3 eclipse月食-第41部分

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heard　of　him；　he　came　down　from　somewhere　north　of　Dallas　and　massacred　the　two　small　covens　that　shared　
the　area　near　Houston。　Two　nights　later；　he　took　on　the　much　stronger　clan　of　allies　that　claimed　Monterrey　in　
northern　Mexico。　Again；　he　won。”　
　　　　“How　did　he　win？”　I　asked　with　wary　curiosity。　
　　　　“Benito　had　created　an　army　of　newborn　vampires。　He　was　the　first　one　to　think　of　it；　and；　in　the　
beginning；　he　was　unstoppable。　Very　young　vampires　are　volatile；　wild；　and　almost　impossible　to　control。　One　

newborn　can　be　reasoned　with；　taught　to　restrain　himself；　but　ten；　fifteen　together　are　a　nightmare。　They’ll　turn　
on　each　other　as　easily　as　on　the　enemy　you　point　them　at。　Benito　had　to　keep　making　more　as　they　fought　
amongst　themselves；　and　as　the　covens　he　decimated　took　more　than　half　his　force　down　before　they　lost。　
　　　　“You　see；　though　newborns　are　dangerous；　they　are　still　possible　to　defeat　if　you　know　what　you’re　doing。　
They’re　incredibly　powerful　physically；　for　the　first　year　or　so；　and　if　they’re　allowed　to　bring　strength　to　bear　
they　can　crush　an　older　vampire　with　ease。　But　they　are　slaves　to　their　instincts；　and　thus　predictable。　Usually；　
they　have　no　skill　in　fighting；　only　muscle　and　ferocity。　And　in　this　case；　overwhelming　numbers。”　
　　　　“The　vampires　in　southern　Mexico　realized　what　was　coming　for　them；　and　they　did　the　only　thing　they　
could　think　of　to　counteract　Benito。　They　made　armies　of　their　own。　。　。　。　
　　　　“All　hell　broke　loose　—　and　I　mean　that　more　literally　than　you　can　possibly　imagine。　We　immortals　have　
our　histories；　too；　and　this　particular　war　will　never　be　forgotten。　Of　course；　it　was　not　a　good　time　to　be　
human　in　Mexico；　either。”　
　　　　I　shuddered。　
　　　　“When　the　body　count　reached　epidemic　proportions　—　in　fact；　your　histories　blame　a　disease　for　the　
population　slump　—　the　Volturi　finally　stepped　in。　The　entire　guard　came　together　and　sought　out　every　
newborn　in　the　bottom　half　of　North　America。　Benito　was　entrenched　in　Puebla；　building　his　army　as　quickly　
as　he　could　in　order　to　take　on　the　prize　—　Mexico　City。　The　Volturi　started　with　him；　and　then　moved　on　to　
the　rest。　
　　　　“Anyone　who　was　found　with　the　newborns　was　executed　immediately；　and；　since　everyone　was　trying　to　
protect　themselves　from　Benito；　Mexico　was　emptied　of　vampires　for　a　time。　
　　　　“The　Volturi　were　cleaning　house　for　almost　a　year。　This　was　another　chapter　of　our　history　that　will　
always　be　remembered；　though　there　were　very　few　witnesses　left　to　speak　of　what　it　was　like。　I　spoke　to　
someone　once　who　had；　from　a　distance；　watched　what　happened　when　they　visited　Culiacán。”　
　　　　Jasper　shuddered。　I　realized　that　I　had　never　before　seen　him　either　afraid　or　horrified。　This　was　a　first。　
　　　　“It　was　enough　that　the　fever　for　conquest　did　not　spread　from　the　South。　The　rest　of　the　world　stayed　
sane。　We　owe　the　Volturi　for　our　present　way　of　life。　
　　　　“But　when　the　Volturi　went　back　to　Italy；　the　survivors　were　quick　to　stake　their　claims　in　the　South。　
　　　　“It　didn’t　take　long　before　covens　began　to　dispute　again。　There　was　a　lot　of　bad　blood；　if　you’ll　forgive　
the　expression。　Vendettas　abounded。　The　idea　of　newborns　was　already　there；　and　some　were　not　able　to　
resist。　However；　the　Volturi　had　not　been　forgotten；　and　the　southern　covens　were　more　careful　this　time。　The　
newborns　were　selected　from　the　human　pool　with　more　care；　and　given　more　training。　They　were　used　
circumspectly；　and　the　humans　remained；　for　the　most　part；　oblivious。　Their　creators　gave　the　Volturi　no　
reason　to　return。　
　　　　“The　wars　resumed；　but　on　a　smaller　scale。　Every　now　and　then；　someone　would　go　too　far；　speculation　
would　begin　in　the　human　newspapers；　and　the　Volturi　would　return　and　clean　out　the　city。　But　they　let　the　
others；　the　careful　ones；　continue。　。　。　。”　
　　　　Jasper　was　staring　off　into　space。　
　　　　“That’s　how　you　were　changed。”　My　realization　was　a　whisper。　
　　　　“Yes；”　he　agreed。　“When　I　was　human；　I　lived　in　Houston；　Texas。　I　was　almost　seventeen　years　old　when　
I　joined　the　Confederate　Army　in　1861。　I　lied　to　the　recruiters　and　told　them　I　was　twenty。　I　was　tall　enough　
to　get　away　with　it。　
　　　　“My　military　career　was　short…lived；　but　very　promising。　People　always　。　。　。　liked　me；　listened　to　what　I　
had　to　say。　My　father　said　it　was　charisma。　Of　course；　now　I　know　it　was　probably　something　more。　But；　
whatever　the　reason；　I　was　promoted　quickly　through　the　ranks；　over　older；　more　experienced　men。　The　
Confederate　Army　was　new　and　scrambling　to　organize　itself；　so　that　provided　opportunities；　as　well。　By　the　
first　battle　of　Galveston　—　well；　it　was　more　of　a　skirmish；　really　—　I　was　the　youngest　major　in　Texas；　not　
even　acknowledging　my　real　age。　
　　　　“I　was　placed　in　charge　of　evacuating　the　women　and　children　from　the　city　when　the　Union’s　mortar　
boats　reached　the　harbor。　It　took　a　day　to　prepare　them；　and　then　I　left　with　the　first　column　of　civilians　to　
convey　them　to　Houston。　
　　　　“I　remember　that　one　night　very　clearly。　
　　　　“We　reached　the　city　after　dark。　I　stayed　only　long　enough　to　make　sure　the　entire　party　was　safely　

situated。　As　soon　as　that　was　done；　I　got　myself　a　fresh　horse；　and　I　headed　back　to　Galveston。　There　wasn’t　
time　to　rest。　
　　　　“Just　a　mile　outside　the　city；　I　found　three　women　on　foot。　I　assumed　they　were　stragglers　and　dismounted　
at　once　to　offer　them　my　aid。　But；　when　I　could　see　their　faces　in　the　dim　light　of　the　moon；　I　was　stunned　into　
silence。　They　were；　without　question；　the　three　most　beautiful　women　I　had　ever　seen。　
　　　　“They　had　such　pale　skin；　I　remember　marveling　at　it。　Even　the　little　black…haired　girl；　whose　features　were　
clearly　Mexican；　was　porcelain　in　the　moonlight。　They　seemed　young；　all　of　them；　still　young　enough　to　be　
called　girls。　I　knew　they　were　not　lost　members　of　our　party。　I　would　have　remembered　seeing　these　three。　
　　　　“‘He’s　speechless；’　the　tallest　girl　said　in　a　lovely；　delicate　voice　—　it　was　like　wind　chimes。　She　had　fair　
hair；　and　her　skin　was　snow　white。　
　　　　“The　other　was　blonder　still；　her　skin　just　as　chalky。　Her　face　was　like　an　angel’s。　She　leaned　toward　me　
with　half…closed　eyes　and　inhaled　deeply。　
　　　　“‘Mmm；’　she　sighed。　‘Lovely。’　
　　　　“The　small　one；　the　tiny　brunette；　put　her　hand　on　the　girl’s　arm　and　spoke　quickly。　Her　voice　was　too　soft　
and　musical　to　be　sharp；　but　that　seemed　to　be　the　way　she　intended　it。　
　　　　“‘Concentrate；　Nettie；’　she　said。　
　　　　“I’d　always　had　a　good　sense　of　how　people　related　to　each　other；　and　it　was　immediately　clear　that　the　
brunette　was　somehow　in　charge　of　the　others。　If　they’d　been　military；　I　would　have　said　that　she　outranked　
them。　
　　　　“‘He　looks　right　—　young；　strong；　an　officer。　。　。　。　’　The　brunette　paused；　and　I　tried　unsuccessfully　to　
speak。　‘And　there’s　something　more　。　。　。　do　you　sense　it？’　she　asked　the　other　two。　‘He’s　。　。　。　compelling。’　
　　　　“‘Oh；　yes；’　Nettie　quickly　agreed；　leaning　toward　me　again。　
　　　　“‘Patience；’　the　brunette　cautioned　her。　‘I　want　to　keep　this　one。’　
　　　　“Nettie　frowned；　she　seemed　annoyed。　
　　　　“‘You’d　better　do　it；　Maria；’　the　taller　blonde　spoke　again。　‘If　he’s　important　to　you。　I　kill　them　twice　as　
often　as　I　keep　them。’　
　　　　“‘Yes；　I’ll　do　it；’　Maria　agreed。　‘I　really　do　like　this　one。　Take　Nettie　away；　will　you？　I　don’t　want　to　have　
to　protect　my　back　while　I’m　trying　to　focus。’　
　　　　“My　hair　was　standing　up　on　the　back　of　my　neck；　though　I　didn’t　understand　the　meaning　of　anything　the　
beautiful　creatures　were　saying。　My　instincts　told　me　that　there　was　danger；　that　the　angel　had　meant　it　when　
she　spoke　of　killing；　but　my　judgment　overruled　my　instincts。　I　had　not　been　taught　to　fear　women；　but　to　
protect　them。　
　　　　“‘Let’s　hunt；’　Nettie　agreed　enthusiastically；　reaching　for　the　tall　girl’s　hand。　They　wheeled　—　they　were　
so　graceful！　—　and　sprinted　toward　the　city。　They　seemed　to　almost　take　flight；　they　were　so　fast　—　their　
white　dresses　blew　out　behind　them　like　wings。　I　blinked　in　amazement；　and　they　were　gone。　
　　　　“I　turned　to　stare　at　Maria；　who　was　watching　me　curiously。　
　　　　“I’d　never　been　superstitious　in　my　life。　Until　that　second；　I’d　never　believed　in　ghosts　or　any　other　such　
nonsense。　Suddenly；　I　was　unsure。　
　　　　“‘What　is　your　name；　soldier？’　Maria　asked　me。　
　　　　“‘Major　Jasper　Whitlock；　ma’am；’　I　stammered；　unable　to　be　impolite　to　a　female；　even　if　she　was　a　
ghost。　
　　　　“‘I　truly　hope　you　survive；　Jasper；’　she　said　in　her　gentle　voice。　‘I　have　a　good　feeling　about　you。’　
　　　　“She　took　a　step　closer；　and　inclined　her　head　as　if　she　were　going　to　kiss　me。　I　stood　frozen　in　place；　
though　my　instincts　were　screaming　at　me　to　run。”　
　　　　Jasper　paused；　his　face　thoughtful。　“A　few　days　later；”　he　finally　said；　and　I　wasn’t　sure　if　he　had　edited　his　
story　for　my　sake　or　because　he　was　responding　to　the　tension　that　even　I　could　feel　exuding　from　Edward；　“I　
was　introduced　to　my　new　life。　
　　　　“Their　names　were　Maria；　Nettie；　and　Lucy。　They　hadn’t　been　together　long　—　Maria　had　rounded　up　the　
other　two　—　all　three　were　survivors　of　recently　lost　battles。　Theirs　was　a　partnership　of　convenience。　Maria　
wanted　revenge；　and　she　wanted　her　territories　back。　The　others　were　eager　to　increase　their　。　。　。　herd　lands；　I　
suppose　you　could　say。　They　were　putting　together　an　army；　and　going　about　it　more　carefully　than　was　usual。　
It　was　Maria’s　idea。　She　wanted　a　superior　army；　so　she　sought　out　specific　humans　who　had　potential。　Then　

she　gave　us　much　more　attention；　more　training　than　anyone　else　had　bothered　with。　She　taught　us　to　fight；　and　
she　taught　us　to　be　invisible　to　the　humans。　When　we　did　well；　we　were　rewarded。　。　。　。”　
　　　　He　paused；　editing　again。　
　　　　“She　was　in　a　hurry；　though。　Maria　knew　that　the　massive　strength　of　the　newborn　began　to　wane　around　
the　year　mark；　and　she　wanted　to　act　while　we　were　strong。　
　　　　“There　were　six　of　us　when　I　joined　Maria’s　band。　She　added　four　more　within　a　fortnight。　We　were　all　
male　—　Maria　wanted　soldiers　—　and　that　made　it　slig