3 eclipse月食-第35部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　　the　evidence。　
　　Another　similarity　that　points　to　the　possibility　of　a　serial：　every　crime　is　perfectly　clean　of　evidence；　
　　aside　from　the　remains　themselves。　Not　a　fingerprint；　not　a　tire　tread　mark　nor　a　foreign　hair　is　left　
　　behind。　There　have　been　no　sightings　of　any　suspect　in　the　disappearances。　
　　Then　there　are　the　disappearances　themselves　—　hardly　low　profile　by　any　means。　None　of　the　
　　victims　are　what　could　be　viewed　as　easy　targets。　None　are　runaways　or　the　homeless；　who　vanish　
　　so　easily　and　are　seldom　reported　missing。　Victims　have　vanished　from　their　homes；　from　a　fourth　
　　story　apartment；　from　a　health　club；　from　a　wedding　reception。　Perhaps　the　most　astounding：　30　
　　yearold　amateur　boxer　Robert　Walsh　entered　a　movie　theater　with　a　date；　a　few　minutes　into　the　
　　movie；　the　woman　realized　that　he　was　not　in　his　seat。　His　body　was　found　only　three　hours　later　
　　when　fire　fighters　were　called　to　the　scene　of　a　burning　trash　Dumpster；　twenty　miles　away。　
　　Another　pattern　is　present　in　the　slayings：　all　of　the　victims　disappeared　at　night。　
　　And　the　most　alarming　pattern？　Acceleration。　Six　of　the　homicides　were　mitted　in　the　first　
　　month；　11　in　the　second。　Twentytwo　have　occurred　in　the　last　10　days　alone。　And　the　police　are　
　　no　closer　to　finding　the　responsible　party　than　they　were　after　the　first　charred　body　was　
　　discovered。　
　　The　evidence　is　conflicting；　the　pieces　horrifying。　A　vicious　new　gang　or　a　wildly　active　serial　killer？　
　　Or　something　else　the　police　haven’t　yet　conceived　of？　
　　Only　one　conclusion　is　indisputable：　something　hideous　is　stalking　Seattle。　


It　took　me　three　tries　to　read　the　last　sentence；　and　I　realized　the　problem　was　my　shaking　hands。　
“Bella？”　
Focused　as　I　was；　Edward’s　voice；　though　quiet　and　not　totally　unexpected；　made　me　gasp　and　whirl。　
He　was　leaning　in　the　doorway；　his　eyebrows　pulled　together。　Then　he　was　suddenly　at　my　side；　taking　my　
hand。　
“Did　I　startle　you？　I’m　sorry。　I　did　knock。　。　。　。”　
“No；　no；”　I　said　quickly。　“Have　you　seen　this？”　I　pointed　to　the　paper。　
A　frown　creased　his　forehead。　
“I　hadn’t　seen　today’s　news　yet。　But　I　knew　it　was　getting　worse。　We’re　going　to　have　to　do　something　。　。　
。　quickly。”　
I　didn’t　like　that。　I　hated　any　of　them　taking　chances；　and　whatever　or　whoever　was　in　Seattle　was　truly　
beginning　to　frighten　me。　But　the　idea　of　the　Volturi　ing　was　just　as　scary。　
“What　does　Alice　say？”　
“That’s　the　problem。”　His　frown　hardened。　“She　can’t　see　anything　。　。　。　though　we’ve　made　up　our　minds　
half　a　dozen　times　to　check　it　out。　She’s　starting　to　lose　confidence。　She　feels　like　she’s　missing　too　much　
these　days；　that　something’s　wrong。　That　maybe　her　vision　is　slipping　away。”　
My　eyes　were　wide。　“Can　that　happen？”　
“Who　knows？　No　one’s　ever　done　a　study　。　。　。　but　I　really　doubt　it。　These　things　tend　to　intensify　over　
time。　Look　at　Aro　and　Jane。”　
“Then　what’s　wrong？”　
“Selffulfilling　prophecy；　I　think。　We　keep　waiting　for　Alice　to　see　something　so　we　can　go　。　。　。　and　she　
doesn’t　see　anything　because　we　won’t　really　go　until　she　does。　So　she　can’t　see　us　there。　Maybe　we’ll　have　
to　do　it　blind。”　
I　shuddered。　“No。”　
“Did　you　have　a　strong　desire　to　attend　class　today？　We’re　only　a　couple　of　days　from　finals；　they　won’t　
be　giving　us　anything　new。”　
“I　think　I　can　live　without　school　for　a　day。　What　are　we　doing？”　
“I　want　to　talk　to　Jasper。”　
Jasper；　again。　It　was　strange。　In　the　Cullen　family；　Jasper　was　always　a　little　on　the　fringe；　part　of　things　
but　never　the　center　of　them。　It　was　my　unspoken　assumption　that　he　was　only　there　for　Alice。　I　had　the　sense　
that　he　would　follow　Alice　anywhere；　but　that　this　lifestyle　was　not　his　first　choice。　The　fact　that　he　was　less　

mitted　to　it　than　the　others　was　probably　why　he　had　more　difficulty　keeping　it　up。　
At　any　rate；　I’d　never　seen　Edward　feel　dependent　on　Jasper。　I　wondered　again　what　he’d　meant　about　
Jasper’s　expertise。　I　really　didn’t　know　much　about　Jasper’s　history；　just　that　he　had　e　from　somewhere　in　
the　south　before　Alice　found　him。　For　some　reason；　Edward　had　always　shied　away　from　any　questions　about　
his　newest　brother。　And　I’d　always　been　too　intimidated　by　the　tall；　blond　vampire　who　looked　like　a　
brooding　movie　star　to　ask　him　outright。　
When　we　got　to　the　house；　we　found　Carlisle；　Esme；　and　Jasper　watching　the　news　intently；　though　the　
sound　was　so　low　that　it　was　unintelligible　to　me。　Alice　was　perched　on　the　bottom　step　of　the　grand　staircase；　
her　face　in　her　hands　and　her　expression　discouraged。　As　we　walked　in；　Emmett　ambled　through　the　kitchen　
door；　seeming　perfectly　at　ease。　Nothing　ever　bothered　Emmett。　
“Hey；　Edward。　Ditching；　Bella？”　He　grinned　at　me。　
“We　both　are；”　Edward　reminded　him。　
Emmett　laughed。　“Yes；　but　it’s　her　first　time　through　high　school。　She　might　miss　something。”　
Edward　rolled　his　eyes；　but　otherwise　ignored　his　favorite　brother。　He　tossed　the　paper　to　Carlisle。　
“Did　you　see　that　they’re　considering　a　serial　killer　now？”　he　asked。　
Carlisle　sighed。　“They’ve　had　two　specialists　debating　that　possibility　on　N　all　morning。”　
“We　can’t　let　this　go　on。”　
“Let’s　go　now；”　Emmett　said　with　sudden　enthusiasm。　“I’m　dead　bored。”　
A　hiss　echoed　down　the　stairway　from　upstairs。　
“She’s　such　a　pessimist；”　Emmett　muttered　to　himself。　
Edward　agreed　with　Emmett。　“We’ll　have　to　go　sometime。”　
Rosalie　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　descended　slowly。　Her　face　was　smooth；　expressionless。　
Carlisle　was　shaking　his　head。　“I’m　concerned。　We’ve　never　involved　ourselves　in　this　kind　of　thing　
before。　It’s　not　our　business。　We　aren’t　the　Volturi。”　
“I　don’t　want　the　Volturi　to　have　to　e　here；”　Edward　said。　“It　gives　us　so　much　less　reaction　time。”　
“And　all　those　innocent　humans　in　Seattle；”　Esme　murmured。　“It’s　not　right　to　let　them　die　this　way。”　
“I　know；”　Carlisle　sighed。　
“Oh；”　Edward　said　sharply；　turning　his　head　slightly　to　look　at　Jasper。　“I　didn’t　think　of　that。　I　see。　You’re　
right；　that　has　to　be　it。　Well；　that　changes　everything。”　
I　wasn’t　the　only　one　who　stared　at　him　in　confusion；　but　I　might　have　been　the　only　one　who　didn’t　look　
slightly　annoyed。　
“I　think　you’d　better　explain　to　the　others；”　Edward　said　to　Jasper。　“What　could　be　the　purpose　of　this？”　
Edward　started　to　pace；　staring　at　the　floor；　lost　in　thought。　
I　hadn’t　seen　her　get　up；　but　Alice　was　there　beside　me。　“What　is　he　rambling　about？”　she　asked　Jasper。　
“What　are　you　thinking？”　
Jasper　didn’t　seem　to　enjoy　the　spotlight。　He　hesitated；　reading　every　face　in　the　circle　—　for　everyone　
had　moved　in　to　hear　what　he　would　say　—　and　then　his　eyes　paused　on　my　face。　
“You’re　confused；”　he　said　to　me；　his　deep　voice　very　quiet。　
There　was　no　question　in　his　assumption。　Jasper　knew　what　I　was　feeling；　what　everyone　was　feeling。　
“We’re　all　confused；”　Emmett　grumbled。　
“You　can　afford　the　time　to　be　patient；”　Jasper　told　him。　“Bella　should　understand　this；　too。　She’s　one　of　
us　now。”　
His　words　took　me　by　surprise。　As　little　as　I’d　had　to　do　with　Jasper；　especially　since　my　last　birthday　
when　he’d　tried　to　kill　me；　I　hadn’t　realize　that　he　thought　of　me　that　way。　
“How　much　do　you　know　about　me；　Bella？”　Jasper　asked。　
Emmett　sighed　theatrically；　and　plopped　down　on　the　couch　to　wait　with　exaggerated　impatience。　
“Not　much；”　I　admitted。　
Jasper　stared　at　Edward；　who　looked　up　to　meet　his　gaze。　
“No；”　Edward　answered　his　thought。　“I’m　sure　you　can　understand　why　I　haven’t　told　her　that　story。　But　I　
suppose　she　needs　to　hear　it　now。”　
Jasper　nodded　thoughtfully；　and　then　started　to　roll　up　the　arm　of　his　ivory　sweater。　
I　watched；　curious　and　confused；　trying　to　figure　out　what　he　was　doing。　He　held　his　wrist　under　the　edge　

of　the　lampshade　beside　him；　close　to　the　light　of　the　naked　bulb；　and　traced　his　finger　across　a　raised　crescent　
mark　on　the　pale　skin。　
It　took　me　a　minute　to　understand　why　the　shape　looked　strangely　familiar。　
“Oh；”　I　breathed　as　realization　hit。　“Jasper；　you　have　a　scar　exactly　like　mine。”　
I　held　out　my　hand；　the　silvery　crescent　more　prominent　against　my　cream　skin　than　against　his　alabaster。　
Jasper　smiled　faintly。　“I　have　a　lot　of　scars　like　yours；　Bella。”　
Jasper’s　face　was　unreadable　as　he　pushed　the　sleeve　of　his　thin　sweater　higher　up　his　arm。　At　first　my　
eyes　could　not　make　sense　of　the　texture　that　was　layered　thickly　across　the　skin。　Curved　halfmoons　
crisscrossed　in　a　feathery　pattern　that　was　only　visible；　white　on　white　as　it　was；　because　the　bright　glow　of　the　
lamp　beside　him　threw　the　slightly　raised　design　into　relief；　with　shallow　shadows　outlining　the　shapes。　And　
then　I　grasped　that　the　pattern　was　made　of　individual　crescents　like　the　one　on　his　wrist　。　。　。　the　one　on　my　
hand。　
I　looked　back　at　my　own　small；　solitary　scar　—　and　remembered　how　I’d　received　it。　I　stared　at　the　
shape　of　James’s　teeth；　embossed　forever　on　my　skin。　
And　then　I　gasped；　staring　up　at　him。　“Jasper；　what　happened　to　you？”　

　13。　NEWBORN　


“THE　SAME　THING　THAT　HAPPENED　TO　YOUR　HAND；”　Jasper　answered　in　a　quiet　voice。　“Repeated　a　thousand　
times。”　He　laughed　a　little　ruefully　and　brushed　at　his　arm。　“Our　venom　is　the　only　thing　that　leaves　a　scar。”　
“Why？”　I　breathed　in　horror；　feeling　rude　but　unable　to　stop　staring　at　his　subtly　ravaged　skin。　
“I　didn’t　have　quite　the　same　。　。　。　upbringing　as　my　adopted　siblings　here。　My　beginning　was　something　
else　entirely。”　His　voice　turned　hard　as　he　finished。　
I　gaped　at　him；　appalled。　
“Before　I　tell　you　my　story；”　Jasper　said；　“you　must　understand　that　there　are　places　in　our　world；　Bella；　
where　the　life　span　of　the　neveraging　is　measured　in　weeks；　and　not　centuries。”　
The　others　had　heard　this　before。　Carlisle　and　Emmett　turned　their　attention　to　the　TV　again。　Alice　moved　
silently　to　sit　at　Esme’s　feet。　But　Edward　was　just　as　absorbed　as　I　was；　I　could　feel　his　eyes　on　my　face；　
reading　every　flicker　of　emotion。　
“To　really　understand　why；　you　have　to　look　at　the　world　from　a　different　perspective。　You　have　to　
imagine　the　way　it　looks　to　the　powerful；　the　greedy　。　。　。　the　perpetually　thirsty。　
“You　see；　there　are　places　in　this　world　that　are　more　desirable　to　us　than　others。　Places　where　we　can　be　
less　restrained；　and　still　avoid　detection。　
“Picture；　for　instance；　a　map　of　the　western　hemisphere。　Picture　on　it　every　human　life　as　a　small　red　dot。　
The　thicker　the　red；　the　more　easily　we　—　well；　those　who　exist　this　way　—　can　feed　without　attracting　
notice。”　
I　shuddered　at　the　image　in　my　head；　at　the　word　feed。　But　Jasper　wasn’t　worried　about　frightening　me；　
not　overprotective　like　Edward　always　was。　He　went　on　without　a　pause。　
“Not　that　the　covens　in　the　South　care　much　for　what　the　humans　notice　or　do　not。　It’s　the　Volturi　that　
keep　them　in　check。　They　are　the　only　ones　the　southern　covens　fear。　If　not　for　the　Volturi；　the　rest　of　us　
would　be　quickly　exposed。”　
I　frowned　at　the　way　he　pronounced　the　name　—　with　respect；　almost　gratitude。　The　idea　of　the　Volturi　as　
t