第28部分(第1/7 頁)

could　have　e　later；

smelling　the　food　Anyway；　they're　setting　traps　for　it　now。〃

〃Oh；〃　I　said　vaguely。　I　wasn't　really　listening　to　his　warnings；　I　was　much

more　upset　by　the　situation　with

Jacob　than　by　the　possibility　of　being　eaten　by　a　bear。

I　was　glad　that　Charlie　was　in　a　hurry。　He　didn't　wait　for　me　to　call　Jessica；

so　I　didn't　have　to　put　on　that

charade。　I　went　through　the　motions　of　gathering　my　school…books　on　the

kitchen　table　to　pack　them　in

my　bag；　that　was　probably　too　much；　and　if　he　hadn't　been　eager　to　hit　the

holes；　it　might　have　made　him

suspicious。

I　was　so　busy　looking　busy　that　the　ferociously　empty　day　ahead　didn't　really

crash　down　on　me　until

after　I'd　watched　him　drive　away。　It　only　took　about　two　minutes　of　staring　at

the　silent　kitchen　phone　to

decide　that　I　wasn't　staying　home　today。　I　considered　my　options。

I　wasn't　going　to　call　Jessica。　As　far　as　I　could　tell；　Jessica　had　crossed

over　to　the　dark　side。

I　could　drive　to　La　Push　and　get　my　motorcycle—an　appealing　thought　but　for

one　minor　problem：　who

was　going　to　drive　me　to　the　emergency　room　if　I　needed　it　afterward？

Or　I　already　had　our　map　and　pass　in　the　truck。　I　was　pretty　sure　I

understood　the　process　well

enough　by　now　that　I　wouldn't　get　lost。　Maybe　I　could　eliminate　two　lines

today；　putting　us　ahead　of

schedule　for　whenever　Jacob　decided　to　honor　me　with　his　presence　again。　I

refused　to　think　about　how

long　that　might　be。　Or　if　it　was　going　to　be　never。

I　felt　a　brief　twinge　of　guilt　as　I　realized　how　Charlie　would　feel　about

this；　but　I　ignored　it。　I　just　couldn't