3 eclipse月食-第25章

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when　things　were　still　。　。　。　normal；　I　mean。”　
　I　laughed。　“Of　course　I　remember。　I　traded　a　lifetime　of　servitude　for　a　box　of　conversation　hearts。　That’s　
not　something　I’m　likely　to　forget。”　
　He　laughed　with　me。　“That’s　right。　Hmm；　servitude。　I’ll　have　to　think　of　something　good。”　Then　he　sighed。　
“It　feels　like　it　was　years　ago。　Another　era。　A　happier　one。”　
　I　couldn’t　agree　with　him。　This　was　my　happy　era　now。　But　I　was　surprised　to　realize　how　many　things　I　
missed　from　my　own　personal　dark　ages。　I　stared　through　the　opening　at　the　murky　forest。　The　rain　had　
picked　up　again；　but　it　was　warm　in　the　little　garage；　sitting　next　to　Jacob。　He　was　as　good　as　a　furnace。　
　His　fingers　brushed　my　hand。　“Things　have　really　changed。”　
　“Yeah；”　I　said；　and　then　I　reached　out　and　patted　the　back　tire　of　my　bike。　“Charlie　used　to　like　me。　I　
hope　Billy　doesn’t　say　anything　about　today。　。　。　。”　I　bit　my　lip。　
　“He　won’t。　He　doesn’t　get　worked　up　about　things　the　way　Charlie　does。　Hey；　I　never　did　apologize　

officially　for　that　stupid　move　with　the　bike。　I’m　real　sorry　about　ratting　you　out　to　Charlie。　I　wish　I　hadn’t。”　
I　rolled　my　eyes。　“Me；　too。”　
“I’m　really；　really　sorry。”　
He　looked　at　me　hopefully；　his　wet；　tangled　black　hair　sticking　up　in　every　direction　around　his　pleading　
face。　
“Oh；　fine！　You’re　forgiven。”　
“Thanks；　Bells！”　
We　grinned　at　each　other　for　a　second；　and　then　his　face　clouded　over。　
“You　know　that　day；　when　I　brought　the　bike　over　。　。　。　I’ve　been　wanting　to　ask　you　something；”　he　said　
slowly。　“But　also　。　。　。　not　wanting　to。”　
I　held　very　still　—　a　reaction　to　stress。　It　was　a　habit　I’d　picked　up　from　Edward。　
“Were　you　just　being　stubborn　because　you　were　mad　at　me；　or　were　you　really　serious？”　he　whispered。　
“About　what？”　I　whispered　back；　though　I　was　sure　I　knew　what　he　meant。　
He　glared　at　me。　“You　know。　When　you　said　it　was　none　of　my　business　。　。　。　if　—　if　he　bit　you。”　He　
cringed　visibly　at　the　end。　
“Jake　。　。　。”　My　throat　felt　swollen。　I　couldn’t　finish。　
He　closed　his　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath。　“Were　you　serious？”　
He　was　trembling　just　slightly。　His　eyes　stayed　closed。　
“Yes；”　I　whispered。　
Jacob　inhaled；　slow　and　deep。　“I　guess　I　knew　that。”　
I　stared　at　his　face；　waiting　for　his　eyes　to　open。　
“You　know　what　this　will　mean？”　He　demanded　suddenly。　“You　do　understand　that；　don’t　you？　What　will　
happen　if　they　break　the　treaty？”　
“We’ll　leave　first；”　I　said　in　a　small　voice。　
His　eyes　flashed　open；　their　black　depths　full　of　anger　and　pain。　“There　wasn’t　a　geographic　limit　to　the　
treaty；　Bella。　Our　greatgrandfathers　only　agreed　to　keep　the　peace　because　the　Cullens　swore　that　they　were　
different；　that　humans　weren’t　in　danger　from　them。　They　promised　they　would　never　kill　or　change　anyone　
ever　again。　If　they　go　back　on　their　word；　the　treaty　is　meaningless；　and　they　are　no　different　than　any　other　
vampires。　Once　that’s　established；　when　we　find　them　again　—”　
“But；　Jake；　didn’t　you　break　the　treaty　already？”　I　asked；　grasping　at　straws。　“Wasn’t　part　of　it　that　you　
not　tell　people　about　the　vampires？　And　you　told　me。　So　isn’t　the　treaty　sort　of　moot；　anyhow？”　
Jacob　didn’t　like　the　reminder；　the　pain　in　his　eyes　hardened　into　animosity。　“Yeah；　I　broke　the　treaty　—　
back　before　I　believed　any　of　it。　And　I’m　sure　they　were　informed　of　that。”　He　glared　sourly　at　my　forehead；　
not　meeting　my　shamed　gaze。　“But　it’s　not　like　that　gives　them　a　freebie　or　anything。　There’s　no　fault　for　a　
fault。　They　have　only　one　option　if　they　object　to　what　I　did。　The　same　option　we’ll　have　when　they　break　the　
treaty：　to　attack。　To　start　the　war。”　
He　made　it　sound　so　inevitable。　I　shuddered。　
“Jake；　it　doesn’t　have　to　be　that　way。”　
His　teeth　ground　together。　“It　is　that　way。”　
The　silence　after　his　declaration　felt　very　loud。　
“Will　you　never　forgive　me；　Jacob？”　I　whispered。　As　soon　as　I　said　the　words；　I　wished　I　hadn’t。　I　didn’t　
want　to　hear　his　answer。　
“You　won’t　be　Bella　anymore；”　he　told　me。　“My　friend　won’t　exist。　There’ll　be　no　one　to　forgive。”　
“That　sounds　like　a　no；”　I　whispered。　
We　faced　each　other　for　an　endless　moment。　
“Is　this　goodbye　then；　Jake？”　
He　blinked　rapidly；　his　fierce　expression　melting　in　surprise。　“Why？　We　still　have　a　few　years。　Can’t　we　be　
friends　until　we’re　out　of　time？”　
“Years？　No；　Jake；　not　years。”　I　shook　my　head；　and　laughed　once　without　humor。　“Weeks　is　more　
accurate。”　
I　was　not　expecting　his　reaction。　
He　was　suddenly　on　his　feet；　and　there　was　a　loud　pop　as　the　soda　can　exploded　in　his　hand。　Soda　flew　

everywhere；　soaking　me；　like　it　was　spraying　from　a　hose。　
“Jake！”　I　started　to　plain；　but　I　fell　silent　when　I　realized　that　his　whole　body　was　quivering　with　anger。　
He　glared　at　me　wildly；　a　growling　sound　building　in　his　chest。　
I　froze　in　place；　too　shocked　to　remember　how　to　move。　
The　shaking　rolled　through　him；　getting　faster；　until　it　looked　like　he　was　vibrating。　His　shape　blurred。　。　。　。　
And　then　Jacob　gritted　his　teeth　together；　and　the　growling　stopped。　He　squeezed　his　eyes　tight　in　
concentration；　the　quivering　slowed　until　only　his　hands　were　shaking。　
“Weeks；”　Jacob　said　in　a　flat　monotone。　
I　couldn’t　respond；　I　was　still　frozen。　
He　opened　his　eyes。　They　were　beyond　fury　now。　
“He’s　going　to　change　you　into　a　filthy　bloodsucker　in　just　a　few　weeks！”　Jacob　hissed　through　his　teeth。　
Too　stunned　to　take　offense　at　his　words；　I　just　nodded　mutely。　
His　face　turned　green　under　the　russet　skin。　
“Of　course；　Jake；”　I　whispered　after　a　long　minute　of　silence。　“He’s　seventeen；　Jacob。　And　I　get　closer　to　
nieen　every　day。　Besides；　what’s　the　point　in　waiting？　He’s　all　I　want。　What　else　can　I　do？”　
I’d　meant　that　as　a　rhetorical　question。　
His　words　cracked　like　snaps　of　a　whip。　“Anything。　Anything　else。　You’d　be　better　off　dead。　I’d　rather　
you　were。”　
I　recoiled　like　he’d　slapped　me。　It　hurt　worse　than　if　he　had。　
And　then；　as　the　pain　shot　through　me；　my　own　temper　burst　into　flame。　
“Maybe　you’ll　get　lucky；”　I　said　bleakly；　lurching　to　my　feet。　“Maybe　I’ll　get　hit　by　a　truck　on　my　way　
back。”　
I　grabbed　my　motorcycle　and　pushed　it　out　into　the　rain。　He　didn’t　move　as　I　passed　him。　As　soon　as　I　
was　on　the　small；　muddy　path；　I　climbed　on　and　kicked　the　bike　to　life。　The　rear　tire　spit　a　fountain　of　mud　
toward　the　garage；　and　I　hoped　that　it　hit　him。　
I　got　absolutely　soaked　as　I　sped　across　the　slick　highway　toward　the　Cullens’　house。　The　wind　felt　like　it　
was　freezing　the　rain　against　my　skin；　and　my　teeth　were　chattering　before　I　was　halfway　there。　
Motorcycles　were　too　impractical　for　Washington。　I　would　sell　the　stupid　thing　first　chance　I　got。　
I　walked　the　bike　into　the　Cullens’　cavernous　garage　and　was　unsurprised　to　find　Alice　waiting　for　me；　
perched　lightly　on　the　hood　of　her　Porsche。　Alice　stroked　the　glossy　yellow　paint。　
“I　haven’t　even　had　a　chance　to　drive　it。”　She　sighed。　
“Sorry；”　I　spit　through　my　rattling　teeth。　
“You　look　like　you　could　use　a　hot　shower；”　she　said；　offhand；　as　she　sprang　lightly　to　her　feet。　
“Yep。”　
She　pursed　her　lips；　taking　in　my　expression　carefully。　“Do　you　want　to　talk　about　it？”　
“Nope。”　
She　nodded　in　assent；　but　her　eyes　were　raging　with　curiosity。　
“Do　you　want　to　go　to　Olympia　tonight？”　
“Not　really。　Can’t　I　go　home？”　
She　grimaced。　
“Never　mind；　Alice；”　I　said。　“I’ll　stay　if　it　makes　things　easier　for　you。”　
“Thanks；”　she　sighed　in　relief。　
I　went　to　bed　early　that　night；　curling　up　on　his　sofa　again。　
It　was　still　dark　when　I　woke。　I　was　groggy；　but　I　knew　it　wasn’t　near　morning　yet。　My　eyes　closed；　and　I　
stretched；　rolling　over。　It　took　me　a　second　before　I　realized　that　the　movement　should　have　dumped　me　onto　
the　floor。　And　that　I　was　much　too　fortable。　
I　rolled　back　over；　trying　to　see。　It　was　darker　than　last　night　—　the　clouds　were　too　thick　for　the　moon　to　
shine　through。　
“Sorry；”　he　murmured　so　softly　that　his　voice　was　part　of　the　darkness。　“I　didn’t　mean　to　wake　you。”　
I　tensed；　waiting　for　the　fury　—　both　his　and　mine　—　but　it　was　only　quiet　and　calm　in　the　darkness　of　his　
room。　I　could　almost　taste　the　sweetness　of　reunion　in　the　air；　a　separate　fragrance　from　the　perfume　of　his　
breath；　the　emptiness　when　we　were　apart　left　its　own　bitter　aftertaste；　something　I　didn’t　consciously　notice　

until　it　was　removed。　
There　was　no　friction　in　the　space　between　us。　The　stillness　was　peaceful　—　not　like　the　calm　before　the　
tempest；　but　like　a　clear　night　untouched　by　even　the　dream　of　a　storm。　
And　I　didn’t　care　that　I　was　supposed　to　be　angry　with　him。　I　didn’t　care　that　I　was　supposed　to　be　angry　
with　everyone。　I　reached　out　for　him；　found　his　hands　in　the　darkness；　and　pulled　myself　closer　to　him。　His　
arms　encircled　me；　cradling　me　to　his　chest。　My　lips　searched；　hunting　along　his　throat；　to　his　chin；　till　I　finally　
found　his　lips。　
Edward　kissed　me　softly　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　chuckled。　
“I　was　all　braced　for　the　wrath　that　was　going　to　put　grizzlies　to　shame；　and　this　is　what　I　get？　I　should　
infuriate　you　more　often。”　
“Give　me　a　minute　to　work　up　to　it；”　I　teased；　kissing　him　again。　
“I’ll　wait　as　long　as　you　want；”　he　whispered　against　my　lips。　His　fingers　knotted　in　my　hair。　
My　breath　was　being　uneven。　“Maybe　in　the　morning。”　
“Whatever　you　prefer。”　
“Wele　home；”　I　said　while　his　cold　lips　pressed　under　my　jaw。　“I’m　glad　you　came　back。”　
“That’s　a　very　good　thing。”　
“Mmm；”　I　agreed；　tightening　my　arms　around　his　neck。　
His　hand　curved　around　my　elbow；　moving　slowly　down　my　arm；　across　my　ribs　and　over　my　waist；　
tracing　along　my　hip　and　down　my　leg；　around　my　knee。　He　paused　there；　his　hand　curling　around　my　calf。　He　
pulled　my　leg　up　suddenly；　hitching　it　around　his　hip。　
I　stopped　breathing。　This　wasn’t　the　kind　of　thing　he　usually　allowed。　Despite　his　cold　hands；　I　felt　
suddenly　warm。　His　lips　moved　in　the　hollow　at　the　base　of　my　throat。　
“Not　to　bring　on　the　ire　prematurely；”　he　whispered；　“but　do　you　mind　telling　me　what　it　is　about　this　b