暮色-第69部分

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〃What　will　he　do？〃　Carlisle　asked　Laurent　in　chilling　tones。　

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　answered。　〃I　was　afraid；　when　your　boy　there　defended　
her；　that　it　would　set　him　off。〃　

〃Can　you　stop　him？〃　

Laurent　shook　his　head。　〃Nothing　stops　James　when　he　gets　started。〃　

〃We'll　stop　him；〃　Emmett　promised。　There　was　no　doubt　what　he　meant。　

〃You　can't　bring　him　down。　I've　never　seen　anything　like　him　in　my　three　
hundred　years。　He's　absolutely　lethal。　That's　why　I　joined　his　coven。〃　

His　coven；　I　thought；　of　course。　The　show　of　leadership　in　the　clearing　
was　merely　that；　a　show。　

Laurent　was　shaking　his　head。　He　glanced　at　me；　perplexed；　and　back　to　
Carlisle。　〃Are　you　sure　it's　worth　it？〃　

Edward's　enraged　roar　filled　the　room；　Laurent　cringed　back。　

Carlisle　looked　gravely　at　Laurent。　〃I'm　afraid　you're　going　to　have　to　
make　a　choice。〃　

Laurent　understood。　He　deliberated　for　a　moment。　His　eyes　took　in　every　
face；　and　finally　swept　the　bright　room。　

〃I'm　intrigued　by　the　life　you've　created　here。　But　I　won't　get　in　the　
middle　of　this。　I　bear　none　of　you　any　enmity；　but　I　won't　go　up　against　
James。　I　think　I　will　head　north　—　to　that　clan　in　Denali。〃　He　hesitated。　
〃Don't　underestimate　James。　He's　got　a　brilliant　mind　and　unparalleled　
senses。　He's　every　bit　as　fortable　in　the　human　world　as　you　seem　to　
be；　and　he　won't　e　at　you　head　on…　I'm　sorry　for　what's　been　unleashed　
here。　Truly　sorry。〃　He　bowed　his　head；　but　I　saw　him　flicker　another　
puzzled　look　at　me。　

〃Go　in　peace；〃　was　Carlisle's　formal　answer。　

Laurent　took　another　long　look　around　himself；　and　then　he　hurried　out　
the　door。　

The　silence　lasted　less　than　a　second。　

〃How　close？〃　Carlisle　looked　to　Edward。　

Esme　was　already　moving；　her　hand　touched　an　inconspicuous　keypad　on　the　
wall；　and　with　a　groan；　huge　metal　shutters　began　sealing　up　the　glass　
wall。　I　gaped。　

〃About　three　miles　out　past　the　river；　he's　circling　around　to　meet　up　
with　the　female。〃　

〃What's　the　plan？〃　

〃We'll　lead　him　off；　and　then　Jasper　and　Alice　will　run　her　south。〃　

〃And　then？〃　

Edward's　tone　was　deadly。　〃As　soon　as　Bella　is　clear；　we　hunt　him。〃　

〃I　guess　there's　no　other　choice；〃　Carlisle　agreed；　his　face　grim。　

Edward　turned　to　Rosalie。　

〃Get　her　upstairs　and　trade　clothes；〃　Edward　manded。　She　stared　back　
at　him　with　livid　disbelief。　

〃Why　should　I？〃　she　hissed。　〃What　is　she　to　me？　Except　a　menace　—　a　
danger　you've　chosen　to　inflict　on　all　of　us。〃　

I　flinched　back　from　the　venom　in　her　voice。　

〃Rose…〃　Emmett　murmured；　putting　one　hand　on　her　shoulder。　She　shook　it　
off。　

But　I　was　watching　Edward　carefully；　knowing　his　temper；　worried　about　
his　reaction。　

He　surprised　me。　He　looked　away　from　Rosalie　as　if　she　hadn't　spoken；　as　
if　she　didn't　exist。　

〃Esme？〃　he　asked　calmly。　

〃Of　course；〃　Esme　murmured。　

Esme　was　at　my　side　in　half　a　heartbeat；　swinging　me　up　easily　into　her　
arms；　and　dashing　up　the　stairs　before　I　could　gasp　in　shock。　

〃What　are　we　doing？〃　I　asked　breathlessly　as　she　set　me　down　in　a　dark　
room　somewhere　off　the　secondstory　hall。　

〃Trying　to　confuse　the　smell。　It　won't　work　for　long；　but　it　might　help　
get　you　out。〃　I　could　hear　her　clothes　falling　to　the　floor。　

〃I　don't　think　I'll　fit…〃　I　hesitated；　but　her　hands　were　abruptly　
pulling　my　shirt　over　my　head。　I　quickly　stripped　my　jeans　off　myself。　
She　handed　me　something；　it　felt　like　a　shirt。　I　struggled　to　get　my　arms　
through　the　right　holes。　As　soon　as　I　was　done　she　handed　me　her　slacks。　
I　yanked　them　on；　but　I　couldn't　get　my　feet　out；　they　were　too　long。　She　
deftly　rolled　the　hems　a　few　times　so　I　could　stand。　Somehow　she　was　
already　in　my　clothes。　She　pulled　me　back　to　the　stairs；　where　Alice　
stood；　a　small　leather　bag　in　one　hand。　They　each　grabbed　one　of　my　
elbows　and　halfcarried　me　as　they　flew　down　the　stairs。　

It　appeared　that　everything　had　been　settled　downstairs　in　our　absence。　
Edward　and　Emmett　were　ready　to　leave；　Emmett　carrying　a　heavylooking　
backpack　over　his　shoulder。　Carlisle　was　handing　something　small　to　Esme。　
He　turned　and　handed　Alice　the　same　thing　—　it　was　a　tiny　silver　cell　
phone。　

〃Esme　and　Rosalie　will　be　taking　your　truck；　Bella；〃　he　told　me　as　he　
passed。　I　nodded；　glancing　warily　at　Rosalie。　She　was　glowering　at　
Carlisle　with　a　resentful　expression。　

〃Alice；　Jasper　—　take　the　Mercedes。　You'll　need　the　dark　tint　in　the　
south。〃　

They　nodded　as　well。　

〃We're　taking　the　Jeep。〃　

I　was　surprised　to　see　that　Carlisle　intended　to　go　with　Edward。　I　
realized　suddenly；　with　a　stab　of　fear；　that　they　made　up　the　hunting　
party。　

〃Alice；〃　Carlisle　asked；　〃will　they　take　the　bait？〃　

Everyone　watched　Alice　as　she　closed　her　eyes　and　became　incredibly　still。　

Finally　her　eyes　opened。　〃He'll　track　you。　The　woman　will　follow　the　
truck。　We　should　be　able　to　leave　after　that。〃　Her　voice　was　certain。　

〃Let's　go。〃　Carlisle　began　to　walk　toward　the　kitchen。　

But　Edward　was　at　my　side　at　once。　He　caught　me　up　in　his　iron　grip；　
crushing　me　to　him。　He　seemed　unaware　of　his　watching　family　as　he　pulled　
my　face　to　his；　lifting　my　feet　off　the　floor。　For　the　shortest　second；　
his　lips　were　icy　and　hard　against　mine。　Then　it　was　over。　He　set　me　
down；　still　holding　my　face；　his　glorious　eyes　burning　into　mine。　

His　eyes　went　blank；　curiously　dead；　as　he　turned　away。　

And　they　were　gone。　

We　stood　there；　the　others　looking　away　from　me　as　the　tears　streaked　
noiselessly　down　my　face。　

The　silent　moment　dragged　on；　and　then　Esme's　phone　vibrated　in　her　hand。　
It　flashed　to　her　ear。　

〃Now；〃　she　said。　Rosalie　stalked　out　the　front　door　without　another　
glance　in　my　direction；　but　Esme　touched　my　cheek　as　she　passed。　

〃Be　safe。〃　Her　whisper　lingered　behind　them　as　they　slipped　out　the　door。　
I　heard　my　truck　start　thunderously；　and　then　fade　away。　

Jasper　and　Alice　waited。　Alice's　phone　seemed　to　be　at　her　ear　before　it　
buzzed。　

〃Edward　says　the　woman　is　on　Esme's　trail。　I'll　get　the　car。〃　She　
vanished　into　the　shadows　the　way　Edward　had　gone。　

Jasper　and　I　looked　at　each　other。　He　stood　across　the　length　of　the　
entryway　from　me…　being　careful。　

〃You're　wrong；　you　know；〃　he　said　quietly。　

〃What？〃　I　gasped。　

〃I　can　feel　what　you're　feeling　now　—　and　you　are　worth　it。〃　

〃I'm　not；〃　I　mumbled。　〃If　anything　happens　to　them；　it　will　be　for　
nothing。〃　

〃You're　wrong；〃　he　repeated；　smiling　kindly　at　me。　

I　heard　nothing；　but　then　Alice　stepped　through　the　front　door　and　came　
toward　me　with　her　arms　held　out。　

〃May　I？〃　she　asked。　

〃You're　the　first　one　to　ask　permission。〃　I　smiled　wryly。　

She　lifted　me　in　her　slender　arms　as　easily　as　Emmett　had；　shielding　me　
protectively；　and　then　we　flew　out　the　door；　leaving　the　lights　bright　
behind　us。　

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20。　IMPATIENCE　

When　I　woke　up　I　was　confused。　My　thoughts　were　hazy；　still　twisted　up　in　
dreams　and　nightmares；　it　took　me　longer　than　it　should　have　to　realize　
where　I　was。　

This　room　was　too　bland　to　belong　anywhere　but　in　a　hotel。　The　bedside　
lamps；　bolted　to　the　tables；　were　a　dead　giveaway；　as　were　the　long　
drapes　made　from　the　same　fabric　as　the　bedspread；　and　the　generic　
watercolor　prints　on　the　walls。　

I　tried　to　remember　how　I　got　here；　but　nothing　came　at　first。　

I　did　remember　the　sleek　black　car；　the　glass　in　the　windows　darker　than　
that　on　a　limousine。　The　engine　was　almost　silent；　though　we'd　raced　
across　the　black　freeways　at　more　than　twice　the　legal　speed。　

And　I　remembered　Alice　sitting　with　me　on　the　dark　leather　backseat。　
Somehow；　during　the　long　night；　my　head　had　ended　up　against　her　granite　
neck。　My　closeness　didn't　seem　to　bother　her　at　all；　and　her　cool；　hard　
skin　was　oddly　forting　to　me。　The　front　of　her　thin　cotton　shirt　was　
cold；　damp　with　the　tears　that　streamed　from　my　eyes　until；　red　and　sore；　
they　ran　dry。　

Sleep　had　evaded　me；　my　aching　eyes　strained　open　even　though　the　night　
finally　ended　and　dawn　broke　over　a　low　peak　somewhere　in　California。　The　
gray　light；