4 breaking dawn破晓-第72部分

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〃Joham；〃　Nahuel　answered。　〃He　considers　himself　a　scientist。　He　thinks　he's　creating　a　new　superrace。〃　
He　made　no　attempt　to　disguise　the　disgust　in　his　tone。　

Caius　looked　at　me。　〃Your　daughter；　is　she　venomous？〃　he　demanded　harshly。　

〃No；〃　I　responded。　Nahuel's　head　snapped　up　at　Aro's　question；　and　his　teak　eyes　turned　to　bore　into　
my　face。　




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Caius　looked　to　Aro　for　confirmation；　but　Aro　was　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts。　He　pursed　his　lips　and　
stared　at　Carlisle；　and　then　Edward；　and　at　last　his　eyes　rested　on　me。　

Caius　growled。　〃We　take　care　of　the　aberration　here；　and　then　follow　it　south；〃　he　urged　Aro。　

Aro　stared　into　my　eyes　for　a　long；　tense　moment。　I　had　no　idea　what　he　was　searching　for；　or　what　he　
found；　but　after　he　had　measured　me　for　that　moment；　something　in　his　face　changed；　a　faint　shift　in　the　
set　of　his　mouth　and　eyes；　and　I　knew　that　Aro　had　made　his　decision。　

〃Brother；〃　he　said　softly　to　Caius。　〃There　appears　to　be　no　danger。　This　is　an　unusual　development；　but　I　
see　no　threat。　These　halfvampire　children　are　much　like　us；　it　appears。〃　

〃Is　that　your　vote？〃　Caius　demanded。　

〃It　is。〃　

Caius　scowled。　〃And　this　Joham？　This　immortal　so　fond　of　experimentation？〃　

〃Perhaps　we　should　speak　with　him；〃　Aro　agreed。　

〃Stop　Joham　if　you　will；〃　Nahuel　said　flatly。　〃But　leave　my　sisters　be。　They　are　innocent。〃　

Aro　nodded；　his　expression　solemn。　And　then　he　turned　back　to　his　guard　with　a　warm　smile。　

〃Dear　ones；〃　he　called。　〃We　do　not　fight　today。〃　

The　guard　nodded　in　unison　and　straightened　out　of　their　ready　positions。　The　mist　dissipated　swiftly；　but　
I　held　my　shield　in　place。　Maybe　this　was　another　trick。　

I　analyzed　their　expressions　as　Aro　turned　back　to　us。　His　face　was　as　benign　as　ever；　but　unlike　before；　
I　sensed　a　strange　blankness　behind　the　fagade。　As　if　his　scheming　was　over。　Caius　was　clearly　incensed；　
but　his　rage　was　turned　inward　now；　he　was　resigned。　Marcus　looked。。。　bored；　there　really　was　no　other　
word　for　it。　The　guard　was　impassive　and　disciplined　again；　there　were　no　individuals　among　them；　just　
the　whole。　They　were　in　formation；　ready　to　depart。　The　Volturi　witnesses　were　still　wary；　one　after　
another；　they　departed；　scattering　into　the　woods。　As　their　numbers　dwindled；　the　remaining　sped　up。　
Soon　they　were　all　gone。　

Aro　held　his　hands　out　to　us；　almost　apologetic。　Behind　him；　the　larger　part　of　the　guard；　along　with　
Caius；　Marcus；　and　the　silent；　mysterious　wives；　were　already　drifting　quickly　away；　their　formation　
precise　once　again。　Only　the　three　that　seemed　to　be　his　personal　guardians　lingered　with　him。　

〃I'm　so　glad　this　could　be　resolved　without　violence；〃　he　said　sweetly。　〃My　friend；　Carlisle—how　
pleased　I　am　to　call　you　friend　again！　I　hope　there　are　no　hard　feelings。　I　know　you　understand　the　strict　
burden　that　our　duty　places　on　our　shoulders。〃　

〃Leave　in　peace；　Aro；〃　Carlisle　said　stiffly。　〃Please　remember　that　we　still　have　our　anonymity　to　protect　
here；　and　keep　your　guard　from　hunting　in　this　region。〃　

〃Of　course；　Carlisle；〃　Aro　assured　him。　〃I　am　sorry　to　earn　your　disapproval；　my　dear　friend。　Perhaps；　in　
time；　you　will　forgive　me。〃　




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〃Perhaps；　in　time；　if　you　prove　a　friend　to　us　again。〃　

Aro　bowed　his　head；　the　picture　of　remorse；　and　drifted　backward　for　a　moment　before　he　turned　
around。　We　watched　in　silence　as　the　last　four　Volturi　disappeared　into　the　trees。　

It　was　very　quiet。　I　did　not　drop　my　shield。　

〃Is　it　really　over？〃　I　whispered　to　Edward。　

His　smile　was　huge。　〃Yes。　They've　given　up。　Like　all　bullies；　they're　cowards　underneath　the　
swagger。'7He　chuckled。　

Alice　laughed　with　him。　〃Seriously；　people。　They're　not　ing　back。　Everybody　can　relax　now。〃　

There　was　another　beat　of　silence。　

〃Of　all　the　rotten　luck；〃　Stefan　muttered。　

And　then　it　hit。　

Cheers　erupted。　Deafening　howls　filled　the　clearing。　Maggie　pounded　Siobhan　on　the　back。　Rosalie　and　
Emmett　kissed　again—longer　and　more　ardently　than　before。　Benjamin　and　Tia　were　locked　in　each　
other's　arms；　as　were　Carmen　and　Eleazar。　Esme　held　Alice　and　Jasper　in　a　tight　embrace。　Carlisle　was　
warmly　thanking　the　South　American　newers　who　had　saved　us　all。　Kachin　stood　very　close　to　
Zafrina　and　Senna；　their　fingertips　interlocked。　Garrett　picked　Kate　up　off　the　ground　and　swung　her　
around　in　a　circle。　

Stefan　spit　on　the　snow。　Vladimir　ground　his　teeth　together　with　a　sour　expression。　

And　I　halfclimbed　the　giant　russet　wolf　to　rip　my　daughter　off　his　back　and　then　crushed　her　to　my　
chest。　Edward's　arms　were　around　us　in　the　same　second。　

〃Nessie；　Nessie；　Nessie；〃　I　crooned。　

Jacob　laughed　his　big；　barky　laugh　and　poked　the　back　of　my　head　with　his　nose。　

〃Shut　up；〃　I　mumbled。　

〃I　get　to　stay　with　you？〃　Nessie　demanded。　

〃Forever；〃　I　promised　her。　

We　had　forever。　And　Nessie　was　going　to　be　fine　and　healthy　and　strong。　Like　the　halfhuman　Nahuel；　
in　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　she　would　still　be　young。　And　we　would　all　be　together。　

Happiness　expanded　like　an　explosion　inside　me—so　extreme；　so　violent　that　I　wasn't　sure　I'd　survive　it。　

〃Forever；〃　Edward　echoed　in　my　ear。　

I　couldn't　speak　anymore。　I　lifted　my　head　and　kissed　him　with　a　passion　that　might　possibly　set　the　
forest　on　fire。　



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I　wouldn't　have　noticed。　

39。　THE　HAPPILY　EVER　AFTER　

〃So　it　was　a　bination　of　things　there　at　the　end；　but　what　it　really　boiled　down　to　was。。。　Bella；〃　
Edward　was　explaining。　Our　family　and　our　two　remaining　guests　sat　in　the　Cullens'　great　room　while　the　
forest　turned　black　outside　the　tall　windows。　

Vladimir　and　Stefan　had　vanished　before　we'd　stopped　celebrating。　They　were　extremely　disappointed　
in　the　way　things　had　turned　out；　but　Edward　said　that　they'd　enjoyed　the　Volturi's　cowardice　almost　
enough　to　make　up　for　their　frustration。　

Benjamin　and　Tia　were　quick　to　follow　after　Amun　and　Kebi；　anxious　to　let　them　know　the　oute　of　
the　conflict；　I　was　sure　we　would　see　them　again—Benjamin　and　Tia；　at　least。　None　of　the　nomads　
lingered。　Peter　and　Charlotte　had　a　short　conversation　with　Jasper；　and　then　they　were　gone；　too。　

The　reunited　Amazons　had　been　anxious　to　return　home　as　well—they　had　a　difficult　time　being　away　
from　their　beloved　rain　forest—though　they　were　more　reluctant　to　leave　than　some　of　the　others。　

〃You　must　bring　the　child　to　see　me；〃　Zafrina　had　insisted。　〃Promise　me；　young　one。〃　

Nessie　had　pressed　her　hand　to　my　neck；　pleading　as　well。　

〃Of　course；　Zafrina；〃　I'd　agreed。　

〃We　shall　be　great　friends；　my　Nessie；〃　the　wild　woman　had　declared　before　leaving　with　her　sisters。　

The　Irish　coven　continued　the　exodus。　

〃Well　done；　Siobhan；〃　Carlisle　plimented　her　as　they　said　goodbye。　

〃Ah；　the　power　of　wishful　thinking；〃　she　answered　sarcastically；　rolling　her　eyes。　And　then　she　was　
serious。　〃Of　course；　this　isn't　over。　The　Volturi　won't　forgive　what　happened　here。〃　

Edward　was　the　one　to　answer　that。　〃They've　been　seriously　shaken；　their　confidence　is　shattered。　But；　
yes；　I'm　sure　they'll　recover　from　the　blow　someday。　And　then　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　tightened。　〃I　imagine　they'll　
try　to　pick　us　off　

separately。〃　

〃Alice　will　warn　us　when　they　intend　to　strike；〃　Siobhan　said　in　a　sure　voice。　〃And　we'll　gather　again。　
Perhaps　the　time　will　e　when　our　world　is　ready　to　be　free　of　the　Volturi　altogether。〃　

〃That　time　may　e；〃　Carlisle　replied。　〃If　it　does；　we'll　stand　together。〃　

〃Yes；　my　friend；　we　will；〃　Siobhan　agreed。　〃And　how　can　we　fail；　when　will　it　otherwise？〃　She　let　out　a　
great　peal　of　laughter。　

〃Exactly；〃　Carlisle　said。　He　and　Siobhan　embraced；　and　then　he　shook　Liam's　hand。　〃Try　to　find　Alistair　
and　tell　him　what　happened。　I'd　hate　to　think　of　him　hiding　under　a　rock　for　the　next　decade。〃　



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Siobhan　laughed　again。　Maggie　hugged　both　Nessie　and　me；　and　then　the　Irish　coven　was　gone。　

The　Denalis　were　the　last　to　leave；　Garrett　with　them—as　he　would　be　from　now　on；　I　was　fairly　sure。　
The　atmosphere　of　celebration　was　too　much　for　Tanya　and　Kate。　They　needed　time　to　grieve　for　their　
lost　sister。　

Huilen　and　Nahuel　were　the　ones　who　stayed；　though　I　had　expected　those　last　two　to　go　back　with　the　
Amazons。　Carlisle　was　deep　in　fascinated　conversation　with　Huilen；　Nahuel　sat　close　beside　her；　listening　
while　Edward　told　the　rest　of　us　the　story　of　the　conflict　as　only　he　knew　it。　

〃Alice　gave　Aro　the　excuse　he　needed　to　get　out　of　the　fight。　If　he　hadn't　been　so　terrified　of　Bella；　he　
probably　would　have　gone　ahead　with　their　original　plan。〃　

〃Terrified？〃　I　said　skeptically。　〃Of　me？〃　

He　smiled　at　me　with　a　look　I　didn't　entirely　recognize—it　was　tender；　but　also　awed　and　even　
exasperated。　〃When　will　you　ever　see　yourself　clearly？〃　he　said　softly。　Then　he　spoke　louder；　to　the　
others　as　well　as　to　me。　〃The　Volturi　haven't　fought　a　fair　fight　in　about　twentyfive　hundred　years。　And　
they've　never；　never　fought　one　where　they　were　at　a　disadvantage。　Especially　since　they　gained　Jane　and　
Alec；　they've　only　been　involved　with　unopposed　slaughterings。　

〃You　should　have　seen　how　we　looked　to　them！　Usually；　Alec　cuts　off　all　sense　and　feeling　from　their　
victims　while　they　go　through　the　charade　of　a　counsel。　That　way；　no　one　can　run　when　the　verdict　is　
given。　But　there　we　stood；　ready；　waiting；　outnumbering　them；　with　gifts　of　our　own　while　their　gifts　were　
rendered　useless　by　Bella。　Aro　knew　that　with　Zafrina　on　our　side；　they　would　be　the　blind　ones　when　
the　battle　menced。　I'm　sure　our　numbers　would　have　been　pretty　severely　decimated；　but　they　were　
sure　that　theirs　would　be；　too。　There　was　even　a　good　possibility　that　they　would　lose。　They've　never　
dealt　with　that　possibility　before。　They　didn't　deal　with　it　well　today。〃　

〃Hard　to　feel　confident　when　you're　surrounded　by　horsesized　wolves；〃　Emmett　laughed；　poking　
Jacob's　arm。　

Jacob　flashed　a　grin　at　him。　

〃It　was　the　wolves　that　stopped　them　in　the　first　place；〃　I　said。　

〃Sure　was；〃　Jacob　agreed。　

〃Absolutely；〃　Edward　agreed。　〃That　was　another　sight　they've　never　seen。　The　true　Children　of　the　
Moon　rarely　move　in　packs；　and　they　are　never　much　in　control　of　themselves。　Sixteen　enormous　
regimented　wolves　was　a　surprise　they　weren't　prepared　for。　Caius　is　actually　terrified　of　werewolves。　He　
almost　lost　a　fight　with　one　a　few　

thousand　years　ago　and　never　got　over　it。〃　

〃So　there　are　real　werewolves？〃　I　asked。　〃With　the　full　moon　and　silver　bullets　and　all　that？〃　

Jacob　snorted。　〃Real。　Does　that　make　me　imaginary？〃　

〃You　know　what　I　mean。〃　



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〃Full　moon；　yes；〃　Edward　said。　〃Silver　bullets；　no—that　was　just　another　one　of　those　myths　to　make　
humans　feel　like　they　had　a　sporting　chance。　There　aren't　very　many　of　them　left。　Caius　has　had　them　
hunted　into　near　extinction。〃　

〃And　you　never　mentioned　this　because。。。　？〃　

〃It　never　came　up。〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes；　and　Alice　laughed；　leaning　forward—she　was　tucked　under　Edward's　other　arm—to　
wink　at　me。　

I　glared　back。　

I　loved　her　insanely；　of　course。　But　now　that　I'd　had　a　chance　to　realize　that　she　was　really　home；　that　
her　defection　was　only　a　ruse　because　Edward　had　to　believe　that　she'd　abandoned　us；　I　was　beginning　
to　feel　pretty　irritated　with　her。　Alice　had　some　explaining　to　do。　

Alice　sighed。　〃Just　get　it　off　your　chest；　Bella。〃　

〃How　could　you　do　that　to　me；　Alice？〃　

〃It　was　necessary。〃　

〃Necessary！〃　I　exploded。　〃You　had　me　totally　convinced　that　we　were　all　going　to　die！　I've　been　a　
wreck　for　weeks。〃　

〃It　might　have　gone　that　way；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃In　which　case　you　needed　to　be　prepared　to　save　
Nessie。〃　

Instinctively；　I　held　Nessie—asleep　now　on　my　lap—tighter　in　my　arms。　

〃But　you　knew　there　were　other　ways；　too；〃　I　accused。　〃You　knew　there　was　hope。　Did　it　ever　occur　to　
you　that　you　could　have　told　me　everything？　I　know　Edward　had　to　think　we　were　at　a　dead　end　for　
Aro's　sake；　but　you　could　have　told　me。〃　

She　looked　at　me　speculatively　for　a　moment。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　she　said。　〃You're　just　not　that　good　an　
actress。〃　

〃This　was　about　my　acting　skills？〃　

〃Oh；　take　it　down　an　octave；　Bella。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how　plicated　Ms　was　to　set　up？　I　
couldn't　even　be　sure　that　someone　like　Nahuel　existed—all　I　knew　was　that　I　would　be　looking　for　
something　I　couldn't　see！　Try　to　imagine　searching　for　a　blind　spot—not　the　easiest　thing　I've　ever　done。　
Plus　we　had　to　send　back　the　key　witnesses；　like　we　weren't　in　enough　of　a　hurry。　And　then　keeping　my　
eyes　open　all　the　time　in　case　you　decided　to　throw　me　any　more　instructions。　At　some　point　you're　going　
to　have　to　tell　me　what　exactly　is　in　Rio。　Before　any　of　that；　I　had　to　try　to　see　every　trick　the　Volturi　
might　e　in　with　and　give　you　what　few　clues　I　could　so　you　would　be　ready　for　their　strategy；　and　I　
only　had　just　a　few　hours　to　trace　out　all　the　possibilities。　Most　of　all；　I　had　to　make　sure　you'd　all　believe　
that　I　was　ditching　out　on　you；　because　Aro　had　to　be　positive　that　you　had　nothing　left　up　your　sleeves　
or　he　never　would　have　mitted　to　an　out　the　way　he　did。　And　if　you　think　I　didn't　feel　like　a　



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schmuck—〃　

〃Okay；　okay！〃　I　interrupted。　〃Sorry！　I　know　it　was　rough　for　you；　too。　It's　just　that。。。　well；　I　missed　you　
like　crazy；　Alice。　Don't　do　that　to　me　again。〃　

Alice's　trilling　laugh　rang　through　the　room；　and　we　all　smiled　to　hear　that　music　once　more。　〃I　missed　
you；　too；　Bella。　So　forgive　me；　and　try　to　be　satisfied　with　being　the　superhero　of　the　day。〃　

Everyone　else　laughed　now；　and　I　ducked　my　face　into　Nessie's　hair；　embarrassed。　

Edward　went　back　to　analyzing　every　shift　of　intention　and　control　that　had　happened　in　the　meadow　
today；　declaring　that　it　was　my　shield　that　had　made　the　Volturi　run　away　with　their　tails　between　their　
legs。　The　way　everyone　looked　at　me　made　me　unfortable。　Even　Edward。　It　was　like　I　had　grown　a　
hundred　feet　during　the　course　of　the　morning。　I　tried　to　ignore　the　impressed　looks；　mostly　keeping　my　
eyes　on　Nessie's　sleeping　face　and　Jacob's　unchanged　expression。　I　would　always　be　just　Bella　to　him；　
and　that　was　a　relief。　

The　hardest　stare　to　ignore　was　also　the　most　confusing　one。　

It　wasn't　like　this　halfhuman；　halfvampire　Nahuel　was　used　to　thinking　of　me　in　a　certain　way。　For　all　he　
knew；　I　went　around　routing　attacking　vampires　every　day　and　the　scene　in　the　meadow　had　been　
nothing　unusual　at　all。　But　the　boy　never　took　his　eyes　off　me。　Or　maybe　he　was　looking　at　Nessie。　That　
made　me　unfortable；　too。　

He　couldn't　be　oblivious　to　the　fact　that　Nessie　was　the　only　female　of　his　kind　that　wasn't　his　halfsister。　

I　didn't　think　th