4 breaking dawn破晓-第68部分

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〃Impossible；〃　Caius　scoffed。　

〃Do　you　think　they've　fooled　me；　then；　brother？〃　Aro's　expression　was　greatly　amused；　but　Caius　
flinched。　〃Is　the　heartbeat　you　hear　a　trickery　as　well？〃　

Caius　scowled；　looking　as　chagrined　as　if　Aro's　gentle　questions　had　been　blows。　

〃Calmly　and　carefully；　brother；〃　Aro　cautioned；　still　smiling　at　Renesmee。　〃I　know　well　how　you　love　
your　justice；　but　there　is　no　justice　in　acting　against　this　unique　little　one　for　her　parentage。　And　so　much　
to　learn；　so　much　to　learn！　I　know　you　don't　have　my　enthusiasm　for　collecting　histories；　but　be　tolerant　
with　me；　brother；　as　I　add　a　chapter　that　stuns　me　with　its　improbability。　We　came　expecting　only　justice　
and　the　sadness　of　false　friends；　but　look　what　we　have　gained　instead！　A　new；　bright　knowledge　of　
ourselves；　our　possibilities。〃　

He　held　out　his　hand　to　Renesmee　in　invitation。　But　this　was　not　what　she　wanted。　She　leaned　away　from　
me；　stretching　upward；　to　touch　her　fingertips　to　Aro's　face。　

Aro　did　not　react　with　shock　as　almost　everyone　else　had　reacted　to　this　performance　from　Renesmee；　
he　was　as　used　to　the　flow　of　thought　and　memory　from　other　minds　as　Edward　was。　

His　smile　widened；　and　he　sighed　in　satisfaction。　〃Brilliant；〃　he　whispered。　

Renesmee　relaxed　back　into　my　arms；　her　little　face　very　serious。　

〃Please？〃　she　asked　him。　

His　smile　turned　gentle。　〃Of　course　I　have　no　desire　to　harm　your　loved　ones；　precious　Renesmee。〃　

Aro's　voice　was　so　forting　and　affectionate；　it　took　me　in　for　a　second。　And　then　I　heard　Edward's　
teeth　grind　together　and；　far　behind　us；　Maggie's　outraged　hiss　at　the　lie。　

〃I　wonder；〃　Aro　said　thoughtfully；　seeming　unaware　of　the　reaction　to　his　previous　words。　His　eyes　
moved　unexpectedly　to　Jacob；　and　instead　of　the　disgust　the　other　Volturi　viewed　the　giant　wolf　with；　
Aro's　eyes　were　filled　with　a　longing　that　I　did　not　prehend。　

〃It　doesn't　work　that　way；〃　Edward　said；　the　careful　neutrality　gone　from　his　suddenly　harsh　tone。　

〃Just　an　errant　thought；〃　Aro　said；　appraising　Jacob　openly；　and　then　his　eyes　moved　slowly　across　the　
two　lines　of　werewolves　behind　us。　Whatever　Renesmee　had　shown　him；　it　made　the　wolves　suddenly　
interesting　to　him。　

〃They　don't　belong　to　us；　Aro。　They　don't　follow　our　mands　that　way。　They're　here　because　they　
want　to　be。〃　

Jacob　growled　menacingly。　

〃They　seem　quite　attached　to　you；　though；〃　Aro　said。　〃And　your　young　mate　and　your。。。　family。　Loyal〃　
His　voice　caressed　the　word　softly。　

〃They're　mitted　to　protecting　human　life；　Aro。　That　makes　them　able　to　coexist　with　us；　but　hardly　



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with　you。　Unless　you're　rethinking　your　lifestyle。〃　

Aro　laughed　merrily。　〃Just　an　errant　thought；〃　he　repeated。　〃You　well　know　how　that　is。　We　none　of　us　
can　

entirely　control　our　subconscious　desires。〃　

Edward　grimaced。　〃I　do　know　how　that　is。　And　I　also　know　the　difference　between　that　kind　of　thought　
and　the　kind　with　a　purpose　behind　it。　It　could　never　work；　Aro。〃　

Jacob's　vast　head　turned　in　Edward's　direction；　and　a　faint　whine　slipped　from　between　his　teeth。　

〃He's　intrigued　with　the　idea　of。。。　guard　dogs；〃　Edward　murmured　back。　

There　was　one　second　of　dead　silence；　and　then　the　sound　of　the　furious　snarls　ripping　from　the　entire　
pack　filled　the　giant　clearing。　

There　was　a　sharp　bark　of　mand—from　Sam；　I　guessed；　though　I　didn't　turn　to　look—and　the　
plaint　broke　off　into　ominous　quiet。　

〃I　suppose　that　answers　that　question；〃　Aro　said；　laughing　again。　〃This　lot　has　picked　its　side。〃　

Edward　hissed　and　leaned　forward。　I　clutched　at　his　arm；　wondering　what　could　be　in　Aro's　thoughts　
that　would　make　him　react　so　violently；　while　Felix　and　Demetri　slipped　into　crouches　in　synchronization。　
Aro　waved　them　off　again。　They　all　returned　to　their　former　posture；　Edward　included。　

〃So　much　to　discuss；〃　Aro　said；　his　tone　suddenly　that　of　an　inundated　businessman。　〃So　much　to　
decide。　If　you　and　your　furry　protector　will　excuse　me；　my　dear　Cullens；　I　must　confer　with　my　brothers。〃　

37。　CONTRIVANCES　

Aro　did　not　rejoin　his　anxious　guard　waiting　on　the　north　side　of　the　clearing；　instead；　he　waved　them　
forward。　

Edward　started　backing　up　immediately；　pulling　my　arm　and　Emmett's。　We　hurried　backward；　keeping　
our　eyes　on　the　advancing　threat。　Jacob　retreated　slowest；　the　fur　on　his　shoulders　standing　straight　up　as　
he　bared　his　fangs　at　Aro。　Renesmee　grabbed　the　end　of　his　tail　as　we　retreated；　she　held　it　like　a　leash；　
forcing　him　to　stay　with　us。　We　reached　our　family　at　the　same　time　that　the　dark　cloaks　surrounded　Aro　
again。　

Now　there　were　only　fifty　yards　between　them　and　us—a　distance　any　of　us　could　leap　in　just　a　fraction　
of　a　second。　

Caius　began　arguing　with　Aro　at　once。　

〃How　can　you　abide　this　infamy？　Why　do　we　stand　here　impotently　in　the　face　of　such　an　outrageous　
crime；　covered　by　such　a　ridiculous　deception？〃　He　held　his　arms　rigidly　at　his　sides；　his　hands　curled　into　
claws。　I　wondered　why　he　did　not　just　touch　Aro　to　share　his　opinion。　Were　we　seeing　a　division　in　their　
ranks　already？　Could　we　be　that　lucky？　

〃Because　it's　all　true；〃　Aro　told　him　calmly。　〃Every　word　of　it。　See　how　many　witnesses　stand　ready　to　



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give　evidence　that　they　have　seen　this　miraculous　child　grow　and　mature　in　just　the　short　time　they've　
known　her。　That　they　have　felt　the　warmth　of　the　blood　that　pulses　in　her　veins。〃　Aro's　gesture　swept　
from　Amun　on　one　side　across　to　Siobhan　on　the　other。　

Caius　reacted　oddly　to　Aro's　soothing　words；　starting　ever　so　slightly　at　the　mention　of　witnesses。　The　
anger　drained　from　his　features；　replaced　by　a　cold　calculation。　He　glanced　at　the　Volturi　witnesses　with　
an　expression　that　looked　vaguely。。。　nervous。　

I　glanced　at　the　angry　mob；　too；　and　saw　immediately　that　the　description　no　longer　applied。　The　frenzy　
for　action　had　turned　to　confusion。　Whispered　conversations　seethed　through　the　crowd　as　they　tried　to　
make　sense　of　

what　had　happened。　

Caius　was　frowning；　deep　in　thought。　His　speculative　expression　stoked　the　flames　of　my　smoldering　
anger　at　the　same　time　that　it　worried　me。　What　if　the　guard　acted　again　on　some　invisible　signal；　as　they　
had　in　their　march？　Anxiously；　I　inspected　my　shield；　it　felt　just　as　imperable　as　before。　I　flexed　it　now　
into　a　low；　wide　dome　that　arced　over　our　pany。　

I　could　feel　the　sharp　plumes　of　light　where　my　family　and　friends　stood—each　one　an　individual　flavor　
that　I　thought　I　would　be　able　to　recognize　with　practice。　I　already　knew　Edward's—his　was　the　very　
brightest　of　them　all。　The　extra　empty　space　around　the　shining　spots　bothered　me；　there　was　no　physical　
barrier　to　the　shield；　and　if　any　of　the　talented　Volturi　got　under　it；　it　would　protect　no　one　but　me。　I　felt　
my　forehead　crease　as　I　pulled　the　elastic　armor　very　carefully　closer。　Carlisle　was　the　farthest　forward；　I　
sucked　the　shield　back　inch　by　inch；　trying　to　wrap　it　as　exactly　to　his　body　as　I　could。　

My　shield　seemed　to　want　to　cooperate。　It　hugged　his　shape；　when　Carlisle　shifted　to　the　side　to　stand　
nearer　to　Tanya；　the　elastic　stretched　with　him；　drawn　to　his　spark。　

Fascinated；　I　tugged　in　more　threads　of　the　fabric；　pulling　it　around　each　glimmering　shape　that　was　a　
friend　or　ally。　The　shield　clung　to　them　willingly；　moving　as　they　moved。　

Only　a　second　had　passed；　Caius　was　still　deliberating。　

〃The　werewolves；〃　he　murmured　at　last。　

With　sudden　panic；　1　realized　that　most　of　the　werewolves　were　unprotected。　I　was　about　to　reach　out　
to　them　when　I　realize　that；　strangely；　I　could　still　feel　their　sparks。　Curious；　I　drew　the　shield　tighter　in；　
until　Amun　and　Kebi—the　farthest　edge　of　our　group—were　outside　with　the　wolves。　Once　they　were　on　
the　other　side；　their　lights　vanished。　They　no　longer　existed　to　that　new　sense。　But　the　wolves　were　still　
bright　flames—or　rather；　half　of　them　were。　Hmm。。。　I　edged　outward　again；　and　as　soon　as　Sam　was　
under　cover；　all　the　wolves　were　brilliant　sparks　again。　

Their　minds　must　have　been　more　interconnected　than　I'd　imagined。　If　the　Alpha　was　inside　my　shield；　
the　rest　of　their　minds　were　every　bit　as　protected　as　his。　

〃Ah；　brother。。。；〃　Aro　answered　Caius's　statement　with　a　pained　look。　

〃Will　you　defend　that　alliance；　too；　Aro？〃　Caius　demanded。　〃The　Children　of　the　Moon　have　been　our　
bitter　enemies　from　the　dawn　of　time。　We　have　hunted　them　to　near　extinction　in　Europe　and　Asia。　Yet　
Carlisle　encourages　a　familiar　relationship　with　this　enormous　infestation—no　doubt　in　an　attempt　to　



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overthrow　us。　The　better　to　protect　his　warped　lifestyle。〃　

Edward　cleared　his　throat　loudly　and　Caius　glared　at　him。　Aro　placed　one　thin；　delicate　hand　over　his　
own　face　as　if　he　was　embarrassed　for　the　other　ancient。　

〃Caius；　it's　the　middle　of　the　day；〃　Edward　pointed　out。　He　gestured　to　Jacob。　〃These　are　not　Children　
of　the　Moon；　clearly。　They　bear　no　relation　to　your　enemies　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。〃　

〃You　breed　mutants　here；〃　Caius　spit　back　at　him。　

Edward's　jaw　clenched　and　unclenched；　then　he　answered　evenly；　〃They　aren't　even　werewolves。　Aro　
can　tell　you　all　about　it　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃　

Not　werewolves？　I　shot　a　mystified　look　at　Jacob。　He　lifted　his　huge　shoulders　and　let　them　drop—a　
shrug。　He　didn't　know　what　Edward　was　talking　about；　either。　

〃Dear　Caius；　I　would　have　warned　you　not　to　press　this　point　if　you　had　told　me　your　thoughts；〃　Aro　
murmured。　〃Though　the　creatures　think　of　themselves　as　werewolves；　they　are　not。　The　more　accurate　
name　for　them　would　be　shapeshifters。　The　choice　of　a　wolf　form　was　purely　chance。　It　could　have　been　
a　bear　or　a　hawk　or　a　panther　when　the　first　change　was　made。　These　creatures　truly　have　nothing　to　do　
with　the　Children　of　the　Moon。　They　have　merely　inherited　this　skill　from　their　fathers。　It's　geic—they　
do　not　continue　their　species　by　infecting　others　the　way　true　werewolves　do。〃　

Caius　glared　at　Aro　with　irritation　and　something　more—an　accusation　of　betrayal；　maybe。　

〃They　know　our　secret；〃　he　said　flatly。　

Edward　looked　about　to　answer　this　accusation；　but　Aro　spoke　faster。　〃They　are　creatures　of　our　
supernatural　world；　brother。　Perhaps　even　more　dependent　upon　secrecy　than　we　are；　they　can　hardly　
expose　us。　Carefully；　Caius。　Specious　allegations　get　us　nowhere。〃　

Caius　took　a　deep　breath　and　nodded。　They　exchanged　a　long；　significant　glance。　

I　thought　I　understood　the　instruction　behind　Aro's　careful　wording。　False　charges　weren't　helping　
convince　the　watching　witnesses　on　either　side；　Aro　was　cautioning　Caius　to　move　on　to　the　next　
strategy。　I　wondered　if　the　reason　behind　the　apparent　strain　between　the　two　ancients—Caius's　
unwillingness　to　share　his　thoughts　with　a　touch—was　that　Caius　didn't　care　about　the　show　as　much　as　
Aro　did。　If　the　ing　slaughter　was　so　much　more　essential　to　Caius　than　an　untarnished　reputation。　

〃I　want　to　talk　to　the　informant；〃　Caius　announced　abruptly；　and　turned　his　glare　on　Irina。　

Irina　wasn't　paying　attention　to　Caius　and　Aro's　conversation；　her　face　was　twisted　in　agony；　her　eyes　
locked　on　her　sisters；　lined　up　to　die。　It　was　clear　on　her　face　that　she　knew　now　her　accusation　had　
been　totally　false。　

〃Irina；〃　Caius　barked；　unhappy　to　have　to　address　her。　

She　looked　up；　startled　and　instantly　afraid。　

Caius　snapped　his　fingers。　




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Hesitantly；　she　moved　from　the　fringes　of　the　Volturi　formation　to　stand　in　front　of　Caius　again。　

〃So　you　appear　to　have　been　quite　mistaken　in　your　allegations；〃　Caius　began。　

Tanya　and　Kate　leaned　forward　anxiously。　

〃I'm　sorry；〃　Irina　whispered。　〃I　should　have　made　sure　of　what　I　was　seeing。　But　I　had　no　idea___〃　She　
gestured　

helplessly　in　our　direction。　

〃Dear　Caius；　could　you　expect　her　to　have　guessed　in　an　instant　something　so　strange　and　impossible？〃　
Aro　asked。　〃Any　of　us　would　have　made　the　same　assumption。〃　

Caius　flicked　his　fingers　at　Aro　to　silence　him。　

〃We　all　know　you　made　a　mistake；〃　he　said　brusquely。　〃I　meant　to　speak　of　your　motivations。〃　

Irina　waited　nervously　for　him　to　continue；　and　then　repeated；　〃My　motivations？〃　

〃Yes；　for　ing　to　spy　on　them　in　the　first　place。〃　

Irina　flinched　at　the　word　spy。　

〃You　were　unhappy　with　the　Cullens；　were　you　not？〃　

She　turned　her　miserable　eyes　to　Carlisle's　face。　〃I　was；〃　she　admitted。　

〃Because。。。　？〃　Caius　prompted。　

〃Because　the　werewolves　killed　my　friend；〃　she　whispered。　〃And　the　Cullens　wouldn't　stand　aside　to　let　
me　avenge　him。〃　

〃The　shapeshifters；〃　Aro　corrected　quietly。　

〃So　the　Cullens　sided　with　the　shapeshifters　against　our　own　kind—against　the　friend　of　a　friend；　
even；〃　Caius　summarized。　

I　heard　Edward　make　a　disgusted　sound　under　his　breath。　Caius　was　ticking　down　his　list；　looking　for　an　
accusation　that　would　stick。　

Irina's　shoulders　stiffened。　〃That's　how　I　saw　it。〃　

Caius　waited　again　and　then　prompted；　〃If　you'd　like　to　make　a　formal　plaint　against　the　
shapeshifters—and　the　Cullens　for　supporting　their　actions—now　would　be　the　time。〃　He　smiled　a　tiny　
cruel　smile；　waiting　for　Irina　to　give　him　his　next　excuse。　

Maybe　Caius　didn't　understand　real　families—relationships　based　on　love　rather　than　just　the　love　of　
power。　Maybe　he　overestimated　the　potency　of　vengeance。　

Irina's　jaw　jerked　up；　her　shoulders　squared。　



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〃No；　I　have　no　plaint　against　the　wolves；　or　the　Cullens。　You　came　here　today　to　destroy　an　
immortal　child。　No　immortal　child　exists。　This　was　my　mistake；　and　I　take　full　responsibility　for　it。　But　the　
Cullens　are　innocent；　and　you　have　no　reason　to　still　be　here。　I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　said　to　us；　and　then　she　
turned　her　face　toward　the　Volturi　witnesses。　〃There　was　no　crime。　There's　no　valid　reason　for　you　to　
continue　here。〃　

Caius　raised　his　hand　as　she　spoke；　and　in　it　was　a　strange　metal　object；　carved　and　ornate。　

This　was　a　signal。　The　response　was　so　fast　that　we　all　stared　in　stunned　disbelief　while　it　happened。　
Before　there　was　time　to　react；　it　was　over。　

Three　of　the　Volturi　soldiers　leaped　forward；　and　Irina　was　pletely　obscured　by　their　gray　cloaks。　In　
the　same　instant；　a　horrible　metallic　screeching　ripped　through　the　clearing。　Caius　slithered　into　the　center　
of　the　gray　melee；　and　the　shocking　squealing　sound　exploded　into　a　startling　upward　shower　of　sparks　
and　tongues　of　flame。　The　soldiers　leaped　back　from　the　sudden　inferno；　immediately　retaking　their　
places　in　the　guard's　perfectly　straight　line。　

Caius　stood　alone　beside　the　blazing　remains　of　Irina；　the　metal　object　in　his　hand　still　throwing　a　thick　
jet　of　flame　into　the　pyre。