

〃Just　a　lot　of　blood；〃　I　heard　him　mutter　as　he　went　back　for　my　bike。　

〃Now；　let's　think　about　this　for　a　second；〃　I　began　when　he　got　back　in。　〃If　you　take　me　to　the　ER　like　
this；　Charlie　is　sure　to　hear　about　it。〃　I　glanced　down　at　the　sand　and　dirt　caked　into　my　jeans。　

〃Bella；　I　think　you　need　stitches。　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　bleed　to　death。〃　

〃I　won't；〃　I　promised。　〃Let's　just　take　the　bikes　back　first；　and　then　we'll　make　a　stop　at　my　house　so　I　
can　dispose　of　the　evidence　before　we　go　to　the　hospital。〃　

〃What　about　Charlie？〃　

〃He　said　he　had　to　work　today。〃　

〃Are　you　really　sure？〃　

〃Trust　me。　I'm　an　easy　bleeder。　It's　not　nearly　as　dire　as　it　looks。〃　

Jacob　wasn't　happy—his　full　mouth　turned　down　in　an　uncharacteristic　frown—but　he　didn't　want　to　get　
me　in　trouble。　I　stared　out　the　window；　holding　his　ruined　shirt　to　my　head；　while　he　drove　me　to　Forks。　

The　motorcycle　was　better　than　I'd　dreamed。　It　had　served　its　original　purpose。　I'd　cheated—broken　my　
promise。　I'd　been　needlessly　reckless。　I　felt　a　little　less　pathetic　now　that　the　promises　had　been　broken　
on　both　sides。　

And　then　to　discover　the　key　to　the　hallucinations！　At　least；　I　hoped　I　had。　I　was　going　to　test　the　theory　
as　soon　as　possible。　Maybe　they'd　get　through　with　me　quickly　in　the　ER；　and　I　could　try　again　tonight。　

Racing　down　the　road　like　that　had　been　amazing。　The　feel　of　the　wind　in　my　face；　the　speed　and　the　
freedom…　it　reminded　me　of　a　past　life；　flying　through　the　thick　forest　without　a　road；　piggyback　while　he　
ran—I　stopped　thinking　right　there；　letting　the　memory　break　off　in　the　sudden　agony。　I　flinched。　

〃You　still　okay？〃　Jacob　checked。　

〃Yeah。〃　I　tried　to　sound　as　convincing　as　before。　

〃By　the　way；〃　he　added。　〃I'm　going　to　disconnect　your　foot　brake　tonight。〃　

At　home；　I　went　to　look　at　myself　in　the　mirror　first　thing；　it　was　pretty　gruesome。　Blood　was　drying　in　
thick　streaks　across　my　cheek　and　neck；　matting　in　my　muddy　hair。　I　examined　myself　clinically；　
pretending　the　blood　was　paint　so　it　wouldn't　upset　my　stomach。　I　breathed　through　my　mouth；　and　was　
fine。　

I　washed　up　as　well　as　I　could。　Then　I　hid　my　dirty；　bloody　clothes　in　the　bottom　of　my　laundry　basket；　
putting　on　new　jeans　and　a　button…up　shirt　（that　I　didn't　have　to　pull　over　my　head）　as　carefully　as　I　could。　
I　managed　to　do　this　one…handed　and　keep　both　garments　blood…free。　

〃Hurry　up；〃　Jacob　called。　

〃Okay；　okay；〃　I　shouted　back。　After　making　sure　I　left　nothing　incriminating　behind　me；　I　headed　
downstairs。　

〃How　do　I　look？〃　I　asked　him。　

〃Better；〃　he　admitted。　

〃But　do　I　look　like　I　tripped　in　your　garage　and　hit　my　head　on　a　hammer？〃　

〃Sure；　I　guess　so。〃　

〃Let's　go　then。〃　

Jacob　hurried　me　out　the　door；　and　insisted　on　driving　again。　We　were　halfway　to　the　hospital　when　I　
realized　he　was　still　shirtless。　

I　frowned　guiltily。　〃We　should　have　grabbed　you　a　jacket。〃　

〃That　would　have　given　us　away；〃　he　teased。　〃Besides；　it's　not　cold。〃　

〃Are　you　kidding？〃　I　shivered　and　reached　out　to　turn　the　heat　on。　

I　watched　Jacob　to　see　if　he　was　just　playing　tough　so　I　wouldn't　worry；　but　he　looked　comfortable　
enough。　He　had　one　arm　over　the　back　of　my　seat；　though　I　was　huddled　up　to　keep　warm。　

Jacob　really　did　look　older　than　sixteen—not　quite　forty；　but　maybe　older　than　me。　Quil　didn't　have　too　
much　on　him　in　the　muscle　department；　for　all　that　Jacob　claimed　to　be　a　skeleton。　The　muscles　were　the　
long　wiry　kind；　but　they　were　definitely　there　under　the　smooth　skin。　His　skin　was　such　a　pretty　color；　it　
made　me　jealous。　

Jacob　noticed　my　scrutiny。　

〃What？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　self…conscious。　

〃Nothing。　I　just　hadn't　realized　before。　Did　you　know；　you're　sort　of　beautiful？〃　

Once　the　words　slipped　out；　I　worried　that　he　might　take　my　impulsive　observation　the　wrong　way。　

But　Jacob　just　rolled　his　eyes。　〃You　hit　your　head　pretty　hard；　didn't　you？〃　

〃I'm　serious。〃　

〃Well；　then；　thanks。　Sort　of。〃　

I　grinned。　〃You're　sort　of　welcome。〃　

I　had　to　have　seven　stitches　to　c　lose　the　cut　on　my　forehead。　After　the　sting　of　the　local　anesthetic；　there　
was　no　pain　in　the　procedure。　Jacob　held　my　hand　while　Dr。　Snow　was　sewing；　and　I　tried　not　to　think　
about　why　that　was　ironic。　

We　were　at　the　hospital　forever。　By　the　time　I　was　done；　I　had　to　drop　Jacob　off　at　his　home　and　hurry　
back　to　cook　dinner　for　Charlie。　Charlie　seemed　to　buy　my　story　about　falling　in　Jacob's　garage。　After　
all；　it　wasn't　like　I　hadn't　been　able　to　land　myself　in　the　ER　before　with　no　more　help　than　my　own　feet。　

This　night　was　not　as　bad　as　that　first　night；　after　I'd　heard　the　perfect　voice　in　Port　Angeles。　The　hole　
came　back；　the　way　it　always　did　when　I　was　away　from　Jacob；　but　it　didn't　throb　so　badly　around　the　
edges。　I　was　already　planning　ahead；　looking　forward　to　more　delusions；　and　that　was　a　distraction。　
Also；　I　knew　I　would　feel　better　tomorrow　when　I　was　with　Jacob　again。　That　made　the　empty　hole　and　
the　familiar　pain　easier　to　bear；　relief　was　in　sight。　The　nightmare；　too；　had　lost　a　little　of　its　potency。　I　was　
horrified　by　the　nothingness；　as　always；　but　I　was　also　strangely　impatient　as　I　waited　for　the　moment　that　
would　send　me　screaming　into　consciousness。　I　knew　the　nightmare　had　to　end。　

The　next　Wednesday；　before　I　could　get　home　from　the　ER；　Dr。　Gerandy　called　to　warn　my　father　that　I　
might　possibly　have　a　concussion　and　advised　him　to　wake　me　up　every　two　hours　through　the　night　to　
make　sure　it　wasn't　serious。　Charlie's　eyes　narrowed　suspiciously　at　my　weak　explanation　about　tripping　
again。　

〃Maybe　you　should　just　stay　out　of　the　garage　altogether；　Bella；〃　he　suggested　that　night　during　dinner。　

I　panicked；　worried　that　Charlie　was　about　to　lay　down　some　kind　of　edict　that　would　prohibit　La　Push；　
and　consequently　my　motorcycle。　And　I　wasn't　giving　it　up—I'd　had　the　most　amazing　hallucination　
today。　My　velvet…voiced　delusion　had　yelled　at　me　for　almost　five　minutes　before　I'd　hit　the　brake　too　
abruptly　and　launched　myself　into　the　tree。　I'd　take　whatever　pain　that　would　cause　me　tonight　without　
complaint。　

〃This　didn't　happen　in　the　garage；〃　I　protested　quickly。　〃We　were　hiking；　and　I　tripped　over　a　rock。〃　

〃Since　when　do　you　hike？〃　Charlie　asked　skeptically。　

〃Working　at　Newton's　was　bound　to　rub　off　sometime；〃　I　pointed　out。　〃Spend　every　day　selling　all　the　
virtues　of　the　outdoors；　eventually　you　get　curious。〃　

Charlie　glared　at　me；　unconvinced。　

〃I'll　be　more　careful；〃　I　promised；　surreptitiously　crossing　my　fingers　under　the　table。　

〃I　don't　mind　you　hiking　right　there　around　La　Push；　but　keep　close　to　town；　okay？〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃Well；　we've　been　getting　a　lot　of　wildlife　complaints　lately。　The　forestry　department　is　going　to　check　into　
it；　but　for　the　time　being…〃　

〃Oh；　the　big　bear；〃　I　said　with　sudden　comprehension。　〃Yeah；　some　of　the　hikers　coming　through　
Newton's　have　seen　it。　Do　you　think　there's　really　some　giant　mutated　grizzly　out　there？〃　

His　forehead　creased。　〃There's　something。　Keep　it　close　to　town；　okay？〃　

〃Sure；　sure；〃　I　said　quickly。　He　didn't　look　completely　appeased。　

〃Charlie's　getting　nosy；〃　I　complained　to　Jacob　when　I　picked　him　up　after　school　Friday。　

〃Maybe　we　should　cool　it　with　the　bikes。〃　He　saw　my　objecting　expression　and　added；　〃At　least　for　a　
week　or　so。　You　could　stay　out　of　the　hospital　for　a　week；　right？〃　

〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　I　griped。　

He　smiled　cheerfully。　〃What　ever　you　want。〃　

I　thought　about　that　for　a　minute—about　what　I　wanted。　

I　hated　the　idea　of　losing　even　my　brief　seconds　of　closeness　with　the　memories　that　didn't　hurt—the　ones　
that　came　on　their　own；　without　me　thinking　of　them　consciously。　If　I　couldn't　have　the　bikes；　I　was　going　
to　have　to　find　some　other　avenue　to　the　danger　and　the　adrenaline；　and　that　was　going　to　take　serious　
thought　and　creativity。　Doing　nothing　in　the　meantime　was　not　appealing。　Suppose　I　got　depressed　again；　
even　with　Jake？　I　had　to　keep　occupied。　

Maybe　there　was　some　other　way；　some　other　recipe…　some　other　place。　

The　house　had　been　a　mistake；　certainly。　But　his　presence　must　be　stamped　somewhere；　somewhere　
other　than　inside　me。　There　had　to　be　a　place　where　he　seemed　more　real　than　among　all　the　familiar　
landmarks　that　were　crowded　with　other　human　memories。　

I　could　think　of　one　place　where　that　might　hold　true。　One　place　that　would　always　belong　to　him　and　no　
one　else。　A　magic　place；　full　of　light。　The　beautiful　meadow　I'd　seen　only　once　in　my　life；　lit　by　sunshine　
and　the　sparkle　of　his　skin。　

T