4 breaking dawn破晓-第118部分

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Renesmee　wore　the　locket　I'd　given　her　at　dawn；　and　in　her　jacket　pocket　was　the　MP3　player　Edward　
had　given　her—a　tiny　thing　that　held　five　thousand　songs；　already　filled　with　Edward's　favorites。　On　her　
wrist　was　an　intricately　braided　Quileute　version　of　a　promise　ring。　Edward　had　gritted　his　teeth　over　that　
one；　but　it　didn't　bother　me。　

Soon；　so　soon；　I　would　be　giving　her　to　Jacob　for　safekeeping。　How　could　I　be　bothered　by　any　symbol　
of　the　mitment　I　was　so　relying　on？　

Edward　had　saved　the　day　by　ordering　a　gift　for　Charlie；　too。　It　had　shown　up　yesterday—priority　
overnight　shipping—and　Charlie　spent　all　morning　reading　the　thick　instruction　manual　to　his　new　fishing　
sonar　system。　

From　the　way　the　werewolves　ate；　Sue's　lunch　spread　must　have　been　good。　I　wondered　how　the　
gathering　would　have　looked　to　an　outsider。　Did　we　play　our　parts　well　enough？　Would　a　stranger　have　
thought　us　a　happy　circle　of　friends；　enjoying　the　holiday　with　casual　cheer？　

I　think　Edward　and　Jacob　both　were　as　relieved　as　I　was　when　it　was　time　to　go。　It　felt　odd　to　spend　
energy　on　the　human　fagade　when　there　were　so　many　more　important　things　to　be　doing。　I　had　a　hard　
time　concentrating。　At　the　same　time；　this　was　perhaps　the　last　time　I　would　see　Charlie。　Maybe　it　was　a　
good　thing　that　I　was　too　numb　to　really　register　that。　

I　hadn't　seen　my　mother　since　the　wedding；　but　I　found　I　could　only　be　glad　for　the　gradual　distancing　
that　had　begun　two　years　ago。　She　was　too　fragile　for　my　world。　I　didn't　want　her　to　have　any　part　of　
this。　Charlie　was　stronger。　

Maybe　even　strong　enough　for　a　goodbye　now；　but　I　wasn't。　

It　was　very　quiet　in　the　car；　outside；　the　rain　was　just　a　mist；　hovering　on　the　edge　between　liquid　and　
ice。　Renesmee　sat　on　my　lap；　playing　with　her　locket；　opening　and　closing　it。　I　watched　her　and　imagined　
the　things　I　would　say　to　Jacob　right　now　if　I　didn't　have　to　keep　my　words　out　of　Edward's　head。　

If　its　ever　safe　again；　take　her　to　Charlie。　Tell　him　the　whole　story　someday。　Tell　him　how　much　I　loved　
him；　how　I　couldn't　bear　to　leave　him　even　when　my　human　life　was　over。　Tell　him　he　was　the　best　father。　
Tell　him　to　pass　my　love　on　to　Renee；　all　my　hopes　that　she　will　be　happy　and　well。。。。　

I　would　have　to　give　Jacob　the　documents　before　it　was　too　late。　I　would　give　him　a　note　for　Charlie；　
too。　And　a　letter　for　Renesmee。　Something　for　her　to　read　when　I　couldn't　tell　her　I　loved　her　anymore。　



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There　was　nothing　unusual　about　the　outside　of　the　Cullen　house　as　we　pulled　into　the　meadow；　but　I　
could　hear　some　kind　of　subtle　uproar　inside。　Many　low　voices　murmured　and　growled。　It　sounded　
intense；　and　it　sounded　like　an　argument。　I　could　pick　out　Carlisle's　voice　and　Amun's　more　often　than　the　
others。　

Edward　parked　in　front　of　the　house　rather　than　going　around　to　the　garage。　We　exchanged　one　wary　
glance　before　we　got　out　of　the　car。　

Jacob's　stance　changed；　his　face　turned　serious　and　careful。　I　guessed　that　he　was　in　Alpha　mode　now。　
Obviously；　something　had　happened；　and　he　was　going　to　get　the　information　he　and　Sam　would　need。　

〃Alistair　is　gone；〃　Edward　murmured　as　we　darted　up　the　steps。　

Inside　the　front　room；　the　main　confrontation　was　physically　apparent。　Lining　the　walls　was　a　ring　of　
spectators；　every　vampire　who　had　joined　us；　except　for　Alistair　and　the　three　involved　in　the　quarrel。　
Esme；　Kebi；　and　Tia　were　the　closest　to　the　three　vampires　in　the　center；　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　
Amun　was　hissing　at　Carlisle　and　Benjamin。　

Edward's　jaw　tightened　and　he　moved　quickly　to　Esme's　side；　towing　me　by　the　hand。　I　clutched　
Renesmee　tightly　to　my　chest。　

〃Amun；　if　you　want　to　go；　no　one　is　forcing　you　to　stay；〃　Carlisle　said　calmly。　

〃You're　stealing　half　my　coven；　Carlisle！〃　Amun　shrieked；　stabbing　one　finger　at　Benjamin。　〃Is　that　why　
you　called　me　here？　To　steal　from　me？〃　

Carlisle　sighed；　and　Benjamin　rolled　his　eyes。　

〃Yes；　Carlisle　picked　a　fight　with　the　Volturi；　endangered　his　whole　family；　just　to　lure　me　here　to　my　
death；〃　Benjamin　said　sarcastically。　〃Be　reasonable；　Amun。　I'm　mitted　to　do　the　right　thing　here—I'm　
not　joining　any　other　coven。　You　can　do　whatever　you　want；　of　course；　as　Carlisle　has　pointed　out。〃　

〃This　won't　end　well；〃　Amun　growled。　〃Alistair　was　the　only　sane　one　here。　We　should　all　be　running。〃　

〃Think　of　who　you're　calling　sane；〃　Tia　murmured　in　a　quiet　aside。　

〃We're　all　going　to　be　slaughtered！〃　

〃It's　not　going　to　e　to　a　fight；〃　Carlisle　said　in　a　firm　voice。　

〃You　say！〃　

〃If　it　does；　you　can　always　switch　sides；　Amun。　I'm　sure　the　Volturi　will　appreciate　your　help。〃　

Amun　sneered　at　him。　〃Perhaps　that　is　the　answer。〃　

Carlisle's　answer　was　soft　and　sincere。　〃I　wouldn't　hold　that　against　you；　Amun。　We　have　been　friends　
for　a　long　time；　but　I　would　never　ask　you　to　die　for　me。〃　

Amun's　voice　was　more　controlled；　too。　〃But　you're　taking　my　Benjamin　down　with　you。〃　



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Carlisle　put　his　hand　on　Amun's　shoulder；　Amun　shook　it　off。　

〃I'll　stay；　Carlisle；　but　it　might　be　to　your　detriment。　I　will　join　them　if　that's　the　road　to　survival。　You're　
all　fools　to　think　that　you　can　defy　the　Volturi。〃　He　scowled；　then　sighed；　glanced　at　Renesmee　and　me；　
and　added　in　an　exasperated　tone；　〃I　will　witness　that　the　child　has　grown。　That's　nothing　but　the　truth。　
Anyone　would　see　that。〃　

〃That's　all　we've　ever　asked。〃　

Amun　grimaced；　〃But　not　all　that　you　are　getting；　it　seems。〃　He　turned　on　Benjamin。　〃I　gave　you　life。　
You're　wasting　it。〃　

Benjamin's　face　looked　colder　than　I'd　ever　seen　it；　the　expression　contrasted　oddly　with　his　boyish　
features。　〃It's　a　pity　you　couldn't　replace　my　will　with　your　own　in　the　process；　perhaps　then　you　would　
have　been　satisfied　with　me。〃　

Amun's　eyes　narrowed。　He　gestured　abruptly　to　Kebi；　and　they　stalked　past　us　out　the　front　door。　

〃He's　not　leaving；〃　Edward　said　quietly　to　me；　〃but　he'll　be　keeping　his　distance　even　more　from　now　on。　
He　wasn't　bluffing　when　he　spoke　of　joining　the　Volturi。〃　

〃Why　did　Alistair　go？〃　I　whispered。　

〃No　one　can　be　positive；　he　didn't　leave　a　note。　From　his　mutters；　it's　been　clear　that　he　thinks　a　fight　is　
inevitable。　Despite　his　demeanor；　he　actually　does　care　too　much　for　Carlisle　to　stand　with　the　Volturi。　I　
suppose　he　decided　the　danger　was　too　much。〃　Edward　shrugged。　

Though　our　conversation　was　clearly　just　between　the　two　of　us；　of　course　everyone　could　hear　it。　
Eleazar　answered　Edward's　ment　like　it　had　been　meant　for　all。　

〃From　the　sound　of　his　mumblings；　it　was　a　bit　more　than　that。　We　haven't　spoken　much　of　the　Volturi　
agenda；　but　Alistair　worried　that　no　matter　how　decisively　we　can　prove　your　innocence；　the　Volturi　will　
not　listen。　He　thinks　they　will　find　an　excuse　to　achieve　their　goals　here。〃　

The　vampires　glanced　uneasily　at　one　another。　The　idea　that　the　Volturi　would　manipulate　their　own　
sacrosanct　law　for　gain　was　not　a　popular　idea。　Only　the　Romanians　were　posed；　their　small　
halfsmiles　ironic。　They　seemed　amused　at　how　the　others　wanted　to　think　well　of　their　ancient　enemies。　

Many　low　discussions　began　at　the　same　time；　but　it　was　the　Romanians　I　listened　to。　Maybe　because　
the　fairhaired　Vladimir　kept　shooting　glances　in　my　direction。　

〃I　do　so　hope　Alistair　was　right　about　this；〃　Stefan　murmured　to　Vladimir。　〃No　matter　the　oute；　
word　will　spread。　It's　time　our　world　saw　the　Volturi　for　what　they've　bee。　They'll　never　fall　if　
everyone　believes　this　nonsense　about　them　protecting　our　way　of　life。〃　

〃At　least　when　we　ruled；　we　were　honest　about　what　we　were；〃　Vladimir　replied。　

Stefan　nodded。　〃We　never　put　on　white　hats　and　called　ourselves　saints。〃　

Tm　thinking　the　time　has　e　to　fight；〃　Vladimir　said。　〃How　can　you　imagine　well　ever　find　a　better　



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force　to　stand　with？　Another　chance　this　good？〃　

〃Nothing　is　imposs