3 eclipse月食-第42部分

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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；　but　I　guessed　I　knew　why。　I　could　see　it　in　my　head　
now；　Aro’s　dream。　Edward　and　Alice　in　black；　flowing　robes；　drifting　along　at　Aro’s　side　with　their　eyes　cold　
and　bloodred。　。　。　。　
　　Carlisle　interrupted　my　waking　nightmare。　“They’re　too　mitted　to　their　mission。　They　would　never　
break　the　rules　themselves。　It　goes　against　everything　they’ve　worked　for。”　
　　“They’ll　clean　up　afterward。　A　double　betrayal；”　Edward　said　in　a　grim　voice。　“No　harm　done。”　
　　Jasper　leaned　forward；　shaking　his　head。　“No；　Carlisle　is　right。　The　Volturi　do　not　break　rules。　Besides；　
it’s　much　too　sloppy。　This　。　。　。　person；　this　threat　—　they　have　no　idea　what　they’re　doing。　A　firsttimer；　I’d　
swear　to　it。　I　cannot　believe　the　Volturi　are　involved。　But　they　will　be。”　
　　They　all　stared　at　each　other；　frozen　with　stress。　
　　“Then　let’s　go；”　Emmett　almost　roared。　“What　are　we　waiting　for？”　
　　Carlisle　and　Edward　exchanged　a　long　glance。　Edward　nodded　once。　
　　“We’ll　need　you　to　teach　us；　Jasper；”　Carlisle　finally　said。　“How　to　destroy　them。”　Carlisle’s　jaw　was　
hard；　but　I　could　see　the　pain　in　his　eyes　as　he　said　the　words。　No　one　hated　violence　more　than　Carlisle。　
　　There　was　something　bothering　me；　and　I　couldn’t　put　my　finger　on　it。　I　was　numb；　horrified；　deathly　
afraid。　And　yet；　under　that；　I　could　feel　that　I　was　missing　something　important。　Something　that　would　make　
some　sense　out　of　the　chaos。　That　would　explain　it。　
　　“We’re　going　to　need　help；”　Jasper　said。　“Do　you　think　Tanya’s　family　would　be　willing　。　。　。　？　Another　five　
mature　vampires　would　make　an　enormous　difference。　And　then　Kate　and　Eleazar　would　be　especially　
advantageous　on　our　side。　It　would　be　almost　easy；　with　their　aid。”　
　　“We’ll　ask；”　Carlisle　answered。　
　　Jasper　held　out　a　cell　phone。　“We　need　to　hurry。”　
　　I’d　never　seen　Carlisle’s　innate　calm　so　shaken。　He　took　the　phone；　and　paced　toward　the　windows。　He　
dialed　a　number；　held　the　phone　to　his　ear；　and　laid　the　other　hand　against　the　glass。　He　stared　out　into　the　
foggy　morning　with　a　pained　and　ambivalent　expression。　
　　Edward　took　my　hand　and　pulled　me　to　the　white　loveseat。　I　sat　beside　him；　staring　at　his　face　while　he　
stared　at　Carlisle。　
　　Carlisle’s　voice　was　low　and　quick；　difficult　to　hear。　I　heard　him　greet　Tanya；　and　then　he　raced　through　
the　situation　too　fast　for　me　to　understand　much；　though　I　could　tell　that　the　Alaskan　vampires　were　not　
ignorant　of　what　was　going　on　in　Seattle。　
　　Then　something　changed　in　Carlisle’s　voice。　
　　“Oh；”　he　said；　his　voice　sharper　in　surprise。　“We　didn’t　realize　。　。　。　that　Irina　felt　that　way。”　
　　Edward　groaned　at　my　side　and　closed　his　eyes。　“Damn　it。　Damn　Laurent　to　the　deepest　pit　of　hell　where　
he　belongs。”　
　　“Laurent？”　I　whispered；　the　blood　emptying　from　my　face；　but　Edward　didn’t　respond；　focused　on　
Carlisle’s　thoughts。　

My　short　encounter　with　Laurent　early　this　spring　was　not　something　that　had　faded　or　dimmed　in　my　
mind。　I　still　remembered　every　word　he’d　said　before　Jacob　and　his　pack　had　interrupted。　
I　actually　came　here　as　a　favor　to　her。　。　。　。　
Victoria。　Laurent　had　been　her　first　maneuver　—　she’d　sent　him　to　observe；　to　see　how　hard　it　might　be　to　
get　to　me。　He　hadn’t　survived　the　wolves　to　report　back。　
Though　he’d　kept　up　his　old　ties　with　Victoria　after　James’s　death；　he’d　also　formed　new　ties　and　new　
relationships。　He’d　gone　to　live　with　Tanya’s　family　in　Alaska　—　Tanya　the　strawberry　blonde　—　the　closest　
friends　the　Cullens　had　in　the　vampire　world；　practically　extended　family。　Laurent　had　been　with　them　for　
almost　a　year　previous　to　his　death。　
Carlisle　was　still　talking；　his　voice　not　quite　pleading。　Persuasive；　but　with　an　edge。　Then　the　edge　abruptly　
won　out　over　the　persuasion。　
“There’s　no　question　of　that；”　Carlisle　said　in　a　stern　voice。　“We　have　a　truce。　They　haven’t　broken　it；　and　
neither　will　we。　I’m　sorry　to　hear　that。　。　。　。　Of　course。　We’ll　just　have　to　do　our　best　alone。”　
Carlisle　shut　the　phone　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　He　continued　to　stare　out　into　the　fog。　
“What’s　the　problem？”　Emmett　murmured　to　Edward。　
“Irina　was　more　involved　with　our　friend　Laurent　than　we　knew。　She’s　holding　a　grudge　against　the　wolves　
for　destroying　him　to　save　Bella。　She　wants　—”　He　paused；　looking　down　at　me。　
“Go　on；”　I　said　as　evenly　as　I　could。　
His　eyes　tightened。　“She　wants　revenge。　To　take　down　the　pack。　They　would　trade　their　help　for　our　
permission。”　
“No！”　I　gasped。　
“Don’t　worry；”　he　told　me　in　a　flat　voice。　“Carlisle　would　never　agree　to　it。”　He　hesitated；　then　sighed。　
“Nor　would　I。　Laurent　had　it　ing”　—　this　was　almost　a　growl　—　“and　I　still　owe　the　wolves　for　that。”　
“This　isn’t　good；”　Jasper　said。　“It’s　too　even　a　fight。　We’d　have　the　upper　hand　in　skill；　but　not　numbers。　
We’d　win；　but　at　what　price？”　His　tense　eyes　flashed　to　Alice’s　face　and　away。　
I　wanted　to　scream　out　loud　as　I　grasped　what　Jasper　meant。　
We　would　win；　but　we　would　lose。　Some　wouldn’t　survive。　
I　looked　around　the　room　at　their　faces　—　Jasper；　Alice；　Emmett；　Rose；　Esme；　Carlisle　。　。　。　Edward　—　
the　faces　of　my　family。　

　　　14。　DECLARATION　


“YOU　CAN’T　BE　SERIOUS；”　I　SAID　WEDNESDAY　AFTERnoon。　“You’ve　pletely　lost　your　mind！”　
“Say　whatever　you　like　about　me；”　Alice　answered。　“The　party　is　still　on。”　
I　stared　at　her；　my　eyes　so　wide　with　disbelief　it　felt　like　they　might　fall　out　and　land　on　my　lunch　tray。　
“Oh；　calm　down；　Bella！　There’s　no　reason　not　to　go　through　with　it。　Besides；　the　invitations　are　already　
sent。”　
“But　。　。　。　the　。　。　。　you　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　insane！”　I　spluttered。　
“You’ve　already　bought　my　present；”　she　reminded　me。　“You　don’t　have　to　do　anything　but　show　up。”　
I　made　an　effort　to　calm　myself。　“With　everything　that　is　going　on　right　now；　a　party　is　hardly　appropriate。”　
“Graduation　is　what’s　going　on　right　now；　and　a　party　is　so　appropriate　it’s　almost　passé。”　
“Alice！”　
She　sighed；　and　tried　to　be　serious。　“There　are　a　few　things　we　need　to　get　in　order　now；　and　that’s　going　
to　take　a　little　time。　As　long　as　we’re　sitting　here　waiting；　we　might　as　well　memorate　the　good　stuff。　
You’re　only　going　to　graduate　from　high　school　—　for　the　first　time　—　once。　You　don’t　get　to　be　human　
again；　Bella。　This　is　a　onceinalifetime　shot。”　
Edward；　silent　through　our　little　argument；　flashed　her　a　warning　look。　She　stuck　out　her　tongue　at　him。　
She　was　right　—　her　soft　voice　would　never　carry　over　the　babble　of　the　cafeteria。　And　no　one　would　
understand　the　meaning　behind　her　words　in　any　case。　
“What　few　things　do　we　need　to　get　in　order？”　I　asked；　refusing　to　be　sidetracked。　
Edward　answered　in　a　low　voice。　“Jasper　thinks　we　could　use　some　help。　Tanya’s　family　isn’t　the　only　
choice　we　have。　Carlisle’s　trying　to　track　down　a　few　old　friends；　and　Jasper　is　looking　up　Peter　and　
Charlotte。　He’s　considering　talking　to　Maria　。　。　。　but　no　one　really　wants　to　involve　the　southerners。”　
Alice　shuddered　delicately。　
“It　shouldn’t　be　too　hard　to　convince　them　to　help；”　he　continued。　“Nobody　wants　a　visit　from　Italy。”　
“But　these　friends　—　they’re　not　going　to　be　。　。　。　vegetarians；　right？”　I　protested；　using　the　Cullens’　
tongueincheek　nickname　for　themselves。　
“No；”　Edward　answered；　suddenly　expressionless。　
“Here？　In　Forks？”　
“They’re　friends；”　Alice　reassured　me。　“Everything’s　going　to　be　fine。　Don’t　worry。　And　then；　Jasper　has　
to　teach　us　a　few　courses　on　newborn　elimination。　。　。　。”　
Edward’s　eyes　brightened　at　that；　and　a　brief　smile　flashed　across　his　face。　My　stomach　suddenly　felt　like　
it　was　full　of　sharp　little　splinters　of　ice。　
“When　are　you　going？”　I　asked　in　a　hollow　voice。　I　couldn’t　stand　this　—　the　idea　that　someone　might　not　
e　back。　What　if　it　was　Emmett；　so　brave　and　thoughtless　that　he　was　never　the　least　bit　cautious？　Or　
Esme；　so　sweet　and　motherly　that　I　couldn’t　even　imagine　her　in　a　fight？　Or　Alice；　so　tiny；　so　fragilelooking？　
Or　。　。　。　but　I　couldn’t　even　think　the　name；　consider　the　possibility。　
“A　week；”　Edward　said　casually。　“That　ought　to　give　us　enough　time。”　
The　icy　splinters　twisted　unfortably　in　my　stomach。　I　was　suddenly　nauseated。　
“You　look　kind　of　green；　Bella；”　Alice　mented。　
Edward　put　his　arm　around　me　and　pulled　me　tightly　against　his　side。　“It’s　going　to　be　fine；　Bella。　Trust　
me。”　
Sure；　I　thought　to　myself。　Trust　him。　He　wasn’t　the　one　who　was　going　to　have　to　sit　behind　and　wonder　
whether　or　not　the　core　of　his　existence　was　going　to　e　home。　
And　then　it　occurred　to　me。　Maybe　I　didn’t　need　to　sit　behind。　A　week　was　more　than　enough　time。　
“You’re　looking　for　help；”　I　said　slowly。　
“Yes。”　Alice’s　head　cocked　to　the　side　as　she　processed　the　change　in　my　tone。　
I　looked　only　at　her　as　I　answered。　My　voice　was　just　slightly　louder　than　a　whisper。　“I　could　help。”　
Edward’s　body　was　suddenly　rigid；　his　arm　too　tight　around　me。　He　exhaled；　and　the　sound　was　a　hiss。　

But　it　was　Alice；　still　calm；　who　answered。　“That　really　wouldn’t　be　helpful。”　
“Why　not？”　I　argued；　I　could　hear　the　desperation　in　my　voice。　“Eight　is　better　than　seven。　There’s　more　
than　enough　time。”　
“There’s　not　enough　time　to　make　you　helpful；　Bella；”　she　disagreed　coolly。　“Do　you　remember　how　
Jasper　described　the　young　ones？　You’d　be　no　good　in　a　fight。　You　wouldn’t　be　able　to　control　your　instincts；　
and　that　would　make　you　an　easy　target。　And　then　Edward　would　get　hurt　trying　to　protect　you。”　She　folded　
her　arms　across　her　chest；　pleased　with　her　unassailable　logic。　
And　I　knew　she　was　right；　when　she　put　it　like　that。　I　slumped　in　my　seat；　my　sudden　hope　defeated。　
Beside　me；　Edward　relaxed。　
He　whispered　the　reminder　in　my　ear。　“Not　because　you’re　afraid。”　
“Oh；”　Alice　said；　and　a　blank　look　crossed　her　face。　Then　her　expression　became　surly。　“I　hate　last　
minute　cancellations。　So　that　puts　the　party　attendance　list　down　to　sixtyfive。