4 breaking dawn破晓-第65部分

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second；　and　then　looked　away　quickly；　a　lump　rising　in　my　throat。　

〃Thank　you；〃　I　told　him。　

His　eyes　narrowed　slightly；　and　I　felt　he　was　disappointed　that　my　examination　was　not　more　thorough。　
〃I　can　assure　you　every　piece　is　perfect。　All　will　pass　the　most　rigorous　scrutiny　by　experts。〃　

〃I'm　sure　they　are。　I　truly　appreciate　what　you've　done　for　me；　J。〃　

〃It's　been　my　pleasure；　Bella。　In　the　future；　feel　free　to　e　to　me　for　anything　the　Cullen　family　needs。〃　
He　didn't　even　hint　at　it　really；　but　this　sounded　like　an　invitation　for　me　to　take　over　Jasper's　place　as　
liaison。　

〃There　was　something　you　wanted　to　discuss？〃　

〃Er；　yes。　It's　a　bit　delicate。。　。。〃　He　gestured　to　the　stone　hearth　with　a　questioning　expression。　I　sat　on　the　
edge　of　the　stone；　and　he　sat　beside　me。　Sweat　was　dewing　up　on　his　forehead　again；　and　he　pulled　a　
blue　silk　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　and　began　mopping。　

〃You　are　the　sister　of　Mr。　Jasper's　wife？　Or　married　to　his　brother？〃　he　asked。　

〃Married　to　his　brother；〃　I　clarified；　wondering　where　this　was　leading。　

〃You　would　be　Mr。　Edward's　bride；　then？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

He　smiled　apologetically。　〃I've　seen　all　the　names　many　times；　you　see。　My　belated　congratulations。　It's　
nice　that　Mr。　Edward　has　found　such　a　lovely　partner　after　all　this　time。〃　

〃Thank　you　very　much。〃　

He　paused；　dabbing　at　the　sweat。　〃Over　the　years；　you　might　imagine　that　I've　developed　a　very　healthy　
level　of　respect　for　Mr。　Jasper　and　the　entire　family。〃　

I　nodded　cautiously。　

He　took　a　deep　breath　and　then　exhaled　without　speaking。　

〃J；　please　just　say　whatever　you　need　to。〃　

He　took　another　breath　and　then　mumbled　quickly；　slurring　the　words　together。　

〃If　you　could　just　assure　me　that　you　are　not　planning　to　kidnap　the　little　girl　from　her　father；　I　would　
sleep　better　tonight。〃　




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〃Oh；〃　I　said；　stunned。　It　took　me　a　minute　to　understand　the　erroneous　conclusion　he'd　drawn。　〃Oh　no。　
It's　nothing　like　that　at　all。〃　I　smiled　weakly；　trying　to　reassure　him。　〃I'm　simply　preparing　a　safe　place　for　
her　in　case　

something　were　to　happen　to　my　husband　and　me。〃　

His　eyes　narrowed。　〃Are　you　expecting　something　to　happen？〃　He　blushed；　then　apologized。　〃Not　that　
it's　any　of　my　business。〃　

I　watched　the　red　flush　spread　behind　the　delicate　membrane　of　his　skin　and　was　glad—as　I　often　
was—that　I　was　not　the　average　newborn。　J　seemed　a　nice　enough　man；　criminal　behavior　aside；　and　it　
would　have　been　a　shame　to　kill　him。　

〃You　never　know。〃　I　sighed。　

He　frowned。　〃May　I　wish　you　the　best　of　luck；　then。　And　please　don't　be　put　out　with　me；　my　dear；　
but。。。　if　Mr。　Jasper　should　e　to　me　and　ask　what　names　I　put　on　these　documents　。。。〃　

〃Of　course　you　should　tell　him　immediately。　I'd　like　nothing　better　than　to　have　Mr。　Jasper　fully　aware　of　
our　entire　transaction。〃　

My　transparent　sincerity　seemed　to　ease　a　bit　of　his　tension。　

〃Very　good；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　can't　prevail　upon　you　to　stay　for　dinner？〃　

〃I'm　sorry；　J。　I'm　short　on　time　at　present。〃　

〃Then；　again；　my　best　wishes　for　your　health　and　happiness。　Anything　at　all　the　Cullen　family　needs；　
please　don't　hesitate　to　call　on　me；　Bella。〃　

〃Thank　you；　J。〃　

I　left　with　my　contraband；　glancing　back　to　see　that　J　was　staring　after　me；　his　expression　a　mixture　of　
anxiety　and　regret。　

The　return　trip　took　me　less　time。　The　night　was　black；　and　so　I　turned　off　my　headlights　and　floored　it。　
When　I　got　back　to　the　house；　most　of　the　cars；　including　Alice's　Porsche　and　my　Ferrari；　were　missing。　
The　traditional　vampires　were　going　as　far　away　as　possible　to　satiate　their　thirst。　I　tried　not　to　think　of　
their　hunting　in　the　night；　cringing　at　the　mental　picture　of　their　victims。　

Only　Kate　and　Garrett　were　in　the　front　room；　arguing　playfully　about　the　nutritional　value　of　animal　
blood。　I　inferred　that　Garrett　had　attempted　a　hunting　trip　vegetarianstyle　and　found　it　difficult。　

Edward　must　have　taken　Renesmee　home　to　sleep。　Jacob；　no　doubt；　was　in　the　woods　close　by　the　
cottage。　The　rest　of　my　family　must　have　been　hunting　as　well。　Perhaps　they　were　out　with　the　other　
Denalis。　

Which　basically　gave　me　the　house　to　myself；　and　I　was　quick　to　take　advantage。　

I　could　smell　that　I　was　the　first　one　to　enter　Alice　and　Jasper's　room　in　a　long　while；　maybe　the　first　
since　the　night　they'd　left　us。　I　rooted　silently　through　their　huge　closet　until　I　found　the　right　sort　of　bag。　It　



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must　have　been　Alice's；　it　was　a　small　black　leather　backpack；　the　kind　that　was　usually　used　as　a　purse；　
little　enough　that　even　Renesmee　could　carry　it　without　looking　out　of　place。　Then　I　raided　their　petty　
cash；　taking　about　twice　the　yearly　ine　for　the　average　American　household。　I　guessed　my　theft　
would　be　less　noticeable　here　than　anywhere　else　in　the　house；　since　this　room　made　everyone　sad。　The　
envelope　with　the　fake　passports　and　IDs　went　into　the　bag　on　top　of　the　money。　Then　I　sat　on　the　edge　
of　Alice　and　Jasper's　bed　and　looked　at　the　pitifully　insignificant　

package　that　was　all　I　could　give　my　daughter　and　my　best　friend　to　help　save　their　lives。　I　slumped　
against　the　bedpost；　feeling　helpless。　

But　what　else　could　I　do？　

I　sat　there　for　several　minutes　with　my　head　bowed　before　the　inkling　of　a　good　idea　came　to　me。　

If。。。　

If　I　was　to　assume　that　Jacob　and　Renesmee　were　going　to　escape；　then　that　included　the　assumption　
that　Demetri　would　be　dead。　That　gave　any　survivors　a　little　breathing　room；　Alice　and　Jasper　included。　

So　why　couldn't　Alice　and　Jasper　help　Jacob　and　Renesmee？　If　they　were　reunited；　Renesmee　would　
have　the　best　protection　imaginable。　There　was　no　reason　why　this　couldn't　happen；　except　for　the　fact　
that　Jake　and　Renesmee　both　were　blind　spots　for　Alice。　How　would　she　begin　to　look　for　them？　

I　deliberated　for　a　moment；　then　left　the　room；　crossing　the　hall　to　Carlisle　and　Esme's　suite。　As　usual；　
Esme's　desk　was　stacked　with　plans　and　blueprints；　everything　neatly　laid　out　in　tall　piles。　The　desk　had　a　
slew　of　pigeonholes　above　the　work　surface；　in　one　was　a　box　of　stationery。　I　took　a　fresh　sheet　of　paper　
and　a　pen。　

Then　I　stared　at　the　blank　ivory　page　for　a　full　five　minutes；　concentrating　on　my　decision。　Alice　might　
not　be　able　to　see　Jacob　or　Renesmee；　but　she　could　see　me。　I　visualized　her　seeing　this　moment；　hoping　
desperately　that　she　wasn't　too　busy　to　pay　attention。　

Slowly；　deliberately；　I　wrote　the　words　RIO　DE　JANEIRO　in　all　caps　across　the　page。　

Rio　seemed　the　best　place　to　send　them：　It　was　far　away　from　here；　Alice　and　Jasper　were　already　in　
South　America　at　last　report；　and　it　wasn't　like　our　old　problems　had　ceased　to　exist　just　because　we　had　
worse　problems　now。　There　was　still　the　mystery　of　Renesmee's　future；　the　terror　of　her　racing　age。　
We'd　been　headed　south　anyway。　Now　it　would　be　Jacob's；　and　hopefully　Alice's；　job　to　search　for　the　
legends。　

I　bowed　my　head　again　against　a　sudden　urge　to　sob；　clenching　my　teeth　together。　It　was　better　that　
Renesmee　go　on　without　me。　But　I　already　missed　her　so　much　I　could　barely　stand　it。　

I　took　a　deep　breath　and　put　the　note　at　the　bottom　of　the　duffel　bag；　where　Jacob　would　find　it　soon　
enough。　

I　crossed　my　fingers　that—since　it　was　unlikely　that　his　high　school　offered　Portuguese—Jake　had　at　
least　taken　Spanish　as　his　language　elective。　

There　was　nothing　left　now　but　waiting。　




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For　two　days；　Edward　and　Carlisle　stayed　in　the　clearing　where　Alice　had　seen　the　Volturi　arrive。　It　was　
the　same　killing　field　where　Victoria's　newborns　had　attacked　last　summer。　I　wondered　if　it　felt　repetitive　
to　Carlisle；　like　deja　vu。　For　me；　it　would　be　all　new。　This　time　Edward　and　I　would　stand　with　our　
family。　

We　could　only　imagine　that　the　Volturi　would　be　tracking　either　Edward　or　Carlisle。　I　wondered　if　it　
would　surprise　them　that　their　prey　didn't　run。　Would　that　make　them　wary？　I　couldn't　imagine　the　Volturi　
ever　feeling　a　need　for　caution。　

Though　I　was—hopefully—invisible　to　Demetri；　I　stayed　with　Edward。　Of　course。　We　only　had　a　few　
hours　left　to　be　together。　

Edward　and　I　had　not　had　a　last　grand　scene　of　farewell；　nor　did　I　plan　one。　To　speak　the　word　was　to　
make　it　final。　It　would　be　the　same　as　typing　the　words　The　End　on　the　last　page　of　a　manuscript。　So　we　
did　not　say　our　goodbyes；　and　we　stayed　very　close　to　each　other；　always　touching。　Whatever　end　found　
us；　it　would　not　find　us　separated。　

We　set　up　a　tent　for　Renesmee　a　few　yards　back　into　the　protective　forest；　and　then　there　was　more　
deja　vu　as　we　found　ourselves　camping　in　the　cold　again　with　Jacob。　It　was　almost　impossible　to　believe　
how　much　things　had　changed　since　last　June。　Seven　months　ago；　our　triangular　relationship　seemed　
impossible；　three　different　kinds　of　heartbreak　that　could　not　be　avoided。　Now　everything　was　in　perfect　
balance。　It　seemed　hideously　ironic　that　the　puzzle　pieces　would　fit　together　just　in　time　for　all　of　them　to　
be　destroyed。　

It　started　to　snow　again　the　night　before　New　Year's　Eve。　This　time；　the　tiny　flakes　did　not　dissolve　into　
the　stony　ground　of　the　clearing。　While　Renesmee　and　Jacob　slept—Jacob　snoring　so　loudly　I　wondered　
how　Renesmee　didn't　wake—the　snow　made　first　a　thin　icing　over　the　earth；　then　built　into　thicker　drifts。　
By　the　time　the　sun　rose；　the　scene　from　Alice's　vision　was　plete。　Edward　and　I　held　hands　as　we　
stared　across　the　glittering　white　field；　and　neither　of　us　spoke。　

Through　the　early　morning；　the　others　gathered；　their　eyes　bearing　mute　evidence　of　their　preparations　
—some　light　gold；　some　rich　crimson。　Soon　after　we　all　were　together；　we　could　hear　the　wolves　moving　
in　the　woods。　Jacob　emerged　from　the　tent；　leaving　Renesmee　still　sleeping；　to　join　them。　

Edward　and　Carlisle　were　arraying　the　others　into　a　loose　formation；　our　witnesses　to　the　sides　like　
galleries。　

I　watched　from　a　distance；　waiting　by　the　tent　for　Renesmee　to　wake。　When　she　did；　I　helped　her　dress　
in　the　clothes　I'd　carefully　picked　out　two　days　before。　Clothes　that　looked　frilly　and　feminine　but　that　
were　actually　sturdy　enough　to　not　show　any　wear—even　if　a　person　wore　them　while　riding　a　giant　
werewolf　through　a　couple　of　states。　Over　her　jacket　I　put　on　the　black　leather　backpack　with　the　
documents；　the　money；　the　clue；　and　my　love　notes　for　her　and　Jacob；　Charlie　and　Renee。　She　was　
strong　enough　that　it　was　no　burden　to　her。　

Her　eyes　were　huge　as　she　read　the　agony　on　my　face。　But　she　had　guessed　enough　not　to　ask　me　what　
I　was　doing。　

〃I　love　you；〃　I　told　her。　〃More　than　anything。〃　

〃I　love　you；　too；　Momma；〃　she　answered。　She　touched　the　locket　at　her　neck；　which　now　held　a　tiny　
photo　of　her；　Edward；　and　me。　〃We'll　always　be　together。〃　



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〃In　our　hearts　we'll　always　be　together；〃　I　corrected　in　a　whisper　as　quiet　as　a　breath。　〃But　when　the　time　
es　today；　you　have　to　leave　me。〃　

Her　eyes　widened；　and　she　touched　her　hand　to　my　cheek。　The　silent　no　was　louder　than　if　she'd　
shouted　it。　

I　fought　to　swallow；　my　throat　felt　swollen。　〃Will　you　do　it　for　me？　Please？〃　

She　pressed　her　fingers　harder　to　my　face。　Why？　

〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　I　whispered。　〃But　you'll　understand　soon。　I　promise。'7　

In　my　head；　I　saw　Jacob's　face。　

I　nodded；　then　pulled　her　fingers　away。　〃Don't　think　of　it；〃　I　breathed　into　her　ear。　〃Don't　tell　Jacob　until　I　
tell　you　to　run；　okay？〃　

This　she　understood。　She　nodded；　too。　

I　took　from　my　pocket　one　last　detail。　

While　packing　Renesmee's　things；　an　unexpected　sparkle　of　color　had　caught　my　eye。　A　chance　ray　of　
sun　through　the　skylight　had　hit　the　jewels　on　the　ancient　precious　box　stuffed　high　overhead　on　a　shelf　in　
an　untouched　corner。　I　considered　it　for　a　moment　and　then　shrugged。　After　putting　together　Alice's　
clues；　I　couldn't　hope　that　the　ing　confrontation　would　be　resolved　peacefully。　But　why　not　try　to　
start　things　out　as　friendly　as　possible？　I　asked　myself。　What　could　it　hurt？　So　I　guess　I　must　have　had　
some　hope　left　after　all—blind；　senseless　hope—because　I'd　scaled　the　shelves　and　retrieved　Aro's　
wedding　present　to　me。　

Now　I　fastened　the　thick　gold　rope　around　my　neck　and　felt　the　weight　of　the　enormous　diamond　nestle　
into　the　hollow　of　my　throat。　

〃Pretty；〃　Renesmee　whispered。　Then　she　wrapped　her　arms　like　a　vise　around　my　neck。　I　squeezed　her　
against　my　chest。　Interlocked　this　way；　I　carried　her　out　of　the　tent　and　to　the　clearing。　

Edward　cocked　one　eyebrow　as　I　approached；　but　otherwise　did　not　remark　on　my　accessory　or　
Renesmee's。　He　just　put　his　arms　tight　around　us　both　for　one　long　moment　and　then；　with　a　deep　sigh；　let　
us　go。　I　couldn't　see　a　goodbye　anywhere　in　his　eyes。　Maybe　he　had　more　hope　for　something　after　this　
life　than　he'd　let　on。　

We　took　our　place；　Renesmee　climbing　agilely　onto　my　back　to　leave　my　hands　free。　I　stood　a　few　feet　
behind　the　front　line　made　up　by　Carlisle；　Edward；　Emmett；　Rosalie；　Tanya；　Kate；　and　Eleazar。　Close　
beside　me　were　Benjamin　and　Zafrina；　it　was　my　job　to　protect　them　as　long　as　I　was　able。　They　were　
our　best　offensive　weapons。　If　the　Volturi　were　the　ones　who　could　not　see；　even　for　a　few　moments；　
that　would　change　everything。　

Zafrina　was　rigid　and　fierce；　with　Senna　almost　a　mirror　image　at　her　side。　Benjamin　sat　on　the　ground；　
his　palms　pressed　to　the　dirt；　and　muttered　quietly　about　fault　lines。　Last　night；　he'd　strewn　piles　of　
boulders　in　naturallooking；　now　snowcovered　heaps　all　along　the　back　of　the　meadow。　They　weren't　
enough　to　injure　a　vampire；　but　hopefully　enough　to　distract　one。　



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The　witnesses　clustered　to　our　left　and　right；　some　nearer　than　others—those　who　had　declared　
themselves　were　the　closest。　I　noticed　Siobhan　rubbing　her　temples；　her　eyes　closed　in　concentration；　
was　she　humoring　Carlisle？　Trying　to　visualize　a　diplomatic　resolution？　

In　the　woods　behind　us；　the　invisible　wolves　were　still　and　ready；　we　could　only　hear　their　heavy　panting；　
their　beating　hearts。　

The　clouds　rolled　in；　diffusing　the　light　so　that　it　could　have　been　morning　or　afternoon。　Edward's　eyes　
tightened　as　he　scrutinized　the　view；　and　I　was　sure　he　was　seeing　this　exact　scene　for　the　second　time　
—the　first　time　being　Alice's　vision。　It　would　look　just　the　same　when　the　Volturi　arrived。　We　only　had　
minutes　or　seconds　left　now。　

All　our　family　and　allies　braced　themselves。　

From　the　forest；　the　huge　russet　Alpha　wolf　came　forward　to　stand　at　my　side；　it　must　have　been　too　
hard　for　him　to　keep　his　distance　from　Renesmee　when　she　was　in　such　immediate　danger。　

Renesmee　reached　out　to　twine　her　fingers　in　thefur　over　his　massive　shoulder；　and　her　body　relaxed　a　
little　bit。　She　was　calmer　with　Jacob　cl