4 breaking dawn破晓-第53部分

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It's　as　if　they're　waiting　for　her。　Like　their　decision　was　already　made；　and　just　waiting　on　her___〃　

It　was　silent　again　as　we　digested　this。　What　would　Irina　tell　the　Volturi　that　would　result　in　Alice's　
appalling　vision？　

〃Can　we　stop　her？〃　Jasper　asked。　

〃There's　no　way。　She's　almost　there。〃　

〃What　is　she　doing？〃　Carlisle　was　asking；　but　I　wasn't　paying　attention　to　the　discussion　now。　All　my　
focus　was　on　the　picture　that　was　painstakingly　ing　together　in　my　head。　

I　pictured　Irina　poised　on　the　cliff；　watching。　What　had　she　seen？　A　vampire　and　a　werewolf　who　were　
best　friends。　I'd　been　focused　on　that　image；　one　that　would　obviously　explain　her　reaction。　But　that　was　
not　all　that　she'd　seen。　

She'd　also　seen　a　child。　An　exquisitely　beautiful　child；　showing　off　in　the　falling　snow；　clearly　more　than　
human。。。　

Irina。。。　the　orphaned　sisters。。。　Carlisle　had　said　that　losing　their　mother　to　the　Volturi's　justice　had　made　
Tanya；　Kate；　and　Irina　purists　when　it　came　to　the　law。　

Just　half　a　minute　ago；　Jasper　had　said　the　words　himself：　Not　even　when　they　were　hunting　the　
immortal　children。。。。　The　immortal　children—the　unmentionable　bane；　the　appalling　taboo。。。　

With　Irina's　past；　how　could　she　apply　any　other　reading　to　what　she'd　seen　that　day　in　the　narrow　field？　
She　

had　not　been　close　enough　to　hear　Renesmee's　heart；　to　feel　the　heat　radiating　from　her　body。　
Renesmee's　rosy　cheeks　could　have　been　a　trick　on　our　part　for　all　she　knew。　

After　all；　the　Cullens　were　in　league　with　werewolves。　From　Irina's　point　of　view；　maybe　this　meant　
nothing　was　beyond　us。。。。　

Irina；　wringing　her　hands　in　the　snowy　wilderness—not　mourning　Laurent；　after　all；　but　knowing　it　was　
her　duty　to　turn　the　Cullens　in；　knowing　what　would　happen　to　them　if　she　did。　Apparently　her　
conscience　had　won　out　over　the　centuries　of　friendship。　




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And　the　Volturi's　response　to　this　kind　of　infraction　was　so　automatic；　it　was　already　decided。　

I　turned　and　draped　myself　over　Renesmee's　sleeping　body；　covering　her　with　my　hair；　burying　my　face　
in　her　curls。　

〃Think　of　what　she　saw　that　afternoon；〃　I　said　in　a　low　voice；　interrupting　whatever　Emmett　was　
beginning　to　say。　〃To　someone　who'd　lost　a　mother　because　of　the　immortal　children；　what　would　
Renesmee　look　like？〃　

Everything　was　silent　again　as　the　others　caught　up　to　where　I　was　already。　

〃An　immortal　child；〃　Carlisle　whispered。　

I　felt　Edward　kneel　beside　me；　wrap　his　arms　over　us　both。　

〃But　she's　wrong；〃　I　went　on。　〃Renesmee　isn't　like　those　other　children。　They　were　frozen；　but　she　grows　
so　much　every　day。　They　were　out　of　control；　but　she　never　hurts　Charlie　or　Sue　or　even　shows　them　
things　that　would　upset　them。　She　can　control　herself。　She's　already　smarter　than　most　adults。　There　
would　be　no　reason___〃　

I　babbled　on；　waiting　for　someone　to　exhale　with　relief；　waiting　for　the　icy　tension　in　the　room　to　relax　as　
they　realized　I　was　right。　The　room　just　seemed　to　get　colder。　Eventually　my　small　voice　trailed　off　into　
silence。　

No　one　spoke　for　a　long　time。　

Then　Edward　whispered　into　my　hair。　〃It's　not　the　kind　of　crime　they　hold　a　trial　for；　love；〃　he　said　
quietly。　〃Aro's　seen　Irina's　proof　in　her　thoughts。　They　e　to　destroy；　not　to　be　reasoned　with。〃　

〃But　they're　wrong；〃　I　said　stubbornly。　

〃They　won't　wait　for　us　to　show　them　that。〃　

His　voice　was　still　quiet；　gentle；　velvet。。。　and　yet　the　pain　and　desolation　in　the　sound　was　unavoidable。　
His　voice　was　like　Alice's　eyes　before—like　the　inside　of　a　tomb。　

〃What　can　we　do？〃　I　demanded。　

Renesmee　was　so　warm　and　perfect　in　my　arms；　dreaming　peacefully。　I'd　worried　so　much　about　
Renesmee's　speeding　age—worried　that　she　would　only　have　little　over　a　decade　of　life。。。。　That　terror　
seemed　ironic　now。　

Little　over　a　month。。。　

Was　this　the　limit；　then？　I'd　had　more　happiness　than　most　people　ever　experienced。　Was　there　some　
natural　law　that　demanded　equal　shares　of　happiness　and　misery　in　the　world？　Was　my　joy　overthrowing　
the　balance？　Was　four　months　all　I　could　have？　

It　was　Emmett　who　answered　my　rhetorical　question。　

〃We　fight；〃　he　said　calmly。　



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〃We　can't　win；〃　Jasper　growled。　I　could　imagine　how　his　face　would　look；　how　his　body　would　curve　
protectively　over　Alice's。　

〃Well；　we　can't　run。　Not　with　Demetri　around。〃　Emmett　made　a　disgusted　noise；　and　I　knew　instinctively　
that　he　was　not　upset　by　the　idea　of　the　Volturi's　tracker　but　by　the　idea　of　running　away。　〃And　I　don't　
know　that　we　can't　win；〃　he　said。　〃There　are　a　few　options　to　consider。　We　don't　have　to　fight　alone。〃　

My　head　snapped　up　at　that。　〃We　don't　have　to　sentence　the　Quileutes　to　death；　either；　Emmett！〃　

〃Chill；　Bella。〃　His　expression　was　no　different　from　when　he　was　contemplating　fighting　anacondas。　Even　
the　threat　of　annihilation　couldn't　change　Emmett's　perspective；　his　ability　to　thrill　to　a　challenge。　〃I　didn't　
mean　the　pack。　Be　realistic；　though—do　you　think　Jacob　or　Sam　is　going　to　ignore　an　invasion？　Even　if　it　
wasn't　about　Nessie？　Not　to　mention　that；　thanks　to　Irina；　Aro　knows　about　our　alliance　with　the　pack　
now；　too。　But　I　was　thinking　of　our　other　friends。〃　

Carlisle　echoed　me　in　a　whisper。　〃Other　friends　we　don't　have　to　sentence　to　death。〃　

〃Hey；　we'll　let　them　decide；〃　Emmett　said　in　a　placating　tone。　〃I'm　not　saying　they　have　to　fight　with　us。〃　I　
could　see　the　plan　refining　itself　in　his　head　as　he　spoke。　〃If　they'd　just　stand　beside　us；　just　long　enough　
to　make　the　Volturi　hesitate。　Bella's　right；　after　all。　If　we　could　force　them　to　stop　and　listen。　Though　that　
might　take　away　any　reason　for　a　fight___〃　

There　was　a　hint　of　a　smile　on　Emmett's　face　now。　I　was　surprised　no　one　had　hit　him　yet。　I　wanted　to。　

〃Yes；〃　Esme　said　eagerly。　〃That　makes　sense；　Emmett。　All　we　need　is　for　the　Volturi　to　pause　for　one　
moment。　Just　long　enough　to　listen*　

〃We'd　need　quite　a　show　of　witnesses；〃　Rosalie　said　harshly；　her　voice　brittle　as　glass。　

Esme　nodded　in　agreement；　as　if　she　hadn't　heard　the　sarcasm　in　Rosalie's　tone。　〃We　can　ask　that　much　
of　our　friends。　Just　to　witness。〃　

〃We'd　do　it　for　them；〃　Emmett　said。　

〃We'll　have　to　ask　them　just　right；〃　Alice　murmured。　I　looked　to　see　her　eyes　were　a　dark　void　again。　
〃They'll　have　to　be　shown　very　carefully。〃　

〃Shown？〃Jasper　asked。　

Alice　and　Edward　both　looked　down　at　Renesmee。　Then　Alice's　eyes　glazed　over。　

〃Tanya's　family；〃　she　said。　〃Siobhan's　coven。　Amun's。　Some　of　the　nomads—Garrett　and　Mary　for　
certain。　Maybe　Alistair。〃　

〃What　about　Peter　and　Charlotte？〃　Jasper　asked　half　fearfully；　as　if　he　hoped　the　answer　was　no；　and　his　
old　brother　could　be　spared　from　the　ing　carnage。　

〃Maybe。〃　

〃The　Amazons？〃　Carlisle　asked。　〃Kachiri；　Zafrina；　and　Senna？〃　



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Alice　seemed　too　deep　into　her　vision　to　answer　at　first；　finally　she　shuddered；　and　her　eyes　flickered　
back　to　

the　present。　She　met　Carlisle's　gaze　for　the　tiniest　part　of　a　second；　and　then　looked　down。　

〃I　can't　see。〃　

〃What　was　that？〃　Edward　asked；　his　whisper　a　demand。　〃That　part　in　the　jungle。　Are　we　going　to　look　
for　them？〃　

〃I　can't　see；〃　Alice　repeated；　not　meeting　his　eyes。　A　flash　of　confusion　crossed　Edward's　face。　〃We'll　
have　to　split　up　and　hurry—before　the　snow　sticks　to　the　ground。　We　have　to　round　up　whomever　we　
can　and　get　them　here　to　show　them。〃　She　zoned　again。　〃Ask　Eleazar。　There　is　more　to　this　than　just　an　
immortal　child。〃　

The　silence　was　ominous　for　another　long　moment　while　Alice　was　in　her　trance。　She　blinked　slowly　
when　it　was　over；　her　eyes　peculiarly　opaque　despite　the　fact　that　she　was　clearly　in　the　present。　

〃There　is　so　much。　We　have　to　hurry；〃　she　whispered。　

〃Alice？〃　Edward　asked。　〃That　was　too　fast—I　didn't　understand。　What　was—？〃　

〃I　can't　see！〃　she　exploded　back　at　him。　〃Jacob's　almost　here！〃　

Rosalie　took　a　step　toward　the　front　door。　〃I'll　deal　with—〃　

〃No；　let　him　e；〃　Alice　said　quickly；　her　voice　straining　higher　with　each　word。　She　grabbed　Jasper's　
hand　and　began　pulling　him　toward　the　back　door。　〃I'll　see　better　away　from　Nessie；　too。　I　need　to　go。　I　
need　to　really　concentrate。　I　need　to　see　everything　I　can。　I　have　to　go。　e　on；　Jasper；　there's　no　time　
to　waste！〃　

We　all　could　hear　Jacob　on　the　stairs。　Alice　yanked；　impatient；　on　Jasper's　hand。　He　followed　quickly；　
confusion　in　his　eyes　just　like　Edward's。　They　darted　out　the　door　into　the　silver　night。　

〃Hurry！〃　she　called　back　to　us。　〃You　have　to　find　them　all！〃　

〃Find　what？〃　Jacob　asked；　shutting　the　front　door　behind　himself。　〃Where'd　Alice　go？〃　

No　one　answered；　we　all　just　stared。　

Jacob　shook　the　wet　from　his　hair　and　pulled　his　arms　through　the　sleeves　of　his　tshirt；　his　eyes　on　
Renesmee。　〃Hey；　Bells！　I　thought　you　guys　would've　gone　home　by　now___〃　

He　looked　up　to　me　finally；　blinked；　and　then　stared。　I　watched　his　expression　as　the　room's　atmosphere　
finally　touched　him。　He　glanced　down；　eyes　wide；　at　the　wet　spot　on　the　floor；　the　scattered　roses；　the　
fragments　of　crystal。　His　fingers　quivered。　

〃What？〃　he　asked　flatly。　〃What　happened？〃　

I　couldn't　think　where　to　begin。　No　one　else　found　the　words；　either。　



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Jacob　crossed　the　room　in　three　long　strides　and　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　Renesmee　and　me。　I　
could　feel　the　heat　shaking　off　his　body　as　tremors　rolled　down　his　arms　to　his　shaking　hands。　

〃Is　she　okay？〃　he　demanded；　touching　her　forehead；　tilting　his　head　as　he　listened　to　her　heart。　〃Don't　
mess　with　me；　Bella；　please！〃　

〃Nothing's　wrong　with　Renesmee；〃　I　choked　out；　the　words　breaking　in　strange　places。　

〃Then　who？〃　

〃All　of　us；　Jacob；〃　I　whispered。　And　it　was　there　in　my　voice；　too—the　sound　of　the　inside　of　a　grave。　
〃It's　over。　We've　all　been　sentenced　to　die。〃　

29。　DEFECTION　

We　sat　there　all　night　long；　statues　of　horror　and　grief；　and　Alice　never　came　back。　

We　were　all　at　our　limits—frenzied　into　absolute　stillness。　Carlisle　had　barely　been　able　to　move　his　lips　
to　explain　it　all　to　Jacob。　The　retelling　seemed　to　make　it　worse；　even　Emmett　stood　silent　and　still　from　
then　on。　

It　wasn't　until　the　sun　rose　and　I　knew　that　Renesmee　would　soon　be　stirring　under　my　hands　that　I　
wondered　for　the　first　time　what　could　possibly　be　taking　Alice　so　long。　I'd　hoped　to　know　more　before　I　
was　faced　with　my　daughter's　curiosity。　To　have　some　answers。　Some　tiny；　tiny　portion　of　hope　so　that　I　
could　smile　and　keep　the　truth　from　terrifying　her；　too。　

My　face　felt　permanently　set　into　the　fixed　mask　it　had　worn　all　night。　I　wasn't　sure　I　had　the　ability　to　
smile　anymore。　

Jacob　was　snoring　in　the　corner；　a　mountain　of　fur　on　the　floor；　twitching　anxiously　in　his　sleep。　Sam　
knew　everything—the　wolves　were　readying　themselves　for　what　was　ing。　Not　that　this　preparation　
would　do　anything　but　get　them　killed　with　the　rest　of　my　family。　

Thesunlight　broke　through　the　back　windows；　sparkling　on　Edward's　skin。　My　eyes　had　not　moved　from　
his　since　Alice's　departure。　We'd　stared　at　each　other　all　night；　staring　at　what　neither　of　us　could　live　
through　losing：　the　other。　I　saw　my　reflection　glimmer　in　his　agonized　eyes　as　the　sun　touched　my　own　
skin。　

His　eyebrows　moved　an　infinitesimal　bit；　then　his　lips。　

〃Alice；〃　he　said。　

Thesound　of　hisvoice　was　like　ice　cracking　as　it　melted。　All　of　us　fractured　a　little；　softened　a　little。　
Moved　again。　

〃She's　been　gone　a　long　time；〃Rosalie　murmured；　surprised。　

〃Where　could　she　be？〃　Emmett　wondered；　taking　a　step　toward　the　door。　

Esme　put　a　hand　on　her　arm。　〃We　don't　want　to　disturb　。。。〃　



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〃She's　never　taken　so　long　before；〃　Edward　said。　New　worry　splintered　the　mask　his　face　had　bee。　
His　features　were　alive　again；　his　eyes　suddenly　wide　with　fresh　fear；　extra　panic。　〃Carlisle；　you　don't　
think—something　preemptive？　Would　Alice　have　had　time　to　see　if　they　sent　someone　for　her？〃　

Aro's　translucentskinned　face　filled　my　head。　Aro；　who　had　seen　into　all　the　corners　of　Alice's　mind；　
who　knew　everything　she　was　capable　of—　

Emmett　cussed　loud　enough　that　Jacob　lurched　to　his　feet　with　a　growl。　In　the　yard；　his　growl　was　
echoed　by　his　pack。　My　family　was　already　a　blur　of　action。　

〃Stay　with　Renesmee！〃　I　all　but　shrieked　at　Jacob　as　I　sprinted　through　the　door。　

I　was　still　stronger　than　the　rest　of　them；　and　I　used　that　strength　to　push　myself　forward。　I　overtook　
Esme　in　a　few　bounds；　and　Rosalie　in　just　a　few　strides　more。　I　raced　through　the　thick　forest　until　I　was　
right　behind　Edward　and　Carlisle。　

〃Would　they　have　been　able　to　surprise　her？〃　Carlisle　asked；　his　voice　as　even　as　if　he　were　standing　
motionless　rather　than　running　at　full　speed。　

〃I　don't　see　how；〃　Edward　answered。　〃But　Aro　knows　her　better　than　anyone　else。　Better　than　I　do。〃　

〃Is　this　a　trap？〃　Emmett　called　from　behind　us。　

〃Maybe；〃　Edward　said。　〃There's　no　scent　but　Alice　and　Jasper。　Where　were　they　going？〃　

Alice　and　Jasper's　trail　was　curling　into　a　wide　arc；　it　stretched　first　east　of　the　house；　but　headed　north　
on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　and　then　back　west　again　after　a　few　miles。　We　recrossed　the　river；　all　six　
jumping　within　a　second　of　each　other。　Edward　ran　in　the　lead；　his　concentration　total。　

〃Did　you　catch　that　scent？〃　Esme　called　ahead　a　few　moments　after　we'd　leaped　the　river　for　the　second　
time。　She　was　the　farthest　back；　on　the　far　left　edge　of　our　hunting　party。　She　gestured　to　the　southeast。　

〃Keep　to　the　main　trail—we're　almost　to　the　Quileute　border；〃　Edward　ordered　tersely。　〃Stay　together。　
See　if　they　turned　north　or　south。〃　

I　was　not　as　familiar　with　the　treaty　line　as　the　rest　of　them；　but　I　could　smell　the　hint　of　wolf　in　the　breeze　
blowing　from　the　east。　Edward　and　Carlisle　slowed　a　little　out　of　habit；　and　I　could　see　their　heads　sweep　
from　side　to　side；　waiting　for　the　trail　to　turn。　

Then　the　wolf　smell　was　suddenly　stronger；　and　Edward's　head　snapped　up。　He　came　to　a　sudden　stop。　
The　rest　of　us　froze；　too。　

〃Sam？〃　Edward　asked　in　a　flat　voice。　〃What　is　this？〃　

Sam　came　through　the　trees　a　few　hundred　yards　away；　walking　quickly　toward　us　in　his　human　form；　
flanked　by　two　big　wolves—Paul　and　Jared。　It　took　Sam　a　while　to　reach　us；　his　human　pace　made　me　
impatient。　I　didn't　want　time　to　think　about　what　was　happening。　I　wanted　to　be　in　motion；　to　be　doing　
something。　I　wanted　to　have　my　arms　around　Alice；　to　know　beyond　a　doubt　that　she　was　safe。　

I　watched　Edward's　face　go　absolutely　white　as　he　read　what　Sam　was　thinking。　Sam　ignored　him；　



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looking　

straight　at　Carlisle　as　he　stopped　walking　and　began　to　speak。　

〃Right　after　midn