5 midnigh+sun-第3章
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was expecting a rebuff at any moment。 And yet I could only sense； could only see； could
only imagine。 There was nothing but silence from the very unexceptional human girl。 I
could hear nothing。 Why？
〃Shall we？〃 Rosalie murmured； interrupting my focus。
I looked away from the girl with a sense of relief。 I didn't want to continue to fail
at this—it irritated me。 And I didn't want to develop any interest in her hidden thoughts
simply because they were hidden from me。 No doubt； when I did decipher her
thoughts—and I would find a way to do so—they would be just as petty and trivial as any
human's thoughts。 Not worth the effort I would expend to reach them。
〃So； is the new one afraid of us yet？〃 Emmett asked； still waiting for my response
to his question before。
I shrugged。 He wasn't interested enough to press for a more information。 Nor
should I be interested。
We got up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
9
Emmett； Rosalie； and Jasper were pretending to be seniors； they left for their
classes。 I was playing a younger role than they。 I headed off for my junior level biology
class； preparing my mind for the tedium。 It was doubtful Mr。 Banner； a man of no more
than average intellect； would manage to pull out anything in his lecture that would
surprise someone holding two graduate degrees in medicine。
In the classroom； I settled into my chair and let my books—props； again； they
held nothing I didn't already know—spill across the table。 I was the only student who
had a table to himself。 The humans weren't smart enough to know that they feared me；
but their survival instincts were enough to keep them away。
The room slowly filled as they trickled in from lunch。 I leaned back in my chair
and waited for the time to pass。 Again； I wished I was able to sleep。
Because I'd been thinking about her； when Angela Weber escorted the new girl
through the door； her name intruded on my attention。
Bella seems just as shy as me。 I'll bet today is really hard for her。 I wish I could
say something？but it would probably just sound stupid？
Yes！ Mike Newton thought； turning in his seat to watch the girls enter。
Still； from the place where Bella Swan stood； nothing。 The empty space where
her thoughts should be irritated and unnerved me。
She came closer； walking down the aisle beside me to get to the teacher's desk。
Poor girl； the seat next to me was the only one available。 Automatically； I cleared what
would be her side of the desk； shoving my books into a pile。 I doubted she would feel
very comfortable there。 She was in for a long semester—in this class； at least。 Perhaps；
though； sitting beside her； I'd be able to flush out her secrets？not that I'd ever needed
close proximity before？not that I would find anything worth listening to？
Bella Swan walked into the flow of the heated air that blew toward me from the
vent。
Her scent hit me like wrecking ball； like a battering ram。 There was no image
violent enough to encapsulate the force of what happened to me in that moment。
In that instant； I was nothing close to the human I'd once been； no trace of the
shreds of humanity I'd managed to cloak myself in remained。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
10
I was a predator。 She was my prey。 There was nothing else in the whole world
but that truth。
There was no room full of witnesses—they were already collateral damage in my
head。 The mystery of her thoughts was forgotten。 Her thoughts meant nothing； for she
would not go on thinking them much longer。
I was a vampire； and she had the sweetest blood I'd smelled in eighty years。
I hadn't imagined such a scent could exist。 If I'd known it did； I would have gone
searching for it long ago。 I would have combed the planet for her。 I could imagine the
taste？
Thirst burned through my throat like fire。 My mouth was baked and desiccated。
The fresh flow of venom did nothing to dispel that sensation。 My stomach twisted with
the hunger that was an echo of the thirst。 My muscles coiled to spring。
Not a full second had passed。 She was still taking the same step that had put her
downwind from me。
As her foot touched the ground； her eyes slid toward me； a movement she clearly
meant to be stealthy。 Her glance met mine； and I saw myself reflected in the wide mirror
of her eyes。
The shock of the face I saw there saved her life for a few thorny moments。
She didn't make it easier。 When she processed the expression on my face； blood
flooded her cheeks again； turning her skin the most delicious color I'd ever seen。 The
scent was a thick haze in my brain。 I could barely think through it。 My thoughts raged；
resisting control； incoherent。
She walked more quickly now； as if she understood the need to escape。 Her haste
made her clumsy—she tripped and stumbled forward； almost falling into the girl seated in
front of me。 Vulnerable； weak。 Even more than usual for a human。
I tried to focus on the face I'd seen in her eyes； a face I recognized with revulsion。
The face of the monster in me—the face I'd beaten back with decades of effort and
uncompromising discipline。 How easily it sprang to the surface now！
The scent swirled around me again； scattering my thoughts and nearly propelling
me out of my seat。
No。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
11
My hand gripped under the edge of the table as I tried to hold myself in my chair。
The wood was not up to the task。 My hand crushed through the strut and came away with
a palmful of splintered pulp； leaving the shape of my fingers carved into the remaining
wood。
Destroy evidence。 That was a fundamental rule。 I quickly pulverized the edges of
the shape with my fingertips； leaving nothing but a ragged hole and a pile of shavings on
the floor； which I scattered with my foot。
Destroy evidence。 Collateral damage？。
I knew what had to happen now。 The girl would have to come sit beside me； and
I would have to kill her。
The innocent bystanders in this classroom； eighteen other children and one man；
could not be allowed to leave this room； having seen what they would soon see。
I flinched at the thought of what I must do。 Even at my very worst； I had never
committed this kind of atrocity。 I had never killed innocents； not in over eight decades。
And now I planned to slaughter twenty of them at once。
The face of the monster in the mirror mocked me。
Even as part of me shuddered away from the monster； another part was planning
it。
If I killed the girl first； I would have only fifteen or twenty seconds with her
before the humans in the room would react。 Maybe a little bit longer； if at first they did
not realize what I was doing。 She would not have time to scream or feel pain； I would
not kill her cruelly。 That much I could give this stranger with her horribly desirable
blood。
But then I would have to stop them from escaping。 I wouldn't have to worry
about the windows； too high up and small to provide an escape for anyone。 Just the
door—block that and they were trapped。
It would be slower and more difficult； trying to take them all down when they
were panicked and scrambling； moving in chaos。 Not impossible； but there would be
much more noise。 Time for lots of screaming。 Someone would hear？and I'd be forced
to kill even more innocents in this black hour。
And her blood would cool； while I murdered the others。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
12
The scent punished me； closing my throat with dry aching？
So the witnesses first then。
I mapped it out in my head。 I was in the middle of the room； the furthest row in
the back。 I would take my right side first。 I could snap four or five of their necks per
second； I estimated。 It would not be noisy。 The right side would be the lucky side； they
would not see me coming。 Moving around the front and back up the left side； it would
take me； at most； five seconds to end every life in this room。
Long enough for Bella Swan to see； briefly； what was coming for her。 Long
enough for her to feel fear。 Long enough； maybe； if shock didn't freeze her in place； for
her to wo
