6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第3部分

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slung　her　limp　body　over　my　shoulder。　I　was　about　to　get　the　other　one；　but　Diego　was　there　before　me；　the　pimp　already　on　his　back。　　“I　got　it；”　he　said。　　I　followed　him　up　the　alley　wall；　and　then　we　swung　across　the　girders　under　the　freeway。　The　lights　from　the　cars　below　didn’t　touch　us。　I　thought　how　stupid　people　were；　how　oblivious；　and　I　was　glad　I　wasn’t　one　of　the　clueless。　　Hidden　in　the　darkness；　we　made　our　way　to　an　empty　dock；　closed　for　the　night。　Diego　didn’t　hesitate　at　the　end　of　the　concrete；　he　just　jumped　right　over　the　edge　with　his　bulky　burden　and　disappeared　into　the　water。　I　slid　in　after　him。　　He　swam　as　sleek　and　quick　as　a　shark；　shooting　deeper　and　farther　out　into　the　black　sound。　He　stopped　suddenly　when　he　found　what　he　was　looking　for　　　a　huge；　slimecovered　boulder　on　the　ocean　floor；　sea　stars　and　garbage　clinging　to　its　sides。　We　had　to　be　more　than　a　hundred　feet　deep　to　a　human；　it　would　have　seemed　pitchblack　here。　Diego　let　go　of　his　bodies。　They　swayed　slowly　in　the　current　beside　him　while　he　shoved　his　hand　into　the　mucky　sand　at　the　base　of　the　rock。　After　a　second　he　found　a　hold　and　ripped　the　boulder　up　from　its　resting　spot。　The　weight　of　it　drove　him　waistdeep　into　the　
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dark　seafloor。　　He　looked　up　and　nodded　to　me。　　I　swam　down　to　him；　hooking　his　bodies　with　one　hand　on　my　way。　I　shoved　the　blonde　into　the　black　hole　under　the　rock；　then　pushed　the　second　girl　and　the　pimp　in　after　her。　I　kicked　them　lightly　to　make　sure　they　were　in；　and　then　got　out　of　the　way。　Diego　let　the　boulder　fall。　It　wobbled　a　little；　adjusting　to　the　newly　uneven　foundation。　He　kicked　his　way　out　of　the　muck；　swam　to　the　top　of　the　boulder；　and　then　pushed　it　down；　grinding　the　obstructions　flat　underneath。　　He　swam　back　a　few　yards　to　view　his　work。　　Perfect；　I　mouthed。　These　three　bodies　would　never　resurface。　Riley　would　never　hear　a　story　about　them　on　the　news。　　He　grinned　and　held　up　his　hand。　　It　took　me　a　minute　to　understand　that　he　was　looking　for　a　high　five。　Hesitantly；　I　swam　forward；　tapped　my　palm　to　his；　then　kicked　away；　putting　some　distance　between　us。　　Diego　got　a　weird　expression　on　his　face；　and　then　he　shot　to　the　surface　like　a　bullet。　　I　darted　up　after　him；　confused。　When　I　broke　through　to　the　air；　he　was　almost　choking　on　his　laughter。　　“What？”　　He　couldn’t　answer　me　for　a　minute。　Finally　he　blurted　out；　“Worst　high　five　ever。”　　I　sniffed；　irritated。　“Couldn’t　be　sure　you　weren’t　just　going　to　rip　my　arm　off　or　something。”　　Diego　snorted。　“I　wouldn’t　do　that。”　
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　“Anyone　else　would；”　I　countered。　　“True；　that；”　he　agreed；　suddenly　not　as　amused。　“You　up　for　a　little　more　hunting？”　　“Do　you　have　to　ask？”　　We　came　out　of　the　water　under　a　bridge　and　lucked　right　into　two　homeless　guys　sleeping　in　ancient；　filthy　sleeping　bags　on　top　of　a　shared　mattress　of　old　newspapers。　Neither　one　of　them　woke　up。　Their　blood　was　soured　by　alcohol；　but　still　better　than　nothing。　We　buried　them　in　the　sound；　too；　under　a　different　rock。　　“Well；　I’m　good　for　a　few　weeks；”　Diego　said　when　we　were　out　of　the　water　again；　dripping　on　the　end　of　another　empty　dock。　　I　sighed。　“I　guess　that’s　the　easier　part；　right？　I’ll　be　burning　again　in　a　couple　of　days。　And　then　Riley　will　probably　send　me　out　with　more　of　Raoul’s　mutants　again。”　　“I　can　e　with　you；　if　you　want。　Riley　pretty　much　lets　me　do　what　I　want。”　　I　thought　about　the　offer；　suspicious　for　a　second。　But　Diego　really　didn’t　seem　like　any　of　the　others。　I　felt　different　with　him。　Like　I　didn’t　need　to　watch　my　back　so　much。　　“I’d　like　that；”　I　admitted。　It　felt　off　to　say　this。　Too　vulnerable　or　something。　　But　Diego　just　said　“cool”　and　smiled　at　me。　　“So　how　e　Riley　gives　you　such　a　long　leash？”　I　asked；　wondering　about　the　relationship　there。　The　more　time　I　spent　with　Diego；　the　less　I　could　picture　him　being　in　tight　with　Riley。　Diego　was　so…　friendly。　Nothing　like　Riley。　But　maybe　it　was　an　
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oppositesattract　thing。　　“Riley　knows　he　can　trust　me　to　clean　up　my　messes。　Speaking　of　which；　do　you　mind　running　a　quick　errand？”　　I　was　starting　to　be　entertained　by　this　strange　boy。　Curious　about　him。　I　wanted　to　see　what　he　would　do。　　“Sure；”　I　said。　　He　bounded　across　the　dock　toward　the　road　that　ran　along　the　waterfront。　I　followed　after。　I　caught　the　scent　of　a　few　humans；　but　I　knew　it　was　too　dark　and　we　were　too　fast　for　them　to　see　us。　　He　chose　to　travel　across　rooftops　again。　After　a　few　jumps；　I　recognized　both　our　scents。　He　was　retracing　our　earlier　path。　　And　then　we　were　back　to　that　first　alley；　where　Kevin　and　the　other　guy　had　gotten　stupid　with　the　car。　　“Unbelievable；”　Diego　growled。　　Kevin　and　Co。　had　just　left；　it　appeared。　Two　other　cars　were　stacked　on　top　of　the　first；　and　a　handful　of　bystanders　had　been　added　to　the　body　count。　The　cops　weren’t　here　yetbecause　anyone　who　might　have　reported　the　mayhem　was　already　dead。　　“Help　me　sort　this　out？”　Diego　asked。　　“Okay。”　　We　dropped　down；　and　Diego　quickly　threw　the　cars　into　a　new　arrangement；　so　that　it　sort　of　looked　like　they’d　hit　each　other　rather　than　been　piled　up　by　a　giant　tantrumthrowing　baby。　I　grabbed　the　two　dry；　lifeless　bodies　abandoned　on　the　pavement　and　stuffed　them　under　the　apparent　site　of　impact。　　“Bad　accident；”　I　mented。　
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　Diego　grinned。　He　took　a　lighter　out　of　a　ziplock　from　his　pocket　and　started　igniting　the　clothes　of　the　victims。　I　grabbed　my　own　lighter　　Riley　reissued　these　when　we　went　hunting；　Kevin　should　have　used　his　　　and　got　to　work　on　the　upholstery。　The　bodies；　dried　out　and　laced　with　flammable　venom；　blazed　up　quickly。　　“Get　back；”　Diego　warned；　and　I　saw　that　he　had　the　first　car’s　gas　hatch　open　and　the　lid　screwed　off　the　tank。　I　jumped　up　the　closest　wall；　perching　a　story　above　to　watch。　He　took　a　few　steps　back　and　lit　a　match。　With　perfect　aim；　he　tossed　it　into　the　small　hole。　In　the　same　second；　he　leaped　up　beside　me。　　The　boom　of　the　explosion　shook　the　whole　street。　Lights　started　going　on　around　the　corner。　　“Well　done；”　I　said。　　“Thanks　for　your　help。　Back　to　Riley’s？”　　I　frowned。　Riley’s　house　was　the　last　place　I　wanted　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　night。　I　didn’t　want　to　see　Raoul’s　stupid　face　or　listen　to　the　constant　shrieking　and　fighting。　I　didn’t　want　to　have　to　grit　my　teeth　and　hide　out　behind　Freaky　Fred　so　that　people　would　leave　me　alone。　And　I　was　out　of　books。　　“We’ve　got　some　time；”　Diego　said；　reading　my　expression。　“We　don’t　have　to　go　right　away。”　　“I　could　use　some　reading　material。”　　“And　I　could　use　some　new　music。”　He　grinned。　“Let’s　go　shopping。”　　We　moved　quickly　through　townover　rooftops　again　and　then　darting　through　shadowy　streets　when　the　buildings　got　
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farther　apart　to　a　friendlier　neighborhood。　It　didn’t　take　long　to　find　a　strip　mall　with　one　of　the　big　chain　bookstores。　I　snapped　the　lock　on　the　roof　access　hatch　and　let　us　in。　The　store　was　empty；　the　only　alarms　on　the　windows　and　doors。　I　went　straight　to　the　H’s；　while　Diego　headed　to　the　music　section　in　the　back。　I’d　just　finished　with　Hale。　I　took　the　next　dozen　books　in　line；　that　would　keep　me　a　couple　of　days。　　I　looked　around　for　Diego　and　found　him　sitting　at　one　of　the　café　tables；　studying　the　backs　of　his　new　CDs。　I　paused；　then　joined　him。　　This　felt　strange　because　it　was　familiar　in　a　haunting；　unfortable　way。　I　had　sat　like　this　before　　　across　a　table　from　someone。　I’d　chatted　casually　with　that　person；　thinking　about　things　that　were　not　life　and　death　or　thirst　and　blood。　But　that　had　been　in　a　different；　blurry　lifetime。　　The　last　time　I’d　sat　at　a　table　with　someone；　that　someone　had　been　Riley。　It　was　hard　to　remember　that　night　for　a　lot　of　reasons。　　“So　how　e　I　never　notice　you　around　the　house？”　Diego　asked　abruptly。　“Where　do　you　hide？”　　I　laughed　and　grimaced　at　the　same　time。　“I　usually　kick　it　behind　wherever　Freaky　Fred　is　hanging　out。”　　His　nose　wrinkled。　“Seriously？　How　do　you　stand　that？”　　“You　get　used　to　it。　It’s　not　so　bad　behind　him　as　it　is　in　front。　Anyway；　it’s　the　best　hiding　place　I’ve　found。　Nobody　gets　close　to　Fred。”　　Diego　nodded；　still　looking　kind　of　grossed　out。　“That’s　true。　It’s　a　way　to　stay　alive。”　
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　I　shrugged。　　“Did　you　know　that　Fred　is　one　of　Riley’s　favorites？”　Diego　asked。　　“Really？　How　”　No　one　could　stand　Freaky　Fred。　I　was　the　only　one　who　tried；　and　that　was　solely　out　of　selfpreservation。　　Diego　leaned　toward　me　conspiratorially。　I　was　already　so　used　to　his　strange　way　that　I　didn’t　even　flinch。　　“I　heard　him　on　the　phone　with　her。”　　I　shuddered。　　“I　know；”　he　said；　sounding　sympathetic　again。　Of　course；　it　wasn’t　weird　that　we　could　sympathize　with　each　other　when　it　came　to　her。　“This　was　a　few　months　back。　Anyway；　Riley　was　talking　about　Fred；　all　excited。　From　what　they　were　saying；　I　guess　that　some　vampires　can　do　things。　More　than　what　normal　vampires　can　do；　I　mean。　And　that’s　goodsomething　she’s　looking　for。　Vampires　with　skillzzz。”　　He　pulled　the　Z　sound　out；　so　I　could　hear　how　he　was　spelling　it　in　his　head。　　“What　kinds　of　skills？”　　“All　kinds　of　stuff；　it　so