new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第51部分

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Neither　one　seemed　to　notice　my　
noisy　reappearance。　
〃You　might　control　yourself　on　occasion；　but　these　leeches　you're　taking　her　
to—〃　Jacob　was　furiously　
accusing　her。　
〃Yes。　You're　right；　dog。〃　Alice　was　snarling；　too。　〃The　Volturi　are　the　very　
essence　of　our　kind—they're　
the　reason　your　hair　stands　on　end　when　you　smell　me。　They　are　the　substance　
of　your　nightmares；　the　
dread　behind　your　instincts。　I'm　not　unaware　of　that。〃　
〃And　you　take　her　to　them　like　a　bottle　of　wine　for　a　party！〃　he　shouted。　
〃You　think　she'd　be　better　off　if　I　left　her　here　alone；　with　Victoria　
stalking　her？〃　
〃We　can　handle　the　redhead。〃　
〃Then　why　is　she　still　hunting？〃　
Jacob　growled；　and　a　shudder　rippled　through　his　torso。　
〃Stop　that！〃　I　shouted　at　them　both；　wild　with　impatience。　〃Argue　when　we　get　
back；　let's　go！〃　
Alice　turned　for　the　car；　disappearing　in　her　haste。　I　hurried　after　her；　
pausing　automatically　to　turn　and　
lock　the　door。　
Jacob　caught　my　arm　with　a　shivering　hand。　〃Please；　Bella。　I'm　begging。〃　
His　dark　eyes　were　glistening　with　tears。　A　lump　filled　my　throat。　
〃Jake；　I　have　to—〃　
〃You　don't；　though。　You　really　don't。　You　could　stay　here　with　me。　You　could　
stay　alive。　For　Charlie。　
For　me。〃　
The　engine　of　Carlisle's　Mercedes　purred；　the　rhythm　of　the　thrumming　spiked　
when　Alice　revved　it　
impatiently。　
I　shook　my　head；　tears　spattering　from　my　eyes　with　the　sharp　motion。　I　pulled　
my　arm　free；　and　he　
didn't　fight　me。　
〃Don't　die；　Bella；〃　he　choked　out。　〃Don't　go。　Don't。〃　
What　if　I　never　saw　him　again？　
The　thought　pushed　me　past　the　silent　tears；　a　sob　broke　out　from　my　chest。　I　
threw　my　arms　around　his　
waist　and　hugged　for　one　too…short　moment；　burying　my　tear…wet　face　against　
his　chest。　He　put　his　big　
hand　on　the　back　of　my　hair；　as　if　to　hold　me　there。　
〃Bye；　Jake。〃　I　pulled　his　hand　from　my　hair；　and　kissed　his　palm。　I　couldn't　
bear　to　look　at　his　face。　
〃Sorry；〃　I　whispered。　
Then　I　spun　and　raced　for　the　car。　The　door　on　the　passenger　side　was　open　and　
waiting。　I　threw　my　
backpack　over　the　headrest　and　slid　in；　slamming　the　door　behind　me。　
〃Take　care　of　Charlie！〃　I　turned　to　shout　out　the　window；　but　Jacob　was　
nowhere　in　sight。　As　Alice　
stomped　on　the　gas　and—with　the　tires　screeching　like　human　screams—spun　us　
around　to　face　the　
road；　I　caught　sight　of　a　shred　of　white　near　the　edge　of　the　trees。　A　piece　
of　a　shoe。
　19。　HATE
WE　MADE　OUR　FLIGHT　WITH　SECONDS　TO　SPARE；　AND　THEN　the　true　torture　began。　The　
plane　sat　idle　on　the　tarmac　while　the　flight　attendants　strolled—so　casually
—up　and　down　the　aisle；　
patting　the　bags　in　the　overhead　partments　to　make　sure　everything　fit。　The　
pilots　leaned　out　of　the　
cockpit；　chatting　with　them　as　they　passed。　Alice's　hand　was　hard　on　my　
shoulder；　holding　me　in　my　seat　
while　I　bounced　anxiously　up　and　down。　
〃It's　faster　than　running；〃　she　reminded　me　in　a　low　voice。　
I　just　nodded　in　time　with　my　bouncing。　
At　last　the　plane　rolled　lazily　from　the　gate；　building　speed　with　a　gradual　
steadiness　that　tortured　me　
further。　I　expected　some　kind　of　relief　when　we　achieved　liftoff；　but　my　
frenzied　impatience　didn't　lessen。　
Alice　lifted　the　phone　on　the　back　of　the　seat　in　front　of　her　before　we'd　
stopped　climbing；　turning　her　
back　on　the　stewardess　who　eyed　her　with　disapproval。　Something　about　my　
expression　stopped　the　
stewardess　from　ing　over　to　protest。　
I　tried　to　tune　out　what　Alice　was　murmuring　to　Jasper；　I　didn't　want　to　hear　
the　words　again；　but　some　
slipped　through。　
〃I　can't　be　sure；　I　keep　seeing　him　do　different　things；　he　keeps　changing　his　
mind　A　killing　spree　
through　the　city；　attacking　the　guard；　lifting　a　car　over　his　head　in　the　main　
square　mostly　things　that　
would　expose　them—he　knows　that's　the　fastest　way　to　force　a　reaction〃　
〃No；　you　can't。〃　Alice's　voice　dropped　till　it　was　nearly　inaudible；　though　I　
was　sitting　inches　from　her。　
Contrarily；　I　listened　harder。　〃Tell　Emmett　no　Well；　go　after　Emmett　and　
Rosalie　and　bring　them　
back　Think　about　it；　Jasper。　If　he　sees　any　of　us；　what　do　you　think　he　will　
do？〃　
She　nodded。　〃Exactly。　I　think　Bella　is　the　only　chance—if　there　is　a　chance　
I'll　do　everything　that　can　
be　done；　but　prepare　Carlisle；　the　odds　aren't　good。〃　
She　laughed　then；　and　there　was　a　catch　in　her　voice。　〃I've　thought　of　that　
Yes；　I　promise。〃　Her　voice　
became　pleading。　〃Don't　follow　me。　I　promise；　Jasper。　One　way　or　another；　I'll　
get　out　And　I　love　
you。〃　
She　hung　up；　and　leaned　back　in　her　seat　with　her　eyes　closed。　〃I　hate　lying　
to　him。〃　
〃Tell　me　everything；　Alice；〃　I　begged。　〃I　don't　understand。　Why　did　you　tell　
Jasper　to　stop　Emmett；　why　
can't　they　e　help　us？〃　
〃Two　reasons；〃　she　whispered；　her　eyes　still　closed。　〃The　first　I　told　him。　We　
could　try　to　stop　Edward　
ourselves—if　Emmett　could　get　his　hands　on　him；　we　might　be　able　to　stop　him　
long　enough　to　convince　
him　you're　alive。　But　we　can't　sneak　up　on　Edward。　And　if　he　sees　us　ing　
for　him；　he'll　just　act　that　
much　faster。　He'll　throw　a　Buiclc　through　a　wall　or　something；　and　the　Volturi　
will　take　him　down。　
〃That's　the　second　reason　of　course；　the　reason　I　couldn't　say　to　Jasper。　
Because　if　they're　there　and　the　
Volturi　kill　Edward；　they'll　fight　them。　Bella。〃　She　opened　her　eyes　and　
stared　at　me；　beseeching。　〃If　there　
were　any　chance　we　could　win　if　there　were　a　way　that　the　four　of　us　could　
save　my　brother　by　
fighting　for　him；　maybe　it　would　be　different。　But　we　can't；　and；　Bella；　I　
can't　lose　Jasper　like　that。〃　
I　realized　why　her　eyes　begged　for　my　understanding。　She　was　protecting　
Jasper；　at　our　expense；　and　
maybe　at　Edward's；　too。　I　understood；　and　I　did　not　think　badly　of　her。　I　
nodded。　
〃Couldn't　Edward　hear　you；　though。'〃　I　asked。　〃Wouldn't　he　know；　as　soon　as　he　
heard　your　thoughts；　
that　I　was　alive；　that　there　was　no　point　to　this？〃　
Not　that　there　was　any　justification；　either　way。　I　still　couldn't　believe　
that　he　was　capable　of　reacting　like　
this。　It　made　no　sense！　I　remembered　with　painful　clarity　his　words　that　day　
on　the　sofa；　while　we　
watched　Romeo　and　Juliet　kill　themselves；　one　after　the　other。　I　wasn't　going　
to　live　without　you；　he'd　
said；　as　if　it　should　be　such　an　obvious　conclusion。　But　the　words　he　had　
spoken　in　the　forest　as　he'd　left　
me　had　canceled　all　that　out—forcefully。　
〃If　he　were　listening；〃　she　explained。　〃But　believe　it　or　not；　it's　possible　
to　lie　with　your　thoughts。　If　you　
had　died；　I　would　still　try　to　stop　him。　And　I　would　be　thinking　'she's　alive；　
she's　alive'　as　hard　as　I　could。　
He　knows　that。〃　
I　ground　my　teeth　in　mute　frustration。　
〃If　there　were　any　way　to　do　this　without　you；　Bella；　I　wouldn't　be　
endangering　you　like　this。　It's　very　
wrong　of　me。〃　
〃Don't　be　stupid。　I'm　the　last　thing　you　should　be　worrying　about。〃　I　shook　my　
head　impatiently。　〃Tell　me　
what　you　meant；　about　hating　to　lie　to　Jasper。〃　
She　smiled　a　grim　smile。　〃I　promised　him　I　would　get　out　before　they　killed　
me；　too。　It's　not　something　I　
can　guarantee—not　by　a　long　shot。〃　She　raised　her　eyebrows；　as　if　willing　me　
to　take　the　danger　more　
seriously。　
〃Who　are　these　Volturi？〃　I　demanded　in　a　whisper。　〃What　makes　them　so　much　
more　dangerous　than　
Emmett；　Jasper；　Rosalie；　and　you？〃　It　was　hard　to　imagine　something　scarier　
than　that。　
She　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　abruptly　leveled　a　dark　glance　over　my　
shoulder。　I　turned　in　time　to　see　
the　man　in　the　aisle　seat　looking　away　as　if　he　wasn't　listening　to　us。　He　
appeared　to　be　a　businessman；　in　
a　dark　suit　with　a　power　tie　and　a　laptop　on　his　knees。　While　I　stared　at　him　
with　irritation；　he　opened　the　
puter　and　very　conspicuously　put　headphones　on。　
I　leaned　closer　to　Alice。　Her　lips　were　at　my　ears　as　she　breathed　the　story。　
〃I　was　surprised　that　you　recognized　the　name；〃　she　said。　〃That　you　understood　
so　immediately　what　it　
meant—when　I　said　he　was　going　to　Italy。　I　thought　I　would　have　to　explain。　
How　much　did　Edward　tell　
you？〃　
〃He　just　said　they　were　an　old；　powerful　family—like　royalty。　That　you　didn't　
antagonize　them　unless　you　
wanted　to　die；〃　I　whispered。　The　last　word　was　hard　to　choke　out。　
〃You　have　to　understand；〃　she　said；　her　voice　slower；　more　measured　now。　〃We　
Cullens　are　unique　in　
more　ways　than　you　know。　It's　abnormal　for　so　many　of　us　to　live　together　in　
peace。　It's　the　same　for　
Tanya's　family　in　the　north；　and　Carlisle　speculates　that　abstaining　makes　it　
easier　for　us　to　be　civilized；　to　
form　bonds　based　on　love　rather　than　survival　or　convenience。　Even　James's　
little　coven　of　three　was　
unusually　large—and　you　saw　how　easily　Laurent　left　them。　Our　kind　travel　
alone；　or　in　pairs；　as　a　
general　rule。　Carlisle's　family　is　the　biggest　in　existence；　as　far　as　I　know；　
with　the　one　exception。　The　
Volturi。　
〃There　were　three　of　them　originally；　Aro；　Caius；　and　Marcus。〃　
〃I've　seen　them；〃　I　mumbled。　〃In　the　picture　in　Carlisle's　study。〃　
Alice　nodded。　〃Two　females　joined　them　over　time；　and　the　five　of　them　make　up　
the　family。　I'm　not　sure；　
but　I　suspect　that　their　age　is　what　gives　them　the　ability　to　live　peacefully　
together。　They　are　well　over　
three　thousand　years　old。　Or　maybe　it's　their　gifts　that　give　them　extra　
tolerance。　Like　Edward　and　I；　Aro　
and　Marcus　are　talented。〃　
She　continued　before　I　could　ask。　〃Or　maybe　it's　just　their　love　of　power　that　
binds　them　together。　
Royalty　is　an　apt　description。〃　
〃But　if　there　are　only　five—〃　
〃Five　that　make　up　the　family；〃　she　corrected。　〃That　doesn't　include　their　
guard。〃　
I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃That　sounds　serious。〃　
〃Oh；　it　is；〃　she　assured　me。　〃There　were　nine　members　of　the　guard　that　were　
permanent；　the　last　time　we　
heard。　Others　are　more　transitory。　It　changes。　And　many　of　them　are　gifted　
as　well—with　formidable　
gifts；　gifts　that　make　what　I　can　do　look　like　a　parlor　trick。　The　Volturi　
chose　them　for　their　abilities；　
physical　or　otherwise。〃　
I　opened　my　mouth；　and　then　closed　it。　I　didn't　think　I　wanted　to　know　how　bad　
the　odds　were。　
She　nodded　again；　as　if　she　understood　exactly　what　I　was　thinking。　〃They　
don't　get　into　too　many　
confrontations。　No　one　is　stupid　enough　to　mess　with　them。　They　stay　in　their　
city；　leaving　only　as　duty　
calls。〃　
〃Duty？〃　I　wondered。　
〃Didn't　Edward　tell　you　what　they　do？〃　
〃No；〃　I　said；　feeling　the　blank　expression　on　my　face。　
Alice　looked　over　my　head　again；　toward　the　businessman；　and　put　her　wintry　
lips　back　to　my　ear。　
〃There's　a　reason　he　called　them　royalty　the　ruling　class。　Over　the　
millennia；　they　have　assumed　the　
position　of　enforcing　our　rules—which　actually　translates　to　punishing　
transgressors。　They　fulfill　that　duty　
decisively。〃　
My　eyes　popped　wide　with　shock。　〃There　are　rules？〃　I　asked　in　a　voice　that　was　
too　loud。　
〃Shh！〃　
〃Shouldn't　somebody　have　mentioned　this　to　me　earlier？〃　I　whispered　angrily。　
〃I　mean；　I　wanted　to　be　
a　to　be　one　of　you！　Shouldn't　somebody　have　explained　the　rules　to　me？〃　
Alice　chuckled　once　at　my　reaction。　〃It's　not　that　plicated；　Bella。　There's　
only　one　core　
restriction—and　if　you　think　about　it；　you　can　probably　figure　it　out　for　
y