第22部分(第2/7 頁)

　where's　your　brake？〃

〃Behind　my　right　foot。〃

〃Wrong。〃

He　grabbed　my　right　hand　and　curled　my　fingers　around　the　lever　over　the

throttle。

〃But　you　said—〃

〃This　is　the　brake　you　want。　Don't　use　the　back　brake　now；　that's　for　later；

when　you　know　what　you're

doing。〃

〃That　doesn't　sound　right；〃　I　said　suspiciously。　〃Aren't　both　brakes　kind　of

important？〃

〃Forget　the　back　brake；　okay？　Here—〃　He　wrapped　his　hand　around　mine　and　made

me　squeeze　the

lever　down。　〃That　is　how　you　brake。　Don't　forget。〃　He　squeezed　my　hand　another

time。

〃Fine；〃　I　agreed。

〃Throttle？〃

I　twisted　the　right　grip。

〃Gearshift？〃

I　nudged　it　with　my　left　calf。

〃Very　good。　I　think　you've　got　all　the　parts　down。　Now　you　just　have　to　get

itmoving。〃

〃Uh…huh；〃　I　muttered；　afraid　to　say　more。　My　stomach　was　contorting　strangely

and　I　thought　my　voice

might　crack。　I　was　terrified。　I　tried　to　tell　myself　that　the　fear　was

pointless。　I'd　already　lived　through　the

worst　thing　possible。　In　parison　with　that；　why　should　anything　frighten　me

now？　I　should　be　able　to

look　death　in　the　face　and　laugh。

My　stomach　wasn't　buying　it。

I　stared　down　the　long　stretch　of　dirt　road；　bordered　by　thick　misty　green　on

every　side。　The　road　was

sandy　and　damp。　Better　than　mud。

〃I　want　you　to　hold　down　the　clutch；〃　Jacob　instructed。

I　wrapped　my　fingers　around　the　clutch。

〃Now　this　is　crucial；　Bella；〃　Jacob　stressed。　〃Don't　let　go　of　that；　okay？　I

want　you　to　pretend　that　I've

handed　you　a　live　grenade。　The　pin　is　out　and　you　are　holding　down　the　spoon。〃

I　squeezed　tighter。