4 breaking dawn破晓-第39部分

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〃Disappointed？〃　I　asked；　my　ringing　voice　impassive。　

He　laughed。　〃Yes；〃　he　admitted。　

I　felt　the　shock　break　through　the　posed　mask　on　my　face；　followed　instantly　by　the　hurt。　

Alice　snarled。　Jasper　leaned　forward　again；　waiting　for　me　to　snap。　

But　Edward　ignored　them　and　wrapped　his　arms　tightly　around　my　newly　frozen　form；　pressing　his　lips　
against　my　cheek。　〃I　was　rather　hoping　that　I'd　be　able　to　hear　your　mind；　now　that　it　is　more　similar　to　
my　own；〃　he　murmured。　〃And　here　I　am；　as　frustrated　as　ever；　wondering　what　could　possibly　be　going　
on　inside　your　head。〃　

I　felt　better　at　once。　

〃Oh　well；〃　I　said　lightly；　relieved　that　my　thoughts　were　still　my　own。　〃I　guess　my　brain　will　never　work　
right。　At　least　I'm　pretty。〃　

It　was　being　easier　to　joke　with　him　as　I　adjusted；　to　think　in　straight　lines。　To　be　myself。　

Edward　growled　in　my　ear。　〃Bella；　you　have　never　been　merely　pretty。〃　

Then　his　face　pulled　away　from　mine；　and　he　sighed。　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　he　said　to　someone。　

〃What？〃　I　asked。　

〃You're　making　Jasper　more　edgy　by　the　second。　He　may　relax　a　little　when　you've　hunted。〃　

I　looked　at　Jasper's　worried　expression　and　nodded。　I　didn't　want　to　snap　here；　if　that　was　ing。　
Better　to　be　surrounded　by　trees　than　family。　

〃Okay。　Let's　hunt；〃　I　agreed；　a　thrill　of　nerves　and　anticipation　making　my　stomach　quiver。　I　unwrapped　
Edward's　arms　from　around　me；　keeping　one　of　his　hands；　and　turned　my　back　on　the　strange　and　
beautiful　woman　in　the　mirror。　



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21。　FIRST　HUNT　

〃The　window？〃　I　asked；　staring　two　stories　down。　

I'd　never　really　been　afraid　of　heights　per　se；　but　being　able　to　see　all　the　details　with　such　clarity　made　
the　prospect　less　appealing。　The　angles　of　the　rocks　below　were　sharper　than　I　would　have　imagined　
them。　

Edward　smiled。　〃It's　the　most　convenient　exit。　If　you're　frightened；　I　can　carry　you。〃　

〃We　have　all　eternity；　and　you're　worried　about　the　time　it　would　take　to　walk　to　the　back　door？〃　

He　frowned　slightly。　〃Renesmee　and　Jacob　are　downstairs___〃　

〃Oh。〃　

Right。　I　was　the　monster　now。　I　had　to　keep　away　from　scents　that　might　trigger　my　wild　side。　From　the　
people　that　I　loved　in　particular。　Even　the　ones　I　didn't　really　know　yet。　

〃Is　Renesmee。。。　okay。。。　with　Jacob　there？〃　I　whispered。　I　realized　belatedly　that　it　must　havebeen　
Jacob's　heart　I'd　heard　below。　I　listened　hard　again；　but　I　could　only　hear　the　one　steady　pulse。　〃He　
doesn't　like　her　much。〃　

Edward's　lips　tightened　in　an　odd　way。　〃Trust　me；　she　is　perfectly　safe。　I　know　exactly　what　Jacob　is　
thinking。〃　

〃Of　course；〃　I　murmured；　and　looked　at　the　ground　again。　

〃Stalling？〃　he　challenged。　

〃A　little。　I　don't　know　how。。。。〃　

And　I　was　very　conscious　of　my　family　behind　me；　watching　silently。　Mostly　silently。　Emmett　had　already　
chuckled　under　his　breath　once。　One　mistake；　and　he'd　be　rolling　on　the　floor。　Then　the　jokes　about　the　
world's　only　clumsy　vampire　would　start。。。。　

Also；　this　dress—that　Alice　must　have　put　me　in　sometime　when　I　was　too　lost　in　the　burning　to　
notice—was　not　what　I　would　have　picked　out　for　either　jumping　or　hunting。　Tightly　fitted　iceblue　silk？　
What　did　she　think　I　would　need　it　for？　Was　there　a　cocktail　party　later？　

〃Watch　me；〃　Edward　said。　And　then；　very　casually；　he　stepped　out　of　the　tall；　open　window　and　fell。　

I　watched　carefully；　analyzing　the　angle　at　which　he　bent　his　knees　to　absorb　the　impact。　The　sound　of　
his　landing　was　very　low—a　muted　thud　that　could　have　been　a　door　softly　closed；　or　a　book　gently　laid　
on　a　table。　

It　didn't　look　hard。　

Clenching　my　teeth　as　I　concentrated；　I　tried　to　copy　his　casual　step　into　empty　air。　




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Ha！　The　ground　seemed　to　move　toward　me　so　slowly　that　it　was　nothing　at　all　to　place　my　feet—what　
shoes　had　Alice　put　me　in？　Stilettos？　She'd　lost　her　mind—to　place　mysilly　shoes　exactly　right　so　that　
landing　was　no　different　than　stepping　one　foot　forward　on　a　flat　surface。　

I　absorbed　the　impact　in　the　balls　of　my　feet；　not　wanting　to　snap　off　the　thin　heels。　My　landing　seemed　
just　as　quiet　as　his。　I　grinned　at　him。　

〃Right。　Easy。〃　

He　smiled　back。　〃Bella？〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃That　was　quite　graceful—even　for　a　vampire。〃　

I　considered　that　for　a　moment；　and　then　I　beamed。　If　he'd　just　been　saying　that；　then　Emmett　would　
have　laughed。　No　one　found　his　remark　humorous；　so　it　must　have　been　true。　It　was　the　first　time　anyone　
had　ever　applied　the　word　graceful　'to　me　in　my　entire　life。。。　or；　well；　existence　anyway。　

〃T？ancyou；〃i　told　him。　

And　then　I　hooked　the　silver　satin　shoes　off　my　feet　one　by　one　and　lobbed　them　together　back　through　
the　open　window。　A　little　too　hard；　maybe；　but　I　heard　someone　catch　them　before　they　could　damage　
the　paneling。　

Alice　grumbled；　〃Her　fashion　sense　hasn't　improved　as　much　as　her　balance。〃　

Edward　took　my　hand—I　couldn't　stop　marveling　at　the　smoothness；　the　fortable　temperature　of　his　
skin—and　darted　through　the　backyard　to　the　edge　of　the　river。　I　went　along　with　him　effortlessly。　

Everything　physical　seemed　very　simple。　

〃Are　we　swimming？〃　I　asked　him　when　we　stopped　beside　the　water。　

〃And　ruin　your　pretty　dress？　No。　We're　jumping。〃　

I　pursed　my　lips；　considering。　The　river　was　about　fifty　yards　wide　here。　

〃You　first；〃　I　said。　

He　touched　my　cheek；　took　two　quick　backward　strides；　and　then　ran　back　those　two　steps；　launching　
himself　from　a　flat　stone　firmly　embedded　in　the　riverbank。　I　studied　the　flash　of　movement　as　he　arced　
over　the　water；　finally　turning　a　somersault　just　before　he　disappeared　into　the　thick　trees　on　the　other　
side　of　the　river。　

〃Showoff；〃　I　muttered；　and　heard　his　invisible　laugh。　

I　backed　up　five　paces；　just　in　case；　and　took　a　deep　breath。　

Suddenly；　I　was　anxious　again。　Not　about　falling　or　getting　hurt—I　was　more　worried　about　the　forest　
getting　hurt。　



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It　had　e　on　slowly；　but　I　could　feel　it　now—the　raw；　massive　strength　thrilling　in　my　limbs。　I　was　
suddenly　sure　that　if　I　wanted　to　tunnel　under　the　river；　to　claw　or　beat　my　way　straight　through　the　
bedrock；　it　wouldn't　take　me　very　long。　The　objects　around　me—the　trees；　the　shrubs；　the　rocks。。。　the　
house—had　all　begun　to　look　very　fragile。　

Hoping　very　much　that　Esme　was　not　particularly　fond　of　any　specific　trees　across　the　river；　I　began　my　
first　stride。　And　then　stopped　when　the　tight　satin　split　six　inches　up　my　thigh。　Alice！　

Well；　Alice　always　seemed　to　treat　clothes　as　if　they　were　disposable　and　meant　for　oime　usage；　so　
she　shouldn't　mind　this。　I　bent　to　carefully　grasp　the　hem　at　the　undamaged　right　seam　between　my　fingers　
and；　exerting　the　tiniest　amount　of　pressure　possible；　I　ripped　the　dress　open　to　the　top　of　my　thigh。　Then　
I　fixed　the　other　side　to　match。　

Much　better。　

I　could　hear　the　muffled　laughter　in　the　house；　and　even　the　sound　of　someone　gritting　her　teeth。　The　
laughter　came　from　upstairs　and　down；　and　I　very　easily　recognized　the　much　different；　rough；　throaty　
chuckle　from　the　firstfloor。　

So　Jacob　was　watching；　too？　I　couldn't　imagine　what　he　was　thinking　now；　or　what　he　was　still　doing　
here。　I'd　envisioned　our　reunion—if　he　could　ever　forgive　me—taking　place　far　in　the　future；　when　I　was　
more　stable；　and　time　had　healed　the　wounds　I'd　inflicted　in　his　heart。　

I　didn't　turn　to　look　at　him　now；　wary　of　my　mood　swings。　It　wouldn't　be　good　to　let　any　emotion　take　
too　strong　a　hold　on　my　frame　of　mind。　Jasper's　fears　had　me　on　edge；　too。　I　had　to　hunt　before　I　dealt　
with　anything　else。　I　tried　to　forget　everything　else　so　I　could　concentrate。　

〃Bella？〃　Edward　called　from　the　woods；　his　voice　moving　closer。　〃Do　you　want　to　watch　again？〃　

But　I　remembered　everything　perfectly；　of　course；　and　I　didn't　want　to　give　Emmett　a　reason　to　find　
more　humor　in　my　education。　This　was　physical—it　should　be　instinctive。　So　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　
ran　for　the　river。　

Unhindered　by　my　skirt；　it　took　only　one　long　bound　to　reach　the　water's　edge。　Just　an　eightyfourth　of　a　
second；　and　yet　it　was　plenty　of　time—my　eyes　and　my　mind　moved　so　quickly　that　one　step　was　
enough。　It　was　simple　to　position　my　right　foot　just　so　against　the　flat　stone　and　exert　the　adequate　
pressure　to　send　my　body　wheeling　up　into　the　air。　I　was　paying　more　attention　to　aim　than　force；　and　I　
erred　on　the　amount　of　power　necessary—but　at　least　I　didn't　err　on　the　side　that　would　have　gotten　me　
wet。　The　fifty　yard　width　was　slightly　too　easy　a　distance___　

It　was　a　strange；　giddy；　electrifying　thing；　but　a　short　thing。　An　entire　second　had　yet　to　pass；　and　I　was　
across。　

I　was　expecting　the　closepacked　trees　to　be　a　problem；　but　they　were　surprisingly　helpful。　It　was　a　
simple　matter　to　reach　out　with　one　sure　hand　as　I　fell　back　toward　the　earth　again　deep　inside　the　forest　
and　catch　myself　on　a　convenient　branch；　I　swung　lightly　from　the　limb　and　landed　on　my　toes；　still　fifteen　
feet　from　the　ground　on　the　wide　bough　of　a　Sitka　spruce。　

It　was　fabulous。　




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Over　the　sound　of　my　peals　of　delighted　laughter；　I　could　hear　Edward　racing　to　find　me。　My　jump　had　
been　twice　as　long　as　his。　When　he　reached　my　tree；　his　eyes　were　wide。　I　leaped　nimbly　from　the　
branch　to　his　side；　

soundlessly　landing　again　on　the　balls　of　my　feet。　

〃Was　that　good？〃　I　wondered；　my　breathing　accelerated　with　excitement。　

〃Very　good。〃　He　smiled　approvingly；　but　his　casual　tone　didn't　match　the　surprised　expression　in　his　
eyes。　

〃Can　we　do　it　again？〃　

〃Focus；　Bella—we're　on　a　hunting　trip。〃　

〃Oh；　right。〃　I　nodded。　〃Hunting。〃　

〃Follow　me。。。　if　you　can。〃　He　grinned；　his　expression　suddenly　taunting；　and　broke　into　a　run。　

He　was　faster　than　me。　I　couldn't　imagine　how　he　moved　his　legs　with　such　blinding　speed；　but　it　was　
beyond　me。　However；　I　was　stronger；　and　every　stride　of　mine　matched　the　length　of　three　of　his。　And　
so　I　flew　with　him　through　the　living　green　web；　by　his　side；　not　following　at　all。　As　I　ran；　I　couldn't　help　
laughing　quietly　at　the　thrill　of　it；　the　laughter　neither　slowed　me　nor　upset　my　focus。　

I　could　finally　understand　why　Edward　never　hit　the　trees　when　he　ran—a　question　that　had　always　been　
a　mystery　to　me。　It　was　a　peculiar　sensation；　the　balance　between　the　speed　and　the　clarity。　For；　while　I　
rocketed　over；　under；　and　through　the　thick　jade　maze　at　a　rate　that　should　have　reduced　everything　
around　me　to　a　streaky　green　blur；　I　could　plainly　see　each　tiny　leaf　on　all　the　small　branches　of　every　
insignificant　shrub　that　I　passed。　

The　wind　of　my　speed　blew　my　hair　and　my　torn　dress　out　behind　me；　and；　though　I　knew　it　shouldn't；　it　
felt　warm　against　my　skin。　Just　as　the　rough　forest　floor　shouldn't　feel　like　velvet　beneath　my　bare　soles；　
and　the　limbs　that　whipped　against　my　skin　shouldn't　feel　like　caressing　feathers。　

The　forest　was　much　more　alive　than　I'd　ever　known—small　creatures　whose　existence　I'd　never　
guessed　at　teemed　in　the　leaves　around　me。　They　all　grew　silent　after　we　passed；　their　breath　quickening　
in　fear。　The　animals　had　a　much　wiser　reaction　to　our　scent　than　humans　seemed　to。　Certainly；　it'd　had　
the　opposite　effect　on　me。　

I　kept　waiting　to　feel　winded；　but　my　breath　came　effortlessly。　I　waited　for　the　burn　to　begin　in　my　
muscles；　but　my　strength　only　seemed　to　increase　as　I　grew　accustomed　to　my　stride。　My　leaping　bounds　
stretched　longer；　and　soon　he　was　trying　to　keep　up　with　me。　I　laughed　again；　exultant；　when　I　heard　him　
falling　behind。　My　naked　feet　touched　the　ground　so　infrequently　now　it　felt　more　like　flying　than　running。　

〃Belial　he　called　dryly；　his　voice　even；　lazy。　I　could　hear　nothing　else；　he　had　stopped。　

I　briefly　considered　mutiny。　

But；　with　a　sigh；　I　whirled　and　skipped　lightly　to　his　side；　some　hundred　yards　back。　I　looked　at　him　
expectantly。　He　was　smiling；　with　one　eyebrow　raised。　He　was　so　beautiful　that　I　could　only　stare。　




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〃Did　you　want　to　stay　in　the　country？〃　he　asked；　amused。　〃Or　were　you　planning　to　continue　on　to　
Canada　this　afternoon？〃　

〃This　is　fine；〃　I　agreed；　concentrating　less　on　what　he　was　saying　and　more　on　the　mesmerizing　way　his　
lips　moved　when　he　spoke。　It　was　hard　not　to　bee　sidetracked　with　everything　fresh　in　my　strong　
new　eyes。　〃What　are　we　hunting？〃　

〃Elk。　I　thought　something　easy　for　your　first　time　。。。〃　He　trailed　off　when　my　eyes　narrowed　at　the　word　
easy。　

But　I　wasn't　going　to　argue；　I　was　too　thirsty。　As　soon　as　I'd　started　to　think　about　the　dry　burn　in　my　
throat；　it　was　all　I　could　think　about。　Definitely　getting　worse。　My　mouth　felt　like　four　o'clock　on　a　June　
afternoon　in　Death　Valley。　

〃Where？〃　I　asked；　scanning　the　trees　impatiently。　Now　that　I　had　given　the　thirst　my　attention；　it　seemed　
to　taint　every　other　thought　in　my　head；　leaking　into　the　more　pleasant　thoughts　of　running　and　Edward's　
lips　and　kissing　and。。。　scorching　thirst。　I　couldn't　get　away　from　it。　

〃Hold　still　for　a　minute；〃　he　said；　putting　his　hands　lightly　on　my　shoulders。　The　urgency　of　my　thirst　
receded　momentarily　at　his　touch。　

〃Now　close　your　eyes；〃　he　murmured。　When　I　obeyed；　he　raised　his　hands　to　my　face；　stroking　my　
cheekbones。　I　felt　my　breathing　speed　and　waited　briefly　again　for　the　blush　that　wouldn't　e。　

〃Listen；〃　Edward　instructed。　〃What　do　you　hear？〃　

Everything；I　could　have　said；　his　perfect　voice；　his　breath；　his　lips　brushing　together　as　he　spoke；　the　
whisper　of　birds　preening　their　feathers　in　the　treetops；　their　fluttering　heartbeats；　the　maple　leaves　
scraping　together；　the　faint　clicking　of　ants　following　each　other　in　a　long　line　up　the　bark　of　the　nearest　
tree。　But　I　knew　he　meant　something　specific；　so　I　let　my　ears　range　outward；　seeking　something　different　
than　the　small　hum　of　life　that　surrounded　me。　There　was　an　open　space　near　us—the　wind　had　a　
different　sound　across　the　exposed　grass—and　a　small　creek；　with　a　rocky　bed。　And　there；　near　the　
noise　of　the　water；　was　the　splash　of　lapping　tongues；　the　loud　thudding　of　heavy　hearts；　pumping　thick　
streams　of　blood___　

It　felt　like　the　sides　of　my　throat　had　sucked　closed。　

〃By　the　creek；　to　the　northeast？〃　I　asked；　my　eyes　still　shut。　

〃Yes。〃　His　tone　was　approving。　〃Now。。。　wait　for　the　breeze　again　and。。。　what　do　you　smell？〃　

Mostly　him—his　strange　honeylilacandsun　perfume。　But　also　the　rich；　earthy　smell　of　rot　and　moss；　
the　resin　in　the　evergreens；　the　warm；　almost　nutty　aroma　of　the　small　rodents　cowering　beneath　the　tree　
roots。　And　then；　reaching　out　again；　the　clean　smell　of　the　water；　which　was　surprisingly　unappealing　
despite　my　thirst。　I　focused　toward　the　water　and　found　the　scent　that　must　have　gone　with　the　lapping　
noise　and　the　pounding　heart。　Another