6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第10部分

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　to　stay？　　He　just　held　his　head　on　the　side；　listening　carefully。　
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　And　after　a　few　more　minutes　of　patience；　the　low；　romantic　sounds　were　suddenly　interrupted。　　“How　many？”　　The　voice　was　muted　by　distance；　but　still　distinct。　And　recognizable。　High；　almost　a　trill。　Like　a　spoiled　young　girl。　　“Twentytwo；”　Riley　answered；　sounding　proud。　Diego　and　I　exchanged　a　sharp　glance。　There　were　twentytwo　of　us；　at　last　count；　anyway。　They　must　be　talking　about　us。　　“I　thought　I’d　lost　two　more　to　the　sun；　but　one　of　my　older　kids　is…　obedient；”　Riley　continued。　There　was　almost　an　affectionate　sound　to　his　voice　when　he　spoke　of　Diego　as　one　of　his　kids。　“He　has　an　underground　place　he　hid　himself　with　the　younger　one。”　　“Are　you　sure？”　　There　was　a　long　pause；　this　time　with　no　sounds　of　romance。　Even　from　this　distance；　I　thought　I　could　feel　some　tension。　　“Yeah。　He’s　a　good　kid；　I’m　sure。”　　Another　strained　pause。　I　didn’t　understand　her　question。　What　did　she　mean；　are　you　sure？　Did　she　think　he’d　heard　the　story　from　someone　else　rather　than　seeing　Diego　for　himself？　　“Twentytwo　is　good；”　she　mused；　and　the　tension　seemed　to　dissolve。　“How　is　their　behavior　developing？　Some　of　them　are　almost　a　year　old。　Do　they　still　follow　the　normal　patterns？”　　“Yes；”　Riley　said。　“Everything　you　told　me　to　do　worked　flawlessly。　They　don’t　think　　　they　just　do　what　they’ve　always　done。　I　can　always　distract　them　with　thirst。　It　keeps　them　under　control。”　
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　I　frowned　at　Diego。　Riley　didn’t　want　us　to　think。　Why？　　“You’ve　done　so　well；”　our　creator　cooed；　and　there　was　another　kiss。　“Twentytwo！”　　“Is　it　time？”　Riley　asked　eagerly。　　Her　answer　came　back　fast；　like　a　slap。　“No！　I　haven’t　decided　when。”　　“I　don’t　understand。”　　“You　don’t　need　to。　It’s　enough　for　you　to　know　that　our　enemies　have　great　powers。　We　cannot　be　too　careful。”　Her　voice　softened；　turned　sugary　again。　“But　all　twentytwo　still　alive。　Even　with　what　they　are　capable　of…　what　good　will　it　be　against　twentytwo？”　She　let　out　a　tinkling　little　laugh。　　Diego　and　I　had　not　looked　away　from　each　other　throughout　all　this；　and　I　could　see　in　his　eyes　now　that　his　thoughts　were　the　same　as　mine。　Yes；　we’d　been　created　for　a　purpose；　as　we’d　guessed。　We　had　an　enemy。　Or；　our　creator　had　an　enemy。　Did　the　distinction　matter？　　“Decisions；　decisions；”　she　muttered。　“Not　yet。　Maybe　one　more　handful；　just　to　be　sure。”　　“Adding　more　might　actually　decrease　our　numbers；”　Riley　cautioned　hesitantly；　as　if　being　careful　not　to　upset　her。　“It’s　always　unstable　when　a　new　group　is　introduced。”　　“True；”　she　agreed；　and　I　imagined　Riley　sighing　in　relief　that　she　was　not　upset。　　Abruptly　Diego　looked　away　from　me；　staring　out　across　the　meadow。　I　hadn’t　heard　any　movement　from　the　house；　but　maybe　she　had　e　out。　My　head　whipped　around　at　the　same　time　the　rest　of　me　turned　to　a　statue；　and　I　saw　what　had　
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startled　Diego。　　Four　figures　were　crossing　the　open　field　to　the　house。　They　had　entered　the　clearing　from　the　west；　the　point　farthest　from　where　we　hid。　They　all　wore　long；　dark　cloaks　with　deep　hoods；　so　at　first　I　thought　they　were　people。　Weird　people；　but　just　humans　all　the　same；　because　none　of　the　vampires　I　knew　had　matching　Goth　clothes。　And　none　moved　in　a　way　that　was　so　smooth　and　controlled　and…　elegant。　But　then　I　realized　that　none　of　the　humans　I’d　ever　seen　could　move　that　way；　either；　and　what’s　more；　they　couldn’t　do　it　so　quietly。　The　darkcloaks　skimmed　across　the　long　grass　in　absolute　silence。　So　either　these　were　vampires；　or　they　were　something　else　supernatural。　Ghosts；　maybe。　But　if　they　were　vampires；　they　were　vampires　I　didn’t　know；　and　that　meant　they　might　very　well　be　these　enemies　she　was　talking　about。　If　so；　we　should　get　the　hell　out　of　Dodge　right　now；　because　we　didn’t　have　twenty　other　vampires　on　our　side　at　the　moment。　　I　almost　took　off　then；　but　I　was　too　afraid　to　draw　the　attention　of　the　cloaked　figures。　　So　I　watched　them　move　smoothly　forward；　noticing　other　things　about　them。　How　they　stayed　in　a　perfect　diamond　formation　that　never　was　the　slightest　bit　out　of　line　no　matter　how　the　terrain　changed　under　their　feet。　How　the　one　at　the　point　of　the　diamond　was　much　smaller　than　the　others；　and　its　cloak　was　darker；　too。　How　they　didn’t　seem　to　be　tracking　their　way　in　not　trying　to　follow　the　path　of　any　scent。　They　simply　knew　their　way。　Maybe　they　were　invited。　　They　moved　directly　toward　the　house；　and　I　felt　like　it　might　
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be　safe　to　breathe　again　when　they　started　silently　up　the　steps　toward　the　front　door。　They　weren’t　ing　straight　for　Diego　and　me；　at　least。　When　they　were　out　of　sight；　we　could　disappear　into　the　sound　of　the　next　breeze　through　the　trees；　and　they　would　never　know　we’d　been　here。　　I　looked　at　Diego　and　twitched　my　head　slightly　toward　the　way　we’d　e。　He　narrowed　his　eyes　and　held　up　one　finger。　Oh　great；　he　wanted　to　stay。　I　rolled　my　eyes　at　him；　though　I　was　so　afraid；　I　was　surprised　I　was　capable　of　sarcasm。　　We　both　looked　back　to　the　house。　The　cloaked　things　had　let　themselves　in　silently；　but　I　realized　that　neither　she　nor　Riley　had　spoken　since　we’d　caught　sight　of　the　visitors。　They　must　have　heard　something　or　known　in　some　other　way　that　they　were　in　danger。　　“Don’t　bother；”　a　very　clear；　monotone　voice　manded　lazily。　It　was　not　as　highpitched　as　our　creator’s；　but　it　still　sounded　girlish　to　me。　“I　think　you　know　who　we　are；　so　you　must　know　that　there　is　no　point　in　trying　to　surprise　us。　Or　hide　from　us。　Or　fight　us。　Or　run。”　　A　deep；　masculine　chuckle　that　did　not　belong　to　Riley　echoed　menacingly　through　the　house。　　“Relax；”　instructed　the　first　inflectionless　voicethe　cloaked　girl。　Her　voice　had　that　distinctive　ring　that　made　me　certain　she　was　a　vampire；　not　a　ghost　or　any　other　kind　of　nightmare。　“We’re　not　here　to　destroy　you。　Yet。”　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence；　and　then　some　barely　audible　movements。　A　shifting　of　positions。　　“If　you　are　not　here　to　kill　us；　then…　what？”　our　creator　
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asked；　strained　and　shrill。　　“We　seek　to　know　your　intentions　here。　Specifically；　if　they　involve…　a　certain　local　clan；”　the　cloaked　girl　explained。　“We　wonder　if　they　have　anything　to　do　with　the　mayhem　you’ve　created　here。　Illegally　created。”　　Diego　and　I　frowned　simultaneously。　None　of　this　made　sense；　but　the　last　part　was　the　weirdest。　What　could　be　illegal　for　vampires？　What　cop；　what　judge；　what　prison　could　have　power　over　us？　　“Yes；”　our　creator　hissed。　“My　plans　are　all　about　them。　But　we　can’t　move　yet。　It’s　tricky。”　A　petulant　note　crept　into　her　voice　at　the　end。　　“Trust　me；　we　know　the　difficulties　better　than　you。　It　is　remarkable　that　you’ve　managed　to　keep　off　the　radar；　so　to　speak；　for　this　long。　Tell　me”a　hint　of　interest　colored　the　monotone“how　are　you　doing　it？”　　Our　creator　hesitated；　and　then　spoke　all　in　a　rush。　Almost　as　if　there　had　been　some　silent　intimidation。　“I　haven’t　made　the　decision；”　she　spit　out。　Then　she　added　more　slowly；　unwillingly；　“To　attack。　I’ve　never　decided　to　do　anything　with　them。”　　“Rough；　but　effective；”　the　cloaked　girl　said。　“Unfortunately；　your　period　of　deliberation　has　e　to　a　close。　You　must　decide　　now　what　you　will　do　with　your　little　army。”　Both　Diego’s　and　my　eyes　widened　at　that　word。　“Otherwise；　it　will　be　our　duty　to　punish　you　as　the　law　demands。　This　reprieve；　however　short；　troubles　me。　It　is　not　our　way。　I　suggest　you　give　us　what　assurances　you　can…　quickly。”　
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　“We’ll　go　at　once！”　Riley　volunteered　anxiously；　and　there　was　a　sharp　hiss。　　“We’ll　go　as　soon　as　possible；”　our　creator　amended　furiously。　“There　is　much　to　do。　I　assume　you　wish　us　to　succeed？　Then　I　must　have　a　little　time　to　get　them　trainedinstructed　fed！”　　There　was　a　short　pause。　　“Five　days。　We　will　e　for　you　then。　And　there　is　no　rock　you　can　hide　under　or　speed　at　which　you　can　flee　that　will　save　you。　If　you　have　not　made　your　attack　by　the　time　we　e；　you　will　burn。”　This　was　said　with　no　menace　other　than　an　absolute　certainty。　　“And　if　I　have　made　my　attack？”　our　creator　asked；　shaken。　　“We’ll　see；”　the　cloaked　girl　answered　in　a　brighter　tone　than　she’d　used　yet。　“I　suppose　that　all　depends　on　how　successful　you　are。　Work　hard　to　please　us。”　The　last　mand　was　given　in　a　flat；　hard　pitch　that　made　me　feel　a　strange　chill　in　the　center　of　my　body。　　“Yes；”　our　creator　snarled。　　“Yes；”　Riley　echoed　in　a　whisper。　　A　second　later　the　cloaked　vampires　were　noiselessly　exiting　the　house。　Neither　Diego　nor　I　so　much　as　took　a　breath　for　five　minutes　after　they’d　disappeared。　Inside　the　house；　our　creator　and　Riley　were　just　as　quiet。　Another　ten　minutes　passed　in　total　stillness。　　I　touched　Diego’s　arm。　This　was　our　chance　to　get　out　of　here。　At　the　moment；　I　wasn’t　so　afraid　of　Riley　anymore。　I　wanted　to　get　as　far　away　as　I　could　from　those　darkcloaks。　I　
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wanted　the　safety　of　numbers　waiting　back　in　the　log　cabin；　and　I　figured　that　was　exactly　how　our　creator　felt；　too。　Why　she’d　made　so　many　of　us　in　the　first　place。　There　were　some　things　out　there　scarier　than　I’d　imagined。　　Diego　hesitated；　still　listening；　and　a　second　later　his　patience　was　rewarded。　　“Well；”　she　whispered　inside　the　house；　“now　they　know。”　　Was　she　talking　about　the　cloaks　or　the　mysterious　clan？　Which　one　was　the　enemy　she’d　mentioned　before　the　drama？　　“That　doesn’t　matter。　We　outnumber”　　“Any　warning　matters！”　she　growled；　cutting　him　off。　“There　is　so　much　to　do。　Only　five　days！”　She　groaned。　“No　more　messing　around。　You　start　tonight。”　　“I　won’t　fail　you！”　Riley　promised。　　Crap。　Diego　and　I　moved　at　the　same　time；　leaping　from　our　perch　into　the　next　tree　over；　flying　back　the　way　we’d　e。　Riley　was　in　a　hurry　now；　and　if　he　found　Diego’s　trail　after　all　that　had　just　passed　with　the　cloaks；　and　no　Diego　there　at　the　end　of　it…　　“I’ve　got　to　get　back　and　be　waiting；”　Diego　whispered　to　me　as　we　raced。　“Lucky　it’s　not　in　view　of　the　house！　Don’t　want　him　to　know　I　heard。”　　“We　should　talk　to　him　together。”　　“Too　late　for　that。　He’d　notice　that　your　scent