4 breaking dawn破晓-第23部分

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dodging　Sam's　pity　would　last。　

That　will　be　my　goal　then—to　be　less　annoying　than　Paul。　

Yeah；　work　on　that　

I　changed　into　my　other　form　when　I　was　a　few　yards　from　the　lawn。　I　hadn't　been　planning　to　spend　
much　time　human　here。　But　I　hadn't　been　planning　to　have　Leah　in　my　head；　either。　I　pulled　on　my　ragged　
shorts　and　started　across　the　lawn。　

The　door　opened　before　I　got　to　the　steps；　and　I　was　surprised　to　see　Carlisle　rather　than　Edward　step　
outside　to　meet　me—his　face　looked　exhausted　and　defeated。　For　a　second；　my　heart　froze。　I　faltered　to　
a　stop；　unable　to　speak。　

〃Are　you　all　right；　Jacob？〃　Carlisle　asked。　




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〃Is　Bella？〃　I　choked　out。　

〃She's。。。　much　the　same　as　last　night。　Did　I　startle　you？　I'm　sorry。　Edward　said　you　were　ing　in　your　
human　form；　and　I　came　out　to　greet　you；　as　he　didn't　want　to　leave　her。　She's　awake。〃　

And　Edward　didn't　want　to　lose　any　time　with　her；　because　he　didn't　have　much　time　left。　Carlisle　didn't　
say　the　words　out　loud；　but　he　might　as　well　have。　

It　had　been　a　while　since　I'd　slept—since　before　my　last　patrol。　I　could　really　feel　that　now。　I　took　a　step　
forward；　sat　down　on　the　porch　steps；　and　slumped　against　the　railing。　

Moving　whisperquiet　as　only　a　vampire　could；　Carlisle　took　a　seat　on　the　same　step；　against　the　other　
railing。　

〃I　didn't　get　a　chance　to　thank　you　last　night；　Jacob。　You　don't　know　how　much　I　appreciate　your。。。　
passion。　I　know　your　goal　was　to　protect　Bella；　but　I　owe　you　the　safety　of　the　rest　of　my　family　as　
well。　Edward　told　me　what　you　had　to　do___〃　

〃Don't　mention　it；〃　I　muttered。　

〃If　you　prefer。〃　

We　sat　in　silence。　I　could　hear　the　others　in　the　house。　Emmett；　Alice；　and　Jasper；　speaking　in　low；　
serious　voices　upstairs。　Esme　humming　tunelessly　in　another　room。　Rosalie　and　Edward　breathing　close　
by—I　couldn't　tell　which　was　which；　but　I　could　hear　the　difference　in　Bella's　labored　panting。　I　could　
hear　her　heart；　too。　It　seemed。。。　uneven。　

It　was　like　fate　was　out　to　make　me　do　everything　I'd　ever　sworn　I　wouldn't　in　the　course　of　twentyfour　
hours。　Here　I　was；　hanging　around；　waiting　for　her　to　die。　

I　didn't　want　to　listen　anymore。　Talking　was　better　than　listening。　

〃She's　family　to　you？〃　I　asked　Carlisle。　It　had　caught　my　notice　before；　when　he'd　said　I'd　helped　the　
rest　of　his　family；　too。　

〃Yes。　Bella　is　already　a　daughter　to　me。　A　beloved　daughter。〃　

〃But　you're　going　to　let　her　die。〃　

He　was　quiet　long　enough　that　I　looked　up。　His　face　was　very；　very　tired。　I　knew　how　he　felt。　

〃I　can　imagine　what　you　think　of　me　for　that；〃　he　finally　said。　〃But　i　can't　ignore　her　will。　It　wouldn't　be　
right　to　make　such　a　choice　for　her；　to　force　her。〃　

I　wanted　to　be　angry　with　him；　but　he　was　making　it　hard。　It　was　like　he　was　throwing　my　own　words　
back　at　me；　just　scrambled　up。　They'd　sounded　right　before；　but　they　couldn't　be　right　now。　Not　with　
Bella　dying。　Still。。。　I　remembered　how　it　felt　to　be　broken　on　the　ground　under　Sam—to　have　no　choice　
but　be　involved　in　the　murder　of　someone　I　loved。　It　wasn't　the　same；　though。　Sam　was　wrong。　And　
Bella　loved　things　she　shouldn't。　

〃Do　you　think　there's　any　chance　she'll　make　it？　I　mean；　as　a　vampire　and　all　that。　She　told　me　about。。。　



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about　Esme。〃　

Tel　say　there's　an　even　chance　at　this　point；〃　he　answered　quietly。　〃I've　seen　vampire　venom　work　
miracles；　but　there　are　conditions　that　even　venom　cannot　overe。　Her　heart　is　working　too　hard　now；　
if　it　should　fail。。。　there　won't　be　anything　for　me　to　do。〃　

Bella's　heartbeat　throbbed　and　faltered；　giving　an　agonizing　emphasis　to　his　words。　

Maybe　the　pla　had　started　turning　backward。　Maybe　that　would　explain　how　everything　was　the　
opposite　of　what　it　had　been　yesterday—how　I　could　be　hoping　for　what　had　once　seemed　like　the　very　
worst　thing　in　the　world。　

〃What　is　that　thing　doing　to　her？〃　I　whispered。　〃She　was　so　much　worse　last　night。　I　saw。。。　the　tubes　and　
all　that。　Through　the　window。〃　

〃The　fetus　isn't　patible　with　her　body。　Too　strong；　for　one　thing；　but　she　could　probably　endure　that　
for　a　while。　The　bigger　problem　is　that　it　won't　allow　her　to　get　the　sustenance　she　needs。　Her　body　is　
rejecting　every　form　of　nutrition。　I'm　trying　to　feed　her　intravenously；　but　she's　just　not　absorbing　it。　
Everything　about　her　condition　is　accelerated。　I'm　watching　her—and　not　just　her；　but　the　fetus　as　
well—starve　to　death　by　the　hour。　I　can't　stop　it　and　I　can't　slow　it　down。　I　can't　figure　out　what　it　
wants〃　His　weary　voice　broke　at　the　end。　

I　felt　the　same　way　I　had　yesterday；　when　I'd　seen　the　black　stains　across　her　stomach—furious；　and　a　
little　crazy。　

I　clenched　my　hands　into　fists　to　control　the　shaking。　I　hated　the　thing　that　was　hurting　her。　It　wasn't　
enough　for　the　monster　to　beat　her　from　the　inside　out。　No；　it　was　starving　her；　too。　Probably　just　looking　
for　something　to　sink　its　teeth　into—a　throat　to　suck　dry。　Since　it　wasn't　big　enough　to　kill　anyone　else　
yet；　it　settled　for　sucking　Bella's　life　from　her。　

I　could　tell　them　exactly　what　it　wanted：　death　and　blood；　blood　and　death。　

My　skin　was　all　hot　and　prickly。　I　breathed　slowly　in　and　out；　focusing　on　that　to　calm　myself。　

〃I　wish　I　could　get　a　better　idea　of　what　exactly　it　is；〃　Carlisle　murmured。　〃The　fetus　is　well　protected。　I　
haven't　been　able　to　produce　an　ultrasonic　image。　I　doubt　there　is　any　way　to　get　a　needle　through　the　
amniotic　sac；　but　Rosalie　won't　agree　to　let　me　try；　in　any　case。〃　

〃A　needle？〃　I　mumbled。　〃What　good　would　that　do？〃　

〃The　more　I　know　about　the　fetus；　the　better　I　can　estimate　what　it　will　be　capable　of。　What　I　wouldn't　
give　for　even　a　little　amniotic　fluid。　If　I　knew　even　the　chromosomal　count。。。〃　

〃You're　losing　me；　Doc。　Can　you　dumb　it　down？〃　

He　chuckled　once—even　his　laugh　sounded　exhausted。　〃Okay。　How　much　biology　have　you　taken？　Did　
you　study　chromosomal　pairs？〃　

〃Think　so。　We　have　twentythree；　right？〃　

〃Humans　do。〃　



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I　blinked。　〃How　many　do　you　have？〃　

〃Twentyfive。〃　

I　frowned　at　my　fists　for　a　second。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　

〃I　thought　it　meant　that　our　species　were　almost　pletely　different。　Less　related　than　a　lion　and　a　
house　cat。　But　this　new　life—well；　it　suggests　that　we're　more　geically　patible　than　I'd　thought。〃　He　
sighed　sadly。　〃I　didn't　know　to　warn　them。〃　

I　sighed；　too。　It　had　been　easy　to　hate　Edward　for　the　same　ignorance。　I　still　hated　him　for　it。　It　was　just　
hard　to　feel　the　same　way　about　Carlisle。　Maybe　because　I　wasn't　ten　shades　of　jealous　in　Carlisle's　
case。　

〃It　might　help　to　know　what　the　count　was—whether　the　fetus　was　closer　to　us　or　to　her。　To　know　what　
to　expect。〃　Then　he　shrugged。　〃And　maybe　it　wouldn't　help　anything。　I　guess　I　just　wish　I　had　something　
to　study；　anything　to　do。〃　

〃Wonder　what　my　chromosomes　are　like；〃　I　muttered　randomly。　I　thought　of　those　Olympic　steroids　
tests　again。　Did　they　run　DNA　scans？　

Carlisle　coughed　selfconsciously。　〃You　have　twentyfour　pairs；　Jacob。〃　

I　turned　slowly　to　stare　at　him；　raising　my　eyebrows。　

He　looked　embarrassed。　〃I　was。。。　curious。　I　took　the　liberty　when　I　was　treating　you　last　June。〃　

I　thought　about　it　for　a　second。　〃I　guess　that　should　piss　me　off。　But　I　don't　really　care。〃　

〃I'm　sorry。　I　should　have　asked。〃　

〃S'okay；　Doc。　You　didn't　mean　any　harm。〃　

〃No；　I　promise　you　that　I　did　not　mean　you　any　harm。　It's　just　that。。。　I　find　your　species　fascinating。　I　
suppose　that　the　elements　of　vampiric　nature　have　e　to　seem　monplace　to　me　over　the　centuries。　
Your　family's　divergence　from　humanity　is　much　more　interesting。　Magical；　almost。〃　

〃BibbidiBobbidiBoo；〃　I　mumbled。　He　was　just　like　Bella　with　all　the　magic　garbage。　

Carlisle　laughed　another　weary　laugh。　

Then　we　heard　Edward's　voice　inside　the　house；　and　we　both　paused　to　listen。　

〃I'll　be　right　back；　Bella。　I　want　to　speak　with　Carlisle　for　a　moment。　Actually；　Rosalie；　would　you　mind　
acpanying　me？〃　Edward　sounded　different。　There　was　a　little　life　in　his　dead　voice。　A　spark　of　
something。　Not　hope　exactly；　but　maybe　the　desire　to　hope。　

〃What　is　it；　Edward？〃　Bella　asked　hoarsely。　

〃Nothing　you　need　to　worry　about；　love。　It　will　just　take　a　second。　Please；　Rose？〃　



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〃Esme？〃　Rosalie　called。　〃Can　you　mindBella　for　me？〃　

Iheard　the　whisper　of　wind　as　Esme　flitted　down　the　stairs。　

〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　

Carlisle　shifted；　twisting　to　look　expectantly　at　the　door。　Edward　was　through　the　door　first；　with　Rosalie　
right　on　his　heels。　His　face　was；　like　his　voice；　no　longer　dead。　He　seemed　intensely　focused。　Rosalie　
looked　suspicious。　

Edward　shut　the　door　behind　her。　

〃Carlisle；〃　he　murmured。　

〃What　is　it；　Edward？〃　

〃Perhaps　we've　been　going　about　this　the　wrong　way。　I　was　listening　to　you　and　Jacob　just　now；　and　
when　you　were　speaking　of　what　the。。。　fetus　wants；　Jacob　had　an　interesting　thought。〃　

Me？What　had　　thought？　Besides　my　obvious　hatred　for　the　thing？　At　least　I　wasn't　alone　in　that。　I　could　
tell　that　Edward　had　a　difficult　time　using　a　term　as　mild　as　fetus。　

〃We　haven't　actually　addressed　that　angle；〃　Edward　went　on。　〃We've　been　trying　to　get　Bella　what　she　
needs。　And　her　body　is　accepting　it　about　as　well　as　one　of　ours　would。　Perhaps　we　should　address　the　
needs　of　the。。。　fetus　first。　Maybe　if　we　can　satisfy　it；　we'll　be　able　to　help　her　more　effectively。〃　

〃I'm　not　following　you；　Edward；〃　Carlisle　said。　

〃Think　about　it；　Carlisle。　If　that　creature　is　more　vampire　than　human；　can't　you　guess　what　it　craves　
—what　it's　not　getting？　Jacob　did。〃　

I　did？　I　ran　through　the　conversation；　trying　to　remember　what　thoughts　I'd　kept　to　myself。　I　
remembered　at　the　same　time　that　Carlisle　understood。　

〃Oh；〃　he　said　in　a　surprised　tone。　〃You　think　it　is。。。　thirsty？〃　

Rosalie　hissed　under　her　breath。　She　wasn't　suspicious　anymore。　Her　revoltingly　perfect　face　wasall　lit　
up；　her　eyes　wide　with　excitement。　〃Of　course；〃　she　muttered。　〃Carlisle；　we　have　all　that　type　O　negative　
laid　aside　for　Bella。　It's　a　good　idea；〃　she　added；　not　looking　at　me。　

〃Hmm。〃　Carlisle　put　his　hand　to　his　chin；　lost　in　thought。　〃I　wonder。。。　And　then；　what　would　be　the　best　
way　to　administer___〃　

Rosalie　shook　her　head。　〃We　don't　have　time　to　be　creative。　I'd　say　we　should　start　with　the　traditional　
way。〃　

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　i　whispered。　〃Just　hold　on。　Are　you—are　you　talking　about　making　Bella　drink　blood？〃　

〃It　was　your　idea；　dog；〃　Rosalie　said；　scowling　at　me　without　ever　quite　looking　at　me。　




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I　ignored　her　and　watched　Carlisle。　That　same　ghost　of　hope　that　had　been　in　Edward's　face　was　now　in　
the　doctor's　eyes。　He　pursed　his　lips；　speculating。　

〃That's　just。。。〃　I　couldn't　find　the　right　word。　

〃Monstrous？〃　Edward　suggested。　〃Repulsive？〃　

〃Pretty　much。〃　

〃But　what　if　it　helps　her？〃　he　whispered。　

I　shook　my　head　angrily。　〃What　are　you　gonna　do；　shove　a　tube　down　her　throat？〃　

〃I　plan　to　ask　her　what　she　thinks。　I　just　wanted　to　run　it　past　Carlisle　first。〃　

Rosalie　nodded。　〃If　you　tell　her　it　might　help　the　baby；　she'll　be　willing　to　do　anything。　Even　if　we　do　have　
to　feed　them　through　a　tube。〃　

I　realized　then—when　I　heard　how　her　voice　got　all　loveydovey　as　she　said　the　word　baby—that　
Blondie　would　be　in　line　with　anything　that　helped　the　little　lifesucking　monster。　Was　that　what　
was　going　on；　the　mystery　factor　that　was　bonding　the　two　of　them？　Was　Rosalie　after　the　kid？　

From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　Edward　nod　once；　absently；　not　looking　in　my　direction。　But　I　knew　
he　was　answering　my　questions。　

Huh。　I　wouldn't　have　thought　the　icecold　Barbie　would　have　a　maternal　side。　So　much　for　protecting　
Bella—Rosalie'd　probably　jam　the　tube　down　Bella's　throat　herself。　

Edward's　mouth　mashed　into　a　hard　line；　and　I　knew　I　was　right　again。　

〃Well；　we　don't　have　time　to　sit　around　discussing　this；〃　Rosalie　said　impatiently。　〃What　do　you　think；　
Carlisle？　Can　we　try？〃　

Carlisle　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　he　was　on　his　feet。　〃We'll　ask　Bella。〃　

Blondie　smiled　smugly—sure　that；　if　it　was　up　to　Bella；　she　would　get　her　way。　

I　dragged　myself　up　from　the　stairs　and　followed　after　them　as　they　disappeared　into　the　house。　I　wasn't　
sure　why。　Just　morbid　curiosity；　maybe。　It　was　like　a　horror　movie。　Monsters　and　blood　all　over　the　
place。　

Maybe　I　just　couldn't　resist　another　hit　of　my　dwindling　drug　supply。　

Bella　lay　flat　on　the　hospital　bed；　her　belly　a　mountain　under　the　sheet。　She　looked　like　wax—colorless　
and　sort　of　seethrough。　You'd　think　she　was　already　dead；　except　for　the　tiny　movement　of　her　chest；　
her　shallow　breathing。　And　then　her　eyes；　following　the　four　of　us　with　exhausted　suspicion。　

The　others　were　at　her　side　already；　flitting　across　the　room　with　sudden　darting　motions。　It　was　creepy　
to　watch。　1　ambled　along　at　a　slow　walk。　

〃What's　going　on？〃　Bella　demanded　in　a　scratchy　whisper。　Her　waxy　hand　twitched　up—like　she　was　



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trying　to　protect　her　balloonshaped　stomach。　

〃Jacob　had　an　idea　that　might　help　you；〃　Carlisle　said。　I　wished　he　would　leave　me　out　of　it。　I　hadn't　
suggested　anything。　Give　the　credit　to　her　bloodsucking　husband；　where　it　belonged。　〃It　won't　be。。。　
pleasant；　but—〃　

〃But　it　will　help　the　baby；〃　Rosalie　interrupted　eagerly。　〃We've　thought　of　a　better　way　to　feed　him。　
Maybe。〃　

Bella's　eyelids　fluttered。　Then　she　coughed　out　a　weak　chuckle。　〃Not　pleasant？〃　she　whispered。　〃Gosh；　
that'll　be　such　a　change。〃　She　eyed　the　tube　stuck　into　her　arm　and　coughed　again。　

Blondie　laughed　with　her。　

The　girl　looked　like　she　only　had　hours　left；　and　she　had　to　be　in　pain；　but　she　was　making　jokes。　So　
Bella。　

Trying　to　ease　the　tension；　make　it　better　for　everyone　else。　

Edward　stepped　around　Rosalie；　no　humor　touching　his　intense　expression。　I　was　glad　for　that。　It　
helped；　just　a　little　bit；　that　he　was　suffering　worse　than　me。　He　took　her　hand；　not　the　one　that　was　still　
protecting　her　swollen　belly。　

〃Bella；　love；　we're　going　to　ask　you　to　do　something　monstrous；〃　he　said；　using　the　same　adjectives　he'd　
offered　me。　〃Repulsive。〃　

Well；　at　least　he　was　giving　it　to　her　straight。　

She　took　a　shallow；　fluttery　breath。　〃How　bad？〃　

Carlisle　answered。　〃We　think　the　fetus　might　have　an　appetite　closer　to　ours　than　to　yours。　We　think　it's　
thirsty。〃　

She　blinked。　〃Oh。　Oh。〃　

〃Your　condition—both　of　your　conditions—are　deteriorating　rapidly。　We　don't　have　time　to　waste；　to　
e　up　with　more　palatable　ways　to　do　this。　The　fastest　way　to　test　the　theory—〃　

〃I've　got　to　drink　it；〃　she　whispered。　She　nodded　slightly—barely　enough　energy　for　a　little　head　b