4 breaking dawn破晓-第122部分

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would　surprise　them　that　their　prey　didn't　run。　Would　that　make　them　wary？　I　couldn't　imagine　the　Volturi　
ever　feeling　a　need　for　caution。　

Though　I　was—hopefully—invisible　to　Demetri；　I　stayed　with　Edward。　Of　course。　We　only　had　a　few　
hours　left　to　be　together。　

Edward　and　I　had　not　had　a　last　grand　scene　of　farewell；　nor　did　I　plan　one。　To　speak　the　word　was　to　
make　it　final。　It　would　be　the　same　as　typing　the　words　The　End　on　the　last　page　of　a　manuscript。　So　we　
did　not　say　our　goodbyes；　and　we　stayed　very　close　to　each　other；　always　touching。　Whatever　end　found　
us；　it　would　not　find　us　separated。　

We　set　up　a　tent　for　Renesmee　a　few　yards　back　into　the　protective　forest；　and　then　there　was　more　
deja　vu　as　we　found　ourselves　camping　in　the　cold　again　with　Jacob。　It　was　almost　impossible　to　believe　
how　much　things　had　changed　since　last　June。　Seven　months　ago；　our　triangular　relationship　seemed　
impossible；　three　different　kinds　of　heartbreak　that　could　not　be　avoided。　Now　everything　was　in　perfect　
balance。　It　seemed　hideously　ironic　that　the　puzzle　pieces　would　fit　together　just　in　time　for　all　of　them　to　
be　destroyed。　

It　started　to　snow　again　the　night　before　New　Year's　Eve。　This　time；　the　tiny　flakes　did　not　dissolve　into　
the　stony　ground　of　the　clearing。　While　Renesmee　and　Jacob　slept—Jacob　snoring　so　loudly　I　wondered　
how　Renesmee　didn't　wake—the　snow　made　first　a　thin　icing　over　the　earth；　then　built　into　thicker　drifts。　
By　the　time　the　sun　rose；　the　scene　from　Alice's　vision　was　plete。　Edward　and　I　held　hands　as　we　
stared　across　the　glittering　white　field；　and　neither　of　us　spoke。　

Through　the　early　morning；　the　others　gathered；　their　eyes　bearing　mute　evidence　of　their　preparations　
—some　light　gold；　some　rich　crimson。　Soon　after　we　all　were　together；　we　could　hear　the　wolves　moving　
in　the　woods。　Jacob　emerged　from　the　tent；　leaving　Renesmee　still　sleeping；　to　join　them。　

Edward　and　Carlisle　were　arraying　the　others　into　a　loose　formation；　our　witnesses　to　the　sides　like　
galleries。　

I　watched　from　a　distance；　waiting　by　the　tent　for　Renesmee　to　wake。　When　she　did；　I　helped　her　dress　
in　the　clothes　I'd　carefully　picked　out　two　days　before。　Clothes　that　looked　frilly　and　feminine　but　that　
were　actually　sturdy　enough　to　not　show　any　wear—even　if　a　person　wore　them　while　riding　a　giant　
werewolf　through　a　couple　of　states。　Over　her　jacket　I　put　on　the　black　leather　backpack　with　the　
documents；　the　money；　the　clue；　and　my　love　notes　for　her　and　Jacob；　Charlie　and　Renee。　She　was　
strong　enough　that　it　was　no　burden　to　her。　

Her　eyes　were　huge　as　she　read　the　agony　on　my　face。　But　she　had　guessed　enough　not　to　ask　me　what　
I　was　doing。　

〃I　love　you；〃　I　told　her。　〃More　than　anything。〃　

〃I　love　you；　too；　Momma；〃　she　answered。　She　touched　the　locket　at　her　neck；　which　now　held　a　tiny　
photo　of　her；　Edward；　and　me。　〃We'll　always　be　together。〃　



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〃In　our　hearts　we'll　always　be　together；〃　I　corrected　in　a　whisper　as　quiet　as　a　breath。　〃But　when　the　time　
es　today；　you　have　to　leave　me。〃　

Her　eyes　widened；　and　she　touched　her　hand　to　my　cheek。　The　silent　no　was　louder　than　if　she'd　
shouted　it。　

I　fought　to　swallow；　my　throat　felt　swollen。　〃Will　you　do　it　for　me？　Please？〃　

She　pressed　her　fingers　harder　to　my　face。　Why？　

〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　I　whispered。　〃But　you'll　understand　soon。　I　promise。'7　

In　my　head；　I　saw　Jacob's　face。　

I　nodded；　then　pulled　her　fingers　away。　〃Don't　think　of　it；〃　I　breathed　into　her　ear。　〃Don't　tell　Jacob　until　I　
tell　you　to　run；　okay？〃　

This　she　understood。　She　nodded；　too。　

I　took　from　my　pocket　one　last　detail。　

While　packing　Renesmee's　things；　an　unexpected　sparkle　of　color　had　caught　my　eye。　A　chance　ray　of　
sun　through　the　skylight　had　hit　the　jewels　on　the　ancient　precious　box　stuffed　high　overhead　on　a　shelf　in　
an　untouched　corner。　I　considered　it　for　a　moment　and　then　shrugged。　After　putting　together　Alice's　
clues；　I　couldn't　hope　that　the　ing　confrontation　would　be　resolved　peacefully。　But　why　not　try　to　
start　things　out　as　friendly　as　possible？　I　asked　myself。　What　could　it　hurt？　So　I　guess　I　must　have　had　
some　hope　left　after　all—blind；　senseless　hope—because　I'd　scaled　the　shelves　and　retrieved　Aro's　
wedding　present　to　me。　

Now　I　fastened　the　thick　gold　rope　around　my　neck　and　felt　the　weight　of　the　enormous　diamond　nestle　
into　the　hollow　of　my　throat。　

〃Pretty；〃　Renesmee　whispered。　Then　she　wrapped　her　arms　like　a　vise　around　my　neck。　I　squeezed　her　
against　my　chest。　Interlocked　this　way；　I　carried　her　out　of　the　tent　and　to　the　clearing。　

Edward　cocked　one　eyebrow　as　I　approached；　but　otherwise　did　not　remark　on　my　accessory　or　
Renesmee's。　He　just　put　his　arms　tight　around　us　both　for　one　long　moment　and　then；　with　a　deep　sigh；　let　
us　go。　I　couldn't　see　a　goodbye　anywhere　in　his　eyes。　Maybe　he　had　more　hope　for　something　after　this　
life　than　he'd　let　on。　

We　took　our　place；　Renesmee　climbing　agilely　onto　my　back　to　leave　my　hands　free。　I　stood　a　few　feet　
behind　the　front　line　made　up　by　Carlisle；　Edward；　Emmett；　Rosalie；　Tanya；　Kate；　and　Eleazar。　Close　
beside　me　were　Benjamin　and　Zafrina；　it　was　my　job　to　protect　them　as　long　as　I　was　able。　They　were　
our　best　offensive　weapons。　If　the　Volturi　were　the　ones　who　could　not　see；　even　for　a　few　moments；　
that　would　change　everything。　

Zafrina　was　rigid　and　fierce；　with　Senna　almost　a　mirror　image　at　her　side。　Benjamin　sat　on　the　ground；　
his　palms　pressed　to　the　dirt；　and　muttered　quietly　about　fault　lines。　Last　night；　he'd　strewn　piles　of　
boulders　in　naturallooking；　now　snowcovered　heaps　all　along　the　back　of　the　meadow。　They　weren't　
enough　to　injure　a　vampire；　but　hopefully　enough　to　distract　one。　



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The　witnesses　clustered　to　our　left　and　right；　some　nearer　than　others—those　who　had　declared　
themselves　were　the　closest。　I　noticed　Siobhan　rubbing　her　temples；　her　eyes　closed　in　concentration；　
was　she　humoring　Carlisle？　Trying　to　visualize　a　diplomatic　resolution？　

In　the　woods　behind　us；　the　invisible　wolves　were　still　and　ready；　we　could　only　hear　their　heavy　panting；　
their　beating　hearts。　

The　clouds　rolled　in；　diffusing　the　light　so　that　it　could　have　been　morning　or　afternoon。　Edward's　eyes　
tightened　as　he　scrutinized　the　view；　and　I　was　sure　he　was　seeing　this　exact　scene　for　the　second　time　
—the　first　time　being　Alice's　vision。　It　would　look　just　the　same　when　the　Volturi　arrived。　We　only　had　
minutes　or　seconds　left　now。　

All　our　family　and　allies　braced　themselves。　

From　the　forest；　the　huge　russet　Alpha　wolf　came　forward　to　stand　at　my　side；　it　must　have　been　too　
hard　for　him　to　keep　his　distance　from　Renesmee　when　she　was　in　such　immediate　danger。　

Renesmee　reached　out　to　twine　her　fingers　in　thefur　over　his　massive　shoulder；　and　her　body　relaxed　a　
little　bit。　She　was　calmer　with　Jacob　close。I　felt　a　tiny　bit　better；　too。　As　long　Jacob　was　with　Renesmee；　
she　would　be　all　right。　

Without　risking　a　glance　behind；　Edward　reached　back　to　me。　I　stretched　my　arm　forward　so　that　I　
could　grip　his　hand。　He　squeezed　my　fingers。　

Another　minute　ticked　by；　and　I　found　myself　straining　to　hear　some　sound　of　approach。　

And　then　Edward　stiffened　and　hissed　low　between　his　clenched　teeth。　His　eyes　focused　on　the　forest　
due　north　of　where　we　stood。　

We　stared　where　he　did；　and　waited　as　the　last　seconds　passed。　

36。　BLOODLUST　

They　came　with　pageantry；　with　a　kind　of　beauty。　

They　came　in　a　rigid；　formal　formation。　They　moved　together；　but　it　was　not　a　march；　they　flowed　in　
perfect　synchronicity　from　the　trees—a　dark；　unbroken　shape　that　seemed　to　hover　a　few　inches　above　
the　white　snow；　so　smooth　was　the　advance。　

The　outer　perimeter　was　gray；　the　color　darkened　with　each　line　of　bodies　until　the　heart　of　the　formation　
was　deepest　black。　Every　face　was　cowled；　shadowed。　The　faint　brushing　sound　of　their　feet　was　so　
regular　it　was　like　music；　a　p