6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第4部分

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isible；　but　the　space　the　house　had　once　occupied　was　empty。　The　roof　had　collapsed　into　ragged；　angular　wooden　lace；　charred　black；　sagging　lower　than　the　front　door　had　been。　　The　sun　was　rising　fast。　The　black　pine　trees　were　showing　
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hints　of　evergreen。　Soon　the　paler　tips　would　stand　out　against　the　dark；　and　at　about　that　point　I　would　be　dead。　　Or　really　dead；　or　whatever。　This　second　thirsty；　superhero　life　would　go　up　in　a　sudden　burst　of　flames。　And　I　could　only　imagine　that　the　burst　would　be　very；　very　painful。　　This　wasn’t　the　first　time　I’d　seen　our　house　destroyed　with　all　the　fights　and　fires　in　the　basements；　most　of　them　lasted　only　a　few　weeksbut　it　was　the　first　time　I’d　e　across　the　scene　of　destruction　with　the　first　faint　rays　of　sunlight　threatening。　　I　sucked　in　a　gasp　of　shock　as　Diego　landed　beside　me。　　“Maybe　burrow　under　the　roof？”　I　whispered。　“Would　that　be　safe　enough　or　　　？”　　“Don’t　freak　out；　Bree；”　Diego　said；　sounding　too　calm。　“I　know　a　place。　C’mon。”　　He　did　a　very　graceful　backflip　off　the　bluff　edge。　　I　didn’t　think　the　water　would　be　enough　of　a　filter　to　block　the　sun。　But　maybe　we　couldn’t　burn　if　we　were　submerged？　It　seemed　like　a　really　poor　plan　to　me。　　However；　instead　of　tunneling　under　the　burnedout　hull　of　the　wrecked　house；　I　dove　off　the　cliff　behind　him。　I　wasn’t　sure　of　my　reasoning；　which　was　a　strange　feeling。　Usually　I　did　what　I　always　did　followed　the　routine；　did　what　made　sense。　　I　caught　up　to　Diego　in　the　water。　He　was　racing　again；　but　with　no　nonsense　this　time。　Racing　the　sun。　　He　whipped　around　a　point　on　the　little　island　and　then　dove　deep。　I　was　surprised　he　didn’t　hit　the　rocky　floor　of　the　sound；　and　more　surprised　when　I　could　feel　the　blast　of　warmer　
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current　flowing　from　what　I　had　thought　was　no　more　than　an　outcropping　of　rock。　　Smart　of　Diego　to　have　a　place　like　this。　Sure；　it　wasn’t　going　to　be　fun　to　sit　in　an　underwater　cavern　all　daynot　breathing　started　to　irritate　after　a　few　hours　but　it　was　better　than　exploding　into　ashes。　I　should　have　been　thinking　like　Diego　was。　Thinking　about　something　other　than　blood；　that　is。　I　should　have　been　prepared　for　the　unexpected。　　Diego　kept　going　through　a　narrow　crevice　in　the　rocks。　It　was　black　as　ink　in　here。　Safe。　I　couldn’t　swim　anymore　　　the　space　was　too　tightso　I　scrambled　through　like　Diego；　climbing　through　the　twisting　space。　I　kept　waiting　for　him　to　stop；　but　he　didn’t。　Suddenly　I　realized　that　we　really　were　going　up。　And　then　I　heard　Diego　hit　the　surface。　　I　was　out　a　half　second　after　he　was。　　The　cave　was　no　more　than　a　small　hole；　a　burrow　about　the　size　of　a　Volkswagen　Beetle；　though　not　as　tall　as　that。　A　second　crawl　space　led　out　the　back；　and　I　could　taste　the　fresh　air　ing　from　that　direction。　I　could　see　the　shape　of　Diego’s　fingers　repeated　again　and　again　in　the　texture　of　the　limestone　walls。　　“Nice　place；”　I　said。　　Diego　smiled。　“Better　than　Freaky　Fred’s　backside。”　　“I　can’t　argue　with　that。　Um。　Thanks。”　　“You’re　wele。”　　We　looked　at　each　other　in　the　dark　for　a　minute。　His　face　was　smooth　and　calm。　With　anyone　else；　Kevin　or　Kristie　or　any　of　the　others；　this　would　have　been　terrifying　　the　constricted　
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space；　the　forced　closeness。　The　way　I　could　smell　his　scent　on　every　side　of　me。　That　could　have　meant　a　quick　and　painful　death　at　any　second。　But　Diego　was　so　posed。　Not　like　anyone　else。　　“How　old　are　you？”　he　asked　abruptly。　　“Three　months。　I　told　you　that。”　　“That’s　not　what　I　meant。　Um；　how　old　were　you？　I　guess　that’s　the　right　way　to　ask。”　　I　leaned　away；　unfortable；　when　I　realized　he　was　talking　about　human　stuff。　Nobody　talked　about　that。　Nobody　wanted　to　think　about　it。　But　I　didn’t　want　to　end　the　conversation；　either。　Just　having　a　conversation　at　all　was　something　new　and　different。　I　hesitated；　and　he　waited　with　a　curious　expression。　　“I　was；　um；　I　guess　fifteen。　Almost　sixteen。　I　can’t　remember　the　day…　was　I　past　my　birthday？”　I　tried　to　think　about　it；　but　those　last　hungry　weeks　were　a　big　blur；　and　it　hurt　my　head　in　a　weird　way　to　try　to　clear　them　up。　I　shook　my　head；　let　it　go。　“How　about　you？”　　“I　was　just　past　my　eighteenth；”　Diego　said。　“So　close。”　　“Close　to　what？”　　“Getting　out；”　he　said；　but　he　didn’t　continue。　There　was　an　awkward　silence　for　a　minute；　and　then　he　changed　the　subject。　　“You’ve　done　really　well　since　you　got　here；”　he　said；　his　eyes　sweeping　across　my　crossed　arms；　my　folded　legs。　“You’ve　survived　　　avoided　the　wrong　kind　of　attention；　kept　intact。”　　I　shrugged　and　then　yanked　my　left　tshirt　sleeve　up　to　my　shoulder　so　he　could　see　the　thin；　ragged　line　that　circled　my　
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arm。　　“Got　this　ripped　off　once；”　I　admitted。　“Got　it　back　before　Jen　could　toast　it。　Riley　showed　me　how　to　put　it　back　on。”　　Diego　smiled　wryly　and　touched　his　right　knee　with　one　finger。　His　dark　jeans　covered　the　scar　that　must　have　been　there。　“It　happens　to　everybody。”　　“Ouch；”　I　said。　　He　nodded。　“Seriously。　But　like　I　was　saying　before；　you’re　a　pretty　decent　vampire。”　　“Am　I　supposed　to　say　thanks？”　　“I’m　just　thinking　out　loud；　trying　to　make　sense　of　things。”　　“What　things？”　　He　frowned　a　little。　“What’s　really　going　on。　What　Riley’s　up　to。　Why　he　keeps　bringing　the　most　random　kids　to　her。　Why　it　doesn’t　seem　to　matter　to　Riley　if　it’s　someone　like　you　or　if　it’s　someone　like　that　idiot　Kevin。”　　It　sounded　like　he　didn’t　know　Riley　any　better　than　I　did。　　“What　do　you　mean；　someone　like　me？”　I　asked。　　“You’re　the　kind　that　Riley　should　be　looking　for　　　the　smart　ones　not　just　these　stupid　gangbangers　that　Raoul　keeps　bringing　in。　I　bet　you　weren’t　some　junkie　ho　when　you　were　human。”　　I　shifted　uneasily　at　the　last　word。　Diego　kept　waiting　for　my　answer；　like　he　hadn’t　said　anything　weird。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　thought　back。　　“I　was　close　enough；”　I　admitted　after　a　few　seconds　of　his　patient　watching。　“Not　there　yet；　but　in　a　few　more　weeks…”　I　shrugged。　“You　know；　I　don’t　remember　much；　but　I　do　
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remember　thinking　there　was　nothing　more　powerful　on　this　pla　than　just　plain　old　hunger。　Turns　out；　thirst　is　worst。”　　He　laughed。　“Sing　it；　sister。”　　“What　about　you？　You　weren’t　a　troubled　teen　runaway　like　the　rest　of　us？”　　“Oh；　I　was　troubled；　all　right。”　He　stopped　talking。　　But　I　could　sit　around　and　wait　for　the　answers　to　inappropriate　questions；　too。　I　just　stared　at　him。　　He　sighed。　The　scent　of　his　breath　was　nice。　Everybody　smelled　sweet；　but　Diego　had　a　little　something　extra　　　some　spice　like　cinnamon　or　cloves。　　“I　tried　to　stay　away　from　all　that　junk。　Studied　hard。　I　was　gonna　get　out　of　the　ghetto；　you　know。　Go　to　college。　Make　something　of　myself。　But　there　was　a　guy　not　much　different　than　Raoul。　Join　or　die；　that　was　his　motto。　I　wasn’t　having　any；　so　I　stayed　away　from　his　group。　I　was　careful。　Stayed　alive。”　He　stopped；　closing　his　eyes。　　I　wasn’t　done　being　pushy。　“And？”　　“My　kid　brother　wasn’t　as　careful。”　　I　was　about　to　ask　if　his　brother　had　joined　or　died；　but　the　expression　on　his　face　made　asking　unnecessary。　I　looked　away；　not　sure　how　to　respond。　I　couldn’t　really　understand　his　loss；　the　pain　it　still　clearly　caused　him　to　feel。　I　hadn’t　left　anything　behind　that　I　still　missed。　Was　that　the　difference？　Was　that　why　he　dwelled　on　memories　that　the　rest　of　us　shunned？　　I　still　didn’t　see　how　Riley　came　into　this。　Riley　and　the　cheeseburger　of　pain。　I　wanted　that　part　of　the　story；　but　now　I　felt　bad　for　pushing　him　to　answer。　
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　Lucky　for　my　curiosity；　Diego　kept　going　after　a　minute。　　“I　kind　of　lost　it。　Stole　a　gun　from　a　friend　and　went　hunting。”　He　chuckled　darkly。　“Wasn’t　as　good　at　it　then。　But　I　got　the　guy　that　got　my　brother　before　they　got　me。　The　rest　of　his　crew　had　me　cornered　in　an　alley。　Then；　suddenly；　Riley　was　there；　between　me　and　them。　I　remember　thinking　he　was　the　whitest　guy　I’d　ever　seen。　He　didn’t　even　look　at　the　others　when　they　shot　him。　Like　the　bullets　were　flies。　You　know　what　he　said　to　me？　He　said；　‘Want　a　new　life；　kid？’”　　“Hah！”　I　laughed。　“That’s　way　better　than　mine。　All　I　got　was；　‘Want　a　burger；　kid？’”　　I　still　remembered　how　Riley’d　looked　that　night；　though　the　image　was　all　blurry　because　my　eyes’d　sucked　back　then。　He　was　the　hottest　boy　I’d　ever　seen；　tall　and　blond　and　perfect；　every　feature。　I　knew　his　eyes　must　be　just　as　beautiful　behind　the　dark　sunglasses　he　never　took　off。　And　his　voice　was　so　gentle；　so　kind。　I　figured　I　knew　what　he　would　want　in　exchange　for　the　meal；　and　I　would　have　given　it　to　him；　too。　Not　because　he　was　so　pretty　to　look　at；　but　because　I　hadn’t　eaten　anything　but　trash　for　two　weeks。　It　turned　out　he　wanted　something　else；　though。　　Diego　laughed　at　the　burger　line。　“You　must　have　been　pretty　hungry。”　　“Damn　straight。”　　“So　why　were　you　so　hungry？”　　“Because　I　was　stupid　and　ran　away　before　I　had　a　driver’s　license。　I　couldn’t　get　a　real　job；　and　I　was　a　bad　thief。”　　“What　were　you　running　from？”　
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　I　hesitated。　The　memories　were　a　little　more　clear　as　I　focused　on　them；　and　I　wasn’t　sure　I　wanted　that。　　“Oh；　c’mon；”　he　coaxed。　“I　told　you　mine。”　　“Yeah；　you　did。　Okay。　I　was　running　from　my　dad。　He　used　to　knock　me　around　a　lot。　Probably　did　the　same　to　my　mom　before　she　took　off。　I　was　pretty　little　thenI　didn’t　know　much。　It　got　worse。　I　figured　if　I　waited　too　long　I’d　end　up　dead。　He　told　me　if　I　ever　ran　away　I’d　starve。　He　was　right　about　that　only　thing　he　was　ever　right　about　as　far　as　I’m　concerned。　I　don’t　think　about　it　much。”　　Diego　nodded　in　agreement。　“Hard　to　remember　that　stuff；　isn’t　it？　Everything’s　so　fuzzy　and　dark。”　　“Like　trying　to　see　with　mud　in　your　eyes。”　　“Good　way　to　put　it；”　he　plimented　me。　He　squinted　at　me　like　he　was　trying　to　see；　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　　We　laughed　together　again。　Weird。　　“I　don’t　think　I’ve　laughed　with　anybody　since　I　met　Riley；”　he　said；　echoing　my　thoughts。　“This　is　nice。　You’re　nice。　Not　like　the　others。　You　ever　try　to　have　a　conversation　with　one　of　them？”　　“Nope；　I　haven’t。”　　“You’re　not　missing　anything。　Which　is　my　point。　Wouldn’t　Riley’s　standard　of　living　be　a　little　higher　if　he　surrounded　himself　with　decent　vampires？　If　we’re　supposed　to　protect　her；　shouldn’t　he　be　looking　for　the　smart　ones？”　　“So　Riley　doesn’t　need　brains；”　I　reasoned。　“He　needs　numbers。”　　Diego　pursed　his　lips；　considering。　“Like　chess。　He’s　not　
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making　knights　and　bishops。”　　“We’re　just　pawns；”　I　realized。　　We　stared　at　each　other　again　for　a　long　minute。　　“I　don’t　want　to　think　that；”　Diego　said。　　“So　what　do　we　do？”　I　asked；　using　the　plural　automatically。　Like　we　were　already　a　team。　　He　thought　about　my　question　for　a　second；　seeming　uneasy；　and　I　regretted　the　“we。”　But　then　he　said；　“What　can　we　do　when　we　don’t　know　what’s　happening？”　　So　he　didn’t　mind　the　team　thing；　which　made　me　feel　really　good　in　a　way　I　didn’t　remember　ever　feeling　before。　“I　guess　we　keep　our　eyes　open；　pay　attention；　try　to　figure　it　out。”　　He　nodded。　“We　need　to　think　about　everything　Riley’s　told　us；　everything　he’s　done。”　He