4 breaking dawn破晓-第61部分

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In　the　end；　we　had　pulled　together　seventeen　witnesses—the　Irish；　Siobhan；　Liam；　and　Maggie；　the　
Egyptians；　Amun；　Kebi；　Benjamin；　and　Tia；　the　Amazons；　Zafrina　and　Senna；　the　Romanians；　Vladimir　
and　Stefan；　and　the　

nomads；　Charlotte　and　Peter；　Garrett；　Alistair；　Mary；　and　Randall—to　supplement　our　family　of　eleven。　
Tanya；　Kate；　Eleazar；　and　Carmen　insisted　on　being　counted　as　part　of　our　family。　

Aside　from　the　Volturi；　it　was　probably　the　largest　friendly　gathering　of　mature　vampires　in　immortal　
history。　

We　all　were　beginning　to　be　a　little　bit　hopeful。　Even　I　couldn't　help　it。Renesmee　had　won　over　so　
many　in　such　a　brief　time。The　Volturi　only　had　to　listen　for　just　the　tiniest　second___　

The　lasttwo　surviving　Romanians—focused　only　on　their　bitter　resentment　of　the　ones　who　had　
overthrown　their　empire　fifteen　hundred　years　earlier—took　everything　in　stride。　They　would　not　touch　
Renesmee；　but　they　showed　no　aversion　to　her。　They　seemed　mysteriously　delighted　by　our　alliance　with　
the　werewolves。They　watched　me　practice　my　shield　with　Zafrina　and　Kate；　watched　Edward　answer　
unspoken　questions；　watched　Benjaminpull　geysers　of　water　from　the　river　or　sharp　gusts　of　wind　from　
the　still　air　with　just　his　mind；　and　their　eyes　glowed　with　their　fierce　hope　that　the　Volturi　had　finally　met　
their　match。　

We　did　not　hope　for　the　same　things；　but　we　all　hoped。　




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33。　FORGERY　

〃Charlie；　we've　still　got　that　strictly　needtoknow　pany　situation　going。　I　know　it's　been　more　than　a　
week　since　you　saw　Renesmee；　but　a　visit　is　just　not　a　good　idea　right　now。　How　about　I　bring　
Renesmee　over　to　see　you？〃　

Charlie　was　quiet　for　so　long　that　I　wondered　if　he　heard　the　strain　beneath　my　fagade。　

But　then　he　muttered；　〃Need　to　know；　ugh〃　and　I　realized　it　was　just　his　wariness　of　the　supernatural　
that　made　him　slow　to　respond。　

〃Okay；　kid；〃　Charlie　said。　〃Can　you　bring　her　over　this　morning？　Sue's　bringing　me　lunch。　She's　just　as　
horrified　by　my　cooking　as　you　were　when　you　first　showed　up。〃　

Charlie　laughed　and　then　sighed　for　the　old　days。　

〃This　morning　will　be　perfect。〃　The　sooner　the　better。　I'd　already　put　this　off　too　long。　

〃Is　Jake　ing　with　you　guys？〃　

Though　Charlie　didn't　know　anything　about　werewolf　imprinting；　no　one　could　be　oblivious　to　the　
attachment　between　Jacob　and　Renesmee。　

〃Probably。〃　There　was　no　way　Jacob　would　voluntarily　miss　an　afternoon　with　Renesmee　sans　
bloodsuckers。　

〃Maybe　I　should　invite　Billy；　too；〃　Charlie　mused。　〃But。。。　hmm。　Maybe　another　time。〃　

I　was　only　half　paying　attention　to　Charlie—enough　to　notice　the　strange　reluctance　in　his　voice　when　he　
spoke　of　Billy；　but　not　enough　to　worry　what　that　was　about。　Charlie　and　Billy　were　grownups；　if　there　
was　something　going　on　between　them；　they　could　figure　it　out　for　themselves。　I　had　too　many　more　
important　things　to　obsess　over。　

〃See　you　in　a　few；〃　I　told　him；　and　hung　up。　

This　trip　was　about　more　than　protecting　my　father　from　the　twentyseven　oddly　matched　vampires　
—who　all　had　sworn　not　to　kill　anyone　in　a　threehundredmile　radius；　but　still。。。　Obviously；　no　human　
being　should　get　anywhere　near　this　group。　This　was　the　excuse　I'd　given　Edward：　I　was　taking　
Renesmee　to　Charlie　so　that　he　wouldn't　decide　

to　e　here。　It　was　a　good　reason　for　leaving　the　house；　but　not　my　real　reason　at　all。　

〃Why　can't　we　take　your　Ferrari？〃　Jacob　plained　when　he　met　me　in　the　garage。　I　was　already　in　
Edward's　Volvo　with　Renesmee。　

Edward　had　gotten　around　to　revealing　my　after　car；　as　he'd　suspected；　I　had　not　been　capable　of　
showing　the　appropriate　enthusiasm。　Sure；　it　was　pretty　and　fast；　but　I　liked　to　run。　

〃Too　conspicuous；〃　I　answered。　〃We　could　go　on　foot；　but　that　would　freak　Charlie　out。〃　

Jacob　grumbled　but　got　into　the　front　seat。　Renesmee　climbed　from　my　lap　to　his。　



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〃How　are　you？〃　I　asked　him　as　I　pulled　out　of　the　garage。　

〃How　do　you　think？〃　Jacob　asked　bitingly。　〃I'm　sick　of　all　these　reeking　bloodsuckers。〃　He　saw　my　
expression　and　spoke　before　I　could　answer。　〃Yeah；　I　know；　I　know。　They're　the　good　guys；　they're　
here　to　help；　they're　going　to　save　us　all。　Etcetera；　etcetera。　Say　what　you　want；　I　still　think　Dracula　One　
and　Dracula　Two　are　creeptacular。〃　

I　had　to　smile。　The　Romanians　weren't　my　favorite　guests；　either。　〃I　don't　disagree　with　you　there。〃　

Renesmee　shook　her　head　but　said　nothing；　unlike　the　rest　of　us；　she　found　the　Romanians　strangely　
fascinating。　She'd　made　the　effort　to　speak　to　them　aloud　since　they　would　not　let　her　touch　them。　Her　
question　was　about　their　unusual　skin　and；　though　I　was　afraid　they　might　be　offended；　I　was　kind　of　glad　
she'd　asked。　I　was　curious；　too。　

They　hadn't　seemed　upset　by　her　interest。　Maybe　a　little　rueful。　

〃We　sat　still　for　a　very　long　time；　child；〃　Vladimir　had　answered；　with　Stefan　nodding　along　but　not　
continuing　Vladimir's　sentences　as　he　often　did。　〃Contemplating　our　own　divinity。　It　was　a　sign　of　our　
power　that　everything　came　to　us。　Prey；　diplomats；　those　seeking　our　favor。　We　sat　on　our　thrones　and　
thought　ourselves　gods。　We　didn't　notice　for　a　long　time　that　we　were　changing—almost　petrifying。　I　
suppose　the　Volturi　did　us　one　favor　when　they　burned　our　castles。　Stefan　and　I；　at　least；　did　not　
continue　to　petrify。　Now　the　Volturi's　eyes　are　filmed　with　dusty　scum；　but　ours　are　bright。　I　imagine　that　
will　give　us　an　advantage　when　we　gouge　theirs　from　their　sockets。〃　

I　tried　to　keep　Renesmee　away　from　them　after　that。　

〃How　long　do　we　get　to　hang　out　with　Charlie？〃　Jacob　asked；　interrupting　my　thoughts。　He　was　visibly　
relaxing　as　we　pulled　away　from　the　house　and　all　its　new　inmates。　It　made　me　happy　that　I　didn't　really　
count　as　a　vampire　to　him。　I　was　still　just　Bella。　

〃For　quite　a　while；　actually。〃　

The　tone　of　my　voice　caught　his　attention。　

〃Is　something　going　on　here　besides　visiting　your　dad？〃　

〃Jake；　you　know　how　you're　pretty　good　at　controlling　your　thoughts　around　Edward？〃　

He　raised　one　thick　black　brow。　〃Yeah？〃　

I　just　nodded；　cutting　my　eyes　to　Renesmee。　She　was　looking　out　the　window；　and　I　couldn't　tell　how　
interested　she　was　in　our　conversation；　but　I　decided　not　to　risk　going　any　further。　

Jacob　waited　for　me　to　add　something　else；　and　then　his　lower　lip　pushed　out　while　he　thought　about　
what　little　

I'd　said。　

As　we　drove　in　silence；　I　squinted　through　the　annoying　contacts　into　the　cold　rain；　it　wasn't　quite　cold　
enough　for　snow。　My　eyes　were　not　as　ghoulish　as　they　had　been　in　the　beginning—definitely　closer　to　a　



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dull　reddish　orange　than　to　bright　crimson。　Soon　they'd　be　amber　enough　for　me　to　quit　the　contacts；　i　
hoped　the　change　wouldn't　upset　Charlie　too　much。　

Jacob　was　still　chewing　over　our　truncated　conversation　when　we　got　to　Charlie's。　We　didn't　talk　as　we　
walked　at　a　quick　human　pace　through　the　falling　rain。　My　dad　was　waiting　for　us；　he　had　the　door　open　
before　I　could　knock。　

〃Hey；　guys！　It　seems　like　it's　been　years！　Look　at　you；　Nessie！　e　to　Grampa！　I　swear　you've　grown　
half　a　foot。　And　you　look　skinny；　Ness。〃　He　glared　at　me。　〃Aren't　they　feeding　you　up　there？〃　

〃It's　just　the　growth　spurt；〃　I　muttered。　〃Hey；　Sue；〃　I　called　over　his　shoulder。　The　smell　of　chicken；　
tomato；　garlic；　and　cheese　issued　from　the　kitchen；　it　probably　smelled　good　to　everyone　else。　I　could　
also　smell　fresh　pine　and　packing　dust。　

Renesmee　flashed　her　dimples。　She　never　spoke　in　front　of　Charlie。　

〃Well；　e　on　in　out　of　the　cold；　kids。　Where's　my　soninlaw？〃　

〃Entertaining　friends；〃　Jacob　said；　and　then　snorted。　〃You're　so　lucky　you're　out　of　the　loop；　Charlie。　
That's　all　I'm　going　to　say。〃　

I　punched　Jacob　lightly　in　the　kidney　while　Charlie　cringed。　

〃Ow；〃　Jacob　plained　under　his　breath；　well；　I'd　thought　I'd　punched　lightly。　

〃Actually；　Charlie；　I　have　some　errands　to　run。〃　

Jacob　shot　a　glance　at　me　but　said　nothing。　

〃Behind　on　your　Christmas　shopping；　Bells？　You　only　have　a　few　days；　you　know。〃　

〃Yeah；　Christmas　shopping；〃　I　said　lamely。　That　explained　the　packing　dust。　Charlie　must　have　put　the　
old　decorations　up。　

〃Don't　worry；　Nessie；〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。　〃I　got　you　covered　if　your　mom　drops　the　ball。〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes　at　him；　but　in　truth；　I　hadn't　thought　about　the　holidays　at　all。　

〃Lunch's　on　the　table；〃　Sue　called　from　the　kitchen。　〃C'mon；　guys。〃　

〃See　you　later；　Dad；〃　I　said；　and　exchanged　a　quick　look　with　Jacob。　Even　if　he　couldn't　help　but　think　
about　this　near　Edward；　at　least　there　wasn't　much　for　him　to　share。　He　had　no　idea　what　I　was　up　to。　

Of　course；　I　thought　to　myself　as　I　got　into　the　car；　it　wasn't　like　I　had　much　idea；　either。　

The　roads　were　slick　and　dark；　but　driving　didn't　intimidate　me　anymore。　My　reflexes　were　well　up　to　
the　job；　and　I　barely　paid　attention　to　the　road。　The　problem　was　keeping　my　speed　from　attracting　
attention　when　I　had　pany。　I　wanted　to　be　done　with　today's　mission；　to　have　the　mystery　sorted　out　
so　that　I　could　get　back　to　the　vital　task　of　learning。　Learning　to　protect　some；　learning　to　kill　others。　

I　was　getting　better　and　better　with　my　shield。　Kate　didn't　feel　the　need　to　motivate　me　anymore—it　



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wasn't　hard　to　find　reasons　to　feel　angry；　now　that　I　knew　that　was　the　key—and　so　I　mostly　worked　
with　Zafrina。　She　was　

pleased　with　my　extension；　I　was　able　to　cover　almost　a　tenfoot　area　for　more　than　a　minute；　though　it　
exhausted　me。　This　morning　she'd　been　trying　to　find　out　if　I　could　push　the　shield　away　from　my　mind　
altogether。　I　didn't　see　what　the　use　of　that　would　be；　but　Zafrina　thought　it　would　help　strengthen　me；　
like　exercising　muscles　in　the　stomach　and　back　rather　than　just　the　arms。　Eventually；　you　could　lift　more　
weight　when　all　the　muscles　were　stronger。　

I　wasn't　very　good　at　it。　I　had　only　gotten　one　glimpse　of　the　jungle　river　she　was　trying　to　show　me。　

But　there　were　different　ways　to　prepare　for　what　was　ing；　and　with　only　two　weeks　left；　I　worried　
that　I　might　be　neglecting　the　most　important。　Today　I　would　rectify　that　oversight。　

I'd　memorized　the　appropriate　maps；　and　I　had　no　problem　finding　my　way　to　the　address　that　didn't　
exist　online；　the　one　for　J。　Jenks。　My　next　step　would　be　Jason　Jenks　at　the　other　address；　the　one　Alice　
had　not　given　me。　

To　say　that　it　wasn't　a　nice　neighborhood　would　be　an　understatement。　The　most　nondescript　of　all　the　
Cullens'　cars　was　still　outrageous　on　this　street。　My　old　Chevy　would　have　looked　healthy　here。　During　
my　human　years；　I　would　have　locked　the　doors　and　driven　away　as　fast　as　I　dared。　As　it　was；　I　was　a　
little　fascinated。　I　tried　to　imagine　Alice　in　this　place　for　any　reason；　and　failed。　

The　buildings—all　three　stories；　all　narrow；　all　leaning　slightly　as　if　bowed　by　the　pounding　rain—were　
mostly　old　houses　divided　up　into　multiple　apartments。　It　was　hard　to　tell　what　color　the　peeling　paint　was　
supposed　to　be。　Everything　had　faded　to　shades　of　gray。　A　few　of　the　buildings　had　businesses　on　the　
first　floor：　a　dirty　bar　with　the　windows　painted　black；　a　psychic's　supply　store　with　neon　hands　and　tarot　
cards　glowing　fitfully　on　the　door；　a　tattoo　parlor；　and　a　daycare　with　duct　tape　holding　the　broken　front　
window　together。　There　were　no　lamps　on　inside　any　of　the　rooms；　though　it　was　grim　enough　outside　
that　the　humans　should　have　needed　the　light。　I　could　hear　the　low　mumbling　of　voices　in　the　distance；　it　
sounded　like　TV。　

There　were　a　few　people　about；　two　shuffling　through　the　rain　in　opposite　directions　and　one　sitting　on　
the　shallow　porch　of　a　boardedup　cutrate　law　office；　reading　a　wet　newspaper　and　whistling。　The　
sound　was　much　too　cheerful　for　the　setting。　

I　was　so　bemused　by　the　carefree　whistler；　I　didn't　realize　at　first　that　the　abandoned　building　was　right　
where　the　address　I　was　looking　for　should　exist。　There　were　no　numbers　on　the　dilapidated　place；　but　
the　tattoo　parlor　beside　it　was　just　two　numbers　off。　

I　pulled　up　to　the　curb　and　idled　for　a　second。　I　was　getting　into　that　dump　one　way　or　another；　but　how　
to　do　so　without　the　whistler　noticing　me？　I　could　park　the　next　street　over　and　e　through　the　back。。。。　
There　might　be　more　witnesses　on　that　side。　Maybe　the　rooftops？　Was　it　dark　enough　for　that　kind　of　
thing？　

〃Hey；　lady；〃　the　whistler　called　to　me。　

I　rolled　the　passenger　window　down　as　if　I　couldn't　hear　him。　

The　man　laid　his　paper　aside；　and　his　clothes　surprised　me；　now　that　I　could　see　them。　Under　his　long　
ragged　duster；　he　was　a　little　too　well　dressed。　There　was　no　breeze　to　give　me　the　scent；　but　the　sheen　



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on　his　dark　red　shirt　looked　like　silk。　His　crinkly　black　hair　was　tangled　and　wild；　but　his　dark　skin　was　
smooth　and　perfect；　his　teeth　white　and　straight。　A　contradiction。　

〃Maybe　you　shouldn't　park　that　car　there；　lady；〃　he　said。　〃It　might　not　be　here　when　you　get　back。〃　

〃Thanks　for　the　warning；〃　I　said。　

I　shut　off　the　engine　and　got　out。　Perhaps　my　whistling　friend　could　give　me　the　answers　I　needed　faster　
than　breaking　and　entering。　I　opened　my　big　gray　umbrella—not　that　I　cared；　really；　about　protecting　the　
long　cashmere　sweaterdress　I　wore。　It　was　what　a　human　would　do。　

The　man　squinted　through　the　rain　at　my　face；　and　then　his　eyes　widened。　He　swallowed；　and　I　heard　his　
heart　accelerate　as　I　approached。　

Tm　looking　for　someone；〃　I　began。　

〃I'm　someone；〃　he　offered　with　a　smile。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　beautiful？〃　

〃Are　you　J。　Jenks？〃　I　asked。　

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　and　his　expression　changed　from　anticipation　to　understanding。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　
examined　me　with　narrowed　eyes。　〃Why're　you　looking　for　J？〃　

〃That's　my　business。〃　Besides；　I　didn't　have　a　clue。　〃Are　you　J？〃　

〃No。〃　

We　faced　each　other　for　a　long　moment　while　his　sharp　eyes　ran　up　and　down　the　fitted　pearl　gray　
sheath　I　wore。　His　gaze　finally　made　it　to　my　face。　〃You　don't　look　like　the　usual　customer。〃　

〃I'm　probably　not　the　usual；〃　I　admitted。　〃But　I　do　need　to　see　him　as　soon　as　possible。〃　

〃I'm　not　sure　what　to　do；〃　he　admitted。　

〃Why　don't　you　tell　me　your　name？〃　

He　grinned。　〃Max。〃　

〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Max。　Now；　why　don't　you　tell　me　what　you　do　for　the　usual？〃　

His　grin　became　a　frown。　〃Well；　J's　usual　clients　don't　look　a　thing　like　you。　Your　kind　doesn't　bother　
with　the　downtown　office。　You　just　go　straight　up　to　his　fancy　office　in　the　skyscraper。〃　

I　repeated　the　other　address　I　had；　making　the　list　of　numbers　a　question。　

〃Yeah；　that's　the　place；〃　he　said；　suspicious　again。　〃How　e　you　didn't　go　there？〃　

〃This　was　the　address　I　was　given—by　a　very　dependable　source。〃　

〃If　you　were　up　to　any　good；　you　wouldn't　be　here。〃　




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