1 twilight暮色-第52章

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〃Three；〃　she　answered　tersely。　

〃Three！〃　he　scoffed。　〃Let　them　e。〃　The　steel　bands　of　muscle　flexed　
along　his　massive　arms。　

For　a　split　second　that　seemed　much　longer　than　it　really　was；　Carlisle　
deliberated。　Only　Emmett　seemed　unperturbed；　the　rest　stared　at　
Carlisle's　face　with　anxious　eyes。　

〃Let's　just　continue　the　game；〃　Carlisle　finally　decided。　His　voice　was　

cool　and　level。　〃Alice　said　they　were　simply　curious。〃　

All　this　was　said　in　a　flurry　of　words　that　lasted　only　a　few　seconds。　I　
had　listened　carefully　and　caught　most　of　it；　though　I　couldn't　hear　what　
Esme　now　asked　Edward　with　a　silent　vibration　of　her　lips。　I　only　saw　the　
slight　shake　of　his　head　and　the　look　of　relief　on　her　face。　

〃You　catch；　Esme；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　call　it　now。〃　And　he　planted　himself　in　
front　of　me。　

The　others　returned　to　the　field；　warily　sweeping　the　dark　forest　with　
their　sharp　eyes。　Alice　and　Esme　seemed　to　orient　themselves　around　where　
I　stood。　

〃Take　your　hair　down；〃　Edward　said　in　a　low；　even　voice。　

I　obediently　slid　the　rubber　band　out　of　my　hair　and　shook　it　out　around　
me。　

I　stated　the　obvious。　〃The　others　are　ing　now。〃　

〃Yes；　stay　very　still；　keep　quiet；　and　don't　move　from　my　side；　please。〃　
He　hid　the　stress　in　his　voice　well；　but　I　could　hear　it。　He　pulled　my　
long　hair　forward；　around　my　face。　

〃That　won't　help；〃　Alice　said　softly。　〃I　could　smell　her　across　the　
field。〃　

〃I　know。〃　A　hint　of　frustration　colored　his　tone。　

Carlisle　stood　at　the　plate；　and　the　others　joined　the　game　halfheartedly。　

〃What　did　Esme　ask　you？〃　I　whispered。　

He　hesitated　for　a　second　before　he　answered。　〃Whether　they　were　
thirsty；〃　he　muttered　unwillingly。　

The　seconds　ticked　by；　the　game　progressed　with　apathy　now。　No　one　dared　
to　hit　harder　than　a　bunt；　and　Emmett；　Rosalie；　and　Jasper　hovered　in　the　
infield。　Now　and　again；　despite　the　fear　that　numbed　my　brain；　I　was　
aware　of　Rosalie's　eyes　on　me。　They　were　expressionless；　but　something　
about　the　way　she　held　her　mouth　made　me　think　she　was　angry。　

Edward　paid　no　attention　to　the　game　at　all；　eyes　and　mind　ranging　the　
forest。　

〃I'm　sorry；　Bella；〃　he　muttered　fiercely。　〃It　was　stupid；　irresponsible；　
to　expose　you　like　this。　I'm　so　sorry。〃　

I　heard　his　breath　stop；　and　his　eyes　zeroed　in　on　right　field。　He　took　a　
half　step；　angling　himself　between　me　and　what　was　ing。　

Carlisle；　Emmett；　and　the　others　turned　in　the　same　direction；　hearing　
sounds　of　passage　much　too　faint　for　my　ears。　

===========================================================================　


18。　THE　HUNT　




They　emerged　one　by　one　from　the　forest　edge；　ranging　a　dozen　meters　
apart。　The　first　male　into　the　clearing　fell　back　immediately；　allowing　
the　other　male　to　take　the　front；　orienting　himself　around　the　tall；　
darkhaired　man　in　a　manner　that　clearly　displayed　who　led　the　pack。　The　
third　was　a　woman；　from　this　distance；　all　I　could　see　of　her　was　that　
her　hair　was　a　startling　shade　of　red。　

They　closed　ranks　before　they　continued　cautiously　toward　Edward's　

family；　exhibiting　the　natural　respect　of　a　troop　of　predators　as　it　
encounters　a　larger；　unfamiliar　group　of　its　own　kind。　

As　they　approached；　I　could　see　how　different　they　were　from　the　Cullens。　
Their　walk　was　catlike；　a　gait　that　seemed　constantly　on　the　edge　of　
shifting　into　a　crouch。　They　dressed　in　the　ordinary　gear　of　backpackers：　
jeans　and　casual　buttondown　shirts　in　heavy；　weatherproof　fabrics。　The　
clothes　were　frayed；　though；　with　wear；　and　they　were　barefoot。　Both　men　
had　cropped　hair；　but　the　woman's　brilliant　orange　hair　was　filled　with　
leaves　and　debris　from　the　woods。　

Their　sharp　eyes　carefully　took　in　the　more　polished；　urbane　stance　of　
Carlisle；　who；　flanked　by　Emmett　and　Jasper；　stepped　guardedly　forward　to　
meet　them。　Without　any　seeming　munication　between　them；　they　each　
straightened　into　a　more　casual；　erect　bearing。　

The　man　in　front　was　easily　the　most　beautiful；　his　skin　olivetoned　
beneath　the　typical　pallor；　his　hair　a　glossy　black。　He　was　of　a　medium　
build；　hardmuscled；　of　course；　but　nothing　next　to　Emmett's　brawn。　He　
smiled　an　easy　smile；　exposing　a　flash　of　gleaming　white　teeth。　

The　woman　was　wilder；　her　eyes　shifting　restlessly　between　the　men　facing　
her；　and　the　loose　grouping　around　me；　her　chaotic　hair　quivering　in　the　
slight　breeze。　Her　posture　was　distinctly　feline。　The　second　male　hovered　
unobtrusively　behind　them；　slighter　than　the　leader；　his　light　brown　hair　
and　regular　features　both　nondescript。　His　eyes；　though　pletely　still；　
somehow　seemed　the　most　vigilant。　

Their　eyes　were　different；　too。　Not　the　gold　or　black　I　had　e　to　
expect；　but　a　deep　burgundy　color　that　was　disturbing　and　sinister。　

The　darkhaired　man；　still　smiling；　stepped　toward　Carlisle。　

〃We　thought　we　heard　a　game；〃　he　said　in　a　relaxed　voice　with　the　
slightest　of　French　accents。　〃I'm　Laurent；　these　are　Victoria　and　James。〃　
He　gestured　to　the　vampires　beside　him。　

〃I'm　Carlisle。　This　is　my　family；　Emmett　and　Jasper；　Rosalie；　Esme　and　
Alice；　Edward　and　Bella。〃　He　pointed　us　out　in　groups；　deliberately　not　
calling　attention　to　individuals。　I　felt　a　shock　when　he　said　my　name。　

〃Do　you　have　room　for　a　few　more　players？〃　Laurent　asked　sociably。　

Carlisle　matched　Laurent's　friendly　tone。　〃Actually；　we　were　just　
finishing　up。　But　we'd　certainly　be　interested　another　time。　Are　you　
planning　to　stay　in　the　area　for　long？〃　

〃We're　headed　north；　in　fact；　but　we　were　curious　to　see　who　was　in　the　
neighborhood。　We　haven't　run　into　any　pany　in　a　long　time。〃　

〃No；　this　region　is　usually　empty　except　for　us　and　the　occasional　
visitor；　like　yourselves。〃　

The　tense　atmosphere　had　slowly　subsided　into　a　casual　conversation；　I　
guessed　that　Jasper　was　using　his　peculiar　gift　to　control　the　situation。　

〃What's　your　hunting　range？〃　Laurent　casually　inquired。　

Carlisle　ignored　the　assumption　behind　the　inquiry。　〃The　Olympic　Range　
here；　up　and　down　the　Coast　Ranges　on　occasion。　We　keep　a　permanent　
residence　nearby。　There's　another　permanent　settlement　like　ours　up　near　
Denali。〃　

Laurent　rocked　back　on　his　heels　slightly。　

〃Permanent？　How　do　you　manage　that？〃　There　was　honest　curiosity　in　his　
voice。　

〃Why　don't　you　e　back　to　our　home　with　us　and　we　can　talk　
fortably？〃　Carlisle　invited。　〃It's　a　rather　long　story。〃　

James　and　Victoria　exchanged　a　surprised　look　at　the　mention　of　the　word　

〃home；〃　but　Laurent　controlled　his　expression　better。　

〃That　sounds　very　interesting；　and　wele。〃　His　smile　was　genial。　〃We've　
been　on　the　hunt　all　the　way　down　from　Ontario；　and　we　haven't　had　the　
chance　to　clean　up　in　a　while。〃　His　eyes　moved　appreciatively　over　
Carlisle's　refined　appearance。　

〃Please　don't　take　offense；　but　we'd　appreciate　it　if　you'd　refrain　from　
hunting　in　this　immediate　area。　We　have　to　stay　inconspicuous；　you　
understand；〃　Carlisle　explained。　

〃Of　course。〃　Laurent　nodded。　〃We　certainly　won't　encroach　on　your　
territory。　We　just　ate　outside　of　Seattle；　anyway；〃　he　laughed。　A　shiver　
ran　up　my　spine。　

〃We'll　show　you　the　way　if　you'd　like　to　run　with　us　—　Emmett　and　Alice；　
you　can　go　with　Edward　and　Bella　to　get　the　Jeep；〃　he　casually　added。　

Three　things　seemed　to　happen　simultaneously　while　Carlisle　was　speaking。　
My　hair　ruffled　with　the　light　breeze；　Edward　stiffened；　and　the　second　
male；　James；　suddenly　whipped　his　head　around；　scrutinizing　me；　his　
nostrils　flaring。　

A　swift　rigidity　fell　on　all　of　them　as　James　lurched　one　step　forward　
into　a　crouch。　Edward　bared　his　teeth；　crouching　in　defense；　a　feral　
snarl　ripping　from　his　throat。　

It　was　nothing　like　the　playful　sounds　I'd　heard　from　him　this　morning；　
it　was　the　single　most　menacing　thing　I　had　ever　heard；　and　chills　ran　
from　the　crown　of　my　head　to　the　back　of　my　heels。　

〃What's　this？〃　Laurent　exclaimed　in　open　surprise。　Neither　James　nor　
Edward　relaxed　their　aggressive　poses。　James　feinted　slightly　to　the　
side；　and　Edward　shifted　in　response。　

〃She's　with　us。〃　Carlisle's　firm　rebuff　was　directed　toward　James。　
Laurent　seemed　to　catch　my　scent　less　powerfully　than　James；　but　
awareness　now　dawned　on　his　face。　

〃You　brought　a　snack？〃　he　asked；　his　expression　incredulous　as　he　took　an　
involuntary　step　forward。　

Edward　snarled　even　more　ferociously；　harshly；　his　lip　curling　high　above　
his　glistening；　bared　teeth。　Laurent　stepped　back　again。　

〃I　said　she's　with　us；〃　Carlisle　corrected　in　a　hard　voice。　

〃But　she's　human；〃　Laurent　protested。　The　words　were　not　at　all　
aggressive；　merely　astounded。　

〃Yes。〃　Emmett　was　very　much　in　evidence　at　Carlisle's　side；　his　eyes　on　
James。　James　slowly　straightened　out　of　his　crouch；　but　his　eyes　never　
left　me；　his　nostrils　still　wide。　Edward　stayed　tensed　like　a　lion　in　
front　of　me。　

When　Laurent　spoke；　his　tone　was　soothing　—　trying　to　defuse　the　sudden　
hostility。　〃It　appears　we　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　each　other。〃　

〃Indeed。〃　Carlisle's　voice　was　still　cool。　

〃But　we'd　like　to　accept　your　invitation。〃　His　eyes　flicked　toward　me　and　
back　to　Carlisle。　〃And；　of　course；　we　will　not　harm　the　human　girl。　We　
won't　hunt　in　your　range；　as　I　said。〃　

James　glanced　in　disbelief　and　aggravation　at　Laurent　and　exchanged　
another　brief　look　with　Victoria；　whose　eyes　still　flickered　edgily　from　
face　to　face。　

Carlisle　measured　Laurent's　open　expression　for　a　moment　before　he　spoke。　
〃We'll　show　you　the　way。　Jasper；　Rosalie；　Esme？〃　he　called。　They　gathered　
together；　blocking　me　from　view　as　they　converged。　Alice　was　instantly　at　
my　side；　and　Emmett　fell　back　slowly；　his　eyes　locked　on　James　as　he　

backed　toward　us。　

〃Let's　go；　Bella。〃　Edward's　voice　was　low　and　bleak。　

This　whole　time　I'd　been　rooted　in　place；　terrified　into　absolute　
immobility。　Edward　had　to　grip　my　elbow　and　pull　sharply　to　break　my　
trance。　Alice　and　Emmett　were　close　behind　us；　hiding　me。　I　stumbled　
alongside　Edward；　still　stunned　with　fear。　I　couldn't　hear　if　the　main　
group　had　left　yet。　Edward's　impatience　was　almost　tangible　as　we　moved　
at　human　speed　to　the　for