3 eclipse月食-第35章

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like　the　goddess　of　the　dawn　when　she　entered　the　village　that　morning；　the　sun　was　shining　for　once；　and　it　
glittered　off　her　white　skin　and　lit　the　golden　hair　that　flowed　down　to　her　knees。　Her　face　was　magical　in　its　
beauty；　her　eyes　black　in　her　white　face。　Some　fell　to　their　knees　to　worship　her。　
　“She　asked　something　in　a　high；　piercing　voice；　in　a　language　no　one　had　ever　heard。　The　people　were　
dumbfounded；　not　knowing　how　to　answer　her。　There　was　none　of　Taha　Aki’s　blood　among　the　witnesses　but　
one　small　boy。　He　clung　to　his　mother　and　screamed　that　the　smell　was　hurting　his　nose。　One　of　the　elders；　on　
his　way　to　council；　heard　the　boy　and　realized　what　had　e　among　them。　He　yelled　for　the　people　to　run。　
She　killed　him　first。　
　“There　were　twenty　witnesses　to　the　Cold　Woman’s　approach。　Two　survived；　only　because　she　grew　
distracted　by　the　blood；　and　paused　to　sate　her　thirst。　They　ran　to　Taha　Aki；　who　sat　in　counsel　with　the　other　
elders；　his　sons；　and　his　third　wife。　
　“Yaha　Uta　transformed　into　his　spirit　wolf　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　news。　He　went　to　destroy　the　blood　
drinker　alone。　Taha　Aki；　his　third　wife；　his　sons；　and　his　elders　followed　behind　him。　
　“At　first　they　could　not　find　the　creature；　only　the　evidence　of　her　attack。　Bodies　lay　broken；　a　few　drained　
of　blood；　strewn　across　the　road　where　she’d　appeared。　Then　they　heard　the　screams　and　hurried　to　the　
harbor。　
　“A　handful　of　the　Quileutes　had　run　to　the　ships　for　refuge。　She　swam　after　them　like　a　shark；　and　broke　
the　bow　of　their　boat　with　her　incredible　strength。　When　the　ship　sank；　she　caught　those　trying　to　swim　away　
and　broke　them；　too。　
　“She　saw　the　great　wolf　on　the　shore；　and　she　forgot　the　fleeing　swimmers。　She　swam　so　fast　she　was　a　
blur　and　came；　dripping　and　glorious；　to　stand　before　Yaha　Uta。　She　pointed　at　him　with　one　white　finger　and　

asked　another　inprehensible　question。　Yaha　Uta　waited。　
“It　was　a　close　fight。　She　was　not　the　warrior　her　mate　had　been。　But　Yaha　Uta　was　alone　—　there　was　
no　one　to　distract　her　fury　from　him。　
“When　Yaha　Uta　lost；　Taha　Aki　screamed　in　defiance。　He　limped　forward　and　shifted　into　an　ancient；　
whitemuzzled　wolf。　The　wolf　was　old；　but　this　was　Taha　Aki　the　Spirit　Man；　and　his　rage　made　him　strong。　
The　fight　began　again。　
“Taha　Aki’s　third　wife　had　just　seen　her　son　die　before　her。　Now　her　husband　fought；　and　she　had　no　
hope　that　he　could　win。　She’d　heard　every　word　the　witnesses　to　the　slaughter　had　told　the　council。　She’d　
heard　the　story　of　Yaha　Uta’s　first　victory；　and　knew　that　his　brother’s　diversion　had　saved　him。　
“The　third　wife　grabbed　a　knife　from　the　belt　of　one　of　the　sons　who　stood　beside　her。　They　were　all　
young　sons；　not　yet　men；　and　she　knew　they　would　die　when　their　father　failed。　
“The　third　wife　ran　toward　the　Cold　Woman　with　the　dagger　raised　high。　The　Cold　Woman　smiled；　barely　
distracted　from　her　fight　with　the　old　wolf。　She　had　no　fear　of　the　weak　human　woman　or　the　knife　that　would　
not　even　scratch　her　skin；　and　she　was　about　to　deliver　the　death　blow　to　Taha　Aki。　
“And　then　the　third　wife　did　something　the　Cold　Woman　did　not　expect。　She　fell　to　her　knees　at　the　blood　
drinker’s　feet　and　plunged　the　knife　into　her　own　heart。　
“Blood　spurted　through　the　third　wife’s　fingers　and　splashed　against　the　Cold　Woman。　The　blood　drinker　
could　not　resist　the　lure　of　the　fresh　blood　leaving　the　third　wife’s　body。　Instinctively；　she　turned　to　the　dying　
woman；　for　one　second　entirely　consumed　by　thirst。　
“Taha　Aki’s　teeth　closed　around　her　neck。　
“That　was　not　the　end　of　the　fight；　but　Taha　Aki　was　not　alone　now。　Watching　their　mother　die；　two　young　
sons　felt　such　rage　that　they　sprang　forth　as　their　spirit　wolves；　though　they　were　not　yet　men。　With　their　father；　
they　finished　the　creature。　
“Taha　Aki　never　rejoined　the　tribe。　He　never　changed　back　to　a　man　again。　He　lay　for　one　day　beside　the　
body　of　the　third　wife；　growling　whenever　anyone　tried　to　touch　her；　and　then　he　went　into　the　forest　and　
never　returned。　
“Trouble　with　the　cold　ones　was　rare　from　that　time　on。　Taha　Aki’s　sons　guarded　the　tribe　until　their　sons　
were　old　enough　to　take　their　places。　There　were　never　more　than　three　wolves　at　a　time。　It　was　enough。　
Occasionally　a　blood　drinker　would　e　through　these　lands；　but　they　were　taken　by　surprise；　not　expecting　
the　wolves。　Sometimes　a　wolf　would　die；　but　never　were　they　decimated　again　like　that　first　time。　They’d　
learned　how　to　fight　the　cold　ones；　and　they　passed　the　knowledge　on；　wolf　mind　to　wolf　mind；　spirit　to　spirit；　
father　to　son。　
“Time　passed；　and　the　descendants　of　Taha　Aki　no　longer　became　wolves　when　they　reached　manhood。　
Only　in　a　great　while；　if　a　cold　one　was　near；　would　the　wolves　return。　The　cold　ones　always　came　in　ones　and　
twos；　and　the　pack　stayed　small。　
“A　bigger　coven　came；　and　your　own　greatgrandfathers　prepared　to　fight　them　off。　But　the　leader　spoke　
to　Ephraim　Black　as　if　he　were　a　man；　and　promised　not　to　harm　the　Quileutes。　His　strange　yellow　eyes　gave　
some　proof　to　his　claim　that　they　were　not　the　same　as　other　blood　drinkers。　The　wolves　were　outnumbered；　
there　was　no　need　for　the　cold　ones　to　offer　a　treaty　when　they　could　have　won　the　fight。　Ephraim　accepted。　
They’ve　stayed　true　to　their　side；　though　their　presence　does　tend　to　draw　in　others。　
“And　their　numbers　have　forced　a　larger　pack　than　the　tribe　has　ever　seen；”　Old　Quil　said；　and　for　one　
moment　his　black　eyes；　all　but　buried　in　the　wrinkles　of　skin　folded　around　them；　seemed　to　rest　on　me。　
“Except；　of　course；　in　Taha　Aki’s　time；”　he　said；　and　then　he　sighed。　“And　so　the　sons　of　our　tribe　again　carry　
the　burden　and　share　the　sacrifice　their　fathers　endured　before　them。”　
All　was　silent　for　a　long　moment。　The　living　descendants　of　magic　and　legend　stared　at　one　another　across　
the　fire　with　sadness　in　their　eyes。　All　but　one。　
“Burden；”　he　scoffed　in　a　low　voice。　“I　think　it’s　cool。”　Quil’s　full　lower　lip　pouted　out　a　little　bit。　
Across　the　dying　fire；　Seth　Clearwater　—　his　eyes　wide　with　adulation　for　the　fraternity　of　tribal　protectors　
—　nodded　his　agreement。　
Billy　chuckled；　low　and　long；　and　the　magic　seemed　to　fade　into　the　glowing　embers。　Suddenly；　it　was　just　
a　circle　of　friends　again。　Jared　flicked　a　small　stone　at　Quil；　and　everyone　laughed　when　it　made　him　jump。　
Low　conversations　murmured　around　us；　teasing　and　casual。　

　　Leah　Clearwater’s　eyes　did　not　open。　I　thought　I　saw　something　sparkling　on　her　cheek　like　a　tear；　but　
when　I　looked　back　a　moment　later　it　was　gone。　
　　Neither　Jacob　nor　I　spoke。　He　was　so　still　beside　me；　his　breath　so　deep　and　even；　that　I　thought　he　might　
be　close　to　sleep。　
　　My　mind　was　a　thousand　years　away。　I　was　not　thinking　of　Yaha　Uta　or　the　other　wolves；　or　the　beautiful　
Cold　Woman　—　I　could　picture　her　only　too　easily。　No；　I　was　thinking　of　someone　outside　the　magic　
altogether。　I　was　trying　to　imagine　the　face　of　the　unnamed　woman　who　had　saved　the　entire　tribe；　the　third　
wife。　
　　Just　a　human　woman；　with　no　special　gifts　or　powers。　Physically　weaker　and　slower　than　any　of　the　
monsters　in　the　story。　But　she　had　been　the　key；　the　solution。　She’d　saved　her　husband；　her　young　sons；　her　
tribe。　
　　I　wish　they’d　remembered　her　name。　。　。　。　
　　Something　shook　my　arm。　
　　“C’mon；　Bells；”　Jacob　said　in　my　ear。　“We’re　here。”　
　　I　blinked；　confused　because　the　fire　seemed　to　have　disappeared。　I　glared　into　the　unexpected　darkness；　
trying　to　make　sense　of　my　surroundings。　It　took　me　a　minute　to　realize　that　I　was　no　longer　on　the　cliff。　Jacob　
and　I　were　alone。　I　was　still　under　his　arm；　but　I　wasn’t　on　the　ground　anymore。　
　　How　did　I　get　in　Jacob’s　car？　
　　“Oh；　crap！”　I　gasped　as　I　realized　that　I　had　fallen　asleep。　“How　late　is　it？　Dang　it；　where’s　that　stupid　
phone？”　I　patted　my　pockets；　frantic　and　ing　up　empty。　
　　“Easy。　It’s　not　even　midnight　yet。　And　I　already　called　him　for　you。　Look　—　he’s　waiting　there。”　
　　“Midnight？”　I　repeated　stupidly；　still　disoriented。　I　stared　into　the　darkness；　and　my　heartbeat　picked　up　
when　my　eyes　made　out　the　shape　of　the　Volvo；　thirty　yards　away。　I　reached　for　the　door　handle。　
　　“Here；”　Jacob　said；　and　he　put　a　small　shape　into　my　other　hand。　The　phone。　
　　“You　called　Edward　for　me？”　
　　My　eyes　were　adjusted　enough　to　see　the　bright　gleam　of　Jacob’s　smile。　“I　figured　if　I　played　nice；　I’d　get　
more　time　with　you。”　
　　“Thanks；　Jake；”　I　said；　touched。　“Really；　thank　you。　And　thanks　forinviting　me　tonight。　That　was　。　。　。”　
Words　failed　me。　“Wow。　That　was　something　else。”　
　　“And　you　didn’t　even　stay　up　to　watch　me　swallow　a　cow。”　He　laughed。　“No；　I’m　glad　you　liked　it。　It　was　
。　。　。　nice　for　me。　Having　you　there。”　
　　There　was　a　movement　in　the　dark　distance　—　something　pale　ghosting　against　the　black　trees。　Pacing？　
　　“Yeah；　he’s　not　so　patient；　is　he？”　Jacob　said；　noticing　my　distraction。　“Go　ahead。　But　e　back　soon；　
okay？”　
　　“Sure；　Jake；”　I　promised；　cracking　the　car　door　open。　Cold　air　washed　across　my　legs　and　made　me　
shiver。　
　　“Sleep　tight；　Bells。　Don’t　worry　about　anything　—　I’ll　be　watching　out　for　you　tonight。”　
　　I　paused；　one　foot　on　the　ground。　“No；　Jake。　Get　some　rest；　I’ll　be　fine。”　
　　“Sure；　sure；”　he　said；　but　he　sounded　more　patronizing　than　agreeing。　
　　“’Night；　Jake。　Thanks。”　
　　“’Night；　Bella；”　he　whispered　as　I　hurried　into　the　darkness。　
　　Edward　caught　me　at　the　boundary　line。　
　　“Bella；”　he　said；　relief　strong　in　his　voice；　his　arms　wound　tightly　around　me。　
　　“Hi。　Sorry　I’m　so　late。　I　fell　asleep　and　—”　
　　“I　know。　Jacob　explained。”　He　started　toward　the　car；　and　I　staggered　woodenly　at　his　side。　“Are　you　
tired？　I　could　carry　you。”　
　　“I’m　fine。”　
　　“Let’s　get　you　home　and　in　bed。　Did　you　have　a　nice　time？”　
　　“Yeah　—　it　was　amazing；　Edward。　I　wish　you　could　have　e。　I　can’t　even　explain　it。　Jake’s　dad　told　us　
the　old　legends　and　it　was　like　。　。　。　like　magic。”　
　　“You’ll　have　to　tell　me　about　it。　After　you’ve　slept。”　
　　“I　won’t　get　it　right；”　I　said；　and　then　I　yawned　hugely。　

Edward　chuckled