3 eclipse月食-第21部分

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　“You　are　in　trouble；”　I　said　slowly；　emphasizing　each　word。　“Enormous　trouble。　Angry　grizzly　bears　are　
going　to　look　tame　next　to　what　is　waiting　for　you　at　home。”　
　I　snapped　the　phone　shut　and　placed　it　in　her　waiting　hand。　“I’m　done。”　
　She　grinned。　“This　hostage　stuff　is　fun。”　
　“I’m　going　to　sleep　now；”　I　announced；　heading　for　the　stairs。　Alice　tagged　along。　
　“Alice；”　I　sighed。　“I’m　not　going　to　sneak　out。　You　would　know　if　I　was　planning　to；　and　you’d　catch　me　if　
I　tried。”　
　“I’m　just　going　to　show　you　where　your　things　are；”　she　said　innocently。　
　Edward’s　room　was　at　the　farthest　end　of　the　third　floor　hallway；　hard　to　mistake　even　when　the　huge　
house　had　been　less　familiar。　But　when　I　switched　the　light　on；　I　paused　in　confusion。　Had　I　picked　the　wrong　
door？　
　Alice　giggled。　
　It　was　the　same　room；　I　realized　quickly；　the　furniture　had　just　been　rearranged。　The　couch　was　pushed　to　
the　north　wall　and　the　stereo　shoved　up　against　the　vast　shelves　of　CDs　—　to　make　room　for　the　colossal　bed　
that　now　dominated　the　central　space。　
　The　southern　wall　of　glass　reflected　the　scene　back　like　a　mirror；　making　it　look　twice　as　bad。　
　It　matched。　The　coverlet　was　a　dull　gold；　just　lighter　than　the　walls；　the　frame　was　black；　made　of　
intricately　patterned　wrought　iron。　Sculpted　metal　roses　wound　in　vines　up　the　tall　posts　and　formed　a　bowery　
lattice　overhead。　My　pajamas　were　folded　neatly　on　the　foot　of　the　bed；　my　bag　of　toiletries　to　one　side。　
　“What　the　hell　is　all　this？”　I　spluttered。　
　“You　didn’t　really　think　he　would　make　you　sleep　on　the　couch；　did　you？”　
　I　mumbled　unintelligibly　as　I　stalked　forward　to　snatch　my　things　off　the　bed。　
　“I’ll　give　you　some　privacy；”　Alice　laughed。　“See　you　in　the　morning。”　
　After　my　teeth　were　brushed　and　I　was　dressed；　I　grabbed　a　puffy　feather　pillow　off　the　huge　bed　and　
dragged　the　gold　cover　to　the　couch。　I　knew　I　was　being　silly；　but　I　didn’t　care。　Porsches　as　bribes　and　king　
sized　beds　in　houses　where　nobody　slept　—　it　was　beyond　irritating。　I　flipped　off　the　lights　and　curled　up　on　
the　sofa；　wondering　if　I　was　too　annoyed　to　sleep。　
　In　the　dark；　the　glass　wall　was　no　longer　a　black　mirror；　doubling　the　room。　The　light　of　the　moon　
brightened　the　clouds　outside　the　window。　As　my　eyes　adjusted；　I　could　see　the　diffused　glow　highlighting　the　
tops　of　the　trees；　and　glinting　off　a　small　slice　of　the　river。　I　watched　the　silver　light；　waiting　for　my　eyes　to　get　
heavy。　
　There　was　a　light　knock　on　the　door。　
　“What；　Alice？”　I　hissed。　I　was　on　the　defensive；　imagining　her　amusement　when　she　saw　my　makeshift　
bed。　
　“It’s　me；”　Rosalie　said　softly；　opening　the　door　enough　that　I　could　see　the　silver　glow　touch　her　perfect　
face。　“Can　I　e　in？”　

　7。　UNHAPPY　ENDING　


ROSALIE　HESITATED　IN　THE　DOORWAY；　HER　BREATHTAKing　face　unsure。　
　“Of　course；”　I　replied；　my　voice　an　octave　high　with　surprise。　“e　on　in。”　
　I　sat　up；　sliding　to　the　end　of　the　sofa　to　make　room。　My　stomach　twisted　nervously　as　the　one　Cullen　who　
did　not　like　me　moved　silently　to　sit　down　in　the　open　space。　I　tried　to　e　up　with　a　reason　why　she　would　
want　to　see　me；　but　my　mind　was　a　blank　on　that　point。　
　“Do　you　mind　talking　to　me　for　a　few　minutes？”　she　asked。　“I　didn’t　wake　you　or　anything；　did　I？”　Her　
eyes　shifted　to　the　stripped　bed　and　back　to　my　couch。　
　“No；　I　was　awake。　Sure；　we　can　talk。”　I　wondered　if　she　could　hear　the　alarm　in　my　voice　as　clearly　as　I　
could。　
　She　laughed　lightly；　and　it　sounded　like　a　chorus　of　bells。　“He　so　rarely　leaves　you　alone；”　she　said。　“I　
figured　I’d　better　make　the　best　of　this　opportunity。”　
　What　did　she　want　to　say　that　couldn’t　be　said　in　front　of　Edward？　My　hands　twisted　and　untwisted　
around　the　edge　of　the　forter。　
　“Please　don’t　think　I’m　horribly　interfering；”　Rosalie　said；　her　voice　gentle　and　almost　pleading。　She　folded　
her　hands　in　her　lap　and　looked　down　at　them　as　she　spoke。　“I’m　sure　I’ve　hurt　your　feelings　enough　in　the　
past；　and　I　don’t　want　to　do　that　again。”　
　“Don’t　worry　about　it；　Rosalie。　My　feelings　are　great。　What　is　it？”　
　She　laughed　again；　sounding　oddly　embarrassed。　“I’m　going　to　try　to　tell　you　why　I　think　you　should　stay　
human　—　why　I　would　stay　human　if　I　were　you。”　
　“Oh。”　
　She　smiled　at　the　shocked　tone　of　my　voice；　and　then　she　sighed。　
　“Did　Edward　ever　tell　you　what　led　to　this？”　she　asked；　gesturing　to　her　glorious　immortal　body。　
　I　nodded　slowly；　suddenly　somber。　“He　said　it　was　close　to　what　happened　to　me　that　time　in　Port　
Angeles；　only　no　one　was　there　to　save　you。”　I　shuddered　at　the　memory。　
　“Is　that　really　all　he　told　you？”　she　asked。　
　“Yes；”　I　said；　my　voice　blank　with　confusion。　“Was　there　more？”　
　She　looked　up　at　me　and　smiled；　it　was　a　harsh；　bitter　—　but　still　stunning　—　expression。　
　“Yes；”　she　said。　“There　was　more。”　
　I　waited　while　she　stared　out　the　window。　She　seemed　to　be　trying　to　calm　herself。　
　“Would　you　like　to　hear　my　story；　Bella？　It　doesn’t　have　a　happy　ending　—　but　which　of　ours　does？　If　we　
had　happy　endings；　we’d　all　be　under　gravestones　now。”　
　I　nodded；　though　I　was　frightened　by　the　edge　in　her　voice。　
　“I　lived　in　a　different　world　than　you　do；　Bella。　My　human　world　was　a　much　simpler　place。　It　was　
nieen　thirtythree。　I　was　eighteen；　and　I　was　beautiful。　My　life　was　perfect。”　
　She　stared　out　the　window　at　the　silver　clouds；　her　expression　far　away。　
　“My　parents　were　thoroughly　middle　class。　My　father　had　a　stable　job　in　a　bank；　something　I　realize　now　
that　he　was　smug　about　—　he　saw　his　prosperity　as　a　reward　for　talent　and　hard　work；　rather　than　
acknowledging　the　luck　involved。　I　took　it　all　for　granted　then；　in　my　home；　it　was　as　if　the　Great　Depression　
was　only　a　troublesome　rumor。　Of　course　I　saw　the　poor　people；　the　ones　who　weren’t　as　lucky。　My　father　
left　me　with　the　impression　that　they’d　brought　their　troubles　on　themselves。　
　“It　was　my　mother’s　job　to　keep　our　house　—　and　myself　and　my　two　younger　brothers　—　in　spotless　
order。　It　was　clear　that　I　was　both　her　first　priority　and　her　favorite。　I　didn’t　fully　understand　at　the　time；　but　I　
was　always　vaguely　aware　that　my　parents　weren’t　satisfied　with　what　they　had；　even　if　it　was　so　much　more　
than　most。　They　wanted　more。　They　had　social　aspirations　—　social　climbers；　I　suppose　you　could　call　them。　
My　beauty　was　like　a　gift　to　them。　They　saw　so　much　more　potential　in　it　than　I　did。　
　“They　weren’t　satisfied；　but　I　was。　I　was　thrilled　to　be　me；　to　be　Rosalie　Hale。　Pleased　that　men’s　eyes　
watched　me　everywhere　I　went；　from　the　year　I　turned　twelve。　Delighted　that　my　girlfriends　sighed　with　envy　

when　they　touched　my　hair。　Happy　that　my　mother　was　proud　of　me　and　that　my　father　liked　to　buy　me　pretty　
dresses。　
　“I　knew　what　I　wanted　out　of　life；　and　there　didn’t　seem　to　be　any　way　that　I　wouldn’t　get　exactly　what　I　
wanted。　I　wanted　to　be　loved；　to　be　adored。　I　wanted　to　have　a　huge；　flowery　wedding；　where　everyone　in　
town　would　watch　me　walk　down　the　aisle　on　my　father’s　arm　and　think　I　was　the　most　beautiful　thing　they’d　
ever　seen。　Admiration　was　like　air　to　me；　Bella。　I　was　silly　and　shallow；　but　I　was　content。”　She　smiled；　
amused　at　her　own　evaluation。　
　“My　parents’　influence　had　been　such　that　I　also　wanted　the　material　things　of　life。　I　wanted　a　big　house　
with　elegant　furnishings　that　someone　else　would　clean　and　a　modern　kitchen　that　someone　else　would　cook　
in。　As　I　said；　shallow。　Young　and　very　shallow。　And　I　didn’t　see　any　reason　why　I　wouldn’t　get　these　things。　
　“There　were　a　few　things　I　wanted　that　were　more　meaningful。　One　thing　in　particular。　My　very　closest　
friend　was　a　girl　named　Vera。　She　married　young；　just　seventeen。　She　married　a　man　my　parents　would　never　
have　considered　for　me　—　a　carpenter。　A　year　later　she　had　a　son；　a　beautiful　little　boy　with　dimples　and　curly　
black　hair。　It　was　the　first　time　I’d　ever　felt　truly　jealous　of　anyone　else　in　my　entire　life。”　
　She　looked　at　me　with　unfathomable　eyes。　“It　was　a　different　time。　I　was　the　same　age　as　you；　but　I　was　
ready　for　it　all。　I　yearned　for　my　own　little　baby。　I　wanted　my　own　house　and　a　husband　who　would　kiss　me　
when　he　got　home　from　work　—　just　like　Vera。　Only　I　had　a　very　different　kind　of　house　in　mind。　。　。　。”　
　It　was　hard　for　me　to　imagine　the　world　that　Rosalie　had　known。　Her　story　sounded　more　like　a　fairy　tale　
than　history　to　me。　With　a　slight　shock；　I　realized　that　this　was　very　close　to　the　world　that　Edward　would　
have　experienced　when　he　was　human；　the　world　he　had　grown　up　in。　I　wondered　—　while　Rosalie　sat　silent　
for　a　moment　—　if　my　world　seemed　as　baffling　to　him　as　Rosalie’s　did　to　me？　
　Rosalie　sighed；　and　when　she　spoke　again　her　voice　was　different；　the　wistfulness　gone。　
　“In　Rochester；　there　was　one　royal　family　—　the　Kings；　ironically　enough。　Royce　King　owned　the　bank　
my　father　worked　at；　and　nearly　every　other　really　profitable　business　in　town。　That’s　how　his　son；　Royce　
King　the　Second”　—　her　mouth　twisted　around　the　name；　it　came　out　through　her　teeth　—　“saw　me　the　first　
time。　He　was　going　to　take　over　at　the　bank；　and　so　he　began　overseeing　the　different　positions。　Two　days　
later；　my　mother　conveniently　forgot　to　send　my　father’s　lunch　to　work　with　him。　I　remember　being　confused　
when　she　insisted　that　I　wear　my　white　organza　and　roll　my　hair　up　just　to　run　over　to　the　bank。”　Rosalie　
laughed　without　humor。　
　“I　didn’t　notice　Royce　watching　me　particularly。　Everyone　watched　me。　But　that　night　the　first　of　the　roses　
came。　Every　night　of　our　courtship；　he　sent　a　bouquet　of　roses　to　me。　My　room　was　always　overflowing　with　
them。　It　got　to　the　point　that　I　would　smell　like　roses　when　I　left　the　house。　
　“Royce　was　handsome；　too。　He　had　lighter　hair　than　I　did；　and　pale　blue　eyes。　He　said　my　eyes　were　like　
violets；　and　then　those　started　showing　up　alongside　the　roses。　
　“My　parents　approved　—　that’s　putting　it　mildly。　This　was　everything　they’d　dreamed　of。　And　Royce　
seemed　to　be　everything　I’d　dreamed　of。　The　fairy　tale　prince；　e　to　make　me　a　prin