第37部分(第3/7 頁)

e；　and　I　can't　just　look　the　other　way　while　you—〃

〃Is　that　all？　Really？〃　he　interrupted　me；　a　smile　breaking　across　his　face。

〃You're　just　scared　because　I'm

a　murderer？　That's　the　only　reason？〃

〃Isn't　that　reason　enough？〃

He　started　to　laugh。

〃Jacob　Black；　this　is　so　notfunny！〃

〃Sure；　sure；〃　he　agreed；　still　chortling。

He　took　one　long　stride　and　caught　me　in　another　vice…tight　bear　hug。

〃You　really；　honestly　don't　mind　that　I　morph　into　a　giant　dog？〃　he　asked；　his

voice　joyful　in　my　ear。

〃No；〃　I　gasped。　〃Can't—breathe—Jake！〃

He　let　me　go；　but　took　both　my　hands。　〃I'm　not　a　killer；　Bella。〃

I　studied　his　face；　and　it　was　clear　that　this　was　the　truth。　Relief　pulsed

through　me。

〃Really？〃　I　asked。

〃Really；〃　he　promised　solemnly。

I　threw　my　arms　around　him。　It　reminded　me　of　that　first　day　with　the

motorcycles—he　was　bigger；

though；　and　I　felt　even　more　like　a　child　now。

Like　that　other　time；　he　stroked　my　hair。

〃Sorry　I　called　you　a　hypocrite；〃　he　apologized。

〃Sorry　I　called　you　a　murderer。〃

He　laughed。

I　thought　of　something　then；　and　pulled　away　from　him　so　that　I　could　see　his

face。　My　eyebrows

furrowed　in　anxiety。　〃What　about　Sam？　And　the　others？〃

He　shook　his　head；　smiling　like　a　huge　burden　had　been　removed　from　his

shoulders。　〃Of　course　not。

Don't　you　remember　what　we　call　ourselves？〃

The　memory　was　clear—I'd　just　been　thinking　of　that　very　day。　〃Protectors？〃

〃Exactly。〃

〃But　I　don't　understand。　What's　happening　in　the　woods？　The　missing　hikers；

the　blood？〃

His　face　was　serious；　worried　at　once。　〃We're　trying　to　do　our　job；　Bella。