4 breaking dawn破晓-第54部分

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looking　

straight　at　Carlisle　as　he　stopped　walking　and　began　to　speak。　

〃Right　after　midnight；　Alice　and　Jasper　came　to　this　place　and　asked　permission　to　cross　our　land　to　the　
ocean。　I　granted　them　that　and　escorted　them　to　the　coast　myself。　They　went　immediately　into　the　water　
and　did　not　return。　As　we　journeyed；　Alice　told　me　it　was　of　the　utmost　importance　that　I　say　nothing　to　
Jacob　about　seeing　her　until　I　spoke　to　you。　I　was　to　wait　here　for　you　to　e　looking　for　her　and　then　
give　you　this　note。　She　told　me　to　obey　her　as　if　all　our　lives　depended　on　it。〃　

Sam's　face　was　grim　as　he　held　out　a　folded　sheet　of　paper；　printed　all　over　with　small　black　text。　It　was　
a　page　out　of　a　book；　my　sharp　eyes　read　the　printed　words　as　Carlisle　unfolded　it　to　see　the　other　side。　
The　side　facing　me　was　the　copyright　page　from　The　Merchant　of　Venice。　A　hint　of　my　own　scent　blew　
off　of　it　as　Carlisle　shook　the　paper　flat。　I　realized　it　was　a　page　torn　from　one　of　my　books。　I'd　brought　a　
few　things　from　Charlie's　house　to　the　cottage；　a　few　sets　of　normal　clothes；　all　the　letters　from　my　
mother；　and　my　favorite　books。　My　tattered　collection　of　Shakespeare　paperbacks　had　been　on　the　
bookshelf　in　the　cottage's　little　living　room　yesterday　morning。。。。　

〃Alice　has　decided　to　leave　us；〃　Carlisle　whispered。　

〃What？〃　Rosalie　cried。　

Carlisle　turned　the　page　around　so　that　we　all　could　read。　

Don't　look　for　us。　There　isn't　time　to　waste。　Remember；　Tanya；　Siobhan；　Amun；　Alistair；　all　the　nomads　
you　can　find。　We'll　seek　out　Peter　and　Charlotte　on　our　way。　We're　so　sorry　that　we　have　to　leave　you　
this　way；　with　no　goodbyes　or　explanations。　It's　the　only　way　for　us。　We　love　you。　

We　stood　frozen　again；　the　silence　total　but　for　the　sound　of　the　wolves'　heartbeats；　their　breathing。　Their　
thoughts　must　have　been　loud；　too。　Edward　was　first　to　move　again；　speaking　in　response　to　what　he　
heard　in　Sam's　head。　

〃Yes；　things　are　that　dangerous。〃　

〃Enough　that　you　would　abandon　your　family？〃　Sam　asked　out　loud；　censure　in　his　tone。　It　was　clear　that　
he　had　not　read　the　note　before　giving　it　to　Carlisle。　He　was　upset　now；　looking　as　if　he　regretted　listening　
to　Alice。　

Edward's　expression　was　stiff—to　Sam　it　probably　looked　angry　or　arrogant；　but　I　could　see　the　shape　
of　pain　in　the　hard　planes　of　his　face。　

〃We　don't　know　what　she　saw；〃　Edward　said。　〃Alice　is　neither　unfeeling　nor　a　coward。　She　just　has　
more　information　than　we　do。〃　

〃Wewould　not—；〃　Sam　began。　

〃You　are　bound　differently　than　we　are；〃　Edward　snapped。　〃11e　each　still　have　our　free　will。〃　

Sam's　chin　jerked　up；　and　his　eyes　looked　suddenly　flat　black。　

〃But　you　should　heed　the　warning；〃　Edward　went　on。　〃This　is　not　something　you　want　to　involve　



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yourselves　in。　

You　can　still　avoid　what　Alice　saw。〃　

Sam　smiled　grimly。　〃We　don't　run　away。〃　Behind　him；　Paul　snorted。　

〃Don't　get　your　family　slaughtered　for　pride；〃　Carlisle　interjected　quietly。　

Sam　looked　at　Carlisle　with　a　softer　expression。　〃As　Edward　pointed　out；　we　don't　have　the　same　kind　
of　freedom　that　you　have。　Renesmee　is　as　much　as　part　of　our　family　now　as　she　is　yours。　Jacob　cannot　
abandon　her；　and　we　cannot　abandon　him。〃　His　eyes　flickered　to　Alice's　note；　and　his　lips　pressed　into　a　
thinline。　

〃You　don't　know　her；〃　Edward　said。　

〃Do　you？〃　Sam　asked　bluntly。　

Carlisle　put　a　hand　on　Edward's　shoulder。　〃We　have　much　to　do；　son。　Whatever　Alice's　decision；　we　
would　be　foolish　not　to　follow　her　advice　now。　Let's　go　home　and　get　to　work。〃　

Edward　nodded；　his　face　still　rigid　with　pain。　Behind　me；　I　could　hear　Esme's　quiet；　tearless　sobs。　

I　didn't　know　how　to　cry　in　this　body；　I　couldn't　do　anything　but　stare。　There　was　no　feeling　yet。　
Everything　seemed　unreal；　like　I　was　dreaming　again　after　all　these　months。　Having　a　nightmare。　

〃Thank　you；　Sam；〃　Carlisle　said。　

〃I'm　sorry；〃　Sam　answered。　〃We　shouldn't　have　let　her　through。〃　

〃You　did　the　right　thing；〃　Carlisle　told　him。　〃Alice　is　free　to　do　what　she　will。　I　wouldn't　deny　her　that　
liberty。〃　

I'd　always　thought　of　the　Cullens　as　a　whole；　an　indivisible　unit。　Suddenly；　I　remembered　that　it　had　not　
always　been　so。　Carlisle　had　created　Edward；　Esme；　Rosalie　and　Emmett；　Edward　had　created　me。　We　
were　physically　linked　by　blood　and　venom。　I　never　thought　of　Alice　and　Jasper　as　separate—as　
adopted　into　the　family。　But　in　truth；　Alice　had　adopted　the　Cullens。　She　had　shown　up　with　her　
unconnected　past；　bringing　Jasper　with　his；　and　fit　herself　into　the　family　that　was　already　there。　Both　she　
and　Jasper　had　known　another　life　outside　the　Cullen　family。　Had　she　really　chosen　to　lead　another　new　
life　after　she'd　seen　that　life　with　the　Cullens　was　over？　

We　were　doomed；　then；　weren't　we？　There　was　no　hope　at　all。　Not　one　ray；　one　flicker　that　might　have　
convinced　Alice　she　had　a　chance　at　our　side。　

The　bright　morning　air　seemed　thicker　suddenly；　blacker；　as　if　physically　darkened　by　my　despair。　

〃I'mnot　going　down　without　a　fight；〃　Emmett　snarled　low　under　his　breath。　〃Alice　told　us　what　to　do。　
Let's　get　it　done。〃　

The　others　nodded　with　determined　expressions；　and　I　realized　that　they　were　banking　on　whatever　
chance　Alice　had　given　us。　That　they　were　not　going　to　give　in　to　hopelessness　and　wait　to　die。　




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Yes；　we　all　would　fight。　What　else　was　there？　And　apparently　we　would　involve　others；　because　Alice　
had　said　so　before　she'd　left　us。　How　could　we　not　follow　Alice's　last　warning？　The　wolves；　too；　would　
fight　with　us　for　Renesmee。　

We　would　fight；　they　would　fight；　and　we　all　would　die。　

I　didn't　feel　the　same　resolve　the　others　seemed　to　feel。　Alice　knew　the　odds。　She　was　giving　us　the　only　
chance　she　could　see；　but　the　chance　was　too　slim　for　her　to　bet　on　it。　

I　felt　already　beaten　as　I　turned　my　back　on　Sam's　critical　face　and　followed　Carlisle　toward　home。　

We　ran　automatically　now；　not　the　same　panicked　hurry　as　before。　As　we　neared　the　river；　Esme's　head　
lifted。　

〃There　was　that　other　trail。　It　was　fresh。〃　

She　nodded　forward；　toward　where　she　had　called　Edward's　attention　on　the　way　here。　While　we　were　
racing　to　save　Alice。。。　

〃It　has　to　be　from　earlier　in　the　day。　It　was　just　Alice；　without　Jasper；〃　Edward　said　lifelessly。　

Esme's　face　puckered；　and　she　nodded。　

I　drifted　to　the　right；　falling　a　little　behind。　I　was　sure　Edward　was　right；　but　at　the　same　time。。。　After　all；　
how　had　Alice's　note　ended　up　on　a　page　from　my　book？　

〃Bella？〃　Edward　asked　in　an　emotionless　voice　as　I　hesitated。　

〃I　want　to　follow　the　trail；〃　I　told　him；　smelling　the　light　scent　of　Alice　that　led　away　from　her　earlier　flight　
path；　i　was　new　to　this；　but　it　smelled　exactly　the　same　to　me；　just　minus　the　scent　of　Jasper。　

Edward's　golden　eyes　were　empty。　〃It　probably　just　leads　back　to　the　house。〃　

〃Then　I'll　meet　you　there。〃　

At　first　I　thought　he　would　let　me　go　alone；　but　then；　as　I　moved　a　few　steps　away；　his　blank　eyes　
flickered　to　life。　

〃I'll　e　with　you；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Well　meet　you　at　home；　Carlisle。〃　

Carlisle　nodded；　and　the　others　left。　I　waited　until　they　were　out　of　sight；　and　then　I　looked　at　Edward　
questioningly。　

〃I　couldn't　let　you　walk　away　from　me；〃　he　explained　in　a　low　voice。　〃It　hurt　just　to　imagine　it。〃　

I　understood　without　more　explanation　than　that。　I　thought　of　being　divided　from　him　now　and　realized　I　
would　have　felt　the　same　pain；　no　matter　how　short　the　separation。　

There　was　so　little　time　left　to　be　together。　

I　held　my　hand　out　to　him；　and　he　took　it。　



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〃Let's　hurry；〃　he　said。　〃Renesmee　will　be　awake。〃　

I　nodded；　and　we　were　running　again。　

It　was　probably　a　silly　thing；　to　waste　the　time　away　from　Renesmee　just　for　curiosity's　sake。　But　the　
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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