第39部分(第1/7 頁)

werewolves。

When　they　appeared；　striding　out　from　between　the　trees；　they　weren't　what　I

was　expecting。　I'd　gotten

the　image　of　the　wolves　stuck　in　my　head。　These　were　just　four　really　big

half…naked　boys。

Again；　they　reminded　me　of　brothers；　quadruplets。　Something　about　the　way　they

moved　almost　in

synchronization　to　stand　across　the　road　from　us；　the　way　they　all　had　the

same　long；　round　muscles

under　the　same　red…brown　skin；　the　same　cropped　black　hair；　and　the　way　their

expressions　altered　at

exactly　the　same　moment。

They　started　out　curious　and　cautious。　When　they　saw　me　there；　half…hidden

beside　Jacob；　they　all

became　furious　in　the　same　second。

Sam　was　still　the　biggest；　though　Jacob　was　getting　close　to　catching　up　with

him。　Sam　didn't　really　count

as　a　boy。　His　face　was　older—not　in　the　sense　of　lines　or　signs　of　aging；　but

in　the　matunry；　the　patience

of　his　expression。

〃What　have　you　done；　Jacob？〃　he　demanded。

One　of　the　others；　one　I　didn't　recognize—Jared　or　Paul—thrust　past　Sam　and

spoke　before　Jacob

could　defend　himself。

〃Why　can't　you　just　follow　the　rules；　Jacob？〃　he　yelled；　throwing　his　arms　in

the　air。　〃What　the　hell　are

you　thinking？　Is　she　more　important　than　everything—than　the　whole　tribe？

Than　the　people　getting

killed？〃

〃She　can　help；〃　Jacob　said　quietly。

〃Help！〃　the　angry　boy　shouted。　His　arms　begin　to　quiver。　〃Oh；　that's　likely！

I'm　sure　the　leech…lover　is

just　dying　to　help　us　out！〃

〃Don't　talk　about　her　like　that！〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　stung　by　the　boy's

criticism。

A　shudder　rippled　through　the　oth