6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第15部分

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king　about。　The　girl　will　be　with　the　yelloweyes。　And　whoever　gets　to　her　first　gets　dessert。　Simple　as　that。”　　Appreciative　growls；　petitive　growls。　　Simple；　yes；　but…　wrong。　Weren’t　we　supposed　to　be　destroying　the　yelloweyed　coven？　Unity　was　supposed　to　be　the　key；　not　a　firste；　firstserved　prize　that　only　one　vampire　could　win。　The　only　guaranteed　oute　from　this　plan　was　one　dead　human。　I　could　think　of　half　a　dozen　more　productive　ways　to　motivate　this　army。　The　one　who　kills　the　most　yelloweyes　wins　the　girl。　The　one　who　shows　the　best　team　cooperation　gets　the　girl。　The　one　who　sticks　to　the　plan　best。　The　one　who　follows　orders　best。　MVP；　etc。　The　focus　should　be　on　the　danger；　which　was　definitely　not　the　human。　　I　looked　around　at　the　others　and　decided　that　none　of　them　were　following　the　same　train　of　thought。　Raoul　and　Kristie　were　glaring　at　each　other。　I　heard　Sara　and　Jen　arguing　in　whispers　about　the　possibility　of　sharing　the　prize。　　Well；　maybe　Fred　got　it。　He　was　frowning；　too。　
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　“And　the　last　thing；”　Riley　said。　For　the　first　time　there　was　some　reluctance　in　his　voice。　“This　will　probably　be　even　harder　to　accept；　so　I’ll　show　you。　I　won’t　ask　you　to　do　anything　I　won’t　do。　Remember　that　　I’m　with　you　guys　every　step　of　the　way。”　　The　vampires　got　real　still　again。　I　noticed　that　Raoul　had　the　ziplock　back　and　was　gripping　it　possessively。　　“There　are　so　many　things　you　have　yet　to　learn　about　being　a　vampire；”　Riley　said。　“Some　of　them　make　more　sense　than　others。　This　is　one　of　those　things　that　won’t　sound　right　at　first；　but　I’ve　experienced　it　myself；　and　I’ll　show　you。”　He　deliberated　for　a　long　second。　“Four　times　a　year；　the　sun　shines　at　a　certain　indirect　angle。　During　that　one　day；　four　times　a　year；　it　is　safe…　for　us　to　be　outside　in　the　daylight。”　　Every　tiny　movement　stopped。　There　was　no　breathing。　Riley　was　talking　to　a　bunch　of　statues。　　“One　of　those　special　days　is　beginning　now。　The　sun　that　is　rising　outside　today　won’t　hurt　any　of　us。　And　we　are　going　to　use　this　rare　exception　to　surprise　our　enemies。”　　My　thoughts　spun　around　and　turned　upside　down。　So　Riley　knew　it　was　safe　for　us　to　go　out　in　the　sun。　Or　he　didn’t；　and　our　creator　had　told　him　this　“four　days　a　year”　story。　Or…　this　was　true　and　Diego　and　I　had　lucked　into　one　of　those　days。　Except　that　Diego　had　been　out　in　the　shade　before。　And　Riley　was　making　this　into　some　kind　of　solsticey　seasonal　thing；　while　Diego　and　I　had　been　safe　in　the　daylight　just　four　days　ago。　　I　could　understand　that　Riley　and　our　creator　would　want　to　control　us　with　the　fear　of　the　sun。　It　made　sense。　But　why　tell　the　truth　　　in　a　very　limited　way　　　now？　
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　I　would　bet　it　had　to　do　with　those　scary　darkcloaks。　She　probably　wanted　to　get　a　jump　on　her　deadline。　The　cloaked　ones　had　not　promised　to　let　her　live　when　we　killed　all　the　yelloweyes。　I　guessed　she　would　be　off　like　a　shot　the　second　she’d　acplished　her　objective　here。　Kill　the　yelloweyes　and　then　take　an　extended　vacation　in　Australia　or　somewhere　else　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　And　I’d　bet　she　wasn’t　going　to　send　us　engraved　invitations。　I　would　have　to　get　to　Diego　quick　so　we　could　bail；　too。　In　the　opposite　direction　from　Riley　and　our　creator。　And　I　ought　to　tip　Fred　off。　I　decided　I　would　as　soon　as　we　had　a　moment　alone。　　There　was　so　much　manipulation　going　on　in　this　one　little　speech；　and　I　wasn’t　sure　I　was　catching　it　all。　I　wished　Diego　were　here　so　we　could　analyze　it　together。　　If　Riley　was　just　making　up　this　fourdays　story　on　the　spot；　I　guess　I　could　understand　why。　It’s　not　like　he　could　have　just　said；　Hey；　so　I’ve　lied　to　you　for　your　whole　lives；　but　now　I’m　telling　the　truth。　He　wanted　us　to　follow　him　into　battle　today；　he　couldn’t　undermine　whatever　trust　he’d　earned。　　“It’s　right　for　you　to　be　terrified　at　the　thought；”　Riley　told　the　statues。　“The　reason　you　are　all　still　alive　is　that　you　paid　attention　when　I　told　you　to　be　careful。　You　got　home　on　time；　you　didn’t　make　mistakes。　You　let　that　fear　make　you　smart　and　cautious。　I　don’t　expect　you　to　put　that　intelligent　fear　aside　easily。　I　don’t　expect　you　to　run　out　that　door　on　my　word。　But…”　He　looked　around　the　room　once。　“I　do　expect　you　to　follow　me　out。”　　His　eyes　slid　away　from　the　audience　for　just　the　teensiest　
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fraction　of　a　second；　touching　very　briefly　on　something　over　my　head。　　“Watch　me；”　he　told　us。　“Listen　to　me。　Trust　me。　When　you　see　that　I’m　okay；　believe　your　eyes。　The　sun　on　this　one　day　does　have　some　interesting　effects　on　our　skin。　You’ll　see。　It　won’t　hurt　you　in　any　way。　I　wouldn’t　do　anything　to　put　you　guys　in　unnecessary　danger。　You　know　that。”　　He　started　up　the　stairs。　　“Riley；　can’t　we　just　wait　　；”　Kristie　began。　　“Just　pay　attention；”　Riley　cut　her　off；　still　moving　up　at　a　measured　pace。　“This　gives　us　a　big　advantage。　The　yellow　eyes　know　all　about　this　day；　but　they　don’t　know　that　we　know。”　As　he　was　talking；　he　opened　the　door　and　walked　out　of　the　basement　into　the　kitchen。　There　was　no　light　in　the　wellshaded　kitchen；　but　everyone　still　shied　away　from　the　open　doorway。　Everyone　but　me。　His　voice　continued；　moving　toward　the　front　door。　“It　takes　most　young　vampires　a　while　to　embrace　this　exception　　for　good　reason。　Those　who　aren’t　cautious　about　the　daylight　don’t　last　long。”　　I　felt　Fred’s　eyes　on　me。　I　glanced　over　at　him。　He　was　staring　at　me　urgently；　as　if　he　wanted　to　take　off　but　had　nowhere　to　go。　　“It’s　okay；”　I　whispered　almost　silently。　“The　sun’s　not　going　to　hurt　us。”　　You　trust　him　　　he　mouthed　back　at　me。　　No　way。　　Fred　raised　an　eyebrow　and　relaxed　just　slightly。　　I　glanced　behind　us。　What　had　Riley　been　looking　at？　
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Nothing　had　changed　　just　some　family　pictures　of　dead　people；　a　small　mirror；　and　a　cuckoo　clock。　Hmm。　Was　he　checking　the　time？　Maybe　our　creator　had　given　him　a　deadline；　too。　　“’Kay；　guys；　I’m　going　out；”　Riley　said。　“You　don’t　have　to　be　afraid　today；　I　promise。”　　The　light　burst　into　the　basement　through　the　open　door；　magnified　　as　only　I　knew　　by　Riley’s　skin。　I　could　see　the　bright　reflections　dance　on　the　wall。　　Hissing　and　snarling；　my　coven　backed　into　the　corner　opposite　from　Fred’s。　Kristie　was　in　the　very　back。　It　looked　like　she　was　trying　to　use　her　gang　as　a　kind　of　shield。　　“Relax；　everybody；”　Riley　called　down　to　us。　“I　am　absolutely　fine。　No　pain；　no　burn。　e　and　see。　C’mon！”　　No　one　moved　closer　to　the　door。　Fred　was　crouched　against　the　wall　beside　me；　eyeing　the　light　with　panic。　I　waved　my　hand　a　tiny　bit　to　get　his　attention。　He　looked　up　at　me　and　measured　my　total　calm　for　a　second。　Slowly　he　straightened　up　next　to　me。　I　smiled　encouragingly。　　Everyone　else　was　waiting　for　the　burn　to　start。　I　wondered　if　I　had　looked　that　silly　to　Diego。　　“You　know；”　Riley　mused　from　above；　“I’m　curious　to　see　who　is　the　bravest　one　of　you。　I　have　a　good　idea　who　the　first　person　through　that　door　is　going　to　be；　but　I’ve　been　wrong　before。”　　I　rolled　my　eyes。　Subtle；　Riley。　　But　of　course　it　worked。　Raoul　started　inching　his　way　toward　the　stairs　almost　immediately。　For　once；　Kristie　was　in　
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no　hurry　to　pete　with　him　for　Riley’s　approval。　Raoul　snapped　his　fingers　at　Kevin；　and　both　he　and　the　SpiderMan　kid　reluctantly　moved　to　flank　him。　　“You　can　hear　me。　You　know　I’m　not　fried。　Don’t　be　a　bunch　of　babies！　You’re　vampires。　Act　like　it。”　　Still；　Raoul　and　his　buddies　couldn’t　get　farther　than　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　None　of　the　others　moved。　After　a　few　minutes；　Riley　came　back。　In　the　indirect　light　from　the　front　door；　he　shimmered　just　a　tiny　bit　in　the　doorway。　　“Look　at　me　　　I’m　fine。　Seriously！　I’m　embarrassed　for　you。　C’mere；　Raoul！”　　In　the　end；　Riley　had　to　grab　Kevin　　Raoul　ducked　out　of　the　way　as　soon　as　he　could　see　what　Riley　was　thinking　and　drag　him　upstairs　by　force。　I　saw　the　moment　when　they　made　it　into　the　sun；　when　the　light　brightened　from　their　reflections。　　“Tell　them；　Kevin；”　Riley　ordered。　　“I’m　okay；　Raoul！”　Kevin　called　down。　“Whoa。　I’m　all…　shiny。　This　is　crazy！”　He　laughed。　　“Well　done；　Kevin；”　Riley　said　loudly。　　That　did　it　for　Raoul。　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　marched　up　the　stairs。　He　didn’t　move　fast；　but　soon　he　was　up　there　sparkling　and　laughing　with　Kevin。　　Even　from　then　on；　the　process　took　longer　than　I　would　have　predicted。　It　was　still　a　onebyone　thing。　Riley　got　impatient。　It　was　more　threats　than　encouragement　now。　　Fred　shot　me　a　look　that　said；　You　knew　this　　Yes；　I　mouthed。　　He　nodded　and　started　up　the　stairs。　There　were　still　about　
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ten　people；　mostly　Kristie’s　group；　huddled　against　the　wall。　I　went　with　Fred。　Better　to　e　out　right　in　the　middle。　Let　Riley　read　into　that　what　he　would。　　We　could　see　the　shining；　discoball　vampires　in　the　front　yard；　staring　at　their　hands　and　each　other’s　faces　with　rapt　expressions。　Fred　moved　into　the　light　without　slowing；　which　I　thought　was　pretty　brave；　all　things　considered。　Kristie　was　a　better　example　of　how　well　Riley　had　indoctrinated　us。　She　clung　to　what　she　knew　regardless　of　the　evidence　in　front　of　her。　　Fred　and　I　stood　a　little　space　from　the　others。　He　examined　himself　carefully；　then　looked　me　over；　then　stared　at　the　others。　It　struck　me　that　Fred；　though　really　quiet；　was　very　observant　and　almost　scientific　in　the　way　he　examined　evidence。　He’d　been　evaluating　Riley’s　words　and　actions　all　along。　How　much　had　he　figured　out？　　Riley　had　to　force　Kristie　up　the　stairs；　and　her　gang　came　with　her。　Finally　we　all　were　out　in　the　sun；　most　people　enjoying　how　very　pretty　they　were。　Riley　rounded　everyone　up　for　one　more　quick　practice　session　　　mostly；　I　thought；　to　get　them　to　focus　again。　It　took　them　a　minute；　but　everyone　started　to　realize　that　this　was　it；　and　they　got　quieter　and　more　fierce。　I　could　see　that　the　idea　of　a　real　fightof　being　not　only　allowed　but　encouraged　to　rip　and　burn　　　was　almost　as　exciting　as　hunting。　It　appealed　to　people　like　Raoul　and　Jen　and　Sara。　　Riley　focused　on　a　strategy　he’d　been　trying　to　drill　into　them　for　the　last　few　daysonce　we’d　pinpointed　the　yellow　eyes’　scent；　we　were　going　to　divide　in　two　and　flank　them。　
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Raoul　would　charge　them　headon　while　Kristie　attacked　from　the　side。　The　plan　suited　both　their　styles；　though　I　wasn’t　sure　if　they　were　going　to　be　able　to　follow　this　strategy　in　the　heat　of　the　hunt。　　When　Riley　called　everyone　together　after　an　hour　of　practice；　Fred　immediately　started　walking　backward　toward　the　north；　Riley　had　the　others　facing　south。　I　stayed　close；　though　I　had　no　idea　what　he　was　doing。　Fred　stopped　when　we　were　a　good　hundred　yards　away；　in　the　shade　of　the　spruce　trees　on　the　fringe　of　the　forest。　No　one　watched　us　move　away。　Fred　was　eyeing　Riley；　as　if　waiting　to　see　if　he　would　notice　our　retreat。　　Riley　began　speaking。　“We　leave　now。　You’re　strong　and　you’re　ready。　And　you’re　thirsty　for　it；　aren’t　you？　You　can　feel　the　burn。　You’re　ready　for　dessert。”　　He　was　right。　All　that　blood　hadn’t　slowed　the　return　of　the　thirst　at　all。　In　fact；　I　wasn’t　sure；　but　I　thought　it　might　be　ing　back　faster　and　harder　than　usual