按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
when my eyes made out the shape of the Volvo； thirty yards away。 I reached for the door handle。
“Here；” Jacob said； and he put a small shape into my other hand。 The phone。
“You called Edward for me？”
My eyes were adjusted enough to see the bright gleam of Jacob’s smile。 “I figured if I played nice； I’d get
more time with you。”
“Thanks； Jake；” I said； touched。 “Really； thank you。 And thanks forinviting me tonight。 That was 。 。 。”
Words failed me。 “Wow。 That was something else。”
“And you didn’t even stay up to watch me swallow a cow。” He laughed。 “No； I’m glad you liked it。 It was
。 。 。 nice for me。 Having you there。”
There was a movement in the dark distance — something pale ghosting against the black trees。 Pacing？
“Yeah； he’s not so patient； is he？” Jacob said； noticing my distraction。 “Go ahead。 But e back soon；
okay？”
“Sure； Jake；” I promised； cracking the car door open。 Cold air washed across my legs and made me
shiver。
“Sleep tight； Bells。 Don’t worry about anything — I’ll be watching out for you tonight。”
I paused； one foot on the ground。 “No； Jake。 Get some rest； I’ll be fine。”
“Sure； sure；” he said； but he sounded more patronizing than agreeing。
“’Night； Jake。 Thanks。”
“’Night； Bella；” he whispered as I hurried into the darkness。
Edward caught me at the boundary line。
“Bella；” he said； relief strong in his voice； his arms wound tightly around me。
“Hi。 Sorry I’m so late。 I fell asleep and —”
“I know。 Jacob explained。” He started toward the car； and I staggered woodenly at his side。 “Are you
tired？ I could carry you。”
“I’m fine。”
“Let’s get you home and in bed。 Did you have a nice time？”
“Yeah — it was amazing； Edward。 I wish you could have e。 I can’t even explain it。 Jake’s dad told us
the old legends and it was like 。 。 。 like magic。”
“You’ll have to tell me about it。 After you’ve slept。”
“I won’t get it right；” I said； and then I yawned hugely。
Edward chuckled。 He opened my door for me； lifted me in； and buckled my seat belt around me。
Bright lights flashed on and swept across us。 I waved toward Jacob’s headlights； but I didn’t know if he
saw the gesture。
That night — after I’d gotten past Charlie； who didn’t give me as much trouble as I’d expected because Jacob
had called him； too — instead of collapsing in bed right away； I leaned out the open window while I waited for
Edward to e back。 The night was surprisingly cold； almost wintry。 I hadn’t noticed it at all on the windy
cliffs； I imagined that had less to do with the fire than it did with sitting next to Jacob。
Icy droplets spattered against my face as the rain began to fall。
It was too dark to see much besides the black triangles of the spruces leaning and shaking with the wind。
But I strained my eyes anyway； searching for other shapes in the storm。 A pale silhouette； moving like a ghost
through the black 。 。 。 or maybe the shadowy outline of an enormous wolf。 。 。 。 My eyes were too weak。
Then there was a movement in the night； right beside me。 Edward slid through my open window； his hands
colder than the rain。
“Is Jacob out there？” I asked； shivering as Edward pulled me into the circle of his arm。
“Yes 。 。 。 somewhere。 And Esme’s on her way home。”
I sighed。 “It’s so cold and wet。 This is silly。” I shivered again。
He chuckled。 “It’s only cold to you； Bella。”
It was cold in my dream that night； too； maybe because I slept in Edward’s arms。 But I dreamt I was
outside in the storm； the wind whipping my hair in my face and blinding my eyes。 I stood on the rocky crescent
of First Beach； trying to understand the quickly moving shapes I could only dimly see in the darkness at the
shore’s edge。 At first； there was nothing but a flash of white and black； darting toward each other and dancing
away。 And then； as if the moon had suddenly broken from the clouds； I could see everything。
Rosalie； her hair swinging wet and golden down to the back of her knees； was lunging at an enormous
wolf — its muzzle shot through with silver — that I instinctively recognized as Billy Black。
I broke into a run； but found myself moving in the frustrating slow motion of dreamers。 I tried to scream to
them； to tell them to stop； but my voice was stolen by the wind； and I could make no sound。 I waved my
arms； hoping to catch their attention。 Something flashed in my hand； and I noticed for the first time that my
right hand wasn’t empty。
I held a long； sharp blade； ancient and silver； crusted in dried； blackened blood。
I cringed away from the knife； and my eyes snapped open to the quiet darkness of my bedroom。 The first
thing I realized was that I was not alone； and I turned to bury my face in Edward’s chest； knowing the sweet
scent of his skin would chase the nightmare away more effectively than anything else。
“Did I wake you？” he whispered。 There was the sound of paper； the ruffling of pages； and a faint thump
as something light fell to the wooden floor。
“No；” I mumbled； sighing in contentment as his arms tightened around me。 “I had a bad dream。”
“Do you want to tell me about it？”
I shook my head。 “Too tired。 Maybe in the morning； if I remember。”
I felt a silent laugh shake through him。
“In the morning；” he agreed。
“What were you reading？” I muttered； not really awake at all。
“Wuthering Heights；” he said。
I frowned sleepily。 “I thought you didn’t like that book。”
“You left it out；” he murmured； his soft voice lulling me toward unconsciousness。 “Besides 。 。 。 the more
time I spend with you； the more human emotions seem prehensible to me。 I’m discovering that I can
sympathize with Heathcliff in ways I didn’t think possible before。”
“Mmm；” I sighed。
He said something else； something low； but I was already asleep。
The next morning dawned pearl gray and still。 Edward asked me about my dream； but I couldn’t get a
handle on it。 I only remembered that I was cold； and that I was glad he was there when I woke up。 He kissed
me； long enough to get my pulse racing； and then headed