3 eclipse月食-第78章

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whoever　got　to　her　first　could　have　her。”　
　I　heard　Edward’s　jaw　flex　beside　me。　
　“It　looks　like　Riley　was　wrong　about　the　easy　part；”　Jane　noted。　
　Bree　nodded；　seeming　relieved　that　the　conversation　had　taken　this　nonpainful　course。　She　sat　up　
carefully。　“I　don’t　know　what　happened。　We　split　up；　but　the　others　never　came。　And　Riley　left　us；　and　he　
didn’t　e　to　help　like　he　promised。　And　then　it　was　so　confusing；　and　everybody　was　in　pieces。”　She　
shuddered　again。　“I　was　afraid。　I　wanted　to　run　away。　That　one”　—　she　looked　at　Carlisle　—　“said　they　
wouldn’t　hurt　me　if　I　stopped　fighting。”　
　“Ah；　but　that　wasn’t　his　gift　to　offer；　young　one；”　Jane　murmured；　her　voice　oddly　gentle　now。　“Broken　
rules　demand　a　consequence。”　
　Bree　stared　at　her；　not　prehending。　
　Jane　looked　at　Carlisle。　“Are　you　sure　you　got　all　of　them？　The　other　half　that　split　off？”　
　Carlisle’s　face　was　very　smooth　as　he　nodded。　“We　split　up；　too。”　
　Jane　halfsmiled。　“I　can’t　deny　that　I’m　impressed。”　The　big　shadows　behind　her　murmured　in　agreement。　
“I’ve　never　seen　a　coven　escape　this　magnitude　of　offensive　intact。　Do　you　know　what　was　behind　it？　It　seems　
like　extreme　behavior；　considering　the　way　you　live　here。　And　why　was　the　girl　the　key？”　Her　eyes　rested　
unwilling　on　me　for　one　short　second。　
　I　shivered。　
　“Victoria　held　a　grudge　against　Bella；”　Edward　told　her；　his　voice　impassive。　

　Jane　laughed　—　the　sound　was　golden；　the　bubbling　laugh　of　a　happy　child。　“This　one　seems　to　bring　out　
bizarrely　strong　reactions　in　our　kind；”　she　observed；　smiling　directly　at　me；　her　face　beatific。　
　Edward　stiffened。　I　looked　at　him　in　time　to　see　his　face　turning　away；　back　to　Jane。　
　“Would　you　please　not　do　that？”　he　asked　in　a　tight　voice。　
　Jane　laughed　again　lightly。　“Just　checking。　No　harm　done；　apparently。”　
　I　shivered；　deeply　grateful　that　the　strange　glitch　in　my　system　—　which　had　protected　me　from　Jane　the　
last　time　we’d　met　—　was　still　in　effect。　Edward’s　arm　tightened　around　me。　
　“Well；　it　appears　that　there’s　not　much　left　for　us　to　do。　Odd；”　Jane　said；　apathy　creeping　back　into　her　
voice。　“We’re　not　used　to　being　rendered　unnecessary。　It’s　too　bad　we　missed　the　fight。　It　sounds　like　it　
would　have　been　entertaining　to　watch。”　
　“Yes；”　Edward　answered　her　quickly；　his　voice　sharp。　“And　you　were　so　close。　It’s　a　shame　you　didn’t　
arrive　just　a　half　hour　earlier。　Perhaps　then　you　could　have　fulfilled　your　purpose　here。”　
　Jane　met　Edward’s　glare　with　unwavering　eyes。　“Yes。　Quite　a　pity　how　things　turned　out；　isn’t　it？”　
　Edward　nodded　once　to　himself；　his　suspicions　confirmed。　
　Jane　turned　to　look　at　the　newborn　Bree　again；　her　face　pletely　bored。　“Felix？”　she　drawled。　
　“Wait；”　Edward　interjected。　
　Jane　raised　one　eyebrow；　but　Edward　was　staring　at　Carlisle　while　he　spoke　in　an　urgent　voice。　“We　
could　explain　the　rules　to　the　young　one。　She　doesn’t　seem　unwilling　to　learn。　She　didn’t　know　what　she　was　
doing。”　
　“Of　course；”　Carlisle　answered。　“We　would　certainly　be　prepared　to　take　responsibility　for　Bree。”　
　Jane’s　expression　was　torn　between　amusement　and　disbelief。　
　“We　don’t　make　exceptions；”　she　said。　“And　we　don’t　give　second　chances。　It’s　bad　for　our　reputation。　
Which　reminds　me　。　。　。”　Suddenly；　her　eyes　were　on　me　again；　and　her　cherubic　face　dimpled。　“Caius　will　be　
so　interested　to　hear　that　you’re　still　human；　Bella。　Perhaps　he’ll　decide　to　visit。”　
　“The　date　is　set；”　Alice　told　Jane；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　“Perhaps　we’ll　e　to　visit　you　in　a　few　
months。”　
　Jane’s　smile　faded；　and　she　shrugged　indifferently；　never　looking　at　Alice。　She　turned　to　face　Carlisle。　“It　
was　nice　to　meet　you；　Carlisle　—　I’d　thought　Aro　was　exaggerating。　Well；　until　we　meet　again　。　。　。”　
　Carlisle　nodded；　his　expression　pained。　
　“Take　care　of　that；　Felix；”　Jane　said；　nodding　toward　Bree；　her　voice　dripping　boredom。　“I　want　to　go　
home。”　
　“Don’t　watch；”　Edward　whispered　in　my　ear。　
　I　was　only　too　eager　to　follow　his　instruction。　I’d　seen　more　than　enough　for　one　day　—　more　than　enough　
for　one　lifetime。　I　squeezed　my　eyes　tightly　together　and　turned　my　face　into　Edward’s　chest。　
　But　I　could　still　hear。　
　There　was　a　deep；　rumbling　growl；　and　then　a　highpitched　keen　that　was　horribly　familiar。　That　sound　cut　
off　quickly；　and　then　the　only　sound　was　a　sickening　crunching　and　snapping。　
　Edward’s　hand　rubbed　anxiously　against　my　shoulders。　
　“e；”　Jane　said；　and　I　looked　up　in　time　to　see　the　backs　of　the　tall　gray　cloaks　drifting　away　toward　
the　curling　smoke。　The　incense　smell　was　strong　again　—　fresh。　
　The　gray　cloaks　disappeared　into　the　thick　mist。　

　　　26。　ETHICS　


THE　COUNTER　IN　ALICE’S　BATHROOM　WAS　COVERED　WITH　a　thousand　different　products；　all　claiming　to　
beautify　a　person’s　surface。　Since　everyone　in　this　house　was　both　perfect　and　impermeable；　I　could　only　
assume　that　she’d　bought　most　of　these　things　with　me　in　mind。　I　read　the　labels　numbly；　struck　by　the　waste。　
　I　was　careful　never　to　look　in　the　long　mirror。　
　Alice　bed　through　my　hair　with　a　slow；　rhythmic　motion。　
　“That’s　enough；　Alice；”　I　said　tonelessly。　“I　want　to　go　back　to　La　Push。”　
　How　many　hours　had　I　waited　for　Charlie　to　finally　leave　Billy’s　house　so　that　I　could　see　Jacob？　Each　
minute；　not　knowing　if　Jacob　was　still　breathing　or　not；　had　seemed　like　ten　lifetimes。　And　then；　when　at　last　
I’d　been　allowed　to　go；　to　see　for　myself　that　Jacob　was　alive；　the　time　had　gone　so　quickly。　I　felt　like　I’d　
barely　caught　my　breath　before　Alice　was　calling　Edward；　insisting　that　I　keep　up　this　ridiculous　sleepover　
faade。　It　seemed　so　insignificant。　。　。　。　
　“Jacob’s　still　unconscious；”　Alice　answered。　“Carlisle　or　Edward　will　call　when　he’s　awake。　Anyway；　you　
need　to　go　see　Charlie。　He　was　there　at　Billy’s　house；　he　saw　that　Carlisle　and　Edward　are　back　in　from　their　
trip；　and　he’s　bound　to　be　suspicious　when　you　get　home。”　
　I　already　had　my　story　memorized　and　corroborated。　“I　don’t　care。　I　want　to　be　there　when　Jacob　wakes　
up。”　
　“You　need　to　think　of　Charlie　now。　You’ve　had　a　long　day　—　sorry；　I　know　that　doesn’t　begin　to　cover　it　
—　but　that　doesn’t　mean　that　you　can　shirk　your　responsibilities。”　Her　voice　was　serious；　almost　chiding。　“It’s　
more　important　now　than　ever　that　Charlie　stays　safely　in　the　dark。　Play　your　role　first；　Bella；　and　then　you　can　
do　what　you　want　second。　Part　of　being　a　Cullen　is　being　meticulously　responsible。”　
　Of　course　she　was　right。　And　if　not　for　this　same　reason　—　a　reason　that　was　more　powerful　than　all　my　
fear　and　pain　and　guilt　—　Carlisle　would　never　have　been　able　to　talk　me　into　leaving　Jacob’s　side；　
unconscious　or　not。　
　“Go　home；”　Alice　ordered。　“Talk　to　Charlie。　Flesh　out　your　alibi。　Keep　him　safe。”　
　I　stood；　and　the　blood　flowed　down　to　my　feet；　stinging　like　the　pricks　of　a　thousand　needles。　I’d　been　
sitting　still　for　a　long　time。　
　“That　dress　is　adorable　on　you；”　Alice　cooed。　
　“Huh？　Oh。　Er　—　thanks　again　for　the　clothes；”　I　mumbled　out　of　courtesy　rather　than　real　gratitude。　
　“You　need　the　evidence；”　Alice　said；　her　eyes　innocent　and　wide。　“What’s　a　shopping　trip　without　a　new　
outfit？　It’s　very　flattering；　if　I　do　say　so　myself。”　
　I　blinked；　unable　to　remember　what　she’d　dressed　me　in。　I　couldn’t　keep　my　thoughts　from　skittering　
away　every　few　seconds；　insects　running　from　the　light。　。　。　。　
　“Jacob　is　fine；　Bella；”　Alice　said；　easily　interpreting　my　preoccupation。　“There’s　no　hurry。　If　you　realized　
how　much　extra　morphine　Carlisle　had　to　give　him　—　what　with　his　temperature　burning　it　off　so　quickly　—　
you　would　know　that　he’s　going　to　be　out　for　a　while。”　
　At　least　he　wasn’t　in　any　pain。　Not　yet。　
　“Is　there　anything　you　want　to　talk　about　before　you　leave？”　Alice　asked　sympathetically。　“You　must　be　
more　than　a　little　traumatized。”　
　I　knew　what　she　was　curious　about。　But　I　had　other　questions。　
　“Will　I　be　like　that？”　I　asked　her；　my　voice　subdued。　“Like　that　girl　Bree　in　the　meadow？”　
　There　were　many　things　I　needed　to　think　of；　but　I　couldn’t　seem　to　get　her　out　of　my　head；　the　newborn　
whose　other　life　was　now　—　abruptly　—　over。　Her　face；　twisted　with　desire　for　my　blood；　lingered　behind　my　
eyelids。　
　Alice　stroked　my　arm。　“Everyone　is　different。　But　something　like　that；　yes。”　
　I　was　very　still；　trying　to　imagine。　
　“It　passes；”　she　promised。　
　“How　soon？”　

She　shrugged。　“A　few　years；　maybe　less。　It　might　be　different　for　you。　I’ve　never　seen　anyone　go　through　
this　who’s　chosen　it　beforehand。　It　should　be　interesting　to　see　how　that　affects　you。”　
“Interesting；”　I　repeated。　
“We’ll　keep　you　out　of　trouble。”　
“I　know　that。　I　trust　you。”　My　voice　was　monotone；　dead。　
Alice’s　forehead　puckered。　“If　you’re　worried　about　Carlisle　and　Edward；　I’m　sure　they’ll　be　fine。　I　
believe　Sam　is　beginning　to　trust　us　。　。　。　well；　to　trust　Carlisle；　at　least。　It’s　a　good　thing；　too。　I　imagine　the　
atmosphere　got　a　little　tense　when　Carlisle　had　to　rebreak　the　fractures　—”　
“Please；　Alice。”　
“Sorry。”　
I　took　a　deep　breath　to　steady　myself。　Jacob　had　begun　healing　too　quickly；　and　some　of　his　bones　had　
set　wrong。　He’d　been　out　cold　for　the　process；　but　it　was　still　hard　to　think　about。　
“Alice；　can　I　ask　you　a　question？　About　the　future？”　
She　was　suddenly　wary。　“You　know　I　don’t　see　everything。”　
“It’s　not　that；　exactly。　But　you　do　see　my　future；　sometimes。　Why　is　that；　do　you　think；　when　nothing　else　
works　on　me？　Not　what　Jane　can　do；　or　Edward　or　Aro　。　。　。”　My　sentence　trailed　off　with　my　interest　level。　
My　curiosity　on　this　point　was　fleeting；　heavily　overshadowed　by　more　pressing　emotions。　
Alice；　however；　found　the　question　very　interesting。　“Jasper；　too；　Bella　—　his　talent　works　on　your　body　
just　as　well　as　it　does　on　anyone　else’s。　That’s　the　difference；　do　you　see　it？　Jasper’s　abilities　affect　the　body　
physically。　He　really　does　calm　your　system　down；　or　excite　it。　It’s　not　an　illusion。　And　I　see　visions　of　
outes；　not　the　reasons　and　thoughts　behind　the　de