Сумерки

           Hisbreathingneverchanged,neverindicatedanyeffort.Butthetreesflewbyatdeadlyspeeds,alwaysmissingusbyinches.

           Iwastooterrifiedtoclosemyeyes,thoughthecoolforestairwhippedagainstmyfaceandburnedthem.IfeltasifIwerestupidlystickingmyheadoutthewindowofanairplaneinflight.And,forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ifeltthedizzyfaintnessofmotionsickness.

           Thenitwasover.We’dhikedhoursthismorningtoreachEdward’smeadow,andnow,inamatterofminutes,wewerebacktothetruck.

           "Exhilarating,isn’tit?"Hisvoicewashigh,excited.

           Hestoodmotionless,waitingformetoclimbdown.Itried,butmymuscleswouldn’trespond.Myarmsandlegsstayedlockedaroundhimwhilemyheadspununcomfortably.

           "Bella?"heasked,anxiousnow.

           "IthinkIneedtoliedown,"Igasped.

           "Oh,sorry."Hewaitedforme,butIstillcouldn’tmove.

           "IthinkIneedhelp,"Iadmitted.

           Helaughedquietly,andgentlyunloosenedmystrangleholdonhisneck.Therewasnoresistingtheironstrengthofhishands.Thenhepulledmearoundtofacehim,cradlingmeinhisarmslikeasmallchild.Heheldmeforamoment,thencarefullyplacedmeonthespringyferns.

           "Howdoyoufeel?"heasked.

           Icouldn’tbesurehowIfeltwhenmyheadwasspinningsocrazily."Dizzy,Ithink."

           "Putyourheadbetweenyourknees."

           Itriedthat,andithelpedalittle.Ibreathedinandoutslowly,keepingmyheadverystill.Ifelthimsittingbesideme.Themomentspassed,andeventuallyIfoundthatIcouldraisemyhead.