than　the　other　two。　He　twisted　and　cartwheeled　through　space　as　he　fell；　like

he　was　skydiving。　He

looked　absolutely　free—unthinking　and　utterly　irresponsible。

〃Fine；〃　I　agreed。　〃Not　the　first　time；　anyway。〃

Now　Jacob　sighed。

〃Are　we　going　to　try　out　the　bikes　or　not？〃　he　demanded。

〃Okay；　okay；〃　I　said；　tearing　my　eyes　away　from　the　last　person　waiting　on　the

cliff。　I　put　my　seat　belt

back　on　and　closed　the　door。　The　engine　was　still　running；　roaring　as　it

idled。　We　started　down　the　road

again。

〃So　who　were　those　guys—the　crazy　ones？〃　I　wondered。

He　made　a　disgusted　sound　in　the　back　of　his　throat。　〃The　La　Push　gang。〃

〃You　have　a　gang？〃　I　asked。　I　realized　that　I　sounded　impressed。

He　laughed　once　at　my　reaction。　〃Not　like　that。　I　swear；　they're　like　hall

monitors　gone　bad。　They　don't

start　fights；　they　keep　the　peace。〃　He　snorted。　〃There　was　this　guy　from　up

somewhere　by　the　Makah

rez；　big　guy　too；　scary…looking。　Well；　word　got　around　that　he　was　selling

meth　to　kids；　and　Sam　Uley

and　his　disciples　ran　him　off　our　land。　They're　all　about　our　land；　and　tribe

pride　it's　getting

ridiculous。　The　worst　part　is　that　the　council　takes　them　seriously。　Embry

said　that　the　council　actually

meets　with　Sam。〃　He　shook　his　head；　face　full　of　resentment。　〃Embry　also　heard

from　Leah　Clearwater

that　they　call　themselves　'protectors'　or　something　like　that。〃

Jacob's　hands　were　clenched　into　fists；　as　if　he'd　like　to　hit　something。　I'd

never　seen　this　side　of　him。

I　was　surprised　to　hear　Sam　Uley's　name。　I　didn't　want　it　to　bring　back　the

images　from　my　nightmare；　so

I　mad