2 new+moon新月-第59章

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road　with　people　getting　out　to　walk　the　test　of　the　way。　At　first　I　thought　it　was　just　
impatience—something　I　could　easily　understand。　But　then　we　came　around　a　switchback；　and　I　could　

see　the　filled　parking　lot　outside　the　city　wall；　the　crowds　of　people　walking　through　the　gates。　No　one　
was　being　allowed　to　drive　through。　

〃Alice；〃　I　whispered　urgently。　

〃I　know；〃　she　said。　Her　face　was　chiseled　from　ice。　

Now　that　I　was　looking；　and　we　were　crawling　slowly　enough　to　see；　I　could　tell　that　it　was　very　windy。　
The　people　crowding　toward　the　gate　gripped　their　hats　and　tugged　their　hair　out　of　their　faces。　Their　
clothes　billowed　around　them。　I　also　noticed　that　the　color　red　was　everywhere。　Red　shirts；　red　hats；　red　
flags　dripping　like　long　ribbons　beside　the　gate；　whipping　in　the　wind—as　I　watched；　the　brilliant　crimson　
scarf　one　woman　had　tied　around　her　hair　was　caught　in　a　sudden　gust。　It　twisted　up　into　the　air　above　
her；　writhing　like　it　was　alive。　She　reached　for　it；　jumping　in　the　air；　but　it　continued　to　flutter　higher；　a　
patch　of　bloody　color　against　the　dull；　ancient　walls。　

〃Bella。〃　Alice　spoke　quickly　in　a　fierce；　low　voice。　〃I　can't　see　what　the　guard　here　will　decide　now—if　
this　doesn't　work；　you're　going　to　have　to　go　in　alone。　You're　going　to　have　to　run。　Just　keep　asking　for　
the　Palazzo　dei　Priori；　and　running　in　the　direction　they　tell　you。　Don't　get　lost。〃　

〃Palazzo　dei　Priori；　Palazzo　dei　Priori；〃　I　repeated　the　name　over　and　over　again；　trying　to　get　it　down。　

〃Or　'the　clock　tower；'　if　they　speak　English。　I'll　go　around　and　try　to　find　a　secluded　spot　somewhere　
behind　the　city　where　I　can　go　over　the　wall。〃　

I　nodded。　〃Palazzo　dei　Priori。〃　

〃Edward　will　be　under　the　clock　tower；　to　the　north　of　the　square。　There's　a　narrow　alleyway　on　the　
right；　and　he'll　be　in　the　shadow　there。　You　have　to　get　his　attention　before　he　can　move　into　the　sun。〃　

I　nodded　furiously。　

Alice　was　near　the　front　of　the　line。　A　man　in　a　navy　blue　uniform　was　directing　the　flow　of　traffic；　turning　
the　cars　away　from　the　full　lot。　They　Uturned　and　headed　back　to　find　a　place　beside　the　road。　Then　it　
was　Alice's　turn。　

The　uniformed　man　motioned　lazily；　not　paying　attention。　Alice　accelerated；　edging　around　him　and　
heading　for　the　gate。　He　shouted　something　at　us；　but　held　his　ground；　waving　frantically　to　keep　the　next　
car　from　following　our　bad　example。　

The　man　at　the　gate　wore　a　matching　uniform。　As　we　approached　him；　the　throngs　of　tourists　passed；　
crowding　the　sidewalks；　staring　curiously　at　the　pushy；　flashy　Porsche。　

The　guard　stepped　into　the　middle　of　the　street。　Alice　angled　the　car　carefully　before　she　came　to　a　full　
stop。　The　sun　beat　against　my　window；　and　she　was　in　shadow。　She　swiftly　reached　behind　the　seat　and　
grabbed　something　from　her　bag。　

The　guard　came　around　the　car　with　an　irritated　expression；　and　tapped　on　her　window　angrily。　

She　rolled　the　window　down　halfway；　and　I　watched　him　do　a　double　take　when　he　saw　the　face　behind　
the　dark　glass。　

〃I'm　sorry；　only　tour　buses　allowed　in　the　city　today；　miss；〃　he　said　in　English；　with　a　heavy　accent。　He　
was　apologetic；　now；　as　if　he　wished　he　had　better　news　for　the　strikingly　beautiful　woman。　

〃It's　a　private　tour；〃　Alice　said；　flashing　an　alluring　smile。　She　reached　her　hand　out　cf　the　window；　into　
the　sunlight。　I　froze；　until　I　realized　she　was　wearing　an　elbowlength；　tan　glove。　She　took　his　hand；　still　
raised　from　tapping　her　window；　and　pulled　it　into　the　car。　She　put　something　into　his　palm；　and　folded　
his　fingers　around　it。　

His　face　was　dazed　as　he　retrieved　his　hand　and　stared　at　the　thick　roll　of　money　he　now　held。　The　
outside　bill　was　a　thousand　dollar　bill。　

〃Is　this　a　joke？〃　he　mumbled。　

Alice's　smile　was　blinding。　〃Only　if　you　think　it's　funny。〃　

He　looked　at　her；　his　eyes　staring　wide。　I　glanced　nervously　at　the　clock　on　the　dash。　If　Edward　stuck　to　
his　plan；　we　had　only　five　minutes　left。　

〃I'm　in　a　wee　bit　of　a　hurry；〃　she　hinted；　still　smiling。　

The　guard　blinked　twice；　and　then　shoved　the　money　inside　his　vest。　He　took　a　step　away　from　the　
window　and　waved　us　on。　None　of　the　passing　people　seemed　to　notice　the　quiet　exchange。　Alice　drove　
into　the　city；　and　we　both　sighed　in　relief。　

The　street　was　very　narrow；　cobbled　with　the　same　color　stones　as　the　faded　cinnamon　brown　buildings　
that　darkened　the　street　with　their　shade。　It　had　the　feel　of　an　alleyway。　Red　flags　decorated　the　walls；　
spaced　only　a　few　yards　apart；　flapping　in　the　wind　that　whistled　through　the　narrow　lane。　

It　was　crowded；　and　the　foot　traffic　slowed　our　progress。　

〃Just　a　little　farther；〃　Alice　encouraged　me；　I　was　gripping　the　door　handle；　ready　to　throw　myself　into　the　
street　as　soon　as　she　spoke　the　word。　

She　drove　in　quick　spurts　and　sudden　stops；　and　the　people　in　the　crowd　shook　their　fists　at　us　and　said　
angry　words　that　I　was　glad　I　couldn't　understand。　She　turned　onto　a　little　path　that　couldn't　have　been　
meant　for　cars；　shocked　people　had　to　squeeze　into　doorways　as　we　scraped　by。　We　found　another　
street　at　the　end。　The　buildings　were　taller　here；　they　leaned　together　overhead　so　that　no　sunlight　
touched　the　pavement—the　thrashing　red　flags　on　either　side　nearly　met。　The　crowd　was　thicker　here　
than　anywhere　else。　Alice　stopped　the　car。　I　had　the　door　open　before　we　were　at　a　standstill。　

She　pointed　to　where　the　street　widened　into　a　patch　of　bright　openness。　〃There—we're　at　the　southern　
end　of　the　square。　Run　straight　across；　to　the　right　of　the　clock　tower。　I'll　find　a　way　around—〃　

Her　breath　caught　suddenly；　and　when　she　spoke　again；　her　voice　was　a　hiss。　〃They're　everywhere？〃　

I　froze　in　place；　but　she　pushed　me　out　of　the　car。　〃Forget　about　them。　You　have　two　minutes。　Go；　Bella；　
go！〃　she　shouted；　climbing　out　of　the　car　as　she　spoke。　

I　didn't　pause　to　watch　Alice　melt　into　the　shadows。　I　didn't　stop　to　close　my　door　behind　me。　I　shoved　a　
heavy　woman　out　of　my　way　and　ran　flat　out；　head　down；　paying　little　attention　to　anything　but　the　
uneven　stones　beneath　my　feet。　

ing　out　of　the　dark　lane；　I　was　blinded　by　the　brilliant　sunlight　beating　down　into　the　principal　plaza。　
The　wind　whooshed　into　me；　flinging　my　hair　into　my　eyes　and　blinding　me　further。　It　was　no　wonder　that　
I　didn't　see　the　wall　of　flesh　until　I'd　smacked　into　it。　

There　was　no　pathway；　no　crevice　between　the　close　pressed　bodies。　I　pushed　against　them　furiously；　

fighting　the　hands　that　shoved　back。　I　heard　exclamations　of　irritation　and　even　pain　as　I　battled　my　way　
through；　but　none　were　in　a　language　I　understood。　The　faces　were　a　blur　of　anger　and　surprise；　
surrounded　by　the　everpresent　red。　A　blond　woman　scowled　at　me；　and　the　red　scarf　coiled　around　her　
neck　looked　like　a　gruesome　wound。　A　child；　lifted　on　a　man's　shoulders　to　see　over　the　crowd；　grinned　
down　at　me；　his　lips　distended　over　a　set　of　plastic　vampire　fangs。　

The　throng　jostled　around　me；　spinning　me　the　wrong　direction。　I　was　glad　the　clock　was　so　visible；　or　
I'd　never　keep　my　course　straight。　But　both　hands　on　the　clock　pointed　up　toward　the　pitiless　sun；　and；　
though　I　shoved　viciously　against　the　crowd；　I　knew　I　was　too　late。　I　wasn't　halfway　across。　I　wasn't　
going　to　make　it。　I　was　stupid　and　slow　and　human；　and　we　were　all　going　to　die　because　of　it。　

I　hoped　Alice　would　get　out。　I　hoped　that　she　would　see　me　from　some　dark　shadow　and　know　that　I　
had　failed；　so　she　could　go　home　to　Jasper。　

I　listened；　above　the　angry　exclamations；　trying　to　hear　the　sound　of　discovery：　the　gasp；　maybe　the　
scream；　as　Edward　came　into　someone's　view。　

But　there　was　a　break　in　the　crowd—I　could　see　a　bubble　of　space　ahead。　I　pushed　urgently　toward　it；　
not　realizing　till　I　bruised　my　shins　against　the　bricks　that　there　was　a　wide；　square　fountain　set　into　the　
center　of　the　plaza。　

I　was　nearly　crying　with　relief　as　I　flung　my　leg　over　the　edge　and　ran　through　the　kneedeep　water。　It　
sprayed　all　around　me　as　I　thrashed　my　way　across　the　pool。　Even　in　the　sun；　the　wind　was　glacial；　and　
the　wet　made　the　cold　actually　painful。　But　the　fountain　was　very　wide；　it　let　me　cross　the　center　of　the　
square　and　then　some　in　mere　seconds。　I　didn't　pause　when　I　hit　the　far　edge—I　used　the　low　wall　as　a　
springboard；　throwing　myself　into　the　crowd。　

They　moved　more　readily　for　me　now；　avoiding　the　icy　water　that　splattered　from　my　dripping　clothes　as　
I　ran。　I　glanced　up　at　the　clock　again。　

A　deep；　booming　chime　echoed　through　the　square。　It　throbbed　in　the　stones　under　my　feet。　Children　
cried；　covering　their　ears。　And　I　started　screaming　as　I　ran。　

〃Edward！〃　I　screamed；　knowing　it　was　useless。　The　crowd　was　too　loud；　and　my　voice　was　breathless　
with　exertion。　But　I　couldn't　stop　screaming。　

The　clock　tolled　again。　I　ran　past　a　child　in　his　mother's　arms—his　hair　was　almost　white　in　the　dazzling　
sunlight。　A　circle　of　tall　men；　all　wearing　red　blazers；　called　out　warnings　as　I　barreled　through　them。　The　
clock　tolled　again。　

On　the　other　side　of　the　men　in　blazers；　there　was　a　break　in　the　throng；　space　between　the　sightseers　
who　milled　aimlessly　around　me。　My　eyes　searched　the　dark　narrow　passage　to　the　right　of　the　wide　
square　edifice　under　the　tower。　I　couldn't　see　the　street　level—there　were　still　too　many　people　in　the　
way。　The　clock　tolled　again。　

It　was　hard　to　see　now。　Without　the　crowd　to　break　the　wind；　it　whipped　at　my　face　and　burned　my　
eyes。　I　couldn't　be　sure　if　that　was　the　reason　behind　my　tears；　or　if　I　was　crying　in　defeat　as　the　clock　
tolled　again。　

A　little　family　of　four　stood　nearest　to　the　alley's　mouth。　The　two　girls　wore　crimson　dresses；　with　
matching　ribbons　tying　their　dark　hair　back。　The　father　wasn't　tall。　It　seemed　like　I　could　see　something　
bright　in　the　shadows；　just　over　his　shoulder。　I　hurtled　toward　them；　trying　to　see　past　the　stinging　tears。　
The　clock　tolled；　and　the　littlest　girl　clamped　her　hands　over　her　ears。　

The　older　girl；　just　waist　high　on　her　mother；　hugged　her　mother's　leg　and　stared　into　the　shadows　behind　
them。　As　I　watched；　she　tu