I moved slowly as I pulled Renesmee — fast asleep; we’d been gone all day — from the car. We’d left Jacob at Charlie’s — he’d said he was going to catch a ride home with Sue. I wondered if he was trying to fill his head with enough trivia to crowd out the image of the way my face had looked when I’d walked through Charlie’s door.
我轻轻抱起蕾妮斯梅——已经离开了一整天，她在车里很快睡着了。我们在查理家与雅各布分手——他说要搭苏的便车回家一趟。我怀疑他是为了多堆些琐事在脑袋里，以便将我离开查理家时的表情给挤到一边去。
I heard the music before I was out of the car. Edward hadn’t touched his piano since the night Alice left. Now, as I shut the car door, I heard the song morph through a bridge and change into my lullaby. Edward was welcoming me home.
在下车前我就听到了乐声。自从爱丽丝走后，爱德华就再没有碰过钢琴，而现在，就在关车门时，我听到那曲子经过一段即兴的桥段过渡到了我的摇篮曲。爱德华在欢迎我回家。
As I walked slowly to the Cullen house now, I recognized that the hope and uplift that seemed almost a visible aura around the big white house had been mine this morning, too. It felt alien to me now.
我慢慢走向卡伦家的房子，感觉那些今天早上还那么真实的希望与振奋，也属于我的希望与振奋，现在已经变得如此陌生。
Edward turned his head and smiled when I came in the door, but kept playing.
进门时，爱德华一边弹奏，一边转过头对我温柔地微笑。
I wanted to cry again, hearing Edward play for me. But I pulled it together. I didn’t want him to be suspicious. I would leave no clues in his mind for Aro if I could help it.
听着爱德华为我的演奏，又不住得想哭起来。但我忍住了，我不想引起他的怀疑。如果现在还有我能做的，那就是决不让阿罗从他的脑袋里得到丝毫线索。
Edward’s lips turned down. He quit playing and spun around on the bench so that his whole body was facing me. He put one hand on my waist and pulled me closer. “I hadn’t thought much about it. If you want to make an event of it –“
爱德华的嘴角落下，停止了弹琴，转过身面对我坐着。他抓着我的肩膀将我拉近了些。“我还没怎么考虑过。如果你想庆祝一下的话…”
“Do I get to see?”
“能让我看看吗？”
“Welcome home,” he said, as if this was just any normal day. As if there weren’t twelve other vampires in the room involved in various pursuits, and a dozen more scattered around somewhere. “Did you have a good time with Charlie today?”
“欢迎回家。”他说，好像今天只是平静生活的一天。就好像屋子里另外12个各做各事的，和其他更多分散在别的地方的吸血鬼不存在一样。“和查理玩得高兴吗？”
“Yes. Sorry I was gone so long. I stepped out to do a little Christmas shopping for Renesmee. I know it won’t be much of an event, but…” I shrugged.
“嗯。不好意思离开了这么久。我出去了一会儿，给蕾妮斯梅买圣诞礼物。我知道现在不是关心什么节日的时候，但是…”我耸了耸肩。
“If you want. It’s only a little thing.”
“当然。只是个小东西。”
“No,” I interrupted him. I flinched internally at the idea of trying to fake more enthusiasm than the bare minimum. “I just didn’t want to let it pass without giving her something.”
“不。”我打断他，对这个假装热心过节的计划感到心里一阵哆嗦。“我只是不想什么都不送给她的就让节这么过了。”
Renesmee was completely unconscious, snoring delicately against my neck. I envied her. It would have been nice to escape reality, even for just a few hours.
蕾妮斯梅完全没有意识的，在我颈窝里轻轻地打着小鼾。我有些嫉妒，能逃避现实真好，即使只是暂时的几个小时。
“The shopkeeper told me it said something along the lines of ‘more than my own life.’ Is that right?”
“店员告诉我，它的意思大概是‘甚于我的生命。’对吗？”
“Yes, he had it right.”
“是的，他说对了。”
“It caught my eye from the window of an antique store while I was driving by.”
“开车经过的时候，我在一个古董店的橱窗里发现的它。”
Carefully, I fished the little velvet jewelry bag from my clutch without opening the purse enough for Edward to see the cash I was still carrying.
为防止爱德华看到我现在手上还剩的钱，我小心翼翼地用手指拨开钱包，拿出那个天鹅绒的小珠宝袋。
He looked up at me, his topaz eyes probing. I met his gaze for a moment, then pretended to be distracted by the television.
他抬起头，黄晶般的眼睛琢磨着我的表情。目光交汇，我马上假装被电视岔开了注意力。
I shook the little golden locket into his palm. It was round with a slender vine border carved around the outside edge of the circle. Edward popped the tiny catch and looked inside. There was space for a small picture and, on the opposite side, an inscription in French.
我拿出那个小小的金吊坠盒放进他掌心。盒子是圆的，边缘雕刻着精致的藤形纹饰。接着爱德华打开盒盖观察，里面可以放一张小照片，盒盖的反面，镶嵌着一句法文。
“Do you know what this says?” he asked in a different tone, more subdued than before.
“你知道这句话的意思吗？”他用一种不同刚才的更深沉温暖的语气问道。
“I hope she likes it,” I muttered.
“希望她喜欢这个。”我低声说道。
“Of course she will,” he said lightly, casually, and I was sure in that second that he knew I was keeping something from him. I was also sure that he had no idea of the specifics.
“肯定会的。”爱德华若无其事地轻声说。这一刻，我确信他已经知道我在隐瞒着什么，同时也确信他除此之外一无所知。
“I wanted to practice with Emmett a little…” I’d lost the whole day to my vital errand; it made me feel behind.
“我想跟埃美特练习一下…”我已经不务正业一整天了，感觉落下了很多进度。
“What?” he demanded.
“怎么了？”他询问道。
I tried to focus on the positives. There was a good chance that my daughter was going to survive what was coming, and Jacob, too. If they had a future, then that was a kind of victory, wasn’t it? Our little band must be going to hold their own if Jacob and Renesmee were going to have the opportunity to run in the first place. Yes, Alice’s strategy only made sense if we were going to put up a really good fight. So, a kind of victory there, too, considering that the Volturi had never been seriously challenged in millennia.
我努力让自己保持乐观，至少我女儿有了一个逃跑的机会，和雅各布。如果他们能活下去，便也是种胜利了，不是吗？而且如果雅各布和蕾妮斯梅能首先逃跑，我们其他人也能更好的全力以赴。对了还有，爱丽丝的计划让我们能打一场漂亮仗，所以回过头想一想，沃尔图里已经一千多年没被这样挑战过了，那么这又是另一种层面的胜利。
Edward frowned at Emmett and then at me.
爱德华冲埃美特皱起眉头，然后同样转过头对着我。
And his expression was such that not even Emmett argued.
表情严肃得连埃美特都不敢反对。
He cut me off. “Tomorrow.”
他打断我。“明天再说。”
“Let’s take her home,” he suggested, standing and putting his arm around my shoulders.
“我们带她回家去吧。”他提议，站起来搂着我的肩膀。
I was surprised at how hard it was to go back to a routine that was, after all, brand new. But stripping away even that little bit of hope I’d been fostering made everything seem impossible.
我没想到回来以后会这么难过，毕竟，有些东西已经不一样了。好像一切成功的可能性都随着我心中的希望泯灭而消失了。
I hesitated.
我犹豫。
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I complained. “There’s no such thing as plenty of time anymore. That concept does not exist. I have a lot to learn and –“
“别开玩笑了，”我抱怨道。“哪有那么多时间给我练习啊，不存在。我还有很多要学呢而且…”
Emmett — on the sofa with Rose and holding the remote, of course — looked up and grinned in anticipation. “Excellent. The forest needs thinning.”
埃美特拿着遥控器和罗莎一起坐在沙发上，果不其然地抬起头朝我坏笑。“棒极了。是该把那树林弄稀拉点儿了。”
“There’s plenty of time for that tomorrow,” he said.
“明天多的是时间。”他说。
I preferred it that way — the last part anyway. I would not live without Edward again; if he was leaving this world, then I would be right behind him.
我想到最坏的结果。无论如何，我是绝不会再一次过没有爱德华的生活。如果他离开这世界，我也会紧随而去。
It was not going to be the end of the world. Just the end of the Cullens. The end of Edward, the end of me.
那不是世界末日，只是卡伦家族的末日，是爱德华的末日，我的末日。
We went to see Charlie on Christmas Day, Edward, Renesmee, Jacob, and I. All of Jacob’s pack were there, plus Sam, Emily, and Sue. It was a big help to have them there in Charlie’s little rooms, their huge, warm bodies wedged into corners around his sparsely decorated tree — you could see exactly where he’d gotten bored and quit — and overflowing his furniture. You could always count on werewolves to be buzzed about a coming fight, no matter how suicidal. The electricity of their excitement provided a nice current that disguised my utter lack of spirit. Edward was, as always, a better actor than I was.
圣诞节的时候我们去了查理家，爱德华，蕾妮斯梅，雅各布和我。还有雅各布的狼群，再加上山姆，Emily和苏。能有他们在这真好，他们庞大的身体挤在查理的小房子里，将体内的热量充斥到那棵稀稀拉拉的圣诞树上的每一个空隙——可以看出查理对那些束手无策——并从他的家具里满溢出来。你总是能听到狼人们对将要到来的战斗叽叽喳喳兴奋不已，不管那是多么毁灭性的行动。他们的兴奋正好为我的无精打采做了很好的掩护。而爱德华，还是和往常一样，是个比我好得多的演员。
And so the pattern of my days continued, just that much harder than before.
于是日子就像这样一天天过去，比之前还要艰难。
I wondered idly now and then if there would be anything for us on the other side. I knew Edward didn’t really believe so, but Carlisle did. I couldn’t imagine it myself. On the other hand, I couldn’t imagine Edward not existing somehow, somewhere. If we could be together in any place, then that was a happy ending.
我时不时地想象在另一个世界里到底会有什么。我知道爱德华并不怎么相信这个，但卡莱尔相信。我不敢自己乱想，换句话说，我不敢想象没有爱德华的地方。不管怎样，不管在什么地方，只要我们能在一起，便是美满的结局。
Edward had saved the day by ordering a gift for Charlie, too. It had shown up yesterday — priority overnight shipping — and Charlie spent all morning reading the thick instruction manual to his new fishing sonar system.
爱德华给查理订购了礼物，这也帮了我不少忙。礼物昨天就到了——VIP连夜船运——于是查理花了一整个上午来研究他的新声纳钓鱼系统的说明书。
Soon, so soon, I would be giving her to Jacob for safekeeping. How could I be bothered by any symbol of the commitment I was so relying on?
很快，这么快，我就要将蕾妮斯梅交给雅各布守护，这样的话，我又怎么会对有关那份委托的一点信物感到困扰呢？
Renesmee wore the locket I’d given her at dawn, and in her jacket pocket was the MP3 player Edward had given her — a tiny thing that held five thousand songs, already filled with Edward’s favorites. On her wrist was an intricately braided Quileute version of a promise ring. Edward had gritted his teeth over that one, but it didn’t bother me.
蕾妮斯梅戴着我黎明时送给她的吊坠盒，口袋里装着爱德华给她的MP3——一个塞满了爱德华最爱的5000多首歌的小东西。手腕上戴着镶有繁复的奎尔尤特人家族纹饰的手镯。爱德华恨不得拿牙齿把那玩意咬烂，我倒是无所谓。
I think Edward and Jacob both were as relieved as I was when it was time to go. It felt odd to spend energy on the human facade when there were so many more important things to be doing. I had a hard time concentrating. At the same time, this was perhaps the last time I would see Charlie. Maybe it was a good thing that I was too numb to really register that.
离开的时候，爱德华，雅各布和我一样都松了一口气。在有一大堆重要得多的事情要做的时候还装作人类的样子浪费精力真是种奇怪的感觉，很难集中精神。不过同时，这也可能是我最后一次能见到查理。我已经麻木到流露不出那种表情，也许是件好事。
From the way the werewolves ate, Sue’s lunch spread must have been good. I wondered how the gathering would have looked to an outsider. Did we play our parts well enough? Would a stranger have thought us a happy circle of friends, enjoying the holiday with casual cheer?
从狼人们的吃相来看，苏的那次午饭反响很大。我很好奇外人是怎么看我们这个小聚会的。各自的角色扮演的够好吗？外人会觉得我们是一群尽情开心地享受着假期的好朋友吗？
I hadn’t seen my mother since the wedding, but I found I could only be glad for the gradual distancing that had begun two years ago. She was too fragile for my world. I didn’t want her to have any part of this. Charlie was stronger.
从婚礼过后就再没见过我妈，但我很高兴地发现自己已经渐渐习惯了这种两年前开始的疏远。她对我的世界来说太脆弱了，我不想让她卷进来。而查理坚强一些。
If it’s ever safe again, take her to Charlie. Tell him the whole story someday. Tell him how much I loved him, how I couldn’t bear to leave him even when my human life was over. Tell him he was the best father. Tell him to pass my love on to Renee, all my hopes that she will be happy and well…
如果危机过去了，把她交给查理，然后某天将所有的一切都告诉他。告诉他我是多么爱他，多么害怕失去他，甚至在我已经不是人类以后。告诉他他是世界上最好的爸爸。告诉他将我的爱转达给勒妮，所有我希望的就是她的健康和幸福。
I would have to give Jacob the documents before it was too late. I would give him a note for Charlie, too. And a letter for Renesmee. Something for her to read when I couldn’t tell her I loved her anymore.
我会提前将文件和给查理的字条交给雅各布。还有给蕾妮斯梅的信，写着要告诉她的一些事情，在我无法再亲口说出多么爱她以后。
Maybe even strong enough for a goodbye now, but I wasn’t.
也许甚至坚强到可以理解现在就是永别，但我并不想让他知道。
It was very quiet in the car; outside, the rain was just a mist, hovering on the edge between liquid and ice. Renesmee sat on my lap, playing with her locket, opening and closing it. I watched her and imagined the things I would say to Jacob right now if I didn’t have to keep my words out of Edward’s head.
车里很安静；车窗外，雨下得就如薄雾一般，介于液体和冰之间。蕾妮斯梅坐在我的腿上，一开一关地玩着她的吊坠盒。我看着她，想象着如果我不用对爱德华保守秘密，现在会对雅各布交代着什么。
Edward parked in front of the house rather than going around to the garage. We exchanged one wary glance before we got out of the car.
爱德华没去车库直接将车停在了门前。下车前我们交换了个谨慎的眼神。
There was nothing unusual about the outside of the Cullen house as we pulled into the meadow, but I could hear some kind of subtle uproar inside. Many low voices murmured and growled. It sounded intense, and it sounded like an argument. I could pick out Carlisle’s voice and Amun’s more often than the others.
我们把车开上卡伦家房前草地时没发现屋外有什么不正常，只听见屋内有种轻微的骚动。很多人低声交谈着咆哮着，有点激烈，听起来有些像争执。我听得出卡莱尔和阿蒙的声音出现得最频繁。
“Alistair is gone,” Edward murmured as we darted up the steps.
“阿利斯泰尔走了。”我们大步走向屋内时爱德华小声说。
Inside the front room, the main confrontation was physically apparent. Lining the walls was a ring of spectators, every vampire who had joined us, except for Alistair and the three involved in the quarrel. Esme, Kebi, and Tia were the closest to the three vampires in the center; in the middle of the room, Amun was hissing at Carlisle and Benjamin.
前厅里，主要冲突显而易见。墙边站着一排旁观者，有所有加入了我们的吸血鬼，除了阿利斯泰尔和那三个正在争吵中的。埃斯梅，凯比，和蒂娅离中间那三个吸血鬼最近；在房间中央，阿蒙正朝卡莱尔和本杰明嘶嘶地喷着气。
Jacob’s stance changed; his face turned serious and careful. I guessed that he was in Alpha mode now. Obviously, something had happened, and he was going to get the information he and Sam would need.
雅各布变了身，表情严肃，小心翼翼地。我猜他现在已经在阿尔法状态。里面显然是有什么事发生了，而他正准备去获取些他和山姆需要的信息。
“This won’t end well,” Amun growled. “Alistair was the only sane one here. We should all be running.”
“没这么简单，”阿蒙咆哮道。“阿利斯泰尔是这里唯一一个头脑清醒的。我们大家早该跑了。”
Carlisle sighed, and Benjamin rolled his eyes.
卡莱尔叹气，本杰明翻了个大白眼。
“You say!”
“只有你这么说！”
“If it does, you can always switch sides, Amun. I’m sure the Volturi will appreciate your help.”
“如果真有战斗，你可以转换阵营，阿蒙。我相信沃尔图里他们会很高兴接受你的帮助的。”
“Think of who you’re calling sane,” Tia murmured in a quiet aside.
“想想你在说谁头脑清醒吧。”蒂娅站在一旁小声嘀咕。
“Yes, Carlisle picked a fight with the Volturi, endangered his whole family, just to lure me here to my death,” Benjamin said sarcastically. “Be reasonable, Amun. I’m committed to do the right thing here — I’m not joining any other coven. You can do whatever you want, of course, as Carlisle has pointed out.”
“是啊，卡莱尔对沃尔图里挑衅，把他所有的家人推进火坑，就是为了把我引到这来弄死。”本杰明讽刺地说。“讲点理吧，阿蒙。我只是做我认为对的事，而不是加入哪个家族。当然，你也可以做任何你想做的事，就像卡莱尔说的一样。”
“We’re all going to be slaughtered!”
“我们都会被杀掉！”
“It’s not going to come to a fight,” Carlisle said in a firm voice.
“不会有战斗的。”卡莱尔严肃的说。
Edward’s jaw tightened and he moved quickly to Esme’s side, towing me by the hand. I clutched Renesmee tightly to my chest.
爱德华下巴收紧，拉着我快步走到埃斯梅旁边。我将蕾妮斯梅紧紧拥着贴着我的脸颊。
“Amun, if you want to go, no one is forcing you to stay,” Carlisle said calmly.
“阿蒙，你想走的话，没人会逼你留下来的。”卡莱尔冷静地说道。
“You’re stealing half my coven, Carlisle!” Amun shrieked, stabbing one finger at Benjamin. “Is that why you called me here? To steal from me?”
“可是你偷了我的家人，卡莱尔！”阿蒙尖声喊道，手指指着本杰明。“这就是你叫我来的原因？把他从我这挖走？”
Amun’s voice was more controlled, too. “But you’re taking my Benjamin down with you.”
阿蒙的声音也稳定了一些。“但你正在把我的本杰明拉下水。”
Carlisle put his hand on Amun’s shoulder; Amun shook it off.
卡莱尔把手放到阿蒙的肩膀上，阿蒙挣开了。
Carlisle’s answer was soft and sincere. “I wouldn’t hold that against you, Amun. We have been friends for a long time, but I would never ask you to die for me.”
卡莱尔温和而真诚地回答他。“我不会让你有麻烦的，阿蒙。我们做了这么长时间的朋友，是绝不会让你为我赴死的。”
Amun sneered at him. “Perhaps that is the answer.”
阿蒙对卡莱尔不屑地笑道。“这倒提醒了我。”
“I’ll stay, Carlisle, but it might be to your detriment. I will join them if that’s the road to survival. You’re all fools to think that you can defy the Volturi.” He scowled, then sighed, glanced at Renesmee and me, and added in an exasperated tone, “I will witness that the child has grown. That’s nothing but the truth. Anyone would see that.”
“我会留下来，卡莱尔，但也许会对你们不利。如果能保命，我会加入沃尔图里的。你们竟然觉得自己能与沃尔图里抗衡，简直是愚蠢。”他低吼道，然后叹气，看着蕾妮斯梅和我，恼火地又加了一句，“我会为那孩子的成长证明的，毕竟是事实，谁都看得出来。”
Amun grimaced, “But not all that you are getting, it seems.” He turned on Benjamin. “I gave you life. You’re wasting it.”
阿蒙一脸轻蔑，“但获得的远不止这个，看来。”他转身向着本杰明。“我给了你永恒的生命，而你却在浪费。”
“That’s all we’ve ever asked.”
“我们只拜托了这个而已。”
Benjamin’s face looked colder than I’d ever seen it; the expression contrasted oddly with his boyish features. “It’s a pity you couldn’t replace my will with your own in the process; perhaps then you would have been satisfied with me.”
本杰明的表情变成我从未见过的冷酷，和他孩子般的长相矛盾的对比着。“但你无法强迫我遵从你的意愿，真是遗憾；那样的话，也许你就满意了。”
“He’s not leaving,” Edward said quietly to me, “but he’ll be keeping his distance even more from now on. He wasn’t bluffing when he spoke of joining the Volturi.”
“他没离开，”爱德华小声告诉我，“但会自此与我们保持距离。他说的会加入沃尔图里的话只是虚张声势而已。”
Amun’s eyes narrowed. He gestured abruptly to Kebi, and they stalked past us out the front door.
阿蒙的眼睛眯起，突然对凯比做了个手势，然后傲慢地大步走出前门。
Though our conversation was clearly just between the two of us, of course everyone could hear it. Eleazar answered Edward’s comment like it had been meant for all.
虽然我们的对话只是两人间的交谈，但显然所有人都听得到。以利亚撒回答了爱德华的猜想，好像就代表了事实一样。
“No one can be positive; he didn’t leave a note. From his mutters, it’s been clear that he thinks a fight is inevitable. Despite his demeanor, he actually does care too much for Carlisle to stand with the Volturi. I suppose he decided the danger was too much.” Edward shrugged.
“没人能肯定，他走时什么都没说。从他的抱怨倒是可以知道，他认为战斗是不可避免的。尽管这样，他的确是为卡莱尔做了很大的努力，我猜想他是觉得这样与沃尔图里作对风险实在太大了。”爱德华无奈地耸肩。
“Why did Alistair go?” I whispered.
“那阿利斯泰尔为什么走的？”我低声问。
“From the sound of his mumblings, it was a bit more than that. We haven’t spoken much of the Volturi agenda, but Alistair worried that no matter how decisively we can prove your innocence, the Volturi will not listen. He thinks they will find an excuse to achieve their goals here.”
“从他嘀咕的语气来说，也许并不只这些。我们并没怎么提过沃尔图里的计划，但阿利斯泰尔认为无论我们怎么证明自己的清白，沃尔图里也不会听的。他认为他们会另找借口来达到目的。”
Stefan nodded. “We never put on white hats and called ourselves saints.”
斯特凡点头道。“我们可从未戴着白帽子叫自己圣人。”
Many low discussions began at the same time, but it was the Romanians I listened to. Maybe because the fair-haired Vladimir kept shooting glances in my direction.
很多小声的讨论正在进行，但我只听着那两个罗马尼亚人，因为那个金发的弗拉迪米尔一直盯着我这边看。
“I do so hope Alistair was right about this,” Stefan murmured to Vladimir. “No matter the outcome, word will spread. It’s time our world saw the Volturi for what they’ve become. They’ll never fall if everyone believes this nonsense about them protecting our way of life.”
“我真希望阿利斯泰尔的担忧是对的。”斯特凡小声对弗拉迪米尔说。“不管结果如何，这疑虑是会传播出去的。到了让这世界看看沃尔图里那些家伙到底变成什么玩意的时候了。如果大家都认为他们在维护着我们生活的世界的话，他们就永远不会被推翻。”
“At least when we ruled, we were honest about what we were,” Vladimir replied.
“至少我们在当权时是很坦诚的。”弗拉迪米尔回应道。
The vampires glanced uneasily at one another. The idea that the Volturi would manipulate their own sacrosanct law for gain was not a popular idea. Only the Romanians were composed, their small half-smiles ironic. They seemed amused at how the others wanted to think well of their ancient enemies.
吸血鬼们忧虑地互相对视。沃尔图里为达到目的而滥用法律可不是什么受欢迎的主意。只有那两个罗马尼亚人还保持着平静，他们冷笑着，似乎很高兴我们这样看待他们的宿敌。
“I’m thinking the time has come to fight,” Vladimir said. “How can you imagine we’ll ever find a better force to stand with? Another chance this good?”
“我在想，现在是该战斗的时候了，”弗拉迪米尔说。“你能想象得出比现在更强的阵营吗？千载难逢的机会不是吗？”
“We’ve been waiting for fifteen hundred years, Stefan. And they’ve only gotten stronger with the years.” Vladimir paused and looked at me again. He showed no surprise when he saw that I was watching him, too. “If the Volturi win this conflict, they will leave with more power than they came with. With every conquest they add to their strengths. Think of what that newborn alone could give them” — he jerked his chin toward me — “and she is barely discovering her gifts. And the earth-mover.” Vladimir nodded toward Benjamin, who stiffened. Almost everyone was eavesdropping on the Romanians now, like me. “With their witch twins they have no need of the illusionist or the fire touch.” His eyes moved to Zafrina, then Kate.
“我们已经等了一千五百年了，斯特凡。而且随着时间的推移他们会变得越来越强大。”弗拉迪米尔停下来，又看着我，并不怎么惊讶地看到我在听他们交谈。“如果沃尔图里赢了这次，他们会因为收获的每个俘虏而变得比来时更加强大。想想看，光是那个新生的女的就能让他们强大多少，”他朝我这边扬了扬下巴，“而她现在才只发掘出她能力的皮毛而已。还有那个操纵元素的。”弗拉迪米尔朝本杰明点了点头，本杰明一下就愣了。现在几乎所有人都在像我一样偷听他们对话了。“而因为有了幻术双胞胎简和亚历克，他们大概不会需要幻术师或者放电的。”他的目光移向查弗丽娜，然后又到凯特。
Stefan looked at Edward. “Nor is the mind reader is exactly necessary. But I see your point. Indeed, they will gain much if they win.”
斯特凡看着爱德华。“读心的大概也不怎么需要。但我明白你的意思了，就是，如果他们赢了，战利品丰厚啊。”
“Nothing is impossible. Maybe someday –“
“没什么不可能的。也许某天…”
Stefan sighed. “I think I must agree. And that means…”
斯特凡叹气。“我不得不同意。那么这就意味着…”
“More than we can afford to have them gain, wouldn’t you agree?”
“我们永远也无法再拥有这么多足以抗衡的力量，你说呢？”
“So we fight,” Stefan said.
“所以，我们要战斗。”斯特凡说。
“We fight,” Vladimir agreed.
“我们战斗。”弗拉迪米尔同意道。
“If we can just cripple them, even, expose them…”
“如果我们能重挫他们，甚至只是剥去他们的防御…”
Benjamin grinned and threw an impish glance toward the Romanians. “Apparently, I’m a hot commodity. It appears I have to win the right to be free.”
本杰明大笑，向罗马尼亚人抛去个顽皮的眼神。“似乎我是畅销品啊。看来我得为自由而斗争了。”
They locked eyes for a moment and then murmured in unison. “It seems the only way.”
他们闭上眼睛，然后和声一般地低声说道。“大概只有这样了。”
“Then, someday, others will finish the job.”
“那么，某天，其他人会继续我们未完成的事。”
“And our long vendetta will be repaid. At last.”
“最终，我们漫长的复仇就会得以完结。”
I suppose it was a good thing; like Alistair, I was sure the battle was impossible to avoid. In that case, two more vampires fighting on our side could only help. But the Romanians’ decision still made me shudder.
我觉得这还是件好事；就如阿利斯泰尔一样，我也觉得战斗不可避免。如果那样的话，多两个吸血鬼一起战斗还是有用的。但罗马尼亚人的决意还是让我有些不舒服。
Though I could see that they were torn, self-preservation warring with revenge, the smile they exchanged was full of anticipation.
虽然我听得出他们话语中那些无奈的，自我安慰的复仇之意，但他们对彼此的微笑还是充满期望的。
“That we must stand against them while there is still hope.”
“意味着，只要有一丝希望，我们就必须站在这边反抗他们。”
“We will fight, too,” Tia said, her usually grave voice more solemn than ever. “We believe the Volturi will overstep their authority. We have no wish to belong to them.” Her eyes lingered on her mate.
“我们也会战斗。”蒂娅说，声音比平常还要严肃得多。“我们确信沃尔图里不会守本分。我们可不想归顺他们。”眼神逗留在她的伴侣身上。
“We have not decided,” Peter said. He looked down at his tiny companion; Charlotte’s lips were set in dissatisfaction. It looked like she’d made her decision. I wondered what it was.
“我们还没决定。”彼得说，看着自己娇小的伴侣；夏洛特的嘴唇不满意的瘪着。看来她已经做好了决定，我很好奇是什么。
“The same goes for me,” Randall said.
“我也一样。”兰达尔说。
“Infants,” Randall corrected.
“幼稚。”兰达尔纠正他。
“This won’t be the first time I’ve fought to keep myself from a king’s rule,” Garrett said in a teasing tone. He walked over and clapped Benjamin on the back. “Here’s to freedom from oppression.”
“要说反抗当权者的统治，我可不是第一次了。”加勒特自嘲地说道，走到本杰明旁边拍了拍他的背。“反抗压迫才有自由。”
“And me,” Mary added.
“还有我。”玛丽跟着说道。
Siobhan stared at the junior member of her coven with worried eyes. “Carlisle,” she said as if they were alone, ignoring the suddenly formal feel of the gathering, the unexpected outburst of declarations, “I don’t want this to come to a fight.”
西博汉看着她家族里年纪最小的成员说道，“卡莱尔，我不希望最后演变成战斗。”她忽略掉了其他人的共同反应，好像自己是唯一这样想的人。
“Well, I’m in, too,” Maggie said, shrugging out from under Siobhan’s restraining hand. “I know truth is on Carlisle’s side. I can’t ignore that.”
“我也加入卡莱尔他们。”麦琪说，从西博汉钳子般的手中挣脱出来。“真理是在卡莱尔一边的。我无法忽视这个。”
The Romanians’ pronouncement seemed to have made the others feel the need to declare themselves as well.
罗马尼亚人的这番声明让其他人也感觉到明确自己立场的必要。
“Children,” Peter muttered.
“孩子气。”彼得嘀咕道。
“We stand with Carlisle,” Tanya said. “And we fight with him.”
“我们和卡莱尔同一战线。”坦尼娅说。“我们会和他一起作战。”
Jacob grinned tauntingly.
雅各布轻蔑地大笑起来。
“The packs will fight with the Cullens,” Jacob said suddenly. “We’re not afraid of vampires,” he added with a smirk.
“狼群们会和卡莱尔一起战斗。”雅各布突然发言，然后笑嘻嘻地加上一句，“我们才不怕吸血鬼。”
“Nor do I, Siobhan. You know that’s the last thing I want.” He half-smiled. “Perhaps you should concentrate on keeping it peaceful.”
“我也不希望，西博汉。这是我最后的愿望了，”他浅笑道。“也许你该集中精神期盼和平的结局。”
Carlisle was openly grinning now. “If you don’t mind.”
卡莱尔大笑起来。“你不介意的话。”
“You know that won’t help,” she said.
“你知道这没用的。”她说。
Siobhan rolled her eyes. “Shall I visualize the outcome I desire?” she asked sarcastically.
西博汉翻了个白眼。“我该让结果变成那样吗？”她挖苦地说道。
I remembered Rose and Carlisle’s discussion of the Irish leader; Carlisle believed that Siobhan had some subtle but powerful gift to make things go her way — and yet Siobhan didn’t believe it herself.
我记起罗莎和卡莱尔曾经讨论过这个爱尔兰家族的首领；卡莱尔相信西博汉有一种能让梦想成真的微妙而强大的天赋——虽然连西博汉自己都不相信。
“Then there is no need for my coven to declare itself, is there?” she retorted. “Since there is no possibility of a fight.” She put her hand back on Maggie’s shoulder, pulling the girl closer to her. Siobhan’s mate, Liam, stood silent and expressionless.
“那么我的家族就没必要做出声明了，不是吗？”她回应道。“既然根本就不会打起来。”她又把手放到麦琪的肩膀上，把她拉近了些。西博汉的伴侣，利亚姆，静静地站着，面无表情。
“It couldn’t hurt,” Carlisle said.
“想一想又没什么坏处。”卡莱尔说。
That was the end of the dramatic speeches for the night. The group slowly dispersed, some off to hunt, some to while away the time with Carlisle’s books or televisions or computers.
这便是戏剧般一夜的尾声。大家慢慢散开了，有些去捕猎，另一些在卡莱尔的书，电视或电脑上消磨着时间。
Almost everyone else in the room looked mystified by Carlisle and Siobhan’s clearly joking exchange, but they didn’t explain themselves.
几乎所有人都被卡莱尔和西博汉之间显而易见的玩笑弄得很困惑，但他们并没有继续表明立场。
“They’ll be shocked when the infants save their superior lives, won’t they?” Edward said.
“当你们这些幼稚的孩子救了他们自以为是的命以后他们就没话说了，不是吗？”爱德华说。
Jake smiled and punched his shoulder. “Hell yeah, they will.”
杰克笑着捶了一下爱德华的肩膀。“哈哈那是，绝对。”
“Stupid leeches,” he muttered to himself when we got outside. “Think they’re so superior.” He snorted.
“白痴吸血虫，”出了屋子以后他自言自语地抱怨道，“自以为高人一等。”
Edward, Renesmee, and I went to hunt. Jacob tagged along.
爱德华，蕾妮斯梅和我去捕猎，雅各布也一起。
I thought about Demetri while I hunted, paying little attention to my prey or the drifting snowflakes that had finally appeared but were melting before they touched the rocky soil. Would Demetri realize that he couldn’t track me? What would he make of that? What would Aro? Or was Edward wrong? There were those little exceptions to what I could withstand, those ways around my shield. Everything that was outside my mind was vulnerable — open to the things Jasper, Alice, and Benjamin could do. Maybe Demetri’s talent worked a little differently, too.
捕猎时我一直想着德米特里，几乎没花什么心思去注意我的猎物或是在落到坚硬的地面前就融化了的雪花。德米特里注意到他无法追踪我了吗？他会怎么想？阿罗会怎么想？又或者爱德华错了？也许有些东西是在我的承受范围之外的，也许是盾上的破绽。我头脑之外的一切东西都是有弱点的——就像贾斯帕，爱丽丝和本杰明能做的那样，也许德米特里的能力运作地也有些不同。
This wasn’t our last hunting trip. We all would hunt again nearer to the time we expected the Volturi. As the deadline was not exact, we were planning to stay a few nights out in the big baseball clearing Alice had seen, just in case. All we knew was that they would come the day that the snow stuck to the ground. We didn’t want the Volturi too close to town, and Demetri would lead them to wherever we were. I wondered who he would track in, and guessed that it would be Edward since he couldn’t track me.
这并不是我们最后一次捕猎。在沃尔图里到达前我们还会再出来一次。因为爱丽丝给的时间并不确切，为了保险，我们打算花几个晚上守在爱丽丝看到的打橄榄球的空地上，毕竟我们知道的只有他们会在积雪时到来而已。我们也不想让沃尔图里太靠近镇子，因为德米特里会带他们到我们所在的地方。我很好奇他追踪的到底是谁，如果无法追踪我的话，我猜就是爱德华了。
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a low voice, his eyes sweeping the forest around us, looking for whatever had triggered my behavior.
“怎么了？”他低声问道，眼睛扫视树林，寻找着导致我这种反应的事物。
Edward saw my reaction and hurried to my side, leaving his own kill undrained.
爱德华看到我的反应，赶快跑到我身边，把自己的猎物扔在一边。
“Renesmee,” I choked.
“蕾妮斯梅。”我窒息地说道。
“She’s just through those trees,” he reassured me. “I can hear both her thoughts and Jacob’s. She’s fine.”
“她刚到那边树丛去了。”他宽慰我道，“她的思想和声音我都听得到，和雅各布在一起，没事。”
My voice was edging toward hysteria, though I had enough control to keep it low. I didn’t want to upset Renesmee.
我几乎都要歇斯底里了，但我努力地控制着自己，不想打扰到蕾妮斯梅。
And then I had a thought that brought me up short. The half-drained elk dropped from my hands to the stony ground. Snowflakes vaporized a few inches from the warm body with tiny sizzling sounds. I stared blankly at my bloody hands.
然后我想到一些东西，突然停了下来，吸得半干的麋鹿从手里掉到石头般的地面上，雪花在麋鹿尚暖的身体周围几英寸就融化了，发出嗞嗞的声音。我无助地注视着自己沾满鲜血的手。
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “I was thinking about my shield — you really think it’s worth something, that it will help somehow. I know the others are hoping that I’ll be able to shield Zafrina and Benjamin, even if I can only keep it up for a few seconds at a time. What if that’s a mistake? What if your trust in me is the reason that we fail?”
“我不是这个意思。”我说。“我在想我的盾——你一直认为它能有所作用。我知道其他人也在希望着我能用它来保护查弗丽娜和本杰明，即使一次只能维持几秒而已。但万一出问题了呢？如果你们对我的信任就是我们失败的原因怎么办？”
“Bella, what brought this on? Of course, it’s wonderful that you can protect yourself, but you’re not responsible for saving anyone. Don’t distress yourself needlessly.”
“贝拉，这想法是怎么来的？你能保护自己这当然很棒，但你没必要为救其他人负责。别这样困扰自己，没必要。”
“Shh,” he hushed me. “Don’t panic. And don’t worry about Alec. What he does is no different than what Jane or Zafrina does. It’s just an illusion — he can’t get inside your head any more than I can.”
“嘘，”他安慰我。“别慌。也别担心亚历克。他和简或查弗丽娜做的没什么不一样，只是种幻觉而已——我都不能进入你的脑袋，他更不能。”
“But what if I can’t protect anything?” I whispered in gasps. “This thing I do, it’s faulty, it’s erratic! There’s no rhyme or reason to it. Maybe it will do nothing against Alec at all.”
“但如果我什么都保护不了怎么办？”我喘着气小声说道。“我做的这些，是有缺陷的，不稳定的，完全无规律可循。也许对亚历克根本起不了作用。”
“But Renesmee does!” I hissed frantically through my teeth. “It seemed so natural, I never questioned it before. It’s always been just part of who she is. But she puts her thoughts right into my head just like she does with everyone else. My shield has holes, Edward!”
“但蕾妮斯梅可以！”我近乎狂乱地说，不住地发出嘶嘶的声音。“一切都那么自然，我以前从未对这种现象产生过疑问，就好像是她存在的一部分。但她能直接把思想放进我的脑袋里，和对其他人那样做没什么两样。我的盾是有漏洞的，爱德华！”
I stared at him desperately, waiting for him to acknowledge my terrible revelation. His lips were pursed, as if he was trying to decide how to phrase something. His expression was perfectly relaxed.
我焦躁地盯着爱德华，等着他承认这个糟糕的真相。他抿着嘴唇，好像在思索着如何组织语言，表情非常放松。
“You thought of this a long time ago, didn’t you?” I demanded, feeling like an idiot for my months of overlooking the obvious.
“你思考这个问题已经很久了，不是吗？”我问，感觉自己在这么明显的事实前一直像个傻瓜。
“Well, she’s your daughter,” he pointed out. “Genetically half you. I used to tease you about how your mind was on a different frequency than the rest of ours. Perhaps she runs on the same.”
“这样说吧，她是你的女儿，”他指出，“自然有你的一半血统。我以前不是经常逗你，说你的脑波频率和其他人不一样吗，也许她和你一样。”
He nodded, a faint smile pulling up one corner of his mouth. “The first time she touched you.”
他点头，嘴唇上翘，微笑起来。“自从她第一次碰你。”
“Give me the least likely first.”
“先告诉我那个可能性最小的。”
I sighed at my own stupidity, but his calm had mellowed me some. “And this doesn’t bother you? You don’t see it as a problem?”
我为自己的愚蠢叹了口气，但他平静的表情让我稍微缓和了些。“但这没让你困扰？你没觉得这是个问题？”
“I have two theories, one more likely than the other.”
“我有两种见解，其中一个比另一个可能性大很多。”
I gritted my teeth and waited.
我咬紧牙齿等着。
He put a finger to my lips. “I’ve considered that. Which is why I think this next theory is much more likely.”
爱德华用手指轻轻按住我的嘴唇。“我考虑过那个。也就是为什么我说另一种见解可能性大得多。”
“Do you remember what Carlisle said to me about her, right after she showed you that first memory?”
“你记得卡莱尔跟我说过的关于蕾妮斯梅的话吗，就在她第一次向你展示她的记忆之后？”
This didn’t work for me. “But you hear her mind just fine. Everyone hears her mind. And what if Alec runs on a different frequency? What if –?”
这个理论并没有说服我。“但你还是可以听她的思想啊。每个人都听得到。而且，如果亚历克也和我们一样不同脑波怎么办？如果…？”
“Yes. And so I wondered. Maybe she took your talent and flipped it, too.” I considered that.
“对。然后我就开始怀疑，也许她也继承了你的天赋然后将它反过来了。”我想了想。
“You keep everyone out,” he began.
“你能将所有人屏蔽在外。”他开始说。
Of course I remembered. “He said, ‘It’s an interesting twist. Like she’s doing the exact opposite of what you can.'”
我当然记得。“他说，真是个奇妙的转折，就好像她能做的和你能做的刚好相反。”
I shuddered to think of Renesmee so close to Aro’s greedy, milky eyes.
一想到蕾妮斯梅离阿罗那贪婪浑浊的眼睛那么近，我不禁战栗起来。
“That’s my theory,” he said. “And if she can get into your head, I doubt there’s a shield on the planet who could keep her at bay. That will help. From what we’ve seen, no one can doubt the truth of her thoughts once they’ve allowed her to show them. And I think no one can keep her from showing them, if she gets close enough. If Aro allows her to explain…”
“这就是我的见解。”他说，“而且，既然她能进入你的脑袋，我怀疑地球上没有什么盾能隔开她了。这恰好也说明了一些事情，如我们至此所看到的，只要人们允许了她的触碰，就没有人怀疑过她呈现的记忆的真实性。再进一步，如果她离得够近的话，我怀疑根本没有谁能拒绝她的呈现。那么如果阿罗允许她解释…”
“But is the truth enough to stop him?” I murmured.
“但那真相足以让他停下吗？”我小声说道。
“And no one keeps her out?” I finished hesitantly.
“那么，所有人都无法将她屏蔽在外？”我犹豫地接道。
For that, Edward had no answer.
这个问题，爱德华没有回答。
“Well,” he said, rubbing my tight shoulders. “At least there’s nothing that can stop him from seeing the truth.”
“那么，”他说，轻抚我紧绷的肩膀，“至少没什么东西能阻止阿罗看到真相。”
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