第51部分(第2/7 頁)

　a　sob　broke　out　from　my　chest。　I

threw　my　arms　around　his

waist　and　hugged　for　one　too…short　moment；　burying　my　tear…wet　face　against

his　chest。　He　put　his　big

hand　on　the　back　of　my　hair；　as　if　to　hold　me　there。

〃Bye；　Jake。〃　I　pulled　his　hand　from　my　hair；　and　kissed　his　palm。　I　couldn't

bear　to　look　at　his　face。

〃Sorry；〃　I　whispered。

Then　I　spun　and　raced　for　the　car。　The　door　on　the　passenger　side　was　open　and

waiting。　I　threw　my

backpack　over　the　headrest　and　slid　in；　slamming　the　door　behind　me。

〃Take　care　of　Charlie！〃　I　turned　to　shout　out　the　window；　but　Jacob　was

nowhere　in　sight。　As　Alice

stomped　on　the　gas　and—with　the　tires　screeching　like　human　screams—spun　us

around　to　face　the

road；　I　caught　sight　of　a　shred　of　white　near　the　edge　of　the　trees。　A　piece

of　a　shoe。

19。　HATE

WE　MADE　OUR　FLIGHT　WITH　SECONDS　TO　SPARE；　AND　THEN　the　true　torture　began。　The

plane　sat　idle　on　the　tarmac　while　the　flight　attendants　strolled—so　casually

—up　and　down　the　aisle；

patting　the　bags　in　the　overhead　partments　to　make　sure　everything　fit。　The

pilots　leaned　out　of　the

cockpit；　chatting　with　them　as　they　passed。　Alice's　hand　was　hard　on　my

shoulder；　holding　me　in　my　seat

while　I　bounced　anxiously　up　and　down。

〃It's　faster　than　running；〃　she　reminded　me　in　a　low　voice。

I　just　nodded　in　time　with　my　bouncing。

At　last　the　plane　rolled　lazily　from　the　gate；　building　speed　with　a　gradual

steadiness　that　tortured　me

further。　I　expected　some　kind　of　relief　when　we　achieved　liftoff；　but　my

frenzied　impatience　didn't　lessen。

Alice　lifted　the　phone　on　the　back　of　th