1 twilight暮色-第57部分

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the　poor　tiny　thing；〃　she　sighed。　〃It　broke　my　heart　—　that's　why　I　
jumped　off　the　cliff；　you　know；〃　she　added　matteroffactly。　

〃Edward　just　said　you　ffell；〃　I　stammered。　

〃Always　the　gentleman。〃　She　smiled。　〃Edward　was　the　first　of　my　new　sons。　
I've　always　thought　of　him　that　way；　even　though　he's　older　than　I；　in　
one　way　at　least。〃　She　smiled　at　me　warmly。　〃That's　why　I'm　so　happy　that　
he's　found　you；　dear。〃　The　endearment　sounded　very　natural　on　her　lips。　
〃He's　been　the　odd　man　out　for　far　too　long；　it's　hurt　me　to　see　him　
alone。〃　

〃You　don't　mind；　then？〃　I　asked；　hesitant　again。　〃That　I'm…　all　wrong　for　
him？〃　

〃No。〃　She　was　thoughtful。　〃You're　what　he　wants。　It　will　work　out；　
somehow；〃　she　said；　though　her　forehead　creased　with　worry。　Another　peal　
of　thunder　began。　

Esme　stopped　then；　apparently；　we'd　reached　the　edge　of　the　field。　It　
looked　as　if　they　had　formed　teams。　Edward　was　far　out　in　left　field；　
Carlisle　stood　between　the　first　and　second　bases；　and　Alice　held　the　
ball；　positioned　on　the　spot　that　must　be　the　pitcher's　mound。　

Emmett　was　swinging　an　aluminum　bat；　it　whistled　almost　untraceably　
through　the　air。　I　waited　for　him　to　approach　home　plate；　but　then　I　
realized；　as　he　took　his　stance；　that　he　was　already　there　—　farther　from　
the　pitcher's　mound　than　I　would　have　thought　possible。　Jasper　stood　
several　feet　behind　him；　catching　for　the　other　team。　Of　course；　none　of　
them　had　gloves。　

〃All　right；〃　Esme　called　in　a　clear　voice；　which　I　knew　even　Edward　would　
hear；　as　far　out　as　he　was。　〃Batter　up。〃　

Alice　stood　straight；　deceptively　motionless。　Her　style　seemed　to　be　
stealth　rather　than　an　intimidating　windup。　She　held　the　ball　in　both　
hands　at　her　waist；　and　then；　like　the　strike　of　a　cobra；　her　right　hand　
flicked　out　and　the　ball　smacked　into　Jasper's　hand。　

〃Was　that　a　strike？〃　I　whispered　to　Esme。　

〃If　they　don't　hit　it；　it's　a　strike；〃　she　told　me。　

Jasper　hurled　the　ball　back　to　Alice's　waiting　hand。　She　permitted　
herself　a　brief　grin。　And　then　her　hand　spun　out　again。　

This　time　the　bat　somehow　made　it　around　in　time　to　smash　into　the　
invisible　ball。　The　crack　of　impact　was　shattering；　thunderous；　it　echoed　
off　the　mountains　—　I　immediately　understood　the　necessity　of　the　
thunderstorm。　

The　ball　shot　like　a　meteor　above　the　field；　flying　deep　into　the　
surrounding　forest。　

〃Home　run；〃　I　murmured。　

〃Wait；〃　Esme　cautioned；　listening　intently；　one　hand　raised。　Emmett　was　a　
blur　around　the　bases；　Carlisle　shadowing　him。　I　realized　Edward　was　
missing。　

〃Out！〃　Esme　cried　in　a　clear　voice。　I　stared　in　disbelief　as　Edward　
sprang　from　the　fringe　of　the　trees；　ball　in　his　upraised　hand；　his　wide　
grin　visible　even　to　me。　

〃Emmett　hits　the　hardest；〃　Esme　explained；　〃but　Edward　runs　the　fastest。〃　

The　inning　continued　before　my　incredulous　eyes。　It　was　impossible　to　
keep　up　with　the　speed　at　which　the　ball　flew；　the　rate　at　which　their　
bodies　raced　around　the　field。　

I　learned　the　other　reason　they　waited　for　a　thunderstorm　to　play　when　
Jasper；　trying　to　avoid　Edward's　infallible　fielding；　hit　a　ground　ball　
toward　Carlisle。　Carlisle　ran　into　the　ball；　and　then　raced　Jasper　to　
first　base。　When　they　collided；　the　sound　was　like　the　crash　of　two　
massive　falling　boulders。　I　jumped　up　in　concern；　but　they　were　somehow　
unscathed。　

〃Safe；〃　Esme　called　in　a　calm　voice。　

Emmett's　team　was　up　by　one　—　Rosalie　managed　to　flit　around　the　bases　
after　tagging　up　on　one　of　Emmett's　long　flies　—　when　Edward　caught　the　
third　out。　He　sprinted　to　my　side；　sparkling　with　excitement。　

〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asked。　

〃One　thing's　for　sure；　I'll　never　be　able　to　sit　through　dull　old　Major　

League　Baseball　again。〃　

〃And　it　sounds　like　you　did　so　much　of　that　before；〃　he　laughed。　

〃I　am　a　little　disappointed；〃　I　teased。　

〃Why？〃　he　asked；　puzzled。　

〃Well；　it　would　be　nice　if　I　could　find　just　one　thing　you　didn't　do　
better　than　everyone　else　on　the　pla。〃　

He　flashed　his　special　crooked　smile；　leaving　me　breathless。　

〃I'm　up；〃　he　said；　heading　for　the　plate。　

He　played　intelligently；　keeping　the　ball　low；　out　of　the　reach　of　
Rosalie's　alwaysready　hand　in　the　outfield；　gaining　two　bases　like　
lightning　before　Emmett　could　get　the　ball　back　in　play。　Carlisle　knocked　
one　so　far　out　of　the　field　—　with　a　boom　that　hurt　my　ears　—　that　he　and　
Edward　both　made　it　in。　Alice　slapped　them　dainty　high　fives。　

The　score　constantly　changed　as　the　game　continued；　and　they　razzed　each　
other　like　any　street　ballplayers　as　they　took　turns　with　the　lead。　
Occasionally　Esme　would　call　them　to　order。　The　thunder　rumbled　on；　but　
we　stayed　dry；　as　Alice　had　predicted。　

Carlisle　was　up　to　bat；　Edward　catching；　when　Alice　suddenly　gasped。　My　
eyes　were　on　Edward；　as　usual；　and　I　saw　his　head　snap　up　to　look　at　her。　
Their　eyes　met　and　something　flowed　between　them　in　an　instant。　He　was　at　
my　side　before　the　others　could　ask　Alice　what　was　wrong。　

〃Alice？〃　Esme's　voice　was　tense。　

〃I　didn't　see　—　I　couldn't　tell；〃　she　whispered。　

All　the　others　were　gathered　by　this　time。　

〃What　is　it；　Alice？〃　Carlisle　asked　with　the　calm　voice　of　authority。　

〃They　were　traveling　much　quicker　than　I　thought。　I　can　see　I　had　the　
perspective　wrong　before；〃　she　murmured。　

Jasper　leaned　over　her；　his　posture　protective。　〃What　changed？〃　he　asked。　

〃They　heard　us　playing；　and　it　changed　their　path；〃　she　said；　contrite；　
as　if　she　felt　responsible　for　whatever　had　frightened　her。　

Seven　pairs　of　quick　eyes　flashed　to　my　face　and　away。　

〃How　soon？〃　Carlisle　said；　turning　toward　Edward。　

A　look　of　intense　concentration　crossed　his　face。　

〃Less　than　five　minutes。　They're　running　—　they　want　to　play。〃　He　scowled。　

〃Can　you　make　it？〃　Carlisle　asked　him；　his　eyes　flicking　toward　me　again。　

〃No；　not　carrying　—〃　He　cut　short。　〃Besides；　the　last　thing　we　need　is　
for　them　to　catch　the　scent　and　start　hunting。〃　

〃How　many？〃　Emmett　asked　Alice。　

〃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