I　knew　the　words　meant　something；　but　I　could　only　stare；　bewildered。　How

could　the　meaning　matter　at

this　point？

〃Bella；　my　name　is　Sam　Uley。〃

There　was　nothing　familiar　about　his　name。

〃Charlie　sent　me　to　look　for　you。〃

Charlie？　That　struck　a　chord；　and　I　tried　to　pay　more　attention　to　what　he　was

saying。　Charlie　mattered；

if　nothing　else　did。

The　tall　man　held　out　a　hand。　I　gazed　at　it；　not　sure　what　I　was　supposed　to

do。

His　black　eyes　appraised　me　for　a　second；　and　then　he　shrugged。　In　a　quick　and

supple　notion；　he　pulled

me　up　from　the　ground　and　into　his　arms。

I　hung　there；　limp；　as　he　loped　swiftly　through　the　wet　forest。　Some　part　of

me　knew　this　should　upset

me—being　carried　away　by　a　stranger。　But　there　was　nothing　left　in　me　to

upset。

It　didn't　seem　like　too　much　time　passed　before　there　were　lights　and　the　deep

babble　of　many　male

voices。　Sam　Uley　slowed　as　he　approached　the　motion。

〃I've　got　her！〃　he　called　in　a　booming　voice。

The　babble　ceased；　and　then　picked　up　again　with　more　intensity。　A　confusing

swirl　of　faces　moved　over

me。　Sam's　voice　was　the　only　one　that　made　sense　in　the　chaos；　perhaps　because

my　ear　was　against　his

chest。

〃No；　I　don't　think　she's　hurt；〃　he　told　someone。　〃She　just　keeps　saying　'He's

gone。'　〃

Was　I　saying　that　out　loud？　I　bit　down　on　my　lip。

〃Bella；　honey；　are　you　all　right？〃

That　was　one　voice　I　would　know　anywhere—even　distorted；　as　it　was　now；　with

worry。

〃Charlie？〃　My　voice　sounded　strange　and　small。

〃I'm　right　here；　baby。〃

There　was　a　shifting　under　me；　followed　by　the　leathery　smell