4 breaking dawn破晓-第59部分

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other　two；　but　she　had　a　gift　for　knowing　when　she　was　being　lied　to；　and　her　verdicts　were　never　
contested。　Maggie　declared　that　Edward　spoke　the　truth；　and　so　Siobhan　and　Liam　accepted　our　story　
absolutely　before　even　touching　Renesmee。　

Amun　and　the　other　Egyptian　vampires　were　another　story。　Even　after　two　younger　members　of　his　
coven；　Benjamin　and　Tia；　had　been　convinced　by　Renesmee's　explanation；　Amun　refused　to　touch　her　



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and　ordered　his　coven　to　leave。　Benjamin—an　oddly　cheerful　vampire　who　looked　barely　older　than　a　
boy　and　seemed　both　utterly　confident　and　utterly　careless　at　the　same　time—persuaded　Amun　to　stay　
with　a　few　subtle　threats　about　disbanding　their　alliance。　Amun　stayed；　but　continued　to　refuse　to　touch　
Renesmee；　and　would　not　allow　his　mate；　Kebi；　to　touch　her；　either。　It　seemed　an　unlikely　
grouping—though　the　Egyptians　all　looked　so　alike；　with　their　midnight　hair　and　olivetoned　pallor；　that　
they　easily　could　have　passed　for　a　biological　family。　Amun　was　the　senior　member　and　the　outspoken　
leader。　Kebi　never　strayed　farther　away　from　Amun　than　his　shadow；　and　I　never　heard　her　speak　a　
single　word。　Tia；　Benjamin's　mate；　was　a　quiet　woman　as　well；　though　when　she　did　speak　there　was　
great　insight　and　gravity　to　everything　she　said。　Still；　it　was　Benjamin　whom　they　all　seemed　to　revolve　
around；　as　if　he　had　some　invisible　magism　the　others　depended　upon　for　their　balance。　I　saw　Eleazar　
staring　at　the　boy　with　wide　eyes　and　assumed　Benjamin　had　a　talent　that　drew　the　others　to　him。　

〃It's　not　that；〃　Edward　told　me　when　we　were　alone　that　night。　〃His　gift　is　so　singular　that　Amun　is　
terrified　of　losing　him。　Much　like　we　had　planned　to　keep　Renesmee　from　Aro's　knowledge〃—he　
sighed—〃Amun　has　been　keeping　Benjamin　from　Aro's　attention。　Amun　created　Benjamin；　knowing　he　
would　be　special。〃　

〃What　can　he　do？〃　

〃Something　Eleazar's　never　seen　before。　Something　I've　never　heard　of。　Something　that　even　your　shield　
would　do　nothing　against。〃　He　grinned　his　crooked　smile　at　me。　〃He　can　actually　influence　the　elements　
—earth；　wind；　water；　and　fire。　True　physical　manipulation；　no　illusion　of　the　mind。　Benjamin's　still　
experimenting　with　it；　and　Amun　tries　to　mold　him　into　a　weapon。　But　you　see　how　independent　
Benjamin　is。　He　won't　be　used。〃　

〃You　like　him；〃　I　surmised　from　the　tone　of　his　voice。　

〃He　has　a　very　clear　sense　of　right　and　wrong。　I　like　his　attitude。〃　

Amun's　attitude　was　something　else；　and　he　and　Kebi　kept　to　themselves；　though　Benjamin　and　Tia　were　
well　on　their　way　to　being　fast　friends　with　both　the　Denali　and　the　Irish　covens。　We　hoped　that　Carlisle's　
return　would　ease　the　remaining　tension　with　Amun。　

Emmett　and　Rose　sent　individuals—any　nomad　friends　of　Carlisle's　that　they　could　track　down。　

Garrett　came　first—a　tall；　rangy　vampire　with　eager　ruby　eyes　and　long　sandy　hair　he　kept　tied　back　
with　a　leather　thong—and　it　was　apparent　immediately　that　he　was　an　adventurer。　I　imagined　that　we　
could　have　presented　

him　with　any　challenge　and　he　would　have　accepted；　just　to　test　himself。　He　fell　in　quickly　with　the　Denali　
sisters；　asking　endless　questions　about　their　unusual　lifestyle。　I　wondered　if　vegetarianism　was　another　
challenge　he　would　try；　just　to　see　if　he　could　do　it。　

Mary　and　Randall　also　came—friends　already；　though　they　did　not　travel　together。　They　listened　to　
Renesmee's　story　and　stayed　to　witness　like　the　others。　Like　the　Denalis；　they　considered　what　they　
would　do　if　the　Volturi　did　not　pause　for　explanations。　All　three　of　the　nomads　toyed　with　the　idea　of　
standing　with　us。　

Of　course；　Jacob　got　more　surly　with　each　new　addition。　He　kept　his　distance　when　he　could；　and　when　
he　couldn't　he　grumbled　to　Renesmee　that　someone　was　going　to　have　to　provide　an　index　if　anyone　
expected　him　to　keep　all　the　new　bloodsuckers1names　straight。*　



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Carlisle　and　Esme　returned　a　week　after　they　had　gone；　Emmett　and　Rosalie　just　a　few　days　later；　and　
all　of　us　felt　better　when　they　were　home。　Carlisle　brought　one　more　friend　home　with　him；　though　friend　
might　have　been　the　wrong　term。　Alistair　was　a　misanthropic　English　vampire　who　counted　Carlisle　as　his　
closest　acquaintance；　though　he　could　hardly　stand　a　visit　more　than　once　a　century。　Alistair　very　much　
preferred　to　wander　alone；　and　Carlisle　had　called　in　a　lot　of　favors　to　get　him　here。　He　shunned　all　
pany；　and　it　was　clear　he　didn't　have　any　admirers　in　the　gathered　covens。　

The　brooding　darkhaired　vampire　took　Carlisle　at　his　word　about　Renesmee's　origins；　refusing；　like　
Amun；　to　touch　her。　Edward　told　Carlisle；　Esme；　and　me　that　Alistair　was　afraid　to　be　here；　but　more　
afraid　of　not　knowing　the　oute。　He　was　deeply　suspicious　of　all　authority；　and　therefore　naturally　
suspicious　of　the　Volturi。　What　was　happening　now　seemed　to　confirm　all　his　fears。　

〃Of　course；　now　they'll　know　i　was　here；〃　we　heard　him　grumble　to　himself　in　the　attic—his　preferred　
spot　to　sulk。　〃No　way　to　keep　it　from　Aro　at　this　point。　Centuries　on　the　run；　that's　what　this　will　mean。　
Everyone　Carlisle's　talked　to　in　the　last　decade　will　be　on　their　list。　I　can't　believe　I　got　myself　sucked　into　
this　mess。　What　a　fine　way　to　treat　your　friends。〃　

But　if　he　was　right　about　having　to　run　from　the　Volturi；　at　least　he　had　more　hope　of　doing　that　than　the　
rest　of　us。　Alistair　was　a　tracker；　though　not　nearly　as　precise　and　efficient　as　Demetri。　Alistair　just　felt　an　
elusive　pull　toward　whatever　he　was　seeking。　But　that　pull　would　be　enough　to　tell　him　which　direction　to　
run—the　opposite　direction　from　Demetri。　

And　then　another　pair　of　unexpected　friends　arrived—unexpected；　because　neither　Carlisle　nor　Rosalie　
had　been　able　to　contact　the　Amazons。　

〃Carlisle；〃　the　taller　of　the　two　very　tall　feline　women　greeted　him　when　they　arrived。　Both　of　them　
seemed　as　if　they'd　been　stretched—long　arms　and　legs；　long　fingers；　long　black　braids；　and　long　faces　
with　long　noses。　They　wore　nothing　but　animal　skins—hide　vests　and　tightfitting　pants　that　laced　on　the　
sides　with　leather　ties。　It　wasn't　just　their　eccentric　clothes　that　made　them　seem　wild　but　everything　about　
them；　from　their　restless　crimson　eyes　to　their　sudden；　darting　movements。　I'd　never　met　any　vampires　
less　civilized。　

But　Alice　had　sent　them；　and　that　was　interesting　news；　to　put　it　mildly。　Why　was　Alice　in　South　
America？　Just　

because　she'd　seen　that　no　one　else　would　be　able　to　get　in　touch　with　the　Amazons？　

〃Zafrina　and　Senna！　But　Where's　Kachiri？〃　Carlisle　asked。　Tve　never　seen　you　three　apart。〃　

〃Alice　told　us　we　needed　to　separate；〃　Zafrina　answered　in　the　rough；　deep　voice　that　matched　her　wild　
appearance。　〃It's　unfortable　to　be　away　from　each　other；　but　Alice　assured　us　that　you　needed　us　
here；　while　she　very　much　needed　Kachiri　somewhere　else。　That's　all　she　would　tell　us；　except　that　there　
was　a　great　hurry。。。　？〃　Zafrina's　statement　trailed　off　into　a　question；　and—with　the　tremor　of　nerves　that　
never　went　away　no　matter　how　often　I　did　this—I　brought　Renesmee　out　to　meet　them。　

Despite　their　fierce　appearance；　they　listened　very　calmly　to　our　story；　and　then　allowed　Renesmee　to　
prove　the　point。　They　were　every　bit　as　taken　with　Renesmee　as　any　of　the　other　vampires；　but　I　couldn't　
help　worrying　as　I　watched　their　swift；　jerky　movements　so　close　beside　her。　Senna　was　always　near　
Zafrina；　never　speaking；　but　it　wasn't　the　same　as　Amun　and　Kebi。　Kebi's　manner　seemed　obedient；　
Senna　and　Zafrina　were　more　like　two　limbs　of　one　organism—Zafrina　just　happened　to　be　the　



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mouthpiece。　

The　news　about　Alice　was　oddly　forting。　Clearly；　she　was　on　some　obscure　mission　of　her　own　as　
she　avoided　whatever　Aro　had　planned　for　her。　

Edward　was　thrilled　to　have　the　Amazons　with　us；　because　Zafrina　was　enormously　talented；　her　gift　
could　make　a　very　dangerous　offensive　weapon。　Not　that　Edward　was　asking　for　Zafrina　to　side　with　us　
in　the　battle；　but　if　the　Volturi　did　not　pause　when　they　saw　our　witnesses；　perhaps　they　would　pause　for　
a　different　kind　of　scene。　

〃It's　a　very　straightforward　illusion；〃　Edward　explained　when　it　turned　out　that　I　couldn't　see　anything；　as　
usual。　Zafrina　was　intrigued　and　amused　by　my　immunity—something　she'd　never　encountered　
before—and　she　hovered　restlessly　while　Edward　described　what　I　was　missing。　Edward's　eyes　
unfocused　slightly　as　he　continued。　〃She　can　make　most　people　see　whatever　she　wants　them　to　
see—see　that；　and　nothing　else。　For　example；　right　now　I　would　appear　to　be　alone　in　the　middle　of　a　
rain　forest。　It's　so　clear　I　might　possibly　believe　it；　except　for　the　fact　that　I　can　still　feel　you　in　my　arms。〃　

Zafrina's　lips　twitched　into　her　hard　version　of　a　smile。　A　second　later；　Edward's　eyes　focused　again；　and　
he　grinned　back。　

〃Impressive；〃　he　said。　

Renesmee　was　fascinated　with　the　conversation；　and　she　reached　out　fearlessly　toward　Zafrina。　

〃Can　I　see？〃　she　asked。　

〃What　would　you　like　to　see？〃　Zafrina　asked。　

〃What　you　showed　Daddy。〃　

Zafrina　nodded；　and　I　watched　anxiously　as　Renesmee's　eyes　stared　blankly　into　space。　A　second　later；　
Renesmee's　dazzling　smile　lit　up　her　face。　

〃More；〃　she　manded。　

After　that；　it　was　hard　to　keep　Renesmee　away　from　Zafrina　and　her　pretty　pictures。　I　worried；　
because　I　was　quite　sure　that　Zafrina　was　able　to　create　images　that　were　not　pretty　at　all。　But　through　
Renesmee's　thoughts　I　

could　see　Zafrina's　visions　for　myself—they　were　as　clear　as　any　of　Renesmee's　own　memories；　like　they　
were　real—and　thus　judge　for　myself　whether　they　were　appropriate　or　not。　

Though　I　didn't　give　her　up　easily；　I　had　to　admit　it　was　a　good　thing　Zafrina　was　keeping　Renesmee　
entertained。　I　needed　my　hands。　I　had　so　much　to　learn；　both　physically　and　mentally；　and　the　time　was　
so　short。　

My　first　attempt　at　learning　to　fight　did　not　go　well。　

Edward　had　me　pinned　in　about　two　seconds。　But　instead　of　letting　me　wrestle　my　way　free—which　I　
absolutely　could　have—he'd　leaped　up　and　away　from　me。　I　knew　immediately　that　something　was　
wrong；　he　was　still　as　stone；　staring　across　the　meadow　we　were　practicing　in。　



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Tm　sorry；　Bella；〃　he　said。　

〃No；　I'm　fine；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　go　again。〃　

〃I　can't。〃　

〃What　do　you　mean；　you　can't？　We　just　started。〃　

He　didn't　answer。　

〃Look；　I　know　I'm　no　good　at　this；　but　I　can't　get　better　if　you　don't　help　me。〃　

He　said　nothing。　Playfully；　I　sprang　at　him。　He　made　no　defense　at　all；　and　we　both　fell　to　the　ground。　He　
was　motionless　as　I　pressed　my　lips　to　his　jugular。　

〃I　win；〃　I　announced。　

His　eyes　narrowed；　but　he　said　nothing。　

〃Edward？　What's　wrong？　Why　won't　you　teach　me？〃　

A　full　minute　passed　before　he　spoke　again。　

〃I　just　can't。。。　bear　it。　Emmett　and　Rosalie　know　as　much　as　I　do。　Tanya　and　Eleazar　probably　know　
more。　Ask　someone　else。〃　

〃That's　not　fair！　You're　good　at　this。　You　helped　Jasper　before—you　fought　with　him　and　all　the　others；　
too。　Why　not　me？　What　did　I　do　wrong？〃　

He　sighed；　exasperated。　His　eyes　were　dark；　barely　any　gold　to　lighten　the　black。　

〃Looking　at　you　that　way；　analyzing　you　as　a　target。　Seeing　all　the　ways　I　can　kill　you　。。　。〃　He　flinched。　〃It　
just　makes　it　too　real　for　me。　We　don't　have　so　much　time　that　it　will　really　make　a　difference　who　your　
teacher　is。　Anyone　can　teach　you　the　fundamentals。〃　

I　scowled。　

He　touched　my　pouting　lower　lip　and　smiled。　〃Besides；　it's　unnecessary。　The　Volturi　will　stop。　They　will　
be　made　to　understand。〃　

〃But　if　they　don't！　I　need　to　learn　this。〃　

〃Find　another　teacher。〃　

That　was　not　our　last　conversation　on　the　subject；　but　I　never　swayed　him　an　inch　from　his　decision。　

Emmett　was　more　than　willing　to　help；　though　his　teaching　felt　to　me　a　lot　like　revenge　for　all　the　lost　

armwrestling　matches。　If　I　could　still　bruise；　I　would　have　been　purple　from　head　to　toe。　Rose；　Tanya；　
and　Eleazar　all　were　patient　and　supportive。　Their　lessons　reminded　me　of　Jasper's　fighting　instructions　to　



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the　others　last　June；　though　those　memories　were　fuzzy　and　indistinct。　Some　of　the　visitors　found　my　
education　entertaining；　and　some　even　offered　assistance。　The　nomad　Garrett　took　a　few　turns—he　was　
a　surprisingly　good　teacher；　he　interacted　so　easily　with　others　in　general　that　I　wondered　how　he'd　never　
found　a　coven。　I　even　fought　once　with　Zafrina　while　Renesmee　watched　from　Jacob's　arms。　I　learned　
several　tricks；　but　I　never　asked　for　her　help　again。　In　truth；　though　I　liked　Zafrina　very　much　and　I　knew　
she　wouldn't　really　hurt　me；　the　wild　woman　scared　me　to　death。　

I　learned　many　things　from　my　teachers；　but　I　had　the　sense　that　my　knowledge　was　still　impossibly　
basic。　I　had　no　idea　how　many　seconds　I　would　last　against　Alec　and　Jane。　I　only　prayed　that　it　would　be　
long　enough　to　help。　

Every　minute　of　the　day　that　I　wasn't　with　Renesmee　or　learning　to　fight；　I　was　in　the　backyard　working　
with　Kate；　trying　to　push　my　internal　shield　outside　of　my　own　brain　to　protect　someone　else。　Edward　
encouraged　me　in　this　training。　I　knew　he　hoped　I　would　find　a　way　of　contributing　that　satisfied　me　while　
also　keeping　me　out　of　the　line　of　fire。　

It　was　just　so　hard。　There　was　nothing　to　get　a　hold　of；　nothing　solid　to　work　with。　I　had　only　my　raging　
desire　to　be　of　use；　to　be　able　to　keep　Edward；　Renesmee；　and　as　much　of　my　family　as　possible　safe　
with　me。　Over　and　over　I　tried　to　force　the　nebulous　shield　outside　of　myself；　with　only　faint；　sporadic　
success。　It　felt　like　I　was　wrestling　to　stretch　an　invisible　rubber　band—a　band　that　would　change　from　
concrete　tangibility　into　insubstantial　smoke　at　any　random　moment。　

Only　Edward　was　willing　to　be　our　guinea　pig—to　receive　shock　after　shock　from　Kate　while　I　grappled　
inpetently　with　the　insides　of　my　head。　We　worked　for　hours　at　a　time；　and　I　felt　like　I　should　be　
covered　in　sweat　from　the　exertion；　but　of　course　my　perfect　body　didn't　betray　me　that　way。　My　
weariness　was　all　mental。　

It　killed　me　that　it　was　Edward　who　had　to　suffer；　my　arms　wrapped　uselessly　around　him　while　he　
winced　over　and　over　from　Kate's　low〃　setting。　I　tried　as　hard　as　I　could　to　push　my　shield　around　us　
both；　every　now　and　then　I　would　get　it；　and　then　it　would　slip　away　again。　

I　hated　this　practice；　and　I　wished　that　Zafrina　would　help　instead　of　Kate。　Then　all　Edward　would　have　
to　do　was　look　at　Zafrina's　illusions　until　I　could　stop　him　from　seeing　them。　But　Kate　insisted　that　I　
needed　better　motivation—by　which　she　meant　my　hatred　of　watching　Edward's　pain。　I　was　beginning　to　
doubt　her　assertion　from　the　first　day　we'd　met—that　she　wasn't　sadistic　about　the　use　of　her　gift。　She　
seemed　to　be　enjoyi