4 breaking dawn破晓- 第141部分


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I　watched　Carlisle　glance　at　Edward　questioningly。　

〃Alistair　was　right？〃　Tanya　whispered。　

'They—Caius　and　Aro—e　to　destroy　and　acquire；〃　Edward　breathed　almost　silently　back；　only　our　
side　could　hear。　〃They　have　many　layers　of　strategy　already　in　place。　If　Irina's　accusation　had　somehow　
proven　to　be　false；　they　were　mitted　to　find　another　reason　to　take　offense。　But　they　can　see　
Renesmee　now；　so　they　are　perfectly　sanguine　about　their　course。　We　could　still　attempt　to　defend　
against　their　other　contrived　charges；　but　first　they　have　to　stop；　to　hear　the　truth　about　Renesmee。〃　Then；　
even　lower。　〃Which　they　have　no　intention　of　doing。〃　

Jacob　gave　a　strange　little　huff。　

And　then；　unexpectedly；　two　seconds　later；　the　procession　did　halt。　The　low　music　of　perfectly　
synchronized　

movements　turned　to　silence。　The　flawless　discipline　remained　unbroken；　the　Volturi　froze　into　absolute　
stillness　as　one。　They　stood　about　a　hundred　yards　away　from　us。　

Behind　me；　to　the　sides；　I　heard　the　beating　of　large　hearts；　closer　than　before。　I　risked　glances　to　the　left　
and　the　right　from　the　corners　of　my　eyes　to　see　what　had　stopped　the　Volturi　advance。　

The　wolves　had　joined　us。　

On　either　side　of　our　uneven　line；　the　wolves　branched　out　in　long；　bordering　arms。　I　only　spared　a　
fraction　of　a　second　to　note　that　there　were　more　than　ten　wolves；　to　recognize　the　wolves　I　knew　and　
the　ones　I'd　never　seen　before。　There　were　sixteen　of　them　spaced　evenly　around　us—seventeen　total；　
counting　Jacob。　It　was　clear　from　their　heights　and　oversized　paws　that　the　newers　all　were　very；　
very　young。　I　supposed　I　should　have　foreseen　this。　With　so　many　vampires　encamped　in　the　
neighborhood；　a　werewolf　population　explosion　was　inevitable。　

More　children　dying。　I　wondered　why　Sam　had　allowed　this；　and　then　I　realized　he　had　no　other　choice。　
If　any　of　the　wolves　stood　with　us；　the　Volturi　would　be　sure　to　search　out　the　rest。　They　had　gambled　
their　entire　species　on　this　stand。　

And　we　were　going　to　lose。　

Abruptly；　I　was　furious。　Beyond　furious；　I　was　murderously　enraged。　My　hopeless　despair　vanished　
entirely。　A　faint　reddish　glow　highlighted　the　dark　figures　in　front　of　me；　and　all　I　wanted　in　that　moment　
was　the　chance　to　sink　my　teeth　into　them；　to　rip　their　limbs　from　their　bodies　and　pile　them　for　burning。　I　
was　so　maddened　I　could　have　danced　around　the　pyre　where　they　roasted　alive；　I　would　have　laughed　
while　their　ashes　smoldered。　My　lips　curved　back　automatically；　and　a　low；　fierce　snarl　tore　up　my　throat　
from　the　pit　of　my　stomach。　I　realized　the　corners　of　my　mouth　were　turned　up　in　a　smile。　

Beside　me；　Zafrina　and　Senna　echoed　my　hushed　growl。　Edward　squeezed　the　hand　he　still　held；　
cautioning　me。　

The　shadowed　Volturi　faces　were　still　expressionless　for　the　most　part。　Only　two　sets　of　eyes　betrayed　
any　emotion　at　all。　In　the　very　center；　touching　hands；　Aro　and　Caius　had　paused　to　evaluate；　and　the　
entire　guard　had　paused　with　them；　waiting　for　the　order　to　kill。　The　two　did　not　look　at　each　other；　but　it　
was　obvious　that　they　were　municating。　Marcus；　though　touching　Aro's　other　hand；　did　not　seem　part　



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of　the　conversation。　His　expression　was　not　as　mindless　as　the　guards'；　but　it　was　nearly　as　blank。　Like　
the　one　other　time　I'd　seen　him；　he　appeared　to　be　utterly　bored。　

The　bodies　of　the　VolturFs　witnesses　leaned　toward　us；　their　eyes　fixed　furiously　on　Renesmee　and　me；　
but　they　stayed　near　the　fringe　of　the　forest；　leaving　a　wide　berth　between　themselves　and　the　Volturi　
soldiers。　Only　Irina　hovered　close　behind　the　Volturi；　just　a　few　paces　away　from　the　ancient　females　
—both　fairhaired　with　powdery　skin　and　filmed　eyes—and　their　two　massive　bodyguards。　

There　was　a　woman　in　one　of　the　darker　gray　cloaks　just　behind　Aro。　I　couldn't　be　sure；　but　it　looked　
like　she　might　actually　be　touching　his　back。　Was　this　the　other　shield；　Renata？　I　wondered；　as　Eleazar　
had；　if　she　would　be　able　to　repel　me。　

But　I　would　not　waste　my　life　trying　to　get　to　Caius　or　Aro。　I　had　more　vital　targets。　

I　searched　the　line　for　them　now　and　had　no　difficulty　picking　out　the　two　petite；　deep　gray　cloaks　near　
the　heart　of　the　arrangement。　Alec　and　Jane；　easily　the　smallest　members　of　the　guard；　stood　just　to　
Marcus's　side；　flanked　by　Demetri　on　the　other。　Their　lovely　faces　were　smooth；　giving　nothing　away；　
they　wore　the　darkest　cloaks　beside　the　pure　black　of　the　ancients。　The　witch　twins；　Vladimir　had　called　
them。　Their　powers　were　the　cornerstone　of　the　Volturi　offensive。　The　jewels　in　Aro's　collection。　

My　muscles　flexed；　and　venom　welled　in　my　mouth。　

Aro's　and　Caius's　clouded　red　eyes　flickered　across　our　line。　I　read　disappointment　in　Aro's　face　as　his　
gaze　roved　over　our　faces　again　and　again；　looking　for　one　that　was　missing。　Chagrin　tightened　his　lips。　

In　that　moment；　I　was　nothing　but　grateful　that　Alice　had　run。　

As　the　pause　lengthened；　I　heard　Edward's　breath　speed。　

〃Edward？〃　Carlisle　asked；　low　and　anxious。　

'They're　not　sure　how　to　proceed。　They're　weighing　options；　choosing　key　targets—me；　of　course；　you；　
Eleazar；　Tanya。　Marcus　is　reading　the　strength　of　our　ties　to　each　other；　looking　for　weak　points。　The　
Romanians'　presence　irritates　them。　They're　worried　about　the　faces　they　don't　recognize—Zafrina　and　
Senna　in　particular—and　the　wolves；　naturally。　They've　never　been　outnumbered　before。　That's　what　
stopped　them。〃　

〃Outnumbered？〃　Tanya　whispered　incredulously。　

〃They　don't　count　their　witnesses；〃　Edward　breathed。　〃They　are　nonentities；　meaningless　to　the　guard。　
Aro　just　enjoys　an　audience。〃　

〃Should　I　speak？〃　Carlisle　asked。　

Edward　hesitated；　then　nodded。　〃This　is　the　only　chance　you'll　get。〃　

Carlisle　squared　his　shoulders　and　paced　several　steps　ahead　of　our　defensive　line。　I　hated　to　see　him　
alone；　unprotected。　

He　spread　his　arms；　holding　his　palms　up　as　if　in　greeting。　〃Aro；　my　old　friend。　It's　been　centuries。〃　




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The　white　clearing　was　dead　silent　for　a　long　moment。　I　could　feel　the　tension　rolling　off　Edward　as　he　
listened　to　Aro's　assessment　of　Carlisle's　words。　The　strain　mounted　as　the　seconds　ticked　by。　

And　then　Aro　stepped　forward　out　of　the　center　of　the　Volturi　formation。　The　shield；　Renata；　moved　
with　him　as　if　the　tips　of　her　fingers　were　sewn　to　his　robe。　For　the　first　time；　the　Volturi　ranks　reacted。　A　
muttered　grumble　rolled　through　the　line；　eyebrows　lowered　into　scowls；　lips　curled　back　from　teeth。　A　
few　of　the　guard　leaned　forward　into　a　crouch。　

Aro　held　one　hand　up　toward　them。　〃Peace。〃　

He　walked　just　a　few　paces　more；　then　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　His　milky　eyes　glinted　with　
curiosity。　

〃Fair　words；　Carlisle；〃　he　breathed　in　his　thin；　wispy　voice。　〃They　seem　out　of　place；　considering　the　
army　you've　assembled　to　kill　me；　and　to　kill　my　dear　ones。〃　

Car