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glance; trying to lift me out of my sudden; unexplained dejection。
I tried to smile back; but the smile was unconvincing。 He scrutinized my
face。
〃I'll take you home;〃 he promised。 I couldn't tell if the promise was
unconditional; or restricted to an immediate departure。 I knew he thought
it was fear that upset me; and I was grateful again that I was the one
person whose mind he couldn't hear。
〃If you want me to hack five miles through the jungle before sundown;
you'd better start leading the way;〃 I said acidly。 He frowned at me;
struggling to understand my tone and expression。
He gave up after a moment and led the way into the forest。
It wasn't as hard as I had feared。 The way was mostly flat; and he held
the damp ferns and webs of moss aside for me。 When his straight path took
us over fallen trees or boulders; he would help me; lifting me by the
elbow; and then releasing me instantly when I was clear。 His cold touch
on my skin never failed to make my heart thud erratically。 Twice; when
that happened; I caught a look on his face that made me sure he could
somehow hear it。
I tried to keep my eyes away from his perfection as much as possible; but
I slipped often。 Each time; his beauty pierced me through with sadness。
For the most part; we walked in silence。 Occasionally he would ask a
random question that he hadn't gotten to in the past two days of
interrogation。 He asked about my birthdays; my grade school teachers; my
childhood pets — and I had to admit that after killing three fish in a
row; I'd given up on the whole institution。 He laughed at that; louder
than I was used to — belllike echoes bouncing back to us from the empty
woods。
The hike took me most of the morning; but he never showed any sign of
impatience。 The forest spread out around us in a boundless labyrinth of
ancient trees; and I began to be nervous that we would never find our way
out again。 He was perfectly at ease; fortable in the green maze; never
seeming to feel any doubt about our direction。
After several hours; the light that filtered through the canopy
transformed; the murky olive tone shifting to a brighter jade。 The day
had turned sunny; just as he'd foretold。 For the first time since we'd
entered the woods; I felt a thrill of excitement — which quickly turned
to impatience。
〃Are we there yet?〃 I teased; pretending to scowl。
〃Nearly。〃 He smiled at the change in my mood。 〃Do you see the brightness
ahead?〃
I peered into the thick forest。 〃Um; should I?〃
He smirked。 〃Maybe it's a bit soon for your eyes。〃
〃Time to visit the optometrist;〃 I muttered。 His smirk grew more
pronounced。
But then; after another hundred yards; I could definitely see a
lightening in the trees ahead; a glow that was yellow instead of green。 I
picked up the pace; my eagerness growing with every step。 He let me lead
now; following noiselessly。
I reached the edge of the pool of light and stepped through the last
fringe of ferns into the loveliest place I had ever seen。 The meadow was
small; perfectly round; and filled with wildflowers — violet; yellow; and
soft white。 Somewhere nearby; I could hear the bubbling music of a
stream。 The sun was directly overhead; filling the circle with a haze of
buttery sunshine。 I walked slowly; awestruck; through the soft grass;
swaying flowers; and warm; gilded air。 I halfway turned; wanting to share
this with him; but he wasn't behind me where I thought he'd be。 I spun
around; searching for him with sudden alarm。 Finally I spotted him; still
under the dense shade of the canopy at the edge of the hollow; watching
me with cautious eyes。 Only then did I remember what the beauty of the
meadow had driven from my mind — the enigma of Edward and the sun; which
he'd promised to illustrate for me today。
I took a step back toward him; my eyes alight with curiosity。 His eyes
were wary; reluctant。 I smiled encouragingly and beckoned to him with my
hand; taking another step back to him。 He held up a hand in warning; and
I hesitated; rocking back onto my heels。
Edward seemed to take a deep breath; and then he stepped out into the
bright glow of the midday sun。
===========================================================================
13。 CONFESSIONS
Edward in the sunlight was shocking。 I couldn't get used to it; though
I'd been staring at him all afternoon。 His skin; white despite the faint
flush from yesterday's hunting trip; literally sparkled; like thousands
of tiny diamonds were embedded in the surface。 He lay perfectly still in
the grass; his shirt open over his sculpted; incandescent chest; his
scintillating arms bare。 His glistening; pale lavender lids were shut;
though of course he didn't sleep。 A perfect statue; carved in some
unknown stone; smooth like marble; glittering like crystal。
Now and then; his lips would move; so fast it looked like they were
trembling。 But; when I asked; he told me he was singing to himself; it
was too low for me to hear。
I enjoyed the sun; too; though the air wasn't quite dry enough for my
taste。 I would have liked to lie back; as he did; and let the sun warm my
face。 But I stayed curled up; my chin resting on my knees; unwilling to
take my eyes off him。 The wind was gentle; it tangled my hair and ruffled
the grass that swayed around his motionless form。
The meadow; so spectacular to me at first; paled next to his magnificence。
Hesitantly; always afraid; even now; that he would disappear like a
mirage; too beautiful to be real… hesitantly; I reached out one finger
and stroked the back of his shimmering hand; where it lay within my
reach。 I marveled again at the perfect texture; satin smooth; cool as
stone。 When I looked up again; his eyes were open; watching me。
Butterscotch today; lighter; warmer after hunting。 His quick smile turned
up the corners of his flawless lips。
〃I don't scare you?〃 he asked playfully; but I could hear the real
curiosity in his soft voice。
〃No more than usual。〃
He smiled wider; his teeth flashed in the sun。
I inched closer; stretched