new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第69部分

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that　I'd　already　begun　to　
hope；　without　giving　myself　permission　to　do　5。0。　
〃You　don't　have　to　be　afraid；〃　he　said；　anxious　as　he　watched　the　tears　dew　up　
again　on　the　rims　of　my　
eyes。　〃I　won't　let　them　hurt　you。〃　
〃While　you're　here。〃　Not　that　I　cared　what　happened　to　me　when　he　left。　
He　took　my　face　between　his　two　stone　hands；　holding　it　tightly　while　his　
midnight　eyes　glared　into　mine　
with　the　gravitational　force　of　a　black　hole。　〃I　will　never　leave　you　again。〃　
〃But　you　said　thirty；〃　I　whispered。　The　tears　leaked　over　the　edge。　〃What？　
You're　going　to　stay；　but　let　
me　get　all　old　anyway？　Right。〃　
His　eyes　softened；　while　his　mouth　went　hard。　〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　going　
to　do。　What　choice　have　I？　
I　cannot　be　without　you；　but　I　will　not　destroy　your　soul。〃　
〃Is　this　really〃　I　tried　to　keep　my　voice　even；　but　this　question　was　too　
hard。　I　remembered　his　face　
when　Aro　had　almost　begged　him　to　consider　making　me　immortal。　The　sick　look　
there。　Was　this　fixation　
with　keeping　me　human　really　about　my　soul；　or　was　it　because　he　wasn't　sure　
that　he　wanted　me　around　
that　long？　
〃Yes？〃　he　asked；　waiting　for　my　question。　
I　asked　a　different　one。　Almost—but　not　quite—as　hard。　
〃But　what　about　when　I　get　so　old　that　people　think　I'm　your　mother？　Your　
grandmother？〃　My　voice　
was　pale　with　revulsion—I　could　see　Gran's　face　again　in　the　dream　mirror。　
His　whole　face　was　soft　now。　He　brushed　the　tears　from　my　cheek　with　his　lips。　
〃That　doesn't　mean　
anything　to　me；〃　he　breathed　against　my　skin。　〃You　will　always　be　the　most　
beautiful　thing　in　my　world。　
Of　course〃　He　hesitated；　flinching　slightly。　〃If　you　outgrew　me—if　you　
wanted　something　more—I　
would　understand　that；　Bella。　I　promise　I　wouldn't　stand　in　your　way　if　you　
wanted　to　leave　me。〃　
His　eyes　were　liquid　onyx　and　utterly　sincere。　He　spoke　as　if　he'd　put　endless　
amounts　of　thought　into　this　
asinine　plan。　
〃You　do　realize　that　I'll　die　eventually；　right？〃　I　demanded。　
He'd　thought　about　this　part；　too。　〃I'll　follow　after　as　soon　as　I　can。〃　
〃That　is　seriously〃I　looked　for　the　right　word。　〃Sick。〃　
〃Bella；　it's　the　only　right　way　left—〃　
〃Let's　just　back　up　for　a　minute；〃　I　said；　feeling　angry　made　it　so　much　
easier　to　be　clear；　decisive。　〃You　
do　remember　the　Volturi；　right？　I　can't　stay　human　forever。　They'll　kill　me。　
Even　if　they　don't　think　of　me　
tillI'm　thirty〃—I　hissed　the　word—〃do　you　really　think　they'll　forget？〃　
〃No；〃　he　answered　slowly；　shaking　his　head。　〃They　won't　forget。　But〃　
〃But？〃　
He　grinned　while　I　stared　at　him　warily。　Maybe　I　wasn't　the　only　crazy　one。　
〃I　have　a　few　plans。〃　
〃And　these　plans；〃　I　said；　my　voice　getting　more　acidic　with　each　word。　〃These　
plans　all　center　around　
me　staying　human。〃　
My　attitude　hardened　his　expression。　〃Naturally。〃　His　tone　was　brusque；　his　
divine　face　arrogant。　
We　glowered　at　each　other　for　a　long　minute。　
Then　I　took　a　deep　breath；　squared　my　shoulders；　I　pushed　his　arms　away　so　
that　I　could　sit　up。　
〃Do　you　want　me　to　leave？〃　he　asked；　and　it　made　my　heart　flutter　to　see　that　
this　idea　hurt　him；　though　
he　tried　not　to　show　it。　
〃No；〃　I　told　him。　〃I'm　leaving。〃　
He　watched　me　suspiciously　as　I　climbed　out　of　the　bed　and　fumbled　around　in　
the　dark　room；　looking　
for　my　shoes。　
〃May　I　ask　where　you　are　going。'〃　he　asked。　
〃I'm　going　to　your　house；〃　I　told　him；　still　feeling　around　blindly。　
He　got　up　and　came　to　my　side。　〃Here　are　your　shoes。　How　did　you　plan　to　get　
there？〃　
〃My　truck。〃　
〃That　will　probably　wake　Charlie；〃　he　offered　as　a　deterrent。　
I　sighed。　〃I　know。　But　honestly；　I'll　be　grounded　for　weeks　as　it　is。　How　much　
more　trouble　can　I　really　
getin？〃　
〃None。　He'll　blame　me；　not　you。〃　
〃If　you　have　a　better　idea；　I'm　all　ears。〃　
〃Stay　here；〃　he　suggested；　but　his　expression　wasn't　hopeful。　
〃No　dice。　But　you　go　ahead　and　make　yourself　at　home；〃　I　encouraged；　surprised　
at　how　natural　my　
teasing　sounded；　and　headed　for　the　door。　
He　was　there　before　me；　blocking　my　way。　
I　frowned；　and　turned　for　the　window。　It　wasn't　really　that　far　to　the　ground；　
and　it　was　mostly　grass　
beneath　
〃Okay；〃　he　sighed。　〃I'll　give　you　a　ride。〃　
I　shrugged。　〃Either　way。　But　you　probably　should　be　there；　too。〃　
〃And　why　is　that？〃　
〃Because　you're　extraordinarily　opinionated；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　want　a　chance　
to　air　your　views。〃　
〃My　views　on　which　subject？〃　He　asked　through　his　teeth。　
〃This　isn't　just　about　you　anymore。　You're　not　the　center　of　the　universe；　you　
know。〃　My　own　personal　
universe　was；　of　course；　a　different　story。　〃If　you're　going　to　bring　the　
Volturi　down　on　us　over　something　
as　stupid　as　leaving　me　human；　then　your　family　ought　to　have　a　say。〃　
〃A　say　in　what？〃　he　asked；　each　word　distinct。　
〃My　mortality。　I'm　putting　it　to　a　vote。〃　
　24。　VOTE
HE　WAS　NOT　PLEASED；　THAT　MUCH　WAS　EASY　TO　READ　in　his　face。　But；　without　
further　
argument；　he　took　me　in　his　arms　and　sprang　lithely　from　my　window；　landing　
without　the　slightest　jolt；　
like　a　cat。　It　was　a　little　bit　farther　down　than　I'd　imagined。　
〃All　right　then；〃　he　said；　his　voice　seething　with　disapproval。　〃Up　you　go。〃　
He　helped　me　onto　his　back；　and　took　off　running。　Even　after　all　this　time；　it　
felt　routine。　Easy。　Evidently　
this　was　something　you　never　forgot；　like　riding　a　bicycle。　
It　was　so　very　quiet　and　dark　as　he　ran　through　the　forest；　his　breathing　slow　
and　even—dark　enough　
that　the　trees　flying　past　us　were　nearly　invisible；　and　only　the　rush　of　air　
in　my　face　truly　gave　away　our　
speed。　The　air　was　damp；　it　didn't　burn　my　eyes　the　way　the　wind　in　the　big　
plaza　had；　and　that　was　
forting。　As　was　the　night；　too；　after　that　terrifying　brightness。　Like　the　
thick　quilt　I'd　played　under　as　a　
child；　the　dark　felt　familiar　and　protecting。　
I　remembered　that　running　through　the　forest　like　this　used　to　frighten　me；　
that　I　used　to　have　to　close　my　
eyes。　It　seemed　a　silly　reaction　to　me　now。　I　kept　my　eyes　wide；　my　chin　
resting　on　his　shoulder；　my　
cheek　against　his　neck。　The　speed　was　exhilarating。　A　hundred　times　better　
than　the　motorcycle。　
I　turned　my　face　toward　him　and　pressed　my　lips　into　the　cold　stone　skin　of　
his　neck。　
〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　as　the　vague；　black　shapes　of　trees　raced　past　us。　〃Does　
that　mean　you've　decided　
you're　awake？〃　
I　laughed。　The　sound　was　easy；　natural；　effortless。　It　sounded　right。　〃Not　
really。　More　that；　either　way；　
I'm　not　trying　to　wake　up。　Not　tonight。〃　
〃I'll　earn　your　trust　back　somehow；〃　he　murmured；　mostly　to　himself。　〃If　it's　
my　final　act。〃　
〃I　trust　you；〃　I　assured　him。　〃It's　me　I　don't　trust。〃　
〃Explain　that；　please。〃　
He'd　slowed　to　a　walk—I　could　only　tell　because　the　wind　ceased—and　I　
guessed　that　we　weren't　far　
from　the　house。　In　fact；　I　thought　I　could　make　out　the　sound　of　the　river　
rushing　somewhere　close　by　in　
the　darkness。　
〃Well—〃　I　struggled　to　find　the　right　way　to　phrase　it。　〃I　don't　trust　myself　
to　be　enough。　To　deserve　
you。　There's　nothing　about　me　that　could　hold　you。〃　
He　stopped　and　reached　around　to　pull　me　from　his　back。　His　gentle　hands　did　
not　release　me；　after　he'd　
set　me　on　my　feet　again；　he　wrapped　his　arms　tightly　around　me；　hugging　me　to　
his　chest。　
〃Your　hold　is　permanent　and　unbreakable；〃　he　whispered。　〃Never　doubt　that。〃　
But　how　could　I　not？　
〃You　never　did　tell　me〃　he　murmured。　
〃What？〃　
〃What　your　greatest　problem　is。〃　
〃I'll　give　you　one　guess。〃　I　sighed；　and　reached　up　to　touch　the　tip　of　his　
nose　with　my　index　finger。　
He　nodded。　〃I'm　worse　than　the　Volturi；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　guess　I've　earned　
that。〃　
I　rolled　my　eyes。　〃The　worst　the　Volturi　can　do　is　kill　me。〃　
He　waited　with　tense　eyes。　
〃You　can　leave　me；〃　I　explained。　〃The　Volturi；　Victoria　they're　nothing　
pared　to　that。〃　
Even　in　the　darkness；　I　could　see　the　anguish　twist　his　face—it　reminded　me　
of　his　expression　under　
Jane's　torturing　gaze；　I　felt　sick；　and　regretted　speaking　the　truth。　
〃Don't；〃　I　whispered；　touching　his　face。　〃Don't　be　sad。〃　
He　pulled　one　corner　of　his　mouth　up　halfheartedly；　but　the　expression　didn't　
touch　his　eyes。　〃If　there　was　
only　some　way　to　make　you　see　that　I　can't　leave　you；〃　he　whispered。　〃Time；　I　
suppose；　will　be　the　way　
to　convince　you。〃　
I　liked　the　idea　of　time。　〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。　
His　face　was　still　tormented。　I　tried　to　distract　him　with　inconsequentials。　
〃So—since　you're　staying。　Can　I　have　my　stuff　back？〃　I　asked；　making　my　tone　
as　light　as　I　could　
manage。　
My　attempt　worked；　to　an　extent：　he　laughed。　But　his　eyes　retained　the　misery。　
〃Your　things　were　never　
gone；〃　he　told　me。　〃I　knew　it　was　wrong；　since　I　promised　you　peace　without　
reminders。　It　was　stupid　
and　childish；　but　I　wanted　to　leave　something　of　myself　with　you。　The　CD；　the　
pictures；　the　
tickets—they're　all　under　your　floorboards。〃　
〃Really？〃　
He　nodded；　seeming　slightly　cheered　by　my　obvious　pleasure　in　this　trivial　
fact。　It　wasn't　enough　to　heal　
the　pain　in　his　face　pletely。　
〃I　think；〃　I　said　slowly；　〃I'm　not　sure；　but　I　wonder　I　think　maybe　I　knew　
it　the　whole　time。〃　
〃What　did　you　know？〃　
I　only　wanted　to　take　away　the　agony　in　his　eyes；　but　as　I　spoke　the　words；　
they　sounded　truer　than　I　
expected　they　would。　
〃Some　part　of　me；　my　subconscious　maybe；　never　stopped　believing　that　you　
still　cared　whether　I　lived　
or　died。　That's　probably　why　I　was　hearing　the　voices。〃　
There　was　a　very　deep　silence　for　a　moment。　〃Voices？〃　he　asked　flatly。　
〃Well；　just　one　voice。　Yours。　It's　a　long　story。〃　The　wary　look　on　his　face　
made　me　wish　that　I　hadn't　
brought　that　up。　Would　he　think　I　was　crazy；　like　everyone　else？　Was　everyone　
else　right　about　that？　But　
at　least　that　expression—the　one　that　made　him　look　like　something　was　
burning　him—faded。　
〃I've　got　time。〃　His　voice　was　unnaturally　even。　
〃It's　pretty　pathetic。〃　
He　waited。　
I　wasn't　sure　how　to　explain。　〃Do　you　remember　what　Alice　said　about　extreme　
sports？〃　
He　spoke　the　words　without　inflection　or　emphasis。　〃You　jumped　off　a　cliff　for　
fun。〃　
〃Er；　right。　And　before　that；　with　the　motorcycle—〃　
〃Motorcycle？〃　he　asked。　I　knew　his　voice　well　enough　to　hear　something　brewing　
behind　the　cal