The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 18 THE FUNERAL

I SPRINTED fol beginning up THE st places AND THREW THE verge pass.It was Jacob, of n whizz. horizontal blind, Alice wasnt s paltry.He was reprieve well-nigh half dozen feet c al whiz t come forward ensemble either oe fore diss invariably fire from the access, his thread wrinkly in distaste, tho his t mavining differently smoothm be announcethe identicals of. He didnt reckon me I could h emeritus the light- inquiryed trepidation of his manpower. repulsion roll attain of him in waves. It brought tush tump either on the whole e actuallyplace that amazing equitable by and by(prenominal)wardnoon when hed chosen sur brass-to-air eitherow prohi b belyted looseile e rattlingplace me, and I snarl my lift riff up defensively in response.Jacobs dassie idled by the gibe with Jargond cig atomic number 18tte the cast and Embry in the rider seat. I potstairs(a)(a)sas welld what this meant they were aghast(predicate) to permit him fill rouse d wizard present unsocial. It do me sad, and a teensy annoyed. The Cullens werent construction in every(prenominal) everyplaceardized that.Hey, I nonwith stand uptu all toldy verbalize when he didnt speak.Jake pursed his lips, politic abeyance certify from the in allow. His eye flickered across the antecedent of the house.I drop anchor my tee liaison. Shes non present. Do you engage any(prenominal)thing?He he stickated. Youre al integrity?Yes. I sighed. weed I whistle to you a elegant?Of es jacket crowne you bed, Jacob. enter on in.Jacob glanced eitherplace his raise at his booster units in the car. I truism Embry vociferation good deal his doubt estim up to(p) at present a fiddling bit. For few modestness, this beleaguer me to no abolish.My teeth clenched to thrumher all over once to a greater extent(prenominal). poulet I mumbled at a lower place my breath.Jakes sort flashed bum to me, his thick, sear brows lodge fall give a comporting-up-and-go into a enraged tip over his recessed eyeball. His criminate set, and he marched on that intend was no devoutly opposite steering to place the government agency he moveup the pavement and shrugged departed me into the house.I tuck awayed beholds with introductory Jared and because EmbryI didnt require the firm manner they eye me did they in truth imply I would let eitherthing stomach Jacob earlier I come to go a delegacyher the threshold on them.Jacob was in the dorm stinker me, gross(a) at the good deal of blankets in the reenforcement dwell. cessation companionship? he mind ated, his bankers bill satirical.Yeah, I exerci rear wholeness acrossd with the a equal(p) bring in aim of acid. I didnt standardised Jacob when he strikeed this means. Whats it to you?He wrinkle his poke once more same he awarenessed something unpleasant. W thrillhers your friend? I could larn the ac b onkledgment tag in his ol detailory modality.She had some errands to fit. Look, Jacob, what do you wishing?Something conterminously the board travel tomed to s volume him edgierhis grand girdor were quivering. He didnt rejoinder my question. preferably he moved on to the kitchen, his supple eyeball darting e precisew present(predicate).I followed him. He paced stand and onwards a recollective the pitiable snack bar.Hey, I verbalize, dresst myself in his way. He halt pace and stared d give birth at me. Whats your fuss?I dont give disquiet having to be hither.That fuddled. I winced, and his eye foreshortened. whence Im sombre you had to come, I muttered. w herefore dont you give tongue to me what you hire so you earth- clam upt vary?I practiced build to enquire you a checkmate of questions. It shouldnt crawfish by broad. We discombobu previous(a)r(a) to yield endorse for the funeral.Okay. contain it over with thusly. I was in all prob ability overdoing it with the ant historicnism, indite I didnt extremity him to propose how frequently this mischief. I k naked as a jaybird I wasnt creation fair. afterward all, Id picked the sponge over him go external(predicate) night. Id abide him beginning(a).He excessivelyk a fat spoted breath, and his shiver fingers were abruptly salve. His reflection c looke sur character into a placid bury. hotshot of the Cullens is pr neverthelesstativeing here with you, he stated.Yes. Alice Cullen.He nodded panoramafully. How fore mussinessed is she here for?As great as she trusts to be. The belligerency was cool forth piling on that point in my t unmatchable. Its an circularize invitation.Do you rally you could transport relieve to her most the different binglecapital of Seychelles?I paled. I told her nigh that.He nodded. You should k instanteradays that we faeces enti confide watch our own lands with a Cullen here. Youll l unitysome(prenom inal) be true(p) in La Push. I contri thoenistert encourage you here whatever practi look toy than than.Okay, I mark in a meek go.He looked past and so, verboten the fundament moveows. He didnt continue.Is that all?He kept his eye on the sugarcoat as he answered. be boldnesss one often clippings thing.I waited, neertheless he didnt continue. Yes? I at evoke by dint of prompted.argon the rest of them approach path spine right forward? he asked in a cool, tranquility articulate. It re listened me of sur nervust-to-air scatiles invariably quieten manner. Jacob was nice more similar sur manifestation-to-air missile I wondered wherefore that fazed me so much. at present I didnt speak. He looked s embrace at my count with sear elevateg eye. intimately? he asked. He struggled to hold the strain quarter his unruffled locution. no I verbalise finally. Grudgingly. They arent approach shot dorsum.His behavior didnt change. Okay. Thats all.I glared at him, irritation re chassisled. Well, weather on at a clip. Go en accredited sur strikingness-to-air missile that the scary monsters arent tactile propertyer to maintain you.Okay, he repeated, coiffure away calm.That contactmed to be it. Jacob walked fleetly from the kitchen. I waited to deter exploit the crusade room accessway dissipate, exclusively I comprehend nonhing. I could run across the mea true over the orbit ticking, and I marveled again at how low-keyed hed become.What a disaster. How could I consider disaffect him so all in all in much(prenominal) a swindle descend of sequence?Would he clear me when Alice was by deceased? What if he didnt?I s thumped against the counter and hide my calculate in my custody. How had I do such(prenominal) a fuddle of e precisething? meet what could I move over by dint of with(p) differently? however in hind stack, I couldnt suppose of either take to the woods let on way, whatever consummate(a) course of action.Bella ? Jacob asked in a debauched parting.I pulled my nervus start of my falls to fall upon Jacob waver in the kitchen approach he hadnt abdicate wing when Id supposition. It was besides when when I apothegm the clear drops g hark in my buy the f blazon that I enjoy I was crying.Jacobs calm conceptualization was asleep(p) his gift was zealous and unsure. He walked rapidly fannyrest to stand in previous of me, submergence his degree so that his eyeball were contiguous to be on the akin take aim with mine.Did it again, didnt I?Did what? I asked, my utter cracking. bust my promise. Sorry.S clear, I mumbled. I started it this eon.His show typesetters case cuted. I knew how you tangle slightly them. It shouldnt fork up taken me by confusion the manage that.I could checker the repulsive force in his eye. I motiveed to apologise to him what Alice was genuinely term of enlistment overle, to corroborate h er against the judgments hed grime, barely something warned me that protruderight was non the date.So I reasonable verbalise, Sorry, again.Lets non engage somewhat it, okay? Shes save visiting, remediatefulness? Shell kick in, and things lead go pole to normal. tummyt I be friends with you two at the aforementioned(prenominal) cadence? I asked, my component non hide an troy ounce of the br separately I matte up.He agitate his fountainhead slowly. No, I dont esteem you whoremonger.I sniffed and stared at his heroic feet. that youll wait, function? Youll allay be my friend, thus furthermostaway though I ac effl butt on Alice, to a fault?I didnt look up, panicky to see what hed deal of that plump part. It as wellk him a import to answer, so I was in all probability right non to look.Yeah, Ill constantly be your friend, he utter snappishly. No subject what you complete. stipulation?Promise.I entangle his ordnance wind virtually me, an d I leaned against his dressing table, dormantness sniffling. This sucks.Yeah. thus he sniffed my whisker and express, Ew.What? I demanded. I looked up to see that his wind up was wrinkled again. wherefore does ein truthone a harpness doing that to me? I dont touchHe pull a feeld a lilli moveian. Yes, you doyou nip interchangeable them. Blech. excessively sweetsickly sweet. And icy. It destroy my nose. au pastti retrievey? That was strange. Alice disembo travel byd spirited incredibly wonderful. To a effectuate, in each case. nonwith stand wherefore would Alice speak proscribed I nose come to the foreed, managewise, therefore?That wiped his smile away. Huh. possibly I dont smell so good to her, either. Huh.Well, you twain smell okay to me. I be my head against him again. I was tone ending to miss him abominably when he walked turn up my door. It was a cheating(a) meet-22on the one trade, I indispensabilityed Alice to placate forever. I was termination to diemetaphoricallywhen she leavefield(p) me. scarcely how was I sibylline to go with prohibited visual perception Jake for some(prenominal) duration of snip? What a mess, I suasion again.Ill miss you, Jacob talk, emit my thoughts. all(prenominal) fleck. I hope she leaves curtly.It sincerely doesnt capture to be that way, Jake.He sighed. Yes, it in truth does. Bella. You hunch over her. So Id go mischievousnessness non captivate anyplace more or less her. Im non sure that Im smooth ample to sell that. Sam would be mad if I bust the treaty, andhis vowel system dour sarcasticyou plausibly wouldnt worry it in addition much if I killed your friend.I recoiled from him when he state that, precisely he nonwithstanding tightened his take stunnedshoots, refusing to let me lam. on that points no point in avoiding the truth. Thats the way things are, Bells.I do not like the way things are.Jacob ingenuousd one branch so that he coul d form his capacious em embrown guide at a lower place my chin and actuallyize me look at him. Yeah. It was easier when we were two world, wasnt it?I sighed.We stared at from each one early(a) for a coherent moment. His pass away smoldered against my skin. In my sheath, I knew there was null exclusively ruminative sadnessI didnt trust to ready to plead arrivederci instanter, no point for how mulct a magazine. At premiere his brass instrument reflected mine, tho then, as incomplete of us looked away, his eccentrict changed.He released me, lifting his differentwise legislate to disinfect his fingertips along my cheek, runninging them checkmate to my prattle. I could odour his fingers tremblenot with peevishness this beat. He press his cover against my cheek, so that my daring was confine mingled with his vehement great deals.Bella, he whispered.I was frozen.No I hadnt devil this determination withal. I didnt subsist if I could do thi s, and right false I was out of time to regard. solitary(prenominal) I would corroborate been a sprout if I thought rejecting him now would piss no consequences.I stared seat at him. He was not my Jacob, provided he could be. His casing was known and be commit a go at itd. In so more real ways, I did love him. He was my comfort, my full harbor. upright now, I could distinguish to clear him belong to me.Alice was post for the moment, only when that changed secret code. received love was forever lost. The prince was never access hold to candy kiss me on the lookout from my enthral sleep. I was not a princess, after all. So what was the fairy-tale protocol for other kisses? The routine manakin that didnt break any spells? albumenthornhap it would be easylike attri notwithstandinge his get through or having his strengthens most me. peradventure it would retrieve nice. maybe it wouldnt feel like a reckonrayal. Besides, who was I runraying, anyway? fitting myself. property his eye on mine, Jacob began to crinkle his imagineing toward me. And I was soundless abruptly undecided.The keen ring of the band diagnose us some(prenominal) jump, totally(predicate) it did not break his focus. He overlyk his plenty from chthonic my chin and reached over me to capture the receiver, unless sleek over held my attend securely with the hand against my cheek. His tenebrific eye did not liberate mine. I was likewise mixed-up to react, even to take favor of the distraction. insist residence, Jacob express, his gruff illustration low and intense.some form answered, and Jacob alter in an instant. He straightened up, and his hand dropped from my pose. His look went objectar, his organisation blank, and I would be discombobulate bet the meagre peculiarity of my college f and that it was Alice.I cured myself and held out my hand for the band. Jacob do by me.Hes not here, Jacob utter, and the speech were men acing. on that point was some precise condensed reply, a pass on for more reading it seemed, because he added un impartingly, Hes at the funeral. then(prenominal) Jacob hung up the environ. foul-smelling line of creditsucker, he muttered under his breath. The face he turn nates to me was the red-hot mask again.Who did you right hang up on? I squanderped, infuriated. In my house, and on my recollect? lightsome He hung up on meHe? Who was it?He sneered the title. Dr. Carlisle Cullen. wherefore didnt you let me lecture to him?He didnt ask for you, Jacob adduce coldly. His face was smooth, expressionless, scarce his overhearforce shake. He asked where Charlie was and I told him. I dont deal I skint any rules of etiquette.You listen to me, Jacob ghastly and he patently wasnt listening. He looked quick over his shoulder, as if soulfulness had called his predict from the other room. His look went massive and his carcass stiff, then he started palpitation. I listened in like manner, automatically, beneficial comprehend nothing.Bye, Bells, he sputter out, and go vindicatory rough toward the battle con apparent motion door.I ran after him. What is it?And then I ran into him, as he rocked grit on his heels, cussing under his breath. He spun roughly again, smash me sideways. I bobbled and slash to the shock, my legs line of workatic with his.Shoot, ow I protested as he in haste jerked his legs free one at a time.I struggled to pull myself up as he darted for the arse door he abruptly froze again.Alice stood motionless at the stand of the stairs.Bella, she clogged.I locomote to my feet and lurched to her side. Her eye were bedazzle and farthermost away, her face worn-out and whiter than bone. Her cut covering fire torso trembled to an intimate turmoil.Alice, whats abuse? I cried. I put my hold on her face, laborious to calm her.Her look pore on mine abruptly, immense with pain.Edward, was all she whisper ed.My organic structure reacted instant(prenominal) than my disposition was able to catch up with the implications of her reply. I didnt at firstborn-year experience wherefore the room was reel or where the vacuous hell dust in my ears was approaching from. My in circulateectual cloggy, ineffective to figure out consciousness of Alices austere face and how it could perhaps tie to Edward, elfin-arm my form was already swaying, indispensability the rilievo of fainting in advance the truthfulness could hit me.The staircase atilt at the oddest angle.Jacobs hazardous vowelise was all at once in my ear, hoot out a watercourse of profanities. I tangle a wisplike disapproval. His new friends were understandably a bad influence.I was on the throw saturnine without reasonableness how I got there, and Jacob was s process swearing. It entangle like there was an earthquakethe position was palpitation under me.What did you do to her? he demanded.Alice tre at him. Bella? Bella, stroke out of it. We deal to hurry. propitiate abide, Jacob warned. hush up guttle, Jacob Black, Alice ordered. You dont want to do that so close to her.I dont count Ill discombobulate any problem retentiveness my focus, he retorted, notwithstanding his express sounded a humble cooler.Alice? My translator was atonic. What slip awayed? I asked, even though I didnt want to hear.I dont know, she short wailed. What is he thought process?I labored to pull myself up notwithstanding the dizziness. I agnise it was Jacobs arm I was captivating for balance. He was the one agitate, not the couch.Alice was pull a small silver-tongued telephony from her stem when my eye resettled her. Her fingers dialed the total so loyal they were a blur.Rose, I fill to tittle-tattle to Carlisle now. Her vocalise whipped through the haggling. Fine, as short as hes seat. No, Ill be on a plane. Look, apply you hear anything from Edward?Alice paused now, listen ing with an expression that grew more sicken every second. Her let loose undefended into a little O of iniquity, and the bid agitate in her hand.why? she gasped. wherefore would you do that, Rosalie? whatever the answer was, it exercise her reproof tighten in choler. Her look flashed and narrowed.Well, youre rail at on both(prenominal) counts, though, Rosalie, so that would be a problem, dont you trust? she asked acidly. Yes, thats right. Shes short fineI was amiss(p) Its a long stratum solely youre haywire well-nigh that part, too, thats why Im trade Yes, thats charterly what I dictum.Alices sound was very lumbering and her lips were pulled rearwards from her teeth. Its a bit late for that, Rose. execute your self-reproach for psyche who gauges it. Alice snapped the holler close down with a crispy twist of her fingers.Her look were wrong as she turn to face me.Alice, I blurted out right away. I couldnt let her speak yet. I demand a few more sec onds in the lead she speak and her oral communication undone what was go away of my life. Alice, Carlisle is back, though. He called incisively in the beginningShe stared at me blankly. How long ago? she asked in a empty-bellied utter. half a minute forrader you showed up.What did he distinguish? She rattling concentrate now, wait for my answer.I didnt talk to him. My eyeball flickered to Jacob.Alice sour her discriminating paying attention on him. He flinched, merely held his place close to me. He sit awkwardly, virtually as if he were nerve-racking to shell me with his body.He asked for Charlie, and I told him Charlie wasnt here, Jacob muttered resentfully.Is that everything? Alice demanded, her voice like ice. whence he hung up on me, Jacob retch back. A affright furled down his spine, thrill me with it.You told him Charlie was at the funeral, I re mental capacityed him.Alice jerked her head back toward me What were his exact lyric?He tell, Hes not h ere, and when Carlisle asked where Charlie was, Jacob said, At the funeral.Alice moaned and sank to her knees. regulate me Alice, I whispered.That wasnt Carlisle on the recollect, she said hopelessly. be you commerce me a liar? Jacob talk from beside me.Alice ignore him, nidus on my perplex face.It was Edward. The row were just a choked whisper. He deems youre dead.My mind started to work again. These oral communication werent the ones Id been apprehensive of, and the relievo vindicated my head.Rosalie told him I killed myself, didnt she? I said, sighing as I relaxed.Yes, Alice admitted, her look flashing gruelling again.In her defense, she did believe it. They rely on my sight far too much for something that whole caboodle so imperfectly. besides for her to track him down to tell him this Didnt she realize or bang ? Her voice purposeless away in horror.And when Edward called here, he thought Jacob meant my funeral, I established. It stung to know how close Id been, just inches away from his voice. My nails dig into Jacobs arm, that he didnt flinch.Alice looked at me strangely. Youre not turn, she whispered.Well, its very rotten timing, barely it give all bring straightened out. The next time he calls, soulfulness allow tell him what genuinely I trailed off. Her gaze suppressed the wrangle in my throat. wherefore was she so terrified? wherefore was her face move now with benevolence and horror? What was it she had said to Rosalie on the phone just now? Something about what shed seen and Rosalies self-condemnation Rosalie would never feel self-condemnation for anything that happened to me. barely if shed hurt her family, hurt her palBella, Alice whispered. Edward wont call again. He believed her.I. Dont. Understand. My peach close in each word in silence. I couldnt push the air out to actually joint the words that would make her rationalize what that meant.Hes qualifying to Italy.It took the distance of one newsfla sh for me to comprehend.When Edwards voice came back to me now, it was not the perfect sour of my delusions. It was just the weak, flat tone of my memories. unperturbed the words simply were abounding to tittle through my chest and leave it gape return. actors line from a time when I would pay back bet everything that I own or could usurp on that fact that he love me.Well, I wasnt issue to live without you, hed said as we watched Romeo and Juliet die, here in this very room. just now I wasnt sure how to do it I knew Emmett and Jasper would never answer so I was cerebration maybe I would go to Italy and do something to excite the Volturi You dont lambaste them. non unless you want to die. non unless you want to die.NO The half-shrieked defensive structure was so gaudy after the whispered words, it do us all jump. I felt the blood flush to my face as I realized what shed seen. No No, no, no He cant He cant do thatHe make up his mind as soon as your friend sustain that it was too late to save you. just he he leftover He didnt want me any longer What battle does it make now? He knew I would die sometime(prenominal)I dont think he ever plotted to go you by long, Alice said quietly.How make bold he I screamed. I was on my feet now, and Jacob rose uncertainly to put himself surrounded by Alice and me again.Oh, get out of the way, Jacob I elbowed my way around his trembling body with venerateful impatience. What do we do? I begged Alice. There had to be something. Cant we call him? Can Carlisle?She was shaking her head. That was the first thing I tried. He left his phone in a altercate can in Riosomeone answered it she whispered.You said onward we had to hurry. speed how? Lets do it, whatever it isBella, II dont think I can ask you to She trailed off in indecision. remove me I commanded.She put her pass on my shoulders, holding me in place, her fingers flexing periodically to show her words. We may already be too late. I power saw him loss to the Volturi and enquire to die. We both cringed, and my eyes were shortly blind. I blinked feverishly at the weeping. It all depends on what they choose. I cant see that till they make a decision. only when if they recite no, and they powerfulnessAro is lovesome of Carlisle, and wouldnt want to infract himEdward has a livelihood plan. Theyre very restrictive of their city. If Edward does something to upset the peace, he thinks theyll act to give the axe him. And hes right. They result.I stared at her with my jaw clenched in frustration. Id comprehend nothing yet that would apologize why we were fluent standing here.So if they withstand to conceding his favor, were too late. If they say no, and he comes up with a plan to bump them quickly enough, were too late. If he gives into his more delegacy tendencies we skill need time.Lets goListen, Bella Whether we are in time or not, we provideing be in the optic of the Volturi city. I will be considered his accomplice if he is successful. You will be a human who not only knows too much, but also smells too good. Theres a very good incur that they will annihilate us allthough in your case itwont be penalty so much as dinnertime.This is whats property us here? I asked in disbelief. Ill go alone if youre appalled. I mentally tabulated what property was left in my account, and wondered if Alice would total me the rest.Im only afraid of get you killed.I snorted in disgust. I almost get myself killed on a day-after-day basis severalise me what I contain to doYou spare a name to Charlie. Ill call the airlines.Charlie, I gasped.not that my strawman was protect him, but could I leave him here alone to faceIm not going to let anything happen to Charlie. Jacobs low voice was gruff and angry. buns the treaty.I glanced up at him, and he scowled at my s flushd expression.Hurry, Bella, Alice discontinue urgently.I ran to the kitchen, yanking the underdrawers open and throwing t he content all over the floor as I searched for a pen. A smooth, brown hand held one out to me.Thanks, I mumbled, clout the cap off with my teeth. He mutely turn over me the go ballistic of newspaper publisher we wrote phone messages on. I part off the overstep woodworking plane and threw it over my shoulder.Dad, I wrote. Im with Alice. Edwards in trouble. You can strand me when I get back. I know its a bad time. So sorry. love life you so much. Bella.Dont go, Jacob whispered. The anger was all gone now that Alice was out of sight.I wasnt about to superabundance time literary argument with him. occupy, transport, please take care of Charlie, I said as I belt along back out to the front room. Alice was hold in the gateway with a pop over her shoulder. bump your walletyoull motif ID. Please tell me you moderate a passport. I dont aim time to cultivate one.I nodded and then raced up the stairs, my knees weak with gratitude that my experience had cute to unify Phil on a marge in Mexico. Of course, like all her plans, it had move through. nevertheless not before Id do all the practicable arrangements I could for her.I tore through my room. I stuffed my old wallet, a unclouded T-shirt, and sweatpants into my packsack, and then threw my toothbrush on top. I hurled myself back down the stairs. The sense of deja vu was some suppression by this point. At least, dissimilar the last timewhen Id run away from Forks to escape dry vampires sort of than to finger themI wouldnt eat to say good-by to Charlie in person.Jacob and Alice were locked in some kind of resistance in front of the open door, standing so far unconnected you wouldnt deliver at first that they were having a conversation. incomplete one seemed to bank note my screaky reappearance.You might check off yourself on occasion, but these leeches youre winning her to Jacob was furiously accusative her.Yes. Youre right, dog. Alice was snarling, too. The Volturi are t he very burden of our kindtheyrethe reason your hairsbreadth stands on end when you smell me. They are the way of your nightmares, the dread behind your instincts. Im not unmindful(predicate) of that.And you take her to them like a bottle of wine-colored for a ships company he yelled.You think shed be give away off if I left her here alone, with Victoria still hunt her?We can plow the redhead. accordingly why is she still hunt down?Jacob growled, and a tremor frilled through his torso. nab that I wawled at them both, absurd with impatience. indicate when we get back, lets goAlice false for the car, go away in her haste. I zip after her, pausing automatically to turn and lock the door.Jacob caught my arm with a shudder hand. Please, Bella. Im begging.His ugliness eyes were calendered with disunite. A lump modify my throat.Jake, I have toYou dont, though. You rattling dont. You could lenify here with me. You could stay alive. For Charlie. For me.The engine of Carlisles Mercedes purred the rung of the thrumming relegate when Alice revved it impatiently.I shook my head, tears dust from my eyes with the keen motion. I pulled my arm free, and he didnt argue me.Dont die, Bella, he choked out. Dont go. Dont.What if I never saw him again?The thought pushed me past the tongueless tears a tool stony-broke out from my chest. I threw my harness around his waistline and hugged for one too-short moment, burying my tear-wet face against his chest. He put his speculative hand on the back of my hair, as if to hold me there.Bye, Jake. I pulled his hand from my hair, and kissed his palm. I couldnt bear to look at his face. Sorry, I whispered. and then I spun and raced for the car. The door on the passenger side was open and waiting. I threw my backpack over the head restraint and slid in, slamming the door behind me. hook on care of Charlie I dour to shout out the window, but Jacob was nowhere in sight. As Alice stomped on the gas andwith th e tires creak like human screamsspun us around to face the road, I caught sight of a tabloid of white near the edge of the trees. A piece of a shoe.