4 breaking dawn破晓- 第59部分

He　was　faster　than　me。　I　couldn't　imagine　how　he　moved　his　legs　with　such　blinding　speed；　but　it　was　
beyond　me。　However；　I　was　stronger；　and　every　stride　of　mine　matched　the　length　of　three　of　his。　And　
so　I　flew　with　him　through　the　living　green　web；　by　his　side；　not　following　at　all。　As　I　ran；　I　couldn't　help　
laughing　quietly　at　the　thrill　of　it；　the　laughter　neither　slowed　me　nor　upset　my　focus。　

I　could　finally　understand　why　Edward　never　hit　the　trees　when　he　ran—a　question　that　had　always　been　
a　mystery　to　me。　It　was　a　peculiar　sensation；　the　balance　between　the　speed　and　the　clarity。　For；　while　I　
rocketed　over；　under；　and　through　the　thick　jade　maze　at　a　rate　that　should　have　reduced　everything　
around　me　to　a　streaky　green　blur；　I　could　plainly　see　each　tiny　leaf　on　all　the　small　branches　of　every　
insignificant　shrub　that　I　passed。　

The　wind　of　my　speed　blew　my　hair　and　my　torn　dress　out　behind　me；　and；　though　I　knew　it　shouldn't；　it　
felt　warm　against　my　skin。　Just　as　the　rough　forest　floor　shouldn't　feel　like　velvet　beneath　my　bare　soles；　
and　the　limbs　that　whipped　against　my　skin　shouldn't　feel　like　caressing　feathers。　

The　forest　was　much　more　alive　than　I'd　ever　known—small　creatures　whose　existence　I'd　never　
guessed　at　teemed　in　the　leaves　around　me。　They　all　grew　silent　after　we　passed；　their　breath　quickening　
in　fear。　The　animals　had　a　much　wiser　reaction　to　our　scent　than　humans　seemed　to。　Certainly；　it'd　had　
the　opposite　effect　on　me。　

I　kept　waiting　to　feel　winded；　but　my　breath　came　effortlessly。　I　waited　for　the　burn　to　begin　in　my　
muscles；　but　my　strength　only　seemed　to　increase　as　I　grew　accustomed　to　my　stride。　My　leaping　bounds　
stretched　longer；　and　soon　he　was　trying　to　keep　up　with　me。　I　laughed　again；　exultant；　when　I　heard　him　
falling　behind。　My　naked　feet　touched　the　ground　so　infrequently　now　it　felt　more　like　flying　than　running。　

〃Belial　he　called　dryly；　his　voice　even；　lazy。　I　could　hear　nothing　else；　he　had　stopped。　

I　briefly　considered　mutiny。　

But；　with　a　sigh；　I　whirled　and　skipped　lightly　to　his　side；　some　hundred　yards　back。　I　looked　at　him　
expectantly。　He　was　smiling；　with　one　eyebrow　raised。　He　was　so　beautiful　that　I　could　only　stare。　




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〃Did　you　want　to　stay　in　the　country？〃　he　asked；　amused。　〃Or　were　you　planning　to　continue　on　to　
Canada　this　afternoon？〃　

〃This　is　fine；〃　I　agreed；　concentrating　less　on　what　he　was　saying　and　more　on　the　mesmerizing　way　his　
lips　moved　when　he　spoke。　It　was　hard　not　to　bee　sidetracked　with　everything　fresh　in　my　strong　
new　eyes。　〃What　are　we　hunting？〃　

〃Elk。　I　thought　something　easy　for　your　first　time　。。。〃　He　trailed　off　when　my　eyes　narrowed　at　the　word　
easy。　

But　I　wasn't　going　to　argue；　I　was　too　thirsty。　As　soon　as　I'd　started　to　think　about　the　dry　burn　in　my　
throat；　it　was　all　I　could　think　about。　Definitely　getting　worse。　My　mouth　felt　like　four　o'clock　on　a　June　
afternoon　in　Death　Valley。　

〃Where？〃　I　asked；　scanning　the　trees　impatiently。　Now　that　I　had　given　the　thirst　my　attention；　it　seemed　
to　taint　every　other　thought　in　my　head；　leaking　into　the　more　pleasant　thoughts　of　running　and　Edward's　
lips　and　kissing　and。。。　scorching　thirst。　I　couldn't　get　away　from　it。　

〃Hold　still　for　a　minute；〃　he　said；　putting　his　hands　lightly　on　my　shoulders。　The　urgency　of　my　thirst　
receded　momentarily　at　his　touch。　

〃Now　close　your　eyes；〃　he　murmured。　When　I　obeyed；　he　raised　his　hands　to　my　face；　stroking　my　
cheekbones。　I　felt　my　breathing　speed　and　waited　briefly　again　for　the　blush　that　wouldn't　e。　

〃Listen；〃　Edward　instructed。　〃What　do　you　hear？〃　

Everything；I　could　have　said；　his　perfect　voice；　his　breath；　his　lips　brushing　together　as　he　spoke；　the　
whisper　of　birds　preening　their　feathers　in　the　treetops；　their　fluttering　heartbeats；　the　maple　leaves　
scraping　together；　the　faint　clicking　of　ants　following　each　other　in　a　long　line　up　the　bark　of　the　nearest　
tree。　But　I　knew　he　meant　something　specific；　so　I　let　my　ears　range　outward；　seeking　something　different　
than　the　small　hum　of　life　that　surrounded　me。　There　was　an　open　space　near　us—the　wind　had　a　
different　sound　across　the　exposed　grass—and　a　small　creek；　with　a　rocky　bed。　And　there；　near　the　
noise　of　the　water；　was　the　splash　of　lapping　tongues；　the　loud　thudding　of　heavy　hearts；　pumping　thick　
streams　of　blood___　

It　felt　like　the　sides　of　my　throat　had　sucked　closed。　

〃By　the　creek；　to　the　northeast？〃　I　asked；　my　eyes　still　shut。　

〃Yes。〃　His　tone　was　approving。　〃Now。。。　wait　for　the　breeze　again　and。。。　what　do　you　smell？〃　

Mostly　him—his　strange　honeylilacandsun　perfume。　But　also　the　rich；　earthy　smell　of　rot　and　moss；　
the　resin　in　the　evergreens；　the　warm；　almost　nutty　aroma　of　the　small　rodents　cowering　beneath　the　tree　
roots。　And　then；　reaching　out　again；　the　clean　smell　of　the　water；　which　was　surprisingly　unappealing　
despite　my　thirst。　I　focused　toward　the　water　and　found　the　scent　that　must　have　gone　with　the　lapping　
noise　and　the　pounding　heart。　Another　warm　smell；　rich　and　tangy；　stronger　than　the　others。　And　yet　
nearly　as　unappealing　as　the　brook。　I　wrinkled　my　nose。　

He　chuckled。　〃I　know—it　takes　some　getting　used　to。〃　

〃Three？〃　I　guessed。　



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〃Five。　There　are　two　more　in　the　trees　behind　them。〃　

〃What　do　I　do　now？〃　

His　voice　sounded　like　he　was　smiling。　〃What　do　you　feel　like　doing？〃　

I　thought　about　that；　my　eyes　still　shut　as　I　listened　and　breathed　in　the　scent。　Another　bout　of　baking　
thirst　intruded　on　my　awareness；　and　suddenly　the　warm；　tangy　odor　wasn't　quite　so　objectionable。　At　
least　it　would　be　something　hot　and　wet　in　my　desiccated　mouth。　My　eyes　snapped　open。　

〃Don't　think　about　it；〃　he　suggested　as　he　lifted　his　hands　off　my　face　and　took　a　step　back。　〃Just　follow　
your　

instincts。〃　

I　let　myself　drift　with　the　scent；　barely　aware　of　my　movement　as　I　ghosted　down　the　incline　to　the　
narrow　meadow　where　the　stream　flowed。　My　body　shifted　forward　automatically　into　a　low　crouch　as　I　
hesitated　at　the　fernfringed　edge　of　the　trees。　I　could　see　a　big　buck；　two　dozen　antler　points　crowning　
his　head；　at　the　stream's　edge；　and　the　shadowspotted　shapes　of　the　four　others　heading　eastward　into　
forest　at　a　leisurely　pace。　

I　centered　myself　around　the　scent　of　the　male；　the　hot　spot　in　his　shaggy　neck　where　the　warmth　pulsed　
strongest。　Only　thirty　yards—two　or　three　bounds—between　us。　i　tensed　myself　for　the　first　leap。　

But　as　my　muscles　bunched　in　preparation；　the　wind　shifted；　blowing　stronger　now；　and　from　the　south。　I　
didn't　stop　to　think；　hurtling　out　of　the　trees　in　a　path　perpendicular　to　my　original　plan；　scaring　the　elk　
into　the　forest；　racing　after　a　new　fragrance　so　attractive　that　there　wasn't　a　choice。　It　was　pulsory。　

The　scent　ruled　pletely。　I　was　singleminded　as　I　traced　it；　aware　only　of　the　thirst　and　the　smell　that　
promised　to　quench　it。　The　thirst　got　worse；　so　painful　now　that　it　confused　all　my　other　thoughts　and　
began　to　remind　me　of　the　burn　of　venom　in　my　veins。　

There　was　only　one　thing　that　had　any　chance　of　perating　my　focus　now；　an　instinct　more　powerful；　
more　basic　than　the　need　to　quench　the　fire—it　was　the　instinct　to　protect　myself　from　danger。　
Selfpreservation。　

I　was　suddenly　alert　to　the　fact　that　I　was　being　followed。　The　pull　of　the　irresistible　scent　warred　with　
the　impulse　to　turn　and　defend　my　hunt。　A　bubble　of　sound　built　in　my　chest；　my　lips　pulled　back　of　their　
own　accord　to　expose　my　teeth　in　warning。　My　feet　slowed；　the　need　to　protect　my　back　struggling　
against　the　desire　to　quench　my　thirst。　

And　then　I　could　hear　my　pursuer　gaining；　and　defense　won。　As　I　spun；　the　rising　sound　ripped　its　way　
up　my　throat　and　out。　

The　feral　snarl；　ing　from　my　own　mouth；　was　so　unexpected　that　it　brought　me　up　short。　It　unsettled　
me；　and　it　cleared　my　head　for　a　second—the　thirstdriven　haze　receded；　though　the　thirst　burned　on。　

The　wind　shifted；　blowing　the　smell　of　wet　earth　and　ing　rain　across　my　face；　further　freeing　me　from　
the　other　scent's　fiery　grip—a　scent　so　delicious　it　could　only　be　human。　




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Edward　hesitated　a　few　feet　away；　his　arms　raised　as　if　to　embrace　me—or　restrain　me。　His　face　was　
intent　and　cautious　as　I　froze；　horrified。　

I　realized　that　I　had　been　about　to　attack　him。　With　a　hard　jerk；　I　straightened　out　of　my　defensive　
crouch。　I　held　my　breath　as　I　refocused；　fearing　the　power　of　the　fragrance　swirling　up　from　the　south。　

He　could　see　reason　return　to　my　face；　and　he　took　a　step　toward　me；　lowering　his　arms。　

〃I　have　to　get　away　from　here；〃　I　spit　through　my　teeth；　using　the　breath　I　had。　

Shock　crossed　his　face。　〃Can　you　leave？〃　

I　didn't　have　time　to　ask　him　what　he　meant　by　that。　I　knew　the　ability　to　think　clearly　would　last　only　as　
long　as　I　could　stop　myself　from　thinking　of—　

I　burst　into　a　run　again；　a　flatout　sprint　straight　north；　concentrating　solely　on　the　unfortable　feeling　
of　sensory　deprivation　that　seemed　to　be　my　body's　only　response　to　the　lack　of　air。　My　one　goal　was　to　
run　far　

enough　away　that　the　scent　behind　me　would　be　pletely　lost。　Impossible　to　find；　even　if　I　changed　
my　mind。。。　

Once　again；　I　was　aware　of　being　followed；　but　I　was　sane　this　time。　I　fought　the　instinct　to　breathe—to　
use　the　flavors　in　the　air　to　be　sure　it　was　Edward。　I　didn't　have　to　fight　long；　though　I　was　running　faster　
than　I　ever　had　before；　shooting　like　a　et　through　the　straightest　path　I　could　find　in　the　trees；　Edward　
caught　up　with　me　after　a　short　minute。　

A　new　thought　occurred　to　me；　and　I　stopped　dead；　my　feet　planted。　I　was　sure　it　must　be　safe　here；　but　
I　held　my　breath　just　in　case。　

Edward　blew　past　me；　surprised　by　my　sudden　freeze。　He　wheeled　around　and　was　at　my　side　in　a　
second。　He　put　his　hands　on　my　shoulders　and　stared　into　my　eyes；　shock　still　the　domina