1 twilight暮色- 第51部分

He　put　his　hands　carefully　on　both　sides　of　my　face。　〃I　infuriate　
myself；〃　he　said　gently。　〃The　way　I　can't　seem　to　keep　from　putting　you　
in　danger。　My　very　existence　puts　you　at　risk。　Sometimes　I　truly　hate　
myself。　I　should　be　stronger；　I　should　be　able　to　—〃　

I　placed　my　hand　over　his　mouth。　〃Don't。〃　

He　took　my　hand；　moving　it　from　his　lips；　but　holding　it　to　his　face。　

〃I　love　you；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　poor　excuse　for　what　I'm　doing；　but　it's　
still　true。〃　

It　was　the　first　time　he'd　said　he　loved　me　—　in　so　many　words。　He　might　
not　realize　it；　but　I　certainly　did。　

〃Now；　please　try　to　behave　yourself；〃　he　continued；　and　he　bent　to　softly　
brush　his　lips　against　mine。　

I　held　properly　still。　Then　I　sighed。　

〃You　promised　Chief　Swan　that　you　would　have　me　home　early；　remember？　
We'd　better　get　going。〃　

〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　

He　smiled　wistfully　and　released　all　of　me　but　one　hand。　He　led　me　a　few　
feet　through　the　tall；　wet　ferns　and　draping　moss；　around　a　massive　
hemlock　tree；　and　we　were　there；　on　the　edge　of　an　enormous　open　field　in　
the　lap　of　the　Olympic　peaks。　It　was　twice　the　size　of　any　baseball　
stadium。　

I　could　see　the　others　all　there；　Esme；　Emmett；　and　Rosalie；　sitting　on　a　
bare　outcropping　of　rock；　were　the　closest　to　us；　maybe　a　hundred　yards　
away。　Much　farther　out　I　could　see　Jasper　and　Alice；　at　least　a　quarter　
of　a　mile　apart；　appearing　to　throw　something　back　and　forth；　but　I　never　
saw　any　ball。　It　looked　like　Carlisle　was　marking　bases；　but　could　they　
really　be　that　far　apart？　

When　we　came　into　view；　the　three　on　the　rocks　rose。　

Esme　started　toward　us。　Emmett　followed　after　a　long　look　at　Rosalie's　

back；　Rosalie　had　risen　gracefully　and　strode　off　toward　the　field　
without　a　glance　in　our　direction。　My　stomach　quivered　uneasily　in　
response。　

〃Was　that　you　we　heard；　Edward？〃　Esme　asked　as　she　approached。　

〃It　sounded　like　a　bear　choking；〃　Emmett　clarified。　

I　smiled　hesitantly　at　Esme。　〃That　was　him。〃　

〃Bella　was　being　unintentionally　funny；〃　Edward　explained；　quickly　
settling　the　score。　

Alice　had　left　her　position　and　was　running；　or　dancing；　toward　us。　She　
hurtled　to　a　fluid　stop　at　our　feet。　〃It's　time；〃　she　announced。　

As　soon　as　she　spoke；　a　deep　rumble　of　thunder　shook　the　forest　beyond　
us；　and　then　crashed　westward　toward　town。　

〃Eerie；　isn't　it？〃　Emmett　said　with　easy　familiarity；　winking　at　me。　

〃Let's　go。〃　Alice　reached　for　Emmett's　hand　and　they　darted　toward　the　
oversized　field；　she　ran　like　a　gazelle。　He　was　nearly　as　graceful　and　
just　as　fast　—　yet　Emmett　could　never　be　pared　to　a　gazelle。　

〃Are　you　ready　for　some　ball？〃　Edward　asked；　his　eyes　eager；　bright。　

I　tried　to　sound　appropriately　enthusiastic。　〃Go　team！〃　

He　snickered　and；　after　mussing　my　hair；　bounded　off　after　the　other　two。　
His　run　was　more　aggressive；　a　cheetah　rather　than　a　gazelle；　and　he　
quickly　overtook　them。　The　grace　and　power　took　my　breath　away。　

〃Shall　we　go　down？〃　Esme　asked　in　her　soft；　melodic　voice；　and　I　realized　
I　was　staring　openmouthed　after　him。　I　quickly　reassembled　my　expression　
and　nodded。　Esme　kept　a　few　feet　between　us；　and　I　wondered　if　she　was　
still　being　careful　not　to　frighten　me。　She　matched　her　stride　to　mine　
without　seeming　impatient　at　the　pace。　

〃You　don't　play　with　them？〃　I　asked　shyly。　

〃No；　I　prefer　to　referee　—　I　like　keeping　them　honest；〃　she　explained。　

〃Do　they　like　to　cheat；　then？〃　

〃Oh　yes　—　you　should　hear　the　arguments　they　get　into！　Actually；　I　hope　
you　don't；　you　would　think　they　were　raised　by　a　pack　of　wolves。〃　

〃You　sound　like　my　mom；〃　I　laughed；　surprised。　

She　laughed；　too。　〃Well；　I　do　think　of　them　as　my　children　in　most　ways。　
I　never　could　get　over　my　mothering　instincts　—　did　Edward　tell　you　I　had　
lost　a　child？〃　

〃No；〃　I　murmured；　stunned；　scrambling　to　understand　what　lifetime　she　was　
remembering。　

〃Yes；　my　first　and　only　baby。　He　died　just　a　few　days　after　he　was　born；　
the　poor　tiny　thing；〃　she　sighed。　〃It　broke　my　heart　—　that's　why　I　
jumped　off　the　cliff；　you　know；〃　she　added　matteroffactly。　

〃Edward　just　said　you　ffell；〃　I　stammered。　

〃Always　the　gentleman。〃　She　smiled。　〃Edward　was　the　first　of　my　new　sons。　
I've　always　thought　of　him　that　way；　even　though　he's　older　than　I；　in　
one　way　at　least。〃　She　smiled　at　me　warmly。　〃That's　why　I'm　so　happy　that　
he's　found　you；　dear。〃　The　endearment　sounded　very　natural　on　her　lips。　
〃He's　been　the　odd　man　out　for　far　too　long；　it's　hurt　me　to　see　him　
alone。〃　

〃You　don't　mind；　then？〃　I　asked；　hesitant　again。　〃That　I'm…　all　wrong　for　
him？〃　

〃No。〃　She　was　thoughtful。　〃You're　what　he　wants。　It　will　work　out；　
somehow；〃　she　said；　though　her　forehead　creased　with　worry。　Another　peal　
of　thunder　began。　

Esme　stopped　then；　apparently；　we'd　reached　the　edge　of　the　field。　It　
looked　as　if　they　had　formed　teams。　Edward　was　far　out　in　left　field；　
Carlisle　stood　between　the　first　and　second　bases；　and　Alice　held　the　
ball；　positioned　on　the　spot　that　must　be　the　pitcher's　mound。　

Emmett　was　swinging　an　aluminum　bat；　it　whistled　almost　untraceably　
through　the　air。　I　waited　for　him　to　approach　home　plate；　but　then　I　
realized；　as　he　took　his　stance；　that　he　was　already　there　—　farther　from　
the　pitcher's　mound　than　I　would　have　thought　possible。　Jasper　stood　
several　feet　behind　him；　catching　for　the　other　team。　Of　course；　none　of　
them　had　gloves。　

〃All　right；〃　Esme　called　in　a　clear　voice；　which　I　knew　even　Edward　would　
hear；　as　far　out　as　he　was。　〃Batter　up。〃　

Alice　stood　straight；　deceptively　motionless。　Her　style　seemed　to　be　
stealth　rather　than　an　intimidating　windup。　She　held　the　ball　in　both　
hands　at　her　waist；　and　then；　like　the　strike　of　a　cobra；　her　right　hand　
flicked　out　and　the　ball　smacked　into　Jasper's　hand。　

〃Was　that　a　strike？〃　I　whispered　to　Esme。　

〃If　they　don't　hit　it；　it's　a　strike；〃　she　told　me。　

Jasper　hurled　the　ball　back　to　Alice's　waiting　hand。　She　permitted　
herself　a　brief　grin。　And　then　her　hand　spun　out　again。　

This　time　the　bat　somehow　made　it　around　in　time　to　smash　into　the　
invisible　ball。　The　crack　of　impact　was　shattering；　thunderous；　it　echoed　
off　the　mountains　—　I　immediately　understood　the　necessity　of　the　
thunderstorm。　

The　ball　shot　like　a　meteor　above　the　field；　flying　deep　into　the　
surrounding　forest。　

〃Home　run；〃　I　murmured。　

〃Wait；〃　Esme　cautioned；　listening　intently；　one　hand　raised。　Emmett　was　a　
blur　around　the　bases；　Carlisle　shadowing　him。　I　realized　Edward　was　
missing。　

〃Out！〃　Esme　cried　in　a　clear　voice。　I　stared　in　disbelief　as　Edward　
sprang　from　the　fringe　of　the　trees；　ball　in　his　upraised　hand；　his　wide　
grin　visible　even　to　me。　

〃Emmett　hits　the　hardest；〃　Esme　explained；　〃but　Edward　runs　the　fastest。〃　

The　inning　continued　before　my　incredulous　eyes。　It　was　impossible　to　
keep　up　with　the　speed　at　which　the　ball　flew；　the　rate　at　which　their　
bodies　raced　around　the　field。　

I　learned　the　other　reason　they　waited　for　a　thunderstorm　to　play　when　
Jasper；　trying　to　avoid　Edward's　infallible　fielding；　hit　a　ground　ball　
toward　Carlisle。　Carlisle　ran　into　the　ball；　and　then　raced　Jasper　to　
first　base。　When　they　collided；　the　sound　was　like　the　crash　of　two　
massive　falling　boulders。　I　jumped　up　in　concern；　but　they　were　somehow　
unscathed。　

〃Safe；〃　Esme　called　in　a　calm　voice。　

Emmett's　team　was　up　by　one　—　Rosalie　managed　to　flit　around　the　bases　
after　tagging　up　on　one　of　Emmett's　long　flies　—　when　Edward　caught　the　
third　out。　He　sprinted　to　my　side；　sparkling　with　excitement。　

〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asked。　

〃One　thing's　for　sure；　I'll　never　be　able　to　sit　through　dull　old　Major　

League　Baseball　again。〃　

〃And　it　sounds　like　you　did　so　much　of　that　before；〃　he　laughed。　

〃I　am　a　little　disappointed；〃　I　teased。　

〃Why？〃　he　asked；　puzzled。　

〃Well；　it　would　be　nice　if　I　could　find　just　one　thing　you　didn't　do　
better　than　everyone　else　on　the　pla。〃　

He　flashed　his　special　crooked　smile；　leaving　me　breathless。　

〃I'm　up；〃　he　said；　heading　for　the　plate。　

He　played　intelligently；　keeping　the　ball　low；　out　of　the　reach　of　
Rosalie's　alwaysready　hand　in　the　outfield；　gaining　two　bases　like　
lightning　before　Emmett　could　get　the　ball　back　in　play。　Carlisle　knocked　
one　so　far　out　of　the　field　—　with　a　boom　that　hurt　my　ears　—　that　he　and　
Edward　both　made　it　in。　Alice　slapped　them　dainty　high　fives。　

The　score　constantly　changed　as　the　game　continued；　and　they　razzed　each　
other　like　any　street　ballplayers　as　they　took　turns　with　the　lead。　
Occasionally　Esme　would　call　them　to　order。　The　thunder　rumbled　on；　but　
we　stayed　dry；　as　Alice　had　predicted。　

Carlisle　was　up　to　bat；　Edward　catching；　when　Alice　suddenly　gasped。　My　
eyes　were　on　Edward；　as　usual；　and　I　saw　his　head　snap　up　to　look　at　her。　
Their　eyes　met　and　something　flowed　between　them　in　an　instant。　He　was　at　
my　side　before　the　others　could　ask　Alice　what　was　wrong。　

〃Alice？〃　Esme's　voice　was　tense。　

〃I　didn't　see　—　I　couldn't　tell；〃　she　whispered。　

All　the　others　were　gathered　by　this　time。　

〃What　is　it；　Alice？〃　Carlisle　asked　with　the　calm　voice　of　authority。　

〃They　were　traveling　much　quicker　than　I　thought。　I　can　see　I　had　the　
perspective　wrong　before；〃　she　murmured。　

Jasper　leaned　over　her；　his　posture　protective。　〃What　changed？〃　he　asked。　

〃They　heard　us　playing；　and　it　changed　their　path；〃　she　said；　contrite；　
as　if　she　felt　responsible　for　whatever　had　frightened　her。　

Seven　pairs　of　quick　eyes　flashed　to　my　face　and　away。　

〃How　soon？〃　Carlisle　said；　turning　toward　Edward。　

A　look　of　intense　concentration　crossed　his　face。　

〃Less　than　five　minutes。　They're　running　—　they　want　to　play。〃　He　scowled。　

〃Can　you　make　it？〃　Carlisle　asked　him；　his　eyes　flicking　toward　me　again。　

〃No；　not　carrying　—〃　He　cut　short。　〃Besides；　the　last　thing　we　need　is　
for　them　to　catch　the　scent　and　start　hunting。〃　

〃How　many？〃　Emmett　asked　Alice。　

〃Three；〃　she　answered　tersely。　

〃Three！〃　he　scoffed。　〃Let　them　e。〃　The　steel　bands　of　muscle　flexed　
along　his　massive　arms。　

For　a　split