第37部分(第4/7 頁)

We're　trying　to　protect　them；

but　we're　always　just　a　little　too　late。〃

〃Protect　them　from　what？　Is　there　really　a　bear　out　there；　too？〃

〃Bella；　honey；　we　only　protect　people　from　one　thing—our　one　enemy。　It's　the

reason　we　exist—because

they　do。〃

I　stared　at　him　blankly　for　one　second　before　I　understood。　Then　the　blood

drained　from　my　face　and　a

thin；　wordless　cry　of　horror　broke　through　my　lips。

He　nodded。　〃I　thought　you；　of　all　people；　would　reali2e　what　was　really　going

on。〃

〃Laurent；〃　I　whispered。　〃He's　still　here。〃

Jacob　blinked　twice；　and　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　〃Who's　Laurent？〃

I　tried　to　sort　out　the　chaos　in　my　head　so　that　I　could　answer。　〃You　know—

you　saw　him　in　the

meadow。　You　were　there〃　The　words　came　out　in　a　wondering　tone　as　it　all

sunk　in。　〃You　were　there；

and　you　kept　him　from　killing　me〃

〃Oh；　the　black…haired　leech？〃　He　grinned；　a　tight；　fierce　grin。　〃Was　that　his

name？〃

I　shuddered。　〃What　were　you　thinking？〃　I　whispered。　〃He　could　have　killed　you！

Jake；　you　don't　realize

how　dangerous—〃

Another　laugh　interrupted　me　〃Bella；　one　lone　vampire　isn't　much　of　a　problem

for　a　pack　as　big　as　ours。

It　was　so　easy；　it　was　hardly　even　fun！〃

〃What　was　so　easy？〃

〃Killing　the　bloodsucker　who　was　going　to　kill　you。　Now；　I　don't　count　that

towards　the　whole　murder

thing；〃　he　added　quickly。　〃Vampires　don't　count　as　people。〃

I　could　only　mouth　the　words。　〃You　killed　Laurent？〃

He　nodded。　〃Well；　it　was　a　group　effort；〃　he　qualified。

〃Laurent　is　dead？〃　I　whispered。

His　expression　changed。　〃You're　not　upset　about　that；　are　you？　H