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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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　sounds　like。　Mind　reading　and　tracking　and　even　seeing　the　future。”　　“Get　out。”　　“I’m　not　kidding。　I　guess　Fred　can　sort　of　repel　people　on　purpose。　It’s　all　in　our　heads；　though。　He　makes　us　repulsed　at　the　thought　of　being　near　him。”　　I　frowned。　“How　is　that　a　good　thing？”　　“Keeps　him　alive；　doesn’t　it？　Guess　it　keeps　you　alive；　too。”　　I　nodded。　“Guess　so。　Did　he　say　anything　about　anyone　
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else？”　I　tried　to　think　of　anything　strange　I’d　seen　or　felt；　but　Fred　was　one　of　a　kind。　The　clowns　in　the　alley　tonight　pretending　to　be　superheroes　hadn’t　been　doing　anything　the　rest　of　us　couldn’t　do。　　“He　talked　about　Raoul；”　Diego　said；　the　corner　of　his　mouth　twisting　down。　　“What　skill　does　Raoul　have？　Superstupidity？”　　Diego　snorted。　“Definitely　that。　But　Riley　thinks　he’s　got　some　kind　of　magismpeople　are　drawn　to　him；　they　follow　him。”　　“Only　the　mentally　challenged。”　　“Yeah；　Riley　mentioned　that。　Didn’t　seem　to　be　effective　on　the”he　broke　out　a　decent　impression　of　Riley’s　voice　　　“　‘tamer　kids。’”　　“Tame？”　　“I　inferred　that　he　meant　people　like　us；　who　are　able　to　think　occasionally。”　　I　didn’t　like　being　called　tame。　It　didn’t　sound　like　a　good　thing　when　you　put　it　that　way。　Diego’s　way　sounded　better。　　“It　was　like　there　was　a　reason　Riley　needed　Raoul　to　leadsomething’s　ing；　I　think。”　　A　weird　tingle　spasmed　along　my　spine　when　he　said　that；　and　I　sat　up　straighter。　“Like　what？”　　“Do　you　ever　think　about　why　Riley　is　always　after　us　to　keep　a　low　profile？”　　I　hesitated　for　half　a　second　before　answering。　This　wasn’t　the　line　of　inquiry　I　would　have　expected　from　Riley’s　righthand　man。　Almost　like　he　was　questioning　what　Riley　had　told　us。　
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Unless　Diego　was　asking　this　for　Riley；　like　a　spy。　Finding　out　what　the　“kids”　thought　of　him。　But　it　didn’t　feel　like　that。　Diego’s　dark　red　eyes　were　open　and　confiding。　And　why　would　Riley　care？　Maybe　the　way　the　others　talked　about　Diego　wasn’t　based　on　anything　real。　Just　gossip。　　I　answered　him　truthfully。　“Yeah；　actually　I　was　j　ust　thinking　about　that。”　　“We　aren’t　the　only　vampires　in　the　world；”　Diego　said　solemnly。　　“I　know。　Riley　says　stuff　sometimes。　But　there　can’t　be　too　many。　I　mean；　wouldn’t　we　have　noticed；　before？”　　Diego　nodded。　“That’s　what　I　think；　too。　Which　is　why　it’s　pretty　weird　that　she　keeps　making　more　of　us；　don’t　you　think？　”　　I　frowned。　“Huh。　Because　it’s　not　like　Riley　actually　likes　us　or　anything…。”　I　paused　again；　waiting　to　see　if　he　would　contradict　me。　He　didn’t。　He　just　waited；　nodding　slightly　in　agreement；　so　I　continued。　“And　she　hasn’t　even　introduced　herself。　You’re　right。　I　hadn’t　looked　at　it　that　way。　Well；　I　hadn’t　really　thought　about　it　at　all。　But　then；　what　do　they　want　us　for？”　　Diego　raised　one　eyebrow。　“Wanna　hear　what　I　think？”　　I　nodded　warily。　But　my　anxiety　had　nothing　to　do　with　him　now。　　“Like　I　said；　something　is　ing。　I　think　she　wants　protection；　and　she　put　Riley　in　charge　of　creating　the　front　line。”　　I　thought　this　through；　my　spine　prickling　again。　“Why　wouldn’t　they　tell　us？　Shouldn’t　we　be；　like；　on　the　lookout　or　something？”　
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　“That　would　make　sense；”　he　agreed。　　We　looked　at　each　other　in　silence　for　a　few　longseeming　seconds。　I　had　nothing　more；　and　it　didn’t　look　like　he　did；　either。　　Finally　I　grimaced　and　said；　“I　don’t　know　if　I　buy　it　the　part　about　Raoul　being　good　for　anything；　that　is。”　　Diego　laughed。　“Hard　to　argue　that　one。”　Then　he　glanced　out　the　windows　at　the　dark　early　morning。　“Out　of　time。　Better　head　back　before　we　turn　into　crispies。”　　“Ashes；　ashes；　we　all　fall　down；”　I　sang　under　my　breath　as　I　got　to　my　feet　and　collected　my　pile。　　Diego　chuckled。　　We　made　one　more　quick　stop　on　our　wayhit　the　empty　Target　next　door　for　big　ziplocks　and　two　backpacks。　I　double　bagged　all　my　books。　Waterdamaged　pages　annoyed　me。　　Then　we　mostly　rooftopped　it　back　to　the　water。　The　sky　was　just　faintly　starting　to　gray　up　in　the　east。　We　slipped　into　the　sound　right　under　the　noses　of　two　oblivious　night　watchmen　by　the　big　ferry　good　thing　for　them　I　was　full　or　they　would　have　been　too　close　for　my　selfcontrol　　　and　then　raced　through　the　murky　water　back　toward　Riley’s　place。　　At　first　I　didn’t　know　it　was　a　race。　I　was　just　swimming　fast　because　the　sky　was　getting　lighter。　I　didn’t　usually　push　the　time　like　this。　If　I　were　being　honest　with　myself；　I’d　pretty　much　turned　into　a　huge　vampire　nerd。　I　followed　the　rules；　I　didn’t　cause　trouble；　I　hung　out　with　the　most　unpopular　kid　in　the　group；　and　I　always　got　home　early。　　But　then　Diego　really　kicked　it　into　gear。　He　got　a　few　
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lengths　ahead　of　me；　turned　back　with　a　smile　that　said；　what；　can’t　you　keep　up　　　and　then　started　booking　it　again。　　Well；　I　wasn’t　taking　that。　I　couldn’t　really　remember　if　I’d　been　the　petitive　type　before　　　it　all　seemed　so　far　away　and　unimportantbut　maybe　I　was；　because　I　responded　right　away　to　the　challenge。　Diego　was　a　good　swimmer；　but　I　was　way　stronger；　especially　after　just　feeding。　　See　ya；　I　mouthed　as　I　passed　him；　but　I　wasn’t　sure　he　saw。　　I　lost　him　back　in　the　dark　water；　and　I　didn’t　waste　time　looking　to　see　by　how　much　I　was　winning。　I　just　jetted　through　the　sound　till　I　hit　the　edge　of　the　island　where　the　most　recent　of　our　homes　was　located。　The　last　one　had　been　a　big　cabin　in　the　middle　of　SnowvilleNowhere　on　the　side　of　some　mountain　in　the　Cascades。　Like　the　last　one；　this　house　was　remote；　had　a　big　basement；　and　had　recently　deceased　owners。　　I　raced　up　onto　the　shallow　stony　beach　and　then　dug　my　fingers　into　the　sandstone　bluff　and　flew　up。　I　heard　Diego　e　out　of　the　water　just　as　I　gripped　the　trunk　of　an　overhanging　pine　and　flipped　myself　over　the　cliff　edge。　　Two　things　caught　my　attention　as　I　landed　gently　on　the　balls　of　my　feet。　One：　it　was　really　light　out。　Two：　the　house　was　gone。　　Well；　not　entirely　gone。　Some　of　it　was　still　visible；　but　the　space　the　house　had　once