2 new moon新月-第51章

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！


the　right　kind　of　monster　for　you；　Bella。　I　guess　I'm　just　not　as　great　as　a　bloodsucker；　am　I？〃　

I　jumped　to　my　feet　and　glared　back。　〃No；　you're　not！〃　I　shouted。　〃It's　not　what　you　are；　stupid；　it's　what　
you　do！〃　

〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　He　roared；　his　entire　frame　quivering　with　rage。　

I　was　taken　entirely　by　surprise　when　Edward's　voice　cautioned　me。　〃Be　very　careful；　Bella；〃　his　velvet　
voice　warned。　〃Don't　push　him　too　far。　You　need　to　calm　him　down。〃　

Even　the　voice　in　my　head　was　making　no　sense　today。　

I　listened　to　him；　though。　I　would　do　anything　for　that　voice。　

〃Jacob；〃　I　pleaded；　making　my　tone　soft　and　even。　〃Is　it　really　necessary　to　kill　people；　Jacob？　Isn't　there　
some　other　way？　I　mean；　if　vampires　can　find　a　way　to　survive　without　murdering　people；　couldn't　you　
give　it　a　try；　too？〃　

He　straightened　up　with　a　jerk；　like　my　words　had　sent　an　electric　shock　through　him。　His　eyebrows　shot　
up　and　his　eyes　stared　wide。　

〃Killing　people？〃　he　demanded。　

〃What　did　you　think　we　were　talking　about？〃　

He　wasn't　trembling　anymore。　He　looked　at　me　with　half…hopeful　disbelief。　〃I　thought　we　were　talking　
about　your　disgust　for　werewolves。〃　

〃No；　Jake；　no。　It's　not　that　you're　a…　wolf。　That's　fine；〃　I　promised　him；　and　I　knew　as　I　said　the　words　
that　I　meant　them。　I　really　didn't　care　if　he　turned　into　a　big　wolf—he　was　still　Jacob。　〃If　you　could　just　
find　a　way　not　to　hurt　people…　that's　all　that　upsets　me。　These　ate　innocent　people；　Jake；　people　like　
Charlie；　and　I　can't　just　look　the　other　way　while　you—〃　

〃Is　that　all？　Really？〃　he　interrupted　me；　a　smile　breaking　across　his　face。　〃You're　just　scared　because　I'm　
a　murderer？　That's　the　only　reason？〃　

〃Isn't　that　reason　enough？〃　

He　started　to　laugh。　

〃Jacob　Black；　this　is　so　notfunny！〃　

〃Sure；　sure；〃　he　agreed；　still　chortling。　

He　took　one　long　stride　and　caught　me　in　another　vice…tight　bear　hug。　

〃You　really；　honestly　don't　mind　that　I　morph　into　a　giant　dog？〃　he　asked；　his　voice　joyful　in　my　ear。　

〃No；〃　I　gasped。　〃Can't—breathe—Jake！〃　

He　let　me　go；　but　took　both　my　hands。　〃I'm　not　a　killer；　Bella。〃　

I　studied　his　face；　and　it　was　clear　that　this　was　the　truth。　Relief　pulsed　through　me。　

〃Really？〃　I　asked。　

〃Really；〃　he　promised　solemnly。　

I　threw　my　arms　around　him。　It　reminded　me　of　that　first　day　with　the　motorcycles—he　was　bigger；　
though；　and　I　felt　even　more　like　a　child　now。　

Like　that　other　time；　he　stroked　my　hair。　

〃Sorry　I　called　you　a　hypocrite；〃　he　apologized。　

〃Sorry　I　called　you　a　murderer。〃　

He　laughed。　

I　thought　of　something　then；　and　pulled　away　from　him　so　that　I　could　see　his　face。　My　eyebrows　
furrowed　in　anxiety。　〃What　about　Sam？　And　the　others？〃　

He　shook　his　head；　smiling　like　a　huge　burden　had　been　removed　from　his　shoulders。　〃Of　course　not。　
Don't　you　remember　what　we　call　ourselves？〃　

The　memory　was　clear—I'd　just　been　thinking　of　that　very　day。　〃Protectors？〃　

〃Exactly。〃　

〃But　I　don't　understand。　What's　happening　in　the　woods？　The　missing　hikers；　the　blood？〃　

His　face　was　serious；　worried　at　once。　〃We're　trying　to　do　our　job；　Bella。　We're　trying　to　protect　them；　
but　we're　always　just　a　little　too　late。〃　

〃Protect　them　from　what？　Is　there　really　a　bear　out　there；　too？〃　

〃Bella；　honey；　we　only　protect　people　from　one　thing—our　one　enemy。　It's　the　reason　we　exist—because　
they　do。〃　

I　stared　at　him　blankly　for　one　second　before　I　understood。　Then　the　blood　drained　from　my　face　and　a　
thin；　wordless　cry　of　horror　broke　through　my　lips。　

He　nodded。　〃I　thought　you；　of　all　people；　would　reali2e　what　was　really　going　on。〃　

〃Laurent；〃　I　whispered。　〃He's　still　here。〃　

Jacob　blinked　twice；　and　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　〃Who's　Laurent？〃　

I　tried　to　sort　out　the　chaos　in　my　head　so　that　I　could　answer。　〃You　know—you　saw　him　in　the　
meadow。　You　were　there…〃　The　words　came　out　in　a　wondering　tone　as　it　all　sunk　in。　〃You　were　there；　
and　you　kept　him　from　killing　me…〃　

〃Oh；　the　black…haired　leech？〃　He　grinned；　a　tight；　fierce　grin。　〃Was　that　his　name？〃　

I　shuddered。　〃What　were　you　thinking？〃　I　whispered。　〃He　could　have　killed　you！　Jake；　you　don't　realize　
how　dangerous—〃　

Another　laugh　interrupted　me　〃Bella；　one　lone　vampire　isn't　much　of　a　problem　for　a　pack　as　big　as　ours。　
It　was　so　easy；　it　was　hardly　even　fun！〃　

〃What　was　so　easy？〃　

〃Killing　the　bloodsucker　who　was　going　to　kill　you。　Now；　I　don't　count　that　towards　the　whole　murder　
thing；〃　he　added　quickly。　〃Vampires　don't　count　as　people。〃　

I　could　only　mouth　the　words。　〃You…　killed…　Laurent？〃　

He　nodded。　〃Well；　it　was　a　group　effort；〃　he　qualified。　

〃Laurent　is　dead？〃　I　whispered。　

His　expression　changed。　〃You're　not　upset　about　that；　are　you？　He　was　going　to　kill　you—he　was　going　
for　the　kill；　Bella；　we　were　sure　of　that　before　we　attacked。　You　know　that；　right？〃　

〃I　know　that。　No；　I'm　not　upset—I'm…〃　I　had　to　sit　down。　I　stumbled　back　a　step　until　I　felt　the　
driftwood　against　my　calves；　and　then　sank　down　onto　it。　〃Laurent　is　dead。　He's　not　coming　back　for　
me。〃　

〃You're　not　mad？　He　wasn't　one　of　your　friends　or　anything；　was　he？〃　

〃My　friend？〃　I　stared　up　at　him；　confused　and　dizzy　with　relief。　I　started　babbling；　my　eyes　getting　moist。　
〃No；　Jake。　I'm　so…　so　relieved。　I　thought　he　was　going　to　find　me—I've　been　waiting　for　him　every　
night；　just　hoping　that　he'd　stop　with　me　and　leave　Charlie　alone。　I've　been　so　frightened；　Jacob…　But　
how？　He　was　a　vampire！　How　did　you　kill　him？　He　was　so　strong；　so　hard；　like　marble…〃　

He　sat　down　next　to　me　and　put　one　big　arm　around　me　comfortingly。　〃It's　what　we're　made　for；　Bells。　
We're　strong；　too。　I　wish　you　would　have　told　me　that　you　were　so　afraid。　You　didn't　need　to　be。〃　

〃You　weren't　around；〃　I　mumbled；　lost　in　thought。　

〃Oh；　right。〃　

〃Wait；　Jake—I　thought　you　knew；　though。　Last　night；　you　said　it　wasn't　safe　for　you　to　be　in　my　room。　I　
thought　you　knew　that　a　vampire　might　be　coming。　Isn't　that　what　you　were　talking　about？〃　

He　looked　confused　for　a　minute；　and　then　he　ducked　his　head。　〃No；　that's　not　what　I　meant。〃　

〃Then　why　didn't　you　think　it　was　safe　for　you　there？〃　

He　looked　at　me　with　guilt…ridden　eyes。　〃I　didn't　say　it　wasn't　safe　for　me。　I　was　thinking　of　you。〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

He　looked　down　and　kicked　a　rock。　〃There's　more　than　one　reason　I'm　not　supposed　to　be　around　you；　
Bella。　I　wasn't　supposed　to　tell　you　our　secret；　for　one　thing；　but　the　other　part　is　that　it's　not　safe　for　you。　
If　I　get　too　mad…　too　upset…　you　might　get　hurt。〃　

I　thought　about　that　carefully。　〃When　you　were　mad　before…　when　I　was　yelling　at　you…　and　you　were　
shaking…　？〃　

〃Yeah。〃　His　face　dropped　even　lower。　〃That　was　pretty　stupid　of　me。　I　have　to　keep　a　better　hold　on　
myself。　I　swore　I　wasn't　going　to　get　mad；　no　matter　what　you　said　to　me。　But…　I　just　got　so　upser　that　I　
was　going　to　lose　you…　that　you　couldn't　deal　with　what　I　am…〃　

〃What　would　happen…　if　you　got　too　mad？〃　I　whispered。　

〃I'd　turn　into　a　wolf；〃　he　whispered　back。　

〃You　don't　need　a　full　moon。〃　

He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Hollywood's　version　doesn't　get　much　right。〃　Then　he　sighed；　and　was　serious　again。　
〃You　don't　need　to　be　so　stressed　out；　Bells。　We're　going　to　take　care　of　this。　And　we're　keeping　a　
special　eye　on　Charlie　and　the　others—we　won't　let　anything　happen　to　him。　Trust　me　on　that。〃　

Something　very；　very　obvious；　something　I　should　have　grasped　at　once—but　I'd　been　so　distracted　by　
the　idea　of　Jacob　and　his　friends　fighting　with　Laurent；　that　I'd　completely　missed　it　at　the　time—occurred　
to　me　only　then；　when　Jacob　used　the　present　tense　again。　

We're　going　to　take　care　of　this。　

It　wasn't　over。　

〃Laurent　is　dead；〃　I　gasped；　and　my　entire　body　went　ice　cold。　

〃Bella？〃　Jacob　asked　anxiously；　touching　my　ashen　cheek。　

〃If　Laurent　died…　a　week　ago…　then　someone　else　is　killing　people　now。〃　

Jacob　nodded；　his　teeth　clenched　together；　and　he　spoke　through　them。　〃There　were　two　of　them。　We　
thought　his　mate　would　want　to　fight　us—in　our　stories；　they　usually　get　pre