第16部分(第6/7 頁)

some　cash；　though；〃　he　said；　frowning　down　at　the

blackened　metal。　〃We'll　have

to　save　up　for　parts　first。〃

〃We　nothing；〃　I　disagreed。　〃If　you're　doing　this　for　free；　I'll　pay　for　the

parts。〃

〃I　don't　know〃　he　muttered。

〃I've　got　some　money　saved。　College　fund；　you　know。〃　College；　schmollege；　I

thought　to　myself。　It

wasn't　like　I'd　saved　up　enough　to　go　anywhere　special—and　besides；　I　had　no

desire　to　leave　Forks

anyway。　What　difference　would　it　make　if　I　skimmed　a　little　bit　off　the　top？

Jacob　just　nodded。　This　all　made　perfect　sense　to　him。

As　we　skulked　back　to　the　makeshift　garage；　I　contemplated　my　luck。　Only　a

teenage　boy　would　agree

to　this：　deceiving　both　our　parents　while　repairing　dangerous　vehicles　using

money　meant　for　my　college

education。　He　didn't　see　anything　wrong　with　that　picture。　Jacob　was　a　gift

from　the　gods。

6。　FRIENDS

THE　MOTORCYCLES　DIDN'T　NEED　TO　BE　HIDDEN　ANY　further　than　simply　placing　them

in

Jacob's　shed。　Billy's　wheelchair　couldn't　maneuver　the　uneven　ground

separating　it　from　the　house。

Jacob　started　pulling　the　first　bike—the　red　one；　which　was　destined　for　me—

to　pieces　immediately。　He

opened　up　the　passenger　door　of　the　Rabbit　so　I　could　sit　on　the　seat　instead

of　the　ground。　While　he

worked；　Jacob　chattered　happily；　needing　only　the　lightest　of　nudges　from　me

to　keep　the　conversation

rolling。　He　updated　me　on　the　progress　of　his　sophomore　year　of　school；

running　on　about　his　classes　and

his　two　best　friends。

〃Quil　and　Embry？〃　I　interrupted。　〃Those　are　unusual　names。〃

Jacob　chuckled。　〃Quil's　is　a　hand…me…down