5 midnigh+sun-第40章
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〃Mmm。 Edward。〃 She sighed。
This time I did not fear that she had awoken。 Her voice was just a low； wistful
murmur。 Not the scream of fear it would have been if she'd seen me now。
Joy warred with self…loathing。 She was still dreaming of me； at least。
〃Edmund。 Ahh。 Too？。close？〃
Edmund？
Ha！ She wasn't dreaming of me at all； I realized blackly。 The self…loathing
returned in force。 She was dreaming of fictional characters。 So much for my conceit。
I replaced her book； and stole back into the cover of the shadows—where I
belonged。
The afternoon passed and I watched； feeling helpless again； as the sun slowly
sank in the sky and the shadows crawled across the lawn toward her。 I wanted to push
them back； but the darkness was inevitable； the shadows took her。 When the light was
gone； her skin looked too pale—ghostly。 Her hair was dark again； almost black against
her face。
It was a frightening thing to watch—like witnessing Alice's visions come to
fruition。 Bella's steady； strong heartbeat was the only reassurance； the sound that kept
this moment from feeling like a nightmare。
I was relieved when her father arrived home。
I could hear little from him as he drove down the street toward the house。 Some
vague annoyance？in the past； something from his day at work。 Expectation mixed with
hunger—I guessed that he was looking forward to dinner。 But his thoughts were so quiet
and contained that I could not be sure I was right； I only got the gist of them。
I wondered what her mother sounded like—what the genetic combination had
been that had formed her so uniquely。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
163
Bella started awake； jerking up to a sitting position when the tires of her father's
car hit the brick driveway。 She stared around herself； seeming confused by the
unexpected darkness。 For one brief moment； her eyes touched the shadows where I hid；
but they flickered quickly away。
〃Charlie？〃 she asked in a low voice； still peering into the trees surrounding the
small yard。
The door of his car slammed shut； and she looked to the sound。 She got to her
feet quickly and gathered her things； casting one more look back toward the woods。
I moved into a tree closer to the back window near the small kitchen； and listened
to their evening。 It was interesting to compare Charlie's words to his muffled thoughts。
His love and concern for his only daughter were nearly overwhelming； and yet his words
were always terse and casual。 Most of the time； they sat in companionable silence。
I heard her discuss her plans for the following evening in Port Angeles； and I
refined my own plans as I listened。 Jasper had not warned Peter and Charlotte to stay
clear of Port Angeles。 Though I knew that they had fed recently and had no intention of
hunting any where in the vicinity of our home； I would watch her； just in case。 After all；
there were always others of my kind out there。 And then； all those human dangers that I
had never much considered before now。
I heard her worry aloud about leaving her father to prepare dinner alone； and
smiled at this proof to my theory—yes； she was a care…taker。
And then I left； knowing I would return when she was asleep。
I would not trespass on her privacy the way the peeping tom would have。 I was
here for her protection； not to leer at her in the way Mike Newton no doubt would； were
he agile enough to move through the treetops the way I could。 I would not treat her so
crassly。
My house was empty when I returned； which was fine by me。 I didn't miss the
confused or disparaging thoughts； questioning my sanity。 Emmett had left a note stuck to
the newel post。
Football at the Rainier field—c'mon！ Please？
I found a pen and scrawled the word sorry beneath his plea。 The teams were even
without me； in any case。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
164
I went for the shortest of hunting trips； contenting myself with the smaller； gentler
creatures that did not taste as good as the hunters； and then changed into fresh clothes
before I ran back to Forks。
Bella did not sleep as well tonight。 She thrashed in her blankets； her face
sometimes worried； sometimes sad。 I wondered what nightmare haunted her？and then
realized that perhaps I really didn't want to know。
When she spoke； she mostly muttered derogatory things about Forks in a glum
voice。 Only once； when she sighed out the words 〃Come back〃 and her hand twitched
open—a wordless plea—did I have a chance to hope she might be dreaming of me。
The next day of school； the last day the sun would hold me prisoner； was much
the same as the day before。 Bella seemed even gloomier than yesterday； and I wondered
if she would bow out of her plans—she didn't seem in the mood。
But； being Bella； she would probably put her friends' enjoyment above that of her
own。
She wore a deep blue blouse today； and the color set her skin off perfectly；
making it look like fresh cream。
School ended； and Jessica agreed to pick the other girls up—Angela was going；
too； for which I was grateful。
I went home to get my car。 When I found that Peter and Charlotte were there； I
decided could afford to give the girls an hour or so for a head start。 I would never be able
to bear following behind them； driving at the speed limit—hideous thought。
I came in through the kitchen； nodding vaguely at Emmett's and Esme's greetings
as I passed by everyone in the front room and went straight to the piano。
Ugh； he's back。 Rosalie； of course。
Ah； Edward。 I hate to see him suffering so。 Esme's joy was becoming marred by
concern。 She should be concerned。 This love story she envisioned for me was careening
toward a tragedy more perceptibly every moment。
Have fun in Port Angeles tonight； Alice thought cheerfully。 Let me know when
I'm allowed to talk to Bella。
You're pathetic。 I can't believe you missed the game last night just to watch
somebody sleep； Emmett grumbled。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
165
Jasper paid me no mind； even when the song I played came out a little more
stormily than I'd intended。 It was an old song； with a familiar theme： impatience。 Jasper
was saying goodbye to his friends； who eyed me curiously。
What a strange creature； the Alice…sized； white…blond Charlotte was thinking。
And he was so normal and pleasant the last time we met。
Peter's thoughts were in sync with hers； as was usually the case。
It must be the animals。 The lack of human blood drives them mad eventually； he
was concluding。 His hair was just as fair as hers； and almost as long。 They were very
similar—except for size； as he was almost as tall as Jasper—in both look and thought。 A
well matched pair； I'd always thought。
Everyone but Esme stopped thinking about me after a moment； and I played in
more subdued tones so that I would not attract notice。
I did not pay attention to them for a long while； just letting the music distract me
from my unease。 It was hard to have the girl out of sight and mind。 I only returned my
attention to their conversation when the goodbyes grew more final。
〃If you see Maria again；〃 Jasper was saying； a little warily； 〃tell her I wish her
well。〃
Maria was the vampire who had created both Jasper and Peter—Jasper in the
latter half of the nineteenth century； Peter more recently； in the nineteen forties。 She'd
looked Jasper up once when we were in Calgary。 It had been an eventful visit—we'd had
to move immediately。 Jasper had politely asked her to keep her distance in the future。
〃I don't imagine that will happen soon；〃 Peter said with a laugh—Maria was
undeniable dangerous and there was not much love lost between her and Peter。 Peter
had； after all； been instrumental in Jasper's defection。 Jasper had always been Maria's
favorite； she considered it a minor detail that she had once planned to kill him。 〃But；
should it happen； I certainly will。〃
They were shaking hands then； preparing to depart。 I let the song I was playing
trail off to an unsatisfying end； and got hastily to my feet。
〃Charlotte； Peter；〃 I said； nodding。
〃It was nice to see you again； Edward；〃 Charlotte s
