第28部分(第2/7 頁)

stay　in　the　house　again　today。

A　few　minutes　later　I　was　on　the　familiar　dirt　road　that　led　to　nowhere　in

particular。　I　had　the　windows

rolled　down　and　I　drove　as　fast　as　was　healthy　for　my　truck；　trying　to　enjoy

the　wind　against　my　face。　It

was　cloudy；　but　almost　dry—a　very　nice　day；　for　Forks。

Getting　started　took　me　longer　than　it　would　have　taken　Jacob。　After　I　parked

in　the　usual　spot；　I　had　to

spend　a　good　fifteen　minutes　studying　the　little　needle　on　the　pass　face

and　the　markings　on　the　now

worn　map。　When　I　was　reasonably　certain　that　I　was　following　the　right　line　of

the　web；　I　set　off　into　the

woods。

The　forest　was　full　of　life　today；　all　the　little　creatures　enjoying　the

momentary　dryness。　Somehow；

though；　even　with　the　birds　chirping　and　cawing；　the　insects　buzzing　noisily

around　my　head；　and　the

occasional　scurry　of　the　field　mice　through　the　shrubs；　the　forest　seemed

creepier　today；　it　reminded　me

of　my　most　recent　nightmare。　I　knew　it　was　just　because　I　was　alone；　missing

Jacob's　carefree　whistle

and　the　sound　of　another　pair　of　feet　squishing　across　the　damp　ground。

The　sense　of　unease　grew　stronger　the　deeper　I　got　into　the　trees。　Breathing

started　to　get　more

difficult—not　because　of　exertion；　but　because　I　was　having　trouble　with　the

stupid　hole　in　my　chest

again。　I　kept　my　arms　tight　around　my　torso　and　tried　to　banish　the　ache　from

my　thoughts。　I　almost

turned　around；　but　I　hated　to　waste　the　effort　I'd　already　expended。

The　rhythm　of　my　footsteps　started　to　numb　my　mind　and　my　pain　as　I　trudged

on。　My　breathing　evened

out　eventuall