《6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命》第27章

s。　And　we　are　going　to　use　this　rare　exception　to　surprise　our　enemies。” My　thoughts　spun　around　and　turned　upside　down。　So　Riley　knew　it　was　safe　for　us　to　go　out　in　the　sun。　Or　he　didn’t；　and　our　creator　had　told　him　this　“four　days　a　year”　story。　Or…　this　was　true　and　Diego　and　I　had　lucked　into　one　of　those　days。　Except　that　Diego　had　been　out　in　the　shade　before。　And　Riley　was　making　this　into　some　kind　of　solsticey　seasonal　thing；　while　Diego　and　I　had　been　safe　in　the　daylight　just　four　days　ago。 I　could　understand　that　Riley　and　our　creator　would　want　to　control　us　with　the　fear　of　the　sun。　It　made　sense。　But　why　tell　the　truth in　a　very　limited　way now？　
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I　would　bet　it　had　to　do　with　those　scary　darkcloaks。　She　probably　wanted　to　get　a　jump　on　her　deadline。　The　cloaked　ones　had　not　promised　to　let　her　live　when　we　killed　all　the　yelloweyes。　I　guessed　she　would　be　off　like　a　shot　the　second　she’d　acplished　her　objective　here。　Kill　the　yelloweyes　and　then　take　an　extended　vacation　in　Australia　or　somewhere　else　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　And　I’d　bet　she　wasn’t　going　to　send　us　engraved　invitations。　I　would　have　to　get　to　Diego　quick　so　we　could　bail；　too。　In　the　opposite　direction　from　Riley　and　our　creator。　And　I　ought　to　tip　Fred　off。　I　decided　I　would　as　soon　as　we　had　a　moment　alone。 There　was　so　much　manipulation　going　on　in　this　one　little　speech；　and　I　wasn’t　sure　I　was　catching　it　all。　I　wished　Diego　were　here　so　we　could　analyze　it　together。 If　Riley　was　just　making　up　this　fourdays　story　on　the　spot；　I　guess　I　could　understand　why。　It’s　not　like　he　could　have　just　said；　Hey；　so　I’ve　lied　to　you　for　your　whole　lives；　but　now　I’m　telling　the　truth。　He　wanted　us　to　follow　him　into　battle　today；　he　couldn’t　undermine　whatever　trust　he’d　earned。 “It’s　right　for　you　to　be　terrified　at　the　thought；”　Riley　told　the　statues。　“The　reason　you　are　all　still　alive　is　that　you　paid　attention　when　I　told　you　to　be　careful。　You　got　home　on　time；　you　didn’t　make　mistakes。　You　let　that　fear　make　you　smart　and　cautious。　I　don’t　expect　you　to　put　that　intelligent　fear　aside　easily。　I　don’t　expect　you　to　run　out　that　door　on　my　word。　But…”　He　looked　around　the　room　once。　“I　do　expect　you　to　follow　me　out。” His　eyes　slid　away　from　the　audience　for　just　the　teensiest　
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fraction　of　a　second；　touching　very　briefly　on　something　over　my　head。 “Watch　me；”　he　told　us。　“Listen　to　me。　Trust　me。　When　you　see　that　I’m　okay；　believe　your　eyes。　The　sun　on　this　one　day　does　have　some　interesting　effects　on　our　skin。　You’ll　see。　It　won’t　hurt　you　in　any　way。　I　wouldn’t　do　anything　to　put　you　guys　in　unnecessary　danger。　You　know　that。” He　started　up　the　stairs。 “Riley；　can’t　we　just　wait ；”　Kristie　began。 “Just　pay　attention；”　Riley　cut　her　off；　still　moving　up　at　a　measured　pace。　“This　gives　us　a　big　advantage。　The　yellow　eyes　know　all　about　this　day；　but　they　don’t　know　that　we　know。”　As　he　was　talking；　he　opened　the　door　and　walked　out　of　the　basement　into　the　kitchen。　There　was　no　light　in　the　wellshaded　kitchen；　but　everyone　still　shied　away　from　the　open　doorway。　Everyone　but　me。　His　voice　continued；　moving　toward　the　front　door。　“It　takes　most　young　vampires　a　while　to　embrace　this　exception for　good　reason。　Those　who　aren’t　cautious　about　the　daylight　don’t　last　long。” I　felt　Fred’s　eyes　on　me。　I　glanced　over　at　him。　He　was　staring　at　me　urgently；　as　if　he　wanted　to　take　off　but　had　nowhere　to　go。 “It’s　okay；”　I　whispered　almost　silently。　“The　sun’s　not　going　to　hurt　us。” You　trust　him he　mouthed　back　at　me。 No　way。 Fred　raised　an　eyebrow　and　relaxed　just　slightly。 I　glanced　behind　us。　What　had　Riley　been　looking　at？　
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Nothing　had　changed just　some　family　pictures　of　dead　people；　a　small　mirror；　and　a　cuckoo　clock。　Hmm。　Was　he　checking　the　time？　Maybe　our　creator　had　given　him　a　deadline；　too。 “’Kay；　guys；　I’m　going　out；”　Riley　said。　“You　don’t　have　to　be　afraid　today；　I　promise。” The　light　burst　into　the　basement　through　the　open　door；　magnified as　only　I　knew by　Riley’s　skin。　I　could　see　the　bright　reflections　dance　on　the　wall。 Hissing　and　snarling；　my　coven　backed　into　the　corner　opposite　from　Fred’s。　Kristie　was　in　the　very　back。　It　looked　like　she　was　trying　to　use　her　gang　as　a　kind　of　shield。 “Relax；　everybody；”　Riley　called　down　to　us。　“I　am　absolutely　fine。　No　pain；　no　burn。　e　and　see。　C’mon！” No　one　moved　closer　to　the　door。　Fred　was　crouched　against　the　wall　beside　me；　eyeing　the　light　with　panic。　I　waved　my　hand　a　tiny　bit　to　get　his　attention。　He　looked　up　at　me　and　measured　my　total　calm　for　a　second。　Slowly　he　straightened　up　next　to　me。　I　smiled　encouragingly。 Everyone　else　was　waiting　for　the　burn　to　start。　I　wondered　if　I　had　looked　that　silly　to　Diego。 “You　know；”　Riley　mused　from　above；　“I’m　curious　to　see　who　is　the　bravest　one　of　you。　I　have　a　good　idea　who　the　first　person　through　that　door　is　going　to　be；　but　I’ve　been　wrong　before。” I　rolled　my　eyes。　Subtle；　Riley。 But　of　course　it　worked。　Raoul　started　inching　his　way　toward　the　stairs　almost　immediately。　For　once；　Kristie　was　in　
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no　hurry　to　pete　with　him　for　Riley’s　approval。　Raoul　snapped　his　fingers　at　Kevin；　and　both　he　and　the　SpiderMan　kid　reluctantly　moved　to　flank　him。 “You　can　hear　me。　You　know　I’m　not　fried。　Don’t　be　a　bunch　of　babies！　You’re　vampires。　Act　like　it。” Still；　Raoul　and　his　buddies　couldn’t　get　farther　than　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　None　of　the　others　moved。　After　a　few　minutes；　Riley　came　back。　In　the　indirect　light　from　the　front　door；　he　shimmered　just　a　tiny　bit　in　the　doorway。 “Look　at　me I’m　fine。　Seriously！　I’m　embarrassed　for　you。　C’mere；　Raoul！” In　the　end；　Riley　had　to　grab　Kevin Raoul　ducked　out　of　the　way　as　soon　as　he　could　see　what　Riley　was　thinking　and　drag　him　upstairs　by　force。　I　saw　the　moment　when　they　made　it　into　the　sun；　when　the　light　brightened　from　their　reflections。 “Tell　them；　Kevin；”　Riley　ordered。 “I’m　okay；　Raoul！”　Kevin　called　down。　“Whoa。　I’m　all…　shiny。　This　is　crazy！”　He　laughed。 “Well　done；　Kevin；”　Riley　said