2 new moon新月-第64节

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stone　sculpture。　The　minutes　passed；　and　if　I　didn't　know　better；　I　would　have　thought　she'd　fallen　asleep。　
I　didn't　dare　interrupt　her　to　ask　what　was　going　on。　

I　wished　there　was　something　safe　for　me　to　think　about。　I　couldn't　allow　myself　to　consider　the　horrors　
we　were　headed　toward；　or；　more　horrific　yet；　the　chance　that　we　might　fail—not　if　I　wanted　to　keep　
from　screaming　aloud。　

I　couldn't　anticipate　anything；　either。　Maybe；　if　I　were　very；　very；　very　lucky；　I　would　somehow　be　able　
to　save　Edward。　But　I　wasn't　so　stupid　as　to　think　that　saving　him　would　mean　that　I　could　stay　with　him。　
I　was　no　different；　no　more　special　than　I'd　been　before。　There　would　be　no　new　reason　for　him　to　want　
me　now。　Seeing　him　and　losing　him　again…　

I　fought　back　against　the　pain。　This　was　the　price　I　had　to　pay　to　save　his　life。　I　would　pay　it。　

They　showed　a　movie；　and　my　neighbor　got　headphones。　Sometimes　I　watched　the　figures　moving　
across　the　little　screen；　but　I　couldn't　even　tell　if　the　movie　was　supposed　to　be　a　romance　or　a　horror　
film。　

After　an　eternity；　the　plane　began　to　descend　toward　New　York　City。　Alice　remained　in　her　trance。　I　
dithered；　reaching　out　to　touch　her；　only　to　pull　my　hand　back　again。　This　happened　a　dozen　times　before　
the　plane　touched　town　with　a　jarring　impact。　

〃Alice；〃　I　finally　said。　〃Alice；　we　have　to　go。〃　

I　touched　her　arm。　

Her　eyes　came　open　very　slowly。　She　shook　her　head　from　side　to　side　for　a　moment。　

〃Anything　new？〃　I　asked　in　a　low　voice；　conscious　of　the　man　listening　on　the　other　side　of　me。　

〃Not　exactly；〃　she　breathed　in　a　voice　I　could　barely　catch。　〃He's　getting　closer。　He's　deciding　how　he's　
going　to　ask。〃　

We　had　to　run　for　our　connection；　but　that　was　good—better　than　having　to　wait。　As　soon　as　the　plane　
was　in　the　air；　Alice　closed　her　eyes　and　slid　back　into　the　same　stupor　as　before。　I　waited　as　patiently　as　
I　could。　When　it　was　dark　again；　I　opened　the　window　to　stare　out　into　the　flat　black　that　was　no　better　
than　the　window　shade。　

I　was　grateful　that　I'd　had　so　many　months'　practice　with　controlling　my　thoughts。　Instead　of　dwelling　on　
the　terrifying　possibilities　that；　no　matter　what　Alice　said；　I　did　not　intend　to　survive；　I　concentrated　on　
lesser　problems。　Like；　what　I　was　going　to　say　to　Charlie　if　I　got　back：'　That　was　a　thorny　enough　
problem　to　occupy　several　hours。　And　Jacob？　He'd　promised　to　wait　for　me；　but　did　that　promise　still　
apply？　Would　I　end　up　home　alone　in　Forks；　with　no　one　at　all？　Maybe　I　didn't　want　to　survive；　no　
matter　what　happened。　

It　felt　like　seconds　later　when　Alice　shook　my　shoulder—I　hadn't　realized　I'd　fallen　asleep。　

〃Bella；〃　she　hissed；　her　voice　a　little　too　loud　in　the　darkened　cabin　full　of　sleeping　humans。　

I　wasn't　disoriented—I　hadn't　been　out　long　enough　for　that。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　

Alice's　eyes　gleamed　in　the　dim　light　of　a　reading　lamp　in　the　row　behind　us。　

〃It's　not　wrong。〃　She　smiled　fiercely。　〃It's　right。　They're　deliberating；　but　they've　decided　to　tell　him　no。〃　

〃The　Volturi？〃　I　muttered；　groggy。　

〃Of　course；　Bella；　keep　up。　I　can　see　what　they're　going　to　say。〃　

〃Tellme。〃　

An　attendant　tiptoed　down　the　aisle　to　us。　〃Can　I　get　you　ladies　a　pillow？〃　His　hushed　whisper　was　a　
rebuke　to　our　comparatively　loud　conversation。　

〃No；　thank　you。〃　Alice　beamed　at　up　at　him；　her　smile　shockingly　lovely。　The　attendant's　expression　was　
dazed　as　he　turned　and　stumbled　his　way　back。　

〃Tell　me；〃　I　breathed　almost　silently。　

She　whispered　into　my　ear。　〃They're　interested　in　him—they　think　his　talent　could　be　uselul。　They're　going　
to　offer　him　a　place　with　them。〃　

〃What　will　he　say？〃　

〃I　can't　see　that　yet；　but　I'll　bet　it's　colorful。〃　She　grinned　again。　〃This　is　the　first　good　news—the　first　
break。　They're　intrigued；　they　truly　don't　want　to　destroy　him—'wasteful；'　that's　the　word　Aro　will　
use—and　that　may　be　enough　to　force　him　to　get　creative。　The　longer　he　spends　on　his　plans；　the　better　
for　us。〃　

It　wasn't　enough　to　make　me　hopeful；　to　make　me　feel　the　relief　she　obviously　felt。　There　were　still　so　
many　ways　that　we　could　be　too　late。　And　if　I　didn't　get　through　the　walls　into　the　Volturi　city；　I　wouldn't　
be　able　to　stop　Alice　from　dragging　me　back　home。　

〃Alice？〃　

〃What？〃　

〃I'm　confused。　How　are　you　seeing　this　so　clearly？　And　then　other　times；　you　see　things　far　away—things　
that　don't　happen？〃　

Her　eyes　tightened。　I　wondered　if　she　guessed　what　I　was　thinking　of。　

〃It's　clear　because　it's　immediate　and　close；　and　I'm　really　concentrating。　The　faraway　things　that　come　on　
their　own—those　are　just　glimpses；　faint　maybes。　Plus；　I　see　my　kind　more　easily　than　yours。　Edward　is　
even　easier　because　I'm　so　attuned　to　him。〃　

〃You　see　me　sometimes；〃　I　reminded　her。　

She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　as　clearly。〃　

I　sighed。　〃I　really　wish　you　could　have　been　right　about　me。　In　the　beginning；　when　you　first　saw　things　
about　me；　before　we　even　met…〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

〃You　saw　me　become　one　of　you。〃　I　barely　mouthed　the　words。　

She　sighed。　〃It　was　a　possibility　at　the　time。〃　

〃At　the　time；〃　I　repeated。　

〃Actually；　Bella…〃　She　hesitated；　and　then　seemed　to　make　a　choice。　〃Honestly；　I　think　it's　all　gotten　
beyond　ridiculous。　I'm　debating　whether　to　just　change　you　myself。〃　

I　stared　at　her；　frozen　with　shock。　Instantly；　my　mind　resisted　her　words。　I　couldn't　afford　that　kind　of　
hope　if　she　changed　her　mind。　

〃Did　I　scare　you？〃　she　wondered。　〃I　thought　that's　what　you　wanted。〃　

〃I　do！〃　I　gasped。　〃Oh；　Alice；　do　it　now！　I　could　help　you　so　much—and　I　wouldn't　slow　you　down。　Bite　
me！〃　

〃Shh；〃　she　cautioned。　The　attendant　was　looking　in　our　direction　again。　〃Try　to　be　reasonable；〃　she　
whispered。　〃We　don't　have　enough　time。　We　have　to　get　into　Volterra　tomorrow。　You'd　be　writhing　in　
pain　for　days。〃　She　made　a　face。　〃And　I　don't　think　the　other　passengers　would　react　well。〃　

I　bit　my　lip。　〃If　you　don't　do　it　now；　you'll　change　your　mind。〃　

〃No。〃　She　frowned；　her　expression　unhappy。　〃I　don't　think　I　will。　He'll　be　furious；　but　what　will　he　be　able　
to　do　about　it？〃　

My　heart　beat　faster。　〃Nothing　at　all。〃　

She　laughed　quietly；　and　then　sighed。　〃You　have　too　much　faith　in　me；　Bella。　I'm　not　sure　that　I　can。　I'll　
probably　just　end　up　killing　you。〃　

〃I'll　take　my　chances。〃　

〃You　are　so　bizarre；　even　for　a　human。〃　

〃Thanks。〃　

〃Oh　well；　this　is　purely　hypothetical　at　this　point；　anyway。　First　we　have　to　live　through　tomorrow。〃　

〃Good　point。〃　But　at　least　I　had　something　to　hope　for　if　we　did。　If　Alice　made　good　on　her　
promise—and　if　she　didn't　kill　me—then　Edward　could　run　after　his　distractions　all　he　wanted；　and　I　
could　follow。　I　wouldn't　let　him　be　distracted。　Maybe；　when　I　was　beautiful　and　strong；　he　wouldn't　want　
distractions。　

〃Go　back　to　sleep；〃　she　encouraged　me。　〃I'll　wake　you　up　when　there's　something　new。〃　

〃Right；〃　I　grumbled；　certain　that　sleep　was　a　lost　cause　now。　Alice　pulled　her　legs　up　on　the　seat；　
wrapping　her　arms　around　them　and　leaning　her　forehead　against　her　knees。　She　rocked　back　and　forth　
as　she　concentrated。　

I　rested　my　head　against　the　seat；　watching　her；　and　the　next　thing　I　knew；　she　was　snapping　the　shade　
closed　against　the　faint　brightening　in　the　eastern　sky。　

〃What's　happening？〃　I　mumbled。　

〃They've　told　him　no；〃　she　said　quietly。　I　noticed　at　once　that　her　enthusiasm　was　gone。　

My　voice　choked　in　my　throat　with　panic。　〃What's　he　going　to　do？〃　

〃It　was　chaotic　at　first。　I　was　only　getting　flickers；　he　was　changing　plans　so　quickly。〃　

〃What　kinds　of　plans？〃　I　pressed。　

〃There　was　a　bad　hour；〃　she　whispered。　〃He'd　decided　to　go　hunting。〃　

She　looked　at　me；　seeing　the　comprehension　in　my　face。　

〃In　the　city；〃　she　explained。　〃It　got　very　close。　He　changed　his　mind　at　the　last　minute。〃　

〃He　wouldn't　want　to　disappoint　Carlisle；〃　I　mumbled。　Not　at　the　end。　

〃Probably；〃　she　agreed。　

〃Will　there　be　enough　time？〃　As　I　spoke；　there　was　a　shift　in　the　cabin　pressure。　I　could　feel　the　plane　
angling　downward。　

〃I'm　hoping　so—if　he　sticks　to　his　latest　decision；　maybe。〃　

〃What　is　that？〃　

〃He's　going　to　keep　it　simple。　He's　just　going　to　walk　out　into　the　sun。〃　

Just　walk　out　into　the　sun。　That　was　all。　

It　would　be　enough。　The　image　of　Edward　in　the　meadow—glowing；　shimmering　like　his　skin　was　made　
of　a　million　diamond　facets—was　burned　into　my　memory。　No　human　who　saw　that　would　ever　forget。　
The　Volturi　couldn't　possibly　allow　it。　Not　if　they　wanted　to　keep　their　city　inconspicuous。　

I　looked　at　the　slight　gray　glow　that　shone　through　the　opened　windows。　〃We'll　be　too　late；〃　I　whispered；　
my　throat　closing　in　panic。　

She　shook　her　head。　〃Right　now；　he's　leaning　toward　the　melodramatic。　He　wants　the　biggest　audience　
possible；　so　he'll　choose　the　main　plaza；　under　the　clock　tower。　The　walls　are　high　there。　He'll　wait　till　the　
sun　is　exactly　overhead。〃　

〃So　we　have　till　noon？〃　

〃If　we're　lucky。　If　he　sticks　with　this　decision。〃　

The　pilot　came　on　over　the　intercom；　announcing；　first　in　French　and　then　in　English；　our　imm