It was Carlisle asking, so when I turned around again, my face was probably less disrespectful than it would have been if anyone else had stopped me.

"Yeah?"

Carlisle approached me while Esme drifted off toward the other room. He stopped a few feet away, just a little bit farther away than the normal s.p.a.ce between two humans having a conversation. I appreciated him giving me my s.p.a.ce.

"Speaking of hunting," he began in a somber tone. "That's going to be an issue for my family. I understand that our previous truce is inoperative at the moment, so I wanted your advice. Will Sam be hunting for us outside of the perimeter you've created? We don't want to take a chance with hurting any of your family-or losing any of ours. If you were in our shoes, how would you proceed?"

I leaned away, a little surprised, when he threw it back at me like that. What would I know about being in a bloodsucker's expensive shoes? But, then again, I did know Sam.

"It's a risk," I said, trying to ignore the other eyes I felt on me and to talk only to him.

"Sam's calmed down some, but I'm pretty sure that in his head, the treaty is void. As long as he thinks the tribe, or any other human, is in real danger, he's not going to ask questions first, if you know what I mean. But, with all that, his priority is going to be La Push. There really aren't enough of them to keep a decent watch on the people while putting out hunting parties big enough to do much damage. I'd bet he's keeping it close to home."

Carlisle nodded thoughtfully.

"So I guess I'd say, go out together, just in case. And probably you should go in the day, 'cause we'd be expecting night. Traditional vampire stuff. You're fast-go over the mountains and hunt far enough away that there's no chance he'd send anyone that far from home.""And leave Bella behind, unprotected?"

I snorted. "What are we, chopped liver?"

Carlisle laughed, and then his face was serious again. "Jacob, you can't fight against your brothers."

My eyes tightened. "I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard, but if they were really coming to kill her-I would be able to stop them."

Carlisle shook his head, anxious. "No, I didn't mean that you would be... incapable. But that it would be very wrong. I can't have that on my conscience."

"It wouldn't be on yours, Doc. It would be on mine. And I can take it."

"No, Jacob. We will make sure that our actions don't make that a necessity." He frowned thoughtfully "We'll go three at a time," he decided after a second. "That's probably the best we can do."

"I don't know, Doc. Dividing down the middle isn't the best strategy."

"We've got some extra abilities that will even it up. If Edward is one of the three, he'll be able to give us a few miles' radius of safety."

We both glanced at Edward. His expression had Carlisle backtracking quickly.

"I'm sure there are other ways, too," Carlisle said. Clearly, there was no physical need strong enough to get Edward away from Bella now. "Alice, I would imagine you could see which routes would be a mistake?"

"The ones that disappear," Alice said, nodding. "Easy."

Edward, who had gone all tense with Carlisle's first plan, loosened up. Bella was staring unhappily at Alice, that little crease between her eyes that she got when she was stressed out.

"Okay, then," I said. "That's settled. I'll just be on my way. Seth, I'll expect you back on at dusk, so get a nap in there somewhere, all right?"

"Sure, Jake. I'll phase back soon as I'm done. Unless ..." he hesitated, looking at Bella.

"Do you need me?"

"She's got blankets," I snapped at him.

"I'm fine, Seth, thanks," Bella said quickly.

And then Esme flitted back in the room, a big covered dish in her hands. She stopped hesitantly just behind Carlisle's elbow, her wide, dark gold eyes on my face. She held the dish out and took a shy step closer."Jacob," she said quietly. Her voice wasn't quite so piercing as the others'. "I know it's... unappetizing to you, the idea of eating here, where it smells so unpleasant. But I would feel much better if you would take some food with you when you go. I know you can't go home, and that's because of us. Please-ease some of my remorse. Take something to eat." She held the food out to me, her face all soft and pleading. I don't know how she did it, because she didn't look older than her mid-twenties, and she was bone pale, too, but something about her expression suddenly reminded me of my mom.

Jeez.

"Uh, sure, sure," I mumbled. "I guess. Maybe Leah's still hungry or something."

I reached out and took the food with one hand, holding it away, at arm's length. I'd go dump it under a tree or something. I didn't want her to feel bad.

Then I remembered Edward.

Don' t you say anything to her! Let her think I ate it.

I didn't look at him to see if he was in agreement. He'd better be in agreement.

Bloodsucker owed me.

"Thank you, Jacob," Esme said, smiling at me. How did a stone face have dimples, for crying out loud?

"Um, thank you," I said. My face felt hot-hotter than usual.

This was the problem with hanging out with vampires-you got used to them. They started messing up the way you saw the world. They started feeling like friends.

"Will you come back later, Jake?" Bella asked as I tried to make a run for it.

"Uh, I don't know."

She pressed her lips together, like she was trying not to smile. "Please? I might get cold."

I inhaled deeply through my nose, and then realized, too late, that that was not a good idea. I winced. "Maybe."

"Jacob?" Esme asked. I backed toward the door as she continued; she took a few steps after me. "I left a basket of clothes on the porch. They're for Leah. They're freshly washed-I tried to touch them as little as possible." She frowned. "Do you mind taking them to her?"

"On it," I muttered, and then I ducked out the door before anyone could guilt me into anything else.

15. TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.

Hey Jake, thought you said you wanted me at dusk. How come you didn' t have Leah wake me up before she crashed?

'Cause I didn' t need you. I'm still good.

He was already picking up the north half of the circle. Anything?

Nope. Nothing but nothing.

You did some scouting?

He'd caught the edge of one of my side trips. He headed up the new trail.

Yeah-I ran a few spokes. You know, just checking. If the Cullens are going to make a hunting trip...

Good call.

Seth looped back toward the main perimeter.

It was easier to run with him than it was to do the same with Leah. Though she was trying-trying hard-there was always an edge to her thoughts. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to feel the softening toward the vampires that was going on in my head. She didn't want to deal with Seth's cozy friendship with them, a friendship that was only getting stronger.

Funny, though, I'd've thought her biggest issue would just be me. We'd always gotten on each other's nerves when we were in Sam's pack. But there was no antagonism toward me now at all, just the Cullens and Bella. I wondered why. Maybe it was simply grat.i.tude that I wasn't forcing her to leave. Maybe it was because I understood her hostility better now. Whichever, running with Leah wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected.

Of course, she hadn't eased up that much. The food and clothes Esme had sent for her were all taking a trip downriver right now. Even after I'd eaten my share-not because it smelled nearly irresistible away from the vampire burn, but to set a good example of self-sacrificing tolerance for Leah-she'd refused. The small elk she'd taken down around noon had not totally satisfied her appet.i.te. Did make her mood worse, though.

Leah hated eating raw.

Maybe we should run a sweep east? Seth suggested. Go deep, see if they're out there waiting.

I was thinking about that, I agreed. But let' s do it when we're all awake. I don' t want to let down our guard. We should do it before the Cullens give it a try, though. Soon.

Right.

That got me thinking. If the Cullens were able to get out of the immediate area safely, they really ought to keep on going. They probably should have taken off the second we'd come to warn them. They had to be able to afford other digs. And they had friends up north, right?

Take Bella and run. It seemed like an obvious answer to their problems.

I probably ought to suggest that, but I was afraid they would listen to me. And I didn't want to have Bella disappear-to never know whether she'd made it or not.

No, that was stupid. I would tell them to go. It made no sense for them to stay, and it would be better-not less painful, but healthier-for me if Bella left.

Easy to say now, when Bella wasn't right there, looking all thrilled to see me and also clinging to life by her fingernails at the same time...

Oh, I already asked Edward about that, Seth thought.

What?

I asked him why they hadn' t taken off yet. Gone up to Tanya' s place or something.

Somewhere too far for Sam to come after them.

I had to remind myself that I'd just decided to give the Cullens that exact advice. That it was best. So I shouldn't be mad at Seth for taking the ch.o.r.e out of my hands. Not mad at all.

So what did he say? Are they waiting for a window?

No. They're not leaving.

And that shouldn't sound like good news.

Why not? That' s just stupid.

Not really, Seth said, defensive now. It takes some time to build up the kind of medical access that Carlisle has here. He' s got all the stuff he needs to take care of Bella, and the credentials to get more. That' s one of the reasons they want to make a hunting run.

Carlisle thinks they're going to need more blood for Bella soon. She' s using up all the O negative they stored for her . He doesn' t like depleting the stockpile. He' s going to buy some more. Did you know you can buy blood? If you're a doctor .

I wasn't ready to be logical yet. Still seems stupid. They could bring most of it with them, right? And steal what they need wherever they go. Who cares about legal c.r.a.p when you're the undead?

Edward doesn' t want to take any risks moving her .

She' s better than she was.

Seriously, Seth agreed. In his head, he was comparing my memories of Bella hooked up to the tubes with the last time he'd seen her as he'd left the house. She'd smiled at him and waved. But she can' t move around much, you know. That thing is kicking the h.e.l.l out of her .

I swallowed back the stomach acid in my throat. Yeah, I know.

Broke another of her ribs, he told me somberly.

My stride faltered, and I staggered a step before I regained my rhythm.

Carlisle taped her up again. Just another crack, he said. Then Rosalie said something about how even normal human babies have been known to crack ribs. Edward looked like he was gonna rip her head off.

Too bad he didn' t.

Seth was in full report mode now-knowing it was all vitally interesting to me, though I'd never've asked to hear it. Bella' s been running a fever off and on today. Just low grade-sweats and then chills. Carlisle' s not sure what to make of it-she might just be sick. Her immune system can' t be in peak form right now.

Yeah, I'm sure it' s just a coincidence.

She' s in a good mood, though. She was chatting with Charlie, laughing and all- Charlie! What?! What do you mean, she was talking to Charlie?!

Now Seth's pace stuttered; my fury surprised him. Guess he calls every day to talk to her . Sometimes her mom calls, too. Bella sounds so much better now, so she was rea.s.suring him that she was on the mend- On the mend? What the h.e.l.l are they thinking?! Get Charlie' s hopes up just so that he can be destroyed even worse when she dies? I thought they were getting him ready for that! Trying to prepare him! Why would she set him up like this?

She might not die, Seth thought quietly.

I took deep breath, trying to calm myself. Seth. Even if she pulls through this, she' s not doing it human. She knows that, and so do the rest of them. If she doesn' t die, she' s going to have to do a pretty convincing impersonation of a corpse, kid. Either that, or disappear . I thought they were trying to make this easier on Charlie. Why... ?

Think it' s Bella' s idea. No one said anything, but Edward' s face kinda went right along with what you're thinking now.

On the same wavelength with the bloodsucker yet again.

We ran in silence for a few minutes. I started off along a new line, probing south.

Don' t get too far .Why?

Bella asked me to ask you to stop by.

My teeth locked together.

Alice wants you, too. She says she' s tired of hanging out in the attic like the vampire bat in the belfry. Seth snorted a laugh. I was switching off with Edward before. Trying to keep Bella' s temperature stable. Cold to hot, as needed. I guess, if you don' t want to do it, I could go back- No. I got it, I snapped.