第28部分(第3/7 頁)

y；　and　I　was　glad　I　hadn't　quit。　I　was　getting　better　at　this

bushwhacking　thing；　I　could　tell　I

was　faster。

I　didn't　realize　quite　how　much　more　efficiently　I　was　moving。　I　thought　I'd

covered　maybe　four　miles；

and　I　wasn't　even　starting　to　look　around　for　it　yet。　And　then；　with　an

abruptness　that　disoriented　me；　I

stepped　through　a　low　arch　made　by　two　vine　maples—pushing　past　the　chest…

high　ferns—into　the

meadow。

It　was　the　same　place；　of　that　I　was　instantly　sure。　I'd　never　seen　another

clearing　so　symmetrical。　It　was

as　perfectly　round　as　if　someone　had　intentionally　created　the　flawless

circle；　tearing　out　the　trees　but

leaving　no　evidence　of　that　violence　in　the　waving　grass。　To　the　east；　I　could

hear　the　stream　bubbling

quietly。

The　place　wasn't　nearly　so　stunning　without　the　sunlight；　but　it　was　still

very　beautiful　and　serene。　It　was

the　wrong　season　for　wildflowers；　the　ground　was　thick　with　tall　grass　that

swayed　in　the　light　breeze　like

ripples　across　a　lake。

It　was　the　same　place　but　it　didn't　hold　what　I　had　been　searching　for。

The　disappointment　was　nearly　as　instantaneous　as　the　recognition。　I　sank　down

right　where　I　was；

kneeling　there　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　beginning　to　gasp。

What　was　the　point　of　going　any　farther？　Nothing　lingered　here。　Nothing　more

than　the　memories　that　I

could　have　called　back　whenever　I　wanted　to；　if　I　was　ever　willing　to　endure

the　corresponding

pain—the　pain　that　had　me　now；　had　me　cold。　There　was　nothing　special　about

this　place　without　him。　I

wasn't　exactly　sure　what　I'd　hoped　to　feel　here；　but　the