3 eclipse月食-第41部分

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decide　whether　or　not　I　should　send　him　away　and　finish　up　myself　as　I　called　out　the　next　victim。　To　my　
surprise；　he　was　suddenly　angry；　furious。　I　braced　for　whatever　his　mood　might　foreshadow　—　he　was　a　good　

fighter；　but　he　was　never　a　match　for　me。　
　“The　newborn　I’d　summoned　was　a　female；　just　past　her　year　mark。　Her　name　was　Charlotte。　His　feelings　
changed　when　she　came　into　view；　they　gave　him　away。　He　yelled　for　her　to　run；　and　he　bolted　after　her。　I　
could　have　pursued　them；　but　I　didn’t。　I　felt　。　。　。　averse　to　destroying　him。　
　“Maria　was　irritated　with　me　for　that　。　。　。　
　“Five　years　later；　Peter　snuck　back　for　me。　He　picked　a　good　day　to　arrive。　
　“Maria　was　mystified　by　my　everdeteriorating　frame　of　mind。　She’d　never　felt　a　moment’s　depression；　
and　I　wondered　why　I　was　different。　I　began　to　notice　a　change　in　her　emotions　when　she　was　near　me　—　
sometimes　there　was　fear　。　。　。　and　malice　—　the　same　feelings　that　had　given　me　advance　warning　when　tie　
and　Lucy　struck。　I　was　preparing　myself　to　destroy　my　only　ally；　the　core　of　my　existence；　when　Peter　
returned。　
　“Peter　told　me　about　his　new　life　with　Charlotte；　told　me　about　options　I’d　never　dreamed　I　had。　In　five　
years；　they’d　never　had　a　fight；　though　they’d　met　many　others　in　the　north。　Others　who　could　coexist　without　
the　constant　mayhem。　
　“In　one　conversation；　he　had　me　convinced。　I　was　ready　to　go；　and　somewhat　relieved　I　wouldn’t　have　to　
kill　Maria。　I’d　been　her　panion　for　as　many　years　as　Carlisle　and　Edward　have　been　together；　yet　the　
bond　between　us　was　nowhere　near　as　strong。　When　you　live　for　the　fight；　for　the　blood；　the　relationships　you　
form　are　tenuous　and　easily　broken。　I　walked　away　without　a　backward　glance。　
　“I　traveled　with　Peter　and　Charlotte　for　a　few　years；　getting　the　feel　of　this　new；　more　peaceful　world。　But　
the　depression　didn’t　fade。　I　didn’t　understand　what　was　wrong　with　me；　until　Peter　noticed　that　it　was　always　
worse　after　I’d　hunted。　
　“I　contemplated　that。　In　so　many　years　of　slaughter　and　carnage；　I’d　lost　nearly　all　of　my　humanity。　I　was　
undeniably　a　nightmare；　a　monster　of　the　grisliest　kind。　Yet　each　time　I　found　another　human　victim；　I　would　
feel　a　faint　prick　of　remembrance　for　that　other　life。　Watching　their　eyes　widen　in　wonder　at　my　beauty；　I　could　
see　Maria　and　the　others　in　my　head；　what　they　had　looked　like　to　me　the　last　night　that　I　was　Jasper　
Whitlock。　It　was　stronger　for　me　—　this　borrowed　memory　—　than　it　was　for　anyone　else；　because　I　could　
feel　everything　my　prey　was　feeling。　And　I　lived　their　emotions　as　I　killed　them。　
　“You’ve　experienced　the　way　I　can　manipulate　the　emotions　around　myself；　Bella；　but　I　wonder　if　you　
realize　how　the　feelings　in　a　room　affect　me。　I　live　every　day　in　a　climate　of　emotion。　For　the　first　century　of　my　
life；　I　lived　in　a　world　of　bloodthirsty　vengeance。　Hate　was　my　constant　panion。　It　eased　some　when　I　left　
Maria；　but　I　still　had　to　feel　the　horror　and　fear　of　my　prey。　
　“It　began　to　be　too　much。　
　“The　depression　got　worse；　and　I　wandered　away　from　Peter　and　Charlotte。　Civilized　as　they　were；　they　
didn’t　feel　the　same　aversion　I　was　beginning　to　feel。　They　only　wanted　peace　from　the　fight。　I　was　so　wearied　
by　killing　—　killing　anyone；　even　mere　humans。　
　“Yet　I　had　to　keep　killing。　What　choice　did　I　have？　I　tried　to　kill　less　often；　but　I　would　get　too　thirsty　and　
I　would　give　in。　After　a　century　of　instant　gratification；　I　found　selfdiscipline　。　。　。　challenging。　I　still　haven’t　
perfected　that。”　
　Jasper　was　lost　in　the　story；　as　was　I。　It　surprised　me　when　his　desolate　expression　smoothed　into　a　
peaceful　smile。　
　“I　was　in　Philadelphia。　There　was　a　storm；　and　I　was　out　during　the　day　—　something　I　was　not　
pletely　fortable　with　yet。　I　knew　standing　in　the　rain　would　attract　attention；　so　I　ducked　into　a　little　
halfempty　diner。　My　eyes　were　dark　enough　that　no　one　would　notice　them；　though　this　meant　I　was　thirsty；　
and　that　worried　me　a　little。　
　“She　was　there　—　expecting　me；　naturally。”　He　chuckled　once。　“She　hopped　down　from　the　high　stool　at　
the　counter　as　soon　as　I　walked　in　and　came　directly　toward　me。　
　“It　shocked　me。　I　was　not　sure　if　she　meant　to　attack。　That’s　the　only　interpretation　of　her　behavior　my　
past　had　to　offer。　But　she　was　smiling。　And　the　emotions　that　were　emanating　from　her　were　like　nothing　I’d　
ever　felt　before。　
　“‘You’ve　kept　me　waiting　a　long　time；’　she　said。”　
　I　didn’t　realize　Alice　had　e　to　stand　behind　me　again。　
　“And　you　ducked　your　head；　like　a　good　Southern　gentleman；　and　said；　‘I’m　sorry；　ma’am。’”　Alice　

laughed　at　the　memory。　
　Jasper　smiled　down　at　her。　“You　held　out　your　hand；　and　I　took　it　without　stopping　to　make　sense　of　what　
I　was　doing。　For　the　first　time　in　almost　a　century；　I　felt　hope。”　
　Jasper　took　Alice’s　hand　as　he　spoke。　
　Alice　grinned。　“I　was　just　relieved。　I　thought　you　were　never　going　to　show　up。”　
　They　smiled　at　each　other　for　a　long　moment；　and　then　Jasper　looked　back　to　me；　the　soft　expression　
lingering。　
　“Alice　told　me　what　she’d　seen　of　Carlisle　and　his　family。　I　could　hardly　believe　that　such　an　existence　was　
possible。　But　Alice　made　me　optimistic。　So　we　went　to　find　them。”　
　“Scared　the　hell　out　of　them；　too；”　Edward　said；　rolling　his　eyes　at　Jasper　before　turning　to　me　to　explain。　
“Emmett　and　I　were　away　hunting。　Jasper　shows　up；　covered　in　battle　scars；　towing　this　little　freak”　—　he　
nudged　Alice　playfully　—　“who　greets　them　all　by　name；　knows　everything　about　them；　and　wants　to　know　
which　room　she　can　move　into。”　
　Alice　and　Jasper　laughed　in　harmony；　soprano　and　bass。　
　“When　I　got　home；　all　my　things　were　in　the　garage；”　Edward　continued。　
　Alice　shrugged。　“Your　room　had　the　best　view。”　
　They　all　laughed　together　now。　
　“That’s　a　nice　story；”　I　said。　
　Three　pairs　of　eyes　questioned　my　sanity。　
　“I　mean　the　last　part；”　I　defended　myself。　“The　happy　ending　with　Alice。”　
　“Alice　has　made　all　the　difference；”　Jasper　agreed。　“This　is　a　climate　I　enjoy。”　
　But　the　momentary　pause　in　the　stress　couldn’t　last。　
　“An　army；”　Alice　whispered。　“Why　didn’t　you　tell　me？”　
　The　others　were　intent　again；　their　eyes　locked　on　Jasper’s　face。　
　“I　thought　I　must　be　interpreting　the　signs　incorrectly。　Because　where　is　the　motive？　Why　would　someone　
create　an　army　in　Seattle？　There　is　no　history　there；　no　vendetta。　It　makes　no　sense　from　a　conquest　
standpoint；　either；　no　one　claims　it。　Nomads　pass　through；　but　there’s　no　one　to　fight　for　it。　No　one　to　defend　
it　from。　
　“But　I’ve　seen　this　before；　and　there’s　no　other　explanation。　There　is　an　army　of　newborn　vampires　in　
Seattle。　Fewer　than　twenty；　I’d　guess。　The　difficult　part　is　that　they　are　totally　untrained。　Whoever　made　them　
just　set　them　loose。　It　will　only　get　worse；　and　it　won’t　be　much　longer　till　the　Volturi　step　in。　Actually；　I’m　
surprised　they’ve　let　this　go　on　so　long。”　
　“What　can　we　do？”　Carlisle　asked。　
　“If　we　want　to　avoid　the　Volturi’s　involvement；　we　will　have　to　destroy　the　newborns；　and　we　will　have　to　
do　it　very　soon。”　Jasper’s　face　was　hard。　Knowing　his　story　now；　I　could　guess　how　this　evaluation　must　
disturb　him。　“I　can　teach　you　how。　It　won’t　be　easy　in　the　city。　The　young　ones　aren’t　concerned　about　
secrecy；　but　we　will　have　to　be。　It　will　limit　us　in　ways　that　they　are　not。　Maybe　we　can　lure　them　out。”　
　“Maybe　we　won’t　have　to。”　Edward’s　voice　was　bleak。　“Does　it　occur　to　anyone　else　that　the　only　
possible　threat　in　the　area　that　would　call　for　the　creation　of　an　army　is　。　。　。　us？”　
　Jasper’s　eyes　narrowed；　Carlisle’s　widened；　shocked。　
　“Tanya’s　family　is　also　near；”　Esme　said　slowly；　unwilling　to　accept　Edward’s　words。　
　“The　newborns　aren’t　ravaging　Anchorage；　Esme。　I　think　we　have　to　consider　the　idea　that　we　are　the　
targets。”　
　“They’re　not　ing　after　us；”　Alice　insisted；　and　then　paused。　“Or　。　。　。　they　don’t　know　that　they　are。　
Not　yet。”　
　“What　is　that？”　Edward　asked；　curious　and　tense。　“What　are　you　remembering？”　
　“Flickers；”　Alice　said。　“I　can’t　see　a　clear　picture　when　I　try　to　see　what’s　going　on；　nothing　concrete。　But　
I’ve　been　getting　these　strange　flashes。　Not　enough　to　make　sense　of。　It’s　as　if　someone’s　changing　their　mind；　
moving　from　one　course　of　action　to　another　so　quickly　that　I　can’t　get　a　good　view。　。　。　。”　
　“Indecision？”　Jasper　asked　in　disbelief。　
　“I　don’t　know。　。　。　。”　
　“Not　indecision；”　Edward　growled。　“Knowledge。　Someone　who　knows　you　can’t　see　anything　until　the　

decision　is　made。　Someone　who　is　hiding　from　us。　Playing　with　the　holes　in　your　vision。”　
　　“Who　would　know　that？”　Alice　whispered。　
　　Edward’s　eyes　were　hard　as　ice。　“Aro　knows　you　as　well　as　you　know　yourself。”　
　　“But　I　would　see　if　they’d　decided　to　e。　。　。　。”　
　　“Unless　they　didn’t　want　to　get　their　hands　dirty。”　
　　“A　favor；”　Rosalie　suggested；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　“Someone　in　the　South　。　。　。　someone　who　already　
had　trouble　with　the　rules。　Someone　who　should　have　been　destroyed　is　offered　a　second　chance　—　if　they　
take　care　of　this　one　small　problem。　。　。　。　That　would　explain　the　Volturi’s　sluggish　response。”　
　　“Why？”　Carlisle　asked；　still　shocked。　“There’s　no　reason　for　the　Volturi　—”　
　　“It　was　there；”　Edward　disagreed　quietly。　“I’m　surprised　it’s　e　to　this　so　soon；　because　the　other　
thoughts　were　stronger。　In　Aro’s　head　he　saw　me　at　his　one　side　and　Alice　at　his　other。　The　present　and　the　
future；　virtual　omniscience。　The　power　of　the　idea　intoxicated　him。　I　would　have　thought　it　would　take　him　
much　longer　to　give　up　on　that　plan　—　he　wanted　it　too　much。　But　there　was　also　the　thought　of　you；　Carlisle；　
of　our　family；　growing　stronger　and　larger。　The　jealousy　and　the　fear：　you　having　。　。　。　not　more　than　he　had；　but　
still；　things　that　he　wanted。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　it；　but　he　couldn’t　hide　it　pletely。　The　idea　of　rooting　
out　the　petition　was　there；　besides　their　own；　ours　is　the　largest　coven　they’ve　ever　found。　。　。　。”　
　　I　stared　at　his　face　in　horror。　He’d　never　told　me　this；