4 breaking dawn破晓-第29部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


supposed　to　be　about　forty　centimeters　here〃—she　ran　her　finger　right　down　the　middle　of　her　bulging　
stomach—〃when　the　baby　is　fully　grown。　One　centimeter　for　every　week。　I　was　thirty　this　morning；　and　
I've　been　gaining　about　two　centimeters　a　day；　sometimes　more___〃　

Two　weeks　to　a　day；　the　days　flying　by。　Her　life　speeding　by　in　fastforward。　How　many　days　did　that　
give　her；　if　she　was　counting　to　forty？　Four？　It　took　me　a　minute　to　figure　out　how　to　swallow。　

〃You　okay？〃　she　asked。　

I　nodded；　not　really　sure　how　my　voice　would　e　out。　

Edward's　face　was　turned　away　from　us　as　he　listened　to　my　thoughts；　but　I　could　see　his　reflection　in　
the　glass　

wall。　He　was　the　burning　man　again。　

Funny　how　having　a　deadline　made　it　harder　to　think　about　leaving；　or　having　her　leave。　I　was　glad　
Seth'd　brought　that　up；　so　I　knew　they　were　staying　here。　It　would　be　intolerable；　wondering　if　they　were　
about　to　go；　to　take　away　one　or　two　or　three　of　those　four　days。　My　four　days。　

Also　funny　how；　even　knowing　that　it　was　almost　over；　the　hold　she　had　on　me　only　got　harder　to　break。　
Almost　like　it　was　related　to　her　expanding　belly—as　if　by　getting　bigger；　she　was　gaining　gravitational　
force。　

For　a　minute　I　tried　to　look　at　her　from　a　distance；　to　separate　myself　from　the　pull。　I　knew　it　wasn't　my　
imagination　that　my　need　for　her　was　stronger　than　ever。　Why　was　that？　Because　she　was　dying？　Or　
knowing　that　even　if　she　didn't；　still—best　case　scenario—she'd　be　changing　into　something　else　that　I　
wouldn't　know　or　understand？　

She　ran　her　finger　across　my　cheekbone；　and　my　skin　was　wet　where　she　touched　it。　




Page　177　

Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃It's　going　to　be　okay；〃　she　sort　of　crooned。　It　didn't　matter　that　the　words　meant　nothing。　She　said　it　the　
way　people　sang　those　senseless　nursery　rhymes　to　kids。　Rockabye；　baby。　

〃Right；〃　I　muttered。　

She　curled　against　my　arm；　resting　her　head　on　my　shoulder。　〃I　didn't　think　you　would　e。　Seth　said　
you　would；　and　so　did　Edward；　but　I　didn't　believe　them。〃　

〃Why　not？〃　I　asked　gruffly。　

〃You're　not　happy　here。　But　you　came　anyway。〃　

〃You　wanted　me　here。〃　

〃I　know。　But　you　didn't　have　to　e；　because　it's　not　fair　for　me　to　want　you　here。　I　would　have　
understood。〃　

It　was　quiet　for　a　minute。　Edward'd　put　his　face　back　together。　He　looked　at　the　TV　as　Rosalie　went　on　
flipping　through　the　channels。　She　was　into　the　six　hundreds。　I　wondered　how　long　it　would　take　to　get　
back　to　the　beginning。　

〃Thank　you　for　ing；〃　Bella　whispered。　

〃Can　I　ask　you　something？〃　I　asked。　

〃Of　course。〃　

Edward　didn't　look　like　he　was　paying　attention　to　us　at　all；　but　he　knew　what　I　was　about　to　ask；　so　he　
didn't　fool　me。　

〃Why　do　you　want　me　here？　Seth　could　keep　you　warm；　and　he's　probably　easier　to　be　around；　happy　
little　punk。　But　when　　walk　in　the　door；　you　smile　like　I'm　your　favorite　person　in　the　world。〃　

〃You're　one　of　them。〃　

〃That　sucks；　you　know。〃　

〃Yeah。〃　She　sighed。　〃Sorry。〃　

〃Why；　though？　You　didn't　answer　that。〃　

Edward　was　looking　away　again；　like　he　was　staring　out　the　windows。　His　face　was　blank　in　the　
reflection。　

〃It　feels。。。　plete　when　you're　here；　Jacob。　Like　all　my　family　is　together。　I　mean；　I　guess　that's　what　
it's　

like—I've　never　had　a　big　family　before　now。　It's　nice。〃　She　smiled　for　half　a　second。　〃But　it's　just　not　
whole　unless　you're　here。〃　

〃I'll　never　be　part　of　your　family；　Bella。〃　



　　Page　178　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




I　could　have　been。　I　would　have　been　good　there。　But　that　was　just　a　distant　future　that　died　long　before　
it　had　a　chance　to　live。　

〃You've　always　been　a　part　of　my　family；〃　she　disagreed。　

My　teeth　made　a　grinding　sound。　'That's　a　crap　answer。〃　

〃What's　a　good　one？〃　

〃How　about；　'Jacob；　I　get　a　kick　out　of　your　pain。'〃　

I　felt　her　flinch。　

〃You'd　like　that　better？〃　she　whispered。　

〃It's　easier；　at　least。　I　could　wrap　my　head　around　it。　I　could　deal　with　it。〃　

I　looked　back　down　at　her　face　then；　so　close　to　mine。　Her　eyes　were　shut　and　she　was　frowning。　〃We　
got　off　track；　Jake。　Out　of　balance。　You're　supposed　to　be　part　of　my　life—I　can　feel　that；　and　so　can　
you。〃　She　paused　for　a　second　without　opening　her　eyes—like　she　was　waiting　for　me　to　deny　it。　When　I　
didn't　say　anything；　she　went　on。　〃But　not　like　this。　We　did　something　wrong。　No。　I　did。　I　did　something　
wrong；　and　we　got　off　track___〃　

Her　voice　trailed　off；　and　the　frown　on　her　face　relaxed　until　it　was　just　a　little　pucker　at　the　corner　of　her　
lips。　I　waited　for　her　to　pour　some　more　lemon　juice　into　my　paper　cuts；　but　then　a　soft　snore　came　from　
the　back　of　her　throat。　

〃She's　exhausted；〃　Edward　murmured。　〃It's　been　a　long　day。　A　hard　day。　I　think　she　would　have　gone　to　
sleep　earlier；　but　she　was　waiting　for　you。〃　

I　didn't　look　at　him。　

〃Seth　said　it　broke　another　of　her　ribs。〃　

〃Yes。　It's　making　it　hard　for　her　to　breathe。〃　

〃Great。〃　

〃Let　me　know　when　she　gets　hot　again。〃　

〃Yeah。〃　

She　still　had　goose　bumps　on　the　arm　that　wasn't　touching　mine。　I'd　barely　raised　my　head　to　look　for　a　
blanket　when　Edward　snagged　one　draped　over　the　arm　of　the　sofa　and　flung　it　out　so　that　it　settled　over　
her。　

Occasionally；　the　mindreading　thing　saved　time。　For　example；　maybe　I　wouldn't　have　to　make　a　big　
production　out　of　the　accusation　about　what　was　going　on　with　Charlie。　That　mess。　Edward　would　just　
hear　exactly　how　furious—　




Page　179　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃Yes；〃　he　agreed。　〃It's　not　a　good　idea。〃　

〃Then　why？〃　Why　was　Bella　telling　her　father　she　was　on　the　mend　when　it　would　only　make　him　more　
miserable？　

〃She　can't　bear　his　anxiety。〃　

〃So　it's　better—〃　

〃No。　It's　not　better。　But　I'm　not　going　to　force　her　to　do　anything　that　makes　her　unhappy　now。　
Whatever　happens；　this　makes　her　feel　better。　I'll　deal　with　the　rest　afterward。〃　

That　didn't　sound　right。　Bella　wouldn't　just　shuffle　Charlie's　pain　off　to　some　later　date；　for　someone　else　
to　face。　Even　dying。　That　wasn't　her。　If　I　knew　Bella；　she　had　to　have　some　other　plan。　

〃She's　very　sure　she's　going　to　live；〃　Edward　said。　

〃But　not　human；〃　I　protested。　

〃No；　not　human。　But　she　hopes　to　see　Charlie　again；　anyway。〃　

Oh；　this　just　got　better　and　better。　

〃See。　Charlie。〃　I　finally　looked　at　him；　my　eyes　bugging。　〃Afterwards。　See　Charlie　when　she's　all　sparkly　
white　with　the　bright　red　eyes。　I'm　not　a　bloodsucker；　so　maybe　I'm　missing　something；　but　Charlie　
seems　like　kind　of　a　strange　choice　for　her　first　meal。〃　

Edward　sighed。　〃She　knows　she　won't　be　able　to　be　near　him　for　at　least　a　year。　She　thinks　she　can　stall。　
Tell　Charlie　she　has　to　go　to　a　special　hospital　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　Keep　in　contact　through　
phone　calls___〃　

〃That's　insane。〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Charlie's　not　stupid。　Even　if　she　doesn't　kill　him；　he's　going　to　notice　a　difference。〃　

〃She's　sort　of　banking　on　that。〃　

I　continued　to　stare；　waiting　for　him　to　explain。　

〃She　wouldn't　be　aging；　of　course；　so　that　would　set　a　time　limit；　even　if　Charlie　accepted　whatever　
excuse　she　es　up　with　for　the　changes。〃　He　smiled　faintly。　〃Do　you　remember　when　you　tried　to　tell　
her　about　your　transformation？　How　you　made　her　guess？〃　

My　free　hand　flexed　into　a　fist。　〃She　told　you　about　that？〃　

〃Yes。　She　was　explaining　her。。。　idea。　You　see；　she's　not　allowed　totell　Charlie　the　truth—it　would　be　
very　dangerous　for　him。　But　he's　a　smart；　practical　man。　She　thinks　he'll　e　up　with　his　own　
explanation。　She　assumes　he'll　get　it　wrong。〃　Edward　snorted。　〃After　all；　we　hardly　adhere　to　vampire　
canon。　He'll　make　some　wrong　assumption　about　us；　like　she　did　in　the　beginning；　and　we'll　go　along　with　



　　Page　180　

Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




it。　She　thinks　she'll　be　able　to　see　him。。。　from　time　to　time。〃　

〃Insane；〃　I　repeated。　

〃Yes；〃　he　agreed　again。　

It　was　weak　of　him　to　let　her　get　her　way　on　this；　just　to　keep　her　happy　now。　It　wouldn't　turn　out　well。　

Which　made　me　think　that　he　probably　wasn't　expecting　her　to　live　to　try　out　her　crazy　plan。　Placating　
her；　so　that　she　could　be　happy　for　a　little　while　longer。　

Like　four　more　days。　

〃I'll　deal　with　whatever　es；〃　he　whispered；　and　he　turned　his　face　down　and　away　so　that　I　couldn't　
even　read　his　reflection。　〃I　won't　cause　her　pain　now。〃　

〃Four　days？〃I　asked。　

He　didn't　look　up。　〃Approximately。〃　

〃Then　what？〃　

〃What　do　you　mean；　exactly？〃　

I　thought　about　what　Bella　had　said。　About　the　thing　being　wrapped　up　nice　and　tight　in　something　
strong；　something　like　vampire　skin。　So　how　did　that　work？　How　did　it　get　out？　

〃From　what　little　research　we've　been　able　to　do；　it　would　appear　the　creatures　use　their　own　teeth　to　
escape　the　womb；〃　he　whispered。　

I　had　to　pause　to　swallow　back　the　bile。　

〃Research？〃　I　asked　weakly。　

〃That's　why　you　haven't　seen　Jasper　and　Emmett　around。　That's　what　Carlisle　is　doing　now。　Trying　to　
decipher　ancient　stories　and　myths；　as　much　as　we　can　with　what　we　have　to　work　with　here；　looking　for　
anything　that　might　help　us　predict　the　creature's　behavior。〃　

Stories？　If　there　were　myths；　then。。。　

〃Then　is　this　thing　not　the　first　of　its　kind？〃　Edward　asked；　anticipating　my　question。　〃Maybe。　It's　all　very　
sketchy。　The　myths　could　easily　be　the　products　of　fear　and　imagination。　Though　。。　。〃—he　
hesitated—〃your　myths　are　true；　are　they　not？　Perhaps　these　are；　too。　They　do　seem　to　be　localized；　
linked___〃　

〃How　did　you　find。。。　？〃　

〃There　was　a　woman　we　encountered　in　South　America。　She'd　been　raised　in　the　traditions　of　her　
people。　She'd　heard　warnings　about　such　creatures；　old　stories　that　had　been　passed　down。〃　

〃What　were　the　warnings？〃　I　whispered。　



　　　Page　181　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃That　the　creature　must　be　killed　immediately。　Before　it　could　gain　too　much　strength。〃　

Just　like　Sam　thought。　Was　he　right？　

〃Of　course；　their　legends　say　the　same　of　us。　That　we　must　be　destroyed。　That　we　are　soulless　
murderers。〃　

Two　for　two。　

Edward　laughed　one　hard　chuckle。　

〃What　did　their　stories　say　about　the。。。　mothers？〃　

Agony　ripped　across　his　face；　and；　as　I　flinched　away　from　his　pain；　I　knew　he　wasn't　going　to　give　me　
an　answer。　I　doubted　he　could　talk。　

tt　was　Rosalie—who'd　been　so　still　and　quiet　since　Bella'd　fallen　asleep　that　I'd　nearly　forgotten　
her—who　answered。　

She　made　a　scornful　noise　in　the　back　of　her　throat。　〃Of　course　there　were　no　survivors；〃　she　said。　No　
survivors；　blunt　and　uncaring。　〃Giving　birth　in　the　middle　of　a　diseaseinfested　swamp　with　a　medicine　
man　smearing　

sloth　spit　across　your　face　to　drive　out　the　evil　spirits　was　never　the　safest　method。　Even　the　normal　
births　went　badly　half　the　time。　None　of　them　had　what　this　baby　has—caregivers　with　an　idea　of　what　
the　baby　needs；　who　try　to　meet　those　needs。　A　doctor　with　a　totally　unique　knowledge　of　vampire　
nature。　A　plan　in　place　to　deliver　the　baby　as　safely　as　possible。　Venom　that　will　repair　anything　that　goes　
wrong。　The　baby　will　be　fine。　And　those　other　mothers　would　probably　have　survived　if　they'd　had　
that—if　they　even　existed　in　the　first　place。　Something　I　am　not　convinced　of。〃　She　sniffed　disdainfully。　

The　baby；　the　baby。　Like　that　was　all　that　mattered。　Bella's　life　was　a　minor　detail　to　her—easy　to　blow　
off。　

Edward's　face　went　white　as　snow。　His　hands　curved　into　claws。　Totally　egotistical　and　indifferent；　
Rosalie　twisted　in　her　chair　so　that　her　back　was　to　him。　He　leaned　forward；　shifting　into　a　crouch。　

Allow　me；I　suggested。　

He　paused；　raising　one　eyebrow。　

Silently；　I　lifted　my　doggy　bowl　off　the　floor。　Then；　with　a　quick；　powerful　flip　of　my　wrist；　I　threw　it　into　
the　back　of　Blondie's　head　so　hard　that—with　an　earsplitting　bang　—it　smashed　flat　before　it　ricocheted　
across　the　room　and　snapped　the　round　top　piece　off　the　thick　newel　post　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　

Bella　twitched　but　didn't　wake　up。　

〃Dumb　blonde；〃　I　muttered。　

Rosalie　turned　her　head　slowly；　and　her　eyes　were　blazing。　




Page　182　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃You。　Got。　Food。　In。　My。　Hair。〃　

That　did　it。　

I　busted　up。I　pulled　away　fromBella　so　that　I　wouldn't　shake　her；　and　laughed　so　hard　that　tears　ran　
down　my　face。　From　behind　the　couch；　I　heard　Alice's　tinkling　laugh　join　in。　

I　wondered　why　Rosalie　didn't　spring。　I　sort　of　expected　it。　But　then　I　realized　that　my　laughing　had　
woken　Bella　up；　though　she'd　slept　right　through　the　real　noise。　

〃What's　so　funny？〃　she　mumbled。　

〃I　got　food　in　her　hair；〃　I　told　her；　chortling　again。　

〃I'm　not　going　to　forget　this；　dog；〃　Rosalie　hissed。　

〃S'not　so　hard　to　erase　a　blonde's　memory；〃　I　countered。　〃Just　blow　in　her　ear。〃　

〃Get　some　new　jokes；〃　she　snapped。　

〃C'mon；　Jake。　Leave　Rose　alo—〃　Bella　broke　off　midsentence　and　sucked　in　a　sharp　breath。　In　the　
same　second；　Edward　was　leaning　over　the　top　of　me；　ripping　the　blanket　out　of　the　way。　She　seemed　to　
convulse；　her　back　arching　off　the　sofa。　

〃He's　just；〃　she　panted；　〃stretching。〃　

Her　lips　were　white；　and　she　had　her　teeth　locked　together　like　she　was　trying　to　hold　back　a　scream。　

Edward　put　both　hands　on　either　side　of　her　face。　

〃Carlisle？〃　he　called　in　a　tense；　low　voice。　

〃Right　here；〃　the　doctor　said。　I　hadn't　heard　him　e　in。　

〃Okay；〃　Bella　said；　still　breathing　hard　and　shallow。　〃Think　it's　over。　Poor　kid　doesn't　have　enough　room；　
that's　all。　He's　getting　so　big。〃　

It　was　really　hard　to　take；　that　adoring　tone　she　used　to　describe　the　thing　that　was　tearing　her　up。　
Especially　after　Rosalie's　callousness。　Made　me　wish　I　could　throw　something　at　Bella；　too。　

She　didn't　pick　up　on　my　mood。　〃You　know；　he　reminds　me　of　you；　Jake；〃　she　said—affectionate　
tone—still　gasping。　

〃Do　not　pare　me　to　that　thing；〃　I　spit　out　through　my　teeth。　

〃I　just　meant　your　growth　spurt；〃　she　said；　looking　like　I'd　hurt　her　feelings。　Good。　〃You　shot　right　up。　I　
could　watch　you　getting　taller　by　the　minute。　He's　like　that；　too。　Growing　so　fast。〃　

I　bit　my　tongue　to　keep　from　saying　what　I　wanted　to　say—hard　enough　that　I　tasted　blood　in　my　
mouth。　Of　course；　it　would　heal　before　I　could　swallow。　That's　what　Bella　needed。　To　be　strong　like　me；　
to　be　able　to　heal。。。。　



　Page　183　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




She　took　an　easier　breath　and　then　relaxed　back　into　the　sofa；　her　body　going　limp。　

〃Hmm；〃　Carlisle　murmured。　I　looked　up；　and　his　eyes　were　on　me。　

〃What？〃　I　demanded。　

Edward's　head　leaned　to　one　side　as　he　reflected　on　whatever　was　in　Carlisle's　head。　

〃You　know　that　I　was　wondering　about　the　fetus's　geic　makeup；　Jacob。　About　his　chromosomes。〃　

〃What　of　it？〃　

〃Well；　taking　your　similarities　into　consideration—〃　

〃Similarifes？〃　I　growled；　not　appreciating　the　plural。　

〃The　accelerated　growth；