第31部分(第5/7 页)

closer。　〃I　know　they　saw　me。　But　they　turned　and　just　disappeared　into　the

trees。　I　don't　think　they　were

alone—I　think　Sam　and　his　crew　might　have　been　with　them。

〃I've　been　stumbling　around　in　the　forest　for　an　hour；　yelling　for　them。　I

just　barely　found　the　road　again

when　you　drove　up。〃

〃So　Sam　did　get　to　him。〃　The　words　were　a　little　distorted—my　teeth　were

gritted　together。

Quil　stared　at　me。　〃You　know　about　that。？〃

I　nodded。　〃Jake　told　me　before。〃

〃Before；〃　Quil　repeated；　and　sighed。

〃Jacob's　just　as　bad　as　the　others　now？〃

〃Never　leaves　Sam's　side。〃　Quil　turned　his　head　and　spit　out　the　open　window。

〃And　before　that—did　he　avoid　everyone？　Was　he　acting　upset？〃

His　voice　was　low　and　rough。　〃Not　for　as　long　as　the　others。　Maybe　one　day。

Then　Sam　caught　up　with

him。〃

〃What　do　you　think　it　is？　Drugs　or　something？〃

〃I　can't　see　Jacob　or　Embry　getting　into　anything　like　that　but　what　do　I

know？　What　else　could　it　be？

And　why　aren't　the　old　people　worried？〃　He　shook　his　head；　and　the　fear　showed

in　his　eyes　now。

〃Jacob　didn't　want　to　be　a　part　of　this　cult。　I　don't　understand　what　could

change　him。〃　He　stared　at

me；　his　face　frightened。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　next。〃

My　eyes　mirrored　his　fear。　That　was　the　second　time　I'd　heard　it　described　as

a　cult。　I　shivered。　〃Are

your　parents　any　help？〃

He　grimaced。　〃Right。　My　grandfather's　on　the　council　with　Jacob's　dad。　Sam

Uley　is　the　best　thing　that

ever　happened　to　this　place；　as　far　as　he's　concerned。〃

We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　prolonged　moment。　We　were　in　La　Push　now；　and　my

truck　was　barely