2 new moon新月-第39章

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made　me　feel　like　a　traitor。　

But　I　wanted　him　to　stop　Victoria；　didn't　I？　

No。　

I　did　want　Victoria　to　be　stopped；　preferably　before　she　tortured　me　to　death　or　ran　into　Charlie　or　killed　
another　stranger。　I　just　didn't　want　Jacob　to　be　the　one　to　stop　her；　or　rather　to　try。　I　didn't　want　Jacob　
within　a　hundred　miles　of　her。　

〃Like　the　stuff　about　the　mind…reading　bloodsucker；〃　he　continued；　oblivious　to　my　reverie。　〃That's　the　
kind　of　thing　we　need　to　know　about。　That　really　sucks　that　those　stories　are　true。　It　makes　everything　
more　complicated。　Hey；　do　you　think　this　Victoria　can　do　anything　special？〃　

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　I　hesitated；　and　then　sighed。　〃He　would　have　mentioned　it。〃　

〃He？　Oh；　you　mean　Edward—oops；　sorry。　I　forgot。　You　don't　like　to　say　his　name。　Or　hear　it。〃　

I　squeezed　my　midsection；　trying　to　ignore　the　throbbing　around　the　edges　of　my　chest。　〃Not　really；　no。〃　

〃Sorry。〃　

〃How　do　you　know　me　so　well；　Jacob？　Sometimes　it's　like　you　can　read　my　mind。〃　

〃Naw。　I　just　pay　attention。〃　

We　were　on　the　little　dirt　road　where　Jacob　had　first　taught　me　to　ride　the　motorcycle。　

〃This　good？〃　I　asked。　

〃Sure；　sure。〃　

I　pulled　over　and　cut　the　engine。　

〃You're　still　pretty　unhappy；　aren't　you？〃　he　murmured。　

I　nodded；　staring　unseeingly　into　the　gloomy　forest。　

〃Did　you　ever　think…　that　maybe…　you're　better　off？〃　

I　inhaled　slowly；　and　then　let　my　breath　out。　〃No。〃　

〃'Cause　he　wasn't　the　best—〃　

〃Please；　Jacob；〃　I　interrupted；　begging　in　a　whisper。　〃Could　we　please　not　talk　about　this？　I　can't　stand　
it。〃　

〃Okay。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　sorry　I　said　anything。〃　

〃Don't　feel　bad。　If　things　were　different；　it　would　be　nice　to　finally　be　able　to　talk　to　someone　about　it。〃　

He　nodded。　〃Yeah；　I　had　a　hard　time　keeping　a　secret　from　you　for　two　weeks。　It　must　be　hell　to　not　be　
able　to　talk　to　anyone。〃　

〃Hell；〃　I　agreed。　

Jacob　sucked　in　a　sharp　breath。　〃They're　here。　Let's　go。〃　

〃Are　you　sure？〃　I　asked　while　he　popped　his　door　open。　〃Maybe　I　shouldn't　be　here。〃　

〃They'll　deal　with　it；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　grinned。　〃Who's　afraid　of　the　big；　bad　wolf？〃　

〃Ha　ha；〃　I　said。　But　I　got　out　of　the　truck；　hurrying　around　the　front　end　to　stand　close　beside　Jacob。　I　
remembered　only　too　clearly　the　giant　monsters　in　the　meadow。　My　hands　were　trembling　like　Jacob's　
had　been　before；　but　with　fear　rather　than　rage。　

Jake　took　my　hand　and　squeezed　it。　〃Here　we　go。〃　

14。　FAMILY　




I　COWERED　INTO　JACOB'S　SIDE；　MY　EYES　SCANNING　the　forest　for　the　other　werewolves。　
When　they　appeared；　striding　out　from　between　the　trees；　they　weren't　what　I　was　expecting。　I'd　gotten　
the　image　of　the　wolves　stuck　in　my　head。　These　were　just　four　really　big　half…naked　boys。　

Again；　they　reminded　me　of　brothers；　quadruplets。　Something　about　the　way　they　moved　almost　in　
synchronization　to　stand　across　the　road　from　us；　the　way　they　all　had　the　same　long；　round　muscles　
under　the　same　red…brown　skin；　the　same　cropped　black　hair；　and　the　way　their　expressions　altered　at　
exactly　the　same　moment。　

They　started　out　curious　and　cautious。　When　they　saw　me　there；　half…hidden　beside　Jacob；　they　all　
became　furious　in　the　same　second。　

Sam　was　still　the　biggest；　though　Jacob　was　getting　close　to　catching　up　with　him。　Sam　didn't　really　count　
as　a　boy。　His　face　was　older—not　in　the　sense　of　lines　or　signs　of　aging；　but　in　the　matunry；　the　patience　
of　his　expression。　

〃What　have　you　done；　Jacob？〃　he　demanded。　

One　of　the　others；　one　I　didn't　recognize—Jared　or　Paul—thrust　past　Sam　and　spoke　before　Jacob　
could　defend　himself。　

〃Why　can't　you　just　follow　the　rules；　Jacob？〃　he　yelled；　throwing　his　arms　in　the　air。　〃What　the　hell　are　
you　thinking？　Is　she　more　important　than　everything—than　the　whole　tribe？　Than　the　people　getting　
killed？〃　

〃She　can　help；〃　Jacob　said　quietly。　

〃Help！〃　the　angry　boy　shouted。　His　arms　begin　to　quiver。　〃Oh；　that's　likely！　I'm　sure　the　leech…lover　is　
just　dying　to　help　us　out！〃　

〃Don't　talk　about　her　like　that！〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　stung　by　the　boy's　criticism。　

A　shudder　rippled　through　the　other　boy；　along　his　shoulders　and　down　his　spine。　

〃Paul！　Relax！〃　Sam　commanded。　

Paul　shook　his　head　back　and　forth；　not　in　defiance；　but　as　though　he　were　trying　to　concentrate。　

〃Jeez；　Paul；〃　one　of　the　other　boys—probably　Jared—muttered。　〃Get　a　grip。〃　

Paul　twisted　his　head　toward　Jared；　his　lips　curling　back　in　irritation。　Then　he　shifted　his　glare　in　my　
direction。　Jacob　took　a　step　to　put　himself　in　front　of　me。　

That　did　it。　

〃Right；　protect　her！〃　Paul　roared　in　outrage。　Another　shudder；　a　convulsion；　heaved　through　his　body。　He　
threw　his　head　back；　a　real　growl　tearing　from　between　his　teeth。　

〃Paul！〃　Sam　and　Jacob　shouted　together。　

Paul　seemed　to　fall　forward；　vibrating　violently。　Halfway　to　the　ground；　there　was　a　loud　ripping　noise；　
and　the　boy　exploded。　

Dark　silver　fur　blew　out　from　the　boy；　coalescing　into　a　shape　more　than　five…times　his　size—a　massive；　
crouched　shape；　ready　to　spring。　

The　wolf's　muzzle　wrinkled　back　over　his　teeth；　and　another　growl　rolled　through　his　colossal　chest。　His　
dark；　enraged　eyes　focused　on　me。　

In　the　same　second；　Jacob　was　running　across　the　road　straight　for　the　monster。　

〃Jacob！〃　I　screamed。　

Mid…stride；　a　long　tremor　shivered　down　Jacob's　spine。　He　leaped　forward；　diving　headfirst　into　the　
empty　air。　

With　another　sharp　tearing　sound；　Jacob　exploded；　too。　He　burst　out　of　his　skin—shreds　of　black　and　
white　cloth　blasted　up　into　the　air。　It　happened　so　quickly　that　if　I'd　blinked；　I'd　have　missed　the　entire　
transformation。　One　second　it　was　Jacob　diving　into　the　air；　and　then　it　was　the　gigantic；　russet　brown　
wolf—so　enormous　that　I　couldn't　make　sense　of　its　mass　somehow　fitting　inside　Jacob—charging　the　
crouched　silver　beast。　

Jacob　met　the　other　werewolf's　attack　head…on。　Their　angry　snarls　echoed　like　thunder　off　the　trees。　

The　black　and　white　scraps—the　remains　of　Jacob's　clothes—fluttered　to　the　ground　where　he'd　
disappeared。　

〃Jacob！〃　I　screamed　again；　staggering　forward。　

〃Stay　where　you　are；　Bella；〃　Sam　ordered。　It　was　hard　to　hear　him　over　the　roar　of　the　fighting　wolves。　
They　were　snapping　and　tearing　at　each　other；　their　sharp　teeth　flashing　toward　each　other's　throats。　The　
Jacob…wolf　seemed　to　have　the　upper　hand—he　was　visibly　bigger　than　the　other　wolf；　and　it　looked　like　
le　was　stronger；　too。　He　rammed　his　shoulder　against　the　gray　wolf　again　and　again；　knocking　him　back　
toward　the　trees。　

〃Take　her　to　Emily's；〃　Sam　shouted　toward　the　other　boys；　who　were　watching　the　conflict　with　rapt　
expressions。　Jacob　had　successfully　shoved　the　gray　wolf　off　the　road；　and　they　were　disappearing　into　
the　forest；　though　the　sound　of　their　snarls　was　still　loud。　Sam　ran　after　them；　kicking　off　his　shoes　on　the　
way。　As　he　darted　into　the　trees；　he　was　quivering　from　head　to　toe。　

The　growling　and　snapping　was　fading　into　the　distance。　Suddenly；　the　sound　cut　off　and　it　was　very　quiet　
on　the　road。　

One　of　the　boys　started　laughing。　

I　turned　to　stare　at　him—my　wide　eyes　felt　frozen；　like　I　couldn't　even　blink　them。　

The　boy　seemed　to　be　laughing　at　my　expression。　〃Well；　there's　something　you　don't　see　every　day；〃　he　

snickered。　His　face　was　vaguely　familiar—thinner　than　the　others…　Embry　Call。　

〃I　do；〃　the　other　boy；　Jared；　grumbled。　〃Every　single　day。〃　

〃Aw；　Paul　doesn't　lose　his　temper　every　day；〃　Embry　disagreed；　still　grinning。　〃Maybe　two　out　of　three。〃　

Jared　stopped　to　pick　something　white　up　off　the　ground。　He　held　it　up　toward　Embry；　it　dangled　in　limp　
strips　from　his　hand。　

〃Totally　shredded；〃　Jared　said。　〃Billy　said　this　was　the　last　pair　he　could　afford—guess　Jacob's　going　
barefoot　now。〃　

〃This　one　survived；〃　Embry　said；　holding　up　a　white　sneaker。　〃Jake　can　hop；〃　he　added　with　a　laugh。　

Jared　started　collecting　various　pieces　of　fabric　from　the　dirt。　〃Get　Sam's　shoes；　will　you？　All　the　rest　of　
this　is　headed　for　the　trash。〃　

Embry　grabbed　the　shoes　and　then　jogged　into　the　trees　where　Sam　had　disappeared。　He　was　back　in　a　
few　seconds　with　a　pair　of　cut…off　jeans　draped　over　his　arm。　Jared　gathered　the　torn　remnants　of　
Jacob's　and　Paul's　clothes　and　wadded　them　into　a　ball。　Suddenly；　he　seemed　to　remember　me。　

He　looked　at　me　carefully；　assessing。　

〃Hey；　you're　not　going　to　faint　or　puke　or　anything？〃　he　demanded。　

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　I　gasped。　

〃You　don't　look　so　good。　Maybe　you　should　sit　down。〃　

〃Okay；〃　I　mumbled。　For　the　second　time　in　one　morning；　I　put　my　head　between　my　knees。　

〃Jake　should　have　warned　us；〃　Embry　complained。　

〃He　shouldn't　have　brought　his　girlfriend　into　this。　What　did　he　expect？〃　

〃Well；　the　wolf's　out　of　the　bag　now。〃　Embry　sighed。　〃Way　to　go；　Jake。〃　

I　raised　my　head　to　glare　at　the　two　boys　who　seemed　to　be　taking　this　all　so　lightly。　〃Aren't　you　worried　
about　them　at　all？〃　I　demanded。　

Embry　blinked　once　in　surprise　〃Worried？　Why？〃　

〃They　could　hurt　each　other！〃　

Embry　and　Jared　guffawed。　

〃I　hope　Paul　gets　a　mouthful　of　him；〃　Jared　said。　〃Teach　him　a　lesson。〃　

I　blanched。　

〃Yeah；　right！〃　Embry　disagreed。　〃Did　you　see　Jake？　Even　Sam　couldn't　have　phased　on　the　fly　like　that。　
He　saw　Paul　losing　it；　and　it　took　him；　what；　half　a　second　to　attack？　The　boy's　got　a　gift。〃　

〃Paul's　been　fighting　longer。　I'll　bet　you　ten　bucks　he　leaves　a　mark。〃　

〃You're　on。　Jake's　a　natural。　Paul　doesn't　have　a　prayer。〃　

They　shook　hands；　grinning。　

I　tried　to　comfort　myself　with　their　lack　of　concern；　but　I　couldn't　drive　the　brutal　image　of　the　fighting　
werewolves　from　my　head。　My　stomach　churned；　sore　and　empty；　my　head　ached　with　worry。　

〃Let's　go　see　Emily。　You　know　she'll　have　food　waiting。〃　Embry　looked　down　at　me。　〃Mind　giving　us　a　
ride？〃　

〃No　problem；〃　I　choked。　

Jared　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Maybe　you'd　better　drive；　Embry。　She　still　looks　like　she　might　hurl。〃　

〃Good　idea。　Where　are　the　keys？〃　Embry　asked　me。　

〃Ignition。〃　

Embry　opened　the　passenger…side　door。　〃In　you　go；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　hauling　me　up　from　the　ground　
with　one　hand　and　stuffing　me　into　my　seat。　He　appraised　the　available　space。　〃You'll　have　to　ride　in　the　
back；〃　he　told　Jared。　

〃That's　fine。　I　got　a　weak　stomach。　I　don't　want　to　be　in　there　when　she　blows。〃　

〃I　bet　she's　tougher　than　that。　She　runs　with　vampires。〃　

〃Five　bucks？〃　Jared　asked。　

〃Done。　I　feel　guilty；　taking　your　money　like　this。〃　

Embry　got　in　and　started　the　engine　while　Jared　leapt　agilely　into　the　bed。　As　soon　as　his　door　was　
closed；　Embry　muttered　to　me；　〃Don't　throw　up；　okay？　I've　only　got　a　ten；　and　if　Paul　got　his　teeth　into　
Jacob…〃　

〃Okay；〃　I　whispered。　

Embry　drove　us　back　toward　the　village。　

〃Hey；　how　did　Jake　get　around　the　injunction　anyway？〃　

〃The…　what？〃　

〃Er；　the　order。　You　know；　to　not　spill　the　beans。　How　did　he　tell　you　about　this？〃　

〃Oh；　that；〃　I　said；　remembering　Jacob　trying　to　choke　out　the　truth　to　me　last　night。　〃He　didn't。　I　guessed　
right。〃　

Embry　pursed　his　lips；　looking　surprised。　〃Hmm。　S'pose