4 breaking dawn破晓-第30部分

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

〃The　accelerated　growth；　and　the　fact　that　Alice　cannot　see　either　of　you。〃　

I　felt　my　face　go　blank。　I'd　forgotten　about　that　other　one。　

〃Well；　I　wonder　if　that　means　that　we　have　an　answer。　If　the　similarities　are　genedeep。〃　

〃Twentyfour　pairs；〃　Edward　muttered　under　his　breath。　

〃You　don't　know　that。〃　

〃No。　But　it's　interesting　to　speculate；〃　Carlisle　said　in　a　soothing　voice。　

〃Yeah。　Just　fascinating〃　

Bella's　light　snore　started　up　again；　accenting　my　sarcasm　nicely。　

They　got　into　it　then；　quickly　taking　the　geics　conversation　to　a　point　where　the　only　words　I　could　
understand　were　the　the's　and　the　ands。　And　my　own　name；　of　course。　Alice　joined　in；　menting　now　
and　then　in　her　chirpy　bird　voice。　

Even　though　they　were　talking　about　me；　I　didn't　try　to　figure　out　the　conclusions　they　were　drawing。　I　
had　other　things　on　my　mind；　a　few　facts　I　was　trying　to　reconcile。　

Fact　one；　Bella'd　said　that　the　creature　was　protected　by　something　as　strong　as　vampire　skin；　something　
that　was　too　imperable　for　ultrasounds；　too　tough　for　needles。　Fact　two；　Rosalie'd　said　they　had　a　plan　
to　deliver　the　

creature　safely。　Fact　three；　Edward'd　said　that—in　myths—other　monsters　like　this　one　would　chew　
their　way　out　of　their　own　mothers。　

I　shuddered。　

And　that　made　a　sick　kind　of　sense；　because；　fact　four；　not　many　things　could　cut　through　something　as　
strong　as　vampire　skin。　The　halfcreature's　teeth—according　to　myth—were　strong　enough。　My　teeth　



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were　strong　enough。　

And　vampire　teeth　were　strong　enough。　

It　was　hard　to　miss　the　obvious；　but　I　sure　wished　I　could。　Because　I　had　a　pretty　good　idea　exactly　
how　Rosalie　planned　to　get　that　thing　〃safely〃　out。　

16。　TOOMUCHINFORMATION　ALERT　

I　took　off　early；　long　before　sunrise　was　due。　I'd　gotten　just　a　little　bit　of　uneasy　sleep　leaning　against　the　
side　of　the　sofa。　Edward　woke　me　when　Bella's　face　was　flushed；　and　he　took　my　spot　to　cool　her　back　
down。　I　stretched　and　decided　I　was　rested　enough　to　get　some　work　done。　

〃Thank　you；〃　Edward　said　quietly；　seeing　my　plans。　〃If　the　route　is　clear；　they'll　go　today。〃　

Tillet　you　know。〃　

It　felt　good　to　get　back　to　my　animal　self。　I　was　stiff　from　sitting　still　for　so　long。　I　extended　my　stride；　
working　out　the　kinks。　

Morning；　Jacob；Leah　greeted　me。　

Good；　you're　up。　How　long's　Seth　been　out？　

Not　out　yet；Seth　thought　sleepily。　Almost　there。　What　do　you　need？　

You　think　you　got　another　hour　in　you？　

Sure　thing。　No　problem。Seth　got　to　his　feet　right　away；　shaking　out　his　fur。　

Let's　make　the　deep　run；Itold　Leah。　Seth；　take　the　perimeter。　

Gotcha。Seth　broke　into　an　easy　jog。　

Off　on　another　vampire　errand；Leah　grumbled。　

You　got　a　problem　with　that？　

Of　course　not。　I　just　love　to　coddle　those　darling　leeches。　

Good。　Let's　see　how　fast　we　can　run。　

Okay；　I'm　definitely　up　forthat　

Leah　was　on　the　far　western　rim　of　the　perimeter。　Rather　than　cut　close　to　the　Cullens'　house；　she　stuck　
to　the　circle　as　she　raced　around　to　meet　me。　I　sprinted　off　straight　east；　knowing　that　even　with　the　head　
start；　she'd　be　

passing　me　soon　if　I　took　it　easy　for　even　a　second。　

Nose　to　the　ground；　Leah。　This　isn't　a　race；　it's　a　reconnaissance　mission。　



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I　can　do　both　and　still　kick　your　butt　

I　gave　her　that　one。　　know。　

She　laughed。　

We　took　a　winding　path　through　the　eastern　mountains。　It　wasa　familiar　route。　We'd　run　these　mountains　
when　the　vampires　had　left　a　year　ago；　making　it　part　of　our　patrol　route　to　better　protect　the　people　
here。　Then　we'd　pulled　back　the　lines　when　the　Cullens　returned。　This　was　their　treaty　land。　

But　that　fact　would　probably　mean　nothing　to　Sam　now。　The　treaty　was　dead。　The　question　today　was　
how　thin　he　was　willing　to　spread　his　force。　Was　he　looking　for　stray　Cullens　to　poach　on　their　land　or　
not？　Had　Jared　spoken　the　truth　or　taken　advantage　of　the　silence　between　us？　

We　got　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　mountains　without　finding　any　trace　of　the　pack。　Fading　vampire　
trails　were　everywhere；　but　the　scents　were　familiar　now。　I　was　breathing　them　in　all　day　long。　

I　founda　heavy；　somewhat　recent　concentration　on　one　particular　trail—all　of　them　ing　and　going　
here　except　for　Edward。　Some　reason　for　gathering　that　must　have　been　forgotten　when　Edward　brought　
his　dying　pregnant　wife　home。　I　gritted　my　teeth。　Whatever　it　was；　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　me。　

Leah　didn't　push　herself　past　me；　though　she　could　have　now。　I　was　paying　more　attention　to　each　new　
scent　than　I　was　to　the　speed　contest。　She　kept　to　my　right　side；　running　with　me　rather　than　racing　
against　me。　

Were　getting　pretty　far　out　here；she　mented。　

Yeah。　If　Sam　was　hunting　strays；　we　should　have　crossed　his　trail　by　now。　

Makes　more　sense　right　now　for　him　to　bunker　down　in　La　Push；Leah　thought。　He　knows　we're　giving　
the　bloodsuckers　three　extra　sets　of　eyes　and　legs。　He's　not　going　to　be　able　to　surprise　them。　

This　was　just　a　precaution；　really。　

Wouldn't　want　our　precious　parasites　taking　unnecessary　chances。　

Nope；I　agreed；　ignoring　the　sarcasm。　

You've　changed　so　much；　Jacob。　Talk　about　oneeighties。　

You're　not　exactly　the　same　Leah　I've　always　known　and　loved；　either。　

True。　Am　I　less　annoying　than　Paul　now？　

Amazingly。。。　yes。　

Ah；　sweet　success。　

Congrats。　




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We　ran　in　silence　again　then。　It　was　probably　time　to　turn　around；　but　neither　of　us　wanted　to。　It　felt　nice　
to　run　like　this。　We'd　been　staring　at　the　same　small　circle　of　atrail　for　too　long。　It　felt　good　to　stretch　our　
muscles　and　take　the　rugged　terrain。　We　weren't　in　a　huge　hurry；　so　I　thought　maybe　we　should　hunt　on　
the　way　back。　Leah　was　pretty　

hungry。　

Yum；　yum；she　thought　sourly。　

It's　all　in　your　head；I　told　her。　That's　the　way　wolves　eat。　It's　natural。　It　tastes　fine。　If　you　didn't　
think　about　it　from　a　human　perspective—　

Forget　the　pep　talk；　Jacob。　I'll　hunt　I　don't　have　to　like　it　

Sure；　sure；I　agreed　easily。　It　wasn't　my　business　if　she　wanted　to　make　things　harder　for　herself。　

She　didn't　add　anything　for　a　few　minutes；　I　started　thinking　about　turning　back。　

Thank　you；Leah　suddenly　told　me　in　a　much　different　tone。　

For？　

For　letting　me　be。　For　letting　me　stay。　You've　been　nicer　than　I　had　any　right　to　expect；　Jacob。　

Er；　no　problem。　Actually；　I　mean　that。　I　don't　mind　having　you　here　like　I　thought　I　would。　

She　snorted；　but　it　was　a　playful　sound。　What　a　glowing　mendation！　

Don't　let　it　go　to　your　head。　

Okay—　if　you　don't　let　this　go　to　yours。She　paused　for　a　second。　　think　you　make　a　good　Alpha。　
Not　in　the　same　way　Sam　does；　but　in　your　own　way。　You're　worth　following；　Jacob。　

My　mind　went　blank　with　surprise。　It　took　me　a　second　to　recover　enough　to　respond。　

Er；　thanks。　Not　totally　sure　I'll　be　able　to　stop　that　one　from　going　to　my　head；　though。　Where　did　that　
e　from？　

She　didn't　answer　right　away；　and　I　followed　the　wordless　direction　of　her　thoughts。　She　was　thinking　
about　the　future—about　what　I'd　said　to　Jared　the　other　morning。　About　how　the　time　would　be　up　soon；　
and　then　I'd　go　back　to　the　forest。　About　how　I'd　promised　that　she　and　Seth　would　return　to　the　pack　
when　the　Cullens　were　gone___　

　want　to　stay　with　you；　she　told　me。　

The　shock　shot　through　my　legs；　locking　my　joints。　She　blew　past　me　and　then　put　on　the　brakes。　
Slowly；　she　walked　back　to　where　I　was　frozen　in　place。　

　won't　be　a　pain；　I　swear。　I　won't　follow　you　around。　You　can　go　wherever　you　want；　and　I'll　go　
where　I　want。　You'll　only　have　to　put　up　with　me　when　we're　both　wolves。　She　paced　back　and　forth　
in　front　of　me；　swishing　her　long　gray　tail　nervously。　And；　as　I'm　planning　on　quitting　as　soon　as　I　can　



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manage　it。。。　maybe　that　won't　be　so　often。　

I　didn't　know　what　to　say。　

I'm　happier　now；　as　a　part　of　your　pack；　than　I　have　been　in　years。　

I　want　to　stay；　too；Seth　thought　quietly。　I　hadn't　realized　he'd　been　paying　much　attention　to　us　as　he　ran　
the　perimeter。　　like　this　pack。　

Hey；　now！　Seth；　this　isn't　going　to　be　a　pack　much　longer。I　tried　to　put　my　thoughts　together　so　they　
would　convince　him。　We've　got　a　purpose　now；　but　when。。。　after　that's　over；　I'm　just　going　to　go　
wolf。　Seth；　you　need　a　purpose。　You're　a　good　kid。　You're　the　kind　of　person　who　always　has　a　
crusade。　And　there's　no　way　you're　leaving　La　Push　now。　You're　going　to　graduate　from　high　
school　and　do　something　with　your　life。　You're　going　to　take　care　of　Sue。　

My　issues　are　not　going　to　mess　up　your　future。　

But　—　

Jacob　is　rightLeah　seconded。　

You're　agreeing　with　me？　

Of　course。　But　none　of　that　applies　tome。　　was　on　my　way　out　anyway。　I'll　get　a　job　somewhere　
away　from　La　Push。　Maybe　take　some　courses　at　a　munity　college。　Get　into　yoga　and　
meditation　to　work　on　my　temper　issues。。。。　And　stay　a　part　of　this　pack　for　the　sake　of　my　mental　
wellbeing。　Jacob—　you　can　see　how　that　makes　sense；　right？　I　won't　bother　you；　you　won't　
bother　me；　everyone　is　happy。　

I　turned　back　and　started　loping　slowly　toward　the　west。　

This　is　a　bit　much　to　deal　with；　Leah。　Let　me　think　about　it；　'kay？　

Sure。　Take　your　time。　

It　took　us　longer　to　make　the　run　back。　I　wasn't　trying　for　speed。　I　was　just　trying　to　concentrate　enough　
that　I　wouldn't　plow　headfirst　into　a　tree。　Seth　was　grumbling　a　little　bit　in　the　back　of　my　head；　but　I　was　
able　to　ignore　him。　He　knew　I　was　right。　He　wasn't　going　to　abandon　his　mom。　He　would　go　back　to　La　
Push　and　protect　the　tribe　like　he　should。　

But　I　couldn't　see　Leah　doing　that。　And　that　was　just　plain　scary。　

A　pack　of　the　two　of　us？　No　matter　the　physical　distance；　I　couldn't　imagine　the。。。　the　intimacy　of　that　
situation。　I　wondered　if　she'd　really　thought　it　through；　or　if　she　was　just　desperate　to　stay　free。　

Leah　didn't　say　anything　as　I　chewed　it　over。　It　was　like　she　was　trying　to　prove　how　easy　it　would　be　if　
it　was　just　us。　

We　ran　into　a　herd　of　blacktailed　deer　just　as　the　sun　was　ing　up；　brightening　the　clouds　a　little　bit　
behind　us。　Leah　sighed　internally　but　didn't　hesitate。　Her　lunge　was　clean　and　efficient—graceful；　even。　
She　took　down　the　largest　one；　the　buck；　before　the　startled　animal　fully　understood　the　danger。　



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Not　to　be　outdone；　I　swooped　down　on　the　next　largest　deer；　snapping　her　neck　between　my　jaws　
quickly；　so　she　wouldn't　feel　unnecessary　pain。　I　could　feel　Leah's　disgust　warring　with　her　hunger；　and　I　
tried　to　make　it　easier　for　her　by　letting　the　wolf　in　me　have　my　head。　I'd　lived　allwolf　for　long　enough　
that　I　knew　how　to　be　the　animal　pletely；　to　see　his　way　and　think　his　way。　I　let　the　practical　instincts　
take　over；　letting　her　feel　that；　too。　She　hesitated　for　a　second；　but　then；　tentatively；　she　seemed　to　reach　
out　with　her　mind　and　try　to　see　my　way。　It　felt　very　strange—our　minds　were　more　closely　linked　than　
they　had　ever　been　before；　because　we　both　were　trying　to　think　together。　

Strange；　but　it　helped　her。　Her　teeth　cut　through　the　fur　and　skin　of　her　kill's　shoulder；　tearing　away　a　
thick　slab　of　streaming　flesh。　Rather　than　wince　away　as　her　human　thoughts　wanted　to；　she　let　her　
wolfself　react　instinctively。　It　was　kind　of　a　numbing　thing；　a　thoughtless　thing。　It　let　her　eat　in　peace。　

It　was　easy　for　me　to　do　the　same。　And　I　was　glad　I　hadn't　forgotten　this。　This　would　be　my　life　again　
soon。　

Was　Leah　going　to　be　a　part　of　that　life？　A　week　ago；　I　wouldve　found　that　idea　beyond　horrifying。　I　
wouldn't've　

been　able　to　stand　it。　But　I　knew　her　better　now。　And；　relieved　from　the　constant　pain；　she　wasn't　the　
same　wolf。　Not　the　same　girl。　

We　ate　together　until　we　both　were　full。　

Thanks；she　told　me　later　as　she　was　cleaning　her　muzzle　and　paws　against　the　wet　grass。　I　didn't　bother；　
it　had　just　started　to　drizzle　and　we　had　to　swim　the　river　again　on　our　way　back。　I'd　get　clean　enough。　
That　wasn't　so　bad；　thinking　your　way。　

You're　wele。　

Seth　was　dragging　when　we　hit　the　perimeter。　I　told　him　to　get　some　sleep；　Leah　and　I　would　take　over　
the　patrol。　Seth's　mind　faded　into　unconsciousness　just　seconds　later。　

You　headed　back　to　the　bloodsuckers？Leah　asked。　

Maybe。　

It's　hard　for　you　to　be　there；　but　hard　to　stay　away；　too。　I　know　how　that　feels。　

You　know；　Leah；　you　might　want　to　think　a　little　bit　about　the　future；　about　what　you　really　want　to　do。　
My　head　is　not　going　to　be　the　happiest　place　on　earth。　And　you'll　have　to　suffer　right　along　with　me。　

She　thought　about　how　to　answer　me。　Wow；　this　is　going　to　sound　bad。　But；　honestly；　it　will　be　
easier　to　deal　with　your　pain　than　face　mine。　

Fair　enough。　

I　know　it's　going　to　be　bad　for　you；　Jacob。　I　understand　that—　maybe　better　than　you　think。　I　don't　
like　her；　but。。。　she's　your　Sam。　She's　everything　you　want　and　everything　you　can't　have。　

I　couldn't　answer。　



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　know　it's　worse　for　you。　At　least　Sam　is　happy。　At　least　he's　alive　and　well。　I　love　him　enough　
that　I　want　that。　I　want　him　to　have　what's　best　for　him。　She　sighed。　I　just　don't　want　to　stick　
around　to　watch。　

Do　we　need　to　talk　about　this？　

I　think　we　do。　Because　I　want　you　to　know　that　I　won't　make　it　worse　for　you。　Hell；　maybe　I'll　even　
help。　I　wasn'tborn　a　passionless　shrew。　I　used　to　be　sort　of　nice；　you　know。　

My　memory　doesn't　go　that　far　back。　

We　both　laughed　once。　

I'm　sorry　about　this；　Jacob。　I'm　sorry　you're　in　pain。　I'm　sorry　it's　getting　worse　and　not　better　

Thanks；　Leah。　

She　thought　about　the　things　that　were　worse；　the　black　pictures　in　my　head；　while　I　tried　to　tune　her　out　
without　much　success。　She　was　able　to　look　at　them　with　some　distance；　some　perspective；　and　I　had　to　
admit　that　this　was　helpful。　I　could　imagine　that　maybe　I　would　be　able　to　see　it　that　way；　too；　in　a　few　
years。　

She　saw　the　funny　side　of　the　daily　irritations　that　came　from　hanging　out　around　vampires。　She　liked　my　
ragging　on　Rosalie；　chuckling　internally　and　even　running　through　a　few　blonde　jokes　in　her　mind　that　I　
might　be　able　

to　work　in。　But　then　her　thoughts　turned　serious；　lingering　on　Rosalie's　face　in　a　way　that　confused　me。　

You　know　what's　crazy？she　asked。　

Well；　almost　everything　is　crazy　right　now。　But　what　do　you　mean？　

That　blond　vampire　you　hate　so　much—　totally　get　her　perspective。　

For　a　second　I　thought　she　was　making　a　joke　that　was　in　very　poor　taste。　And　then；　when　I　realized　she　
was　serious；　the　fury　that　ripped　through　me　was　hard　to　control。　It　was　a　good　thing　we'd　spread　out　to　
run　our　watch。　If　she'd　been　within　biting　distance。。。　

Ho