4 breaking dawn破晓-第40部分

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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　warm　smell；　rich　and　tangy；　stronger　than　the　others。　And　yet　
nearly　as　unappealing　as　the　brook。　I　wrinkled　my　nose。　

He　chuckled。　〃I　know—it　takes　some　getting　used　to。〃　

〃Three？〃　I　guessed。　



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〃Five。　There　are　two　more　in　the　trees　behind　them。〃　

〃What　do　I　do　now？〃　

His　voice　sounded　like　he　was　smiling。　〃What　do　you　feel　like　doing？〃　

I　thought　about　that；　my　eyes　still　shut　as　I　listened　and　breathed　in　the　scent。　Another　bout　of　baking　
thirst　intruded　on　my　awareness；　and　suddenly　the　warm；　tangy　odor　wasn't　quite　so　objectionable。　At　
least　it　would　be　something　hot　and　wet　in　my　desiccated　mouth。　My　eyes　snapped　open。　

〃Don't　think　about　it；〃　he　suggested　as　he　lifted　his　hands　off　my　face　and　took　a　step　back。　〃Just　follow　
your　

instincts。〃　

I　let　myself　drift　with　the　scent；　barely　aware　of　my　movement　as　I　ghosted　down　the　incline　to　the　
narrow　meadow　where　the　stream　flowed。　My　body　shifted　forward　automatically　into　a　low　crouch　as　I　
hesitated　at　the　fernfringed　edge　of　the　trees。　I　could　see　a　big　buck；　two　dozen　antler　points　crowning　
his　head；　at　the　stream's　edge；　and　the　shadowspotted　shapes　of　the　four　others　heading　eastward　into　
forest　at　a　leisurely　pace。　

I　centered　myself　around　the　scent　of　the　male；　the　hot　spot　in　his　shaggy　neck　where　the　warmth　pulsed　
strongest。　Only　thirty　yards—two　or　three　bounds—between　us。　i　tensed　myself　for　the　first　leap。　

But　as　my　muscles　bunched　in　preparation；　the　wind　shifted；　blowing　stronger　now；　and　from　the　south。　I　
didn't　stop　to　think；　hurtling　out　of　the　trees　in　a　path　perpendicular　to　my　original　plan；　scaring　the　elk　
into　the　forest；　racing　after　a　new　fragrance　so　attractive　that　there　wasn't　a　choice。　It　was　pulsory。　

The　scent　ruled　pletely。　I　was　singleminded　as　I　traced　it；　aware　only　of　the　thirst　and　the　smell　that　
promised　to　quench　it。　The　thirst　got　worse；　so　painful　now　that　it　confused　all　my　other　thoughts　and　
began　to　remind　me　of　the　burn　of　venom　in　my　veins。　

There　was　only　one　thing　that　had　any　chance　of　perating　my　focus　now；　an　instinct　more　powerful；　
more　basic　than　the　need　to　quench　the　fire—it　was　the　instinct　to　protect　myself　from　danger。　
Selfpreservation。　

I　was　suddenly　alert　to　the　fact　that　I　was　being　followed。　The　pull　of　the　irresistible　scent　warred　with　
the　impulse　to　turn　and　defend　my　hunt。　A　bubble　of　sound　built　in　my　chest；　my　lips　pulled　back　of　their　
own　accord　to　expose　my　teeth　in　warning。　My　feet　slowed；　the　need　to　protect　my　back　struggling　
against　the　desire　to　quench　my　thirst。　

And　then　I　could　hear　my　pursuer　gaining；　and　defense　won。　As　I　spun；　the　rising　sound　ripped　its　way　
up　my　throat　and　out。　

The　feral　snarl；　ing　from　my　own　mouth；　was　so　unexpected　that　it　brought　me　up　short。　It　unsettled　
me；　and　it　cleared　my　head　for　a　second—the　thirstdriven　haze　receded；　though　the　thirst　burned　on。　

The　wind　shifted；　blowing　the　smell　of　wet　earth　and　ing　rain　across　my　face；　further　freeing　me　from　
the　other　scent's　fiery　grip—a　scent　so　delicious　it　could　only　be　human。　




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Edward　hesitated　a　few　feet　away；　his　arms　raised　as　if　to　embrace　me—or　restrain　me。　His　face　was　
intent　and　cautious　as　I　froze；　horrified。　

I　realized　that　I　had　been　about　to　attack　him。　With　a　hard　jerk；　I　straightened　out　of　my　defensive　
crouch。　I　held　my　breath　as　I　refocused；　fearing　the　power　of　the　fragrance　swirling　up　from　the　south。　

He　could　see　reason　return　to　my　face；　and　he　took　a　step　toward　me；　lowering　his　arms。　

〃I　have　to　get　away　from　here；〃　I　spit　through　my　teeth；　using　the　breath　I　had。　

Shock　crossed　his　face。　〃Can　you　leave？〃　

I　didn't　have　time　to　ask　him　what　he　meant　by　that。　I　knew　the　ability　to　think　clearly　would　last　only　as　
long　as　I　could　stop　myself　from　thinking　of—　

I　burst　into　a　run　again；　a　flatout　sprint　straight　north；　concentrating　solely　on　the　unfortable　feeling　
of　sensory　deprivation　that　seemed　to　be　my　body's　only　response　to　the　lack　of　air。　My　one　goal　was　to　
run　far　

enough　away　that　the　scent　behind　me　would　be　pletely　lost。　Impossible　to　find；　even　if　I　changed　
my　mind。。。　

Once　again；　I　was　aware　of　being　followed；　but　I　was　sane　this　time。　I　fought　the　instinct　to　breathe—to　
use　the　flavors　in　the　air　to　be　sure　it　was　Edward。　I　didn't　have　to　fight　long；　though　I　was　running　faster　
than　I　ever　had　before；　shooting　like　a　et　through　the　straightest　path　I　could　find　in　the　trees；　Edward　
caught　up　with　me　after　a　short　minute。　

A　new　thought　occurred　to　me；　and　I　stopped　dead；　my　feet　planted。　I　was　sure　it　must　be　safe　here；　but　
I　held　my　breath　just　in　case。　

Edward　blew　past　me；　surprised　by　my　sudden　freeze。　He　wheeled　around　and　was　at　my　side　in　a　
second。　He　put　his　hands　on　my　shoulders　and　stared　into　my　eyes；　shock　still　the　dominant　emotion　on　
his　face。　

〃How　did　you　do　that？〃　he　demanded。　

〃You　let　me　beat　you　before；　didn't　you？〃　I　demanded　back；　ignoring　his　question。　And　I'd　thought　I'd　
been　doing　sowell！　

When　I　opened　my　mouth；　I　could　taste　the　air—it　was　unpolluted　now；　with　no　trace　of　the　pelling　
perfume　to　torment　my　thirst。　I　took　a　cautious　breath。　

He　shrugged　and　shook　his　head；　refusing　to　be　deflected。　〃Bella；　how　did　you　do　it？〃　

〃Run　away？　I　held　my　breath。〃　

〃But　how　did　you　stop　hunting？〃　

〃When　you　came　up　behind　me。。。　I'm　so　sorry　about　that。〃　

〃Why　are　you　apologizing　to　me？　I'm　the　one　who　was　horribly　careless。　I　assumed　no　one　would　be　so　



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far　from　the　trails；　but　I　should　have　checked　first。　Such　a　stupid　mistake！　You　have　nothing　to　apologize　
for。〃　

〃But　I　growled　at　you！〃　I　was　still　horrified　that　I　was　physically　capable　of　such　blasphemy。　

〃Of　course　you　did。　That's　only　natural。　But　I　can't　understand　how　you　ran　away。〃　

〃What　else　could　I　do？〃　I　asked。　His　attitude　confused　me—what　did　he　want　to　have　happened？　〃It　
might　have　been　someone　I　know！〃　

He　startled　me；　suddenly　bursting　into　a　spasm　of　loud　laughter；　throwing　his　head　back　and　letting　the　
sound　echo　off　the　trees。　

〃Why　are　you　laughing　at　me？〃　

He　stopped　at　once；　and　I　could　see　he　was　wary　again。　

Keep　it　under　control；I　thought　to　myself。　I　had　to　watch　my　temper。　Just　like　I　was　a　young　werewolf　
rather　than　a　vampire。　

〃I'm　not　laughing　at　you；Bella。　I'm　laughing　because　I　am　in　shock。　And　I　am　in　shock　because　I　am　
pletely　amazed。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃You　shouldn't　be　able　to　do　any　of　this。　You　shouldn't　be　so。。。　so　rational。　You　shouldn't　be　able　to　
stand　here　discussing　this　with　me　calmly　and　coolly。　And；　much　more　than　any　of　that；　you　should　not　
have　been　able　to　break　

off　midhunt　with　the　scent　of　human　blood　in　the　air。　Even　mature　vampires　have　difficulty　with　that　
—we're　always　very　careful　of　where　we　hunt　so　as　not　to　put　ourselves　in　the　path　of　temptation。　Bella；　
you're　behaving　like　you're　decades　rather　than　days　old。〃　

〃Oh。〃　But　I'd　known　it　was　going　to　be　hard。　That　was　why　I'd　been　so　on　guard。　I'd　been　expecting　it　
to　be　difficult。　

He　put　his　hands　on　my　face　again；　and　his　eyes　were　full　of　wonder。　〃What　wouldn't　I　give　to　be　able　to　
see　into　your　mind　for　just　this　one　moment。〃　

Such　powerful　emotions。　I'd　been　prepared　for　the　thirst　part；　but　not　this。　I'd　been　so　sure　it　wouldn't　
be　the　same　when　he　touched　me。　Well；　truthfully；　it　wasn't　the　same。　

It　was　stronger。　

I　reached　up　to　trace　the　planes　of　his　face；　my　fingers　lingered　on　his　lips。　

〃I　thought　I　wouldn't　feel　this　way　for　a　long　time？〃　My　uncertainty　made　the　words　a　question。　〃But　I　
stillwant　you。〃　

He　blinked　in　shock。　〃How　can　you　even　concentrate　on　that？　Aren't　you　unbearably　thirsty？〃　




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Of　course　I　was　now；　now　that　he'd　brought　it　up　again！　

I　tried　to　swallow　and　then　sighed；　closing　my　eyes　like　I　had　before　to　help　me　concentrate。　I　let　my　
senses　range　out　around　me；　tensed　this　time　in　case　of　another　onslaught　of　the　delicious　taboo　scent。　

Edward　dropped　his　hands；　not　even　breathing　while　I　listened　farther　and　farther　out　into　the　web　of　
green　life；　sifting　through　the　scents　and　sounds　for　something　not　totally　repellant　to　my　thirst。　There　was　
a　hint　of　something　different；　a　faint　trail　to　the　east___　

My　eyes　flashed　open；　but　my　focus　was　still　on　sharper　senses　as　I　turned　and　darted　silently　eastward。　
The　ground　sloped　steeply　upward　almost　at　once；　and　I　ran　in　a　hunting　crouch；　close　to　the　ground；　
taking　to　the　trees　when　that　was　easier。　I　sensed　rather　than　heard　Edward　with　me；　flowing　quietly　
through　the　woods；　letting　me　lead。　

The　vegetation　thinned　as　we　climbed　higher；　the　scent　of　pitch　and　resin　grew　more　powerful；　as　did　the　
trail　I　followed—it　was　a　warm　scent；　sharper　than　the　smell　of　the　elk　and　more　appealing。　A　few　
seconds　more　and　I　could　hear　the　muted　padding　of　immense　feet；　so　much　subtler　than　the　crunch　of　
hooves。　The　sound　was　up—in　the　branches　rather　than　on　the　ground。　Automatically　I　darted　into　the　
boughs　as　well；　gaining　the　strategic　higher　position；　halfway　up　a　towering　silver　fir。　

The　soft　thud　of　paws　continued　stealthily　beneath　me　now；　the　rich　scent　was　very　close。　My　eyes　
pinpointed　the　movement　linked　with　the　sound；　and　I　saw　the　tawny　hide　of　the　great　cat　slinking　along　
the　wide　branch　of　a　spruce　just　down　and　to　the　left　of　my　perch。　He　was　big—easily　four　times　my　
mass。　His　eyes　were　intent　on　the　ground　beneath；　the　cat　hunted；　too。　I　caught　the　smell　of　something　
smaller；　bland　next　to　the　aroma　of　my　prey；　cowering　in　brush　below　the　tree。　The　lion's　tail　twitched　
spasmodically　as　he　prepared　to　spring。　

With　a　light　bound；　I　sailed　through　the　air　and　landed　on　the　lion's　branch。　He　felt　the　shiver　of　the　wood　
and　whirled；　shrieking　surprise　and　defiance。　He　clawed　the　space　between　us；　his　eyes　bright　with　fury。　
Halfcrazed　with　

thirst；　I　ignored　the　exposed　fangs　and　the　hooked　claws　and　launched　myself　at　him；　knocking　us　both　
to　the　forest　floor。　

It　wasn't　much　of　a　fight。　

His　raking　claws　could　have　been　caressing　fingers　for　all　the　impact　they　had　on　my　skin。　His　teeth　
could　find　no　purchase　against　my　shoulder　or　my　throat。　His　weight　was　nothing。　My　teeth　unerringly　
sought　his　throat；　and　his　instinctive　resistance　was　pitifully　feeble　against　my　strength。　My　jaws　locked　
easily　over　the　precise　point　where　the　heat　flow　concentrated。　

It　was　effortless　as　biting　into　butter。　My　teeth　were　steel　razors；　they　cut　through　the　fur　and　fat　and　
sinews　like　they　weren't　there。　

The　flavor　was　wrong；　but　the　blood　was　hot　and　wet　and　it　soothed　the　ragged；　itching　thirst　as　I　drank　
in　an　eager　rush。　The　cat's　struggles　grew　more　and　more　feeble；　and　his　screams　choked　off　with　a　
gurgle。　The　warmth　of　the　blood　radiated　throughout　my　whole　body；　heating　even　my　fingertips　and　
toes。　

The　lion　was　finished　before　I　was。　The　thirst　flared　again　when　he　ran　dry；　and　I　shoved　his　carcass　off　
my　body　in　disgust。　How　could　I　still　be　thirsty　after　all　that？　



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I　wrenched　myself　erect　in　one　quick　move。　Standing；　I　realized　I　was　a　bit　of　a　mess。　I　wiped　my　face　
off　on　the　back　of　my　arm　and　tried　to　fix　the　dress。　The　claws　that　had　been　so　ineffectual　against　my　
skin　had　had　more　success　with　the　thin　satin。　

〃Hmm；〃　Edward　said。　I　looked　up　to　see　him　leaning　casually　against　a　tree　trunk；　watching　me　with　a　
thoughtful　look　on　his　face。　

〃I　guess　I　could　have　done　that　better。〃　I　was　covered　in　dirt；　my　hair　knotted；　my　dress　bloodstained　
and　hanging　in　tatters。　Edward　didn't　e　home　from　hunting　trips　looking　like　this。　

〃You　did　perfectly　fine；〃　he　assured　me。　〃It's　just　that。。。　it　was　much　more　difficult　for　me　to　watch　than　it　
should　have　been。〃　

I　raised　my　eyebrows；　confused。　

〃It　goes　against　the　grain；〃　he　explained；　〃letting　you　wrestle　with　lions。　I　was　having　an　anxiety　attack　the　
whole　time。〃　

〃Silly。〃　

〃I　know。　Old　habits　die　hard。　I　like　the　improvements　to　your　dress；　though。〃　

If　I　could　have　blushed；　I　would　have。　I　changed　the　subject。　〃Why　am　I　still　thirsty？〃　

〃Because　you're　young。〃　

I　sighed。　〃And　I　don't　suppose　there　are　any　other　mountain　lions　nearby。〃　

〃Plenty　of　deer；　though。〃　

I　made　a　face。　〃They　don't　smell　as　good。〃　

〃Herbivores。　The　meateaters　smell　more　like　humans；〃　he　explained。　

〃Not　that　much　like　humans；〃　I　disagreed；　trying　not　to　remember。　

〃We　could　go　back；〃　he　said　solemnly；　but　there　was　a　teasing　light　in　his　eye。　〃Whoever　it　was　out　
there；　if　they　were　men；　they　probably　wouldn't　even　mind　death　if　you　were　the　one　delivering　it。〃　His　
gaze　ran　over　my　ravaged　dress　again。　〃In　fact；　they　would　think　they　were　already　dead　and　gone　to　
heaven　the　moment　they　saw　you。〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes　and　snorted。　〃Let's　go　hunt　some　stinking　herbivores。〃　

We　found　a　large　herd　of　mule　deer　as　we　ran　back　toward　home。　He　hunted　with　me　this　time；　now　
that　I'd　gotten　the　hang　of　it。　I　brought　down　a　large　buck；　making　nearly　as　much　of　a　mess　as　I　had　with　
the　lion。　He'd　finished　with　two　before　I　was　done　with　the　first；　not　a　hair　ruffled；　not　a　spot　on　his　white　
shirt。　We　chased　the　scattered　and　terrified　herd；　but　instead　of　feeding　again；　this　time　I　watched　
carefully　to　see　how　he　was　able　to　hunt　so　neatly。　

All　the　times　that　I　had　wished　that　Edward　would　not　have　to　leave　me　behind　when　he　hunted；　I　had　



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secretly　been　just　a　little　relieved。　Because　I　was　sure　that　seeing　this　would　be　frightening。　Horrifying。　
That　seeing　him　hunt　would　finally　make　him　look　like　a　vampire　to　me。　

Of　course；　it　was　much　different　from　this　perspective；　as　a　vampire　myself。　But　I　doubted　that　even　my　
human　eyes　would　have　missed　the　beauty　here。　

It　was　a　surprisingly　sensual　experience　to　observe　Edward　hunting。　His　smooth　spring　was　like　the　
sinuous　strike　of　a　snake；　his　hands　were　so　sure；　so　strong；　so　pletely　inescapable；　his　full　lips　were　
perfect　as　they　parted　gracefully　over　his　gleaming　teeth。　He　was　glorious。　I　felt　a　sudden　jolt　of　both　
pride　and　desire。　He　was　mine。　Nothing　could　ever　separate　him　from　me　now。　I　was　too　strong　to　be　
torn　from　his　side。　

He　was　very　quick。　He　turned　to　me　and　gazed　curiously　at　my　gloating　expression。　

〃No　longer　thirsty？〃　he　asked。　

I　shrugged。　〃You　distracted　me。　You're　much　better　at　it　than　I　am。〃　

〃Centuries　of　practice。〃　He　smiled。　His　eyes　were　a　disconcertingly　lovely　shade　of　honey　gold　now。　

〃Just　one；〃　I　correcte