1 twilight暮色- 第58部分

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　forest　edge。　

Once　we　were　into　the　trees；　Edward　slung　me　over　his　back　without　
breaking　stride。　I　gripped　as　tightly　as　possible　as　he　took　off；　the　
others　close　on　his　heels。　I　kept　my　head　down；　but　my　eyes；　wide　with　
fright；　wouldn't　close。　They　plunged　through　the　nowblack　forest　like　
wraiths。　The　sense　of　exhilaration　that　usually　seemed　to　possess　Edward　
as　he　ran　was　pletely　absent；　replaced　by　a　fury　that　consumed　him　and　
drove　him　still　faster。　Even　with　me　on　his　back；　the　others　trailed　
behind。　

We　reached　the　Jeep　in　an　impossibly　short　time；　and　Edward　barely　slowed　
as　he　flung　me　in　the　backseat。　

〃Strap　her　in；〃　he　ordered　Emmett；　who　slid　in　beside　me。　

Alice　was　already　in　the　front　seat；　and　Edward　was　starting　the　engine。　
It　roared　to　life　and　we　swerved　backward；　spinning　around　to　face　the　
winding　road。　

Edward　was　growling　something　too　fast　for　me　to　understand；　but　it　
sounded　a　lot　like　a　string　of　profanities。　

The　jolting　trip　was　much　worse　this　time；　and　the　darkness　only　made　it　
more　frightening。　Emmett　and　Alice　both　glared　out　the　side　windows。　

We　hit　the　main　road；　and　though　our　speed　increased；　I　could　see　much　
better　where　we　were　going。　And　we　were　headed　south；　away　from　Forks。　

〃Where　are　we　going？〃　I　asked。　

No　one　answered。　No　one　even　looked　at　me。　

〃Dammit；　Edward！　Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　

〃We　have　to　get　you　away　from　here　—　far　away　—　now。〃　He　didn't　look　
back；　his　eyes　on　the　road。　The　speedometer　read　a　hundred　and　five　miles　
an　hour。　

〃Turn　around！　You　have　to　take　me　home！〃　I　shouted。　I　struggled　with　the　
stupid　harness；　tearing　at　the　straps。　

〃Emmett；〃　Edward　said　grimly。　

And　Emmett　secured　my　hands　in　his　steely　grasp。　

〃No！　Edward！　No；　you　can't　do　this。〃　

〃I　have　to；　Bella；　now　please　be　quiet。〃　

〃I　won't！　You　have　to　take　me　back　—　Charlie　will　call　the　FBI！　They'll　
be　all　over　your　family　—　Carlisle　and　Esme！　They'll　have　to　leave；　to　
hide　forever！〃　

〃Calm　down；　Bel