6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第20部分

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shed　I　could　tell　him　the　truth　about　the　yelloweyes；　and　how　much　more　there　seemed　to　be　that　we　didn’t　know。　This　whole　world　that　we　really　knew　nothing　about。　　It　would　be　interesting　to　explore　that　world。　Particularly　with　someone　who　could　make　me　invisible　and　safe。　　But　Diego　was　gone。　He　wouldn’t　be　ing　to　find　Fred　with　me。　That　made　imagining　the　future　faintly　repugnant。　
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　I　could　still　hear　some　of　what　was　going　on；　but　just　the　howling　and　a　few　voices。　Whatever　those　weird　thumping　sounds　had　been；　they　were　too　muted　now　for　me　to　examine　them。　　I　did　make　out　the　words　when；　a　few　minutes　later；　Carlisle　said；　“You　have　to…”　his　voice　was　too　low　for　a　second；　and　then“…　from　here　now。　If　we　could　help　we　would；　but　we　cannot　leave。”　　There　was　a　growl；　but　it　was　oddly　unmenacing。　The　yowling　became　a　low　whine　that　disappeared　slowly；　as　if　it　was　moving　away　from　me。　　It　was　quiet　for　a　few　minutes。　I　heard　some　low　voices；　Carlisle　and　Esme　among　them；　but　also　some　I　didn’t　know。　I　wished　I　could　smell　something　　　the　blindness　bined　with　the　muted　sound　left　me　straining　for　some　source　of　sensory　information。　But　all　I　could　smell　was　the　horribly　sweet　smoke。　　There　was　one　voice；　higher　and　clearer　than　the　others；　that　I　could　hear　most　easily。　　“Another　five　minutes；”　I　heard　whoever　it　was　say。　I　was　sure　it　was　a　girl　who　was　speaking。　“And　Bella　will　open　her　eyes　in　thirtyseven　seconds。　I　wouldn’t　doubt　that　she　can　hear　us　now。”　　I　tried　to　make　sense　of　this。　Was　someone　else　being　forced　to　keep　her　eyes　shut；　like　me？　Or　did　she　think　my　name　was　Bella？　I　hadn’t　told　anyone　my　name。　I　struggled　again　to　smell　something。　　More　mumbling。　I　thought　that　one　voice　sounded　offI　couldn’t　hear　any　ring　to　it　at　all。　But　I　couldn’t　be　sure　with　
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Jasper’s　hands　so　securely　over　my　ears。　　“Three　minutes；”　the　high；　clear　voice　said。　　Jasper’s　hands　left　my　head。　　“You’d　better　open　your　eyes　now；”　he　told　me　from　a　few　steps　away。　The　way　he　said　this　frightened　me。　I　looked　around　myself　quickly；　searching　for　the　danger　hinted　at　in　his　tone。　　One　whole　field　of　my　vision　was　obscured　by　the　dark　smoke。　Close　by；　Jasper　was　frowning。　His　teeth　were　gritted　together　and　he　was　looking　at　me　with　an　expression　that　was　almost…　frightened。　Not　like　he　was　scared　of　me；　but　like　he　was　scared　because　of　me。　I　remembered　what　he’d　said　before；　about　my　putting　them　in　danger　with　something　called　a　Volturi。　I　wondered　what　a　Volturi　was。　I　couldn’t　imagine　what　this　scarredup；　dangerous　vampire　would　be　afraid　of。　　Behind　Jasper；　four　vampires　were　spaced　out　in　a　loose　line　with　their　backs　to　me。　One　was　Esme。　With　her　were　a　tall　blonde　woman；　a　tiny　blackhaired　girl；　and　a　darkhaired　male　vampire　so　big　that　he　was　scary　just　to　look　atthe　one　I’d　seen　kill　Kevin。　For　an　instant　I　imagined　that　vampire　getting　a　hold　on　Raoul。　It　was　a　strangely　pleasant　picture。　　There　were　three　more　vampires　behind　the　big　one。　I　couldn’t　see　exactly　what　they　were　doing　with　him　in　the　way。　Carlisle　was　kneeling　on　the　ground；　and　next　to　him　was　a　male　vampire　with　dark　red　hair。　Lying　flat　on　the　ground　was　another　figure；　but　I　couldn’t　see　much　of　that　one；　only　jeans　and　small　brown　boots。　It　was　either　a　female　or　a　young　male。　I　wondered　if　they　were　putting　the　vampire　back　together。　
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　So　eight　yelloweyes　total；　plus　all　that　howling　before；　whatever　strange　kind　of　vampire　that　had　been；　there　had　been　at　least　eight　more　voices　involved。　Sixteen；　maybe　more。　More　than　twice　as　many　as　Riley　had　told　us　to　expect。　　I　found　myself　fiercely　hoping　that　those　blackcloaked　vampires　would　catch　up　to　Riley；　and　that　they　would　make　him　suffer。　　The　vampire　on　the　ground　started　to　get　slowly　to　her　feetmoving　awkwardly；　almost　like　she　was　some　clumsy　human。　　The　breeze　shifted；　blowing　the　smoke　across　me　and　Jasper。　For　a　moment；　everything　was　invisible　except　for　him。　Though　I　was　not　as　blind　as　before；　I　suddenly　felt　much　more　anxious；　for　some　reason。　It　was　like　I　could　feel　the　anxiety　bleeding　out　of　the　vampire　next　to　me。　　The　light　wind　gusted　back　in　the　next　second；　and　I　could　see　and　smell　everything。　　Jasper　hissed　at　me　furiously　and　shoved　me　out　of　my　crouch　and　back　onto　the　ground。　　It　was　herthe　human　I’d　been　hunting　just　a　few　minutes　ago。　The　scent　my　whole　body　had　been　focused　toward。　The　sweet；　wet　scent　of　the　most　delicious　blood　I’d　ever　tracked。　My　mouth　and　throat　felt　like　they　were　on　fire。　　I　tried　wildly　to　hold　on　to　my　reasonto　focus　on　the　fact　that　Jasper　was　just　waiting　for　me　to　jump　up　again　so　that　he　could　kill　me　but　only　part　of　me　could　do　it。　I　felt　like　I　was　about　to　pull　into　two　halves　trying　to　keep　myself　here。　　The　human　named　Bella　stared　at　me　with　stunned　brown　eyes。　Looking　at　her　made　it　worse。　I　could　see　the　blood　
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flushing　through　her　thin　skin。　I　tried　to　look　anywhere　else；　but　my　eyes　kept　circling　back　to　her。　　The　redhead　spoke　to　her　in　a　low　voice。　“She　surrendered。　That’s　one　I’ve　never　seen　before。　Only　Carlisle　would　think　of　offering。　Jasper　doesn’t　approve。”　　Carlisle　must　have　explained　to　that　one　when　my　ears　were　covered。　　The　vampire　had　both　his　arms　around　the　human　girl；　and　she　had　both　hands　pressed　to　his　chest。　Her　throat　was　just　inches　from　his　mouth；　but　she　didn’t　look　frightened　of　him　at　all。　And　he　didn’t　look　like　he　was　hunting。　I　had　tried　to　wrap　my　head　around　the　idea　of　a　coven　with　a　pet　human；　but　this　was　not　close　to　what　I　had　imagined。　If　she’d　been　a　vampire；　I　would　have　guessed　that　they　were　together。　　“Is　Jasper　all　right？”　the　human　whispered。　　“He’s　fine。　The　venom　stings；”　the　vampire　said。　　“He　was　bitten？”　she　asked；　sounding　shocked　by　the　idea。　　Who　was　this　girl？　Why　did　the　vampires　allow　her　to　be　with　them？　Why　hadn’t　they　killed　her　yet？　Why　did　she　seem　so　fortable　with　them；　like　they　didn’t　scare　her？　She　seemed　like　she　was　a　part　of　this　world；　and　yet　she　didn’t　understand　its　realities。　Of　course　Jasper　was　bitten。　He’d　just　foughtand　destroyedmy　entire　coven。　Did　this　girl　even　know　what　we　were？　　Ugh；　the　burn　in　my　throat　was　impossible！　I　tried　not　to　think　about　washing　it　away　with　her　blood；　but　the　wind　was　blowing　her　smell　right　in　my　face！　It　was　too　late　to　keep　my　head　　I　had　scented　the　prey　I　was　hunting；　and　nothing　could　change　
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that　now。　　“He　was　trying　to　be　everywhere　at　once；”　the　redhead　told　the　human。　“Trying　to　make　sure　Alice　had　nothing　to　do；　actually。”　He　shook　his　head　as　he　looked　at　the　tiny　black　haired　girl。　“Alice　doesn’t　need　anyone’s　help。”　　The　vampire　named　Alice　shot　a　glare　at　Jasper。　“Overprotective　fool；”　she　said　in　her　clear　soprano　voice。　Jasper　met　her　stare　with　a　half　smile；　seeming　to　forget　for　a　second　that　I　existed。　　I　could　barely　fight　the　instinct　that　wanted　me　to　make　use　of　his　lapse　and　spring　at　the　human　girl。　It　would　take　less　than　an　instant　and　then　her　warm　bloodblood　I　could　hear　pumping　through　her　heart　　would　quench　the　burn。　She　was　so　close　　The　vampire　with　the　dark　red　hair　met　my　eyes　with　a　fierce　warning　glare；　and　I　knew　I　would　die　if　I　tried　for　the　girl；　but　the　agony　in　my　throat　made　me　feel　like　I　would　die　if　I　didn’t。　It　hurt　so　much　that　I　screamed　out　loud　in　frustration。　　Jasper　snarled　at　me；　and　I　tried　to　keep　myself　from　moving；　but　it　felt　like　the　scent　of　her　blood　was　a　giant　hand　yanking　me　off　the　ground。　I　had　never　tried　to　stop　myself　from　feeding　once　I　had　mitted　to　a　hunt。　I　dug　my　hands　into　the　ground　looking　for　something　to　hold　on　to　but　finding　nothing。　Jasper　leaned　into　a　crouch；　and　even　knowing　I　was　two　seconds　from　death；　I　couldn’t　focus　my　thirsty　thoughts。　　And　then　Carlisle　was　right　there；　his　hand　on　Jasper’s　arm。　He　looked　at　me　with　kind；　calm　eyes。　“Have　you　changed　your　mind；　young　one？”　he　asked　me。　“We　don’t　want　to　destroy　you；　
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but　we　will　if　you　can’t　control　yourself。”　　“How　can　you　stand　it？”　I　asked　him；　almost　begging。　Wasn’t　he　burning；　too？　“I　want　her。”　I　stared　at　her；　desperately　wishing　the　distance　between　us　was　gone。　My　fingers　raked　uselessly　through　the　rocky　dirt。　　“You　must　stand　it；”　Carlisle　said　solemnly。　“You　must　exercise　control。　It　is　possible；　and　it　is　the　only　thing　that　will　save　you　now。”　　If　being　able　to　tolerate　the　human　the　way　these　strange　vampires　did　was　my　only　hope　for　survival；　then　I　was　already　doomed。　I　couldn’t　stand　the　fire。　And　I　was　of　two　minds　about　survival　anyway。　I　didn’t　want　to　die；　I　didn’t　want　pain；　but　what　was　the　point？　Everyone　else　was　dead。　Diego　had　been　dead　for　days。　　His　name　was　right　on　my　lips。　I　almost　whispered　it　aloud。　Instead；　I　gripped　my　skull　with　both　hands　and　tried　to　think　about　something　that　wouldn’t　hurt。　Not　the　girl；　and　not　Diego。　It　didn’t　work　very　well。　　“Shouldn’t　we　move　away　from　her？”　the　human　whispered　roughly；　breaking　my　concentration。　My　eyes　snapped　back　to　her。　Her　skin　was　so　thin　and　soft。　I　could　see　the　pulse　in　her　neck。　　“We　have　to　stay　here；”　said　the　vampire　she　was　clinging　to。　“They　are　ing　to　the　north　end　of　the　clearing　now。”　　They？　I　glanced　to　the　north；　but　there　was　nothing　but　smoke。　Did　he　mean　Riley　and　my　creator？　I　felt　a　new　thrill　of　panic；　followed　by　a　little　spasm　of　hope。　There　was　no　way　she　and　Riley　could　stand　against　these　vampires　who　had　killed　so　
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many　of　us；　was　there？　Even　if　the　howly　ones　were　gone；　Jasper　alone　looked　capable　of　dealing　with　the　two　of　them。　　Or　did　he　mean　this　mysterious　Volturi？　　The　wind　teased　the　girl’s　scent　across　my　face　again；　and　my　thoughts　scattered。　I　glared　at　her　thirstily。　　The　girl　met　my　stare；　but　her　expression　was　so　different　from　what　it　should　have　been。　Though　I　could　feel　that　my　lips　were　curled　back　from　my　teeth；　though　I　trembled　with　the　effort　to　stop　myself　from　springing　at　her；　she　did　not　look　afraid　of　me。　Instead　she　seemed　fascinated。　It　almost　looked　like　she　wanted　to　speak　to　me　　like　she　had　a　question　she　wanted　me　to　answer。　　Then　Carlisle　and　Jasper　began　to　back