第23部分(第3/7 頁)

pies；　my　brothers　vanished　down　the　hall　with　Lyta；　and

my　father　followed　Chet　into　the　living　room。

And　wasn't　that　just　dandy？　That　left　me　alone　in　the　foyer　with　Bryce。

He　said　hi　to　me　and　I　lost　it。　I　spun　on　him；　snapping；　“Don't　you　speak　to　me！　I　overheard

you　and　Garrett　in　the　library；　and　I　don't　want　to　talk　to

you　now　or　ever！”

I　started　to　walk　into　the　living　room；　but　he　stopped　me。　“Juli！　Juli；　wait！”　he　whispered。　“I'm

not　the　bad　guy　here！　That　was　Garrett。　That　was　all

Garrett！”

I　glared　at　him。　“I　know　what　I　heard。”

“No！　No　you　don't！　I　…I　was　feeling　bad　about；　you　know；　the　eggs　and　what　I'd　said　about

your　yard。　I　didn't　know　anything　about　your　uncle　or

what　kind　of　situation　your　family　was　in；　okay？　I　just　wanted　to　talk　to　someone　about　it。”

Our　eyes　locked　for　a　minute；　and　for　the　first　time　the　blueness　of　his　didn't　freeze　up　my

brain。　“I　heard　you　laugh。　He　made　a　joke　about　me

being　a　retard；　and　you　laughed。”

“Juli；　you　don't　understand。　I　wanted　to　punch　him！　Really；　I　did！　But　we　were　in　the　library…。”

“So　instead　you　laughed。”

He　shrugged　and　looked　miserable　and　sheepish。　“Yeah。”

I　left　him。　Just　walked　into　the　living　room　and　left　him。　If　he　was　making　it　up；　he　was　quite

an　actor。　If　he　was　telling　the　truth；　then　Chet　was　right

—he　was　a　coward。　Either　way；　I　didn't　want　to　be　anywhere　near　him。

I　stood　beside　my　father　and　tried　to　follow　his　discussion　with　Chet　about　something　they'd

both　read　in　the　paper。　My　father　was　saying；　“But

what　he's　proposing　otion　machine；　so　it's　not　possible。”

Chet　replied；　“Maybe　in　the　context　of　what　scientists　know