4 breaking dawn破晓-第55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！


scenery。〃　

Renesmee　frowned　at　him。　




　Page　331　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




〃No；　I　don't　have　to　go　anywhere；〃　he　said　to　her。　Then　he　looked　at　Edward；　his　face　stunned　by　the　
realization　that　he　might　be　wrong。　〃Do　I？〃　

Edward　hesitated。　

〃Spit　it　out；〃　Jacob　said；　his　voice　raw　with　tension。　He　was　right　at　his　breaking　point；　just　like　the　rest　
of　us。　

〃The　vampires　who　are　ing　to　help　us　are　not　the　same　as　we　are；〃　Edward　said。　〃Tanya's　family　is　
the　only　one　besides　ours　with　a　reverence　for　human　life；　and　even　they　don't　think　much　of　werewolves。　
I　think　it　might　be　safer—〃　

〃I　can　take　care　of　myself；〃　Jacob　interrupted。　

〃Safer　for　Renesmee；〃　Edward　continued；　〃if　the　choice　to　believe　our　story　about　her　is　not　tainted　by　
an　association　with　werewolves。〃　

〃Some　friends。　They'd　turn　on　you　just　because　of　who　you　hang　out　with　now？〃　

〃I　think　they　would　mostly　be　tolerant　under　normal　circumstances。　But　you　need　to　understand　
—accepting　Nessie　will　not　be　a　simple　thing　for　any　of　them。　Why　make　it　even　the　slightest　bit　harder？〃　

Carlisle　had　explained　the　laws　about　immortal　children　to　Jacob　last　night。　〃The　immortal　children　were　
really　that　bad？〃　he　asked。　

〃You　can't　imagine　the　depth　of　the　scars　they've　left　in　the　collective　vampire　psyche。〃　

〃Edward　。。。〃　It　was　still　odd　to　hear　Jacob　use　Edward's　name　without　bitterness。　

〃I　know；　Jake。　I　know　how　hard　it　is　to　be　away　from　her。　We'll　play　it　by　ear—　see　how　they　react　to　
her。　In　any　case；　Nessie　is　going　to　have　to　be　incognito　off　and　on　in　the　next　few　weeks。　She'll　need　to　
stay　at　the　cottage　until　the　right　moment　for　us　to　introduce　her。　As　long　as　you　keep　a　safe　distance　
from　the　main　house　。。。〃　

〃I　can　do　that。　pany　in　the　morning；　huh？〃　

〃Yes。　The　closest　of　our　friends。　In　this　particular　case；　it's　probably　better　if　we　get　things　out　in　the　
open　as　soon　as　possible。　You　can　stay　here。　Tanya　knows　about　you。　She's　even　met　Seth。〃　

〃You　should　tell　Sam　what's　going　on。　There　might　be　strangers　in　the　woods　soon。〃　

〃Good　point。　Though　I　owe　him　some　silence　after　last　night。〃　

〃Listening　to　Alice　is　usually　the　right　thing。〃　

Jacob's　teeth　ground　together；　and　I　could　see　that　he　shared　Sam's　feelings　about　what　Alice　and　
Jasper　had　done。　

While　they　were　talking；　I　wandered　toward　the　back　windows；　trying　to　look　distracted　and　anxious。　
Not　a　difficult　thing　to　do。　I　leaned　my　head　against　the　wall　that　curved　away　from　the　living　room　
toward　the　dining　room；　right　next　to　one　of　the　puter　desks。　I　ran　my　fingers　against　the　keys　while　



Page　332　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




staring　into　the　forest；　trying　to　make　it　look　like　an　absentminded　thing。　Did　vampires　ever　do　things　
absentmindedly？　I　didn't　think　anyone　was　paying　particular　attention　to　me；　but　I　didn't　turn　to　make　
sure。　The　monitor　glowed　to　life。　I　stroked　my　fingers　across　the　keys　again。　Then　I　drummed　them　very　
quietly　on　the　wooden　desktop；　just　to　make　it　seem　random。　Another　stroke　across　the　keys。　

I　scanned　the　screen　in　my　peripheral　vision。　

No　J。　Jenks；　but　there　was　a　Jason　Jenks。　A　lawyer。　I　brushed　the　keyboard；　trying　to　keep　a　rhythm；　
like　the　preoccupied　stroking　of　a　cat　you'd　all　but　forgotten　on　your　lap。　Jason　Jenks　had　a　fancy　
website　for　his　firm；　but　the　address　on　the　homepage　was　wrong。　In　Seattle；　but　in　a　different　zip　code。　I　
noted　the　phone　number　and　then　stroked　the　keyboard　in　rhythm。　This　time　I　searched　the　address；　but　
nothing　at　all　came　up；　as　if　the　address　didn't　exist。　I　wanted　to　look　at　a　map；　but　I　decided　I　was　
pushing　my　luck。　One　more　brush；　to　delete　the　history___　

I　continued　staring　out　the　window　and　brushed　the　wood　a　few　times。　I　heard　light　footsteps　crossing　
the　floor　to　me；　and　I　turned　with　what　I　hoped　was　the　same　expression　as　before。　

Renesmee　reached　for　me；　and　I　held　my　arms　open。　She　launched　herself　into　them；　smelling　strongly　of　
werewolf；　and　nestled　her　head　against　my　neck。　

I　didn't　know　if　I　could　stand　this。　As　much　as　I　feared　for　my　life；　for　Edward's；　for　the　rest　of　my　
family's；　it　was　not　the　same　as　the　gutwrenching　terror　I　felt　for　my　daughter。　There　had　to　be　a　way　to　
save　her；　even　if　that　was　the　only　thing　I　could　do。　

Suddenly；　I　knew　that　this　was　all　I　wanted　anymore。　The　rest　I　would　bear　if　I　had　to；　but　not　her　life　
being　forfeited。　Not　that。　

She　was　the　one　thing　I　simply　had　to　save。　

Would　Alice　have　known　how　I　would　feel？　

Renesmee's　hand　touched　my　cheek　lightly。　

She　showed　me　my　own　face；　Edward's；　Jacob's；　Rosalie's；　Esme's；　Carlisle's；　Alice's；　Jasper's；　flipping　
through　all　our　family's　faces　faster　and　faster。　Seth　and　Leah。　Charlie；　Sue；　and　Billy。　Over　and　over　
again。　Worrying；　like　the　rest　of　us　were。　She　was　only　worrying；　though。　Jake　had　kept　the　worst　from　
her　as　far　as　I　could　tell。　The　part　about　how　we　had　no　hope；　how　we　all　were　going　to　die　in　a　month's　
time。　

She　settled　on　Alice's　face；　longing　and　confused。　Where　was　Alice？　

〃I　don't　know；〃　I　whispered。　〃But　she's　Alice。　She's　doing　the　right　thing；　like　always。〃　

The　right　thing　for　Alice；　anyway。　I　hated　thinking　of　her　that　way；　but　how　else　could　the　situation　be　
understood？　

Renesmee　sighed；　and　the　longing　intensified。　

〃I　miss　her；　too。〃　

I　felt　my　face　working；　trying　to　find　the　expression　that　went　with　the　grief　inside。　My　eyes　felt　strange　



　　Page　333　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




and　dry；　they　blinked　against　the　unfortable　feeling。　I　bit　my　lip。　When　I　took　my　next　breath；　the　air　
hitched　in　my　throat；　like　I　was　choking　on　it。　

Renesmee　pulled　back　to　look　at　me；　and　I　saw　my　face　mirrored　in　her　thoughts　and　in　her　eyes。　I　
looked　like　Esme　had　this　morning。　

So　this　was　what　it　felt　like　to　cry。　

Renesmee's　eyes　glistened　wetly　as　she　watched　my　face。　She　stroked　my　face；　showing　me　nothing；　
just　trying　to　soothe　me。　

I'd　never　thought　to　see　the　motherdaughter　bond　reversed　between　us；　the　way　it　had　always　been　for　
Renee　and　me。　But　I　hadn't　had　a　very　clear　view　of　the　future。　

A　tear　welled　up　on　the　edge　of　Renesmee's　eye。　I　wiped　it　away　with　a　kiss。　She　touched　her　eye　in　
amazement　and　then　looked　at　the　wetness　on　her　fingertip。　

〃Don't　cry；〃　I　told　her。　〃It's　going　to　be　okay。　You're　going　to　be　fine。　I　will　find　you　a　way　through　this。〃　

If　there　was　nothing　else　I　could　do；　I　would　still　save　my　Renesmee。　I　was　more　positive　than　ever　that　
this　was　what　Alice　would　give　me。　She　would　know。　She　would　have　left　me　a　way。　

30。　IRRESISTIBLE　

There　was　so　much　to　think　about。　

How　was　I　going　to　find　time　alone　to　hunt　down　J。　Jenks；　and　why　did　Alice　want　me　to　know　about　
him？　

If　Alice's　clue　had　nothing　to　do　with　Renesmee；　what　could　I　do　to　save　my　daughter？　

How　were　Edward　and　I　going　to　explain　things　to　Tanya's　family　in　the　morning？　What　if　they　reacted　
like　Irina？　What　if　it　turned　into　a　fight？　

I　didn't　know　how　to　fight。　How　was　I　going　to　learn　in　just　a　month？　Was　there　any　chance　at　all　that　I　
could　be　taught　fast　enough　that　I　might　be　a　danger　to　any　one　member　of　the　Volturi？　Or　was　I　
doomed　to　be　totally　useless？　Just　another　easily　dispatched　newborn？　

So　many　answers　I　needed；　but　I　did　not　get　the　chance　to　ask　my　questions。　

Wanting　some　normality　for　Renesmee；　I'd　insisted　on　taking　her　home　to　our　cottage　at　bedtime。　Jacob　
was　more　fortable　in　his　wolf　form　at　the　moment；　the　stress　was　easier　dealt　with　when　he　felt　ready　
for　a　fight。　I　wished　that　I　could　feel　the　same；　could　feel　ready。　He　ran　in　the　woods；　on　guard　again。　

After　she　was　deeply　under；　I　put　Renesmee　in　her　bed　and　then　went　to　the　front　room　to　ask　my　
questions　of　Edward。　The　ones　I　was　able　to　ask；　at　any　rate；　one　of　the　most　difficult　of　problems　was　
the　idea　of　trying　to　hide　anything　from　him；　even　with　the　advantage　of　my　silent　thoughts。　

He　stood　with　his　back　to　me；　staring　into　the　fire。　

〃Edward；　I—〃　



Page　334　

　　　Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




He　spun　and　was　across　the　room　in　what　seemed　like　no　time　at　all；　not　even　the　smallest　part　of　a　
second。　I　only　had　time　to　register　the　ferocious　expression　on　his　face　before　his　lips　were　crushing　
against　mine　and　his　arms　were　locked　around　me　like　steel　girders。　

I　didn't　think　of　my　questions　again　for　the　rest　of　that　night。　It　didn't　take　long　for　me　to　grasp　the　reason　
for　his　

mood；　and　even　less　time　to　feel　exactly　the　same　way。　

I'd　been　planning　on　needing　years　just　to　somewhat　organize　the　overwhelming　passion　I　felt　for　him　
physically。　And　then　centuries　after　that　to　enjoy　it。　if　we　had　only　a　month　left　together。。。　Well；　I　didn't　
see　how　I　could　stand　to　have　this　end。　For　the　moment　I　couldn't　help　but　be　selfish。　All　I　wanted　was　to　
love　him　as　much　as　possible　in　the　limited　time　given　to　me。　

It　was　hard　to　pull　myself　away　from　him　when　the　sun　came　up；　but　we　had　our　job　to　do；　a　job　that　
might　be　more　difficult　than　all　the　rest　of　our　family's　searches　put　together。　As　soon　as　I　let　myself　think　
of　what　was　ing；　i　was　all　tension；　it　felt　like　my　nerves　were　being　stretched　on　a　rack；　thinner　and　
thinner。　

〃I　wish　there　was　a　way　to　get　the　information　we　need　from　Eleazar　before　we　tell　them　about　Nessie；〃　
Edward　muttered　as　we　hurriedly　dressed　in　the　huge　closet　that　was　more　reminder　of　Alice　than　I　
wanted　at　the　moment。　〃Just　in　case。〃　

〃But　he　wouldn't　understand　the　question　to　answer　it；〃　I　agreed。　〃Do　you　think　they'll　let　us　explain？〃　

〃I　don't　know。〃　

I　pulled　Renesmee；　still　sleeping；　from　her　bed　and　held　her　close　so　that　her　curls　were　pressed　against　
my　face；　her　sweet　scent；　so　close；　overpowered　every　other　smell。　

I　couldn't　waste　one　second　of　time　today。　There　were　answers　I　needed；　and　wasn't　sure　how　much　
time　Edward　and　I　would　have　alone　today。　If　all　went　well　with　Tanya's　family；　hopefully　we　would　have　
pany　for　an　extended　period。　

〃Edward；　will　you　teach　me　how　to　fight？〃　I　asked　him；　tensed　for　his　reaction；　as　he　held　the　door　for　
me。　

It　was　what　I　expected。　He　froze；　and　then　his　eyes　swept　over　me　with　a　deep　significance；　like　he　was　
looking　at　me　for　the　first　or　last　time。　His　eyes　lingered　on　our　daughter　sleeping　in　my　arms。　

〃If　it　es　to　a　fight；　there　won't　be　much　any　of　us　can　do；〃　he　hedged。　

I　kept　my　voice　even。　〃Would　you　leave　me　unable　to　defend　myself？〃　

He　swallowed　convulsively；　and　the　door　shuddered；　hinges　protesting；　as　his　hand　tightened。　Then　he　
nodded。　〃When　you　put　it　that　way。。。　I　suppose　we　should　get　to　work　as　soon　as　we　can。〃　

I　nodded；　too；　and　we　started　toward　the　big　house。　We　didn't　hurry。　

I　wondered　what　I　could　do　that　would　have　any　hope　of　making　a　difference。　I　was　a　tiny　bit　special；　in　



Page　335　

Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




my　own　way—if　a　having　a　supematurally　thick　skull　could　really　be　considered　special。　Was　there　any　
use　that　I　could　put　that　toward？　

〃What　would　you　say　their　biggest　advantage　is？　Do　they　even　have　a　weakness？〃　

Edward　didn't　have　to　ask　to　know　I　meant　the　Volturi。　

〃Alec　and　Jane　are　their　greatest　offense；〃　he　said　emotionlessly；　like　we　were　talking　of　a　basketball　
team。　〃Their　defensive　players　rarely　see　any　real　action。〃　

〃Because　Jane　can　burn　you　where　you　stand—mentally　at　least。　What　does　Alec　do？　Didn't　you　once　
say　he　was　even　more　dangerous　than　Jane？〃　

〃Yes。　In　a　way；　he　is　the　antidote　to　Jane。　She　makes　you　feel　the　worst　pain　imaginable。　Alec；　on　the　
other　hand；　makes　you　feel　nothing。　Absolutely　nothing。　Sometimes；　when　the　Volturi　are　feeling　kind；　
they　have　Alec　anesthetize　someone　before　he　is　executed。　If　he　has　surrendered　or　pleased　them　in　
some　other　way。〃　

〃Anesthetic？　But　how　is　that　more　dangerous　than　Jane？〃　

〃Because　he　cuts　off　your　senses　altogether。　No　pain；　but　also　no　sight　or　sound　or　smell。　Total　sensory　
deprivation。　You　are　utterly　alone　in　the　blackness。　You　don't　even　feel　it　when　they　burn　you。〃　

I　shivered。　Was　this　the　best　we　could　hope　for？　To　not　see　or　feel　death　when　it　came？　

〃That　would　make　him　only　equally　as　dangerous　as　Jane；〃　Edward　went　on　in　the　same　detached　voice；　
〃in　that　they　both　can　incapacitate　you；　make　you　into　a　helpless　target。　The　difference　between　them　is　
like　the　difference　between　Aro　and　me。　Aro　hears　the　mind　of　only　one　person　at　a　time。　Jane　can　only　
hurt　the　one　object　of　her　focus。　I　can　hear　everyone　at　the　same　time。〃　

I　felt　cold　as　I　saw　where　he　was　going。　〃And　Alec　can　incapacitate　us　all　at　the　same　time？〃　I　
whispered。　

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃If　he　uses　his　gift　against　us；　we　will　all　stand　blind　and　deaf　until　they　get　around　to　
killingus—maybe　they'll　simply　burn　us　without　bothering　to　tear　us　apart　first。　Oh；　we　could　try　to　fight；　
but　we'll　be　more　likely　to　hurt　one　another　than　we　would　be　to　hurt　one　of　them。〃　

We　walked　in　silence　for　a　few　seconds。　

An　idea　was　shaping　itself　in　my　head。　Not　very　promising；　but　better　than　nothing。　

〃Do　you　think　Alec　is　a　very　good　fighter？〃　I　asked。　〃Aside　from　what　he　can　do；　I　mean。　If　he　had　to　
fight　without　his　gift。　I　wonder　if　he's　ever　even　tried___〃　

Edward　glanced　at　me　sharply。　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　

I　looked　straight　ahead。　〃Well；　he　probably　can't　do　that　to　me；　can　he？　If　what　he　does　is　like　Aro　and　
Jane　and　you。　Maybe。。。　if　he's　never　really　had　to　defend　himself。。。　and　I　learned　a　few　tricks—〃　

〃He's　been　with　the　Volturi　for　centuries；〃　Edward　cut　me　off；　his　voice　abruptly　panicked。　He　was　
probably　seeing　the　same　image　in　his　head　that　I　was：　the　Cullens　standing　helpless；　senseless　pillars　on　



　　Page　336　

Generatedby　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　：。processtext。abclit。html　




thekillingfield—all　but　me。　I'd　be　the　only　one　who　could　fight。　〃Yes；　you're　surely　immune　to　his　power；　
but　you　are　still　a　newborn；　Bella。　I　can't　make　you　that　strong　a　fighter　in　a　few　weeks。　I'm　sure　he's　had　
training。〃　

〃Maybe；　maybe　not。　It's　the　one　thing　I　can　do　that　no　one　else　can。　Even　if　I　can　just　distract　him　for　a　
while—〃　Could　I　last　long　enough　to　give　the　others　a　chance？　

〃Please；　Bella；〃　Edward　said　through　his　teeth。　〃Let's　not　talk　about　this。〃　

〃Be　reasonable。〃　

〃I　will　try　to　teach　you　what　I　can；　but　please　don't　make　me　think　about　you　sacrificing　yourself　as　a　
diversion—〃　He　choked；　and　didn't　finish。　

I　nodded。　I　would　keep　my　plans　to　myself；　then。　First　Alec　and　then；　if　I　was　miraculously　lucky　enough　
to　win；　Jane。　If　I　could　only　even　things　out—remove　the　Volturi's　overwhelming　offensive　advantage。　
Maybe　then　there　was　a　chance。。。。　My　mind　raced　ahead。　What　if　I　was　able　to　distract　or　even　take　
them　out？　Honestly；　why　would　either　

Jane　or　Alec　ever　have　needed　to　learn　battle　skills？　I　couldn't　imagine　petulant　little　Jane　surrendering　
her　advan