4 breaking dawn破晓-第57部分

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She　imagined　touching　Carmen's　face；　wondering　if　that　was　okay。　

〃Do　you　mind　if　Renesmee　tells　you　about　it　herself？〃　I　asked　Carmen。　I　was　still　too　stressed　to　speak　
above　a　whisper。　〃She　has　a　gift　for　explaining　things。〃　

Carmen　was　still　smiling　at　Renesmee。　〃Do　you　speak；　little　one？〃　

〃Yes；〃　Renesmee　answered　in　her　trilling　high　soprano。　All　of　Tanya's　family　flinched　at　the　sound　of　her　
voice　except　for　Carmen。　〃But　I　can　show　you　more　than　I　can　tell　you。〃　

She　placed　her　little　dimpled　hand　on　Carmen's　cheek。　

Carmen　stiffened　like　an　electric　shock　had　run　through　her。　Eleazar　was　at　her　side　in　an　instant；　his　
hands　on　her　shoulders　as　if　to　yank　her　away。　

〃Wait；〃　Carmen　said　breathlessly；　her　unblinking　eyes　locked　on　Renesmee's。　



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Renesmee　〃showed〃　Carmen　her　explanation　for　a　long　time。　Edward's　face　was　intent　as　he　watched　
with　Carmen；　and　I　wished　so　much　that　I　could　hear　what　he　heard；　too。　Jacob　shifted　his　weight　
impatiently　behind　me；　and　I　knew　he　was　wishing　the　same。　

〃What's　Nessie　showing　her？〃　he　grumbled　under　his　breath。　

〃Everything；〃　Edward　murmured。　

Another　minute　passed；　and　Renesmee　dropped　her　hand　from　Carmen's　face。　She　smiled　winningly　at　
the　stunned　vampire。　

〃She　really　is　your　daughter；　isn't　she？〃　Carmen　breathed；　switching　her　wide　topaz　eyes　to　Edward's　
face。　〃Such　a　vivid　gift！　It　could　only　have　e　from　a　very　gifted　father。〃　

〃Do　you　believe　what　she　showed　you？〃　Edward　asked；　his　expression　intense。　

〃Without　a　doubt；〃　Carmen　said　simply。　

Eleazar's　face　was　rigid　with　distress。　〃Carmen！〃　

Carmen　took　his　hands　into　her　own　and　squeezed　them。　〃Impossible　as　it　seems；　Edward　has　told　you　
nothing　but　truth。　Let　the　child　show　you。〃　

Carmen　nudged　Eleazar　closer　to　me　and　then　nodded　at　Renesmee。　〃Show　him；　mi　querida〃　

Renesmee　grinned；　clearly　delighted　with　Carmen's　acceptance；　and　touched　Eleazar　lightly　on　the　
forehead。　

〃Ay　caray！〃hespit；　and　jerked　away　from　her。　

〃What　did　she　do　to　you？〃　Tanya　demanded；　ing　closer　warily。　Kate　crept　forward；　too。　

〃She's　just　trying　to　show　you　her　side　of　the　story；〃　Carmen　told　him　in　a　soothing　voice。　

Renesmee　frowned　impatiently。　〃Watch；　please；〃　she　manded　Eleazar。　She　stretched　her　hand　out　to　
him　and　then　left　a　few　inches　between　her　fingers　and　his　face；　waiting。　

Eleazar　eyed　her　suspiciously　and　then　glanced　at　Carmen　for　help。　She　nodded　encouragingly。　Eleazar　
took　a　deep　breath　and　then　leaned　closer　until　his　forehead　touched　her　hand　again。　

He　shuddered　when　it　began　but　held　still　this　time；　his　eyes　closed　in　concentration。　

〃Ahh；〃　he　sighed　when　his　eyes　reopened　a　few　minutes　later。　〃I　see。〃　

Renesmee　smiled　at　him。　He　hesitated；　then　smiled　a　slightly　unwilling　smile　in　response。　

〃Eleazar？〃　Tanya　asked。　

〃It's　all　true；　Tanya。　This　is　no　immortal　child。　She's　halfhuman。　e。　See　for　yourself。〃　




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In　silence；　Tanya　took　her　turn　standing　warily　before　me；　and　then　Kate；　both　showing　shock　as　that　
first　image　hit　them　with　Renesmee's　touch。　But　then；　just　like　Carmen　and　Eleazar；　they　seemed　
pletely　won　over　as　soon　as　it　was　done。　

I　shot　a　glance　at　Edward's　smooth　face；　wondering　if　it　could　really　be　so　easy。　His　golden　eyes　were　
clear；　unshadowed。　There　was　no　deception　in　this；　then。　

〃Thank　you　for　listening；〃　he　said　quietly。　

〃But　there　is　the　grave　danger　you　warned　us　of；〃　Tanya　said。　〃Not　directly　from　this　child；　I　see；　but　
surely　from　the　Volturi；　then。　How　did　they　find　out　about　her？　When　are　they　ing？〃　

I　was　not　surprised　at　her　quick　understanding。　After　all；　what　could　possibly　be　a　threat　to　a　family　as　
strong　as　mine？　Only　the　Volturi。　

〃When　Bella　saw　Irina　that　day　in　the　mountains；〃　Edward　explained；　〃she　had　Renesmee　with　her。〃　

Kate　hissed；　her　eyes　narrowing　to　slits；　〃irina　did　this？　To　you？　To　Carlisle？　Irina？〃　

〃No；〃　Tanya　whispered。　〃Someone　else　。。。〃　

〃Alice　saw　her　go　to　them；〃　Edward　said。　I　wondered　if　the　others　noticed　the　way　he　winced　just　
slightly　when　he　spoke　Alice's　name。　

〃How　could　she　do　this　thing？〃　Eleazar　asked　of　no　one。　

'Imagine　if　you　had　seen　Renesmee　only　from　a　distance。　If　you　had　not　waited　for　our　explanation。〃　

Tanya's　eyes　tightened。　〃No　matter　what　she　thought。。。　You　are　our　family。〃　

〃There's　nothing　we　can　do　about　Irina's　choice　now。　It's　too　late。　Alice　gave　us　a　month。〃　

Both　Tanya's　and　Eleazar's　heads　cocked　to　one　side。　Kate's　brow　furrowed。　

〃So　long？〃　Eleazar　asked。　

〃They　are　all　ing。　That　must　take　some　preparation。〃　

Eleazar　gasped。　〃The　entire　guard？〃　

〃Not　just　the　guard；〃　Edward　said；　his　jaw　straining　tight。　〃Aro；　Caius；　Marcus。　Even　the　wives。〃　

Shock　glazed　over　all　their　eyes。　

〃Impossible；〃　Eleazar　said　blankly。　

〃I　would　have　said　the　same　two　days　ago；〃　Edward　said。　

Eleazar　scowled；　and　when　he　spoke　it　was　nearly　a　growl。　〃But　that　doesn't　make　any　sense。　Why　
would　they　put　themselves　and　the　wives　in　danger？〃　




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〃It　doesn't　make　sense　from　that　angle。　Alice　said　there　was　more　to　this　than　just　punishment　for　what　
they　think　we've　done。　She　thought　you　could　help　us。〃　

〃More　than　punishment？　But　what　else　is　there？〃　Eleazar　started　pacing；　stalking　toward　the　door　and　
back　again　as　if　he　were　alone　here；　his　eyebrows　furrowed　as　he　stared　at　the　floor。　

〃Where　are　the　others；　Edward？　Carlisle　and　Alice　and　the　rest？〃　Tanya　asked。　

Edward's　hesitation　was　almost　unnoticeable。　He　answered　only　part　of　her　question。　〃Looking　for　
friends　who　might　help　us。〃　

Tanya　leaned　toward　him；　holding　her　hands　out　in　front　of　her。　〃Edward；　no　matter　how　many　friends　
you　gather；　we　can't　help　you　win。　We　can　only　die　with　you。　You　must　know　that。　Of　course；　perhaps　
the　four　of　us　deserve　that　after　what　Irina　has　done　now；　after　how　we've　failed　you　in　the　past—for　her　
sake　that　time　as　well。〃　

Edward　shook　his　head　quickly。　〃We're　not　asking　you　to　fight　and　die　with　us；　Tanya。　You　know　
Carlisle　would　never　ask　for　that。〃　

〃Then　what；　Edward？〃　

〃We're　just　looking　for　witnesses。　If　we　can　make　them　pause；　just　for　a　moment。　If　they　would　let　us　
explain　。。。〃　He　touched　Renesmee's　cheek；　she　grabbed　his　hand　and　held　it　pressed　against　her　skin。　〃It's　
difficult　to　doubt　our　story　when　you　see　it　for　yourself。〃　

Tanya　nodded　slowly。　〃Do　you　think　her　past　will　matter　to　them　so　much？〃　

〃Only　as　it　foreshadows　her　future。　The　point　of　the　restriction　was　to　protect　us　from　exposure；　from　the　
excesses　of　children　who　could　not　be　tamed。〃　

〃I'm　not　dangerous　at　all；〃　Renesmee　interjected。　I　listened　to　her　high；　clear　voice　with　new　ears；　
imagining　how　she　sounded　to　the　others。　〃I　never　hurt　Grandpa　or　Sue　or　Billy。　I　love　humans。　And　
wolfpeople　like　my　Jacob。〃　She　dropped　Edward's　hand　to　reach　back　and　pat　Jacob's　arm。　

Tanya　and　Kate　exchanged　a　quick　glance。　

〃If　Irina　had　not　e　so　soon；〃　Edward　mused；　〃we　could　have　avoided　all　of　this。　Renesmee　grows　at　
an　unprecedented　rate。　By　the　time　the　month　is　past；　shell　have　gained　another　half　year　of　
development。〃　

〃Well；　that　is　something　we　can　certainly　witness；〃　Carmen　said　in　a　decided　tone。　〃We'll　be　able　to　
promise　that　we've　seen　her　mature　ourselves。　How　could　the　Volturi　ignore　such　evidence？〃　

Eleazar　mumbled；　〃How；　indeed？〃　but　he　did　not　look　up；　and　he　continued　pacing　as　if　he　were　paying　
no　attention　at　all。　

〃Yes；　we　can　witness　for　you；〃　Tanya　said。　〃Certainly　that　much。　We　will　consider　what　more　we　might　
do。〃　

〃Tanya；〃　Edward　protested；　hearing　more　in　her　thoughts　than　there　was　in　her　words；　〃we　don't　expect　
you　to　fight　with　us。〃　



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〃If　the　Volturi　won't　pause　to　listen　to　our　witness；　we　cannot　simply　stand　by；〃　Tanya　insisted。　〃Of　
course；　I　should　only　speak　for　myself。〃　

Kate　snorted。　〃Do　you　really　doubt　me　so　much；　sister？〃　

Tanya　smiled　widely　at　her。　〃It　is　a　suicide　mission；　after　all。〃　

Kate　flashed　a　grin　back　and　then　shrugged　nonchalantly。　〃I'm　in。〃　

〃I；　too；　will　do　what　I　can　to　protect　the　child；〃　Carmen　agreed。　Then；　as　if　she　couldn't　resist；　she　held　
her　arms　out　toward　Renesmee。　〃May　I　hold　you；　bebe　linda？〃　

Renesmee　reached　eagerly　toward　Carmen；　delighted　with　her　new　friend。　Carmen　hugged　her　close；　
murmuring　to　her　in　Spanish。　

It　was　like　it　had　been　with　Charlie；　and　before　that　with　all　the　Cullens。　Renesmee　was　irresistible。　What　
was　it　about　her　that　drew　everyone　to　her；　that　made　them　willing　even　to　pledge　their　lives　in　her　
defense？　

For　a　moment　I　thought　that　maybe　what　we　were　attempting　might　be　possible。　Maybe　Renesmee　
could　do　the　impossible　and　win　over　our　enemies　as　she　had　our　friends。　

And　then　I　remembered　that　Alice　had　left　us；　and　my　hope　vanished　as　quickly　as　it　had　appeared。　

31。　TALENTED　

〃What　is　the　werewolves'　part　in　this？〃　Tanya　asked　then；　eyeing　Jacob。　

Jacob　spoke　before　Edward　could　answer。　〃If　the　Volturi　won't　stop　to　listen　about　Nessie；　I　mean　
Renesmee；〃　he　corrected　himself；　remembering　that　Tanya　would　not　understand　his　stupid　nickname；　
〃we　will　stop　them。〃　

〃Very　brave；　child；　but　that　would　be　impossible　for　more　experienced　fighters　than　you　are。〃　

〃You　don't　know　what　we　can　do。〃　

Tanya　shrugged。　〃It　is　your　own　life；　certainly；　to　spend　as　you　choose。〃　

Jacob's　eyes　flickered　to　Renesmee—still　in　Carmen's　arms　with　Kate　hovering　over　them—and　it　was　
easy　to　read　the　longing　in　them。　

〃She　is　special；　that　little　one；〃　Tanya　mused。　〃Hard　to　resist。〃　

〃A　very　talented　family；〃　Eleazar　murmured　as　he　paced。　His　tempo　was　increasing；　he　flashed　from　the　
door　to　Carmen　and　back　again　every　second。　〃A　mind　reader　for　a　father；　a　shield　for　a　mother；　and　
then　whatever　magic　this　extraordinary　child　has　bewitched　us　with。　I　wonder　if　there　is　a　name　for　what　
she　does；　or　if　it　is　the　norm　for　a　vampire　hybrid。　As　if　such　a　thing　could　ever　be　considered　normal！　A　
vampire　hybrid；　indeed！〃　

〃Excuse　me；〃　Edward　said　in　a　stunned　voice。　He　reached　out　and　caught　Eleazar's　shoulder　as　he　was　



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about　to　turn　again　for　the　door。　〃What　did　you　just　call　my　wife？〃　

Eleazar　looked　at　Edward　curiously；　his　manic　pacing　forgotten　for　the　moment。　〃A　shield；　I　think。　She's　
blocking　me　now；　so　I　can't　be　sure。〃　

I　stared　at　Eleazar；　my　brows　furrowing　in　confusion。　Shield？　What　did　he　mean　about　my　blocking　him？　
I　was　standing　right　here　beside　him；　not　defensive　in　any　way。　

〃A　shield？〃　Edward　repeated；　bewildered。　

〃e　now；　Edward！　If　I　can't　get　a　read　on　her；　I　doubt　you　can；　either。　Can　you　hear　her　thoughts　
right　now？〃　

Eleazar　asked。　

〃No；〃　Edward　murmured。　〃But　I've　never　been　able　to　do　that。　Even　when　she　was　human。〃　

〃Never？〃　Eleazar　blinked。　〃Interesting。　That　would　indicate　a　rather　powerful　latent　talent；　if　it　was　
manifesting　so　clearly　even　before　the　transformation。　I　can't　feel　a　way　through　her　shield　to　get　a　sense　
of　it　at　all。　Yet　she　must　be　raw　still—she's　only　a　few　months　old。〃　The　look　he　gave　Edward　now　was　
almost　exasperated。　〃And　apparently　pletely　unaware　of　what　she's　doing。　Totally　unconscious。　
Ironic。　Aro　sent　me　all　over　the　world　searching　for　such　anomalies；　and　you　simply　stumble　across　it　by　
accident　and　don't　even　realize　what　you　have。〃　Eleazar　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　

I　frowned。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　How　can　I　be　a　shield？　What　does　that　even　mean？〃　All　I　
could　picture　in　my　head　was　a　ridiculous　medieval　suit　of　armor。　

Eleazar　leaned　his　head　to　one　side　as　he　examined　me。　〃I　suppose　we　were　overly　formal　about　it　in　the　
guard。　In　truth；　categorizing　talents　is　a　subjective；　haphazard　business；　every　talent　is　unique；　never　
exactly　the　same　thing　twice。　But　you；　Bella；　are　fairly　easy　to　classify。　Talents　that　are　purely　defensive；　
that　protect　some　aspect　of　the　bearer；　are　always　called　shields。　Have　you　ever　tested　your　abilities？　
Blocked　anyone　besides　me　and　your　mate？〃　

It　took　me　few　seconds；　despite　how　quickly　my　new　brain　worked；　to　organize　my　answer。　

〃It　only　works　with　certain　things；〃　I　told　him。　〃My　head　is　sort　of。。。　private。　But　it　doesn't　stop　Jasper　
from　being　able　to　mess　with　my　mood　or　Alice　from　seeing　my　future。〃　

〃Purely　a　mental　defense。〃　Eleazar　nodded　to　himself。　〃Limited；　but　strong。〃　

〃Aro　couldn't　hear　her；〃　Edward　interjected。　〃Though　she　was　human　when　they　met。〃　

Eleazar's　eyes　widened。　

〃Jane　tried　to　hurt　me；　but　she　couldn't；〃　I　said。　〃Edward　thinks　Demetri　can't　find　me；　and　that　Alec　
can't　bother　me；　either。　Is　that　good？〃　

Eleazar；　still　gaping；　nodded。　〃Quite。〃　

〃A　shield！〃　Edward　said；　deep　satisfaction　saturating　his　tone。　〃I　never　thought　of　it　that　way。　The　only　
one　I've　ever　met　before　was　Renata；　and　what　she　did　was　so　different。〃　



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Eleazar　had　recovered　slightly。　〃Yes；　no　talent　ever　manifests　in　precisely　the　same　way；　because　no　one　
ever　thinks　in　exactly　the　same　way。〃　

〃Who's　Renata？　What　does　she　do？〃　I　asked。　Renesmee　was　interested；　too；　leaning　away　from　
Carmen　so　that　she　could　see　around　Kate。　

〃Renata　is　Aro's　personal　bodyguard；〃　Eleazar　told　me。　〃A　very　practical　kind　of　shield；　and　a　very　
strong　one。〃　

I　vaguely　remembered　a　small　crowd　of　vampires　hovering　close　to　Aro　in　his　macabre　tower；　some　
male；　some　female。　I　couldn't　remember　the　women's　faces　in　the　unfortable；　terrifying　memory。　One　
must　have　been　Renata。　

〃I　wonder。。。；〃　Eleazar　mused。　〃You　see；　Renata　is　a　powerful　shield　against　a　physical　attack。　If　
someone　approaches　her—or　Aro；　as　she　is　always　close　beside　him　in　a　hostile　situation—they　find　
themselves。。。　diverted。　

There's　a　force　around　her　that　repels；　though　it's　almost　unnoticeable。　You　simply　find　yourself　going　a　
different　direction　than　you　planned；　with　a　confused　memory　as　to　why　you　wanted　to　go　that　other　way　
in　the　first　place。　She　can　project　her　shield　several　meters　out　from　herself。　She　also　protects　Caius　and　
Marcus；　too；　when　they　have　a　need；　but　Aro　is　her　priority。　

〃What　she　does　isn't　actually　physical；　though。　Like　the　vast　majority　of　our　gifts；　it　takes　place　inside　the　
mind。　If　she　tried　to　keep　you　back；　I　wonder　who　would　win？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I've　never　heard　of　
Aro's　or　Jane's　gifts　being　thwarted。〃　

〃Momma；　you're　special；〃　Renesmee　told　me　without　any　surprise；　like　she　was　menting　on　the　color　
of　my　clothes。　

I　felt　disoriented。　Didn't　I　already　know　my　gift？　I　had　my　superselfcontrol　that　had　allowed　me　to　skip　
right　over　the　horrifying　newborn　year。　Vampires　only　had　one　extra　ability　at　most；　right？　

Or　had　Edward　been　correct　in　the　be