new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第78章

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totally　useless。　I　couldn't　be　
around　my　family—I　couldn't　be　around　anyone。　I'm　embarrassed　to　admit　that　I　
more　or　less　curled　up　
into　a　ball　and　let　the　misery　have　me。〃　He　grinned；　sheepish。　〃It　was　much　
more　pathetic　than　hearing　
voices。　And；　of　course；　you　know　I　do　that；　too。〃　
I　was　deeply　relieved　that　he　really　seemed　to　understand—forted　that　this　
all　made　sense　to　him。　At　
any　rate；　he　wasn't　looking　at　me　like　I　was　crazy。　He　was　looking　at　me　like
　he　loved　me。　
〃I　only　heard　one　voice；〃　I　corrected　him。　
He　laughed　and　then　pulled　me　tight　against　his　right　side　and　started　to　lead　
me　forward。　
〃I'm　just　humoring　you　with　this。〃　He　motioned　broadly　with　his　hand　toward　
the　darkness　in　front　of　us　
as　we　walked。　There　was　something　pale　and　immense　there—the　house；　I　
realized。　〃It　doesn't　matter　in　
the　slightest　what　they　say。〃　
〃This　affects　them　now；　too。〃　
He　shrugged　indifferently。　
He　led　me　through　the　open　front　door　into　the　dark　house　and　flipped　the　
lights　on。　The　room　was　just　
as　I'd　remembered　it—the　piano　and　the　white　couches　and　the　pale；　massive　
staircase。　No　dust；　no　
white　sheets。　
Edward　called　out　the　names　with　no　more　volume　than　I'd　use　in　regular　
conversation。　〃Carlisle？　Esme？　
Rosalie？　Emmett？　Jasper？　Alice？〃　They　would　hear。　
Carlisle　was　suddenly　standing　beside　me；　as　if　he'd　been　there　all　along。　
〃Wele　back；　Bella。〃　He　
smiled。　〃What　can　we　do　for　you　this　morning？　I　imagine；　due　to　the　hour；　that　
this　is　not　a　purely　social　
visit？〃　
I　nodded。　〃I'd　like　to　talk　to　everyone　at　once；　if　that's　okay。　About　
something　important。〃　
I　couldn't　help　glancing　up　at　Edward's　face　as　I　spoke。　His　expression　was　
critical；　but　resigned。　When　I　
looked　back　to　Carlisle；　he　was　looking　at　Edward；　too。　
〃Of　course；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃Why　don't　we　talk　in　the　other　room？〃　
Carlisle　led　the　way　through　the　bright　living　room；　around　the　corner　to　the　
dining　room；　turning　on　lights　
as　he　went。　The　walls　were　white；　the　ceilings　high；　like　the　living　room。　In　
the　center　of　the　room；　under　
the　low…hanging　chandelier；　was　a　large；　polished　oval　table　surrounded　by　
eight　chairs。　Carlisle　held　out　
a　chair　for　me　at　the　head。　
I'd　never　seen　the　Cullens　use　the　dining　room　table　before—it　was　just　a　
prop。　They　didn't　eat　in　the　
house。　
As　soon　as　I　turned　to　sit　in　the　chair；　I　saw　that　we　were　not　alone。　Esme　
had　followed　Edward；　and　
behind　her　the　rest　of　the　family　filed　in。　
Carlisle　sat　down　on　my　right；　and　Edward　on　my　left。　Everyone　else　took　their　
seats　in　silence。　Alice　
was　grinning　at　me；　already　in　on　the　plot。　Emmett　and　Jasper　looked　curious；　
and　Rosalie　smiled　at　me　
tentatively。　My　answering　smile　was　just　as　timid。　That　was　going　to　take　some　
getting　used　to。　
Carlisle　nodded　toward　me。　〃The　floor　is　yours。〃　
I　swallowed。　Their　gazing　eyes　made　me　nervous。　Edward　took　my　hand　under　the　
table。　I　peeked　at　
him；　but　he　was　watching　the　others；　his　fate　suddenly　fierce。　
〃Well；〃　I　paused。　〃I'm　hoping　Alice　has　already　told　you　everything　that　
happened　in　Volterra？〃　
〃Everything；〃　Alice　assured　me。　
I　threw　her　a　meaningful　look。　〃And　on　the　way？〃　
〃That；　too；〃　she　nodded。　
〃Good；〃　I　sighed　with　relief。　〃Then　we're　all　on　the　same　page。〃　
They　waited　patiently　while　I　tried　to　order　my　thoughts。　
〃So；　I　have　a　problem；〃　I　began。　〃Alice　promised　the　Volturi　that　I　would　
bee　one　of　you。　They're　
going　to　send　someone　to　check；　and　I'm　sure　that's　a　bad　thing—something　to　
avoid。　
〃And　so；　now；　this　involves　you　all。　I'm　sorry　about　that。〃　I　looked　at　each　
one　of　their　beautiful　faces；　
saving　the　most　beautiful　for　last。　Edward's　mouth　was　turned　down　into　a　
grimace。　〃But；　if　you　don't　
want　me；　then　I'm　not　going　to　force　myself　on　you；　whether　Alice　is　willing　
or　not。〃　
Esme　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　but　I　held　up　one　finger　to　stop　her。　
〃Please；　let　me　finish。　You　all　know　what　I　want。　And　I'm　sure　you　know　what　
Edward　thinks；　too。　I　
think　the　only　fair　way　to　decide　is　for　everyone　to　have　a　vote。　If　you　
decide　you　don't　want　me；　then　
I　guess　I'll　go　back　to　Italy　alone。　I　can't　have　them　ing　here。〃　My　
forehead　creased　as　I　considered　
that。　
There　was　the　faint　rumble　of　a　growl　in　Edward's　chest。　I　ignored　him。　
〃Taking　into　account；　then；　that　I　won't　put　any　of　you　in　danger　either　way；　
I　want　you　to　vote　yes　or　no　
on　the　issue　of　me　being　a　vampire。〃　
I　half…smiled　on　the　last　word；　and　gestured　toward　Carlisle　to　begin。　
〃Just　a　minute；〃　Edward　interrupted。　
I　glared　at　him　through　narrowed　eyes。　He　raised　his　eyebrows　at　me；　squeezing　
my　hand。　
〃I　have　something　to　add　before　we　vote。〃　
I　sighed。　
〃About　the　danger　Bella's　referring　to；〃　he　continued。　〃I　don't　think　we　need　
to　be　overly　anxious。〃　
His　expression　became　more　animated。　He　put　his　free　hand　on　the　shining　table　
and　leaned　forward。　
〃You　see；〃　he　explained；　looking　around　the　table　while　he　spoke；　〃there　was　
more　than　one　reason　why　
I　didn't　want　to　shake　Aro's　hand　there　at　the　end。　There's　something　they　
didn't　think　of；　and　I　didn't　
want　to　cine　them　in。〃　He　grinned。　
〃Which　was？〃　Alice　prodded。　I　was　sure　my　expression　was　just　as　skeptical　as　
hers。　
〃The　Volturi　are　overconfident；　and　with　good　reason。　When　they　decide　to　find　
someone；　it's　not　really　a　
problem。　Do　you　remember　Demetri？〃　He　glanced　down　at　me。　
I　shuddered。　He　took　that　as　a　yes。　
〃He　finds　people—that's　his　talent；　why　they　keep　him。　
〃Now；　the　whole　time　we　were　with　any　of　them；　I　was　picking　their　brains　for　
anything　that　might　save　
us；　getting　as　much　information　as　possible。　So　I　saw　how　Demetri's　talent　
works。　He's　a　tracker—a　
tracker　a　thousand　times　more　gifted　than　Jarres　was。　His　ability　is　loosely　
related　to　what　I　do；　or　what　
Aro　does。　He　catches　the　flavor？　I　don't　know　how　to　describe　it　the　tenor
　of　someone's　mind；　
and　then　he　follows　that。　It　works　over　immense　distances。　
〃But　after　Aro's　little　experiments；　well〃　Edward　shrugged。　
〃You　think　he　won't　be　able　to　find　me；〃　I　said　flatly。　
He　was　smug。　〃I'm　sure　of　it。　He　relies　totally　on　that　other　sense。　When　it　
doesn't　work　with　you；　they'll　
all　be　blind。〃　
〃And　how　does　that　solve　anything？〃　
〃Quite　obviously；　Alice　will　be　able　to　tell　when　they're　planning　a　visit；　
and　I'll　hide　you。　They'll　be　
helpless；〃　he　said　with　fierce　enjoyment。　〃It　will　be　like　looking　for　a　piece　
of　straw　in　a　haystack！〃　
He　and　Emmett　exchanged　a　glance　and　a　smirk。　
This　made　no　sense。　〃But　they　can　find　you；〃　I　reminded　him。　
〃And　I　can　take　care　of　myself。〃　
Emmett　laughed；　and　reached　across　the　table　toward　his　brother；　extending　a　
fist。　
〃Excellent　plan；　my　brother；〃　he　said　with　enthusiasm。　
Edward　stretched　out　his　arm　to　smack　Emmett's　fist　with　his　own。　
〃No；〃　Rosalie　hissed。　
〃Absolutely　not；〃　I　agreed。　
〃Nice。〃　Jasper's　voice　was　appreciative。　
〃Idiots；〃　Alice　muttered。　
Esme　just　glared　at　Edward。　
I　straightened　up　in　my　chair；　focusing。　This　was　my　meeting。　
〃All　right；　then。　Edward　has　offered　an　alternative　for　you　to　consider；〃　I　
said　coolly。　〃Let's　vote。〃　
I　looked　toward　Edward　this　time；　it　would　be　better　to　get　his　opinion　out　of　
the　way。　〃Do　you　want　me　
to　join　your　family？〃　
His　eyes　were　hard　and　black　as　flint。　〃Not　that　way。　You're　staying　human。〃　
I　nodded　once；　keeping　my　face　businesslike；　and　then　moved　on。　
〃Alice？〃　
〃Yes。〃　
〃Jasper？〃　
〃Yes；〃　he　said；　voice　grave。　I　was　a　little　surprised—I　hadn't　been　at　all　
sure　of　his　vote—but　I　
suppressed　my　reaction　and　moved　on。　
〃Rosalie？〃　
She　hesitated；　biting　down　on　her　full；　perfect　bottom　lip。　〃No。〃　
I　kept　my　face　blank　and　turned　my　head　slightly　to　move　on；　but　she　held　up　
both　her　hands；　palms　
forward。　
〃Let　me　explain；〃　she　pleaded。　〃I　don't　mean　that　I　have　any　aversion　to　you　
as　a　sister。　It's　just　that　
this　is　not　the　life　I　would　have　chosen　for　myself。　I　wish　there　had　been　
someone　there　to　vote　no　for　
me。〃　
I　nodded　slowly；　and　then　turned　to　Emmett。　
〃Hell；　yes！〃　He　grinned。　〃We　can　find　some　other　way　to　pick　a　fight　with　this　
Demetri。〃　
I　was　still　grimacing　at　that　when　I　looked　at　Esme。　
〃Yes；　of　course；　Bella。　I　already　think　of　you　as　part　of　my　family。〃　
〃Thank　you；　Esme；〃　I　murmured　as　I　turned　toward　Carlisle。　
I　was　suddenly　nervous；　wishing　I　had　asked　for　his　vote　first。　I　was　sure　
that　this　was　the　vote　that　
mattered　most；　the　vote　that　counted　more　than　any　majority。　
Carlisle　wasn't　looking　at　me。　
〃Edward；〃　he　said。　
〃No；〃　Edward　growled。　His　jaw　was　strained　tight；　his　lips　curled　back　from　
his　teeth。　
〃It's　the　only　way　that　makes　sense；〃　Carlisle　insisted。　〃You've　chosen　not　to　
live　without　her；　and　that　
doesn't　leave　me　a　choice。〃　
Edward　dropped　my　hand；　shoving　away　from　the　table。　He　stalked　out　of　the　
room；　snarling　under　his　
breath。　
〃I　guess　you　know　my　vote。〃　Carlisle　sighed。　
I　was　still　staring　after　Edward。　〃Thanks；〃　I　mumbled。　
An　earsplitting　crash　echoed　from　the　other　room。　
I　flinched；　and　spoke　quickly。　〃That's　all　I　needed。　Thank　you。　For　wanting　to　
keep　me。　I　feel　exactly　the　
same　way　about　all　of　you