°Ëϲµç×ÓÊé > ¿Æ»ÃÊÀ½çµç×ÓÊé > [¿Æ»Ã]ËÞÖ÷ >

µÚ61²¿·Ö

[¿Æ»Ã]ËÞÖ÷-µÚ61²¿·Ö

С˵£º [¿Æ»Ã]ËÞÖ÷ ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



herself¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¯d¡¡always¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡hyperbole£»¡¡a¡¡traditional¡¡description¡¡for¡¡something¡¡that¡¡had¡¡no¡¡
real¡¡physiological¡¡link£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡green¡¡thumb¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡expecting¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡in¡¡my¡¡chest¡£¡¡The¡¡nausea£»¡¡yes£»¡¡
the¡¡swelling¡¡in¡¡my¡¡throat£»¡¡yes£»¡¡and£»¡¡yes£»¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡burning¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡was¡¡the¡¡ripping¡¡sensation¡¡
just¡¡under¡¡my¡¡rib¡¡cage£¿¡¡It¡¡made¡¡no¡¡logical¡¡sense¡£

¡¡And¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡just¡¡ripping£»¡¡but¡¡twisting¡¡and¡¡pulling¡¡in¡¡different¡¡directions¡£¡¡Because¡¡Melanie¡¯s¡¡heart¡¡broke£»¡¡
too£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡separate¡¡sensation£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡we¡¯d¡¡grown¡¡another¡¡organ¡¡to¡¡pensate¡¡for¡¡our¡¡twin¡¡
awarenesses¡£¡¡A¡¡double¡¡heart¡¡for¡¡a¡¡double¡¡mind¡£¡¡Twice¡¡the¡¡pain¡£

¡¡He¡¯s¡¡leaving£»she¡¡sobbed¡£We¡¯ll¡¡never¡¡see¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡question¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡going¡¡
to¡¡die¡£

¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡weep¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡someone¡¡had¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡I¡¡bit¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡moan¡¡back¡£

¡¡¡°That¡¯s¡¡probably¡¡best£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡said¡£

¡¡¡°I¡¯ll¡¡need¡¡to¡¡get¡¡some¡¡things¡¡organized¡£¡­¡±¡¡Already¡¡Jared¡¯s¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡far£»¡¡far¡¡away¡¡from¡¡this¡¡
claustrophobic¡¡corridor¡£

¡¡¡°I¡¯ll¡¡take¡¡over¡¡here£»¡¡then¡£¡¡Have¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡trip¡£¡±

¡¡¡°Thanks¡£¡¡Guess¡¡I¡¯ll¡¡see¡¡you¡¡when¡¡I¡¡see¡¡you£»¡¡Jeb¡£¡±

¡¡¡°Guess¡¡so¡£¡±

¡¡Jared¡¡handed¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Jeb£»¡¡stood¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡brushed¡¡absently¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dust¡¡on¡¡his¡¡clothes¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡off£»¡¡hurrying¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡with¡¡his¡¡familiar¡¡quick¡¡step£»¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡on¡¡other¡¡things¡£¡¡Not¡¡one¡¡glance¡¡in¡¡my¡¡
direction£»¡¡not¡¡one¡¡more¡¡thought¡¡for¡¡my¡¡fate¡£

¡¡I¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fading¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡his¡¡footsteps¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gone¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡forgetting¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡existence£»¡¡I¡¡
pressed¡¡my¡¡face¡¡into¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡sobbed¡£

¡¡CHAPTER¡¡20

¡¡Freed

¡¡Jeb¡¡let¡¡me¡¡cry¡¡myself¡¡out¡¡without¡¡interrupting¡£¡¡He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡ment¡¡all¡¡through¡¡the¡¡following¡¡sniffles¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡
only¡¡when¡¡I¡¯d¡¡been¡¡pletely¡¡silent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡good¡¡half¡¡hour¡¡that¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£¡¡

¡¡

¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡answer¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡silence¡£

¡¡¡°You¡¡want¡¡to¡¡e¡¡out¡¡here¡¡and¡¡stretch£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡offered¡£¡¡¡°My¡¡back¡¡is¡¡aching¡¡just¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡that¡¡stupid¡¡
hole¡£¡±

¡¡Ironically£»¡¡considering¡¡my¡¡week¡¡of¡¡maddening¡¡silence£»¡¡I¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mood¡¡for¡¡pany¡£¡¡But¡¡his¡¡offer¡¡
wasn¡¯t¡¡one¡¡I¡¡could¡¡refuse¡£¡¡Before¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡pulling¡¡me¡¡through¡¡the¡¡exit¡£

¡¡Jeb¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡with¡¡crossed¡¡legs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mat¡£¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡for¡¡some¡¡reaction¡¡as¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡out¡¡my¡¡arms¡¡
and¡¡legs¡¡and¡¡rolled¡¡my¡¡shoulders£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡closed¡£¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Jamie¡¯s¡¡visit£»¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡
asleep¡£

¡¡How¡¡long¡¡had¡¡it¡¡been¡¡since¡¡I¡¯d¡¡seen¡¡Jamie£¿¡¡And¡¡how¡¡was¡¡he¡¡now£¿¡¡My¡¡already¡¡sore¡¡heart¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡painful¡¡
little¡¡lurch¡£

¡¡¡°Feel¡¡better£¿¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡asked£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡opening¡£

¡¡I¡¡shrugged¡£

¡¡¡°It¡¯s¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡okay£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡±¡¡He¡¡grinned¡¡a¡¡wide£»¡¡face¡­stretching¡¡grin¡£¡¡¡°That¡¡stuff¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Jared¡­¡¡
Well£»¡¡I¡¡won¡¯t¡¡say¡¡Ilied£»¡¡exactly£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¯s¡¡all¡¡true¡¡if¡¡you¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡¡from¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡angle£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡
another¡¡angle£»¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡what¡¡he¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡hear¡£¡±

¡¡I¡¡just¡¡stared£»¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡understand¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying¡£

¡¡¡°Anyway£»¡¡Jared¡¡needs¡¡a¡¡break¡¡from¡¡this¡£¡¡Not¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡kid£»¡±¡¡he¡¡added¡¡quickly£»¡¡¡°but¡¡from¡¡the¡¡situation¡£¡¡
He¡¯ll¡¡gain¡¡some¡¡perspective¡¡while¡¡he¡¯s¡¡away¡£¡±

¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡how¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡exactly¡¡which¡¡words¡¡and¡¡phrases¡¡would¡¡cut¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡And£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡
that£»¡¡why¡¡should¡¡Jeb¡¡care¡¡if¡¡his¡¡words¡¡hurt¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡if¡¡my¡¡back¡¡was¡¡aching¡¡and¡¡throbbing£¿¡¡His¡¡
kindness¡¡toward¡¡me¡¡was¡¡frightening¡¡in¡¡its¡¡own¡¡way¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡inprehensible¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡Jared¡¯s¡¡
actions¡¡made¡¡sense¡£¡¡Kyle¡¯s¡¡and¡¡Ian¡¯s¡¡murder¡¡attempts£»¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¯s¡¡cheerful¡¡eagerness¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡
me¡ªthese¡¡behaviors¡¡also¡¡were¡¡logical¡£¡¡Not¡¡kindness¡£¡¡What¡¡did¡¡Jeb¡¡want¡¡from¡¡me£¿

¡¡¡°Don¡¯t¡¡look¡¡so¡¡glum£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡urged¡£¡¡¡°There¡¯s¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡side¡¡to¡¡this¡£¡¡Jared¡¡was¡¡being¡¡real¡¡pigheaded¡¡about¡¡
you£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡that¡¡he¡¯s¡¡temporarily¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡picture£»¡¡it¡¯s¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡make¡¡things¡¡more¡¡fortable¡£¡±

¡¡My¡¡eyebrows¡¡furrowed¡¡as¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡what¡¡he¡¡meant¡£

¡¡¡°For¡¡example£»¡±¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡°This¡¡space¡¡here¡¡we¡¡usually¡¡use¡¡for¡¡storage¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡when¡¡Jared¡¡and¡¡the¡¡guys¡¡
get¡¡back£»¡¡we¡¯re¡¡going¡¡to¡¡need¡¡someplace¡¡to¡¡put¡¡all¡¡the¡¡stuff¡¡they¡¡bring¡¡home¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡So¡¡we¡¡might¡¡as¡¡
well¡¡find¡¡a¡¡new¡¡place¡¡for¡¡you¡¡now¡£¡¡Something¡¡a¡¡little¡¡bigger£»¡¡maybe£¿¡¡Something¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bed£¿¡±¡¡He¡¡smiled¡¡
again¡¡as¡¡he¡¡dangled¡¡the¡¡carrot¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡me¡£

¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡snatch¡¡it¡¡away£»¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡he¡¡was¡¡joking¡£

¡¡Instead£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡ªthe¡¡color¡¡of¡¡faded¡¡blue¡¡jeans¡ªbecame¡¡very£»¡¡very¡¡gentle¡£¡¡Something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡
expression¡¡in¡¡them¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡lump¡¡back¡¡to¡¡my¡¡throat¡£¡¡

¡¡

Generated¡¡by¡¡ABC¡¡Amber¡¡LIT¡¡Converter£»¡¡processtext/abclit¡£html¡¡
¡±¡¡
I¡¡found¡¡that¡¡I¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡earnest¡¡look¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡in¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡I¡¡put¡¡my¡¡face¡¡
in¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡cried¡£


¡¡He¡¡got¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡patted¡¡me¡¡awkwardly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡seem¡¡fortable¡¡with¡¡tears¡£¡¡
¡°There£»¡¡there£»¡±¡¡he¡¡mumbled¡£¡¡
I¡¡got¡¡control¡¡of¡¡myself¡¡more¡¡quickly¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡wiped¡¡the¡¡wet¡¡from¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡tentatively¡¡


at¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡nodded¡¡in¡¡approval¡£


¡¡¡°That¡¯s¡¡a¡¡girl£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡patting¡¡me¡¡again¡£¡¡¡°Now£»¡¡we¡¯ll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡hang¡¡out¡¡here¡¡until¡¡we¡¯re¡¡sure¡¡Jared¡¯s¡¡
really¡¡gone¡¡and¡¡can¡¯t¡¡catch¡¡us¡£¡±¡¡He¡¡grinned¡¡conspiratorially¡£¡¡¡°Then¡¡we¡¯ll¡¡have¡¡some¡¡fun£¡¡±¡¡
I¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡his¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡fun¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡along¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡an¡¡armed¡¡standoff¡£¡¡
He¡¡chuckled¡¡at¡¡my¡¡expression¡£¡¡¡°Don¡¯t¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡While¡¡we¡¯re¡¡waiting£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get¡¡


some¡¡rest¡£¡¡I¡¯ll¡¡bet¡¡even¡¡that¡¡skinny¡¡mattress¡¡would¡¡feel¡¡pretty¡¡good¡¡to¡¡you¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡±¡¡
I¡¡looked¡¡from¡¡his¡¡face¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡back¡£¡¡
¡°Go¡¡on£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡°You¡¡look¡¡like¡¡you¡¡could¡¡use¡¡a¡¡good¡¡sleep¡£¡¡I¡¯ll¡¡keep¡¡watch¡¡over¡¡you¡£¡±¡¡
Touched£»¡¡new¡¡moisture¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡I¡¡sank¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mat¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡my¡¡head¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pillow¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡

heavenly£»¡¡despite¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡calling¡¡it¡¡thin¡£¡¡I¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡to¡¡my¡¡full¡¡height£»¡¡pointing¡¡my¡¡toes¡¡and¡¡reaching¡¡out¡¡
with¡¡my¡¡fingers¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡my¡¡joints¡¡popping¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡let¡¡myself¡¡wilt¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mattress¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡
hugging¡¡me£»¡¡erasing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sore¡¡spots¡£¡¡I¡¡sighed¡£

¡¡¡°Does¡¡me¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡°It¡¯s¡¡like¡¡an¡¡itch¡¡you¡¡can¡¯t¡¡scratch£»¡¡knowing¡¡someone¡¡is¡¡

suffering¡¡under¡¡your¡¡own¡¡roof¡£¡±¡¡
He¡¡eased¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡a¡¡few¡¡yards¡¡away¡¡and¡¡started¡¡humming¡¡quietly¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡asleep¡¡before¡¡he¡¯d¡¡
finished¡¡the¡¡first¡¡bar¡£

¡¡When¡¡I¡¡woke¡¡up£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡I¡¯d¡¡been¡¡solidly¡¡asleep¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡ªa¡¡longer¡¡stretch¡¡than¡¡I¡¯d¡¡slept¡¡
since¡¡ing¡¡here¡£¡¡No¡¡pains£»¡¡no¡¡frightening¡¡interruptions¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡felt¡¡pretty¡¡good£»¡¡except¡¡that¡¡
waking¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pillow¡¡reminded¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Jared¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡It¡¡still¡¡smelled¡¡like¡¡him¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡a¡¡good¡¡way£»¡¡not¡¡
the¡¡way¡¡I¡¡smelled¡£

¡¡Back¡¡to¡¡just¡¡dreams¡£Melanie¡¡sighed¡¡forlornly¡£

¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡my¡¡dream¡¡only¡¡vaguely£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡had¡¡featured¡¡Jared£»¡¡as¡¡was¡¡usual¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡able¡¡
to¡¡sleep¡¡deeply¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡dream¡£¡¡
¡°Morning£»¡¡kid£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡said£»¡¡sounding¡¡chipper¡£¡¡
I¡¡peeled¡¡back¡¡my¡¡lids¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡Had¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡all¡¡night£¿¡¡He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡look¡¡tired£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡

suddenly¡¡felt¡¡guilty¡¡for¡¡monopolizing¡¡the¡¡better¡¡acmodations¡£¡¡
¡°So¡¡the¡¡guys¡¡are¡¡long¡¡gone£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said¡¡enthusiastically¡£¡¡¡°How¡¡¡¯bout¡¡a¡¡tour£¿¡±¡¡He¡¡stroked¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡slung¡¡
through¡¡a¡¡strap¡¡at¡¡his¡¡waist¡¡with¡¡an¡¡unconscious¡¡gesture¡£¡¡

¡¡

¡¡¡°Now£»¡¡don¡¯t¡¡turn¡¡sissy¡¡on¡¡me¡£¡¡Nobody¡¯s¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bother¡¡you¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¯ll¡¡need¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡your¡¡
way¡¡around¡¡eventually¡£¡±

¡¡He¡¡held¡¡out¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡¡up¡£

¡¡I¡¡took¡¡it¡¡automatically£»¡¡my¡¡head¡¡spinning¡¡as¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡process¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡need¡¡to¡¡find¡¡
my¡¡way¡¡around£¿¡¡Why£¿¡¡And¡¡what¡¡did¡¡he¡¡mean¡¡¡°eventually¡±£¿¡¡How¡¡long¡¡did¡¡he¡¡expect¡¡me¡¡to¡¡last£¿

¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡me¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡led¡¡me¡¡forward¡£

¡¡I¡¯d¡¡forgotten¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡to¡¡move¡¡through¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡tunnels¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡guiding¡¡me¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡so¡¡
easy¡ªwalking¡¡barely¡¡took¡¡any¡¡concentration¡¡at¡¡all¡£

¡¡¡°Let¡¯s¡¡see£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡murmured¡£¡¡¡°Maybe¡¡the¡¡right¡¡wing¡¡first¡£¡¡Set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡decent¡¡place¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡
kitchens¡­¡±¡¡He¡¡went¡¡on¡¡planning¡¡his¡¡tour£»¡¡continuing¡¡as¡¡we¡¡stepped¡¡through¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡crevice¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
bright¡¡tunnel¡¡that¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡even¡¡brighter¡¡big¡¡room¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡voices¡¡reached¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡
go¡¡dry¡£¡¡Jeb¡¡kept¡¡right¡¡on¡¡chatting¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡either¡¡missing¡¡or¡¡ignoring¡¡my¡¡terror¡£

¡¡¡°I¡¯ll¡¡bet¡¡the¡¡carrots¡¡are¡¡sprouted¡¡today£»¡±¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying¡¡as¡¡he¡¡led¡¡me¡¡into¡¡the¡¡main¡¡plaza¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡
blinded¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡see¡¡who¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡me¡£¡¡The¡¡sudden¡¡silence¡¡was¡¡
as¡¡ominous¡¡as¡¡ever¡£

¡¡¡°Yep£»¡±¡¡Jeb¡¡answered¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡°Now£»¡¡I¡¡always¡¡think¡¡that¡¡looks¡¡real¡¡pretty¡£¡¡A¡¡nice¡¡spring¡¡green¡¡like¡¡that¡¡is¡¡
a¡¡treat¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡±

¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡and¡¡held¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡out£»¡¡inviting¡¡me¡¡to¡¡look¡£¡¡I¡¡squinted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡he¡¡gestured£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡
eyes¡¡kept¡¡darting¡¡around¡¡the¡¡room¡¡as¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡adjust¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡
he¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡about¡£¡¡I¡¡also¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡maybe¡¡fifteen¡¡people¡¡here¡¡today£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡¡regarding¡¡
me¡¡with¡¡hostile¡¡eyes¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡with¡¡something¡¡else£»¡¡too¡£

¡¡The¡¡wide£»¡¡dark¡¡square¡¡that¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡cavern¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡dark¡£¡¡Half¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡fuzzy¡¡
with¡¡spring¡¡green£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡Jeb¡¡had¡¡said¡£¡¡Itwas¡¡pretty¡£¡¡And¡¡amazing¡£

¡¡No¡¡wonder¡¡no¡¡one¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡this¡¡space¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡garden¡£

¡¡¡°Carrots£¿¡±¡¡I¡¡whispered¡£

¡¡He¡¡answered¡¡at¡¡normal¡¡volume¡£¡¡¡°This¡¡half¡¡that¡¯s¡¡greening¡¡up¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡half¡¡is¡¡spinach¡£¡¡Should¡¡be¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
few¡¡days¡£¡±

¡¡The¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡to¡¡work£»¡¡still¡¡peeking¡¡at¡¡me¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡but¡¡mostly¡¡
concentrating¡¡on¡¡what¡¡they¡¡were¡¡doing¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡easy¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡their¡¡actions¡ªand¡¡the¡¡big¡¡
barrel¡¡on¡¡wheels£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hoses¡ªnow¡¡that¡¡I¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡garden¡£

¡¡¡°Irrigating£¿¡±¡¡I¡¡whispered¡¡again¡£

¡¡¡°That¡¯s¡¡right¡£¡¡Dries¡¡out¡¡pretty¡¡quick¡¡in¡¡this¡¡heat¡£¡±¡¡

¡¡

¡¡I¡¡tugged¡¡Jeb¡¯s¡¡sleeve¡¡and¡¡squinted¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dazzling¡¡light¡£¡¡¡°How£¿¡±

¡¡Jeb¡¡smiled£»¡¡seeming¡¡thrilled¡¡with¡¡my¡¡curiosity¡£¡¡¡°Same¡¡way¡¡the¡¡magicians¡¡do¡¡it¡ªwith¡¡mirrors£»¡¡kid¡£¡¡
Hundreds¡¡of¡¡¡¯em¡£¡¡Took¡¡me¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡get¡¡them¡¡all¡¡up¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡nice¡¡to¡¡have¡¡extra¡¡hands¡¡around¡¡
here¡¡when¡¡they¡¡need¡¡cleaning¡£¡¡See£»¡¡there¡¯s¡¡only¡¡four¡¡small¡¡vents¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ceiling¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡

enough¡¡light¡¡for¡¡what¡¡I¡¡had¡¡in¡¡mind¡£¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡±

¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡back£»¡¡proud¡¡again¡£

¡¡¡°Brilliant£»¡±¡¡I¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡°Astonishing¡£¡±

¡¡Jeb¡¡grinned¡¡and¡¡nodded£»¡¡enjoying¡¡my¡¡reaction¡£

¡¡¡°Let¡¯s¡¡keep¡¡on£»¡±¡¡he¡¡suggested¡£¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ