第16部分(第4/7 頁)

ully。　And　then　his　voice　dropped　into　a　lower

key。　〃My　dad　made　good

on　his　promise　last　spring。〃

〃Ah；〃　I　said。

He　seemed　to　understand　my　reluctance　to　open　the　subject。　I　tried　not　to

remember　last　May　at　the

prom。　Jacob　had　been　bribed　by　his　father　with　money　and　car　parts　to　deliver

a　message　there。　Billy

wanted　me　to　stay　a　safe　distance　from　the　most　important　person　in　my　life。

It　turned　out　that　his

concern　was；　in　the　end；　unnecessary。　I　was　all　too　safe　now。

But　I　was　going　to　see　what　I　could　do　to　change　that。

〃Jacob；　what　do　you　know　about　motorcycles？〃　I　asked。

He　shrugged。　〃Some。　My　friend　Embry　has　a　dirt　bike。　We　work　on　it　together

sometimes。　Why？〃

〃Well〃　I　pursed　my　lips　as　I　considered。　I　wasn't　sure　if　he　could　keep　his

mouth　shut；　but　I　didn't　have

many　other　options。　〃I　recently　acquired　a　couple　of　bikes；　and　they're　not　in

the　greatest　condition。　I

wonder　if　you　could　get　them　running？〃

〃Cool。〃　He　seemed　truly　pleased　by　the　challenge。　His　face　glowed。　〃I'll　give

it　a　try。〃

I　held　up　one　finger　in　warning。　〃The　thing　is；〃　I　explained；　〃Charlie　doesn't

approve　of　motorcycles。

Honestly；　he'd　probably　bust　a　vein　in　his　forehead　if　he　knew　about　this。　So

you　can't　tell　Billy。〃

〃Sure；　sure。〃　Jacob　smiled。　〃I　understand。〃

〃I'll　pay　you；〃　I　continued。

This　offended　him。　〃No。　I　want　to　help。　You　can't　pay　me。〃

〃Well　how　about　a　trade；　then？〃　I　was　making　this　up　as　I　went；　but　it

seemed　reasonable　enough。　〃I

only　need　one　bike—and　I'll　need　lessons；　too。　So　how　about　this？　I'll　give

you　the　other　bike；　and　then

you　can　teach