第46部分(第2/7 頁)

owing　wild　in　the　wind；　the　color　of　fire

She'd　been　right　there。　Right　there　in　the　harbor　with　me　and　Jacob。　If　Sam

hadn't　been　there；　if　it　had

been　just　the　two　of　us　？　I　couldn't　breathe　or　move。

The　light　flicked　on；　though　my　frozen　hand　had　still　not　found　the　switch。

I　blinked　into　the　sudden　light；　and　saw　that　someone　was　there；　waiting　for

me。

17。　VISITOR

UNNATURALLY　STILL　AND　WHITE；　WITH　LARGE　BLACK　EYES　intent　on　my　face；　my

visitor

waited　perfectly　motionless　in　the　center　of　the　halt；　beautiful　beyond

imagining。

My　knees　trembled　for　a　second；　and　I　nearly　fell。　Then　I　hurled　myself　at

her。

〃Alice；　oh；　Alice！〃　I　cried；　as　I　slammed　into　her。

I'd　forgotten　how　hard　she　was；　it　was　like　running　headlong　into　a　wall　of

cement。

〃Bella？〃　There　was　a　strange　mingling　of　relief　and　confusion　in　her　voice。

I　locked　my　arms　around　her；　gasping　to　inhale　as　much　of　the　scent　of　her

skin　as　possible。　It　wasn't　like

anything　else—not　floral　or　spice；　citrus　or　musk。　No　perfume　in　the　world

could　pare。　My　memory

hadn't　done　it　justice。

I　didn't　notice　when　the　gasping　turned　into　something　else—I　only　realized　I

was　sobbing　when　Alice

dragged　me　to　the　living　room　couch　and　pulled　me　into　her　lap。　It　was　like

curling　up　into　a　cool　stone；

but　a　stone　that　was　contoured　fortingly　to　the　shape　of　my　body。　She

rubbed　my　back　in　a　gentle

rhythm；　waiting　for　me　to　get　control　of　myself。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　blubbered。　〃I'm　just　so　happy　to　see　you！〃

〃It's　okay；　Bella。　Everything's　okay。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　bawled。　And；　for　once；　it　seemed　that　way。

Alice　sighed