Сумерки

           Therewerethinchainscrisscrossedindiamondshapesaroundthem.Charliehadgottenupwhoknowshowearlytoputsnowchainsonmytruck.Mythroatsuddenlyfelttight.Iwasn’tusedtobeingtakencareof,andCharlie’sunspokenconcerncaughtmebysurprise.

           Iwasstandingbythebackcornerofthetruck,strugglingtofightbackthesuddenwaveofemotionthesnowchainshadbroughton,whenIheardanoddsound.

           Itwasahigh-pitchedscreech,anditwasfastbecomingpainfullyloud.Ilookedup,startled.

           Isawseveralthingssimultaneously.Nothingwasmovinginslowmotion,thewayitdoesinthemovies.Instead,theadrenalinerushseemedtomakemybrainworkmuchfaster,andIwasabletoabsorbincleardetailseveralthingsatonce.

           EdwardCullenwasstandingfourcarsdownfromme,staringatmeinhorror.Hisfacestoodoutfromaseaoffaces,allfrozeninthesamemaskofshock.Butofmoreimmediateimportancewasthedarkbluevanthatwasskidding,tireslockedandsquealingagainstthebrakes,spinningwildlyacrosstheiceoftheparkinglot.Itwasgoingtohitthebackcornerofmytruck,andIwasstandingbetweenthem.Ididn’tevenhavetimetoclosemyeyes.

           JustbeforeIheardtheshatteringcrunchofthevanfoldingaroundthetruckbed,somethinghitme,hard,butnotfromthedirectionIwasexpecting.Myheadcrackedagainsttheicyblacktop,andIfeltsomethingsolidandcoldpinningmetotheground.IwaslyingonthepavementbehindthetancarI’dparkednextto.