第55部分(第5/7 頁)

d　stumbled

my　way　across　the

uneven　stone　surface。　The　sound　of　the　heavy　grate　sliding　over　the　drain　hole

behind　us　rang　with

metallicfinality。

The　dim　light　from　the　street　was　quickly　lost　in　the　gloom。　The　sound　of　my

staggering　footsteps　echoed

through　the　black　space；　it　sounded　very　wide；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure。　There

were　no　sounds　other　than

my　frantic　heartbeat　and　my　feet　on　the　wet　stones—except　for　once；　when　an

impatient　sigh　whispered

from　behind　me。

Edward　held　me　tightly。　He　reached　his　free　hand　across　his　body　to　hold　my

face；　too；　his　smooth

thumb　tracing　across　my　lips。　Now　and　then；　I　felt　his　face　press　into　my

hair。　I　realized　that　this　was　the

only　reunion　we　would　get；　and　I　clutched　myself　closer　to　him。

For　now；　it　felt　like　he　wanted　me；　and　that　was　enough　to　offset　the　horror

of　the　subterranean　tunnel

and　the　prowling　vampires　behind　us。　It　was　probably　no　more　than　guilt—the

same　guilt　that　pelled

him　to　e　here　to　die　when　he'd　believed　that　it　was　his　fault　that　I'd

killed　myself。　But　I　felt　his　lips

press　silently　against　my　forehead；　and　I　didn't　care　what　the　motivation　was。

At　least　I　could　be　with　him

again　before　I　died。　That　was　better　than　a　long　life。

I　wished　I　could　ask　him　exactly　what　was　going　to　happen　now。　I　wanted

desperately　to　know　how　we

were　going　to　die—as　if　that　would　somehow　make　it　better；　knowing　in

advance。　But　I　couldn't　speak；

even　in　a　whisper；　surrounded　as　we　were。　The　others　could　hear　everything—my

every　breath；　my

every　heartbeat。

The　path　beneath　our　feet　continued　to　slan