友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
5 midnigh+sun-第19部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
No; she couldn't see that future—not when Rosalie and Jasper were so decided
against ignoring the incident。
Rosalie's palm smacked down on the table with a loud bang。 〃We can't allow the
human a chance to say anything。 Carlisle; you must see that。 Even if we decided to all
disappear; it's not safe to leave stories behind us。 We live so differently from the rest of
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer
82
our kind—you know there are those who would love an excuse to point fingers。 We have
to be more careful than anyone else!〃
〃We've left rumors behind us before;〃 I reminded her。
〃Just rumors and suspicions; Edward。 Not eyewitnesses and evidence!〃
〃Evidence!〃 I scoffed。
But Jasper was nodding; his eyes hard。
〃Rose—〃 Carlisle began。
〃Let me finish; Carlisle。 It doesn't have to be any big production。 The girl hit her
head today。 So maybe that injury turns out to be more serious that it looked。〃 Rosalie
shrugged。 〃Every mortal goes to sleep with the chance of never waking up。 The others
would expect us to clean up after ourselves。 Technically; that would make it Edward's
job; but this is obviously beyond him。 You know I'm capable of control。 I would leave
no evidence behind me。〃
〃Yes; Rosalie; we all know how proficient an assassin you are;〃 I snarled。
She hissed at me; furious。
〃Edward; please;〃 Carlisle said。 Then he turned to Rosalie。 〃Rosalie; I looked
the other way in Rochester because I felt that you were owed your justice。 The men you
killed had wronged you monstrously。 This is not the same situation。 The Swan girl is an
innocent。〃
〃It's not personal; Carlisle;〃 Rosalie said through her teeth。 〃It's to protect us
all。〃
There was a brief moment of silence while Carlisle thought through his answer。
When he nodded; Rosalie's eyes lit up。 She should have known better。 Even if I hadn't
been able to read his thoughts; I could have anticipated his next words。 Carlisle never
compromised。
〃I know you mean well; Rosalie; but?I'd like very much for our family to be
worth protecting。 The occasional?accident or lapse in control is a regrettable part of
who we are。〃 It was very like him to include himself in the plural; though he had never
had such a lapse himself。 〃To murder a blameless child in cold blood is another thing
entirely。 I believe the risk she presents; whether she speaks her suspicions or not; is
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer
83
nothing to the greater risk。 If we make exceptions to protect ourselves; we risk
something much more important。 We risk losing the essence of who we are。〃
I controlled my expression very carefully。 It wouldn't do at all to grin。 Or to
applaud; as I wished I could。
Rosalie scowled。 〃It's just being responsible。〃
〃It's being callous;〃 Carlisle corrected gently。 〃Every life is precious。〃
Rosalie sighed heavily and her lower lip pouted out。 Emmett patted her shoulder。
〃It'll be fine; Rose;〃 he encouraged in a low voice。
〃The question;〃 Carlisle continued; 〃is whether we should move on?〃
〃No;〃 Rosalie moaned。 〃We just got settled。 I don't want to start on my
sophomore year in high school again!〃
〃You could keep your present age; of course;〃 Carlisle said。
〃And have to move again that much sooner?〃 she countered。
Carlisle shrugged。
〃I like it here! There's so little sun; we get to be almost normal。〃
〃Well; we certainly don't have to decide now。 We can wait and see if it becomes
necessary。 Edward seems certain of the Swan girl's silence。〃
Rosalie snorted。
But I was no longer worried about Rose。 I could see that she would go along with
Carlisle's decision; not matter how infuriated she was with me。 Their conversation had
moved on to unimportant details。
Jasper remained unmoved。
I understood why。 Before he and Alice had met; he'd lived in a combat zone; a
relentless theater of war。 He knew the consequences of flouting the rules—he'd seen the
grisly aftermath with his own eyes。
It said much that he had not tried to calm Rosalie down with his extra faculties;
nor did he now try to rile her up。 He was holding himself aloof from this discussion—
above it。
〃Jasper;〃 I said。
He met my gaze; his face expressionless。
〃She won't pay for my mistake。 I won't allow that。〃
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer
84
〃She benefits from it; then? She should have died today; Edward。 I would only
set that right。〃
I repeated myself; emphasizing each word。 〃I will not allow it。〃
His eyebrows shot up。 He wasn't expecting this—he hadn't imagined that I would
act to stop him。
He shook his head once。 〃I won't let Alice live in danger; even a slight danger。
You don't feel about anyone the way I feel about her; Edward; and you haven't lived
through what I've lived through; whether you've seen my memories or not。 You don't
understand。〃
〃I'm not disputing that; Jasper。 But I'm telling you now; I won't allow you to
hurt Isabella Swan。〃
We stared at each other—not glaring; but measuring the opposition。 I felt him
sample the mood around me; testing my determination。
〃Jazz;〃 Alice said; interrupting us。
He held my gaze for a moment more; and then looked at her。 〃Don't bother
telling me you can protect yourself; Alice。 I already know that。 I've still got to—〃
〃That's not what I'm going say;〃 Alice interrupted。 〃I was going to ask you for a
favor。〃
I saw what was on her mind; and my mouth fell open with an audible gasp。 I
stared at her; shocked; only vaguely aware that everyone besides Alice and Jasper was
now eyeing me warily。
〃I know you love me。 Thanks。 But I would really appreciate it if you didn't try to
kill Bella。 First of all; Edward's serious and I don't want you two fighting。 Secondly;
she's my friend。 At least; she's going to be。〃
It was clear as glass in her head: Alice; smiling; with her icy white arm around the
girl's warm; fragile shoulders。 And Bella was smiling; too; her arm around Alice's waist。
The vision was rock solid; only the timing of it was unsure。
〃But?Alice?〃 Jasper gasped。 I couldn't manage to turn my head to see his
expression。 I couldn't tear myself away from the image in Alice's head in order to hear
his。
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer
85
〃I'm going to love her someday; Jazz。 I'll be very put out with you if you don't
let her be。〃
I was still locked into Alice's thoughts。 I saw the future shimmer as Jasper's
resolve floundered in the face of her unexpected request。
〃Ah;〃 she sighed—his indecision had cleared a new future。 〃See? Bella's not
going to say anything。 There's nothing to worry about。〃
The way she said the girl's name?like they were already close confidants?
〃Alice;〃 I choked。 〃What?does this??〃
〃I told you there was a change coming。 I don't know; Edward。〃 But she locked
her jaw; and I could see that there was more。 She was trying not to think about it; she
was focusing very hard on Jasper suddenly; though he was too stunned to have
progressed much in his decision making。
She did this sometimes when she was trying to keep something from me。
〃What; Alice? What are you hiding?〃
I heard Emmett grumble。 He always got frustrated when Alice and I had these
kinds of conversations。
She shook her head; trying to not let me in。
〃Is it about the girl?〃 I demanded。 〃Is it about Bella?〃
She had her teeth gritted in concentration; but when I spoke Bella's name; she
slipped。 Her slip only lasted the tiniest portion of a second; but that was long enough。
〃NO!〃 I shouted。 I heard my chair hit the floor; and only then realized I was on
my feet。
〃Edward!〃 Carlisle was on his feet; too; his arm on my shoulder。 I was barely
aware of him。
〃It's solidifying;〃 Alice whispered。 〃Every minute you're more decided。
There're really only two ways left for her。 It's one or the other; Edward。〃
I could see what she saw?but I could not accept it。
〃No;〃 I said again; there was no volume to my denial。 My legs felt hollow; and I
had to brace myself against the table。
〃Will somebody please let the rest of us in on the mystery?〃 Emmett complained。
〃I have to leave;〃 I whispered to Alice; ignoring him。
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer
86
〃Edward; we've already been over that;〃 Emmett said loudly。 〃That's the best
way to start the girl talking。 Besides; if you take off; we won't know for sure if she's
talking or not。 You have to stay and deal with this。〃
〃I don't see you going anywhere; Edward;〃 Alice told me。 〃I don't know if you
can leave anymore。〃 Think about it; she added silently。 Think about leaving。
I saw what she meant。 Yes; the idea of never seeing the girl again was?painful。
But it was also necessary。 I couldn't sanction either future I'd apparently condemned her
to。
I'm not entirely sure of Jasper; Edward; Alice went on。 If you leave; if he thinks
she's a danger to us?
〃I don't hear that;〃 I contradicted her; still only halfway aware of our audience。
Jasper was wavering。 He would not do something that would hurt Alice。
Not right this moment。 Will you risk her life; leave her undefended?
〃Why are you doing this to me?〃 I groaned。 My head fell into my hands。
I was not Bella's p
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!