第5部分(第2/7 頁)

　could　bear　the　smell　of　my　blood　without　suffering　from

the　intense　temptation。

Clearly；　this　was　much　more　difficult　than　he　made　it　seem。

〃Years　and　years　of　practice；〃　he　told　me。　〃I　barely　notice　the　scent

anymore。〃

〃Do　you　think　it　would　be　harder　if　you　took　a　vacation　from　the　hospital　for

a　long　time。　And　weren't

around　any　blood？〃

〃Maybe。〃　He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　but　his　hands　remained　steady。　〃I've　never

felt　the　need　for　an

extended　holiday。〃　He　flashed　a　brilliant　smile　in　my　direction。　〃I　enjoy　my

work　too　much。〃

Plink；　plink；　plink。　I　was　surprised　at　how　much　glass　there　seemed　to　be　in

my　arm。　I　was　tempted　to

glance　at　the　growing　pile；　just　to　check　the　size；　but　I　knew　that　idea　would

not　be　helpful　to　my

no…vomiting　strategy。

〃What　is　it　that　you　enjoy？〃　I　wondered。　It　didn't　make　sense　to　me—the　years

of　struggle　and　self…denial

he　must　have　spent　to　get　to　the　point　where　he　could　endure　this　so　easily。

Besides；　I　wanted　to　keep

him　talking；　the　conversation　kept　my　mind　off　the　queasy　feeling　in　my

stomach。

His　dark　eyes　were　calm　and　thoughtful　as　he　answered。　〃Hmm。　What　I　enjoy　the

very　most　is　when

my　enhanced　abilities　let　me　save　someone　who　would　otherwise　have　been

lost。　It's　pleasant　knowing

that；　thanks　to　what　I　can　do；　some　people's　lives　are　better　because　I　exist。

Even　the　sense　of　smell　is　a

useful　diagnostic　tool　at　times。〃　One　side　of　his　mouth　pulled　up　in　half　a

smile。

I　mulled　that　over　while　he　poked　around；　making　sure　all　the　glass　splinters

were　gone。　Then　he

rummaged　in　his　bag　for　new　tools；