6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第16部分

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rst　at　all。　In　fact；　I　wasn’t　sure；　but　I　thought　it　might　be　ing　back　faster　and　harder　than　usual。　Maybe　overfeeding　was　counterproductive　in　some　ways。　　“The　yelloweyes　are　ing　in　slowly　from　the　south；　feeding　along　the　way；　trying　to　get　stronger；”　Riley　said。　“She’s　been　monitoring　them；　so　I　know　where　to　find　them。　She’s　going　to　meet　us　there；　with　Diego”　　　he　cast　a　significant　glance　toward　where　I’d　just　been　standing；　and　then　a　quick　frown　that　disappeared　just　as　quickly　　　“and　we　will　hit　them　like　a　tsunami。　We　will　overwhelm　them　easily。　And　then　we　will　celebrate。”　He　smiled。　“Someone’s　going　to　get　a　jump　on　the　celebration。　Raoul　　　give　me　that。”　Riley　held　out　his　hand　
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imperiously。　Raoul　reluctantly　tossed　him　the　bag　with　the　shirt。　It　seemed　like　Raoul　was　trying　to　lay　claim　to　the　girl　by　hogging　her　scent。　　“Take　another　whiff；　everybody。　Let’s　get　focused！”　　Focused　on　the　girl？　Or　the　fight？　　Riley　himself　walked　the　shirt　around　this　time；　almost　like　he　wanted　to　make　sure　everyone　was　thirsty。　And　I　could　see　from　the　reactions　that；　like　me；　the　burn　was　back　for　them　all。　The　scent　of　the　shirt　made　them　scowl　and　snarl。　It　wasn’t　necessary　to　give　us　the　scent　again；　we　forgot　nothing。　So　this　was　probably　just　a　test。　Just　thinking　about　the　girl’s　scent　had　venom　pooling　in　my　mouth。　　“Are　you　with　me？”　Riley　bellowed。　　Everyone　screamed　his　or　her　assent。　　“Let’s　take　them　down；　kids！”　　It　was　like　the　barracuda　again；　only　on　land　this　time。　　Fred　didn’t　move；　so　I　stayed　with　him；　though　I　knew　I　was　wasting　time　I　needed。　If　I　were　going　to　get　to　Diego　and　pull　him　away　before　the　fighting　could　start；　I　would　need　to　be　near　the　front　of　the　attack。　I　looked　after　them　anxiously。　I　was　still　younger　than　most　of　them　　faster。　　“Riley　won’t　be　able　to　think　of　me　for　about　twenty　minutes　or　so；”　Fred　told　me；　his　voice　casual　and　familiar；　like　we’d　had　a　million　conversations　in　the　past。　“I’ve　been　gauging　the　time。　Even　a　good　distance　away；　he’ll　feel　sick　if　he　tries　to　remember　me。”　　“Really？　That’s　cool。”　　Fred　smiled。　“I’ve　been　practicing；　keeping　track　of　the　
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effects。　I　can　make　myself　totally　invisible　now。　No　one　can　look　at　me　if　I　don’t　want　them　to。”　　“I’ve　noticed；”　I　said；　then　paused　and　guessed；　“You’re　not　going？”　　Fred　shook　his　head。　“Of　course　not。　It’s　obvious　we’re　not　being　told　what　we　need　to　know。　I’m　not　going　to　be　Riley’s　pawn。”　　So　Fred　had　figured　it　out　on　his　own。　　“I　was　going　to　take　off　sooner；　but　then　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　before　I　left；　and　there　hasn’t　been　a　chance　till　now。”　　“I　wanted　to　talk　to　you；　too；”　I　said。　“I　thought　you　should　know　that　Riley’s　been　lying　about　the　sun。　This　fourday　thing　is　a　total　crock。　I　think　Shelly　and　Steve　and　the　others　figured　it　out；　too。　And　there’s　a　lot　more　politics　going　on　with　this　fight　than　he’s　told　us。　More　than　one　set　of　enemies。”　I　said　it　fast；　feeling　with　terrible　urgency　the　movement　of　the　sun；　the　time　passing。　I　had　to　get　to　Diego。　　“I’m　not　surprised；”　Fred　said　calmly。　“And　I’m　out。　I’m　going　to　explore　on　my　own；　see　the　world。　Or　I　was　going　on　my　own；　but　then　I　thought　maybe　you　might　want　to　e；　too。　You’d　be　pretty　safe　with　me。　No　one　will　be　able　to　follow　us。”　　I　hesitated　for　a　second。　The　idea　of　safety　was　hard　to　resist　in　that　exact　moment。　　“I’ve　got　to　get　Diego；”　I　said；　shaking　my　head。　　He　nodded　thoughtfully。　“I　get　it。　You　know；　if　you’re　willing　to　vouch　for　him；　you　can　bring　him　along。　Seems　like　sometimes　numbers　e　in　handy。”　　“Yes；”　I　agreed　fervently；　remembering　how　vulnerable　I’d　felt　
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in　the　tree　alone　with　Diego　as　the　four　cloaks　had　advanced。　　He　raised　an　eyebrow　at　my　tone。　　“Riley　is　lying　about　at　least　one　more　important　thing；”　I　explained。　“Be　careful。　We　aren’t　supposed　to　let　humans　know　about　us。　There　are　some　kind　of　freaky　vampires　who　stop　covens　when　they　get　too　obvious。　I’ve　seen　them；　and　you　don’t　want　them　to　find　you。　Just　keep　out　of　sight　in　the　day；　and　hunt　smart。”　I　looked　south　anxiously。　“I　have　to　hurry！”　　He　was　processing　my　revelations　solemnly。　“Okay。　Catch　up　to　me　if　you　want。　I’d　like　to　hear　more。　I’ll　wait　for　you　in　Vancouver　for　one　day。　I　know　the　city。　I’ll　leave　you　a　trail　in…”　He　thought　for　a　second　and　then　chuckled　once。　“Riley　Park。　You　can　follow　it　to　me。　But　after　twentyfour　hours　I’m　taking　off。”　　“I’ll　get　Diego　and　catch　up　to　you。”　　“Good　luck；　Bree。”　　“Thanks；　Fred！　Good　luck　to　you；　too。　I’ll　see　you！”　I　was　already　running。　　“I　hope　so；”　I　heard　him　say　behind　me。　　I　sprinted　after　the　scent　of　the　others；　flying　along　the　ground　faster　than　I’d　ever　run　before。　I　was　lucky　that　they　must　have　paused　for　something　　　for　Riley　to　yell　at　them；　I　was　guessing　　because　I　caught　them　sooner　than　I　should　have。　Or　maybe　Riley　had　remembered　Fred　and　stopped　to　look　for　us。　They　were　running　at　a　steady　pace　when　I　reached　them；　semi　disciplined　like　last　night。　I　tried　to　slide　into　the　group　without　drawing　attention；　but　I　saw　Riley’s　head　flip　around　once　to　scan　those　trailing　behind。　His　eyes　zeroed　in　on　me；　and　then　
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he　started　running　faster。　Did　he　assume　Fred　was　with　me？　Riley　would　never　see　Fred　again。　　It　wasn’t　five　minutes　later　when　everything　changed。　　Raoul　caught　the　scent。　With　a　wild　growl　he　was　off。　Riley　had　us　so　worked　up　that　it　took　only　the　tiniest　spark　to　set　off　an　explosion。　The　others　near　Raoul　had　the　scent；　too；　and　then　everyone　went　crazy。　Riley’s　harping　on　this　human　had　overshadowed　the　rest　of　his　instructions。　We　were　hunters；　not　an　army。　There　was　no　team。　It　was　a　race　for　blood。　　Even　though　I　knew　there　were　a　lot　of　lies　in　the　story；　I　couldn’t　totally　resist　the　scent。　Running　at　the　back　of　the　pack；　I　had　to　cross　it。　Fresh。　Strong。　The　human　had　been　here　recently；　and　she　smelled　so　sweet。　I　was　strong　with　all　the　blood　we’d　drunk　last　night；　but　it　didn’t　matter。　I　was　thirsty。　It　burned。　　I　ran　after　the　others；　trying　to　keep　my　head　clear。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　hold　back　a　little；　to　stay　behind　the　others。　The　closest　person　to　me　was　Riley。　He　was…　holding　back；　too？　　He　shouted　orders；　mostly　the　same　thing　repeated。　“Kristie；　go　around！　Move　around！　Split　off！　Kristie；　Jen！　Break　off！”　His　whole　plan　of　the　twopronged　ambush　was　self　destructing　as　we　watched。　　Riley　sped　up　to　the　main　group　and　grabbed　Sara’s　shoulder。　She　snapped　at　him　as　he　hurled　her　to　the　left。　“Go　around！”　he　shouted。　He　caught　the　blond　kid　whose　name　I’d　never　figured　out　and　shoved　him　into　Sara；　who　clearly　wasn’t　happy　with　that。　Kristie　came　out　of　the　hunting　focus　long　enough　to　realize　she　was　supposed　to　be　moving　strategically。　
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She　gave　one　fierce　gaze　after　Raoul　and　then　started　screeching　at　her　team。　　“This　way！　Faster！　We’ll　beat　them　around　and　get　to　her　first！　C’mon！”　　“I’m　spear　point　with　Raoul！”　Riley　shouted　at　her；　turning　away。　　I　hesitated；　still　running　forward。　I　didn’t　want　to　be　part　of　any　“spear　point；”　but　Kristie’s　team　was　already　turning　on　each　other。　Sara　had　the　blond　kid　in　a　headlock。　The　sound　of　his　head　tearing　off　made　my　decision　for　me。　I　sprinted　after　Riley；　wondering　if　Sara　would　pause　to　burn　the　boy　who　liked　to　play　SpiderMan。　　I　caught　up　enough　to　see　Riley　ahead　and　followed　at　a　distance　until　he　got　to　Raoul’s　team。　The　scent　made　it　hard　to　keep　my　mind　on　the　things　that　mattered。　　“Raoul！”　Riley　yelled。　　Raoul　grunted；　not　turning。　He　was　totally　absorbed　by　the　sweet　scent。　　“I’ve　got　to　help　Kristie！　I’ll　meet　you　there！　Keep　your　focus！　”　　I　jerked　to　a　stop；　frozen　with　uncertainty。　　Raoul　kept　on；　not　showing　any　response　to　Riley’s　words。　Riley　slowed　to　a　jog；　then　a　walk。　I　should　have　moved；　but　he　probably　would　have　heard　me　try　to　hide。　He　turned；　a　smile　on　his　face；　and　saw　me。　　“Bree。　I　thought　you　were　with　Kristie。”　　I　didn’t　respond。　　“I　heard　someone　get　hurt　Kristie　needs　me　more　than　
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Raoul；”　he　explained　quickly。　　“Are　you…　leaving　us？”　　Riley’s　face　changed。　It　was　like　I　could　see　his　shifting　tactics　written　on　his　features。　His　eyes　widened；　suddenly　anxious。　　“I’m　worried；　Bree。　I　told　you　that　she　was　going　to　meet　us；　to　help　us；　but　I　haven’t　crossed　her　trail。　Something’s　wrong。　I　need　to　find　her。”　　“But　there’s　no　way　you　can　find　her　before　Raoul　gets　to　the　yelloweyes；”　I　pointed　out。　　“I　have　to　find　out　what’s　going　on。”　He　sounded　genuinely　desperate。　“I　need　her。　I　wasn’t　supposed　to　do　this　alone！”　　“But　the　others…”　　“Bree；　I　have　to　go　find　her！　Now！　There　are　enough　of　you　to　overwhelm　the　yelloweyes。　I’ll　get　back　to　you　as　soon　as　I　can。”　　He　sounded　so　sincere。　I　hesitated；　glancing　back　the　way　we　had　e。　Fred　would　be　halfway　to　Vancouver　by　now。　Riley　hadn’t　even　asked　about　him。　Maybe　Fred’s　talent　was　still　in　effect。　　“Diego’s　down　there；　Bree；”　Riley　said　urgently。　“He’ll　be　part　of　the　first　attack。　Didn’t　you　catch　his　scent　back　there？　Did　you　not　get　close　enough？”　　I　shook　my　head；　totally　confused。　“Diego　was　there？”　　“He’s　with　Raoul　by　now。　If　you　hurry；　you　can　help　him　get　out　alive。”　　We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　long　second；　and　then　I　looked　south　after　Raoul’s　path。　
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　“Good　girl；”　Riley　said。　“I’ll　go　find　her　and　we’ll　be　back　to　help　clean　up。　You　guys　have　got　this！　It　might　be　over　by　the　time　you　get　there！”　　He　took　off　in　a　direction　perpendicular　to　our　original　path。　I　clenched　my　teeth　at　how　sure　he　seemed　of　his　way。　Lying　to　the　end。　　But　it　didn’t　feel　like　I　had　a　choice。　I　headed　south　in　a　flat　out　sprint　again。　I　had　to　go　get　Diego。　Drag　him　away　if　it　came　to　that。　We　could　catch　up　with　Fred。　Or　take　off　on　our　own。　We　needed　to　run。　I　would　tell　Diego　how　Riley　had　lied。　He　would　see　that　Riley　had　no　intention　of　helping　us　fight　the　battle　he’d　set　up。　There　was　no　reason　to　help　him　anymore。　　I　found　the　human’s　scent　and　then　Raoul’s。　I　didn’t　catch　Diego’s。　Was　I　going　too　fast？　Or　was　the　human’s　scent　just　overpowering　me？　Half　my　head　was　absorbed　in　this　strangely　counterproductive　huntsure；　we　would　find　the　girl；　but　would　we　be　ready　to　fight　together　when　we　did？　No；　we’d　be　clawing　each　other　apart　to　get　to　her。　　And　then　I　heard　the　snarling　and　screaming　and　screeching　explode　from　ahead　and　I　knew　the　fight　was　happening　and　I　was　too　late　to　beat　Diego　there。　I　only　ran　faster。　Maybe　I　could　still　save　him。　　I　smelled　the　smokethe　sweet；　thick　scent　of　vampires　burning　carried　back　to　me　on　the　wind。　The　sound　of　mayhem　was　louder。　Maybe　it　was　almost　done。　Would　I　find　our　coven　victorious　and　Diego　waiting？　　I　dashed　through　a　heavy　fringe　of　smoke　and　found　myself　out　of　the　forest　in　a　huge　grassy　field。　I　leaped　over　a　rock；　only　
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to　realize　in　the　instant　I　flew　past　it　that　it　was　a　headless　torso。　　My　eyes　raked　the　field。　There　were　pieces　of　vampires　everywhere；　and　a　huge　bonfire　smoking　purple　into　the　sunny　sky。　Out　from　under　the　billowing　haze；　I　could　see　dazzling；　glittering　bodie