4 breaking dawn破晓-第52部分

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greenblack　forest；　a　glint　of　silver—or　was　it　gold？—gripped　my　attention。　

My　gaze　zeroed　in　on　the　color　that　shouldn't　have　been　there；　so　far　away　in　the　haze　that　an　eagle　
wouldn't　

have　been　able　to　make　it　out。　I　stared。　



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She　stared　back。　

That　she　was　a　vampire　was　obvious。　Her　skin　was　marble　white；　the　texture　a　million　times　smoother　
than　human　skin。　Even　under　the　clouds；　she　glistened　ever　so　slightly。　If　her　skin　had　not　given　her　away；　
her　stillness　would　have。　Only　vampires　and　statues　could　be　so　perfectly　motionless。　

Her　hair　was　pale；　pale　blond；　almost　silver。　This　was　the　gleam　that　had　caught　my　eye。　It　hung　straight　
as　a　ruler　to　a　blunt　edge　at　her　chin；　parted　evenly　down　the　center。　

She　was　a　stranger　to　me。　I　was　absolutely　certain　I'd　never　seen　her　before；　even　as　a　human。　None　of　
the　faces　in　my　muddy　memory　were　the　same　as　this　one。　But　I　knew　her　at　once　from　her　dark　golden　
eyes。　

Irina　had　decided　to　e　after　all。　

For　one　moment　I　stared　at　her；　and　she　stared　back。　I　wondered　if　she　would　guess　immediately　who　I　
was　as　well。　I　halfraised　my　hand；　about　to　wave；　but　her　lip　twisted　the　tiniest　bit；　making　her　face　
suddenly　hostile。　

I　heard　Renesmee's　cry　of　victory　from　the　forest；　heard　Jacob's　echoing　howl；　and　saw　Irina's　face　jerk　
reflexively　to　the　sound　when　it　echoed　to　her　a　few　seconds　later。　Her　gaze　cut　slightly　to　the　right；　and　I　
knew　what　she　was　seeing。　An　enormous　russet　werewolf；　perhaps　the　very　one　who　had　killed　her　
Laurent。　How　long　had　she　been　watching　us？　Long　enough　to　see　our　affectionate　exchange　before；　I　
was　sure。　

Her　face　spasmed　in　pain。　

Instinctually；　I　opened　my　hands　in　front　of　me　in　an　apologetic　gesture。　She　turned　back　to　me；　and　her　
lip　curled　back　over　her　teeth。　Her　jaw　unlocked　as　she　growled。　

When　the　faint　sound　reached　me；　she　had　already　turned　and　disappeared　into　the　forest。　

〃Crap！〃　I　groaned。　

I　sprinted　into　the　forest　after　Renesmee　and　Jacob；　unwilling　to　have　them　out　of　my　sight。　I　didn't　know　
which　direction　Irina　had　taken；　or　exactly　how　furious　she　was　right　now。　Vengeance　was　a　mon　
obsession　for　vampires；　one　that　was　not　easy　to　suppress。　

Running　at　full　speed；　it　only　took　me　two　seconds　to　reach　them。　

〃Mine　is　bigger；〃　I　heard　Renesmee　insist　as　I　burst　through　the　thick　thornbushes　to　the　small　open　
space　where　they　stood。　

Jacob's　ears　flattened　as　he　took　in　my　expression；　he　crouched　forward；　baring　his　teeth—hismuzzle　
was　streaked　with　blood　from　his　kill。　His　eyes　raked　the　forest。　I　could　hear　the　growl　building　in　his　
throat。　

Renesmee　was　every　bit　as　alert　as　Jacob。　Abandoning　the　dead　stag　at　her　feet；　she　leaped　into　my　
waiting　arms；　pressing　her　curious　hands　against　my　cheeks。　




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〃I'm　overreacting；〃　I　assured　them　quickly。　〃It's　okay；　I　think。　Hold　on。〃　

I　pulled　out　my　cell　phone　and　hit　the　speed　dial。　Edward　answered　on　the　first　ring。　Jacob　and　
Renesmee　listened　intently　to　my　side　as　I　filled　Edward　in。　

〃e；　bring　Carlisle；〃　I　trilled　so　fast　I　wondered　if　Jacob　could　keep　up。　〃I　saw　Irina；　and　she　saw　me；　
but　then　

she　saw　Jacob　and　she　got　mad　and　ran　away；　I　think。　She　hasn't　shown　up　here—yet；　anyway—but　
she　looked　pretty　upset　so　maybe　she　will。　If　she　doesn't；　you　and　Carlisle　have　to　go　after　her　and　talk　
to　her。　I　feel　so　bad。〃　

Jacob　rumbled。　

〃We'll　be　there　in　half　a　minute；〃　Edward　assured　me；　and　I　could　hear　the　whoosh　of　the　wind　his　
running　made。　

We　darted　back　to　the　long　meadow　and　then　waited　silently　as　Jacob　and　I　listened　carefully　for　the　
sound　of　an　approach　we　did　not　recognize。　

When　the　sound　came；　though；　it　was　very　familiar。　And　then　Edward　was　at　my　side；　Carlisle　a　few　
seconds　behind。　I　was　surprised　to　hear　the　heavy　pad　of　big　paws　following　behind　Carlisle。　I　supposed　
I　shouldn't　have　been　shocked。　With　Renesmee　in　even　a　hint　of　danger；　of　course　Jacob　would　call　in　
reinforcements。　

〃She　was　up　on　that　ridge；〃　I　told　them　at　once；　pointing　out　the　spot。　If　Irina　was　fleeing；　she　already　
had　quite　a　head　start。　Would　she　stop　and　listen　to　Carlisle？　Her　expression　before　made　me　think　not。　
〃Maybe　you　should　call　Emmett　and　Jasper　and　have　them　e　with　you。　She　looked。。。　really　upset。　
She　growled　at　me。〃　

〃What？〃　Edward　said　angrily。　

Carlisle　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃She's　grieving。　HI　go　after　her。〃　

Tm　ing　with　you；〃　Edward　insisted。　

They　exchanged　a　long　glance—perhaps　Carlisle　was　measuring　Edward's　irritation　with　Irina　against　his　
helpfulness　as　a　mind　reader。　Finally；　Carlisle　nodded；　and　they　took　off　to　find　the　trail　without　calling　for　
Jasper　or　Emmett。　

Jacob　huffed　impatiently　and　poked　my　back　with　his　nose。　He　must　want　Renesmee　back　at　the　safety　
of　the　house；　just　in　case。　I　agreed　with　him　on　that；　and　we　hurried　home　with　Seth　and　Leah　running　at　
our　flanks。　

Renesmee　was　placent　in　my　arms；　one　hand　still　resting　on　my　face。　Since　the　hunting　trip　had　been　
aborted；　she　would　just　have　to　make　do　with　donated　blood。　Her　thoughts　were　a　little　smug。　

28。　THE　FUTURE　

Carlisle　and　Edward　had　not　been　able　to　catch　up　with　Irina　before　her　trail　disappeared　into　the　sound。　
They'd　swum　to　the　other　bank　to　see　if　her　trail　had　picked　up　in　a　straight　line；　but　there　was　no　trace　of　



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her　for　miles　in　either　direction　on　the　eastern　shore。　

It　was　all　my　fault。　She　had　e；　as　Alice　had　seen；　to　make　peace　with　the　Cullens；　only　to　be　
angered　by　my　camaraderie　with　Jacob。　I　wished　I'd　noticed　her　earlier；　before　Jacob　had　phased。　I　
wished　we'd　gone　hunting　somewhere　else。　

There　wasn't　much　to　be　done。　Carlisle　had　called　Tanya　with　the　disappointing　news。　Tanya　and　Kate　
hadn't　seen　Irina　since　they'd　decided　to　e　to　my　wedding；　and　they　were　distraught　that　Irina　had　
e　so　close　and　yet　not　returned　home；　it　wasn't　easy　for　them　to　lose　their　sister；　however　temporary　
the　separation　might　be。　I　wondered　if　this　brought　back　hard　memories　of　losing　their　mother　so　many　
centuries　ago。　

Alice　was　able　to　catch　a　few　glimpses　of　Irina's　immediate　future；　nothing　too　concrete。　She　wasn't　
going　back　to　Denali；　as　far　as　Alice　could　tell。　The　picture　was　hazy。　All　Alice　could　see　was　that　Irina　
was　visibly　upset；　she　wandered　in　the　snowswathed　wilderness—to　the　north？　To　the　east？—with　a　
devastated　expression。　She　made　no　decisions　for　a　new　course　beyond　her　directionless　grieving。　

Days　passed　and；　though　of　course　I　forgot　nothing；　Irina　and　her　pain　moved　to　the　back　of　my　mind。　
There　were　more　important　things　to　think　of　now。　I　would　leave　for　Italy　in　just　a　few　days。　When　I　got　
back；　we'd　all　be　off　to　South　America。　

Every　detail　had　been　gone　over　a　hundred　times　already。　We　would　start　with　the　Ticunas；　tracing　their　
legends　as　well　as　we　could　at　the　source。　Now　that　it　was　accepted　that　Jacob　would　e　with　us；　he　
figured　prominently　in　the　plans—it　was　unlikely　that　the　people　who　believed　in　vampires　would　speak　
to　any　of　us　about　their　stories。　If　we　deadended　with　the　Ticunas；　there　were　many　closely　related　
tribes　in　the　area　to　research。　Carlisle　had　some　old　

friends　in　the　Amazon；　if　we　could　find　them；　they　might　have　information　for　us；　too。　Or　at　least　a　
suggestion　as　to　where　else　we　might　go　for　answers。　It　was　unlikely　that　the　three　Amazon　vampires　had　
anything　to　do　with　the　legends　of　vampire　hybrids　themselves；　as　they　were　all　female。　There　was　no　
way　to　know　how　long　our　search　would　take。　

I　hadn't　told　Charlie　about　the　longer　trip　yet；　and　I　stewed　about　what　to　say　to　him　while　Edward　and　
Carlisle's　discussion　went　on。　How　to　break　the　news　to　him　just　right？　

I　stared　at　Renesmee　while　I　debated　internally。　She　was　curled　up　on　the　sofa　now；　her　breathing　slow　
with　heavy　sleep；　her　tangled　curls　splayed　wildly　around　her　face。Usually；　Edward　and　I　took　her　back　
to　our　cottage　to　put　her　to　bed；　but　tonight　we　lingered　with　the　family；　he　and　Carlisle　deep　in　their　
planning　session。　

Meanwhile；　Emmett　and　Jasper　were　more　excited　about　planning　the　hunting　possibilities。　The　Amazon　
offered　a　change　from　our　normal　quarry。　Jaguars　and　panthers；　for　example。　Emmett　had　a　whim　to　
wrestle　with　an　anaconda。　Esme　and　Rosalie　were　planning　what　they　would　pack。　Jacob　was　off　with　
Sam's　pack；　setting　things　up　for　his　own　absence。　

Alice　moved　slowly—for　her—around　the　big　room；　unnecessarily　tidying　the　already　immaculate　space；　
straightening　Esme's　perfectly　hung　garlands。　She　was　recentering　Esme's　vases　on　the　console　at　the　
moment。　I　could　see　from　the　way　her　face　fluctuated—aware；　then　blank；　then　aware　again—that　she　
was　searching　the　future。　I　assumed　she　was　trying　to　see　through　the　blind　spots　that　Jacob　and　
Renesmee　made　in　her　visions　as　to　what　was　waiting　for　us　in　South　America　until　Jasper　said；　〃Let　it　
go；　Alice；　she's　not　our　concern；〃　and　a　cloud　of　serenity　stole　silently　and　invisibly　through　the　room。　



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Alice　must　have　been　worrying　about　Irina　again。　

She　stuck　her　tongue　out　at　Jasper　and　then　lifted　one　crystal　vase　that　was　filled　with　white　and　red　
roses　and　turned　toward　the　kitchen。　There　was　just　the　barest　hint　of　wilt　to　one　of　the　white　flowers；　
but　Alice　seemed　intent　on　utter　perfection　as　a　distraction　to　her　lack　of　vision　tonight。　

Staring　at　Renesmee　again；　I　didn't　see　it　when　the　vase　slipped　from　Alice's　fingers。　I　only　heard　the　
whoosh　of　the　air　whistling　past　the　crystal；　and　my　eyes　flickered　up　in　time　to　see　the　vase　shatter　into　
ten　thousand　diamond　shards　against　the　edge　of　the　kitchen's　marble　floor。　

We　were　perfectly　still　as　the　fragmented　crystal　bounced　and　skittered　in　every　direction　with　an　
unmusical　tinkling；　all　eyes　on　Alice's　back。　

My　first　illogical　thought　was　that　Alice　was　playing　some　joke　on　us。　Because　there　was　no　way　that　
Alice　could　have　dropped　the　vase　by　accident　I　could　have　darted　across　the　room　to　catch　the　vase　in　
plenty　of　time　myself；　if　I　hadn't　assumed　she　would　get　it。　And　how　would　it　fall　through　her　fingers　in　the　
first　place？　Her　perfectly　sure　fingers。。。　

I　had　never　seen　a　vampire　drop　anything　by　accident。　Ever。　

And　then　Alice　was　facing　us；　twisting　in　a　move　so　fast　it　didn't　exist。　

Her　eyes　were　halfway　here　and　halfway　locked　on　the　future；　wide；　staring；　filling　her　thin　face　till　they　
seemed　to　overflow　it。　Looking　into　her　eyes　was　like　looking　out　of　a　grave　from　the　inside；　I　was　buried　
in　the　terror　and　

despair　and　agony　of　her　gaze。　

I　heard　Edward　gasp；　it　was　a　broken；　halfchoked　sound。　

〃What？〃Jasper　growled；　leaping　to　her　side　in　a　blurred　rush　of　movement；　crushing　the　broken　crystal　
under　his　feet。　He　grabbed　her　shoulders　and　shook　her　sharply。　She　seemed　to　rattle　silently　in　his　
hands。　〃What　Alice？〃　

Emmett　moved　into　my　peripheral　vision；　his　teeth　bared　while　his　eyes　darted　toward　the　window；　
anticipating　an　attack。　

There　was　only　silence　from　Esme；　Carlisle；　and　Rose；　who　were　frozen　just　as　I　was。　

Jasper　shook　Alice　again。　〃What　is　it？〃　

〃They're　ing　for　us；〃　Alice　and　Edward　whispered　together；　perfectly　synchronized。　〃All　of　them。〃　

Silence。　

For　once；　I　was　the　quickest　to　understand—because　something　in　their　words　triggered　my　own　vision。　
It　was　only　the　distant　memory　of　a　dream—faint；　transparent；　indistinct　as　if　I　were　peering　through　thick　
gauze。。。。　In　my　head；　I　saw　a　line　of　black　advancing　on　me；　the　ghost　of　my　halfforgotten　human　
nightmare。　I　could　not　see　the　glint　of　their　ruby　eyes　in　the　shrouded　image；　or　the　shine　of　their　sharp　
wet　teeth；　but　I　knew　where　the　gleam　should　be。。。。　




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Stronger　than　the　memory　of　the　sight　came　the　memory　of　the　feel　—the　wrenching　need　to　protect　the　
precious　thing　behind　me。　

I　wanted　to　snatch　Renesmee　up　into　my　arms；　to　hide　her　behind　my　skin　and　hair；　to　make　her　
invisible。　But　I　couldn't　even　turn　to　look　at　her。　I　felt　not　like　stone　but　ice。　For　the　first　time　since　I'd　
been　reborn　a　vampire；　I　felt　cold。　

I　barely　heard　the　confirmation　of　my　fears。　I　didn't　need　it。　I　already　knew。　

〃The　Volturi；〃　Alice　moaned。　

〃All　of　them；〃　Edward　groaned　at　the　same　time。　

〃Why？〃　Alice　whispered　to　herself。　〃How？〃　

〃When？〃　Edward　whispered。　

〃Why？〃　Esme　echoed。　

〃When？〃Jasper　repeated　in　a　voice　like　splintering　ice。　

Alice's　eyes　didn't　blink；　but　it　was　as　if　a　veil　covered　them；　they　became　perfectly　blank。　Only　her　
mouth　held　on　to　her　expression　of　horror。　

〃Not　long；〃　she　and　Edward　said　together。　Then　she　spoke　alone。　〃There's　snow　on　the　forest；　snow　on　
the　town。　Little　more　than　a　month。〃　

〃Why？〃　Carlisle　was　the　one　to　ask　this　time。　

Esme　answered。　〃They　must　have　a　reason。　Maybe　to　see　。。。〃　

〃This　isn't　about　Bella；〃　Alice　said　hollowly。　〃They're　all　ing—Aro；　Caius；　Marcus；　every　member　of　
the　guard；　even　the　wives。〃　

〃The　wives　never　leave　the　tower；〃　Jasper　contradicted　her　in　a　flat　voice。　〃Never。　Not　during　the　
southern　rebellion。　Not　when　the　Romanians　tried　to　overthrow　them。　Not　even　when　they　were　hunting　
the　immortal　children。　Never。〃　

〃They're　ing　now；〃　Edward　whispered。　

〃But　why？〃　Carlisle　said　again。　〃We've　done　nothing！　And　if　we　had；　what　could　we　possibly　do　that　
would　bring　f？sdown　on　us？〃　

〃There　are　so　many　of　us；〃　Edward　answered　dully。　〃They　must　want　to　make　sure　that。。。〃　He　didn't　
finish。　

〃That　doesn't　answer　the　crucial　question！　Why？〃　

I　felt　I　knew　the　answer　to　Carlisle's　question；　and　yet　at　the　same　time　I　didn't。　Renesmee　was　the　
reason　why；　I　was　sure。　Somehow　I'd　known　from　the　very　beginning　that　they　would　e　for　her。　My　
subconscious　had　warned　me　before　I'd　known　I　was　carrying　her。　It　felt　oddly　expected　now。　As　if　I'd　



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somehow　always　known　that　the　Volturi　would　e　to　take　my　happiness　from　me。　

But　that　still　didn't　answer　the　question。　

〃Go　back；　Alice；〃　Jasper　pleaded。　〃Look　for　the　trigger。　Search。〃　

Alice　shook　her　head　slowly；　her　shoulders　sagging。　〃It　came　out　of　nowhere；　Jazz。　I　wasn't　looking　for　
them；　or　even　for　us。　I　was　just　looking　for　Irina。　She　wasn't　where　I　expected　her　to　be。。。。〃　Alice　trailed　
off；　her　eyes　drifting　again。　She　stared　at　nothing　for　a　long　second。　

And　then　her　head　jerked　up；　her　eyes　hard　as　flint。　I　heard　Edward　catch　his　breath。　

〃She　decided　to　go　to　them；〃　Alice　said。　〃Irina　decided　to　go　to　the　Volturi。　And　then　they　will　decide。。。。　
It's　as　if　they're　waiting　for　her。　Like　their　decision　was　already　made；　and　just　waiting　on　her___〃　

It　was　silent　again　as　we　digested　this。