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first through to us。 In his thoughts； he was noting that I looked alert and calm。 〃You
okay； kid？〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
63
〃Perfect； Brett。 Nothing touched me。 But I'm afraid Bella here might have a
concussion。 She really hit her head when I yanked her out of the way？〃
Brett turned his attention to the girl； who shot me a fierce look of betrayal。 Oh；
that was right。 She was the quiet martyr—she'd prefer to suffer in silence。
She did not contradict my story immediately； though； and this made me feel
easier。
The next EMT tried to insist that I allow myself to be treated； but it wasn't too
difficult to dissuade him。 I promised I would let my father examine me； and he let it go。
With most humans； speaking with cool assurance was all that was needed。 Most humans；
just not the girl； of course。 Did she fit into any of the normal patterns？
As they put a neck brace on her—and her face flushed scarlet with
embarrassment—I used the moment of distraction to quietly rearrange the shape of the
dent in the tan car with the back of my foot。 Only my siblings noticed what I was doing；
and I heard Emmett's mental promise to catch anything I missed。
Grateful for his help—and more grateful that Emmett； at least； had already
forgiven my dangerous choice—I was more relaxed as I climbed into the front seat of the
ambulance next to Brett。
The chief of police arrived before they had gotten Bella into the back of the
ambulance。
Though Bella's father's thoughts were past words； the panic and concern
emanating out of the man's mind drown out just about every other thought in the vicinity。
Wordless anxiety and guilt； a great swell of them； washed out of him as he saw his only
daughter on the gurney。
Washed out of him and through me； echoing and growing stronger。 When Alice
had warned me that killing Charlie Swan's daughter would kill him； too； she had not been
exaggerating。
My head bowed with that guilt as I listened to his panicked voice。
〃Bella！〃 he shouted。
〃I'm completely fine； Char—Dad。〃 She sighed。 〃There's nothing wrong with
me。〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
64
Her assurance barely soothed his dread。 He turned at once to the closest EMT and
demanded more information。
I wasn't until I heard him speaking； forming perfectly coherent sentences despite
his panic； that I realized that his anxiety and concern were not wordless。 I just？could
not hear the exact words。
Hmm。 Charlie Swan was not as silent as his daughter； but I could see where she
got it from。 Interesting。
I'd never spent much time around the town's police chief。 I'd always taken him
for a man of slow thought—now I realized that I was the one who was slow。 His
thoughts were partially concealed； not absent。 I could only make out the tenor； the tone
of them？
I wanted to listen harder； to see if I could find in this new； lesser puzzle the key to
the girl's secrets。 But Bella was loaded into the back by then； and the ambulance was on
its way。
It was hard to tear myself away from this possible solution to the mystery that had
come to obsess me。 But I had to think now—to look at what had been done today from
every angle。 I had to listen； to make sure that I had not put us all in so much danger that
we would have to leave immediately。 I had to concentrate。
There was nothing in the thoughts of the EMTs to worry me。 As far as they could
tell； there was nothing seriously wrong with the girl。 And Bella was sticking to the story
I'd provided； thus far。
The first priority； when we reached the hospital； was to see Carlisle。 I hurried
through the automatic doors； but I was unable to totally forgo watching after Bella； I kept
an eye on her through the paramedics' thoughts。
It was easy to find my father's familiar mind。 He was in his small office； all
alone—the second stroke of luck in this luckless day。
〃Carlisle。〃
He'd heard my approach； and he was alarmed as soon as he saw my face。 He
jumped to his feet； his face paling to bone white。 He leaned forward across the neatly
organized walnut desk。
Edward—you didn't—
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
65
〃No； no； it's not that。〃
He took deep breath。 Of course not。 I'm sorry I entertained the thought。 Your
eyes； of course； I should have known？ He noted my still…golden eyes with relief。
〃She's hurt； though； Carlisle； probably not seriously； but—〃
〃What happened？〃
〃A stupid car accident。 She was in the wrong place at the wrong time。 But I
couldn't just stand there—let it crush her—〃
Start over； I don't understand。 How were you involved？
〃A van skidded across the ice；〃 I whispered。 I stared at the wall behind him while
I spoke。 Instead of a throng of framed diplomas； he had one simple oil painting—a
favorite of his； an undiscovered Hassam。 〃She was in the way。 Alice saw it coming； but
there wasn't time to do anything but really run across the lot and shove her out of the
way。 No one noticed？except for her。 I had to stop the van； too； but again； nobody saw
that？besides her。 I'm？I'm sorry Carlisle。 I didn't mean to put us in danger。〃
He circled the desk and put his hand on my shoulder。
You did the right thing。 And it couldn't have been easy for you。 I'm proud of you；
Edward。
I could look him in the eye then。 〃She knows there's something？wrong with
me。〃
〃That doesn't matter。 If we have to leave； we leave。 What has she said？〃
I shook my head； a little frustrated。 〃Nothing yet。〃
Yet？
〃She agreed to my version of events—but she's expecting an explanation。〃
He frowned； pondering this。
〃She hit her head—well； I did that；〃 I continued quickly。 〃I knocked her to the
ground fairly hard。 She seems fine； but？ I don't think it will take much to discredit her
account。〃
I felt like a cad just saying the words。
Carlisle heard the distaste in my voice。 Perhaps that won't be necessary。 Let's
see what happens； shall we？ It sounds like I have a patient to check on。
〃Please；〃 I said。 〃I'm so worried that I hurt her。〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
66
Carlisle's expression brightened。 He smoothed his fair hair—just a few shades
lighter than his golden eyes—and he laughed。
It's been an interesting day for you； hasn't it？ In his mind； I could see the irony；
and it was humorous； at least to him。 Quite the reversal of roles。 Somewhere during that
short thoughtless second when I'd sprinted across the icy lot； I had transformed from
killer to protector。
I laughed with him； remembering how sure I'd been that Bella would never need
protecting from anything more than myself。 There was an edge to my laugh because； van
notwithstanding； that was still entirely true。
I waited alone in Carlisle's office—one of the longer hours I had ever lived—listening to
the hospital full of thoughts。
Tyler Crowley； the van's driver； looked to be hurt worse than Bella； and the
attention shifted to him while she waited her turn to be X…rayed。 Carlisle kept in the
background； trusting the PA's diagnosis that the girl was only slightly injured。 This made
me anxious； but I knew he was right。 One glance at his face a