Сумерки

           Sheheldtheballinbothhandsatherwaist,andthen,likethestrikeofacobra,herrighthandflickedoutandtheballsmackedintoJasper’shand.

           "Wasthatastrike?"IwhisperedtoEsme.

           "Iftheydon’thitit,it’sastrike,"shetoldme.

           JasperhurledtheballbacktoAlice’swaitinghand.Shepermittedherselfabriefgrin.Andthenherhandspunoutagain.

           Thistimethebatsomehowmadeitaroundintimetosmashintotheinvisibleball.Thecrackofimpactwasshattering,thunderous;itechoedoffthemountains-Iimmediatelyunderstoodthenecessityofthethunderstorm.

           Theballshotlikeameteorabovethefield,flyingdeepintothesurroundingforest.

           "Homerun,"Imurmured.

           "Wait,"Esmecautioned,listeningintently,onehandraised.Emmettwasabluraroundthebases,Carlisleshadowinghim.IrealizedEdwardwasmissing.

           "Out!"Esmecriedinaclearvoice.IstaredindisbeliefasEdwardsprangfromthefringeofthetrees,ballinhisupraisedhand,hiswidegrinvisibleeventome.

           "Emmetthitsthehardest,"Esmeexplained,"butEdwardrunsthefastest."

           Theinningcontinuedbeforemyincredulouseyes.Itwasimpossibletokeepupwiththespeedatwhichtheballflew,therateatwhichtheirbodiesracedaroundthefield.

           IlearnedtheotherreasontheywaitedforathunderstormtoplaywhenJasper,tryingtoavoidEdward’sinfalliblefielding,hitagroundballtowardCarlisle.Carlisleranintotheball,andthenracedJaspertofirstbase.Whentheycollided,thesoundwaslikethecrashoftwomassivefallingboulders.