3 eclipse月食-第34部分

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municate　with　the　wolf。　
“As　soon　as　Yut　crossed　to　the　spirit　world；　Taha　Aki　left　the　wolf　—　the　animal　waited　tamely　for　his　
return　—　to　speak　to　him。　Yut　gathered　the　truth　in　an　instant；　and　weled　his　true　chief　home。　
“At　this　time；　Utlapa　came　to　see　if　the　wolf　had　been　defeated。　When　he　saw　Yut　lyinglifeless　on　the　
ground；　surrounded　by　protective　warriors；　he　realized　what　was　happening。　He　drew　his　knife　and　raced　
forward　to　kill　Yut　before　he　could　return　to　his　body。　
“‘Traitor；’　he　screamed；　and　the　warriors　did　not　know　what　to　do。　The　chief　had　forbidden　spirit　
journeys；　and　it　was　the　chief’s　decision　how　to　punish　those　who　disobeyed。　
“Yut　jumped　back　into　his　body；　but　Utlapa　had　his　knife　at　his　throat　and　a　hand　covering　his　mouth。　
Taha　Aki’s　body　was　strong；　and　Yut　was　weak　with　age。　Yut　could　not　say　even　one　word　to　warn　the　
others　before　Utlapa　silenced　him　forever。　
“Taha　Aki　watched　as　Yut’s　spirit　slipped　away　to　the　final　lands　that　were　barred　to　Taha　Aki　for　all　
eternity。　He　felt　a　great　rage；　more　powerful　than　anything　he’d　felt　before。　He　entered　the　big　wolf　again；　
meaning　to　rip　Utlapa’s　throat　out。　But；　as　he　joined　the　wolf；　the　greatest　magic　happened。　
“Taha　Aki’s　anger　was　the　anger　of　a　man。　The　love　he　had　for　his　people　and　the　hatred　he　had　for　their　
oppressor　were　too　vast　for　the　wolf’s　body；　too　human。　The　wolf　shuddered；　and　—　before　the　eyes　of　the　
shocked　warriors　and　Utlapa　—　transformed　into　a　man。　
“The　new　man　did　not　look　like　Taha　Aki’s　body。　He　was　far　more　glorious。　He　was　the　flesh　
interpretation　of　Taha　Aki’s　spirit。　The　warriors　recognized　him　at　once；　though；　for　they　had　flown　with　Taha　
Aki’s　spirit。　
“Utlapa　tried　to　run；　but　Taha　Aki　had　the　strength　of　the　wolf　in　his　new　body。　He　caught　the　thief　and　
crushed　the　spirit　from　him　before　he　could　jump　out　of　the　stolen　body。　
“The　people　rejoiced　when　they　understood　what　had　happened。　Taha　Aki　quickly　set　everything　right；　
working　again　with　his　people　and　giving　the　young　wives　back　to　their　families。　The　only　change　he　kept　in　
place　was　the　end　of　the　spirit　travels。　He　knew　that　it　was　too　dangerous　now　that　the　idea　of　stealing　a　life　
was　there。　The　spirit　warriors　were　no　more。　
“From　that　point　on；　Taha　Aki　was　more　than　either　wolf　or　man。　They　called　him　Taha　Aki　the　Great　
Wolf；　or　Taha　Aki　the　Spirit　Man。　He　led　the　tribe　for　many；　many　years；　for　he　did　not　age。　When　danger　
threatened；　he　would　resume　his　wolfself　to　fight　or　frighten　the　enemy。　The　people　dwelt　in　peace。　Taha　Aki　
fathered　many　sons；　and　some　of　these　found　that；　after　they　had　reached　the　age　of　manhood；　they；　too；　

could　transform　into　wolves。　The　wolves　were　all　different；　because　they　were　spirit　wolves　and　reflected　the　
man　they　were　inside。”　
　“So　that’s　why　Sam　is　all　black；”　Quil　muttered　under　his　breath；　grinning。　“Black　heart；　black　fur。”　
　I　was　so　involved　in　the　story；　it　was　a　shock　to　e　back　to　the　present；　to　the　circle　around　the　dying　
fire。　With　another　shock；　I　realized　that　the　circle　was　made　up　of　Taha　Aki’s　great　—　to　however　many　
degrees　—　grandsons。　
　The　fire　threw　a　volley　of　sparks　into　the　sky；　and　they　shivered　and　danced；　making　shapes　that　were　
almost　decipherable。　
　“And　your　chocolate　fur　reflects　what？”　Sam　whispered　back　to　Quil。　“How　sweet　you　are？”　
　Billy　ignored　their　jibes。　“Some　of　the　sons　became　warriors　with　Taha　Aki；　and　they　no　longer　aged。　
Others；　who　did　not　like　the　transformation；　refused　to　join　the　pack　of　wolfmen。　These　began　to　age　again；　
and　the　tribe　discovered　that　the　wolfmen　could　grow　old　like　anyone　else　if　they　gave　up　their　spirit　wolves。　
Taha　Aki　had　lived　the　span　of　three　old　men’s　lives。　He　had　married　a　third　wife　after　the　deaths　of　the　first　
two；　and　found　in　her　his　true　spirit　wife。　Though　he　had　loved　the　others；　this　was　something　else。　He　decided　
to　give　up　his　spirit　wolf　so　that　he　would　die　when　she　did。　
　“That　is　how　the　magic　came　to　us；　but　it　is　not　the　end　of　the　story。　。　。　。”　
　He　looked　at　Old　Quil　Ateara；　who　shifted　in　his　chair；　straightening　his　frail　shoulders。　Billy　took　a　drink　
from　a　bottle　of　water　and　wiped　his　forehead。　Emily’s　pen　never　hesitated　as　she　scribbled　furiously　on　the　
paper。　
　“That　was　the　story　of　the　spirit　warriors；”　Old　Quil　began　in　a　thin　tenor　voice。　“This　is　the　story　of　the　
third　wife’s　sacrifice。　
　“Many　years　after　Taha　Aki　gave　up　his　spirit　wolf；　when　he　was　an　old　man；　trouble　began　in　the　north；　
with　the　Makahs。　Several　young　women　of　their　tribe　had　disappeared；　and　they　blamed　it　on　the　neighboring　
wolves；　who　they　feared　and　mistrusted。　The　wolfmen　could　still　read　each　other’s　thoughts　while　in　their　wolf　
forms；　just　like　their　ancestors　had　while　in　their　spirit　forms。　They　knew　that　none　of　their　number　was　to　
blame。　Taha　Aki　tried　to　pacify　the　Makah　chief；　but　there　was　too　much　fear。　Taha　Aki　did　not　want　to　have　
a　war　on　his　hands。　He　was　no　longer　a　warrior　to　lead　his　people。　He　charged　his　oldest　wolfson；　Taha　Wi；　
with　finding　the　true　culprit　before　hostilities　began。　
　“Taha　Wi　led　the　five　other　wolves　in　his　pack　on　a　search　through　the　mountains；　looking　for　any　
evidence　of　the　missing　Makahs。　They　came　across　something　they　had　never　encountered　before　—　a　
strange；　sweet　scent　in　the　forest　that　burned　their　noses　to　the　point　of　pain。”　
　I　shrank　a　little　closer　to　Jacob’s　side。　I　saw　the　corner　of　his　mouth　twitch　with　humor；　and　his　arm　
tightened　around　me。　
　“They　did　not　know　what　creature　would　leave　such　a　scent；　but　they　followed　it；”　Old　Quil　continued。　His　
quavering　voice　did　not　have　the　majesty　of　Billy’s；　but　it　had　a　strange；　fierce　edge　of　urgency　about　it。　My　
pulse　jumped　as　his　words　came　faster。　
　“They　found　faint　traces　of　human　scent；　and　human　blood；　along　the　trail。　They　were　sure　this　was　the　
enemy　they　were　searching　for。　
　“The　journey　took　them　so　far　north　that　Taha　Wi　sent　half　the　pack；　the　younger　ones；　back　to　the　harbor　
to　report　to　Taha　Aki。　
　“Taha　Wi　and　his　two　brothers　did　not　return。　
　“The　younger　brothers　searched　for　their　elders；　but　found　only　silence。　Taha　Aki　mourned　for　his　sons。　
He　wished　to　avenge　his　sons’　death；　but　he　was　old。　He　went　to　the　Makah　chief　in　his　mourning　clothes　and　
told　him　everything　that　had　happened。　The　Makah　chief　believed　his　grief；　and　tensions　ended　between　the　
tribes。　
　“A　year　later；　two　Makah　maidens　disappeared　from　their　homes　on　the　same　night。　The　Makahs　called　
on　the　Quileute　wolves　at　once；　who　found　the　same　sweet　stink　all　through　the　Makah　village。　The　wolves　
went　on　the　hunt　again。　
　“Only　one　came　back。　He　was　Yaha　Uta；　the　oldest　son　of　Taka　Aki’s　third　wife；　and　the　youngest　in　the　
pack。　He　brought　something　with　him　that　had　never　been　seen　in　all　the　days　of　the　Quileutes　—　a　strange；　
cold；　stony　corpse　that　he　carried　in　pieces。　All　who　were　of　Taha　Aki’s　blood；　even　those　who　had　never　
been　wolves；　could　smell　the　piercing　smell　of　the　dead　creature。　This　was　the　enemy　of　the　Makahs。　

　“Yaha　Uta　described　what　had　happened：　he　and　his　brothers　had　found　the　creature；　who　looked　like　a　
man　but　was　hard　as　a　granite　rock；　with　the　two　Makah　daughters。　One　girl　was　already　dead；　white　and　
bloodless　on　the　ground。　The　other　was　in　the　creature’s　arms；　his　mouth　at　her　throat。　She　may　have　been　
alive　when　they　came　upon　the　hideous　scene；　but　the　creature　quickly　snapped　her　neck　and　tossed　her　
lifeless　body　to　the　ground　when　they　approached。　His　white　lips　were　covered　in　her　blood；　and　his　eyes　
glowed　red。　
　“Yaha　Uta　described　the　fierce　strength　and　speed　of　the　creature。　One　of　his　brothers　quickly　became　a　
victim　when　he　underestimated　that　strength。　The　creature　ripped　him　apart　like　a　doll。　Yaha　Uta　and　his　other　
brother　were　more　wary。　They　worked　together；　ing　at　the　creature　from　the　sides；　outmaneuvering　it。　
They　had　to　reach　the　very　limits　of　their　wolf　strength　and　speed；　something　that　had　never　been　tested　
before。　The　creature　was　hard　as　stone　and　cold　as　ice。　They　found　that　only　their　teeth　could　damage　it。　They　
began　to　rip　small　pieces　of　the　creature　apart　while　it　fought　them。　
　“But　the　creature　learned　quickly；　and　soon　was　matching　their　maneuvers。　It　got　its　hands　on　Yaha　Uta’s　
brother。　Yaha　Uta　found　an　opening　on　the　creature’s　throat；　and　he　lunged。　His　teeth　tore　the　head　off　the　
creature；　but　the　hands　continued　to　mangle　his　brother。　
　“Yaha　Uta　ripped　the　creature　into　unrecognizable　chunks；　tearing　pieces　apart　in　a　desperate　attempt　to　
save　his　brother。　He　was　too　late；　but；　in　the　end；　the　creature　was　destroyed。　
　“Or　so　they　thought。　Yaha　Uta　laid　the　reeking　remains　out　to　be　examined　by　the　elders。　One　severed　
hand　lay　beside　a　piece　of　the　creature’s　granite　arm。　The　two　pieces　touched　when　the　elders　poked　them　
with　sticks；　and　the　hand　reached　out　towards　the　arm　piece；　trying　to　reassemble　itself。　
　“Horrified；　the　elders　set　fire　to　the　remains。　A　great　cloud　of　choking；　vile　smoke　polluted　the　air。　When　
there　was　nothing　but　ashes；　they　separated　the　ashes　into　many　small　bags　and　spread　them　far　and　wide　—　
some　in　the　ocean；　some　in　the　forest；　some　in　the　cliff　caverns。　Taha　Aki　wore　one　bag　around　his　neck；　so　
he　would　be　warned　if　the　creature　ever　tried　to　put　himself　together　again。”　
　Old　Quil　paused　and　looked　at　Billy。　Billy　pulled　out　a　leather　thong　from　around　his　neck。　Hanging　from　
the　end　was　a　small　bag；　blackened　with　age。　A　few　people　gasped。　I　might　have　been　one　of　them。　
　“They　called　it　The　Cold　One；　the　Blood　Drinker；　and　lived　in　fear　that　it　was　not　alone。　They　only　had　
one　wolf　protector　left；　young　Yaha　Uta。　
　“They　did　not　have　long　to　wait。　The　creature　had　a　mate；　another　blood　drinker；　who　came　to　the　
Quileutes　seeking　revenge。　
　“The　stories　say　that　the　Cold　Woman　was　the　most　beautiful　thing　human　eyes　had　ever　seen。　She　looked　
like　the　goddess　of　the　dawn　when　she　entered　the　village　that　morning；　the　sun　was　shining　for　once；　and　it　
glittered　off　her　white　skin