2 new moon新月-第4节

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〃Well；　I　wasn't　going　to　live　without　you。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes　as　if　that　fact　were　childishly　obvious。　〃But　I　
wasn't　sure　how　to　do　it—I　knew　Emmett　and　Jasper　would　never　help…　so　I　was　thinking　maybe　I　
would　go　to　Italy　and　do　something　to　provoke　the　Volturi。〃　

I　didn't　want　to　believe　he　was　serious；　but　his　golden　eyes　were　brooding；　focused　on　something　far　
away　in　the　distance　as　he　contemplated　ways　to　end　his　own　life。　Abruptly；　I　was　furious。　

〃What　is　a　Volturi？〃　I　demanded。　

〃The　Volturi　are　a　family；〃　he　explained；　his　eyes　still　remote。　〃A　very　old；　very　powerful　family　of　our　
kind。　They　are　the　closest　thing　our　world　has　to　a　royal　family；　I　suppose。　Carlisle　lived　with　them　briefly　
in　his　early　years；　in　Italy；　before　he　settled　in　America—do　you　remember　the　story？〃　

〃Of　course　I　remember。〃　

I　would　never　forget　the　first　time　I'd　gone　to　his　home；　the　huge　white　mansion　buried　deep　in　the　forest　
beside　the　river；　or　the　room　where　Carlisle—Edward's　father　in　so　many　real　ways—kept　a　wall　of　
paintings　that　illustrated　his　personal　history。　The　most　vivid；　most　wildly　colorful　canvas　there；　the　largest；　
was　from　Carlisle's　time　in　Italy。　Of　course　I　remembered　the　calm　quartet　of　men；　each　with　the　
exquisite　face　of　a　seraph；　painted　into　the　highest　balcony　overlooking　the　swirling　mayhem　of　color。　
Though　the　painting　was　centuries　old；　Carlisle—the　blond　angel—remained　unchanged。　And　I　
remembered　the　three　others；　Carlisle's　early　acquaintances。　Edward　had　never　used　the　name　Volturi　

for　the　beautiful　trio；　two　black…haired；　one　snow　white。　He'd　called　them　Aro；　Caius；　and　Marcus；　
nighttime　patrons　of　the　arts…　

〃Anyway；　you　don't　irritate　the　Volturi；〃　Edward　went　on；　interrupting　ray　reverie。　〃Not　unless　you　want　
to　die—or　whatever　it　is　we　do。〃　His　voice　was　so　calm；　it　made　him　sound　almost　bored　by　the　
prospect。　

My　anger　turned　to　horror。　I　took　his　marble　face　between　my　hands　and　held　it　very　tightly。　

〃You　must　never；　never；　never　think　of　anything　like　that　again！〃　I　said。　〃No　matter　what　might　ever　
happen　to　me；　you　are　not　allowed　to　hurt　yourself！〃　

〃I'll　never　put　you　in　danger　again；　so　it's　a　moot　point。〃　

〃Put　me　in　danger！　I　thought　we'd　established　that　all　the　bad　luck　is　my　fault？〃　I　was　getting　angrier。　
〃How　dare　you　even　think　like　that？〃　The　idea　of　Edward　ceasing　to　exist；　even　if　I　were　dead；　was　
impossiblypainful。　

〃What　would　you　do；　if　the　situation　were　reversed？〃　he　asked。　

〃That's　not　the　same　thing。〃　

He　didn't　seem　to　understand　the　difference。　He　chuckled。　

〃What　if　something　did　happen　to　you？〃　I　blanched　at　the　thought。　〃Would　you　want　me　to　go　off　
myself？〃　

A　trace　of　pain　touched　his　perfect　features。　

〃I　guess　I　see　your　point…　a　little；〃　he　admitted。　〃But　what　would　I　do　without　you？〃　

〃Whatever　you　were　doing　before　I　came　along　and　complicated　your　existence。〃　

He　sighed。　〃You　make　that　sound　so　easy。〃　

〃It　should　be。　I'm　not　really　that　interesting。〃　

He　was　about　to　argue；　but　then　he　let　it　go。　〃Moot　point；〃　he　reminded　me。　Abruptly；　he　pulled　himself　
up　into　a　more　formal　posture；　shifting　me　to　the　side　so　that　we　were　no　longer　touching。　

〃Charlie？〃　I　guessed。　

Edward　smiled。　After　a　moment；　I　heard　the　sound　of　the　police　cruiser　pulling　into　the　driveway。　I　
reached　out　and　took　his　hand　firmly。　My　dad　could　deal　with　that　much。　

Charlie　came　in　with　a　pizza　box　in　his　hands。　

〃Hey；　kids。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　〃I　thought　you'd　like　a　break　from　cooking　and　washing　dishes　for　your　
birthday。　Hungry？〃　

〃Sure。　Thanks；　Dad。〃　

Charlie　didn't　comment　on　Edward's　apparent　lack　of　appetite。　He　was　used　to　Edward　passing　on　
dinner。　

〃Do　you　mind　if　I　borrow　Bella　for　the　evening？〃　Edward　asked　when　Charlie　and　I　were　done。　

I　looked　at　Charlie　hopefully。　Maybe　he　had　some　concept　of　birthdays　as　stay…at…home；　family　
affairs—this　was　my　first　birthday　with　him；　the　first　birthday　since　my　mom；　Renee；　had　remarried　and　
gone　to　live　in　Florida；　so　I　didn't　know　what　he　would　expect。　

〃That's　fine—the　Mariners　are　playing　the　Sox　tonight；〃　Charlie　explained；　and　my　hope　disappeared。　
〃So　I　won't　be　any　kind　of　company…　Here。〃　He　scooped　up　the　camera　he'd　gotten　me　on　Renee's　
suggestion　（because　I　would　need　pictures　to　fill　up　my　scrap…book）；　and　threw　it　to　me。　

He　ought　to　know　better　than　that—I'd　always　been　coordinationally　challenged。　The　camera　glanced　off　
the　tip　of　my　finger；　and　tumbled　toward　the　floor。　Edward　snagged　it　before　it　could　crash　onto　the　
linoleum。　

〃Nice　save；〃　Charlie　noted。　〃If　they're　doing　something　fun　at　the　Cullens'　tonight；　Bella；　you　should　take　
some　pictures。　You　know　how　your　mother　gets—she'll　be　wanting　to　see　the　pictures　faster　than　you　
can　take　them。〃　

〃Good　idea；　Charlie；〃　Edward　said；　handing　me　the　camera。　

I　turned　the　camera　on　Edward；　and　snapped　the　first　picture。　〃It　works。〃　

〃That's　good。　Hey；　say　hi　to　Alice　for　me。　She　hasn't　been　over　in　a　while。〃　Charlie's　mouth　pulled　down　
at　one　corner。　

〃It's　been　three　days；　Dad；〃　I　reminded　him。　Charlie　was　crazy　about　Alice。　He'd　become　attached　last　
spring　when　she'd　helped　me　through　my　awkward　convalescence；　Charlie　would　be　fore'ter　grateful　to　
her　for　saving　him　from　the　horror　of　an　almost…adult　daughter　who　needed　help　showering。　〃I'll　tell　her。〃　

〃Okay。　You　kids　have　fun　tonight。〃　It　was　clearly　a　dismissal。　Charlie　was　already　edging　toward　the　
living　room　and　the　TV。　

Edward　smiled；　triumphant；　and　took　my　hand　to　pull　me　from　the　kitchen。　

When　we　got　to　the　truck；　he　opened　the　passenger　door　for　me　again；　and　this　time　I　didn't　argue。　I　still　
had　a　hard　time　finding　the　obscure　turnoff　to　his　house　in　the　dark。　

Edward　drove　north　through　Forks；　visibly　chafing　at　the　speed　limit　enforced　by　my　prehistoric　Chevy。　
The　engine　groaned　even　louder　than　usual　as　he　pushed　it　over　fifty。　

〃Take　it　easy；〃　I　warned　him。　

〃You　know　what　you　would　love？　A　nice　little　Audi　coupe。　Very　quiet；　lots　of　power…〃　

〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　my　truck。　And　speaking　of　expensive　nonessentials；　if　you　know　what's　
good　for　you；　you　didn't　spend　any　money　on　birthday　presents。〃　

〃Not　a　dime；〃　he　said　virtuously。　

〃Good。〃　

〃Can　you　do　me　a　favor？〃　

〃That　depends　on　what　it　is。〃　

He　sighed；　his　lovely　face　serious。　〃Bella；　the　last　real　birthday　any　of　us　had　was　Emmett　in　1935。　Cut　us　
a　little　slack；　and　don't　be　too　difficult　tonight。　They're　all　very　excited。〃　

It　always　startled　me　a　little　when　he　brought　up　things　like　that。　〃Fine；　I'll　behave。〃　

〃I　probably　should　warn　you…〃　

〃Please　do。〃　

〃When　I　say　they're　all　excited…　I　do　mean　all　of　them。〃　

〃Everyone？〃　I　choked。　〃I　thought　Emmett　and　Rosalie　were　in　Africa。〃　The　rest　of　Forks　was　under　the　
impression　that　the　older　Cullens　had　gone　off　to　college　this　year；　to　Dartmouth；　but　I　knew　better。　

〃Emmett　wanted　to　be　here。〃　

〃But…　Rosalie？〃　

〃I　know；　Bella。　Don't　worry；　she'll　be　on　her　best　behavior。〃　

I　didn't　answer。　Like　I　could　just　not　worry；　that　easy。　Unlike　Alice；　Edward's　other　〃adopted〃　sister；　the　
golden　blond　and　exquisite　Rosalie；　didn't　like　me　much。　Actually；　the　feeling　was　a　little　bit　stronger　than　
just　dislike。　As　far　as　Rosalie　was　concerned；　I　was　an　unwelcome　intruder　into　her　family's　secret　life。　

I　felt　horribly　guilty　about　the　present　situation；　guessing　that　Rosalie　and　Emmett's　prolonged　absence　
was　my　fault；　even　as　I　furtively　enjoyed　not　having　to　see　her　Emmett；　Edward's　playful　bear　of　a　
brother；　I　did　miss。　He　was　in　many　ways　just　like　the　big　brother　I'd　always　wanted…　only　much；　much　
more　terrifying。　

Edward　decided　to　change　the　subject。　〃So；　if　you　won't　let　me　get　you　the　Audi；　isn't　there　anything　that　
you'd　like　for　your　birthday？〃　

The　words　came　out　in　a　whisper。　〃You　know　what　I　want。〃　

A　deep　frown　carved　creases　into　his　marble　forehead。　He　obviously　wished　he'd　stuck　to　the　subject　of　
Rosalie。　

It　felt　like　we'd　had　this　argument　a　lot　today。　

〃Not　tonight；　Bella。　Please。〃　

〃Well；　maybe　Alice　will　give　me　what　I　want。〃　

Edward　growled—a　deep；　menacing　sound。　〃This　isn't　going　to　be　your　last　birthday；　Bella；〃　he　vowed。　

〃That's　not　fair！〃　

I　thought　I　heard　his　teeth　clench　together。　

We　were　pulling　up　to　the　house　now。　Bright　light　shined　from　every　window　on　the　first　two　floors。　A　
long　line　of　glowing　Japanese　lanterns　hung　from　the　porch　eaves；　reflecting　a　soft　radiance　on　the　huge　
cedars　that　surrounded　the　house。　Big　bowls　of　flowers—pink　roses—lined　the　wide　stairs　up　to　the　
front　doors。　

I　moaned。　

Edward　took　a　few　deep　breaths　to　calm　himself。　〃This　is　a　party；〃　he　reminded　me。　〃Try　to　be　a　good　
sport。〃　

〃Sure；〃　I　muttered。　

He　came　around　to　get　my　door；　and　offered　me　his　hand。　

〃I　have　a　question。〃　

He　waited　warily。　

〃If　I　develop　this　film；〃　I　said；　toying　with　the　camera　in　my　hands；　〃will　you　show　up　in　the　picture？〃　

Edward　started　laughing。　He　helped　me　out　of　the　car；　pulled　me　up　the　stairs；　and　was　still　laughing　as　he　
ope