3 eclipse月食-第46节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　slightly　more　difficult　to　keep　from　fighting　amongst　
ourselves。　I　fought　my　first　battles　against　my　new　comrades　in　arms。　I　was　quicker　than　the　others；　better　at　
combat。　Maria　was　pleased　with　me；　though　put　out　that　she　had　to　keep　replacing　the　ones　I　destroyed。　I　
was　rewarded　often；　and　that　made　me　stronger。　
　　　　“Maria　was　a　good　judge　of　character。　She　decided　to　put　me　in　charge　of　the　others　—　as　if　I　were　being　
promoted。　It　suited　my　nature　exactly。　The　casualties　went　down　dramatically；　and　our　numbers　swelled　to　
hover　around　twenty。　
　　　　“This　was　considerable　for　the　cautious　times　we　lived　in。　My　ability；　as　yet　undefined；　to　control　the　
emotional　atmosphere　around　me　was　vitally　effective。　We　soon　began　to　work　together　in　a　way　that　
newborn　vampires　had　never　cooperated　before。　Even　Maria；　Nettie；　and　Lucy　were　able　to　work　together　
more　easily。　
　　　　“Maria　grew　quite　fond　of　me　—　she　began　to　depend　upon　me。　And；　in　some　ways；　I　worshipped　the　
ground　she　walked　on。　I　had　no　idea　that　any　other　life　was　possible。　Maria　told　us　this　was　the　way　things　
were；　and　we　believed。　
　　　　“She　asked　me　to　tell　her　when　my　brothers　and　I　were　ready　to　fight；　and　I　was　eager　to　prove　myself。　I　
pulled　together　an　army　of　twenty…three　in　the　end　—　twenty…three　unbelievably　strong　new　vampires；　
organized　and　skilled　as　no　others　before。　Maria　was　ecstatic。　
　　　　“We　crept　down　toward　Monterrey；　her　former　home；　and　she　unleashed　us　on　her　enemies。　They　had　
only　nine　newborns　at　the　time；　and　a　pair　of　older　vampires　controlling　them。　We　took　them　down　more　
easily　than　Maria　could　believe；　losing　only　four　in　the　process。　It　was　an　unheard…of　margin　of　victory。　
　　　　“And　we　were　well　trained。　We　did　it　without　attracting　notice。　The　city　changed　hands　without　any　human　
being　aware。　
　　　　“Success　made　Maria　greedy。　It　wasn’t　long　before　she　began　to　eye　other　cities。　That　first　year；　she　
extended　her　control　to　cover　most　of　Texas　and　northern　Mexico。　Then　the　others　came　from　the　South　to　
dislodge　her。”　
　　　　He　brushed　two　fingers　along　the　faint　pattern　of　scars　on　his　arm。　
　　　　“The　fighting　was　intense。　Many　began　to　worry　that　the　Volturi　would　return。　Of　the　original　twenty…three；　
I　was　the　only　one　to　survive　the　first　eighteen　months。　We　both　won　and　lost。　Nettie　and　Lucy　turned　on　
Maria　eventually　—　but　that　one　we　won。　
　　　　“Maria　and　I　were　able　to　hold　on　to　Monterrey。　It　quieted　a　little；　though　the　wars　continued。　The　idea　of　
conquest　was　dying　out；　it　was　mostly　vengeance　and　feuding　now。　So　many　had　lost　their　partners；　and　that　is　
something　our　kind　does　not　forgive。　。　。　。　
　　　　“Maria　and　I　always　kept　a　dozen　or　so　newborns　ready。　They　meant　little　to　us　—　they　were　pawns；　they　
were　disposable。　When　they　outgrew　their　usefulness；　we　did　dispose　of　them。　My　life　continued　in　the　same　
violent　pattern　and　the　years　passed。　I　was　sick　of　it　all　for　a　very　long　time　before　anything　changed　。　。　。　
　　　　“Decades　later；　I　developed　a　friendship　with　a　newborn　who’d　remained　useful　and　survived　his　first　
three　years；　against　the　odds。　His　name　was　Peter。　I　liked　Peter；　he　was　。　。　。　civilized　—　I　suppose　that’s　the　
right　word。　He　didn’t　enjoy　the　fight；　though　he　was　good　at　it。　
　　　　“He　was　assigned　to　deal　with　the　newborns　—　babysit　them；　you　could　say。　It　was　a　full…time　job。　
　　　　“And　then　it　was　time　to　purge　again。　The　newborns　were　outgrowing　their　strength；　they　were　due　to　be　
replaced。　Peter　was　supposed　to　help　me　dispose　of　them。　We　took　them　aside　individually；　you　see；　one　by　
one　。　。　。　It　was　always　a　very　long　night。　This　time；　he　tried　to　convince　me　that　a　few　had　potential；　but　Maria　
had　instructed　that　we　get　rid　of　them　all。　I　told　him　no。　
　　　　“We　were　about　halfway　through；　and　I　could　feel　that　it　was　taking　a　great　toll　on　Peter。　I　was　trying　to　
decide　whether　or　not　I　should　send　him　away　and　finish　up　myself　as　I　called　out　the　next　victim。　To　my　
su