5 midnigh+sun-第47节

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I　nodded；　and　hurried　up　to　Carlisle's　room。　
He　was　waiting　for　me；　his　eyes　on　the　door　rather　than　the　thick　book　on　his　
desk。　
〃I　heard　Alice　tell　you　where　to　find　me；〃　he　said；　and　smiled。　
It　was　a　relief　to　be　with　him；　to　see　the　empathy　and　deep　intelligence　in　his　eyes。　
Carlisle　would　know　what　to　do。　
〃I　need　help。〃　
〃Anything；　Edward；〃　he　promised。　
〃Did　Alice　tell　you　what　happened　to　Bella　tonight？〃　
Almost　happened；　he　amended。　
〃Yes；　almost。　　I've　got　a　dilemma；　Carlisle。　　You　see；　I　want？very　much？to　kill　
him。〃　　The　words　started　to　flow　fast　and　passionate。　　〃So　much。　　But　I　know　that　would　
be　wrong；　because　it　would　be　vengeance；　not　justice。　　All　anger；　no　impartiality。　　Still；　it　
can't　be　right　to　leave　a　serial　rapist　and　killer　wandering　Port　Angeles！　　I　don't　know　the　
humans　there；　but　I　can't　let　someone　else　take　Bella's　place　as　his　victim。　　Those　other　
women—someone　might　feel　about　them　the　way　I　feel　about　Bella。　　Might　suffer　what　I　
would　have　suffered　if　she'd　been　harmed。　　It's　not　right—〃　
His　wide；　unexpected　smile　stopped　the　rush　of　my　words　cold。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
215　

She's　very　good　for　you；　isn't　she？　　So　much　compassion；　so　much　control。　　I'm　
impressed。　
〃I'm　not　looking　for　compliments；　Carlisle。〃　
〃Of　course　not。　　But　I　can't　help　my　thoughts；　can　I？〃　　He　smiled　again。　　〃I'll　take　
care　of　it。　　You　can　rest　easy。　　No　one　else　will　be　harmed　in　Bella's　place。〃　
I　saw　the　plan　in　his　head。　　It　wasn't　exactly　what　I　wanted；　it　did　not　satisfy　my　
craving　for　brutality；　but　I　could　see　that　it　was　the　right　thing。　
〃I'll　show　you　where　to　find　him；〃　I　said。　
〃Let's　go。〃　
He　grabbed　his　black　bag　on　the　way。　　I　would　have　preferred　a　more　aggressive　
form　of　sedation—like　a　cracked　skull—but　I　would　let　Carlisle　do　this　his　way。　
We　took　my　car。　　Alice　was　still　on　the　steps。　　She　grinned　and　waved　as　we　drove　
away。　　I　saw　that　she　had　looked　ahead　for　me；　we　would　have　no　difficulties。　
The　trip　was　very　short　on　the　dark；　empty　road。　　I　left　off　my　headlights　to　keep　
from　attracting　attention。　　It　made　me　smile　to　think　how　Bella　would　have　reacted　to　this　
pace。　　I'd　already　been　driving　slower　than　usual—to　prolong　my　time　with　her—when　
she'd　objected。　
Carlisle　was　thinking　of　Bella；　too。　
I　didn't　foresee　that　she　would　be　so　good　for　him。　　That's　unexpected。　　Perhaps　
this　was　somehow　meant　to　be。　　Perhaps　it　serves　a　higher　purpose。　　Only？　
He　pictured　Bella　with　snow　cold　skin　and　blood　red　eyes；　and　then　flinched　away　
from　the　image。　
Yes。　　Only。　　Indeed。　　Because　how　could　there　be　any　good　in　destroying　
something　so　pure　and　lovely？　
I　glowered　into　the　night；　all　the　joy　of　the　evening　destroyed　by　his　thoughts。　
Edward　deserves　happiness。　　He's　owed　it。　　The　fierceness　of　Carlisle's　thoughts　
surprised　me。　　There　must　be　a　way。　
I　wished　I　could　believe　that—either　one。　　But　there　was　no　higher　purpose　to　
what　was　happening　to　Bella。　　Just　a　vicious　harpy；　an　ugly；　bitter　fate　who　could　not　bear　
for　Bella　to　have　the　life　she　deserved。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
216　

I　did　not　linger　in　Port　Angeles。　　I　took　Carlisle　to　the　dive　where　the　creature　
named　Lonnie　was　drowning　his　disappointment　with　his　friends—two　of　whom　had　
already　passed　out。　　Carlisle　could　see　how　hard　it　was　for　me　to　be　so　close—for　me　to　
hear　the　monster's　thoughts　and　see　his　memories；　memories　of　Bella　mixed　in　with　less　
fortunate　girls　who　no　one　could　save　now。　
My　breathing　sped。　　I　clenched　the　steering　wheel。　
Go；　Edward；　he　told　me　gently。　　I'll　make　the　rest　of　them　safe。　　You　go　back　to　
Bella。　
It　was　exactly　the　right　thing　to　say。　　Her　name　was　the　only　distraction　that　could　
mean　anything　to　me　now。　
I　left　him　in　the　car；　and　ran　back　to　Forks　in　a　straight　line　through　the　sleeping　
forest。　　It　took　less　time　than　the　first　journey　in　the　speeding　car。　　It　was　just　minutes　
later　that　I　scaled　the　side　of　her　house　and　slid　her　window　out　of　my　way。　
I　sighed　silently　with　relief。　　Everything　was　just　as　it　should　be。　　Bella　was　safe　
in　her　bed；　dreaming；　her　wet　hair　tangled　like　seaweed　across　the　pillow。　
But；　unlike　most　nights；　she　was　curled　into　a　small　ball　with　the　covers　stretched　
taut　around　her　shoulders。　　Cold；　I　guessed。　　Before　I　could　settle　into　my　usual　seat；　she　
shivered　in　her　sleep；　and　her　lips　trembled。　
I　thought　for　a　brief　moment；　and　then　I　eased　out　into　the　hallway；　exploring　
another　part　of　her　house　for　the　first　time。　
Charlie's　snores　were　loud　and　even。　　I　could　almost　catch　the　edge　of　his　dream。　
Something　with　the　rush　of　water　and　patient　expectation？fishing；　maybe？　
There；　at　the　top　of　the　stairs；　was　a　promising　looking　cupboard。　　I　opened　it　
hopefully；　and　found　what　I　was　looking　for。　　I　selected　the　thickest　blanket　from　the　tiny　
linen　closet；　and　took　it　back　into　her　room。　　I　would　return　it　before　she　woke；　and　no　
one　would　be　the　wiser。　
Holding　my　breath；　I　cautiously　spread　the　blanket　over　her；　she　didn't　react　to　
the　added　weight。　　I　returned　to　the　rocking　chair。　
While　I　waited　anxiously　for　her　to　warm　up；　I　thought　of　Carlisle；　wondering　
where　he　was　now。　　I　knew　his　plan　would　go　smoothly—Alice　had　seen　that。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
217　

Thinking　of　my　father　made　me　sigh—Carlisle　gave　me　too　much　credit。　　I　
wished　I　was　the　person　he　thought　me　to　be。　　That　person；　the　one　who　deserved　
happiness；　might　hope　to　be　worthy　of　this　sleeping　girl。　　How　different　things　would　be　
if　I　could　be　that　Edward。　
As　I　pondered　this；　a　strange；　uncalled　image　filled　my　head。　
For　one　moment；　the　hag…faced　fate　I'd　imagined；　the　one　who　sought　Bella's　
destruction；　was　replaced　by　the　most　foolish　and　reckless　of　angels。　　A　guardian　angel—　
something　Carlisle's　version　of　me　might　have　had。　　With　a　heedless　smile　on　her　lips；　
her　sky…colored　eyes　full　of　mischief；　the　angel　formed　Bella　in　such　a　fashion　that　there　
was　no　way　that　I　could　possibly　overlook　her。　　A　ridiculously　potent　scent　to　demand　my　
attention；　a　silent　mind　to　enflame　my　curiosity；　a　quiet　beauty　to　hold　my　eyes；　a　selfless　
soul　to　earn　my　awe。　　Leave　out　the　natural　sense　of　self…preservation—so　that　Bella　
could　bear　to　be　near　me—and；　finally；　add　a　wide　streak　of　appallingly　bad　luck。　
With　a　careless　laugh；　the　irresponsible　angel　propelled　her　fragile　creation　
directly　into　my　path；　trusting　blithely　in　my　flawed　morality　to　keep　Bella　alive。　
In　this　vision；　I　was　not　Bella's　sentence；　she　was　my　reward。　
I　shook　my　head　at　the　fantasy　of　the　unthinking　angel。　　She　was　not　much　better　
than　the　harpy。　　I　could　not　think　well　of　a　higher　power　that　would　behave　in　such　a　
dangerous　and　stupid　manner。　　At　least　the　ugly　fate　I　could　fight　against。　
And　I　had　no　angel。　　They　were　reserved　for　the　good—for　people　like　Bella。　　So　
where　was　her　angel　through　all　this？　　Who　was　watching　over　her？　
I　laughed　silently；　startled；　as　I　realized　that；　just　now；　I　was　filling　that　role。　
A　vampire　angel—there　was　a　stretch。　
After　about　a　half　hour；　Bella　relaxed　out　of　the　tight　ball。　　Her　breathing　got　
deeper　and　she　started　to　murmur。　　I　smiled；　satisfied。　　It　was　a　small　thing；　but　at　least　
she　was　sleeping　more　comfortably　tonight　because　I　was　here。　
〃Edward；〃　she　sighed；　and　she　smiled；　too。　
I　shoved　tragedy　aside　for　the　moment；　and　let　myself　be　happy　again。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
218　
11。　Interrogations　
CNN　broke　the　story　first。　
I　was　glad　it　hit　the　news　before　I　had　to　leave　for　school；　anxious　to　hear　how　the　
humans　would　phrase　the　account；　and　what　amount　of　attention　it　would　garner。　
Luckily；　it　was　a　heavy　news　day。　　There　was　an　earthquake　in　South　America　and　a　
political　kidnapping　in　the　Middle　East。　　So　it　ended　up　only　earning　a　few　seconds；　a　few　
sentences；　and　one　grainy　picture。　
〃Alonzo　Calderas　Wallace；　suspected　serial　rapist　and　murderer　wanted　in　the　
states　of　Texas　and　Oklahoma；　was　apprehended　last　night　in　Portland；　Oregon　thanks　to　
an　anonymous　tip。　　Wallace　was　found　unconscious　in　an　alley　early　this　morning；　just　a　
few　yards　from　a　police　station。　　Officials　are　unable　to　tell　us　at　this　time　whether　he　will　
be　extradited　to　Houston　or　Oklahoma　City　to　stand　trial。〃　
The　picture　was　unclear；　a　mug　shot；　and　he'd　had　a　thick　beard　at　the　time　of　the　
photograph。　　Even　if　Bella　saw　it；　she　would　probably　not　recognize　him。　　I　hoped　she　
wouldn't；　it　would　make　her　afraid　needlessly。　
〃The　coverage　here　in　town　will　be　light。　　It's　too　far　away　to　be　considered　of　
local　interest；〃　Alice　told　me。　　〃It　was　a　good　call　to　have　Carlisle　take　him　out　of　state。〃　
I　nodded。　　Bella　didn't　watch　much　TV　regardless；　and　I'd　never　seen　her　father　
watching　anything　besides　sports　channels。　
I'd　done　what　I　could。　　This　monster　no　longer　hunted；　and　I　was　not　a　murderer。　
Not　recently；　anyway。　　I'd　been　right　to　trust　Carlisle；　as　much　as　I　still　wished　the　
monster　had　not　gotten　off　quite　so　easily。　　I　caught　myself　hoping　he　would　be　extradited　
to　Texas；　where　the　death　penalty　was　so　popular？　
No。　　That　didn't　matter。　　I　would　put　this