第24部分(第2/7 頁)

　line　on　the　grid。　Let's　do　it。〃

I　could　tell　that　I　was　slowing　Jacob　up；　but　he　didn't　plain。　I　tried　not

to　dwell　on　my　last　trip　through

this　part　of　the　forest；　with　a　very　different　panion。　Normal　memories　were

still　cangerous。　If　I　let

myself　slip　up；　I'd　end　up　with　my　arms　clutching　my　chest　to　hold　it

together；　gasping　for　air；　and　how

would　I　explain　that　to　Jacob？

It　wasn't　as　hard　as　I　would　have　thought　to　keep　focused　on　the　present。　The

forest　looked　a　lot　like　any

other　part　of　the　peninsula；　and　Jacob　set　a　vastly　different　mood。

He　whistled　cheerfully；　an　unfamiliar　tune；　swinging　his　arms　and　moving

easily　through　the　rough

undergrowth。　The　shadows　didn't　seem　as　dark　as　usual。　Not　with　my　personal

sun　along。

Jacob　checked　the　pass　every　few　minutes；　keeping　us　in　a　straight　line

with　one　of　the　radiating

spokes　of　his　grid。　He　really　looked　like　he　knew　what　he　was　doing。　I　was

going　to　pliment　him；　but

I　caught　myself。　No　doubt　he'd　add　another　few　years　to　his　inflated　age。

My　mind　wandered　as　I　walked；　and　I　grew　curious。　I　hadn't　forgotten　the

conversation　we'd　had　by　the

sea　cliffs—I'd　been　waiting　for　him　to　bring　it　up　again；　but　it　didn't　look

like　that　was　going　to　happen。

〃Hey　Jake？〃　I　asked　hesitantly。

〃Yeah？〃

〃How　are　things　with　Embry？　Is　he　back　to　normal　yet？〃

Jacob　was　silent　for　a　minute；　still　moving　forward　with　long　paces。　When　he

was　about　ten　feet　ahead；

he　stopped　to　wait　for　me。

〃No。　He's　not　back　to　normal；〃　Jacob　said　when　I　reached　him；　his　mouth

pulling　down　at　the　corners。

He　didn't　start　walking　agai