new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第55部分

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〃That's　just　fine；〃　Felix　purred。　My　eyes　were　adjusting　to　the　deep　shade；　
and　I　could　see　that　Felix　was　
very　big；　tall　and　thick　through　the　shoulders。　His　size　reminded　me　of　
Emmett。　
〃Aro　will　be　disappointed；〃　Demetri　sighed。　
〃I'm　sure　he'll　survive　the　letdown；〃　Edward　replied。　
Felix　and　Demetri　stole　closer　toward　the　mouth　of　the　alley；　spreading　out　
slightly　so　they　could　e　at　
Edward　from　two　sides。　They　meant　to　force　him　deeper　into　the　alley；　to　avoid　
a　scene。　No　reflected　
light　found　access　to　their　skin；　they　were　safe　inside　their　cloaks。　
Edward　didn't　move　an　inch。　He　was　dooming　himself　by　protecting　me。　
Abruptly；　Edward's　head　whipped　around；　toward　the　darkness　of　the　winding　
alley；　and　Demetri　and　
Felix　did　the　same；　in　response　to　some　sound　or　movement　too　subtle　for　my　
senses。　
〃Let's　behave　ourselves；　shall　we？〃　a　lilting　voice　suggested。　〃There　are　
ladies　present。〃　
Alice　tripped　lightly　to　Edward's　side；　her　stance　casual。　There　was　no　hint　
of　any　underlying　tension。　She　
looked　so　tiny；　so　fragile。　Her　little　arms　swung　like　a　child's。　
Yet　Demetri　and　Felix　both　straightened　up；　their　cloaks　swirling　slightly　as　
a　gust　of　wind　funneled　
through　the　alley。　Felix's　face　soured。　Apparently；　they　didn't　like　even　
numbers。　
〃We're　not　alone；〃　she　reminded　them。　
Demetri　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　A　few　yards　into　the　square；　the　little　
family；　with　the　girls　in　their　red　
dresses；　was　watching　us。　The　mother　was　speaking　urgently　to　her　husband；　her　
eyes　on　the　five　of　us。　
She　looked　away　when　Demetri　met　her　gaze。　The　man　walked　a　few　steps　farther　
into　the　plaza；　and　
tapped　one　of　the　red…blazered　men　on　the　shoulder。　
Demetri　shook　his　head。　〃Please；　Edward；　let's　be　reasonable；〃　he　said。　
〃Let's；〃　Edward　agreed。　〃And　we'll　leave　quietly　now；　with　no　one　the　wiser。〃　
Demetri　sighed　in　frustration。　〃At　least　let　us　discuss　this　more　privately。〃　
Six　men　in　red　now　joined　the　family　as　they　watched　us　with　anxious　
expressions。　I　was　very　conscious　
of　Edward's　protective　stance　in　front　of　me—sure　that　this　was　what　caused　
their　alarm。　I　wanted　to　
scream　to　them　to　run。　
Edward's　teeth　came　together　audibly。　〃No。〃　
Felix　smiled。　
〃Enough。〃　
The　voice　was　high；　reedy；　and　n　came　from　behind　us。　
I　peeked　under　Edward's　other　arm　to　see　a　small；　dark　shape　ing　toward　us。　
By　the　way　the　edges　
billowed；　I　knew　it　would　be　another　one　of　them。　Who　else？　
At　first　I　thought　it　was　a　young　boy。　The　newer　was　as　tiny　as　Alice；　with　
lank；　pale　brown　hair　
trimmed　short。　The　body　under　the　cloak—which　was　darker；　almost　black—was　
slim　and　androgynous。　
But　the　face　was　too　pretty　for　a　boy。　The　wide…eyed；　full…lipped　face　would　
make　a　Botticelli　angel　look　
like　a　gargoyle。　Even　allowing　for　the　dull　crimson　irises。　
Her　size　was　so　insignificant　that　the　reaction　to　her　appearance　confused　me。　
Felix　and　Demetri　relaxed　
immediately；　stepping　back　from　their　offensive　positions　to　blend　again　with　
the　shadows　of　the　
overhanging　walls。　
Edward　dropped　his　arms　and　relaxed　his　position　as　well—but　in　defeat。　
〃Jane；〃　he　sighed　in　recognition　and　resignation。　
Alice　folded　her　arms　across　her　chest；　her　expression　impassive。　
〃Follow　me；〃　Jane　spoke　again；　her　childish　voice　a　monotone。　She　turned　her　
back　on　us　and　drifted　
silently　into　the　dark。　
Felix　gestured　for　us　to　go　first；　smirking。　
Alice　walked　after　the　little　Jane　at　once。　Edward　wrapped　his　arm　around　my　
waist　and　pulled　me　along　
beside　her。　The　alley　angled　slightly　downward　as　it　narrowed。　I　looked　up　at　
him　with　frantic　questions　
in　my　eyes；　but　he　just　shook　his　head。　Though　I　couldn't　hear　the　others　
behind　us；　I　was　sure　they　were　
there。　
〃Well；　Alice；〃　Edward　said　conversationally　as　we　walked。　〃I　suppose　I　
shouldn't　be　surprised　to　see　you　
here。〃　
〃It　was　my　mistake；〃　Alice　answered　in　the　same　tone。　〃It　was　my　job　to　set　it　
right。〃　
〃What　happened？〃　His　voice　was　polite；　as　if　he　were　barely　interested。　I　
imagined　this　was　due　to　the　
listening　ears　behind　us。　
〃It's　a　long　story。〃　Alice's　eyes　flickered　toward　me　and　away。　〃In　summary；　
she　did　jump　off　a　cliff；　but　
she　wasn't　trying　to　kill　herself。　Bella's　all　about　the　extreme　sports　these　
days。〃　
I　flushed　and　turned　my　eyes　straight　ahead；　looking　after　the　dark　shadow　
that　I　could　no　longer　see。　I　
could　imagine　what　he　was　hearing　in　Alice's　thoughts　now。　Near…drownings；　
stalking　vampires；　
werewolf　friends　
〃Hm；〃　Edward　said　curtly；　and　the　casual　tone　of　his　voice　was　gone。　
There　was　a　loose　curve　to　the　alley；　still　slanting　downward；　so　I　didn't　see　
the　squared…off　dead　end　
ing　until　we　reached　the　flat；　windowless；　brick　face。　The　little　one　
called　Jane　was　nowhere　to　be　
seen。　
Alice　didn't　hesitate；　didn't　break　pace　as　she　strode　toward　the　wall。　Then；　
with　easy　grace；　she　slid　
down　an　open　hole　in　the　street。　
It　looked　like　a　drain；　sunk　into　the　lowest　point　of　the　paving。　I　hadn't　
noticed　it　until　Alice　disappeared；　
but　the　grate　was　halfway　pushed　aside。　The　hole　was　small；　and　black。　
I　balked。　
〃It's　all　right；　Bella；〃　Edward　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Alice　will　catch　you。〃　
I　eyed　the　hole　doubtfully。　I　imagine　he　would　have　gone　first；　if　Demetri　and　
Felix　hadn't　been　waiting；　
smug　and　silent；　behind　us。　
I　crouched　down；　swinging　my　legs　into　the　narrow　gap。　
〃Alice？〃　I　whispered；　voice　trembling。　
〃I'm　right　here；　Bella；〃　she　reassured　me。　Her　voice　came　from　too　far　below　
to　make　me　feel　better。　
Edward　took　my　wrists—his　hands　felt　like　stones　in　winter—and　lowered　me　
into　the　blackness。　
〃Ready？〃　he　asked。　
〃Drop　her；〃　Alice　called。　
I　closed　my　eyes　so　I　couldn't　see　the　darkness；　scrunching　them　together　in　
terror；　clamping　my　mouth　
shut　so　I　wouldn't　scream。　Edward　let　me　fall。　
It　was　silent　and　short。　The　air　whipped　past　me　for　just　half　a　second；　and　
then；　with　a　huff　as　I　exhaled；　
Alice's　waiting　arms　caught　me。　
I　was　going　to　have　bruises；　her　arms　were　very　hard。　She　stood　me　upright。　
It　was　dim；　but　not　black　at　the　bottom。　The　light　from　the　hole　above　
provided　a　faint　glow；　reflecting　
wetly　from　the　stones　under　my　feet。　The　light　vanished　for　a　second；　and　then　
Edward　was　a　faint；　white　
radiance　beside　me。　He　put　his　arm　around　me；　holding　me　close　to　his　side；　
and　began　to　tow　me　swiftly　
forward。　I　wrapped　both　arms　around　his　cold　waist；　and　tripped　and　stumbled　
my　way　across　the　
uneven　stone　surface。　The　sound　of　the　heavy　grate　sliding　over　the　drain　hole　
behind　us　rang　with　
metallicfinality。　
The　dim　light　from　the　street　was　quickly　lost　in　the　gloom。　The　sound　of　my　
staggering　footsteps　echoed　
through　the　black　space；　it　sounded　very　wide；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure。　There　
were　no　sounds　other　than　
my　frantic　heartbeat　and　my　feet　on　the　wet　stones—except　for　once；　when　an　
impatient　sigh　whispered　
from　behind　me。　
Edward　held　me　tightly。　He　reached　his　free　hand　across　his　body　to　hold　my　
face；　too；　his　smooth　
thumb　tracing　across　my　lips。　Now　and　then；　I　felt　his　face　press　into　my　
hair。　I　realized　that　this　was　the　
only　reunion　we　would　get；　and　I　clutched　myself　closer　to　him。　
For　now；　it　felt　like　he　wanted　me；　and　that　was　enough　to　offset　the　horror　
of　the　subterranean　tunnel　
and　the　prowling　vampires　behind　us。　It　was　probably　no　more　than　guilt—the　
same　guilt　that　pelled　
him　to　e　here　to　die　when　he'd　believed　that　it　was　his　fault　that　I'd　
killed　myself。　But　I　felt　his　lips　
press　silently　against　my　forehead；　and　I　didn't　care　what　the　motivation　was。　
At　least　I　could　be　with　him　
again　before　I　died。　That　was　better　than　a　long　life。　
I　wished　I　could　ask　him　exactly　what　was　going　to　happen　now。　I　wanted　
desperately　to　know　how　we　
were　going　to　die—as　if　that　would　somehow　make　it　better；　knowing　in　
advance。　But　I　couldn't　speak；　
even　in　a　whisper；　surrounded　as　we　were。　The　others　could　hear　everything—my　
every　breath；　my　
every　heartbeat。　
The　path　beneath　our　feet　continued　to　slant　downward；　taking　us　deeper　into　
the　ground；　and　it　made　
me　claustrophobic。　Only　Edward's　hand；　soothing　against　my　face；　kept　me　from　
screaming　out　loud。　
I　couldn't　tell　where　the　light　was　ing　from；　but　it　slowly　turned　dark　
gray　instead　of　black。　We　were　
in　a　low；　arched　tunnel。　Long　trails　of　ebony　moisture　seeped　down　the　gray　
stones；　like　they　were　
bleeding　ink。　
I　was　shaking；　and　I　thought　it　was　from　fear。　It　wasn't　until　my　teeth　
started　to　chatter　together　that　I　
realized　I　was　cold。　My　clothes　were　still　wet；　and　the　temperature　underneath　
the　city　was　wintry。　As　
was　Edward's　skin。　
He　realized　this　at　the　same　time　I　did；　and　let　go　of　me；　keeping　only　my　
hand。　
〃N…n…no；〃　I　chattered；　throwing　my　arms　around　him。　I　didn't　care　if　I　froze。　
Who　knew　how　long　we　had　
left？　
His　cold　hand　chafed　against　my　arm；　trying　to　warm　me　with　the　friction。　
We　hurried　through　the　tunnel；　or　it　felt　like　hurrying　to　me。　My　slow　
progress　irritated　someone—I　
guessed　Felix—and　I　heard　him　heave　a　sigh　now　and　then。　
At　the　end　of　the　tunnel　was　a　grate—the　iron　bars　were　rusting；　but　thick　as　
my　arm。　A　small　door　made　
of　thinner；　interlaced　bars　was　standing　open。　Edward　ducked　through　and　
hurried　on　to　a　larger；　brighter　
stone　room。　The　grille　slammed　shut　with　a　clang；　followed　by　the　snap　of　a　
lock。　I　was　too　afraid　to　
look　behind　me。　
On　the　other　side　of　the　long　room　was　a　low；　heavy　wooden　door。　It　was　very　
thick—as　I　could　tell　
because　it；　too；　stood　open。　
We　stepped　through　the　door；　and　I　glanced　around　me　in　surprise；　relaxing　
automatically。　Beside　me；　
Edward　tensed；　his　jaw　clenched　tight。　
　21。　VERDICT
WE　WERE　IN　A　BRIGHTLY　LIT；　UNREMARKABLE　HALLWAY。　The　walls　were　off…white；　the　
floor　carpeted　in　industrial　gray。　mon　rectangular　fluorescent　lights　were　
spaced　evenly　along　the　
ceiling。　It　was　warmer　here；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　This　hall　seemed　very　
benign　after　the　gloom　of　the　
ghoulish　stone　sewers。　
Edward　didn't　seem　to　agree　with　my　assessment。　He　glowered　darkly　down　the　
long　hallway；　toward　
the　slight；　black　shrouded　figure　at　the　end；　standing　by　an　elevator。　
He　pulled　me　along；　and　Alice　walked　on　my　other　side。　The　heavy　door　creaked　
shut　behind　us；　and　
then　there　was　the　thud　of　a　bolt　sliding　home。　
Jane　waited　by　the　elevator；　one　hand　holding　the　doors　open　for　us。　Her　
expression　was　apathetic。　
Once　inside　the　elevator；　the　three　vampires　that　belonged　to　the　Volturi　
relaxed　further。　They　threw　
back　their　cloaks；　letting　the　hoods　fall　back　on　their　shoulders。　Felix　and　
Demetri　were　both　of　a　slightly　
olive　plexion—it　looked　odd　bined　with　their　chalky　pallor。　Felix's　
black　hair　was　cropped　short；　
but　Demetri's　waved　to　his　shoulders。　Their　irises　were　deep　crimson　around　
the　edges；　darkening　until　
they　were　black　around　the　pupil。　Under　the　shrouds；　their　clothes　were　
modern；　pale；　and　nondescript。　I　
cowered　in　the　corner；　cringing　against　Edward。　His　hand　still　rubbed　against　
my　arm。　He　never　took　his　
eyes　off　Jane。　
The　elevator　ride　was　short；　we　stepped　out　into