1 twilight暮色-第17章

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The　green　light　of　the　forest　was　strangely　at　odds　with　the　adolescent　
laughter；　too　murky　and　ominous　to　be　in　harmony　with　the　light　banter　
around　me。　I　had　to　watch　each　step　I　took　very　carefully；　avoiding　roots　
below　and　branches　above；　and　I　soon　fell　behind。　Eventually　I　broke　
through　the　emerald　confines　of　the　forest　and　found　the　rocky　shore　
again。　It　was　low　tide；　and　a　tidal　river　flowed　past　us　on　its　way　to　
the　sea。　Along　its　pebbled　banks；　shallow　pools　that　never　pletely　
drained　were　teeming　with　life。　

I　was　very　cautious　not　to　lean　too　far　over　the　little　ocean　ponds。　The　
others　were　fearless；　leaping　over　the　rocks；　perching　precariously　on　
the　edges。　I　found　a　very　stablelooking　rock　on　the　fringe　of　one　of　the　
largest　pools　and　sat　there　cautiously；　spellbound　by　the　natural　
aquarium　below　me。　The　bouquets　of　brilliant　anemones　undulated　
ceaselessly　in　the　invisible　current；　twisted　shells　scurried　about　the　
edges；　obscuring　the　crabs　within　them；　starfish　stuck　motionless　to　the　
rocks　and　each　other；　while　one　small　black　eel　with　white　racing　stripes　
wove　through　the　bright　green　weeds；　waiting　for　the　sea　to　return。　I　was　
pletely　absorbed；　except　for　one　small　part　of　my　mind　that　wondered　
what　Edward　was　doing　now；　and　trying　to　imagine　what　he　would　be　saying　
if　he　were　here　with　me。　

Finally　the　boys　were　hungry；　and　I　got　up　stiffly　to　follow　them　back。　I　
tried　to　keep　up　better　this　time　through　the　woods；　so　naturally　I　fell　
a　few　times。　I　got　some　shallow　scrapes　on　my　palms；　and　the　knees　of　my　
jeans　were　stained　green；　but　it　could　have　been　worse。　

When　we　got　back　to　First　Beach；　the　group　we'd　left　behind　had　
multiplied。　As　we　got　closer　we　could　see　the　shining；　straight　black　
hair　and　copper　skin　of　the　newers；　teenagers　from　the　reservation　

e　to　socialize。　

The　food　was　already　being　passed　around；　and　the　boys　hurried　to　claim　a　
share　while　Eric　introduced　us　as　we　each　entered　the　driftwood　circle。　
Angela　and　I　were　the　last　to　arrive；　and；　as　Eric　said　our　names；　I　
noticed　a　younger　boy　sitting　on　the　stones　near　the　fire　glance　up　at　me　
in　interest。　I　sat　down　next　to　Angela；　and　Mike　brought　us　sandwiches　
and　an　array　of　sodas　to　choose　from；　while　a　boy　who　looked　to　be　the　
oldest　of　the　visitors　rattled　off　the　names　of　the　seven　others　with　
him。　All　I　caught　was　that　one　of　the　girls　was　also　named　Jessica；　and　
the　boy　who　noticed　me　was　named　Jacob。　

It　was　relaxing　to　sit　with　Angela；　she　was　a　restful　kind　of　person　to　
be　around　—　she　didn't　feel　the　need　to　fill　every　silence　with　chatter。　
She　left　me　free　to　think　undisturbed　while　we　ate。　And　I　was　thinking　
about　how　disjointedly　time　seemed　to　flow　in　Forks；　passing　in　a　blur　at　
times；　with　single　images　standing　out　more　clearly　than　others。　And　
then；　at　other　times；　every　second　was　significant；　etched　in　my　mind。　I　
knew　exactly　what　caused　the　difference；　and　it　disturbed　me。　

During　lunch　the　clouds　started　to　advance；　slinking　across　the　blue　sky；　
darting　in　front　of　the　sun　momentarily；　casting　long　shadows　across　the　
beach；　and　blackening　the　waves。　As　they　finished　eating；　people　started　
to　drift　away　in　twos　and　threes。　Some　walked　down　to　the　edge　of　the　
waves；　trying　to　skip　rocks　across　the　choppy　surface。　Others　were　
gathering　a　second　expedition　to　the　tide　pools。　Mike　—　with　Jessica　
shadowing　him　—　headed　up　to　the　one　shop　in　the　village。　Some　of　the　
local　kids　went　with　them；　others　went　along　on　the　hike。　By　the　time　
they　all　had　scattered；　I　was　sitting　alone　on　my　driftwood　log；　with　
Lauren　and　Tyler　occupying　themselves　by　the　CD　player　someone　had　
thought　to　bring；　and　three　teenagers　from　the　reservation　perched　around　
the　circle；　including　the　boy　named　Jacob　and　the　oldest　boy　who　had　
acted　as　spokesperson。　

A　few　minutes　after　Angela　left　with　the　hikers；　Jacob　sauntered　over　to　
take　her　place　by　my　side。　He　looked　fourteen；　maybe　fifteen；　and　had　
long；　glossy　black　hair　pulled　back　with　a　rubber　band　at　the　nape　of　his　
neck。　His　skin　was　beautiful；　silky　and　russetcolored；　his　eyes　were　
dark；　set　deep　above　the　high　planes　of　his　cheekbones。　He　still　had　just　
a　hint　of　childish　roundness　left　around　his　chin。　Altogether；　a　very　
pretty　face。　However；　my　positive　opinion　of　his　looks　was　damaged　by　the　
first　words　out　of　his　mouth。　

〃You're　Isabella　Swan；　aren't　you？〃　

It　was　like　the　first　day　of　school　all　over　again。　

〃Bella；〃　I　sighed。　

〃I'm　Jacob　Black。〃　He　held　his　hand　out　in　a　friendly　gesture。　〃You　
bought　my　dad's　truck。〃　

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　relieved；　shaking　his　sleek　hand。　〃You're　Billy's　son。　I　
probably　should　remember　you。〃　

〃No；　I'm　the　youngest　of　the　family　—　you　would　remember　my　older　
sisters。〃　

〃Rachel　and　Rebecca；〃　I　suddenly　recalled。　Charlie　and　Billy　had　thrown　
us　together　a　lot　during　my　visits；　to　keep　us　busy　while　they　fished。　We　
were　all　too　shy　to　make　much　progress　as　friends。　Of　course；　I'd　kicked　
up　enough　tantrums　to　end　the　fishing　trips　by　the　time　I　was　eleven。　

〃Are　they　here？〃　I　examined　the　girls　at　the　ocean's　edge；　wondering　if　I　
would　recognize　them　now。　

〃No。〃　Jacob　shook　his　head。　〃Rachel　got　a　scholarship　to　Washington　
State；　and　Rebecca　married　a　Samoan　surfer　—　she　lives　in　Hawaii　now。〃　

〃Married。　Wow。〃　I　was　stunned。　The　twins　were　only　a　little　over　a　year　
older　than　I　was。　

〃So　how　do　you　like　the　truck？〃　he　asked。　

〃I　love　it。　It　runs　great。〃　

〃Yeah；　but　it's　really　slow；〃　he　laughed。　〃I　was　so　relived　when　Charlie　
bought　it。　My　dad　wouldn't　let　me　work　on　building　another　car　when　we　
had　a　perfectly　good　vehicle　right　there。〃　

〃It's　not　that　slow；〃　I　objected。　

〃Have　you　tried　to　go　over　sixty？〃　

〃No；〃　I　admitted。　

〃Good。　Don't。〃　He　grinned。　

I　couldn't　help　grinning　back。　〃It　does　great　in　a　collision；〃　I　offered　
in　my　truck's　defense。　

〃I　don't　think　a　tank　could　take　out　that　old　monster；〃　he　agreed　with　
another　laugh。　

〃So　you　build　cars？〃　I　asked；　impressed。　

〃When　I　have　free　time；　and　parts。　You　wouldn't　happen　to　know　where　I　
could　get　my　hands　on　a　master　cylinder　for　a　1986　Volkswagen　Rabbit？〃　he　
added　jokingly。　He　had　a　pleasant；　husky　voice。　

〃Sorry；〃　I　laughed；　〃I　haven't　seen　any　lately；　but　I'll　keep　my　eyes　
open　for　you。〃　As　if　I　knew　what　that　was。　He　was　very　easy　to　talk　with。　

He　flashed　a　brilliant　smile；　looking　at　me　appreciatively　in　a　way　I　was　
learning　to　recognize。　I　wasn't　the　only　one　who　noticed。　

〃You　know　Bella；　Jacob？〃　Lauren　asked　—　in　what　I　imagined　was　an　
insolent　tone　—　from　across　the　fire。　

〃We've　sort　of　known　each　other　since　I　was　born；〃　he　laughed；　smiling　at　
me　again。　

〃How　nice。〃　She　didn't　sound　like　she　thought　it　was　nice　at　all；　and　her　
pale；　fishy　eyes　narrowed。　

〃Bella；〃　she　called　again；　watching　my　face　carefully；　〃I　was　just　saying　
to　Tyler　that　it　was　too　bad　none　of　the　Cullens　could　e　out　today。　
Didn't　anyone　think　to　invite　them？〃　Her　expression　of　concern　was　
unconvincing。　

〃You　mean　Dr。　Carlisle　Cullen's　family？〃　the　tall；　older　boy　asked　before　
I　could　respond；　much　to　Lauren's　irritation。　He　was　really　closer　to　a　
man　than　a　boy；　and　his　voice　was　very　deep。　

〃Yes；　do　you　know　them？〃　she　asked　condescendingly；　turning　halfway　
toward　him。　

〃The　Cullens　don't　e　here；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　that　closed　the　subject；　
ignoring　her　question。　

Tyler；　trying　to　win　back　her　attention；　asked　Lauren's　opinion　on　a　CD　
he　held。　She　was　distracted。　

I　stared　at　the　deepvoiced　boy；　taken　aback；　but　he　was　looking　away　
toward　the　dark　forest　behind　us。　He'd　said　that　the　Cullens　didn't　e　
here；　but　his　tone　had　implied　something　more　—　that　they　weren't　
allowed；　they　were　prohibited。　His　manner　left　a　strange　impression　on　
me；　and　I　tried　to　ignore　it　without　success。　

Jacob　interrupted　my　meditation。　〃So　is　Forks　driving　you　insane　yet？〃　

〃Oh；　I'd　say　that's　an　understatement。〃　I　grimaced。　He　grinned　
understandingly。　

I　was　still　turning　over　the　brief　ment　on　the　Cullens；　and　I　had　a　
sudden　inspiration。　It　was　a　stupid　plan；　but　I　didn't　have　any　better　
ideas。　I　hoped　that　young　Jacob　was　as　yet　inexperienced　around　girls；　so　
that　he　wouldn't　see　through　my　suretobepitiful　attempts　at　flirting。　

〃Do　you　want　to　walk　down　the　beach　with　me？〃　I　asked；　trying　to　imitate　
that　way　Edward　had　of　looking　up　from　underneath　his　eyelashes。　It　
couldn't　have　nearly　the　same　effect；　I　was　sure；　but　Jacob　jumped　up　
willingly　enough。　

As　we　walked　north　across　the　multihued　stones　toward　the　driftwood　
seawall；　the　clouds　finally　closed　ranks　across　the　sky；　causing　the　sea　
to　darken　and　the　temperature　to　drop。　I　shoved　my　hands　deep　into　the　
pockets　of　my　jacket。　

〃So　you're；　what；　sixteen？〃　I　asked；　trying　not　to　look　like　an　idiot　as　
I　fluttered　my　eyelids　the　way　I'd　seen　girls　do　on　TV。　

〃I　just　turned　fifteen；〃　he　confessed；　flattered。　

〃Really？〃　My　face　was　full　of　false　surprise。　〃I　would　have　thought　you　
were　older。〃　

〃I'm　tall　for　my　age；〃　he　explained。　

〃Do　you　e　up　to　Forks　much？〃　I　asked　archly；　as　if　I　was　hoping　for　a　
yes。　I　sounded　idiotic　to　myself。　I　was　afraid　he　would　turn　on　me　with　
disgust　and　accuse　me　of　my　fraud；　but　he　still　seemed　flattered。　

〃Not　too　much；〃　he　admitted　with　a　frown。　〃But　when　I　get　my　car　finished　
I　can　go　up　as　much　as　I　want　—　after　I　get　my　license；〃　he　amended。　

〃Who　was　that　other　boy　Lauren　was　talking　to？　He　seemed　a　little　old　to　
be　hanging　out　with　us。〃　I　purposefully　lumped　myself　in　with　the　
youngsters；　trying　to　make　it　clear　that　I　preferred　Jacob。　

〃That's　Sam　—　he's　nieen；〃　he　informed　me。　

〃What　was　that　he　was　saying　about　the　doctor's　family？〃　I　asked　
innocently。　

〃The　Cullens？　Oh；　they're　not　supposed　to　e　onto　the　reservation。〃　He　
looked　away；　out　toward　James　Island；　as　he　confirmed　what　I'd　thought　
I'd　heard　in　Sam's　voice。　

〃Why　not？〃　

He　glanced　back　at　me；　biting　his　lip。　〃Oops。　I'm　not　supposed　to　say　
anything　about　that。〃　

〃Oh；　I　won't　tell　anyone；　I'm　just　curious。〃　I