4 breaking dawn破晓-第74部分

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note　bothered　me。　Alice　could　have　carved　the　note　into　a　boulder　or　tree　trunk　if　she　lacked　writing　
utensils。　She　could　have　stolen　a　pad　of　Postits　from　any　of　the　houses　by　the　highway。　Why　my　book？　
When　did　she　get　it？　

Sure　enough；　the　trail　led　back　to　the　cottage　by　a　circuitous　route　that　stayed　far　clear　of　the　Cullens'　
house　and　the　wolves　in　the　nearby　woods。　Edward's　brows　tightened　in　confusion　as　it　became　obvious　
where　the　trail　led。　

He　tried　to　reason　it　out。　〃She　left　Jasper　to　wait　for　her　and　came　here？〃　

We　were　almost　to　the　cottage　now；　and　I　felt　uneasy。　I　was　glad　to　have　Edward's　hand　in　mine；　but　I　
also　felt　as　if　I　should　be　here　alone。　Tearing　out　the　page　and　carrying　it　back　to　Jasper　was　such　an　odd　
thing　for　Alice　to　do。　It　felt　like　there　was　a　message　in　her　action—one　I　didn't　understand　at　all。　But　it　
was　my　book；　so　the　message　must　be　for　me。　If　it　were　something　she　wanted　Edward　to　know；　
wouldn't　she　have　pulled　a　page　from　one　of　his　

books。。。　？　

〃Give　me　just　a　minute；〃　I　said；　pulling　my　hand　free　as　we　got　to　the　door。　

His　forehead　creased。　〃Bella？〃　

〃Please？　Thirty　seconds。〃　

I　didn't　wait　for　him　to　answer。　I　darted　through　the　door；　pulling　it　shut　behind　me。　I　went　straight　to　the　
bookshelf。　Alice's　scent　was　fresh—less　than　a　day　old。　A　fire　that　I　had　not　set　burned　low　but　hot　in　the　
fireplace。　I　yanked　The　Merchant　of　Venice　off　the　shelf　and　flipped　it　open　to　the　title　page。　

There；　next　to　the　feathered　edge　left　by　the　torn　page；　under　the　words　The　Merchant　of　Venice　by　
William　Shakespeare；　was　a　note。　

Destroy　this。　

Below　that　was　a　name　and　an　address　in　Seattle。　

When　Edward　came　through　the　door　after　only　thirteen　seconds　rather　than　thirty；　I　was　watching　the　
book　burn。　

〃What's　going　on；　Bella？〃　

〃She　was　here。　She　ripped　a　page　out　of　my　book　to　write　her　note　on。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃I　don't　know　why。〃　



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〃Why　are　you　burning　it？〃　

〃I—I—〃　I　frowned；　letting　all　my　frustration　and　pain　show　on　my　face。　I　did　not　know　what　Alice　was　
trying　to　tell　me；　only　that　she'd　gone　to　great　lengths　to　keep　it　from　anyone　but　me。　The　one　person　
whose　mind　Edward　could　not　read。　So　she　must　want　to　keep　him　in　the　dark；　and　it　was　probably　for　a　
good　reason。　〃It　seemed　appropriate。〃　

〃We　don't　know　what　she's　doing；〃　he　said　quietly。　

I　stared　into　the　flames。　I　was　the　only　person　in　the　world　who　could　lie　to　Edward。　Was　that　what　
Alice　wanted　from　me？　Her　last　request？　

〃When　we　were　on　the　plane　to　Italy；〃　I　whispered—this　was　not　a　lie；　except　perhaps　in　context—〃on　
our　way　to　rescue　you。。。　she　lied　to　Jasper　so　that　he　wouldn't　e　after　us。　She　knew　that　if　he　faced　
the　Volturi；　he　would　die。　She　was　willing　to　die　herself　rather　than　put　him　in　danger。　Willing　for　me　to　
die；　too。　Willing　for　you　to　die。〃　

Edward　didn't　answer。　

〃She　has　her　priorities；〃　I　said。　It　made　my　still　heart　ache　to　realize　that　my　explanation　did　not　feel　like　a　
lie　in　any　way。　

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Edward　said。　He　didn't　say　it　like　he　was　arguing　with　me—he　said　it　like　he　was　
arguing　with　himself。　〃Maybe　it　was　just　Jasper　in　danger。　Her　plan　would　work　for　the　rest　of　us；　but　
he'd　be　lost　if　he　stayed。　

Maybe。。。〃　

〃She　could　have　told　us　that。　Sent　him　away。〃　

〃But　would　Jasper　have　gone？　Maybe　she's　lying　to　him　again。〃　

〃Maybe；〃　I　pretended　to　agree。　〃We　should　go　home。　There's　no　time。〃　

Edward　took　my　hand；　and　we　ran。　

Alice's　note　did　not　make　me　hopeful。　If　there　were　any　way　to　avoid　the　ing　slaughter；　Alice　would　
have　stayed。　I　couldn't　see　another　possibility。　So　it　was　something　else　she　was　giving　me。　Not　a　way　to　
escape。　But　what　else　would　she　think　that　I　wanted？　Maybe　a　way　to　salvage　something？　Was　there　
anything　I　could　still　save？　

Carlisle　and　the　others　had　not　been　idle　in　our　absence。　We'd　been　separated　from　them　for　all　of　five　
minutes；　and　they　were　already　prepared　to　leave。　In　the　corner；　Jacob　was　human　again；　with　Renesmee　
on　his　lap；　both　of　them　watching　us　with　wide　eyes。　

Rosalie　had　traded　her　silk　wrap　dress　for　a　sturdylooking　pair　of　jeans；　running　shoes；　and　a　
buttondown　shirt　made　of　the　thick　weave　that　backpackers　used　for　long　trips。　Esme　was　dressed　
similarly。　There　was　a　globe　on　the　coffee　table；　but　they　were　done　looking　at　it；　just　waiting　for　us。　

The　atmosphere　was　more　positive　now　than　before；　it　felt　good　to　them　to　be　in　action。　Their　hopes　



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were　pinned　on　Alice's　instructions。　

I　looked　at　the　globe　and　wondered　where　we　were　headed　first。　

〃We're　to　stay　here？〃　Edward　asked；　looking　at　Carlisle。　He　didn't　sound　happy。　

〃Alice　said　that　we　would　have　to　show　people　Renesmee；　and　we　would　have　to　be　careful　about　it；〃　
Carlisle　said。　〃We'll　send　whomever　we　can　find　back　here　to　you—Edward；　you'll　be　the　best　at　fielding　
that　particular　minefield。〃　

Edward　gave　one　sharp　nod；　still　not　happy。　〃There's　a　lot　of　ground　to　cover。〃　

〃We're　splitting　up；〃　Emmett　answered。　〃Rose　and　I　are　hunting　for　nomads。〃　

〃You'll　have　your　hands　full　here；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃Tanya's　family　will　be　here　in　the　morning；　and　they　
have　no　idea　why。　First；　you　have　to　persuade　them　not　to　react　the　way　Irina　did。　Second；　you've　got　to　
find　out　what　Alice　meant　about　Eleazar。　Then；　after　all　that；　will　they　stay　to　witness　for　us？　It　will　start　
again　as　the　others　e—if　we　can　persuade　anyone　to　e　in　the　first　place。〃　Carlisle　sighed。　〃Your　
job　may　well　be　the　hardest。　We'll　be　back　to　help　as　soon　as　we　can。〃　

Carlisle　put　his　hand　on　Edward's　shoulder　for　a　second　and　then　kissed　my　forehead。　Esme　hugged　us　
both；　and　Emmett　punched　us　both　on　the　arm。　Rosalie　forced　a　hard　smile　for　Edward　and　me；　blew　a　
kiss　to　Renesmee；　and　then　gave　Jacob　a　parting　grimace。　

〃Good　luck；〃　Edward　told　them。　

〃And　to　you；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃We'll　all　need　it。〃　

I　watched　them　leave；　wishing　I　could　feel　whatever　hope　bolstered　them；　and　wishing　I　could　be　alone　
with　the　puter　for　just　a　few　seconds。　I　had　to　figure　out　who　this　J。　Jenks　person　was　and　why　Alice　
had　gone　to　such　

lengths　to　give　his　name　to　only　me。　

Renesmee　twisted　in　Jacob's　arms　to　touch　his　cheek。　

〃I　don't　know　if　Carlisle's　friends　will　e。　I　hope　so。　Sounds　like　we're　a　little　outnumbered　right　now；〃　
Jacob　murmured　to　Renesmee。　

So　she　knew。　Renesmee　already　understood　only　too　clearly　what　was　going　on。　The　whole　
imprintedwerewolfgivestheobjectofhisimprintingwhatevershewants　thing　was　getting　old　pretty　
fast。　Wasn't　shielding　her　more　important　than　answering　her　questions？　

I　looked　carefully　at　her　face。　She　did　not　look　frightened；　only　anxious　and　very　serious　as　she　
conversed　with　Jacob　in　her　silent　way。　

〃No；　we　can't　help；　we've　got　to　stay　here；〃　he　went　on。　〃People　are　ing　to　see　you；　not　the　
scenery。〃　

Renesmee　frowned　at　him。　




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〃No；　I　don't　have　to　go　anywhere；〃　he　said　to　her。　Then　he　looked　at　Edward；　his　face　stunned　by　the　
realization　that　he　might　be　wrong。　〃Do　I？〃　

Edward　hesitated。　

〃Spit　it　out；〃　Jacob　said；　his　voice　raw　with　tension。　He　was　right　at　his　breaking　point；　just　like　the　rest　
of　us。　

〃The　vampires　who　are　ing　to　help　us　are　not　the　same　as　we　are；〃　Edward　said。　〃Tanya's　family　is　
the　only　one　besides　ours　with　a　reverence　for　human　life；　and　even　they　don't　think　much　of　werewolves。　
I　think　it　might　be　safer—〃　

〃I　can　take　care　of　myself；〃　Jacob　interrupted。　

〃Safer　for　Renesmee；〃　Edward　continued；　〃if　the　choice　to　believe　our　story　about　her　is　not　tainted　by　
an　association　with　werewolves。〃　

〃Some　friends。　They'd　turn　on　you　just　because　of　who　you　hang　out　with　now？〃　

〃I　think　they　would　mostly　be　tolerant　under　normal　circumstances。　But　you　need　to　understand　
—accepting　Nessie　will　not　be　a　simple　thing　for　any　of　them。　Why　make　it　even　the　slightest　bit　harder？〃　

Carlisle　had　explained　the　laws　about　immortal　children　to　Jacob　last　night。　〃The　immortal　children　were　
really　that　bad？〃　he　asked。　

〃You　can't　imagine　the　depth　of　the　scars　they've　left　in　the　collective　vampire　psyche。〃　

〃Edward　。。。〃　It　was　still　odd　to　hear　Jacob　use　Edward's　name　without　bitterness。　

〃I　know；　Jake。　I　know　how　hard　it　is　to　be　away　from　her。　We'll　play　it　by　ear—　see　how　they　react　to　
her。　In　any　case；　Nessie　is　going　to　have　to　be　incognito　off　and　on　in　the　next　few　weeks。　She'll　need　to　
stay　at　the　cottage　until　the　right　moment　for　us　to　introduce　her。　As　long　as　you　keep　a　safe　distance　
from　the　main　house　。。。〃　

〃I　can　do　that。　pany　in　the　morning；　huh？〃　

〃Yes。　The　closest　of　our　friends。　In　this　particular　case；　it's　probably　better　if　we　get　things　out　in　the　
open　as　soon　as　possible。　You　can　stay　here。　Tanya　knows　about　you。　She's　even　met　Seth。〃　

〃You　should　tell　Sam　what's　going　on。　There　might　be　strangers　in　the　woods　soon。〃　

〃Good　point。　Though　I　owe　him　some　silence　after　last　night。〃　

〃Listening　to　Alice　is　usually　the　right　thing。〃　

Jacob's　teeth　ground　together；　and　I　could　see　that　he　shared　Sam's　feelings　about　what　Alice　and　
Jasper　had　done。　

While　they　were　talking；　I　wandered　toward　the　back　windows；　trying　to　look　distracted　and　anxious。　
Not　a　difficult　thing　to　do。　I　leaned　my　head　against　the　wall　that　curved　away　from　the　living　room　
toward　the　dining　room；　right　next　to　one　of　the　puter　desks。　I　ran　my　fingers　against　the　keys　while　



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staring　into　the　forest；　trying　to　make　it　look　like　an　absentminded　thing。　Did　vampires　ever　do　things　
absentmindedly？　I　didn't　think　anyone　was　paying　particular　attention　to　me；　but　I　didn't　turn　to　make　
sure。　The　monitor　glowed　to　life。　I　stroked　my　fingers　across　the　keys　again。　Then　I　drummed　them　very　
quietly　on　the　wooden　desktop；　just　to　make　it　seem　random。　Another　stroke　across　the　keys。　

I　scanned　the　screen　in　my　peripheral　vision。　

No　J。　Jenks；　but　there　was　a　Jason　Jenks。　A　lawyer。　I　brushed　the　keyboard；　trying　to　keep　a　rhythm；　
like　the　preoccupied　stroking　of　a　cat　you'd　all　but　forgotten　on　your　lap。　Jason　Jenks　had　a　fancy　
website　for　his　firm；　but　the　address　on　the　homepage　was　wrong。　In　Seattle；　but　in　a　different　zip　code。　I　
noted　the　phone　number　and　then　stroked　the　keyboard　in　rhythm。　This　time　I　searched　the　address；　but　
nothing　at　all　came　up；　as　if　the　address　didn't　exist。　I　wanted　to　look　at　a　map；　but　I　decided　I　was　
pushing　my　luck。　One　more　brush；　to　delete　the　history___　

I　continued　staring　out　the　window　and　brushed　the　wood　a　few　times。　I　heard　light　footsteps　crossing　
the　floor　to　me；　and　I　turned　with　what　I　hoped　was　the　same　expression　as　before。　

Renesmee　reached　for　me；　and　I　held　my　arms　open。　She　launched　herself　into　them；　smelling　strongly　of　
werewolf；　and　nestled　her　head　a