第16部分(第1/7 頁)

tried　to　tell　me　not　to　hurry。　He　wanted　to　join　me　in　La　Push；　and　I　wasn't

having　that。

So　it　was　with　a　deadline　that　I　drove　too　quickly　through　the　storm…darkened

streets　out　of　town。　I

hoped　I　could　get　Jacob　alone。　Billy　would　probably　tell　on　me　if　he　knew　what

I　was　up　to。

While　I　drove；　I　worried　a　little　bit　about　Billy's　reaction　to　seeing　me。　He

would　be　too　pleased。　In

Billy's　mind；　no　doubt；　this　had　all　worked　out　better　than　he　had　dared　to

hope。　His　pleasure　and　relief

would　only　remind　me　of　the　one　I　couldn't　bear　to　be　reminded　of。　Not　again

today；　I　pleaded　silently。

I　was　spent。

The　Blacks'　house　was　vaguely　familiar；　a　small　wooden　place　with　narrow

windows；　the　dull　red　paint

making　it　resemble　a　tiny　barn。　Jacob's　head　peered　out　of　the　window　before　I

could　even　get　out　of　the

truck。　No　doubt　the　familiar　roar　of　the　engine　had　tipped　him　off　to　my

approach。　Jacob　had　been　very

grateful　when　Charlie　bought　Billy's　truck　for　me；　saving　Jacob　from　having　to

drive　it　when　he　came　of

age。　I　liked　my　truck　very　much；　but　Jacob　seemed　to　consider　the　speed

restrictions　a　shorting。

He　met　me　halfway　to　the　house。

〃Bella！〃　His　excited　grin　stretched　wide　across　his　face；　the　bright　teeth

standing　in　vivid　contrast　to　the

deep　russet　color　of　his　skin。　I'd　never　seen　his　hair　out　of　its　usual

ponytail　before。　It　fell　like　black　satin

curtains　on　either　side　of　his　broad　face。

Jacob　had　grown　into　some　of　his　potential　in　the　last　eight　months。　He'd

passed　that　point　where　the　soft

muscles　of　childhood　hardened　into　the　solid；　lanky　bui