6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第8部分

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ther？　　but　mostly　I　just　didn’t　want　to　leave　him；　and　I　could　see　he　felt　the　same。　Both　of　us　had　been　without　any　kind　of　good　panionship　our　whole　lives；　and　it　was　just　too　sweet　to　waste　a　minute　of　it。　　There　were　so　many　options　as　to　where　they　could　have　gone。　To　the　mainland　of　the　peninsula；　or　to　another　island；　or　
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back　to　the　outskirts　of　Seattle；　or　north　to　Canada。　Whenever　we　pulled　down　or　burned　down　one　of　our　houses；　Riley　was　always　prepared　he　always　seemed　to　know　exactly　where　to　go　next。　He　must　have　planned　ahead　for　that　stuff；　but　he　didn’t　let　any　of　us　in　on　the　plan。　　They　could　have　been　anywhere。　　Ducking　in　and　out　of　the　water　to　avoid　boats　and　people　really　slowed　us　down。　We　spent　all　day　with　no　luck；　but　neither　of　us　minded。　We　were　having　the　most　fun　we’d　ever　had。　　It　was　such　a　strange　day。　Instead　of　sitting　miserably　in　the　darkness　trying　to　tune　out　the　mayhem　and　swallow　my　disgust　at　my　hiding　place；　I　was　playing　ninja　with　my　new　best　friend；　or　maybe　something　more。　We　laughed　a　lot　while　we　moved　through　the　patches　of　shade；　throwing　rocks　at　each　other　like　they　were　Chinese　stars。　　Then　the　sun　set；　and　suddenly　I　was　stressed。　Would　Riley　look　for　us？　Would　he　assume　we　were　fried？　Did　he　know　better？　　We　started　moving　faster。　A　lot　faster。　We’d　already　circled　all　the　nearby　islands；　so　now　we　concentrated　on　the　mainland。　About　an　hour　after　sundown；　I　caught　a　familiar　scent；　and　within　seconds　we　were　on　their　trail。　Once　we　found　the　path　of　the　smell；　it　was　as　easy　as　following　a　herd　of　elephants　through　fresh　snow。　　We　talked　about　what　to　do；　more　serious　now　as　we　ran。　　“I　don’t　think　we　should　tell　Riley；”　I　said。　“Let’s　say　we　spent　all　day　in　your　cave　before　we　went　looking　for　them。”　As　I　spoke；　my　paranoia　started　to　grow。　“Better　yet；　let’s　tell　them　
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your　cave　was　filled　with　water。　We　couldn’t　even　talk。”　　“You　think　Riley’s　a　bad　dude；　don’t　you？”　he　asked　quietly　after　a　minute。　As　he　spoke；　he　took　my　hand。　　“I　don’t　know。　But　I’d　rather　act　like　he　was；　just　in　case。”　I　hesitated；　then　said；　“You　don’t　want　to　think　he’s　bad。”　　“No；”　Diego　admitted。　“He’s　kind　of　my　friend。　I　mean；　not　like　you’re　my　friend。”　He　squeezed　my　fingers。　“But　more　than　anyone　else。　I　don’t　want　to　think…”　Diego　didn’t　finish　his　sentence。　　I　squeezed　his　fingers　back。　“Maybe　he’s　totally　decent。　Our　being　careful　doesn’t　change　who　he　is。”　　“True。　Okay；　the　underwater　cave　story　it　is。　At　least　at　first…　I　could　talk　to　him　about　the　sun　later。　I’d　rather　do　it　during　the　day；　anyway；　when　I　can　prove　what　I’m　claiming　right　away。　And　just　in　case　he　already　knows；　but　there’s　some　good　reason　why　he　told　us　something　else；　I　should　tell　him　when　we’re　alone。　Grab　him　at　dawn；　when　he’s　ing　back　from　wherever　it　is　he　goes…。”　　I　noticed　a　ton　of　I’s　rather　than　we’s　going　on　in　Diego’s　little　speech；　and　it　bothered　me。　But　at　the　same　time；　I　didn’t　want　much　to　do　with　educating　Riley。　I　didn’t　have　the　same　faith　in　him　Diego　did。　　“Ninja　attack　at　dawn！”　I　said　to　make　him　laugh。　It　worked。　We　started　joking　again　as　we　tracked　our　herd　of　vampires；　but　I　could　tell　he　was　thinking　serious　stuff　under　the　teasing；　just　like　I　was。　　And　I　only　got　more　anxious　as　we　ran。　Because　we　were　running　fast；　and　there　was　no　way　we　had　the　wrong　trail；　but　it　
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was　taking　too　long。　We　were　really　getting　away　from　the　coast；　up　and　over　the　closest　mountains；　off　into　new　territory。　This　wasn’t　the　normal　pattern。　　Every　house　we’d　borrowed；　whether　it　was　up　a　mountain　or　on　an　island　or　hidden　on　a　big　farm；　had　a　few　things　in　mon。　The　dead　owners；　the　remote　locale；　and　one　other　thing。　They　all　were　sort　of　focused　on　Seattle。　Oriented　around　the　big　city　like　orbiting　moons。　Seattle　was　always　the　hub；　always　the　target。　　We　were　out　of　orbit　now；　and　it　felt　wrong。　Maybe　it　meant　nothing；　maybe　it　was　just　that　so　many　things　were　changing　today。　All　the　truths　I’d　accepted　had　been　turned　upside　down　and　I　wasn’t　in　the　mood　for　any　other　upheavals。　Why　couldn’t　Riley　have　just　picked　someplace　normal？　　“Funny　they’re　this　far　out；”　Diego　murmured；　and　I　could　hear　the　edge　in　his　voice。　　“Or　scary；”　I　muttered。　　He　squeezed　my　hand。　“It’s　cool。　The　ninja　club　can　handle　anything。”　　“You　got　a　secret　handshake　yet？”　　“Working　on　it；”　he　promised。　　Something　started　to　bug　me。　It　was　like　I　could　feel　this　strange　blind　spot　　　I　knew　there　was　something　I　wasn’t　seeing；　but　I　couldn’t　put　my　finger　on　it。　Something　obvious…　　And　then；　about　sixty　miles　farther　west　than　our　usual　perimeter；　we　found　the　house。　It　was　impossible　to　mistake　the　noise。　The　boom　boom　boom　of　the　bass；　the　videogame　soundtrack；　the　snarling。　Totally　our　crowd。　
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　I　pulled　my　hand　free；　and　Diego　looked　at　me。　　“Hey；　I　don’t　even　know　you；”　I　said　in　a　joking　tone。　“I　haven’t　had　one　conversation　with　you；　what　with　all　that　water　we　sat　in　all　day。　You　could　be　a　ninja　or　a　vampire　for　all　I　know。”　　He　grinned。　“Same　goes　for　you；　stranger。”　Then　low　and　fast；　“Just　do　the　same　things　you　did　yesterday。　Tomorrow　night　we’ll　get　out　together。　Maybe　do　some　reconnaissance；　figure　out　more　of　what’s　going　on。”　　“Sounds　like　a　plan。　Mum’s　the　word。”　　He　ducked　close　and　kissed　me　just　a　peck；　but　right　on　the　lips。　The　shock　of　it　zinged　through　my　whole　body。　Then　he　said；　“Let’s　do　this；”　and　headed　down　the　side　of　the　mountain　toward　the　source　of　the　raucous　noise　without　looking　back。　Already　playing　the　part。　　A　little　stunned；　I　followed　from　a　few　yards　behind；　remembering　to　put　the　distance　between　us　that　I　would　put　between　myself　and　anyone　else。　　The　house　was　a　big；　log　cabin–style　affair；　tucked　into　a　hollow　in　the　pines　with　no　sign　of　any　neighbors　for　miles　around。　All　the　windows　were　black；　as　if　the　place　were　empty；　but　the　whole　frame　was　trembling　from　the　heavy　bass　in　the　basement。　　Diego　went　in　first；　and　I　tried　to　move　behind　him　like　he　was　Kevin　or　Raoul。　Hesitant；　protecting　my　space。　He　found　the　stairs　and　charged　down　with　a　confident　tread。　　“Trying　to　lose　me；　losers？”　he　asked。　　“Oh；　hey；　Diego’s　alive；”　I　heard　Kevin　answer　with　a　distinct　
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lack　of　enthusiasm。　　“No　thanks　to　you；”　Diego　said　as　I　slipped　into　the　dark　basement。　The　only　light　came　from　the　various　TV　screens；　but　it　was　way　more　than　any　of　us　needed。　I　hurried　back　to　where　Fred　had　a　whole　couch　to　himself；　glad　that　it　was　right　for　me　to　look　anxious　because　there　was　no　way　to　hide　it。　I　swallowed　hard　as　the　revulsion　hit；　and　curled　up　in　my　usual　spot　on　the　floor　behind　the　couch。　Once　I　was　down；　Fred’s　repellent　power　seemed　to　ease　up。　Or　maybe　I　was　just　getting　used　to　it。　　The　basement　was　more　than　half　empty　since　it　was　the　middle　of　the　night。　All　the　kids　in　here　had　eyes　the　same　as　mine　bright；　recently　fed　red。　　“Took　me　a　while　to　clean　up　your　stupid　mess；”　Diego　told　Kevin。　“It　was　almost　dawn　by　the　time　I　got　to　what　was　left　of　the　house。　Had　to　sit　in　a　cave　filled　with　water　all　day。”　　“Go　tattle　to　Riley。　Whatever。”　　“I　see　the　little　girl　made　it；　too；”　said　a　new　voice；　and　I　shuddered　because　it　was　Raoul。　I　felt　a　little　bit　of　relief　that　he　didn’t　know　my　name；　but　mostly　I　just　felt　horrified　that　he’d　noticed　me　at　all。　　“Yeah；　she　followed　me。”　I　couldn’t　see　Diego；　but　I　knew　he　was　shrugging。　　“Aren’t　you　the　savior　of　the　hour？”　Raoul　said　snidely。　　“We　don’t　get　extra　points　for　being　morons。”　　I　wished　Diego　wouldn’t　taunt　Raoul。　I　hoped　Riley　would　e　back　soon。　Only　Riley　could　curb　Raoul　even　the　littlest　bit。　
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　But　Riley　was　probably　out　hunting　dregs　kids　to　bring　to　her。　Or　doing　whatever　else　he　did　while　he　was　away。　　“Interesting　attitude　you　got；　Diego。　You　think　that　Riley　likes　you　so　much　he’s　gonna　care　if　I　kill　you。　I　think　you’re　wrong。　But　either　way；　for　tonight；　he　already　thinks　you’re　dead。”　　I　could　hear　the　others　moving。　Some　probably　to　back　Raoul　up；　others　just　getting　out　of　the　way。　I　hesitated　in　my　hiding　spot；　knowing　I　wasn’t　going　to　let　Diego　fight　them　alone；　but　worried　about　blowing　our　cover　if　it　didn’t　e　to　that。　I　hoped　Diego　had　survived　this　long　because　he　had　some　crazy　bat　skills。　I　wasn’t　going　to　have　much　to　offer　in　that　department。　There　were　three　members　of　Raoul’s　gang　here；　and　some　others　that　might　help　out　just　to　get　on　his　good　side。　Would　Riley　get　home　before　they　had　time　to　burn　us？　　Diego’s　voice　was　calm　when　he　answered。　“You’re　really　that　afraid　to　take　me　on　alone？　Typical。”　　Raoul　snorted。　“Does　that　ever　work？　I　mean；　besides　in　movies。　Why　should　I　take　you　on　alone？　I　don’t　care　about　beating　you。　I　just　want　to　end　you。”　　I　rolled　into　a　crouch；　tensed　to　spring。　　Raoul　kept　talking。　He　liked　the　sound　of　his　own　voice　a　lot。　　“But　it’s　not　gonna　take　all　of　us　to　deal　with　you。　These　two　will　take　care　of　the　other　evidence　of　your　unfortunate　survival。　Little　what’shername。”　　My　body　felt　icy；　frozen　solid。　I　tried　to　shake　it　off　so　I　could　fight　my　be