第9部分(第1/7 頁)

the　illicit　cruise　he　was　about　to　undertake；　but　whatever　the　reason；　Nate　actually　started　to　run；

dodging　pedestrians　and　leaping　over　a　low　gate　that　separated　the　docks　from　the　street。　The

rubber　soles　of　his　flip…flops　thwacked　noisily　against　the　ashy　wood　slats　of　the　dock。　His　heart

was　pounding　in　his　ears：　it　was　really；　finally　happening？the　summer　was　beginning　at　last。　Once

he　and　Blair　stepped　on　board　that　boat；　every…thing　would　change。

？Sir？　Sir？？　A　uniformed　dockhand　was　running　down　the　pier　toward　Nate；　waving　his　hands　in

the　air　above　his　head　like　bees　were　attacking　him。　？This　is　private　property；　sir；　you？re　going　to

have　to　leave。？

？I？m　looking　for　my　boat；？　Nate　explained；　scanning　the　forest　of　masts　for　its　familiar　profile。

He？d　helped　his　dad　build　the　thing？he？d　have　known　the　boat　anywhere。　？TheCharlotte。　It？s

around　here　somewhere。　I　want　to　take　her　out。？

？TheCharlotte？　？　The　dockhand？a　college…age　kid　who　seemed　cool　enough？stared　at　Nate；

clearly　confused。　？The　Archibald　boat？？

？Yeah。？　Nate　nodded；　glancing　behind　him：　Blair　and　Serena　were　perched　on　the　security　gate；

swinging　their　legs　in　the　air　and　laughing　at　something。　？It？s　my　family？s　boat。　Can　you　give　me

the　slip　number？？

？Sorry；　man。？　The　dockhand　shook　his　head；　slowly。　？She？s　not　here。　Captain　Archibald　sailed

up　to　Newport　at　the　beginning　of　June？he　told　me　he　was　planning　on　keeping　her　there　for　the

season。？

Shit。Nate　frowned　at　the　dockhand；　then　looked　back　at　Blair　once　more。　She　was　kicking　her

little　tan　legs　up　and　down　when　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　off　the　water　caused　her　gauzy　dress　to

flutter　up　around　her　w