Twilight 暮光之城：暮色 Chapter 8 Port Angeles
时间：2022-01-21 02:35:46
（单词翻译:单击）
Jess drove faster than the Chief, so we made it to Port Angeles by four.
It had been a while since I'd had a girls' night out, and the estrogenrush was invigorating. We listened to whiny1 rock songs while Jessicajabbered on about the boys we hung out with. Jessica's dinner with Mikehad gone very well, and she was hoping that by Saturday night they would have progressed to the first-kiss stage. I smiled to myself, pleased.
Angela was passively happy to be going to the dance, but not reallyinterested in Eric. Jess tried to get her to confess who her type was,but I interrupted with a question about dresses after a bit, to spareher. Angela threw a grateful glance my way.
Port Angeles was a beautiful little tourist trap, much more polished andquaint than Forks. But Jessica and Angela knew it well, so they didn'tplan to waste time on the picturesque2 boardwalk by the bay. Jess drovestraight to the one big department store in town, which was a few streetsin from the bay area's visitor-friendly face.
The dance was billed as semiformal, and we weren't exactly sure what thatmeant. Both Jessica and Angela seemed surprised and almost disbelievingwhen I told them I'd never been to a dance in Phoenix3.
"Didn't you ever go with a boyfriend or something?" Jess asked dubiouslyas we walked through the front doors of the store.
"Really," I tried to convince her, not wanting to confess my dancingproblems. "I've never had a boyfriend or anything close. I didn't go outmuch.""Why not?" Jessica demanded.
"No one asked me," I answered honestly.
She looked skeptical5. "People ask you out here," she reminded me, "andyou tell them no." We were in the juniors' section now, scanning theracks for dress-up clothes.
"Excuse me?" I gasped7. "What did you say?""Tyler told everyone he's taking you to prom," Jessica informed me withsuspicious eyes.
"He said what?" I sounded like I was choking.
"I told you it wasn't true," Angela murmured to Jessica.
I was silent, still lost in shock that was quickly turning to irritation8.
But we had found the dress racks, and now we had work to do.
I ground my teeth. "Do you think that if I ran him over with my truck hewould stop feeling guilty about the accident? That he might give up onmaking amends10 and call it even?""Maybe," Jess snickered. '"If that's why he's doing this."The dress selection wasn't large, but both of them found a few things totry on. I sat on a low chair just inside the dressing11 room, by thethree-way mirror, trying to control my fuming12.
Jess was torn between two — one a long, strapless, basic black number,the other a knee-length electric blue with spaghetti straps14. I encouragedher to go with the blue; why not play up the eyes? Angela chose a palepink dress that draped around her tall frame nicely and brought out honeytints in her light brown hair. I complimented them both generously andhelped by returning the rejects to their racks. The whole process wasmuch shorter and easier than similar trips I'd taken with Renée at home.
I guess there was something to be said for limited choices.
We headed over to shoes and accessories. While they tried things on Imerely watched and critiqued, not in the mood to shop for myself, thoughI did need new shoes. The girls'-night high was wearing off in the wakeof my annoyance15 at Tyler, leaving room for the gloom to move back in.
"Angela?" I began, hesitant, while she was trying on a pair of pinkstrappy heels — she was overjoyed to have a date tall enough that shecould wear high heels at all.
"Yes?" She held her leg out, twisting her ankle to get a better view ofthe shoe.
I chickened out. "I like those.""I think I'll get them — though they'll never match anything but the onedress," she mused17.
"Oh, go ahead — they're on sale," I encouraged. She smiled, putting thelid back on a box that contained more practical-looking off-white shoes.
"Is it normal for the… Cullens" — I kept my eyes on the shoes — "to beout of school a lot?" I failed miserably19 in my attempt to soundnonchalant.
"Yes, when the weather is good they go backpacking all the time — eventhe doctor. They're all real outdoorsy," she told me quietly, examiningher shoes, too. She didn't ask one question, let alone the hundreds thatJessica would have unleashed20. I was beginning to really like Angela.
"Oh." I let the subject drop as Jessica returned to show us therhinestone jewelry she'd found to match her silver shoes.
We planned to go to dinner at a little Italian restaurant on theboardwalk, but the dress shopping hadn't taken as long as we'd expected.
Jess and Angela were going to take their clothes back to the car and thenwalk down to the bay. I told them I would meet them at the restaurant inan hour — I wanted to look for a bookstore. They were both willing tocome with me, but I encouraged them to go have fun — they didn't know howpreoccupied I could get when surrounded by books; it was something Ipreferred to do alone. They walked off to the car chattering21 happily, andI headed in the direction Jess pointed22 out.
I had no trouble finding the bookstore, but it wasn't what I was lookingfor. The windows were full of crystals, dream-catchers, and books aboutspiritual healing. I didn't even go inside. Through the glass I could seea fifty-year-old woman with long, gray hair worn straight down her back,clad in a dress right out of the sixties, smiling welcomingly from behindthe counter. I decided23 that was one conversation I could skip. There hadto be a normal bookstore in town.
I meandered24 through the streets, which were filling up withend-of-the-workday traffic, and hoped I was headed toward downtown. Iwasn't paying as much attention as I should to where I was going; I waswrestling with despair. I was trying so hard not to think about him, andwhat Angela had said… and more than anything trying to beat down my hopesfor Saturday, fearing a disappointment more painful than the rest, when Ilooked up to see someone's silver Volvo parked along the street and itall came crashing down on me. Stupid, unreliable vampire25, I thought tomyself.
I stomped26 along in a southerly direction, toward some glass-fronted shopsthat looked promising27. But when I got to them, they were just a repairshop and a vacant space. I still had too much time to go looking for Jessand Angela yet, and I definitely needed to get my mood in hand before Imet back up with them. I ran my fingers through my hair a couple of timesand took some deep breaths before I continued around the corner.
I started to realize, as I crossed another road, that I was going thewrong direction. The little foot traffic I had seen was going north, andit looked like the buildings here were mostly warehouses28. I decided toturn east at the next corner, and then loop around after a few blocks andtry my luck on a different street on my way back to the boardwalk.
A group of four men turned around the corner I was heading for, dressedtoo casually29 to be heading home from the office, but they were too grimyto be tourists. As they approached me, I realized they weren't too manyyears older than I was. They were joking loudly among themselves,laughing raucously31 and punching each other's arms. I scooted as far tothe inside of the sidewalk as I could to give them room, walking swiftly,looking past them to the corner.
"Hey, there!" one of them called as they passed, and he had to be talkingto me since no one else was around. I glanced up automatically. Two ofthem had paused, the other two were slowing. The closest, a heavyset,dark-haired man in his early twenties, seemed to be the one who hadspoken. He was wearing a flannel33 shirt open over a dirty t-shirt, cut-offjeans, and sandals. He took half a step toward me.
"Hello," I mumbled34, a knee-jerk reaction. Then I quickly looked away andwalked faster toward the corner. I could hear them laughing at fullvolume behind me.
"Hey, wait!" one of them called after me again, but I kept my head downand rounded the corner with a sigh of relief. I could still hear themchortling behind me.
I found myself on a sidewalk leading past the backs of severalsomber-colored warehouses, each with large bay doors for unloadingtrucks, padlocked for the night. The south side of the street had nosidewalk, only a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire protecting somekind of engine parts storage yard. I'd wandered far past the part of PortAngeles that I, as a guest, was intended to see. It was getting dark, Irealized, the clouds finally returning, piling up on the western horizon,creating an early sunset. The eastern sky was still clear, but graying,shot through with streaks36 of pink and orange. I'd left my jacket in thecar, and a sudden shiver made me cross my arms tightly across my chest. Asingle van passed me, and then the road was empty.
The sky suddenly darkened further, and, as I looked over my shoulder toglare at the offending cloud, I realized with a shock that two men werewalking quietly twenty feet behind me.
They were from the same group I'd passed at the corner, though neitherwas the dark one who'd spoken to me. I turned my head forward at once,quickening my pace. A chill that had nothing to do with the weather mademe shiver again. My purse was on a shoulder strap13 and I had it slungacross my body, the way you were supposed to wear it so it wouldn't getsnatched. I knew exactly where my pepper spray was — still in my dufflebag under the bed, never unpacked37. I didn't have much money with me, justa twenty and some ones, and I thought about "accidentally" dropping mybag and walking away. But a small, frightened voice in the back of mymind warned me that they might be something worse than thieves.
I listened intently to their quiet footsteps, which were much too quietwhen compared to the boisterous38 noise they'd been making earlier, and itdidn't sound like they were speeding up, or getting any closer to me.
Breathe, I had to remind myself. You don't know they're following you. Icontinued to walk as quickly as I could without actually running,focusing on the right-hand turn that was only a few yards away from menow. I could hear them, staying as far back as they'd been before. A bluecar turned onto the street from the south and drove quickly past me. Ithought of jumping out in front of it, but I hesitated, inhibited39, unsurethat I was really being pursued, and then it was too late.
I reached the corner, but a swift glance revealed that it was only ablind drive to the back of another building. I was half-turned inanticipation; I had to hurriedly correct and dash across the narrowdrive, back to the sidewalk. The street ended at the next corner, wherethere was a stop sign. I concentrated on the faint footsteps behind me,deciding whether or not to run. They sounded farther back, though, and Iknew they could outrun me in any case. I was sure to trip and gosprawling if I tried to go any faster. The footfalls were definitelyfarther back. I risked a quick glance over my shoulder, and they weremaybe forty feet back now, I saw with relief. But they were both staringat me.
It seemed to take forever for me to get to the corner. I kept my pacesteady, the men behind me falling ever so slightly farther behind withevery step. Maybe they realized they had scared me and were sorry. I sawtwo cars going north pass the intersection40 I was heading for, and Iexhaled in relief. There would be more people around once I got off thisdeserted street. I skipped around the corner with a grateful sigh.
The street was lined on both sides by blank, doorless, windowless walls.
I could see in the distance, two intersections43 down, streetlamps, cars,and more pedestrians44, but they were all too far away. Because loungingagainst the western building, midway down the street, were the other twomen from the group, both watching with excited smiles as I froze dead onthe sidewalk. I realized then that I wasn't being followed.
I paused for only a second, but it felt like a very long time. I turnedthen and darted46 to the other side of the road. I had a sinking feelingthat it was a wasted attempt. The footsteps behind me were louder now.
"There you are!" The booming voice of the stocky, dark-haired manshattered the intense quiet and made me jump. In the gathering47 darkness,it seemed like he was looking past me.
"Yeah," a voice called loudly from behind me, making me jump again as Itried to hurry down the street. "We just took a little detour48."My steps had to slow now. I was closing the distance between myself andthe lounging pair too quickly. I had a good loud scream, and I sucked inair, preparing to use it, but my throat was so dry I wasn't sure how muchvolume I could manage. With a quick movement I slipped my purse over myhead, gripping the strap with one hand, ready to surrender it or use itas weapon as need demanded.
The thickset man shrugged49 away from the wall as I warily50 came to a stop,and walked slowly into the street.
"Stay away from me," I warned in a voice that was supposed to soundstrong and fearless. But I was right about the dry throat — no volume.
I braced51 myself, feet apart, trying to remember through my panic whatlittle self-defense I knew. Heel of the hand thrust upward, hopefullybreaking the nose or shoving it into the brain. Finger through the eyesocket — try to hook around and pop the eye out. And the standard knee tothe groin, of course. That same pessimistic voice in my mind spoke32 upthen, reminding me that I probably wouldn't have a chance against one ofthem, and there were four. Shut up! I commanded the voice before terrorcould incapacitate me. I wasn't going out without taking someone with me.
I tried to swallow so I could build up a decent scream.
Headlights suddenly flew around the corner, the car almost hitting thestocky one, forcing him to jump back toward the sidewalk. I dove into theroad — this car was going to stop, or have to hit me. But the silver carunexpectedly fishtailed around, skidding52 to a stop with the passengerdoor open just a few feet from me.
"Get in," a furious voice commanded.
It was amazing how instantaneously the choking fear vanished, amazing howsuddenly the feeling of security washed over me — even before I was offthe street — as soon as I heard his voice. I jumped into the seat,slamming the door shut behind me.
It was dark in the car, no light had come on with the opening of thedoor, and I could barely see his face in the glow from the dashboard. Thetires squealed53 as he spun54 around to face north, accelerating too quickly, swerving toward the stunned55 men on the street. I caught a glimpse of themdiving for the sidewalk as we straightened out and sped toward the harbor.
"Put on your seat belt," he commanded, and I realized I was clutching theseat with both hands. I quickly obeyed; the snap as the belt connectedwas loud in the darkness. He took a sharp left, racing56 forward, blowingthrough several stop signs without a pause.
But I felt utterly57 safe and, for the moment, totally unconcerned aboutwhere we were going. I stared at his face in profound relief, relief thatwent beyond my sudden deliverance. I studied his flawless features in thelimited light, waiting for my breath to return to normal, until itoccurred to me that his expression was murderously angry.
I sat in silence, watching his face while his blazing eyes staredstraight ahead, until the car came to a sudden stop. I glanced around,but it was too dark to see anything beside the vague outline of darktrees crowding the roadside. We weren't in town anymore.
"Bella?" he asked, his voice tight, controlled.
"Yes?" My voice was still rough. I tried to clear my throat quietly.
"Are you all right?" He still didn't look at me, but the fury was plainon his face.
"Distract me, please," he ordered.
"Just prattle61 about something unimportant until I calm down," heclarified, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with histhumb and forefinger62.
"Um." I wracked my brain for something trivial. "I'm going to run overTyler Crowley tomorrow before school?"He was still squeezing his eyes closed, but the corner of his mouthtwitched.
"Why?""He's telling everyone that he's taking me to prom — either he's insaneor he's still trying to make up for almost killing63 me last… well, youremember it, and he thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this. SoI figure if I endanger his life, then we're even, and he can't keeptrying to make amends. I don't need enemies and maybe Lauren would backoff if he left me alone. I might have to total his Sentra, though. If hedoesn't have a ride he can't take anyone to prom…" I babbled64 on.
"I heard about that." He sounded a bit more composed.
"You did?" I asked in disbelief, my previous irritation flaring65. "If he'sparalyzed from the neck down, he can't go to the prom, either," Imuttered, refining my plan.
Edward sighed, and finally opened his eyes.
"Better?""Not really."I waited, but he didn't speak again. He leaned his head back against theseat, staring at the ceiling of the car. His face was rigid66.
"What's wrong?" My voice came out in a whisper.
"Sometimes I have a problem with my temper, Bella." He was whispering,too, and as he stared out the window, his eyes narrowed into slits67. "Butit wouldn't be helpful for me to turn around and hunt down those…" Hedidn't finish his sentence, looking away, struggling for a moment tocontrol his anger again. "At least," he continued, "that's what I'mtrying to convince myself.""Oh." The word seemed inadequate68, but I couldn't think of a betterresponse.
We sat in silence again. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It waspast six-thirty.
"Jessica and Angela will be worried," I murmured. "I was supposed to meetthem."He started the engine without another word, turning around smoothly69 andspeeding back toward town. We were under the streetlights in no time atall, still going too fast, weaving with ease through the cars slowlycruising the boardwalk. He parallel-parked against the curb70 in a space Iwould have thought much too small for the Volvo, but he slid ineffortlessly in one try. I looked out the window to see the lights of LaBella Italia, and Jess and Angela just leaving, pacing anxiously awayfrom us.
"How did you know where… ?" I began, but then I just shook my head. Iheard the door open and turned to see him getting out.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm taking you to dinner." He smiled slightly, but his eyes were hard.
He stepped out of the car and slammed the door. I fumbled71 with my seatbelt, and then hurried to get out of the car as well. He was waiting forme on the sidewalk.
He spoke before I could. "Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have totrack them down, too. I don't think I could restrain myself if I ran intoyour other friends again."I shivered at the threat in his voice.
"Jess! Angela!" I yelled after them, waving when they turned. They rushedback to me, the pronounced relief on both their faces simultaneouslychanging to surprise as they saw who I was standing72 next to. Theyhesitated a few feet from us.
"Where have you been?" Jessica's voice was suspicious.
"I got lost," I admitted sheepishly. "And then I ran into Edward." Igestured toward him.
"Would it be all right if I joined you?" he asked in his silken,irresistible voice. I could see from their staggered expressions that hehad never unleashed his talents on them before.
"Er… sure," Jessica breathed.
"Um, actually, Bella, we already ate while we were waiting — sorry,"Angela confessed.
"That's fine — I'm not hungry." I shrugged.
"I think you should eat something." Edward's voice was low, but full ofauthority. He looked up at Jessica and spoke slightly louder. "Do youmind if I drive Bella home tonight? That way you won't have to wait whileshe eats.""Uh, no problem, I guess…" She bit her lip, trying to figure out from myexpression whether that was what I wanted. I winked73 at her. I wanted nothing more than to be alone with my perpetual savior. There were somany questions that I couldn't bombard him with till we were by ourselves.
"Okay." Angela was quicker than Jessica. "See you tomorrow, Bella…Edward." She grabbed Jessica's hand and pulled her toward the car, whichI could see a little ways away, parked across First Street. As they gotin, Jess turned and waved, her face eager with curiosity. I waved back,waiting for them to drive away before I turned to face him.
"Honestly, I'm not hungry," I insisted, looking up to scrutinize74 hisface. His expression was unreadable.
"Humor me."He walked to the door of the restaurant and held it open with anobstinate expression. Obviously, there would be no further discussion. Iwalked past him into the restaurant with a resigned sigh.
The restaurant wasn't crowded — it was the off-season in Port Angeles.
The host was female, and I understood the look in her eyes as sheassessed Edward. She welcomed him a little more warmly than necessary. Iwas surprised by how much that bothered me. She was several inches tallerthan I was, and unnaturally75 blond.
"A table for two?" His voice was alluring76, whether he was aiming for thator not. I saw her eyes flicker77 to me and then away, satisfied by myobvious ordinariness, and by the cautious, no-contact space Edward keptbetween us. She led us to a table big enough for four in the center ofthe most crowded area of the dining floor.
I was about to sit, but Edward shook his head at me.
"Perhaps something more private?" he insisted quietly to the host. Iwasn't sure, but it looked like he smoothly handed her a tip. I'd neverseen anyone refuse a table except in old movies.
"Sure." She sounded as surprised as I was. She turned and led us around apartition to a small ring of booths — all of them empty. "How's this?""Perfect." He flashed his gleaming smile, dazing her momentarily.
"Um" — she shook her head, blinking — "your server will be right out."She walked away unsteadily.
"You really shouldn't do that to people," I criticized. "It's hardlyfair.""Do what?""Dazzle them like that — she's probably hyperventilating in the kitchenright now."He seemed confused.
"Oh, come on," I said dubiously4. "You have to know the effect you have onpeople."He tilted78 his head to one side, and his eyes were curious. "I dazzlepeople?""You haven't noticed? Do you think everybody gets their way so easily?"He ignored my questions. "Do I dazzle you?""Frequently," I admitted.
And then our server arrived, her face expectant. The hostess haddefinitely dished behind the scenes, and this new girl didn't lookdisappointed. She flipped79 a strand80 of short black hair behind one ear andsmiled with unnecessary warmth.
"Hello. My name is Amber81, and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?" I didn't miss that she was speaking only to him.
He looked at me.
"I'll have a Coke." It sounded like a question.
"Two Cokes," he said.
"I'll be right back with that," she assured him with another unnecessarysmile. But he didn't see it. He was watching me.
"What?" I asked when she left.
His eyes stayed fixed82 on my face. "How are you feeling?""I'm fine," I replied, surprised by his intensity83.
"Well, I'm actually waiting for you to go into shock." His face twistedup into that perfect crooked85 smile.
"I don't think that will happen," I said after I could breathe again.
"I've always been very good at repressing unpleasant things.""Just the same, I'll feel better when you have some sugar and food inyou."Right on cue, the waitress appeared with our drinks and a basket ofbreadsticks. She stood with her back to me as she placed them on thetable.
"Are you ready to order?" she asked Edward.
"Bella?" he asked. She turned unwillingly86 toward me.
I picked the first thing I saw on the menu. "Um… I'll have the mushroomravioli.""And you?" She turned back to him with a smile.
"Nothing for me," he said. Of course not.
"Let me know if you change your mind." The coy smile was still in place,but he wasn't looking at her, and she left dissatisfied.
"Drink," he ordered.
I sipped88 at my soda89 obediently, and then drank more deeply, surprised byhow thirsty I was. I realized I had finished the whole thing when hepushed his glass toward me.
"Thanks," I muttered, still thirsty. The cold from the icy soda wasradiating through my chest, and I shivered.
"Are you cold?""It's just the Coke," I explained, shivering again.
"Don't you have a jacket?" His voice was disapproving90.
"Yes." I looked at the empty bench next to me. "Oh — I left it inJessica's car," I realized.
Edward was shrugging out of his jacket. I suddenly realized that I hadnever once noticed what he was wearing — not just tonight, but ever. Ijust couldn't seem to look away from his face. I made myself look now,focusing. He was removing a light beige leather jacket now; underneath91 he wore an ivory turtleneck sweater. It fit him snugly92, emphasizing howmuscular his chest was.
"Thanks," I said again, sliding my arms into his jacket. It was cold —the way my jacket felt when I first picked it up in the morning, hangingin the drafty hallway. I shivered again. It smelled amazing. I inhaled,trying to identify the delicious scent94. It didn't smell like cologne. Thesleeves were much too long; I shoved them back so I could free my hands.
"That color blue looks lovely with your skin," he said, watching me. Iwas surprised; I looked down, flushing, of course.
He pushed the bread basket toward me.
"Really, I'm not going into shock," I protested.
"You should be — a normal person would be. You don't even look shaken."He seemed unsettled. He stared into my eyes, and I saw how light his eyeswere, lighter95 than I'd ever seen them, golden butterscotch.
"I feel very safe with you," I confessed, mesmerized96 into telling thetruth again.
"This is more complicated than I'd planned," he murmured to himself.
I picked up a breadstick and began nibbling100 on the end, measuring hisexpression. I wondered when it would be okay to start questioning him.
"Usually you're in a better mood when your eyes are so light," Icommented, trying to distract him from whatever thought had left himfrowning and somber35.
He stared at me, stunned. "What?""You're always crabbier when your eyes are black — I expect it then," Iwent on. "I have a theory about that."His eyes narrowed. "More theories?""Mm-hm." I chewed on a small bite of the bread, trying to lookindifferent.
"I hope you were more creative this time… or are you still stealing fromcomic books?" His faint smile was mocking; his eyes were still tight.
"Well, no, I didn't get it from a comic book, but I didn't come up withit on my own, either," I confessed.
"And?" he prompted.
But then the waitress strode around the partition with my food. Irealized we'd been unconsciously leaning toward each other across thetable, because we both straightened up as she approached. She set thedish in front of me — it looked pretty good — and turned quickly toEdward.
"Did you change your mind?" she asked. "Isn't there anything I can getyou?" I may have been imagining the double meaning in her words.
"No, thank you, but some more soda would be nice." He gestured with along white hand to the empty cups in front of me.
"Sure." She removed the empty glasses and walked away.
"You were saying?" he asked.
"I'll tell you about it in the car. If…" I paused.
"I do have a few questions, of course.""Of course."The waitress was back with two more Cokes. She sat them down without aword this time, and left again.
"Well, go ahead," he pushed, his voice still hard.
I started with the most undemanding. Or so I thought. "Why are you inPort Angeles?"He looked down, folding his large hands together slowly on the table. Hiseyes flickered103 up at me from under his lashes104, the hint of a smirk105 on hisface.
"Next.""But that's the easiest one," I objected.
"Next," he repeated.
I looked down, frustrated106. I unrolled my silverware, picked up my fork,and carefully speared a ravioli. I put it in my mouth slowly, stilllooking down, chewing while I thought. The mushrooms were good. Iswallowed and took another sip of Coke before I looked up.
"Okay, then." I glared at him, and continued slowly. "Let's say,hypothetically of course, that… someone… could know what people arethinking, read minds, you know — with a few exceptions.""Just one exception," he corrected, "hypothetically.""All right, with one exception, then." I was thrilled that he was playingalong, but I tried to seem casual.
"How does that work? What are the limitations? How would… that someone…find someone else at exactly the right time? How would he know she was introuble?" I wondered if my convoluted107 questions even made sense.
"Hypothetically?" he asked.
"Sure.""Well, if… that someone…""Let's call him 'Joe,'" I suggested.
He smiled wryly108. "Joe, then. If Joe had been paying attention, the timingwouldn't have needed to be quite so exact." He shook his head, rollinghis eyes. "Only you could get into trouble in a town this small. Youwould have devastated109 their crime rate statistics for a decade, you know.""We were speaking of a hypothetical case," I reminded him frostily.
He laughed at me, his eyes warm.
"Yes, we were," he agreed. "Shall we call you 'Jane'?""How did you know?" I asked, unable to curb my intensity. I realized Iwas leaning toward him again.
He seemed to be wavering, torn by some internal dilemma110. His eyes lockedwith mine, and I guessed he was making the decision right then whether ornot to simply tell me the truth.
"You can trust me, you know," I murmured. I reached forward, without thinking, to touch his folded hands, but he slid them away minutely, andI pulled my hand back.
"I don't know if I have a choice anymore." His voice was almost awhisper. "I was wrong — you're much more observant than I gave you creditfor.""I thought you were always right.""I used to be." He shook his head again. "I was wrong about you on oneother thing, as well. You're not a magnet for accidents — that's not abroad enough classification. You are a magnet for trouble. If there isanything dangerous within a ten-mile radius111, it will invariably find you.""And you put yourself into that category?" I guessed.
His face turned cold, expressionless. "Unequivocally."I stretched my hand across the table again — ignoring him when he pulledback slightly once more — to touch the back of his hand shyly with myfingertips. His skin was cold and hard, like a stone.
"Thank you." My voice was fervent112 with gratitude113. "That's twice now."His face softened114. "Let's not try for three, agreed?"I scowled115, but nodded. He moved his hand out from under mine, placingboth of his under the table. But he leaned toward me.
"I followed you to Port Angeles," he admitted, speaking in a rush. "I'venever tried to keep a specific person alive before, and it's much moretroublesome than I would have believed. But that's probably just becauseit's you. Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so manycatastrophes." He paused. I wondered if it should bother me that he wasfollowing me; instead I felt a strange surge of pleasure. He stared,maybe wondering why my lips were curving into an involuntary smile.
"Did you ever think that maybe my number was up the first time, with thevan, and that you've been interfering116 with fate?" I speculated,distracting myself.
"That wasn't the first time," he said, and his voice was hard to hear. Istared at him in amazement117, but he was looking down. "Your number was upthe first time I met you."I felt a spasm118 of fear at his words, and the abrupt119 memory of his violentblack glare that first day… but the overwhelming sense of safety I feltin his presence stifled120 it. By the time he looked up to read my eyes,there was no trace of fear in them.
"You remember?" he asked, his angel's face grave.
"Yes." I was calm.
"And yet here you sit." There was a trace of disbelief in his voice; heraised one eyebrow.
"Yes, here I sit… because of you." I paused. "Because somehow you knewhow to find me today… ?" I prompted.
He pressed his lips together, staring at me through narrowed eyes,deciding again. His eyes flashed down to my full plate, and then back tome.
"You eat, I'll talk," he bargained.
"It's harder than it should be — keeping track of you. Usually I can findsomeone very easily, once I've heard their mind before." He looked at meanxiously, and I realized I had frozen. I made myself swallow, thenstabbed another ravioli and tossed it in.
"I was keeping tabs on Jessica, not carefully — like I said, only youcould find trouble in Port Angeles — and at first I didn't notice whenyou took off on your own. Then, when I realized that you weren't with heranymore, I went looking for you at the bookstore I saw in her head. Icould tell that you hadn't gone in, and that you'd gone south… and I knewyou would have to turn around soon. So I was just waiting for you,randomly searching through the thoughts of people on the street — to seeif anyone had noticed you so I would know where you were. I had no reasonto be worried… but I was strangely anxious…" He was lost in thought,staring past me, seeing things I couldn't imagine.
"I started to drive in circles, still… listening. The sun was finallysetting, and I was about to get out and follow you on foot. And then —"He stopped, clenching122 his teeth together in sudden fury. He made aneffort to calm himself.
"Then what?" I whispered. He continued to stare over my head.
"I heard what they were thinking," he growled123, his upper lip curlingslightly back over his teeth. "I saw your face in his mind." He suddenlyleaned forward, one elbow appearing on the table, his hand covering hiseyes. The movement was so swift it startled me.
"It was very… hard — you can't imagine how hard — for me to simply takeyou away, and leave them… alive." His voice was muffled124 by his arm. "Icould have let you go with Jessica and Angela, but I was afraid if youleft me alone, I would go looking for them," he admitted in a whisper.
I sat quietly, dazed, my thoughts incoherent. My hands were folded in mylap, and I was leaning weakly against the back of the seat. He still hadhis face in his hand, and he was as still as if he'd been carved from thestone his skin resembled.
Finally he looked up, his eyes seeking mine, full of his own questions.
"Are you ready to go home?" he asked.
"I'm ready to leave," I qualified125, overly grateful that we had thehour-long ride home together. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to him.
The waitress appeared as if she'd been called. Or watching.
"How are we doing?" she asked Edward.
"We're ready for the check, thank you." His voice was quiet, rougher,still reflecting the strain of our conversation. It seemed to muddle126 her.
He looked up, waiting.
"S-sure," she stuttered. "Here you go." She pulled a small leather folder127 from the front pocket of her black apron128 and handed it to him.
There was a bill in his hand already. He slipped it into the folder andhanded it right back to her.
She smiled invitingly130 at him again. "You have a nice evening."He didn't look away from me as he thanked her. I suppressed a smile.
He walked close beside me to the door, still careful not to touch me. Iremembered what Jessica had said about her relationship with Mike, howthey were almost to the first-kiss stage. I sighed. Edward seemed to hearme, and he looked down curiously. I looked at the sidewalk, grateful thathe didn't seem to be able to know what I was thinking.
He opened the passenger door, holding it for me as I stepped in, shuttingit softly behind me. I watched him walk around the front of the car,amazed, yet again, by how graceful131 he was. I probably should have beenused to that by now — but I wasn't. I had a feeling Edward wasn't the kind of person anyone got used to.
Once inside the car, he started the engine and turned the heater on high.
It had gotten very cold, and I guessed the good weather was at an end. Iwas warm in his jacket, though, breathing in the scent of it when Ithought he couldn't see.
Edward pulled out through the traffic, apparently132 without a glance,flipping around to head toward the freeway.
"Now," he said significantly, "it's your turn."
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收听单词发音
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1
whiny
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| adj. 好发牢骚的, 嘀咕不停的, 烦躁的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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skeptical
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| adj.怀疑的，多疑的 | |
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Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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14
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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17
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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18
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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20
unleashed
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| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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22
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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24
meandered
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| （指溪流、河流等）蜿蜒而流( meander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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26
stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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28
warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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29
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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30
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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31
raucously
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| adv.粗声地；沙哑地 | |
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32
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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33
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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34
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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37
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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38
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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39
inhibited
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| a.拘谨的，拘束的 | |
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40
intersection
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| n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集 | |
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41
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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42
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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43
intersections
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| n.横断( intersection的名词复数 )；交叉；交叉点；交集 | |
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44
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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45
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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46
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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47
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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48
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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49
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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51
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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52
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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53
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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55
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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56
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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57
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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58
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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59
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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60
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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61
prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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62
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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63
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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64
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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65
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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66
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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67
slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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68
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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69
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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70
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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71
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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72
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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73
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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74
scrutinize
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| n.详细检查，细读 | |
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75
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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76
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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77
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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78
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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79
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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80
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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81
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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82
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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83
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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84
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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86
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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87
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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88
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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90
disapproving
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| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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91
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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92
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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93
ogling
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
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94
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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95
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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96
mesmerized
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| v.使入迷( mesmerize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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98
alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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99
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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101
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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102
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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103
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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105
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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106
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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107
convoluted
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| adj.旋绕的；复杂的 | |
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108
wryly
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| adv. 挖苦地，嘲弄地 | |
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109
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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110
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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111
radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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112
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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113
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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114
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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115
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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117
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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118
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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119
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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120
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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121
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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122
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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123
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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124
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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125
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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126
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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127
folder
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| n.纸夹，文件夹 | |
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128
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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129
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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130
invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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131
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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132
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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